BOOK REVIEW: Tom Turnip's Plant Foods Adventure (children's book)

I recently received a request to read a children's book and write a review on it. Most of the time, I am asked to review cookbooks, so this was a very different request!

The book I was asked to read and review is called Tom Turnip's Plant Foods Adventure, by Crunchy Tubie Mama (authored with Shelby King). Before reading the book, I decided to watch the introduction video sent to me along with the link to download the book. I am so glad I watched the video first because it gave me an understanding of why the book was written, though I don't think it is essential to watch the video before reading the book. The video is about the author's experience as a mom who gave birth prematurely to a son, who ultimately developed a severe eating disorder called oral aversion because of the medical crises he endured during the first year of his life.

After watching the video, I jumped right in to reading the book. Creatively written, the book is about a little boy named Tom Turnip who learns about how "foods that grow from the ground are the very best foods to be found!" Crunchy Tubie Mama is skillful in leading our main character to that conclusion in a way that is engaging and fun. The book also contains several delightful recipes that children can make with their parent(s)--all from whole plant foods!

In a word, this book is REFRESHING. It clearly educates children on the importance of eating healthy whole plant foods and without being too complicated, explains what has happened to the world as a result of the negative repercussions of processed foods. EVERY child should be read this book--OVER and OVER. The message is essential!

This would be an awesome gift to give someone who has children, for a Christmas gift to a child, or just simply to purchase because, well, it's a fabulous book! 😊

You can find the book on Amazon.com.

Disclosure: Mrs. Plant makes use of Amazon.com affiliate links when they are available. These are products I have personally purchased and recommend based on my experience with them. Your use of these links for product purchases provides me with a commission which pays for the food and supplies I use to keep this website alive. However, your use of these links as a reader is not required. 

Cookbook Review: How Not to Die Cookbook

EVERYONE knows I am a HUGE NutritionFacts.org and Dr. Michael Greger, M.D. fan, so I (of course) immediately bought the How Not to Die Cookbook as soon as it was available. The recipes were created by Robin Robertson, and they are based on Dr. Greger's DAILY DOZEN--which is essentially a strategy for getting *in* the healthy foods and crowding *out* the unhealthy ones. You can even download a free app (Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen) for your phone that allows you to check off the healthy servings of foods that you eat each day--a great way to track your progress! All of the recipes in this cookbook are made from whole plant foods and do not contain processed ingredients, sugar, or oil.

I have only made a few recipes so far, but I wanted to share this DYNAMITE dressing from p. 80 with you because it's going to be slathered over kale for our dinner tonight, and I CAN'T WAIT! The recipe is called "Mango-Avocado-Kale salad with Ginger-Sesame Orange Dressing." Doesn't that sound INCREDIBLE!?!?!

I will continue to post recipes I make from this cookbook, so stay tuned!

Book Review: Thin From Within by Joseph J. Luciani, PH.D.

As most of you know, I was able to lose 50 lbs. by adopting a whole foods plant-based lifestyle. But, I didn't change some of the destructive habits in the process. Thin From Within by Joseph J. Luciani, PH.D. is helping me learn some awesome tools to create habit reformation in my life.

If you struggle with losing weight and keeping it off, or if your weight loss is stalled, check out this book. Luciani offers a self-coaching plan to help you make permanent habit changes that will help you break free from some of the obstacles in your way of success.  I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Disclosure: Mrs. Plant makes use of Amazon.com affiliate links when they are available. These are products I have personally purchased and recommend based on my experience with them. Your use of these links for product purchases provides me with a commission which pays for the food and supplies I use to keep this website alive. However, your use of these links as a reader is not required.

The Cheese Trap: Herbed Cheese Ball

Dreena Burton has done it yet AGAIN with her party-friendly Herbed Cheese Ball recipe. This is just one of many recipes in the all-new The Cheese Trap by Dr. Neal Barnard, my hero. This rich, tasty ball of pleasure will convert any cheese addict to the bright side!

I made this "cheese" ball for our recent potluck dinner, and it was leveled before dinner started. I served it with Trader's Joe's Whole Wheat Lavash Bread, which I cut into small rectangles and baked (no oil!) in the oven at 325 degrees until crispy (8-12 minutes, depending on your oven. They were the perfect cheese vehicle!

Disclosure: Mrs. Plant makes use of Amazon.com affiliate links when they are available. These are products I have personally purchased and recommend based on my experience with them. Your use of these links for product purchases provides me with a commission which pays for the food and supplies I use to keep this website alive. However, your use of these links as a reader is not required. 

The Cheese Trap - By Dr. Neal Barnard (with recipes by Dreena Burton)

Dr. Barnard is my HERO! I wouldn't be off diabetes medications without the guidance in his books and videos. And now, he's got a fabulous, new book to help people with cheese addiction and weight loss. This is the PERFECT book to share with family and friends! And, Dreena Burton wrote the recipes for the book! Need I say more?
CLICK HERE to purchase THE CHEESE TRAP!

Disclosure: Mrs. Plant makes use of Amazon.com affiliate links when they are available. These are products I have personally purchased and recommend based on my experience with them. Your use of these links for product purchases provides me with a commission which pays for the food and supplies I use to keep this website alive. However, your use of these links as a reader is not required. 

eBook Review - Plant-Powered Dressings by Dreena Burton

Made this amazing RANCH dressing last night from Plant-Powered Dressings by Dreena Burton. Dairy-free, oil-free, sugar-free, yet DELISH!

You can use my code "mrsplant" to get 10% OFF during checkout!

http://plantpoweredkitchen.com/oil-free-vegan-salad-dressings/

NEW COOKBOOK: The PlantPure Kitchen by Kim Campbell

Everyone knows how much I LOVE the PlantPure Nation cookbook. It's truly one of my FAVES! I am super excited because Kim Campbell's newest book, The PlantPure Kitchen is out, and the price today is spectacular! I bought two last week at $19.99 each. Today, it's on sale for $13.36!

This book is sure to be another winner. Kim is a clever and talented whole foods plant-based chef, so you can count on lots a great new recipes to add to your menu in 2017!

Disclosure: Mrs. Plant makes use of Amazon.com affiliate links when they are available. These are products I have personally purchased and recommend based on my experience with them. Your use of these links for product purchases provides me with a commission which pays for the food and supplies I use to keep this website alive. However, your use of these links as a reader is not required. 

PlantPure Nation Cookbook: Beanie Veggie Loaf

Here's an alternative way to make the Beanie Veggie Loaf in the PlantPure Nation cookbook p. 178 if you want to reduce the number of pans/bowls you use and NOT have to sauté the veggies beforehand.

1. Process whole grain toast in food processor for bread crumbs.  Measure out 1 cup of breadcrumbs and set aside in small bowl. Store the extra crumbs in your freezer.
2. Do not clean your food processor out! Process walnuts in food processor into fine pieces.  Set aside in the same bowl as the bread crumbs.
3. Do not clean your food processor out! Process onion,  garlic,  carrots,  celery and red bell pepper into small pieces in the food processor. Placed in a large bowl.
4. Do not clean your food processor out! Process chickpeas in the food processor until they are in tiny pieces but not pasty. Placed in large bowl with chopped veggies.
5. Add flaxmeal/water mixture to the large bowl, along with the oats, bread crumbs, walnuts, seasonings, veggie broth, etc.
6. Topped with sauce.
7. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour so veggies cook well and loaf is firm. Tent with foil halfway through (at around 25 minutes in). Let sit for 30 minutes before cutting into slices.

NOTE: This veggie loaf can be made the day or night before you want to serve it. You can warm slices up right before you eat.

Book Review: How Not To Die by Dr. Michael Greger

Though I have not finished this "meaty" book, I can tell you that it chock-full of titillating content and is absolutely worth purchasing. The front half of the book explains 15 of the country's top dietary illnesses with a great amount of wisdom in preventing and reversing them, and the back half of the book is all about what to eat (Dr. Greger's "Daily Dozen") and more!

In addition, This book is rich in humor and valuable content. Dr. Greger, as always, has me in stitches every time I sit down to read a chapter or two. He's a brilliant physician with an enormous amount of expertise in the field of nutrition.

Don't wait. Find out How Not to Die! 

Holiday Gift Ideas

If you are looking for awesome books to give as gifts this year, check out my book/cookbook/video recommendations!
These books have helped me to transform my health and my perspective on life.
Add a package of see-through sticky notes with your cookbook gift, so your recipient can "tag" their favorite recipes and add notes!

Book Review: PlantPure Nation Cookbook by Kim Campbell

I am so thrilled because I just received my copy of the PlantPure Nation DVD and cookbook. Of course, I couldn't wait to read through the cookbook and begin trying the plant-based recipes. I actually read from the beginning of a cookbook--the foreward, the introduction, and the index! In the introduction, I learned more about the author, Kim Campbell. It is uncanny how many similarities we have! We are both moms (with our oldest being 23 years old), both from Upstate New York originally, both former school teachers, and both LOVE cooking!

What I find fabulous about this cookbook is that the recipes are aligned greatly with the way I like to cook--dishes full of flavor, not super simplistic, yet also not complicated.

My first recipe made from the book was the Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing on p. 124. Making oil-free dressing that isn't too tart or too pungent is a challenge. I am in LOVE with this dressing already, and it hasn't even made it to my lettuce yet! I also made the Banana Bread on p. 60. Kim describes the bread as being less sweet than a banana quick bread, and I would agree. It's light and more like a cross between traditional banana bread and a whole grain bread. I could make a sandwich with it!

I have bookmarked so many recipes already, I ran out of sticky notes! Would LOVE to hear which are your favorite recipes, so include them in the comments below. If you haven't purchased the cookbook yet, this is a fantastic cookbook to help you begin or keep you on track with this lifestyle!

NEW! Mrs. Plant's Book Recommendations!

There have been SO many books that have inspired me on my journey that I felt like it was time to share them all with you! Each and every one (except for one book I am reading now--but I know it's fantastic even after the first 20 pages--and one book that you have to pre-order, but again I know it will be incredible!) has my personal stamp of approval. You, too, will be inspired to live a healthier lifestyle while protecting animals and the environment in the process.

CLICK TO VIEW MY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS!

Book Review and Giveaway: Plant-Powered Families by Dreena Burton

This Friday, I will give away a SIGNED copy of PLANT-POWERED FAMILIES by Dreena Burton! Check out my FB page for details!

Book Review:
It all started with my desperate need to find a plant-based Caesar salad dressing that did not contain oil. Everything I tried tasted terrible. Then, my book arrived—Plant-Powered Families—written by the well-known mom and chef, Dreena Burton.  I wanted to quickly thumb through the book, but it was hard to when every page—every recipe and photo—drew me in! Finally, I made it to page 106. YES! An oil-free Caesar dressing with ingredients I could find at my local Trader Joe’s. With company invited for dinner that coming weekend (and oven-roasted eggplant “parmesan” subs on the menu), I knew this would be the perfect complement. Let’s just say EVERYONE licked their salad bowl clean.

The next recipe I tried was the Balsamic-Glazed Seasoned Yam Fries (p. 155). We were having homemade veggie burgers and these took the show away.  My sons (who are not huge sweet potato fans) scarfed them down in seconds flat.

From the Ultimate Teriyaki Stir-Fry (p. 166) to the deliciously nut-meggy Best Banana Bread (p. 48), everyone in my family has thoroughly enjoyed each and every recipe I have made so far.  Even though my children are practically grown, this book has been a hit in my home.  Having the boys home this summer, I was cooking for four again. I am so glad I had this book of gems to make me seem like a star mom in the kitchen.        

I especially appreciate that I haven’t had to skip over recipes because Dreena used all WHOLE food ingredients in every recipe. With my “no-oil” restriction, I always feel like I have to modify recipes. Thankfully, this has not been the case!

Finally, please don’t miss out on Part Four of Plant-Powered Families. This is a section NO ONE should skip. It has a plethora of important information, including do-it-yourself staples recipes and helpful cooking guides. The sample meal plans make it really simple to find ideas for feeding your family, while the FAQ section offers answers to nutrition questions you might be wondering about.

All around, the book gets 5 out of 5 stars. It will soon be another one of my "beat up" cookbooks because I will be using it ALL the time!

This Friday, I will give away a SIGNED copy of PLANT-POWERED FAMILIES by Dreena Burton!
Check out my FB page for details!