Foodie Fridays: Jazzy Vegetarian Classics
Fun fact: Jazzy Vegetarian Classics is not a Vegetarian cookbook. I mean, it is, in the sense that all vegan cookbooks are also vegetarian, but when you’re dealing with a legacy public TV personality and cookbook author like Laura Theodore, as she explains in her intro – when she first started sharing her recipes with the world, the term ‘vegan’ didn’t even exist (or if it did, it was widely misunderstood). Today it’s a better-known term, but still carries a funny stigma / misunderstanding. Long story short: a strict vegan diet involves eating no animal products ever, including eggs, milk, cheese, butter, and even honey.
The great thing about this new cookbook release is how accessible it is. The ingredient list is rather simple for non-vegans to collect items for, the instructions and recipes aren’t particularly challenging or time-consuming, and there are photos for virtually every recipe of the 200 plant-based meal ideas in the book. If anything, it’s sort of like the vegan version of those ubiquitous Company’s Coming cookbooks that I’m sure all of you have at least a few of.
The recipes cover all meals of the day – from breakfast reinventions (including a whole section just on muffins!) to soups, salads, pastas, pizzas, entrees and of course, dessert. One of the hallmarks of this particular tome is it’s meant to be shaking up standard North American food and making it accessible to people who either are vegan already, or for those that want to switch up their regular omnivore diet with a few plant-based meals every now and again. So as a result you get kicked-up classics like Deli-Style Macaroni Salad (which my husband has already asked me to make) and Over-Baked Two-Bean Chili, along with more unconventional options like Walnut-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms and Cornbread and Sweet Pepper Mini-Muffins.
Altogether I really love this cookbook. It’s the type I would buy my mom or any other hesitant plant-eater in my circle…while books like Veganomicon are classics amongst the vegans of the world, they’re also a little inaccessible (even to me, and I’ve been cooking vegan food for years now). If you want to ease someone into getting some more veggies into their diet, this is the way to do it: a kindly lady with decades of experience whipping up recipes that feel like you’re already familiar with. Smart.
Jazzy Vegetarian Classics is available at fine booksellers and online for a list price of $30, but I’ve also got two copies to give away to my lovely readers. Here’s how to enter:
1) Visit Laura Theodore’s website, peruse her recipes, and leave a comment by November 5th telling me which one you’d most like to try.
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around November 6th to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry: Jazzy Vegetarian is on Facebook! Like Laura Theodore’s Page and leave a comment about why you’re interested in trying out her new cookbook. As always, you are under no obligation to mention the CGG. Leave a link back to your comment here to earn a bonus entry.
Canadian Gift Guide 
I want to try the Blueberry Mini Biscuits
I love pasta so would like to try the Fresh Arugula, Artichoke and Tomato Rotini!
I’d like to try the FestiveKale Salad – it would help use up my kale in the garden.
I’ve looked through Laura’s mouth watering recipes and it’s so hard to choose just one!! If I HAD to choose JUST ONE, it would HAVE to be: Savory Seitan Loaf with Tomato Mushroom Gravy… Sounds fricken yummy and when I watched her make it on her show, looks easy to make!!!
I’d love to try this recipe
Avocado and Black Bean Confetti Salad ,so colourful & nutritious
I would love to try and make Walnut Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms. I have had a portobello burger before and it was delicious.
Liked on facebook and left a comment : https://www.facebook.com/JazzyVegetarian/posts/380978178671301
The Winter Warming Soup is a recipe I’d love to try, especially on a day like today.
The veggie in me is getting excited! The two-bean enchilada casserole looks fabulous!
I want to try Chocolate Mousse Ginger pie
The Festive Kale Salad is one that I would definitely try.
the rockin’ moroccan stew is a recipe i’d make.
Sweet & Spicy Chocolate Mousse
I would most like to try Laura Theodore’s recipe for Oven BAked Two Bean chili.
http://www.jazzyvegetarian.com/products-group-124.html
Zucchini Fettuccine with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Walnut-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
I would like to try the Homemade Tortilla Chips
I’d love to try the Caramelized Balsamic Artichokes.
I would love to make the “Creamy” Mashed Potatoes, Cauliflower and Baby Spinach.
The Festive Kale Salad is a recipe I would like to try
I would love to try the Sweet & Spicy Chocolate Mousse
Left a comment on facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JazzyVegetarian/posts/382196181882834
The mashed potatoes and cauliflower sound good, thanks
The Crispy Portobello Steaks sound delicious!
I love Mushrooms so the Stuffed Mushrooms would be delicious.
Visited Laura Theodore’s website, perused her recipes, and I’d most like to try her, “Sweet and Sour Stuffed Cabbage”
I want to try the chocolate ganache pudding recipe
Sensational Two Bean Enchilada Casserole , looks easy and good
I would most like to try the recipe Oven BAked Two Bean chili, it sounds yummy
http://www.jazzyvegetarian.com/products-group-124.html
I think I would most like to try the Rockin’ Moroccan Stew
I would like to make the Quick Lasagna Rolls
I’d like to try Roasted Asparagus with Garlic and Tomatoes
Wonderful Walnut-Mushroom Loaf! I’m vegetarian and would love some more recipes 🙂
I think the Zucchini Fettuccine with Fresh Tomato Salsa looks very yummy!
I’d like to try the Oven-Baked Two-Bean Chili. Sound so easy