More Than 100 Feel-Good Vegetarian Favorites to Delight the Senses and Nourish the Body

I love this cookbook! Every recipe has a notation of whether it is free of soy, dairy, etc. and some recipes go a step further and give easy substitutes to alter a recipe to eliminate some of this dietary restrictions. Cooking for someone with a dairy allergy, this book has made it so easy for me.

Love this cook book! Ingredients you'd find in your cabinet and recipes that are so easy to follow. I love it so much I've bought copies for friends and families. Buy this book and check out her website

Easy, healthy recipes without too many or too exotic of ingredients. Easy to add meats when desired and beautiful photos of each recipe for guidance. I'm hoping to make every recipe in here before the end of the year as an effort to eat better. Thanks Kate!

I love this cookbook! I stumbled upon Cookie and Kate looking for a wholewheat pizza recipe and no jokes this has changed my life! My faith tradition advocates for a healthy diet, and I have tried many approaches and never felt as healthy and vital as I was hoping. This changed when one day I decided to try some of Kate's recipes and I have never looked back. Her food is balanced, tastes amazing and is easy to cook, albeit time consuming at times, and I have never felt better. I decided to buy her cookbook and am truly grateful that I did, my personal favourites, thus far, include the blueberry muffins, the banana nut bread, the tikka masala and the divine peanut soup! If you are looking to include more vegetarian meals into your diet, follow a healthier lifestyle or just try something new then this cookbook is for you.

I've been following Kate's blog for almost two years now, and have found the recipes to be consistently amazing, with scarcely a misfire. In fact the especially good ones (and there have been many) get the "SIx MaIn" designation in our household, which was the name of a much loved vegan restaurant in our area for a few years.

Not sure what her secret is, but I'm sure that hard work, a strong desire to get things right, and a love of good whole food are probably central to her success. Somewhere along the line, I think she also mentioned a tome on the art and science of taste combinations that she consults regularly (though I couldn't find it with a quick search of her site).

Kate's book is a hardcover, with recipes designed to fit onto two pages: the text on one side of the fold, and wonderful photos and additional information on the other. Have tried the West African Peanut Soup (p. 84, even better the next day), Banana Pecan Shakes (p, 207, a nice break from my greens based smoothies), and Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies (p. 26, a little dry but easily rectified with cream cheese frosting LOL - but also probably my fault as I don't use exact measures). There's plenty of info on how to adjust the ingredients for special diets (gluten free, dairy free, vegan, etc.)

All in all, this book is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in easy and tasty whole food recipes, ditto the Cookie and Kate blog.

Great tasting recipes with real ingredients! Even non-vegetarians will enjoy the recipes. The layout, pictures, and writing also give it that little something extra. Love her cookbook so much I started checking out her blog and I'm not a blog type person.

This book is colorful and shows pictures of all recipes. I have made two of the recipes and they were both wonderful, so much so that I have already made one (the minestrone) again. I'm looking forward to making many more from this book!

One of my favorite blogs becomes a book. Everything I've ever made from Kate's blog has been delicious and even though I'm not vegetarian, she makes it easy and worth it. Buy this...you won't be disappointed.

Amazing cookbook! Cookie and Kate recipes never disappoint and these are no exception. The book looks beautiful on my counter and the recipes are even more tasty! Highly recommend to anyone looking for healthy flavorful food!

I love this book! I haven't made all the recipes yet but the 5 I've made have turned out amazing! I tend to add a little of my own thin, like more seasoning or changing up veggies and it tastes great.

I changed to a plant based diet a few months ago - this is one of the best cookbooks I've found. Easy to understand instructions and adjustment options. I've loved her newsletters and her cookbook is even better!

This Is the best book. It's not overwhelmingly big and it's full of recipes made with ingredients that are readily available. It also has "go-to" recipes for every day which are not overly fussy with tons of ingredients or instructions. I'm not vegetarian but the book is extremely adaptable and can be paired with many meat options If you like. Seriously one of the best cookbooks I own.

I'm a huge fan of the Cookie and Kate blog, so I couldn't wait for Kathryne's cookbook to arrive on my doorstep. I love the fact that there are pictures of every recipe! I've made so many of her recipes from the blog, and they all turn out well...which is pretty much a miracle in my book! Her approach to food is fresh, colorful, delicious, down-to-earth, and right up my alley. Her recipes are easy to follow and don't use hard-to-find ingredients - and she makes suggestions for subs for vegan, gluten-free, allergies, etc. versions. My husband really likes her recipes, too, and he is not a vegetarian, so there you go, the ultimate compliment. Last night I made a salad recipe from the book, Southwestern Roasted Veggies with Chipotle-Balsamic dressing - HOME RUN! It was delish! If you like sweets, don't despair, because there are a lot of recipes in the book and on her blog. I like that she has a more nutritious approach to sweets, using honey or maple syrup as sweeteners, white whole wheat flour, etc. Believe me when I tell you that they still taste delicious (my husband seconds this notion), but don't weigh you down with a bunch of processed ingredients. This cookbook was obviously a labor of love and I hope the author is proud of her amazing work and fabulous real food photos! You won't regret buying this!

I love, love Cookie and Kate. I have posted so many recipes on Facebook and made so many of her dishes. What is most awesome is that I am a vegetarian and my husband eats meat, so he just adds meat to whatever dish we make! And who is not super duper excited by Greek Nachos?????!!!!!

When I first began to clean up my family's diet I fell in love with Kate's recipes from her blog. Her recipes have become my go-to versions for pancakes and muffins. Her style of cooking is fresh and bright.This cookbook makes clean eating approachable, the ingredients are easy to find, and the instructions are easy to follow. I look forward to cooking many delicious meals form this book. It will be a useful addition to my kitchen!

Update! I've made a couple recipes now, all with great success! The waffles were incredible, they had great flavor and texture. The butternut squash chili is just outstanding! Its everything you want in a chili. Even my husband, who doesn't typically like chili loved it!

I have been following Cookie & Kate on-line for a few weeks - her devotion to creating simple but delicious meals is admirable - the quality of the book (manufacturing) is outstanding - photography is excellent and i really enjoy the windows that give you options to tinker with her recipes - I can't wait to try some of her simple, but elegant dishes!!

I have followed Kathryn and Cookie's Blog for years and all recipes were a hit , delicious, creative, and a delight to make. I pre-ordered this cookbook as soon as I was able to! And it is amazing! It was a joy to read and flip through! I told my husband, Harry, who was equally impressed by the new cookbook and loves the recipes I make from the blog, that In the eyes of Julia and Julia..I want to be Kristen, Kathryn and Cookie and cook my way through the cookbook! And I am going to! I can't wait to get started! It is a beautiful book filled with delicious and healthy recipes! Thank you Cookie and Kate! Thank you for the Healthy Inspiration! You make eating Healthy easy! Great job!

I have been following Cookie & Kate on-line for a few weeks - her devotion to creating simple but delicious meals is admirable - the quality of the book (manufacturing) is outstanding - photography is excellent and i really enjoy the windows that give you options to tinker with her recipes - I can't wait to try some of her simple, but elegant dishes!!

I have followed Kathryn and Cookie's Blog for years and all recipes were a hit , delicious, creative, and a delight to make. I pre-ordered this cookbook as soon as I was able to! And it is amazing! It was a joy to read and flip through! I told my husband, Harry, who was equally impressed by the new cookbook and loves the recipes I make from the blog, that In the eyes of Julia and Julia..I want to be Kristen, Kathryn and Cookie and cook my way through the cookbook! And I am going to! I can't wait to get started! It is a beautiful book filled with delicious and healthy recipes! Thank you Cookie and Kate! Thank you for the Healthy Inspiration! You make eating Healthy easy! Great job!

I adore Kate's blog, Cookie and Kate, but I LOVE her cookbook! I pre-ordered, so it arrived on my doorstep the day it was released, and I couldn't wait to flip through it. I seriously couldn't decide what to make first. My favorite part about this book is that each recipe is accompanied by a photograph, so it's truly a pleasure to flip through. Each recipe also includes adaptations for a variety of dietary restrictions, such as vegan, gluten free, dairy free, etc. Even if you aren't a strict vegetarian (we aren't), you won't regret ordering this book!

I am not a vegetarian but wanted this cookbook as a guide to helping me cook more vegetarian dishes in the future, and this book is exactly what I wanted, and even more. I really appreciate that with several recipes she tells you if/how that recipe will hold up as leftovers and for how long, and she gives you guides for “season to taste”,like if it’s too tangy do this or add more salt and pepper of it doesn’t knock your socks off. And at the back of the book she has menus for holidays or impromptu celebrations- ways you can put the recipes together. I’ve already made the salad on the cover of the book and it is legit delicious. Along with two other dressings from the book that I have already made and give to very enthusiastic thumbs up.

Kate, this book is so incredible! I have been a regular Cookie + Kate reader for several years (uhm hello vegetarian recipes and a cute dog?) but since it seemed like all my bloggers are writing cookbooks, I initially resisted. i'm trying to save some money and keep my life clutter free, you know? I dont know why I resisted but I'm so glad I pre-ordered this.

I have today off and I've just been flipping through the pages with my coffee. I love everything about this book but the one word to describe it is THOUGHTFUL

- Kate's approach to cooking and whole and seasonable ingredients in general
- Accommodation for nearly any and all dietary restrictions in each recipe
- Careful instructions and hints for how to succeed with recipes that are easy enough to work through for a new cook but complex enough to be interesting for an intermediate cook
- Effusively positive but not annoying coaching - Kate is extremely relatable
- AMAZING FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY!!!
- super adorable cookie pictures! that dog is so darned cute!!!

I have pretty much dog eared every page and I'm so glad I ended up buying this on pre-order. Well done Kate! You should be VERY proud!

I've been eagerly awaiting receiving my pre-ordered copy! I'm not "into" cooking, but when I do, it's almost always a recipe from the Cookie & Kate blog. I spent yesterday reading through the recipes and just made my first dish tonight from the cookbook, Grilled Veggie Skewers with Cilantro-Lime Rice, Black Beans and and Avocado Chimichurri Sauce. I can't wait to try out more!

I pre-ordered this book after cooking recipes from Kate's website for only a few months! Her recipes are just THAT good. I have been vegetarian for about 4 years now and I was so tired of coming up with new ideas for interesting, nutritious dinner ideas. Cookie and Kate was seemingly too good to be true. Every recipe I've made thus far has been so yummy. Kate has literally gotten me excited to eat at home. I prefer eating out of her cookbook than going to a restaurant. Thank you for your hard work, and please keep the fantastically healthy and surprisingly delicious recipes coming!

This is the thing. I really like, and go through periods of love for, "Cookie and Kate", Taylor's blog. Her recipes are reliably good, somethings excellent - her broccoli rabe and peanut sauce soba noodles haunt me with random cravings. Also excellent are her granola, "healthier" muffins and quick breads, and salads. Her book does contain many excellent recipes, and I think it's no accident that these are often the simplest ones. Individual components from two recipes in her first section have become part of ordinary life for me: I have made the mango lassi smoothie bowl without the toasted coconut muesli from "Mango Lassi Smoothie Bowl with Toasted Coconut Muesli" several times since I bought this book (preordered, in fact), and the applesauce and cinnamon yogurt components of her "Apple Crisp Breakfast Parfaits" countless times. The salads are reliably good, sometimes great, as in the case of her "Southwestern Roasted Veggie Salad with Chipotle-Balsamic Dressing" and the kale and quinoa salad. But I find, and this may have to do with her vegetarianism, that her recipes occasionally, when merely good, depend on something like a last-minute crumble of cheese, usually goat cheese, feta, or parmesan, to add a depth of flavor that is otherwise missing. This is certainly not true overall - those excellent recipes of hers, such as the aforesaid peanut sauce and broccoli rabe soba noodles, do contain depth and variety of flavor and texture, in fact are almost, and exquisitely, overwhelming. And sometimes lots of cheese is precisely what one wants, as in the "Creamy Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Tomato Pasta Salad." But I have in mind this book's selection of soups and mains; I made her tortilla soup, her white bean and farro stew, the minestrone, and the tomato soup. This last one was good, if a little lacking in complexity (but heck, it's tomato soup), but the others all tasted the same to me. And this is the other thing: I think this has partly to do with a reliance on cheese at the end, and partly with her decision to call for canned beans and packaged vegetable broth. Believe me, I am not a snob about either of those things. I regularly buy and use both those ingredients (well, chicken broth) even though they are ruinously expensive. And using one's own homecooked beans and broth wouldn't solve the problem that, in short, these are all quick soups, and they taste it. Which is not to say it's impossible to build flavor quickly, but maybe it's harder if you're vegetarian. That said, this is what makes this a great book for beginners, who might be afraid of such things as dried beans and long cooking times - I know I was when I started cooking. But I felt a little cynical, looking at the empty cans and broth cartons that resulted from putting together this "real food". This led me to realize that where Taylor excels, and I mean it, I think she's great, is at assembling ingredients that taste good together. That is why her salads (including soba noodle ones) and her granola are so good. And she's great at making comfort food a little healthier: her baked goods, as I said, are excellent, especially if you're looking for something easily made vegan, and she has your back if you're looking for something with a fair amount of cheese on it. Her recipes for components, such as pesto, apple sauce, lemon curd, guacamole (not the one in the book, the one on her blog, plus a lot of cumin), that kind of thing, have become the standard recipes that I follow and improvise off of. And you can't have everything. So my advice is, go look at her blog. And if you love it, even occasionally, check out this book. Maybe from a library.

I've been a vegetarian for over 30 years now but I'm always thrilled to find new recipes. Love real Food is a nice book-lots of photos and tasty recipes that are right up my alley. I love Kate's blog and am looking forward to making lots of the dishes collected in the cookbook.

I'm absolutely obsessed with this beautiful book! I pre-ordered it and am so glad I did. I've already tried two of the recipes, the southwestern roasted veggie salad and the chipotle-pepita guacamole. Both were excellent, I can't wait to try more! I am a longtime fan of the Cookie & Kate blog, her recipes are always so delicious and impressively well-tested for guaranteed success. Vegetarian or not, you need this book in your kitchen!

I really love this book, the recipes we’ve made have all been really delicious- why not 5 stars?? Because it’s missing two VITAL components! How long the meal will take or: hands on prep and total time. It’s also missing the nutritional value for the meal. You do get an idea of how many servings the meals will make but the time to make them and the nutritional value are key components that should have been in this book!

I really wanted to love this book, but I keep finding the recipes to be kind of "meh". The end results of a lot of the recipes I've tried just haven't been worth the time and effort spent making them. I've only been trying the non dairy recipes right now, so it's totally possible that there are plenty of good options in there that I haven't been able to eat. The best part of this book would have to be the soups, there are definitely some delicious soup recipes to try that I would recommend. There were a bit too many salads in this book for my liking, I was looking for more hearty main course dishes. All in all, after trying several of the recipes and being mostly let down, I'll probably be sticking this book on the bookshelf and only taking it out when I want to make soup.

It's okay. If you are brand new to cooking, as in have never done more than heat up food out of a box, then it's a good book. It's very simple and basic. I was hoping for unique veg. recipes but there isn't anything that you probably haven't already made. Examples: banana bread, waffles, black beans burgers, lasagna. There's pictures for each page which is great.

I haven't had much luck with many of the recipes in here. The thing I've liked best so far was the Thai mango salad. I really wish I would have looked through the recipe selection prior to ordering. I would not have purchased.

The recipes look mouth-wateringly delicious, but there is no serving size information or nutritional profile! I have no idea how many calories total or calories from carbs, fat, and protein each recipe contains. The book does include many beautiful pictures for most recipes.

This is a cook book that is easy to read, provides delicious vegetarian recipes and there's a dog in it, like what's not to love about that.
So far I've made:
1. the chickpea tikka masala - I was so impressed at how authentic it tasted. And the green rice was so aromatic and delicious, I will definately make this recipe again when I'm in the mood for Indian.
2. The roasted cauliflower and kale pasta - so good, I added more butter and lemon than the recipe called for but that's just my preference. Even without the almonds (which I omitted due to the fact that I roasted them too long then proceeded to spill them all over the floor)
3. Roasted vegetables with the avocado chimichurri sauce - omg that chimichurri recipe alone is worth buying this book for.
This book has truly given me excitement in the kitchen and true enjoyment in cooking them. Also, I'm not a vegetarian I was just looking for more of a meatless variety in my meals.

I'll start by saying I am not a vegetarian. However, I am trying to reduce my meat intake for health, budget, and animal welfare concerns. In the past I've struggled to find enough vegetarian recipes that hook me and keep me interested, but Kathryne's blog and cookbook have done exactly that. I can't say how many post-its mark the pages of to-be-made recipes that I am drooling just thinking about.

Every recipe I've tried has checked all the boxes of tasty, nutritious, satisfying, and absolutely crave-worthy. My faves (how can I pick? okay I'll try) are the blueberry maple muffins, tomato soup (you'll be pleasantly surprised at how scrumptiously these basic ingredients come together), cauliflower and kale pasta (toasted almonds give this a nutty, popcorn-y flavour), and vegetarian chili (a staple from her blog, which I make in army-ration proportions and always have a serve or ten handy in the freezer for a quick lunch or dinner). And how could I forget, the everything spice blend!

And, something which I love in a cookbook - EVERY recipe has a picture! :)

I can't recommend this highly enough for EVERYONE! Suffice to say my meat-loving partner as given the stamp of approval too, and converting we meat-eaters isn't an easy task!!!

I have followed the author as long as she has had a blog, to have many of her best recipes in one place has simplified my life. Her approach to cooking is healthy and her recipes appeal to vegetarians and carnivores alike. They are no fail, easy, inexpensive, and the ingredients are found at your local grocer. These are the best, healthiest and tastiest recipes you will find, a great investment! Enjoy.

A lot of good recipes here that I have tried already and tweaked for my own uses and tastes but some of them are a bit....much? A lot of things that call for almond flour, nutritional yeast, and cashews/cashew milk. I'm all for healthy eating and chose this book because I was hoping to incorporate more vegetarian meals into my diet, but some of this stuff is expensive. A jar of cashews goes for at least $13 and a bag of nutritional yeast goes for at least $10. The author's intention was probably to also cater toward vegans, which is cool and all, but I think the marketing of this book gave me the impression I'd find more standard vegetarian dishes and fewer vegan dishes. Definitely a good book if you're vegan and/or gluten free.

If you are on the fence about buying this book let me tell you this: DO IT. I recipie tested for this book so I've already tried about ten (maybe more?) of these recipes in their earlier stages and let me tell you that they will not disappoint. Even a year later I find myself digging through my email to find the recipes that I tested. Try the honey mustard salad dressing and the carrot cake breakfast cookies. They will knock your socks off. Also, the "Sweet Potato Black Bean Veggie Burgers" are really good. I've been making big batches, freezing them, and pulling one out and defrosting it on nights that I don't feel like cooking. Like I said, over a year later and I am still reaching for the (earlier versions of) these recipes. And that is when you know that you have found a winner.

I'm really excited to try the finished versions of everything! In fact, we are making the taco salad (pictured on the cover) for dinner tonight! (and I am thinking that I need to try the "Southwestern Roasted Veggie Salad with Chipotle-Balsamic Dressing" and about five other recipes asap.)

Finally, let me echo some of the other reviews- I've been a longtime follower of Kathryne's blog. I've been anticipating this book since she first announced that she was publishing a cookbook (over a year ago.) It is obvious that a lot of love went into this book. The pictures are beautiful, which you probably already know if you've used the "look inside" feature.

I really wanted to love this book, but I keep finding the recipes to be kind of "meh". The end results of a lot of the recipes I've tried just haven't been worth the time and effort spent making them. I've only been trying the non dairy recipes right now, so it's totally possible that there are plenty of good options in there that I haven't been able to eat. The best part of this book would have to be the soups, there are definitely some delicious soup recipes to try that I would recommend. There were a bit too many salads in this book for my liking, I was looking for more hearty main course dishes. All in all, after trying several of the recipes and being mostly let down, I'll probably be sticking this book on the bookshelf and only taking it out when I want to make soup.

It's okay. If you are brand new to cooking, as in have never done more than heat up food out of a box, then it's a good book. It's very simple and basic. I was hoping for unique veg. recipes but there isn't anything that you probably haven't already made. Examples: banana bread, waffles, black beans burgers, lasagna. There's pictures for each page which is great.

I haven't had much luck with many of the recipes in here. The thing I've liked best so far was the Thai mango salad. I really wish I would have looked through the recipe selection prior to ordering. I would not have purchased.

The recipes look mouth-wateringly delicious, but there is no serving size information or nutritional profile! I have no idea how many calories total or calories from carbs, fat, and protein each recipe contains. The book does include many beautiful pictures for most recipes.

I'll start by saying I am not a vegetarian. However, I am trying to reduce my meat intake for health, budget, and animal welfare concerns. In the past I've struggled to find enough vegetarian recipes that hook me and keep me interested, but Kathryne's blog and cookbook have done exactly that. I can't say how many post-its mark the pages of to-be-made recipes that I am drooling just thinking about.

Every recipe I've tried has checked all the boxes of tasty, nutritious, satisfying, and absolutely crave-worthy. My faves (how can I pick? okay I'll try) are the blueberry maple muffins, tomato soup (you'll be pleasantly surprised at how scrumptiously these basic ingredients come together), cauliflower and kale pasta (toasted almonds give this a nutty, popcorn-y flavour), and vegetarian chili (a staple from her blog, which I make in army-ration proportions and always have a serve or ten handy in the freezer for a quick lunch or dinner). And how could I forget, the everything spice blend!

And, something which I love in a cookbook - EVERY recipe has a picture! :)

I can't recommend this highly enough for EVERYONE! Suffice to say my meat-loving partner as given the stamp of approval too, and converting we meat-eaters isn't an easy task!!!

A lot of good recipes here that I have tried already and tweaked for my own uses and tastes but some of them are a bit....much? A lot of things that call for almond flour, nutritional yeast, and cashews/cashew milk. I'm all for healthy eating and chose this book because I was hoping to incorporate more vegetarian meals into my diet, but some of this stuff is expensive. A jar of cashews goes for at least $13 and a bag of nutritional yeast goes for at least $10. The author's intention was probably to also cater toward vegans, which is cool and all, but I think the marketing of this book gave me the impression I'd find more standard vegetarian dishes and fewer vegan dishes. Definitely a good book if you're vegan and/or gluten free.

If you are on the fence about buying this book let me tell you this: DO IT. I recipie tested for this book so I've already tried about ten (maybe more?) of these recipes in their earlier stages and let me tell you that they will not disappoint. Even a year later I find myself digging through my email to find the recipes that I tested. Try the honey mustard salad dressing and the carrot cake breakfast cookies. They will knock your socks off. Also, the "Sweet Potato Black Bean Veggie Burgers" are really good. I've been making big batches, freezing them, and pulling one out and defrosting it on nights that I don't feel like cooking. Like I said, over a year later and I am still reaching for the (earlier versions of) these recipes. And that is when you know that you have found a winner.

I'm really excited to try the finished versions of everything! In fact, we are making the taco salad (pictured on the cover) for dinner tonight! (and I am thinking that I need to try the "Southwestern Roasted Veggie Salad with Chipotle-Balsamic Dressing" and about five other recipes asap.)

Finally, let me echo some of the other reviews- I've been a longtime follower of Kathryne's blog. I've been anticipating this book since she first announced that she was publishing a cookbook (over a year ago.) It is obvious that a lot of love went into this book. The pictures are beautiful, which you probably already know if you've used the "look inside" feature.

This is a cook book that is easy to read, provides delicious vegetarian recipes and there's a dog in it, like what's not to love about that.
So far I've made:
1. the chickpea tikka masala - I was so impressed at how authentic it tasted. And the green rice was so aromatic and delicious, I will definately make this recipe again when I'm in the mood for Indian.
2. The roasted cauliflower and kale pasta - so good, I added more butter and lemon than the recipe called for but that's just my preference. Even without the almonds (which I omitted due to the fact that I roasted them too long then proceeded to spill them all over the floor)
3. Roasted vegetables with the avocado chimichurri sauce - omg that chimichurri recipe alone is worth buying this book for.
This book has truly given me excitement in the kitchen and true enjoyment in cooking them. Also, I'm not a vegetarian I was just looking for more of a meatless variety in my meals.

Last Wednesday evening I while running out to quickly dump the compost in the green bin I found a small-ish parcel on the front step. In it was a cookbook I've been waiting to try: Love Real Food by Kathryne Taylor. So now it's Monday evening and in that less-than-a-week span we've enjoyed so many recipes! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, sweets -- so many "keeper" recipes (as my friend puts it when she finds recipes so good that she "keeps"making them again and again). Normally the turnaround time from when I first receive a cookbook to when the review is finally posted can take a couple weeks or more. In the case of Love Real Food -- less than a week.

For those of you unfamiliar with Kathryne Taylor she is the creator of the very popular blog Cookie & Kate. She started her whole foods, vegetarian blog back in 2010 and the "cookie" in her title refers to her best (four-legged) friend Cookie. The premise behind her blog is simple -- eat food that you prepare yourself and limit consumption of processed foods. Like many health food bloggers she started her blog because she linked how she felt (awful) to what she ate (processed foods like 100-calorie snack packs) and decided to change that. If she wants to feel good she nourishes herself with home-cooked meals. She's truly a person after my own heart because her food philosophies (like my own) are heavily influenced by food activist Michael Pollan, a person whom I really admire. She opens her introduction with a quote of his: Eat food. Not too much. From there she explains how her book can be used. Her Introduction is full of practical information with sections focusing on How to Read a Nutrition Label, Vegetarianism, favourite ingredients, and Whole Foods Guidelines just to list a few (she even has a section devoted to "Dogs and Food"). She is quite passionate about enjoying and celebrating fresh, nourishing food. So if you're new to whole foods (or even new to cooking) or if you're just looking to add new recipes to your repertoire, Love Real Foods is a great place to start.

You're probably wondering what I made in the past five days (and how I did it). So far I’ve made: Mango Lassi Smoothie Bowl w/ Toasted Coconut Muesli, Fluffy Cinnamon Oat Pancakes, Apple Green Smoothie, Simple Honey Scones, Classic Tomato Soup, Fresh Sesame Soba Spring Rolls w/ Peanut Dipping Sauce, Colorful Weeknight Burrito Bowl, Quick Guacamole, Sweet Potato, Poblano, & Black Bean Enchiladas, Easiest Honey Whole Wheat Pizza Dough & Red Sauce, Strawberry Balsamic Sauce, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. One of the things I noticed about the ingredients Taylor uses is that there are no "fancy" ingredients. One of the reasons why I was able to get cooking so quickly is that I could turn to my fridge and pantry and just cook. (The whole truth of it is that I am mid-cycle in my grocery shopping so I have a good, working amount of ingredients). The first section I normally start with are breakfasts, which are usually low in ingredients and quick to make. Her Fluffy Cinnamon Oat Pancakes were really amazing! Served with fresh fruit, these cinnamon-infused pancakes were really fluffy and moist. What I first noticed with this recipe (and then realized that this feature appears in all the recipes) is that there is a section at the bottom of the page with instructions on how to adapt the recipe to suit almost any dietary need. Even though the cookbook is vegetarian she totally accounts for those with gluten-free or vegan diets. She even notes how these adaptations may alter the taste/texture (never in a bad way but it’s great to know what to expect). Recipe testing for each recipe is time-consuming and costly so the fact that these other options/adaptations appear is such a bonus (especially if you're used to trying to figure out how to change recipes to fit your gf or vegan diet yourself).

Anyone who knows me will know that nothing comes between me and pizza. Nothing. But in all honesty, I'm very devoted to the Nancy Silverton method of making pizza dough so trying a new pizza dough recipe -- especially one made entirely out of white whole wheat flour -- didn't appeal to me in the least. But Taylor's pizza pictures looked so appetizing and I loved how she photo-illustrated the pizza dough making process in a four-square that I decided to get over myself and try it (the other thing that appealed to me what that this is a no-rise recipe meaning that as soon as you're done mixing the dough you can roll it out and bake it, whereas Silverton's method can take hours). If you're used to rise-time it feels strange without it. What I noticed is that the texture of the dough was way drier so I didn't really need to flour the peel. As with all of the recipes I've tried, the size and amount was perfect -- from one batch of dough I was able to make two, 11" pizzas just like the recipe said (how many times do you make a recipe to find that the size and amount differ?). I didn't make either of her pizza recipes however I did use her recipe for Red Sauce (Marinara) and it was excellent! No more store-bought pizza sauce here anymore! The crust was crispier than the pizzas I normally make but it wasn't dry or hard -- it almost had a flakey, pastry-like quality to it. While it baked, the whole wheat gave off such a wonderfully nutty-aroma. To the delight of my 3 year old the crust had beautiful, dough bubbles (her raison d'etre). My husband and I found this whole wheat crust more filling, so much so that we saved the entire second pizza (which tasted great the second day after being re-heated in the oven)! Here is a good illustration of her comment from the intro: Pay attention to how different foods make you feel. While I love my all-purpose or bread flour pizza crusts, after trying a whole wheat version I noticed that my go-to crusts leave me with a bloat-y feeling (although this could be accounted for by the fact we way over-eat pizza! Reminding myself here to eat food. Not too much!)

There are many things to love and appreciate about this cookbook but what I really valued is that she used practical ingredients for recipes that anyone could enjoy. I found that these recipes really fit into my daily cooking routines and all of the recipes were totally enjoyed by my husband and daughter, who are at times my toughest food critics. (As my husband kindly listened to me read out this review he kept saying "Did you talk about the Enchiladas? I really think you should..." -- not hard to tell what his favourite meal was!)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rodale Wellness for providing me with a free, review copy of this book. I did not receive monetary compensation for my post, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I bought a copy to support Kathryn and her efforts, but didn't find anything very inspiring. But her blog -- wow. I love to get an email announcing a new recipe.

Attached is a recent example on refried beans as an example of the quality of her free offerings.

Robert C. Ross
September 2018

Kathryne Taylor's introductions to her regular posts on her blog are always fun to read -- this version of refried beans uses pinto beans, but the black bean version is slightly better to my taste -- I like the chunky mouth feel.

Some of her words of wisdom; links noted but cannot be made live on the store:

Where have pinto beans been all my life? I dismissed them after a couple of lackluster Mexican restaurant meals, but I’ve recently realized pinto beans in their full glory. They’re creamy and rich, and mix in beautifully with scrambled eggs, soup, rice and more.

Pinto beans also make the best refried beans, since they’re so buttery. I recently crossed the refried black beans recipe with my pinto beer beans (both available in my cookbook) and ended up with these outrageously delicious refried beans.

Fresh cilantro livens up these refried beans, and a squeeze of lime juice makes them taste more complex. Flavor aside, these refried beans are also a healthy source of plant-based protein and fiber (12 grams of each per serving). You can read up on pinto bean nutrition here.

Our cookbook, Love Real Food, is here! Get your copy ↣Love Real Food
Easy Refried Beans
APRIL 19, 2018 59 Comments

easy refried beans recipe

Where have pinto beans been all my life? I dismissed them after a couple of lackluster Mexican restaurant meals, but I’ve recently realized pinto beans in their full glory. They’re creamy and rich, and mix in beautifully with scrambled eggs, soup, rice and more.

Pinto beans also make the best refried beans, since they’re so buttery. I recently crossed the refried black beans recipe with my pinto beer beans (both available in my cookbook) and ended up with these outrageously delicious refried beans.

Fresh cilantro livens up these refried beans, and a squeeze of lime juice makes them taste more complex. Flavor aside, these refried beans are also a healthy source of plant-based protein and fiber (12 grams of each per serving). You can read up on pinto bean nutrition here.

refried bean ingredients

Bonus? This recipe is so easy to make! I used high quality canned beans to make this recipe quickly. I tried home-cooked beans and couldn’t tell enough difference to bother doing it again. If you prefer to cook your own beans, though, you certainly can.

Cook up some onion in olive oil, add spices and beans, and your refried beans are ready in under 25 minutes. This recipe is far superior to store-bought refried beans, and it’s become a staple in my kitchen. I hope it becomes a staple in yours, too.

Refried beans are a healthy side dish to serve along with any Mexican meal. They’re so good that I like to eat them with tortilla chips as a bean dip.

You can also use these protein-rich, vegan refried beans inside tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Spread them on the inside of a quesadilla or on top of a tostada. You can’t go wrong!

Refried Bean Tips
Chop the onions very small and be sure to cook them until tender. This is key to achieving a creamy texture. If the onions are too large or undercooked, they will be distracting and crunchy. No thanks!

Mash the beans as much as you’d like. I usually stop when the beans are half to three-quarters mashed, but you can mash them completely if you’d like perfectly creamy refried beans. (You’ll get even smoother results if you blend these beans in a food processor. I don’t recommend trying the blender since they are so thick.)

Use black beans if you prefer. Black beans aren’t as easily blended as pinto beans, so they’ll probably be a little more chunky. If you love black beans, you’ll love this version!

Add peppers for even more flavor. You can add a finely chopped bell pepper (any color) or jalapeño pepper(s) with the onion, for beans with extra flavor and texture. Jalapeños will make the beans more spicy—I recommend removing the seeds and membranes first so you have more control over the spice level.

Please let me know how these refried beans turn out for you in the comments!

NGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup finely chopped yellow or white onion (about ½ small onion)
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
½ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained, or 3 cups cooked pinto beans
½ cup water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon lime juice (about ½ medium lime), to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and are turning translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Add the garlic, chili powder and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained beans and water. Stir, cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat to low and remove the lid. Use a potato masher or the back of a fork to mash up about at least half of the beans, until you reach your desired consistency. Continue to cook the beans, uncovered, stirring often, for 3 more minutes.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Taste, and add more salt and lime juice if necessary. If the beans seem dry, add a very small splash of water and stir to combine. Cover until you’re ready to serve.

NOTES
CHANGE IT UP: Substitute black beans for the pinto beans

Kate Hello! I cook fresh, vegetarian recipes. My dog, Cookie, catches the crumbs. Two charmers!

When you search "vegan" on the store, this is one of the first books to come up by highest rating first. I thought this would have vegan recipes but there is dairy everywhere. She doesn't always give vegan options for the recipes either. I just don't have much use for it, as I've recently cut 95% of all dairy from my diet. If you're newly vegetarian but not ready for veganism, this is for you. I'm reselling the copy I bought. It is a beautiful book with great photos.

I have followed the author as long as she has had a blog, to have many of her best recipes in one place has simplified my life. Her approach to cooking is healthy and her recipes appeal to vegetarians and carnivores alike. They are no fail, easy, inexpensive, and the ingredients are found at your local grocer. These are the best, healthiest and tastiest recipes you will find, a great investment! Enjoy.

I don't write many reviews. I don't buy many cookbooks. But I follow CookieandKate.com like a religion. That site has literally changed my life.

When I got the book and flipped through it, I was underwhelmed. There were 2 recipes that really stood out. One of which (the chickpea masala + green rice) was immediately added to my rotation. I thought $20 for a recipe is a bit much...

2 months later...

I've tried a dozen of the recipes and this is the most precious thing I own. From popcorn, to salad, to guac... everything I've tried is amazing. If you know nothing about cooking and wanted to completely fill out your arsenal... this is it. I'm buying a second copy for my mom for Christmas.

My wife and I have been following Kate (and Cookie) on their blog for a while. It all started with the lentil, cauliflower taco recipe. We were drawn in by her beautiful food photography (we are both amateur shutter bugs) and hooked by the clear and simple writing. Once we actually made the dish and sampled it, there was no going back. I've probably saved at least 50% of her recipes from the blog and cooked at least 95% of that. They are all easy, nutritious and delicious. While I am not a strict vegetarian (my wife is), we are both very concerned about how the animal husbandry has turned into an enormous industrial complex with massively negative repercussions to both the livestock and the humans who consume the products. People like Kate are playing a valuable role in providing non-judgmental, non-pretentious alternatives that don't require 4 hours of labor in the kitchen.

It is fantastic to have some of the recipes we love in a beautiful, coffee table type format. Thank you Kate and say hi to Cookie for us!

Absolutely love this cookbook! Healthy food, easy-to-follow instructions, incredible photos. I love that there are vegan and GF options. I also love that there are a wide range of ingredients and flavors in these dishes, and that they're just so delicious! I haven't tried a single recipe from this book that I didn't like (and I've made eight so far, and counting) Highly recommend!

so far, I've purchased five of these. The cookbook and the recipes are extraordinary- so delicious and so much fun. I keep giving mine away as a gift and have to repurchase but I have to say that this is the best gift I've ever given - EVERYONE has raved about it, which didn't surprise me. I just gave one to my new neighbor as house warming gift and now we are becoming fast friends. I've always loved the cookie and Kate blog. Honestly, I had sworn off cookbooks as I've collected far too many over the years and recipes are so accessible on the internet but this is definitely worth the purchase and I am so thrilled to support Kate (I do not know her except as a reader of her blog) but she has fun approach to food and is a good influence toward healthy eating. You really shouldn't think twice. Some of my favorites are: kale/tart cherry slaw, breakfast fajitas, shredded Brussels kale hash, Moroccan roasted carrot arugula wild rice salad,roasted cauliflower salad, roasted eggplant lasagna. So refreshing to have vegetarian cookbook that doesn't rely on mushrooms!

I have been following Cookie and Kate's food blog for the last two years and am super excited to have her cookbook arrive! Her recipes are bullet-proof, relatively simple to prepare, and have TONS of flavor! It doesn't hurt that she also uses lots of healthy ingredients too. As a foodie and home cook, I'm pretty particular about my recipes and food, and Kate creates consistently reliable recipes that turn out really well the first time I make them. Congrats Kate on your book! Please keep those awesome recipes coming!

I have made several of the meals in this cookbook. All have been good to great!

I love that she has wonderful, inventive foods without having to stock up in oddball ingredients. Even my teenage kids liked these meals.

Favorites so far:
- Banana nut bread (we made it with honey, and again in maple syrup - thumbs up for both!)
- Spinach Artichoke Quiche
- Extra-crispy baked tofu (LOVE this!!)
- Sweet Potato, poblano, and black bean enchiladas (made with corn tortillas)

Let me first say, Kate has changed my life with her cooking blog Cookie and Kate. Summer after my sophomore year in college (2014), I wanted to go on a meatless, no processed, healthy diet. I looked for some recipes online and this is how I found her site. I tried a couple recipes and they were EASY and OUTSTANDING. Full of flavor, whole foods, and delicious textures. Leaving fast-food and processed foods behind, I began buying groceries and learning how to cook through her very helpful and detailed tips. While I was just experimenting with a vegetarian diet, I felt so healthy and energized there was no way I wanted to go back to the old habits. Kate, thank you for what you've done! I've made hundreds of recipes from the blog over the years and have never been disappointed with a single one! She has several favorite healthy (and delicious) ingredients that she uses in her recipes that make it very affordable and accessible to people of all budgets to stock the pantry with. My boyfriend has also made a lifestyle change. He never imagined he would be eating healthy vegetarian foods, but he absolutely loves all of the recipes too.
LOVE REAL FOOD, is everything I would have imagined based off of her blog. Easy, delicious, tasteful, creative recipes with a beautiful photo of every single masterpiece.

Kate, I want to personally thank you for helping me make a lifestyle change for my body, the planet, and my wallet.

XOXO Leslie B

Much like the Cookie and Kate blog, this book has interesting, healthy, and easy to manage recipes. Her stuff is generally more reliably tasty and interesting than other food blogs (even, dare I say, Smitten Kitchen).

Update:
I have made a recipe from this book at least once a week since purchasing. Can recommend veggie burgers, chili, tortilla soup, and those almond no bake cookies that I can never make again because I ate them all in like 2 days.

Update 2: Wanted to update in case people want to know what to make. Moroccan Stew exceptionally delicious and healthy, Black bean/ Sweet potato enchiladas have been made too many times to count. I still make the chili every other week or so. My roommate frequently makes the stuffed sweet potatoes and loves them. The only recipe I wouldn't recommend is the Peanut Soup, which perhaps may have been the kind of peanut butter I used.

I've been a fan of her blog for a long time, and I was a little worried that I would have cooked a lot of the recipes in the book. Not true! Not only are there new, great recipes inside, but I'm finding things that I normally wouldn't pick out from the blog (like a great smoothie recipe) to make. Lots of helpful cooking and make-ahead tips, which I love.

I’ve been a long time follower of Kathryne’s blog,Cookie and Kate. So naturally when I found out she was coming out with a cookbook I pre-order that thing so quickly it wasn’t even funny. Just about a year later, this cookbook is still attached to my hip when I enter my kitchen and you can definitely tell with some of the splatter marks on the pages. I love that your able to tell Kathryne put her whole heart into the recipes, photography and writing that are in this cookbook. The majority of these recipe are delicious (still haven’t tried all of them yet) and they are all worth the time and effort needed for them. If I had to name some favorites they would be the apple crisp parfaits, everything avocado toast, roasted cherry tomato risotto and tahini kale caeser salad. Honestly though, the whole cookbook is my favorite! I am looking forward to the many recipes Kathryne has planned for the future!

I've been a follower of Cookie & Kate for years, and have been looking forward to Kate's cookbook now for months...and it does not disappoint. I absolutely LOVE IT! True to the blog, the book is full of everyday vegetarian recipes that are fresh and healthy and look downright mouthwatering. Plus the photos are gorgeous...and Cookie is so cute! I have already bookmarked dozens of recipes and can't wait to try them. :)

Like Kathryne's blog, this cookbook offers a wealth of easy-to-make recipes that don't require weird/hard-to-find ingredients but that bring together flavors and textures in combinations that bring out the best in everything. Kind of a "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" kind of meal prepping, which I find can be especially challenging in vegetarian cooking as opposed to more meat-centric recipes. THAT'S where Kathryn really shines. This book is great for those just starting out but, as a cook with decades of experience, there's more than enough to offer for folks like me (I'm also a non-vegetarian) and everyone in between. I also love that there are so many gorgeous photos of the finished products-- always something I look for. A beautiful book in every way.

My wife and I LOVE this cookbook. My wife is a long-time fan of Cookie + Kate's blog, so when Kate announced she was creating a cookbook, it instantly went to the top of her wish list. Kate's cook book did not disappoint! We love how much variety the book has and never get tired of flipping through and looking at the beautiful photographs of ALL the recipes. Having pictures helps us quickly flip through and come up with a week-long menu that incorporates many of the same ingredients, making grocery shopping quicker and helps us cut down on our waste (plus the pictures of Cookie bring the biggest smiles to our faces). We also love how versatile the recipes are; we can find a recipe that follows any diet, no matter how strict. . While we are not strict vegetarians, this cookbook quickly became our go-to book! We really can't recommend it enough for vegetarians and carnivores alike! You, and your belly, will not be disappointed with this purchase.

Yes, that is a bold statement. I've been an avid cook for decades now and have gone through a stack of cookbooks at least 3 feet high. I've now tried about a dozen recipes from Love Real Food. Every one was a winner. Very, very tasty. And I don't mean very, very tasty for vegetarian. They are flat out super tasty. And, really healthy. No overly complicated recipes or hard to find ingredients. Beautiful pictures so you know what you are getting and have some inspiration. Nice little stories that give you useful background info on what makes the recipe good and the best occasions to serve it. It is very clear that a great deal of effort went into making this cookbook truly excellent. Just super quality throughout. Hats off to Kate and Cookie too.

I recently became vegetarian after eating meat a few times intermittently and becoming quite ill. My doctor said that while it might not be an allergy, but it was certainly an intolerance. So I stopped eating meat the next day. I'm British-Canadian. I haven't had a day without meat in my life if my parents were cooking but tended to the vegetarian life while away at school. I'd eat meat around 3 times a week for one meal while at school. Coming home, though, I now had to figure out a way to eat next to my parents without eating meat. This cookbook was to die for. I've tried a few recipes in here - small ones, for now, but I cannot wait to get my hands on the soups. I've tried all of the salad dressings and cannot decide on a favourite. They're all fabulous. The quinoa black bean taco filling is unbelievable. I ended up using it as the centre to my meal prep last week - I used recipes from the cook book for tacos and the taco salad. Then I shook it up a little bit and mixed a ton of vegetables and topped it with mash potato for a "shepherd's pie". It was delicious. I would 100% recommend this book. Not only do Cookie + Kate have solid recipes for full meals but you can use bits and pieces to mix into your meal plans! Thank you, thank you! Trust me, you won't regret this purchase. (It also helps the photography is stunning).

I've made a lot of recipes from Kate's blog to great success. I checked a copy of the book from the library first to see if there were enough recipes to make it worth a purchase and the answer was a resounding YES!!! I'm going to get a lot of great use out of this one.

The most amazing/tasty recipes ever are in this cookbook. If you want to impress your friends or family with incredible meals, buy this cookbook. I make these recipes for myself as well and freeze portions for continued enjoyment. You will not be disappointed in this book and the plethera of great recipes that are food for the soul!

I actually really love this cookbook. Every recipe I've made from it has worked out and been delicious! There was one time when I made a recipe from it and it didn't turn out right and I swore off the book for a week... until I picked it up again and noticed I had added three times the amount of oil that the muffins called for, so clearly that one was on me. Definitely would recommend this book!

If you're into healthy, clean eating and making delicious dishes that don't use complicated ingredients or take a ton of time, this cookbook is for you. Even though this is a vegetarian cookbook, you don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy these recipes. They appeal to everyone!

This cookbook is simply beautiful! If there's one thing Kate has delivered over the years, it's fail-proof and satisfying recipes. I can't wait to make everything in this delicious book. It's certainly going to be a kitchen staple.

Hands down the best cookbook, generally and vegetarian, I've ever owned. Her recipes are spot on - simple to follow, quick to make, and absolutely delicious. I have not found a recipe that my husband and I don't like. I need a volume two!

I love how simple it is to cook these recipes and that it has been easy to try and go to a more plant based diet because her recipes are so good!!! I also love her sense of humor!!!!! She's real! I also love that she helps those of us that have gluten/dairy issues!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

Kathryne's recipes are my "go to" source for cooking weeknight dinners and also entertaining. Everything is healthy and delicious. The recipes are also easy to follow and she provides excellent tips. I probably use her recipes at least three days per week. Even if your not vegetarian, the food is fantastic.

Love this book! It is amazing!! Started making the recipes my mom smelled them and can not wait to try every single one. She wants me to buy her a copy. The recipes are fresh easy and full of great taste. I am so happy she made a cookbook I love her blog! This is a must buy cookbook for any collection.

I love this cookbook! I decided to buy it because I love so many recipes from the Cookie and Kate blog, and I have not been disappointed. The recipes in this book are easy to prepare and filled with flavor. I know that many of the recipes from this book will be appearing regularly on my table!

You can tell the author is an amateur. Several recipes are just not worthy of print, maybe worthy of a blog. To photograph and put recipes in a book they should each be stellar classics or inspired original recipes. So many of Kathryn's recipes are basic and uninspiring. I appreciate that her recipes are healthy and include substitutions for those with food restrictions. However, I'm not impressed with how similar many of her recipes are. I have a large collection of vegan, vegetarian and health food cookbooks, including many collected from years of travel (vegan sushi, vegetarian cajun, vegetarian French monastic cooking, etc). I can tell I won't reach for this one often or much at all :(

Love, love this cookbook! Ever since I started following her food blog I was hoping she would write a cookbook. Bravo!!! This is an awesome and healthy cookbook with easy to follow recipes and great pictures. Thank you. Job well done.

This is the best cookbook I have ever owned. The recipes are simple enough to make on weeknights, and oh so delicious! Not to mention pretty healthy. I have yet to make a recipe of Kathryn's that I do not love.

This is an amazing cookbook. I am not a vegetarian, but I like to build my meals around veggies because they are so crucial for our diets! I've loved everything I've made from this cookbook so far, and I can't wait to keep cooking!

As a fan and follower of the Cookie and Kate blog, I absolutely love this cookbook. Beautiful pictures, easy to follow receipt layout, great options to make gluten free, soy free, egg free, etc. My favorite cookbook so far!

Hands down the best cookbook, generally and vegetarian, I've ever owned. Her recipes are spot on - simple to follow, quick to make, and absolutely delicious. I have not found a recipe that my husband and I don't like. I need a volume two!

I've been a fan of the cookie + Kate blog for a while now, and this cookbook is just as amazing! Made the roasted eggplant lasagna last night, and my kids and omnivore husband also loved it! The banana pecan shakes were a huge hit as well. So excited about every recipe we've tried in here! I love that everything is vegetarian, made with healthy ingredients, and very flexible.

I love how simple it is to cook these recipes and that it has been easy to try and go to a more plant based diet because her recipes are so good!!! I also love her sense of humor!!!!! She's real! I also love that she helps those of us that have gluten/dairy issues!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

Kathryne's recipes are my "go to" source for cooking weeknight dinners and also entertaining. Everything is healthy and delicious. The recipes are also easy to follow and she provides excellent tips. I probably use her recipes at least three days per week. Even if your not vegetarian, the food is fantastic.

Love this book! It is amazing!! Started making the recipes my mom smelled them and can not wait to try every single one. She wants me to buy her a copy. The recipes are fresh easy and full of great taste. I am so happy she made a cookbook I love her blog! This is a must buy cookbook for any collection.

I love this cookbook! I decided to buy it because I love so many recipes from the Cookie and Kate blog, and I have not been disappointed. The recipes in this book are easy to prepare and filled with flavor. I know that many of the recipes from this book will be appearing regularly on my table!

You can tell the author is an amateur. Several recipes are just not worthy of print, maybe worthy of a blog. To photograph and put recipes in a book they should each be stellar classics or inspired original recipes. So many of Kathryn's recipes are basic and uninspiring. I appreciate that her recipes are healthy and include substitutions for those with food restrictions. However, I'm not impressed with how similar many of her recipes are. I have a large collection of vegan, vegetarian and health food cookbooks, including many collected from years of travel (vegan sushi, vegetarian cajun, vegetarian French monastic cooking, etc). I can tell I won't reach for this one often or much at all :(

Love, love this cookbook! Ever since I started following her food blog I was hoping she would write a cookbook. Bravo!!! This is an awesome and healthy cookbook with easy to follow recipes and great pictures. Thank you. Job well done.

This is the best cookbook I have ever owned. The recipes are simple enough to make on weeknights, and oh so delicious! Not to mention pretty healthy. I have yet to make a recipe of Kathryn's that I do not love.

This is an amazing cookbook. I am not a vegetarian, but I like to build my meals around veggies because they are so crucial for our diets! I've loved everything I've made from this cookbook so far, and I can't wait to keep cooking!

As a fan and follower of the Cookie and Kate blog, I absolutely love this cookbook. Beautiful pictures, easy to follow receipt layout, great options to make gluten free, soy free, egg free, etc. My favorite cookbook so far!

I've been a fan of the cookie + Kate blog for a while now, and this cookbook is just as amazing! Made the roasted eggplant lasagna last night, and my kids and omnivore husband also loved it! The banana pecan shakes were a huge hit as well. So excited about every recipe we've tried in here! I love that everything is vegetarian, made with healthy ingredients, and very flexible.

I appreciate that I have most of the items called for in most of the recipes on hand. I started bookmarking the recipes I wanted to make first, and then discovered that I was bookmarking almost every recipe. And to me, that is the sign of a great cookbook for my family.

This is honestly my favorite cookbook. Everything I’ve made has turned out delicious and so easy to make. The use of simple ingredients makes the meals in this book possibilities for weeknights. The most time consuming tasks are the chopping of vegetables, but that’s to be assumed given that this is a vegetarian cookbook. Love the blog and can’t wait until the next book is published. Forgot to mention that there are pictures for every meal and they are all beautiful!

I am a vegetarian. I have also cut out junk food and started eating more veggies. As a mom, one of my concerns is that my kids will grow up and will struggle with their weight and diet. I’m one of those people who grew up on pre packaged foods. I admittedly don’t know how to cook vegetables so they taste good. (My mom steamed and put cheese on vegetables or we dipped them in ranch.) Shifting my own cooking to fresh, health conscious foods has been fairly easy because I enjoy a stack of raw and sautéed veggies on a salad. However, trying to find recipes the whole family will enjoy has been difficult. This book has meals even my picky 5 year old enjoys. I love the little notes included for making it seasonal and vegan (as I am trying to transition slowly that direction).

Moral of the story, if you’re debating on if you should get this book and are reading reviews to figure out if you want it or not. Get it! You won’t be disappointed!