Woman in Real Life: Mayim's Vegan Table (book review, recipe and giveaway

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Mayim's Vegan Table (book review, recipe and giveaway - CLOSED)

As you may know, I'm a cookbook addict. (I think I've mentioned it one or two times!) It has been a very good time for me lately, with an abundance of vegan cookbooks coming out. It bodes well for a trend towards vegetarian eating too I think! The latest cookbook I have added to my collection is Mayim's Vegan Table by Emmy-nominated actress and trained neuroscientist Mayim Bialik.

An actor on CBS’s The Big Bang Theory, Bialik is also a busy vegan mom who shares every mom's challenge of getting her kids to eat nutritional meals. Mayim's Vegan Table has over 100 easy, plant-based recipes for breakfasts, snacks, lunches, dinners and desserts. Teaming up with pediatrician Jay Gordon, the book also debunks myths about raising a vegan family and provides nutrition information, must-haves for the pantry and strategies for planning meals.

Although the recipes in Mayim's Vegan Table are meant to be kid-friendly, they are sure to please Mom too. In fact, it was me who was dying to try the recipe for vegan "Mac N Cheez!" The recipe is super simple, involves only a few ingredients and turns out to be quite tasty - a satisfying, healthy alternative for those who grew up eating regular macaroni and cheese. Baking this dish in the oven is optional. I chose to do so, but next time I would make extra sauce to ensure it stays super cheesy after baking.

I also made Mayim's "Mishmash Soup." It was on a day when we were truly lacking in available groceries. This recipe is for just those days - you basically use whatever veggies and beans you have left.

My husband was skeptical (given our lack of groceries), but we were both pleasantly surprised by the results.

I'm looking forward to trying the recipes for "Root Vegetable Latkes," "Vegetable and Tofu Curry" and "Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies." Yum!

Be sure to enter to win a copy of Mayim's Vegan Table below. If you just can't wait, buy a copy now in the U.S. or in Canada.

Mac N Cheez

by Mayim Bialik

Keywords: entree vegan

Ingredients (8 servings)

1 (16-ounce) package pasta, such as farfalle, rigatoni, penne, shells, or large macaroni
1 1/4 cups nondairy milk (almond milk works best)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or white or brown rice flour
1 (8-ounce) bag shredded vegan cheese, preferably mozzarella or cheddar
1/2 cup bread crumbs (optional)

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain when al dente and place in a large bowl.

2. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

3. Heat 1 cup of the nondairy milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

4. In a cup, whisk the flour into the remaining cup of milk until dissolved. Add it slowly to the heated milk, whisking as you go. Add the shredded vegan cheese and stir constantly until the cheese is dissolved and the sauce is bubbly, about 5 minutes. Pour over the pasta mixture and stir to combine.

If desired, place the pasta in a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish and cover with the bread crumbs. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Uncover and broil until browned on top, about 5 minutes.

Enter to win a copy of Mayim's Vegan Table!

Residents of Canada and the U.S. may enter to win a copy of Mayim's Vegan Table using the rafflecopter widget below until April 17th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I was provided with a book for review purposes. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.