Moosewood Cookbook Review: A Vegetarian Must-Have

I was introduced to this gem from a cookbook many years ago at a friend’s house. I love browsing through people’s cookbook collections; there is always at least a recipe or two that are begging to be discovered, and I came across a simple-looking book. The cover was a bit tattered from wear and tear over the years, which is always the first book to look for; clearly, there was a reason my friend used this book so much.

It was called “Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Quick and Easy Recipes for Any Day,” and I’ve had it ever since (I had to buy mine, of course. My friend refused to part with his copy).

First and foremost, the recipes are completely delicious. They all have their roots in simplicity: basic ingredients, basic preparation. This makes it a very accessible book, which a beginning cook can easily understand. Most recipes consist of a few vegetables, a fat, and maybe a carbohydrate base. There is a cream of spinach soup recipe that is delicately simple, but also unique. There is also the “Tomatican”, made with tomatoes, corn and beans. I could go on, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

All of these come from chef Mollie Katzen’s restaurant, Moosewood, in Ithaca, NY. It is a great gift that he has given us, since many chefs keep their recipes secret. This is what makes this cookbook so great: it wants you to become a better cook and cook more for yourself.

Beyond the intrinsic value of a book full of good recipes, the book is, in itself, a beautiful work of art. Every page, recipe and word is handwritten. She has illustrated everything herself. It feels less like a ploy to make money and increase the numbers, and more like a labor of love. Each page is different, and one could spend hours just looking at the way it presents the text and image, and how they play and conflict with each other.

This book is highly recommended for anyone looking to expand their culinary horizons, without breaking the bank or spending too much time in the process. Vegetarians specifically will enjoy this cookbook as it offers a host of ways to use vegetables in unique ways, giving them new flavors and textures that you previously thought were not possible. A fair warning to those offended by meat though, that there are some recipes that involve fish. However, just skip these and enjoy all the knowledge, helpful tips, and delicious recipes that Moosewood has to offer.