Lindsay Nixon of the Happy Herbivore blog and cookbooks has been one of my favorites since I first started blogging and really getting into vegan cooking. Her easy approach to food makes vegan cooking approachable, affordable, and easy. No hunting around hippie grocery stores to find obscure ingredients (though hippie stores can be fun!) and no overly complex recipes. Don’t get me wrong – I love a great complicated recipe that takes hours to pull off – but let’s be serious. No one has the time nor inclination to do that ALL of the time. I know I certainly don’t.
When my eldest daughter first approached vegetarianism when she was 16 – it was Lindsay’s first book The Happy Herbivore that she used for every single meal since it was easy to follow and tasty. And believe me…if A can make a successful dish out of these time and again, you know they are easy to follow! (sorry honey).
I bought her second book, Everyday Happy Herbivore and was amazed that she came up with even more, tasty, healthy, and quick vegan meals.
So as Lindsay was looking for bloggers to help promote her latest creation Happy Herbivore Abroad with a review, interview, and giveaway – I jumped at the chance and feel fortunate to have been selected for the Blog Tour!
With over 135 internationally inspired recipes, there’s something in here for everyone.
So the day is finally here, and I want to tell you all about the newest book, what I’ve made from it, the reviews from myself and my family, and Lindsay’s answers to my interview questions, and best of all – give YOU a chance to get one of your very own. For free.
REVIEW
Peppered throughout the book (pun intended…you know…a food reference) are stories of Lindsay’s international travels. So while its first and foremost a cookbook, it’s easy to read it cover to cover as she shares stories about people, food, recreating dishes she’s enjoyed, or even getting recipes from a woman on a train (probably my favorite story).
Then of course there are the recipes. Indian, Italian, Mexican, French, Middle Eastern, German, Spanish, Thai, etc. You get the picture I hope. What’s even more fun is they are quick, no added fat, vegan, and use common ingredients from the local grocery. And somehow she manages to capture the essence of the different cultures in each dish.
I have already made a ton out of this book, but I’m going to share just a few favorites – and hope it encourages you to pick up a copy when you can. I promise – you won’t be disappointed.
my husband is VERY Italian, and we’ll do all-out Italian dinners every few months. I served up the Vodka Sauce on page 171, and it was the biggest hit of the night. Spicy, smooth, and fabulous. And when you can serve up a traditional Italian dish at only 89 calories…you don’t feel guilty eating a ton of it.
We also do a themed Mexican night most weeks – Taco Tuesday. The very first recipe I made was the lentil taco “meat” on page 43. I’ve now made it 3 times because it gets eaten so quickly and I never get leftovers. Next batch, I’m hiding in the back of the fridge so D doesn’t eat it all (again).
my personal preference is corn tortillas, though the rest of my family likes flour ones. Served up with a side of Easy Spanish Rice on p. 126 (which I made even easier by using my rice cooker), it was a perfect meal.
our preferred taco toppings – build your own, of course.
And finally, on Indian night (usually 1-2 weekend days a month), I made three of Lindsay’s Indian recipes. You can’t have Indian night with just one dish! Served up with homemade garlic naan, everyone was digging the food.
Red Lentil Masoor Dal (p. 46), Vegetable Korma (p. 100), and Aloo Matar (p. 102) all on basmati rice.
INTERVIEW
When I’m working on a new cookbook, I try out new recipes. If I like them, I pass it on to my team of testers for their approval and feedback. A good bit of recipes never make it to them and a small handful of recipes don’t make it past my testers.
I’ve got her first book. Love that your daughter uses them. I think the recipes make being vegetarian really accessible to anyone.
I really do think that’s her biggest gift. If she can take a 16 yr old who can’t follow directions if her life depends on it and she doesn’t screw up the food…then ANYONE can cook from it!
I have you in my google reader does that count?
I have traveled around Europe and other parts of the world, but that was before I was eating a plant based diet. I LOVE international foods and really want Lindsey’s new cookbook! I already have her EHH and the HH cookbooks and they are the BEST!
Awesome! I grew up in the Midwest, but really didn’t start eating international food until after giving up meat. It was like a whole new world opened up – and people think I’ve given food up or must eat the same thing every day. I tell them I eat more varied than I ever did! Welcome to the contest!!!
The food sounds so good pasta. And tacos can’t. Wait to try them
I’ve not made a bad thing from any of her books yet!
This is my first time to your blog and what fun! I am new to the vegan lifestyle and am gathering all the recipes I can. I have heard of Lindsay’s recipes and would love to get her books. I have them on my wishlist for the holidays
Thanks for coming by the blog! Hope you continue to enjoy it. I hope to help fulfill at least one of your wishlist items! Good luck!
Please enter me in your giveaway. I have Lindsey’s first two books and REALLY want a complete set!
you’re in!
Please enter me in the drawing, sounds like a great book!
You bet!
Really looking forward to this book! I have her first two books already, hope to win the third!
Good luck! You know how great the first two are, and this one is fantastic too!
Please enter me in the drawing
thanks!
You’re in!
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