I picked up a couple used vegan cookbooks recently. More inspiration, more examples, more normalizing of a plant-based diet are all useful. I started reading The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.
I had actually encountered quite a few jokes about rude, in-your-face vegans without meeting such a person. Unfortunately, this cookbook author has broken my streak. She has a disparaging tone that irritates me.
Topically, Seth Godin wrote about taking learnings from people who rub you the wrong way today. I was already planning to sift the cookbook for useful info before I read Seth's post, but it was nice to have some support for that plan. I have found a number of the recipes attractive. There are lots of appetizing pictures. And then I found some ideas for making vegan dishes satisfy the urge to have a main dish – which is exactly what I was seeking in a previous blog post.
This list of ways to make a dish more of a focal point is inspired by her list, and adapted to my own needs:
Present it: stuffed into a vegetable or in individual serving dishes
Raise the protein level: choose ingredients high in protein, such as beans, greens, tofu, tempeh, seitan
Wrap it: in a crust, leaf, tortilla, or bun
Make it richer: add sauce or garnishes for more eye appeal
Form it: make loaves or patties to give it shape
I can't recommend the book. I think the language is more likely to turn people off than help them. But I'll grind through it for what I can salvage before I pass it on.
