Foodie Fridays: The China Study All Star Collection
Summertime usually means two things: first, you probably don’t want to spend a ton of time in a hot kitchen, slaving over a stove, when it’s already sizzling hot outside. Second, you’re probably opening your door to company a whole lot more often, meaning you do have to spend some obligatory time in the blasted kitchen. Solution? Cook more vegetarian and vegan food. While the grill is definitely a party-ready option, burgers, steaks and chicken breasts can get mighty tired, mighty fast. Veg food is usually quick and easy to prepare and because it’s made from whole, low fat foods, will also help you keep that swimsuit body in tip top shape.
Now whether you’re intimately acquainted with vegetarian and vegan food or simply a dabbler in meatless Mondays (or perhaps even less), this new cookbook, The China Study All-Star Collection is a fantastic way to get introduced to the world of meatless cooking. The title of the book comes from the infamous ‘China Study’, published approximately a decade ago, which detailed the correlation between increased meat consumption and increased health problems in a traditionally meatless region in China. Dozens of chefs and food advocates have championed the study and been inspired to give up meat as a result – including all of those within this cookbook.
Now, the reason why I cite The China Study All-Star Collection as a great way to get introduced to veg cooking is the fact the recipes don’t come from just one source. In fact, nearly a dozen contributors put forward some of their best recipes to delight your tastebuds without breaking your budget or wasting your hours in the kitchen. In fact, some of the chefs I’ve featured on this very blog are part of this all-star lineup, including Happy Herbivore’s Lindsay S. Nixon, Chef Del, and Jazzy Vegetarian host Laura Theodore.
Lentil, Kale & Quinoa Tacos
As you might expect from a cookbook authored by so many sources, the recipes in The China Study All-Star Collection are impressively varied. Not a fan of a particular ingredient like tofu or lentils? No worries – chances are at least one or two of the other chefs aren’t as well. There’s plenty of recipes to choose from here, starting with breakfast faves that range from simple Orange & Pepita Granola to a spicy Tex-Mex Breakfast Bowl to refreshing smoothies like Carrot-Papaya or Lemon-Lime Green. From there, the recipes devolve into an expansive, nuanced range, including soups & chilis, burgers, sandwiches & tacos, entrees, side dishes, and a sinfully long list of tasty and healthy dessert choices, like Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake and Peanut Butter Mousse Tartlets.
Blueberry Pie Chia Parfait
If you do pick up The China Study All-Star Collection cookbook (retailing for $23 in Canada), be sure to tell whoever you gift it to that they should pay attention to the recipe authors as they cook their way through this massive collection. They may find they’re drawn to a particular chef’s tastes or that they found the prep work and ingredients list particularly easy to follow with another chef – both occurrences may in turn may inspire them to hop online to check out their blogs or purchase one of that particular author’s cookbook.
I recognize going meatless isn’t for a ton of people and I’m not a big fan of getting all preachy just because I’ve got a medium in which to do so. But as I regularly tell folks that ask me about my decision to eat vegetarian and vegan food – just try it. You may be surprised! In fact, here’s a recipe to get you started, perfect for entertaining – Peanut Butter Fudge Truffles by Chef AJ. Yummy and relatively nutritious, these are a snap to whip up:
PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE TRUFFLES
MAKES ABOUT 3 DOZEN TRUFFLES RECIPE BY CHEF AJ
FOR THE DATE PASTE
1 pound pitted dates
1 cup liquid (water, unsweetened nondairy milk, or unsweetened juice)
FOR THE CHOCOLATE FUNDUE
1 cup date paste
1 cup peanut butter (no salt or sugar)
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1/2 cup unsweetened nondairy milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Crushed peanuts
- Soak dates in liquid overnight or for several hours until much of the liquid is absorbed.
- In a food processor, process dates and liquid until completely smooth. You can store date paste in the refrigerator.
- Place all ingredients for Chocolate FUNdue in a food processor and process until ingredients are incorporated, scraping down sides if necessary. Chill FUNdue until firm.
- Using a small retractable cookie scoop, drop FUNdue into crushed peanuts and coat evenly.
TIPS
Substitute cannellini beans for some of the nut butter for a lower-fat version.
The FUNdue is also delicious when made with raw almond butter or tahini.
Try dipping bananas in the FUNdue, rolling them in crushed nuts, and then freezing for a tasty treat.
If you’re ready to really try plant-based, whole foods eating, I’ve got a copy of The China Study All-Star Collection cookbook to give away. Here’s how to enter:
1) Tell me in the comments below by July 2, 2014 – how often do you go meatless? How would this cookbook fit into your summer cooking and entertaining plans?
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 July 3, 2014 to select the winner(s), 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: Get Tweeting! Follow me (@cdngiftguide) and Ben Bella Books (@BenBellaBooks) and send up to three Tweets out over the course of the contest period. Just leave links back to your Tweets in the comments below to earn up to three bonus entries. One Tweet per day please.
Comments
46 Responses to “Foodie Fridays: The China Study All Star Collection”Trackbacks
Check out what others are saying...-
Chocolate Mint Chip Ice Cream & The China Study All-Star Collection Giveaway | the taste space says:
[…] Peanut Butter Fudge Truffles (with another giveaway, too) […]
Canadian Gift Guide 
I probably go meatless 3-4 days of the week. This cookbook would be great for providing me with some fresh vegan recipes!
I am personally all meatless, but it is hard to get my husband and friends to enjoy. The China Study All Star Recipes look really tempting and I am sure there will be many that we can all love.
I go meatless a few times a week!
I go meatless 2-3 times a week, but would like to increase that. I love the idea of easy recipes for entertaining instead of expecting someone to stand at a hot barbecue and worry that the meat may not turn out all right.
I go meatless once or twice a week – this book would help me with my weight loss.
I tend to go meatless more times then not ‘cos of the expense. Sardines & beans are a great source of protein 🙂 This cookbook would fit into my summer cooking and entertaining plans by introducing me to exciting new recipes to try for myself & share with others.
Bonus Entry: already followed you & Ben Bella Books & tweeted https://twitter.com/SoulSeeker0/status/477642823173672960
I go meatless at least 3 days a week. this cookbook would be a real asset for someone like me who is always on the go, and brings their lunch to work daily.
I try to go meatless once a week, and this book would be great as my sister is a vegan this would be great when I have her over to eat with the rest of the family.
I try to eat meatless 1-2 times per week. If I won this book I could hopefully increase that.
I try to eat meatless at least two to three times a week. Im not a huge meat eater. I would love to win this book so that I could incorporate more recipes into my diet. Thanks for the great giveaway!
GO MEATLESS A FEW TIMES A WEEK
Bonus Entry2: already followed you & Ben Bella Books & tweeted https://twitter.com/SoulSeeker0/status/478172275091705856
Bonus Entry3: already followed you & Ben Bella Books & tweeted https://twitter.com/SoulSeeker0/status/478487515415187456
I try to go meatless at least twice a week. Its harder is the summer with BBQing though…
i am a vegetarian, so I am bias. I love the China Study cookbooks.
I go meatless sometimes with tofu
In our family, we’ve significantly reduced our portions of meat and try to eat meat only at dinner time. My husband won’t give it up at dinner but myself and our kids go meat free at least a couple times a week!
My family goes meatless about twice a week. I think we would have more vegetarian meals if I only knew more of what to cook. This book would help me with meatless meals.
I never go meatless , so I couldn’t say!
Most of my meals are meatless; I eat meat maybe 3 times a week, usually at dinners. I find I really don’t miss it that much – there are many great alternatives. Since we have a house with a backyard, we love to entertain (we have 2 bbqs so we can grill lots of veggies at once!), so this book would fit right in with our entertaining plans!
I would go meatless about once a week. This book would really help in coming up with more creative ways of going meatless. Summer is the most difficult when we want to BBQ.
We go meatless only once a week. This would help us to try for more meatless meals.
We rarely go meatless–egg-based dishes are the closest thing. I would love to try these as a meat-free alternative, once a week.
We eat meat but we eat vegetarian meals a few times a week — we love all kinds of beans.
I am vegetarian so would love this cookbook
we do meatless very consistently since my brother in law is the cook during the day he makes big pots of soup with strictly veggies (Eggplant, Bok Choy, Onion, Ginger, )
I say we go meatless about 2 times a week
I’m always meatless; husband still eats meat. Maybe these recipes could help him adjust…
I just found your blog through The Taste Space, looks awesome! I can’t wait to read more! These truffles are absolutely ridiculous, I’m a PB addict, and PB plus dates, oh my! I’m actually meatless all the time, vegan 8 years now and can’t imagine ever going back 🙂
We are all vegan so this book would be helpful and especially when entertaining.
Thanks for this wonderful giveaway !!!
I’m always meatless, but not my husband. This cookbook will be very helpful here for different idea of meal. Also, it might help me to find other recipe idea to have my husband eat more meatless meal. I wish !!! Thanks again 🙂
This book would help me DAILY…I went vegetarian 2 years ago, and I am looking to go vegan, and this would help greatly.
Oh, a Canadian give away. I’m vegan and found you through the Taste Space blog. Trying to follow a reduced sugar/fat/salt diet and this would surely fit the bill.
I am a vegetarian therefore I go meatless everyday. I can always use some new and improved recipes for my meals.
I try to go meatless at least five days a weeks.. Can’t wait to check this collection out!
only meatless maybe once a month, so probably most in need of this book to try more often.