120+ Recipes for Every Day or Every So Often
October 4, 2021
“Once your body realizes vegan food can be flavorful, filling, and very satisfying, your mind will follow.... You will not starve,” promises Seinfeld (Deceptively Delicious) in this charming collection. Without adopting a vegan lifestyle wholesale, Seinfeld (who was initially a skeptic of the “dogmatic” trend herself) offers a simple approach to “ease into veganism” by occasionally incorporating more plant-based foods into one’s diet. These uncomplicated and recognizable recipes don’t scream “vegan”—most simply switch out dairy for plant-derived options (cashew, almond, oat) or swap butter for nut and vegetable oils. Breakfast offerings include flaky biscuits “that could be a catalyst for any nonbeliever” and are made with plant-based butter and milk, and chia pudding with caramelized bananas. Legumes and mushrooms serve as the foundation for an all-purpose meat substitute in dishes such as mushroom bolognese or taco salad. A chapter of small bites, dubbed “quickies”—including a green hummus (made verdant with parsley or cilantro) and a meatless club sandwich—and lists for vegan pantry basics (chickpeas, shallots, Dijon mustard), cooking equipment, and menu ideas offer an encouraging push for those ready to take the leap into meatless cooking. The result is a pleasurable and practical guide for testing the vegan waters. Agent: Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, WME.
November 24, 2021
The fifth cookbook from Seinfeld (Food Swings, 2017), the self-proclaimed kitchen problem solver, tackles vegan cooking and pairs her fun and carefree philosophy with healthy cooking often in disguise. If you want to dabble in vegan cooking or are thinking of a lifestyle change, Seinfeld provides instructions for building your menus and your pantry. She has great recipes for homemade stand-ins for grocery-store vegan substitutes--like the cashew queso--that are affordable, simple, and delicious. When needed, she provides her family's favorite brand recommendations which also takes the guesswork out of the shopping. Recipes are fresh, ingredient-forward, and flavorful, and will provide tons of weeknight favorites. While designed for the newbie, Vegan, at Times delivers tons of inspiration for even the most dedicated herbivore. In the crowded market of vegan cookbooks, Seinfeld does an impressive job of providing reworked classics, comfort food, and snacks that will please even a picky crowd.
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January 14, 2022
Seinfeld's sixth cookbook is built around the premise that anyone can cook, eat, and enjoy vegan food, whether on a full-time basis or only "at times." Seinfeld explains that while she believes a vegan diet has clear benefits for personal health and the environment, her approach to promoting vegan food is free of labels, pressure, and "preaching." Instead, she offers a range of approachable and familiar American-style dishes that many people may not have realized could be made in a vegan version. From breakfast dishes such as pancakes and French toast to hearty dinner options such as tacos, pizza, and mac and cheese, Seinfeld's recipes demonstrate that vegan food can be filling and satisfying. VERDICT While the recipes here are not exactly groundbreaking, Seinfeld's easygoing approach to vegan food will win over home cooks ready to take the leap into vegan cooking. Highly recommended for anyone preparing meals for a family or group that includes both vegans and non-vegans, as Seinfeld's appealing range of home cooking favorites has wide general appeal.--Kelsy Peterson
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