Rating: 
Summary: simple, good and creative
Review: "Vegetable Heaven" is a rare combination -- it is both very simple, very good and very creative. Mollie Katzen has learned the lesson that the real trick is to create good food by doing the right things to a few simple ingredients, rather than by pouring in ingredient after ingredient. The cookbook is pleasantly organized into sensible but slightly unusual categories. The recipies themselves are clearly presented, with ingredients listed clearly on a side bar. And the deserts I've tried are excellent and easy to prepare. Furthermore, the cookbook is healthy without being dogmatic about it. Most of the recipies have little or no fat, but she's not afraid to use some butter where it's really worth it. Also, while not a vegan cookbook, vegans will find lots of recipies that they can use. Mollie Katzen is one of the early vegetarian cookbook pioneers (she wrote the famous "Moosewood Cookbook" and "The Enchanted Broccoli Forest"), and her cookbooks have improved greatly since her first books. Another great book of hers is "Still Life with Menu".
Rating:
Summary: Two thumbs up
Review: Clear, concise and feasible receipes even a novice could follow. Accessible ingredients and suggestions for alternatives put all of these wonderful concoctions within reach, even if you live in a carnivorous cowtown with limited produce seasons (as, sadly, I do). The art is all Mollie -- very colorful and appealing. It reminds me how much I wish she would show and sell her work but, alas, art is a very personal thing. This volume is a companion to the author's new PBS series. It's hard to decide if the book enhances the show more or vise versa. No matter, just enjoy both.
Rating: 
Summary: Every recipe a disappointment
Review: Every recipe I have tried from this book has been very labor-intensive and a complete disappointment. I'm baffled by all the good reviews here. I am getting rid of this book so that I am never tempted to cook from it again. (For a great everyday veggie cookbook, try Simple Vegetarian Pleasures instead!)
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing vegetarian
Review: I am very disappointed with this visually pretty but gastronomically empty book. I have made several recipes and have found there is just not much to them. So many of the recipes are just dressed up salads that are not very filling. I think Mollie Katzen must eat like a bird because these recipes are just not substantial fare for a family and my children are just not going to eat main dishes centered around mushrooms, etc. Some of the baked goods are okay but in a vegetarian book, I am really looking for great vegetable recipes. I heard that her original Moosewood book is great. Maybe I'll get that one. This one just sits on my shelf!
Rating:
Summary: I'm making a recipe from it right now!
Review: I borrowed this book from my local library a three weeks ago and cannot bear to part with it until I have my very own copy. Katzen gives very sophisticated yet easy recipes for meals that are so delightful that my family doesn't miss the meat! It's a wonderful addition to any at-home library!
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I collect cookbooks, especially those with a vegetarian slant, and this one is exceptional. The Firecracker Red Beans and the Pineapple Basmati Pilaf alone are worth the price of admission here. As usual, the author's directions are clear and complete. My only complaint is a lack of pictures. I know that illustrations are more in line with the author's style, but I DO miss the help which pictures give when planning how a meal will look when all put together.
Rating: 
Summary: another great cookbook from Mrs. Katzen
Review: I fell in love with Mollie Katzen's cookbooks when I received her "New Enchanted Broccoli Forest" as a Christmas present. I found that being a vegetarian (and still basically a normal guy) meant having to deal with some weird stuff when you went to use a vegetarian cookbook. "Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven: Over 200 Recipes for Uncommon Soups, Tasty Bites, Side-By-Side Dishes, and Too Many Desserts" is a great book for a person like me. I have never been and will never grow to be fond of Tofu (actually, there is one exception to this declaration--but that is for another time and place). Way too many vegetarian cookbooks feature tofu almost to the exclusion of any other kind of an entree. This is discouraging for those of us who HATE tofu. Mollie is a different kind of bird than the "tofu-natics." Her books have some recipes featuring tofu (and some of the other items unique to vegetarianism) mind you, but she does not club the aspiring vegetarian chef over the head with it. That is one of the main reason I like her books--I love this one in particular. Another reason I really like this book is that these recipes make you look like you know what you're doing in the kitchen. I made the Mexican Chocolate Cake with Mocha Cream for instance...people raved about it...so much of life is in following the instructions. This book is laid out differently than her earlier books. It has side by side dish options, more extensive menus in the back, and a different kind of artwork. I like her old and new looks about the same. The color is a big plus to this volume, but it is really a matter of apples and oranges. I thank Mollie Katzen from the bottom of my heart for sharing these wonderful recipes. The rest of you should check them out.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, this cookbook SINGS!
Review: I have Mollie Katzen's older cookbook, The Enchanted Broccoli Forest, and while that book is nice to flip thru, I haven't found it terribly inspiring. Many of the recipes are full of eggs, cheese, dairy and, well, I cook cause I like to play in the kitchen, and frankly I've played with eggs & cheese & dairy far too long to get toked about recipes that fall back on such pedestrian ingredients. But this book... OH MY!!! Her intent here is to create uncomplicated dishes that celebrate the full bounty & beauty of vegetables, grains, spices, nuts, and seasonings. The recipes are amazing! Some require only one ingredient, even, and many simple-but-creative cooking techniques are explained that will probably expand your kitchen repetoire considerably. Recipes range from elegant & sophisticated dishes that sparkle on your table, to simple rustic peasant fare that fills your belly without overloading on the fat. And LOTS of sauces, condiments, and other "extras" that will add color & flavor to almost any meal. A word about the so-called exotic ingredients she sometimes calls for: Mollie often suggests a substitute if you can't find something, but honestly, most of this stuff is pretty easy to find anywhere --even the unusual stuff-- if you put a little effort into looking for it. I live in a verrrrry small rural town in the middle of Georgia, and I have been able to find almost everything I need at my "local" Kroger (have to drive 45 mins into town, but I do that every week anyway). Get familiar with your store's ethnic & natural foods aisles, and you'll be surprised at what's available. Buy this book, and enjoy it. Such deliciousness!!! :-)
Rating:
Summary: Mollie's best! Flavorful, healthy home cookin'.
Review: I have most of Mollie Katzen's cookbooks, but this is hands-down my favorite one from her. Anyone who's interested in her cookbooks may want to start (and end!) with this one. She moves away from the egg and cheese based cooking that appeared in her Moosewood Cookbook and has taken a fresher approach, using cooking techniques (such as carmelizing) and creative condiments (my favorite: balsamic syrup, which is simply balsamic vinegar boiled down for 30 minutes) to add wonderful flavor without adding much fat. And the recipes are easy -- many of them have shorter ingredient lists than she had in the past. Definitely try the Soft Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes and Carmelized Onions!
Rating:
Summary: My new favorite Mollie Katzen cookbook!
Review: I love this book! Mollie's recipes are easy to follow, and just as easy to alter in personal ways. Her ideas are great for using as a base for your own experimentation. The three layer Persian rice pilaf is a must try. It's a beautiful dish when baked as a mold...your guests will bow down at your feet! Try using chopped apricots instead of golden raisins in the carrot-cumin rice mixture. Mollie is a food goddess!
| 
