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yodamom's review
3.0
It's not easy finding good tasting recipes for vegan crockpot cooking. I've tried most come out mushy, lacking any distinguishable flavor. I looked through all the recipes, there is a good variety. I tried a couple recipes, Baigan Bharta (eggplant curry) and the Atomic Pecan Loaf, both were good and still held some flavor even after such long cooking time. Both could have been made quickly without using a crockpot. I also tried a couple that not one person out of five liked, Sage Walnut Pesto Squash, and Scrambled Tofu with Peppers. These tasted bland over cooked and had off textures. I found the ingredients easy to find but I live in a major metropolitan area, and can get to a specialty store easily. I did like the way the author set up a night before time table of prep work but why use a crockpot for such quick cooking dishes ? I cook and have made many of these dishes not using a crockpot. I don't see any time saving use for a crockpot for most of them, it actually takes away from the dish by over cooking. If you are dying to use your crockpot perhaps this is the book for you. The pictures are beautiful, the set up of the recipes wonderful, the spices are there, I might use this in the future minus the slow cooker.
kristirose's review
3.0
A Little Disappointing
There are a few recipes from this book that have made it into our meal plans; however, I had hoped for more. A lot of the recipes call for meat replacements and ingredients that are not available at my normal local grocery store. I had really hoped for more recipes using fresh ingredients.
Overall, I am glad that I read it. However, I wish that I had checked it out from the library instead of purchasing it.
There are a few recipes from this book that have made it into our meal plans; however, I had hoped for more. A lot of the recipes call for meat replacements and ingredients that are not available at my normal local grocery store. I had really hoped for more recipes using fresh ingredients.
Overall, I am glad that I read it. However, I wish that I had checked it out from the library instead of purchasing it.
skiracechick's review
3.0
I checked out this book in hopes of finding lots of good vegan recipes that I can throw into the crock-pot before work and have a delicious meal ready when I get home. Alas, the cook time on most recipes don't really allow for it. Some of the recipes seem like more work to use the crock-pot than not. But I'm willing to check some out, as the do sound yummy.
trixie_reads's review
4.0
There were a lot of recipes using meat analogs, but I found quite a few bean and vegetable recipes I wanted to try.
megsreads32's review
4.0
This book inspired me to buy a crockpot and I haven't turned back. It is probably not for a person who is new to being vegan or vegetarian--or looking for specific brand recommendations and step-by-step but as someone who has been vegetarian for 5 years and has never used a cookbook I had no problem making the recipes. Everything I have made has been super tasty, including the granola. I've also been inspired to make my own staples like cooking and freezing beans, sauce, etc. from scratch. I haven't tried any of the recipes that use fake meat. This book has changed the way I think about cooking and is a perfect companion to Wildly Affordable Organic.
lauren_endnotes's review
5.0
I already loved my slow cooker, but this book has made me appreciate it even more! So many ideas (much more than the expected soups and stews) and easy-to-find ingredients inside. I like the layout of the recipes and the suggestions of how you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time for optimal time savings (sauteing onions/garlic the night before, etc.) With the variety of recipes inside, I think I will have vegetable inspirations for many many years to come.
pinkalpaca's review
4.0
Finally inspired to buy a slow cooker to make cooking huge batches of beans easier, I had to get a cookbook to go alongside. The layout of the recipes is helpful, telling you if you need a smaller cooker or to double or triple a recipe if you only have a larger one. She also includes simple steps (like sauteing) that need to be done the night before.
I haven't made very much yet, but there are a ton of recipes that look good. So far I've made:
~Dry Beans from Scratch 5*
~Split Pea & Lentil Soup 4*
~Creamy Potato Soup 2*, not a lot of flavor, but it was due to my broth
~Pumpkin & White Bean Lasagna 5*, this is off-the-charts deliciousness!
~Spinach Artichoke Dip 4*, this was a chunky dip, a bit odd texture-wise for me, but the leftovers were scrumptious tossed with penne and topped off with cauliflower ricotta.
I haven't made very much yet, but there are a ton of recipes that look good. So far I've made:
~Dry Beans from Scratch 5*
~Split Pea & Lentil Soup 4*
~Creamy Potato Soup 2*, not a lot of flavor, but it was due to my broth
~Pumpkin & White Bean Lasagna 5*, this is off-the-charts deliciousness!
~Spinach Artichoke Dip 4*, this was a chunky dip, a bit odd texture-wise for me, but the leftovers were scrumptious tossed with penne and topped off with cauliflower ricotta.
sjoyce11's review
5.0
An amazing yet simple vegan cook book, and with all slow cooker recipes it can't any easier. I can't wait to try these recipes!
voya_k's review
5.0
Totally life changing. I hadn't used my crockpot for YEARS before I read this. And I'm not even a vegan. Kathy's recipes are friendly, creative, approachable and delicious. I love the way she points out what you can prep the night before. Srsly, I am probably going to eventually cook every recipe in this book.
cyndin's review
4.0
Creative and innovative recipes using slow cookers. All vegan and most are gluten and/or soy-free or give alternative ingredients. With few exceptions, cookbooks written by a single author tend to rely on the same set of ingredients. Hester uses a lot of nutritional yeast, soy sauce, and other ferments to create her flavors and relies heavily on tomato sauce and potatoes (which is fine except I personally can't eat any of them). Although she has sections for side dishes and sauces and desserts, many of the remaining recipes have little protein, so aren't suitable for main dishes, despite being labeled as such. For those that do have protein, some have beans but mostly she relies on tofu, tempeh, and seitan. She advices readers who are gluten-intolerant to use the soy and readers who are soy-intolerant to use the seitan, leaving no room for someone who can't have either or who wants more variety.
Where she really shines on variety is in preparation. Her recipes range from 5 minutes of morning prep (grab stuff from the freezer, load the slow cooker, turn it on, and head out) to fairly involved, with lots inbetween (most recipes have some evening prep, then in the morning you load and go).
The sheer number of things she cooks this way is astounding. While most are dinner dishes that cook all day, there are also many breakfast meals that cook overnight, sauces, fillings, and more to make ahead then freeze to add back later, plus a few extras like cakes and pizza.
I read cookbooks like novels and enjoyed this one, including her side notes. I haven't yet tried any but that is on my to-do list!
Where she really shines on variety is in preparation. Her recipes range from 5 minutes of morning prep (grab stuff from the freezer, load the slow cooker, turn it on, and head out) to fairly involved, with lots inbetween (most recipes have some evening prep, then in the morning you load and go).
The sheer number of things she cooks this way is astounding. While most are dinner dishes that cook all day, there are also many breakfast meals that cook overnight, sauces, fillings, and more to make ahead then freeze to add back later, plus a few extras like cakes and pizza.
I read cookbooks like novels and enjoyed this one, including her side notes. I haven't yet tried any but that is on my to-do list!