More-With-Less Cookbook
by Doris Janzen Longacre
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Book Reviews of More-With-Less Cookbook
Book Review: The best cookbook, bar none, you will ever own
Summary: 5 Stars
What's a nice Neopagan elder like me doing giving a five-star review to a Christian cookbook?I have my reasons:
Reason #1...this is, simply put, one of the best, most practical cookbooks you can own. It has a good collection of basic recipes, some fancy ethnic dishes, and a lot of useful information about what substitutions can appropriately be made if you suddenly discover you are out of something. The bread section alone is worth the price of the cookbook.
Reason #2...the author was very obviously concerned with wise and appropriate use of the land and of natural resources, which is a VERY important part of my own religious path. This book gives me the materials and the encouragement to "practice what I preach," which is important to me.
Reason #3...though I personally am not, many Neopagans are vegetarian, and there are plenty of good vegetarian (or easily adaptable) recipes in here.
Reason #4...trying to do the right thing for Mother Nature can be time consuming, and this cookbook specifically marks "Time Saver" recipes for those of us who do not have the time to spend.
Reason #5...it is important, especially in light of the events of 9/11/01, to show understanding and sensitivity to other people's cultures, and the stories in this cookbook certainly do that. We could use more such stories in these times.
Buy this book, and use it well. Regardless of your spiritual path, this is a practical and spiritual book that everyone should be familiar with.
Book Review: On my second copy of this cookbook!
Summary: 5 Stars
The More With Less Cookbook came out when I was a senior in college. My first copy wore out right about the time the 25-year edition came out. Not only are the recipes easy and nutritious, but since I have lived my entire life overseas, it helped me deal with the lack of US convenience foods. For example, I couldn't buy canned soups, but this cookbook has a "Basic White Sauce" recipe with variations that neatly and healthfully replaces them in casseroles.
Along with US favorites and "health food" recipes that were revolutionary back in the day, the book is full of recipes from other countries made with ingredients that are easy to find. The index in the back is a handy tool to have when trying to put together meals with what is in the refrigerator. The introduction is informative and interesting in terms of building a healthy and simple diet, and I love the notes that accompany so many of the recipes--either a comment about how and where the submitter used it, or handy variations.
After 30 years using More With Less, my daughter moved to the US for the first time. I sent her a copy of her own--to help her deal with cooking in the US!
Book Review: Recipes are GREAT. Indexing is poor.
Summary: 4 Stars
Like many other reviewers, I purchased the 25th anniversary edition of More-With-Less to replace a very old and well used copy that I lost in a divorce. Many of the recipes are like old friends, but there is also great basic cooking advice in the book. This really is the only cookbook that I use on a regular basis. My problem is with the indexing. Some of the entries in the index, like "lentils with rice" and "cabbage with beef, au gratin" are not really recipes that you will find. At first I thought the index was wrong, but the two entries I list actually refer to the comments that are on the page listed, and not to the recipes on the page listed. It took me a while to figure this out and realize that the recipes I was looking for actually don't exist. It would have been better to list these comments index entries with the separate Index to Introductory Chapters and not with the Index to Recipes. Just a word of warning, if you can't find a recipe listed in the Recipe Index, read the comments on that page and you will get a clue as to what the index entry refers to.Book Review: This is the one cookbook I use!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you only buy one cookbook, this is the one to have! I have always loved cookbooks so I have read a lot of them. This is the only cookbook I use. The recipes are simple and easy to make. The ingredients can be found in a well stocked pantry. If you do not have a well stocked pantry, read this book. It gives a list of common pantry items. This cookbook is a great money saver. Most of the recipes are inexpensive to make, and if you cook continually at home you will save money. As you peruse this cookbook you will also be reminded of how our excesses affect people in other countries. This is an important life changing lesson. I encourage you to buy this cookbook or find this cookbook in your local library. Read it and try some of the recipes. More-With-Less encourages you to use what you have on hand like vegetables from your garden. The recipes can be adapted depending on what you have on hand or what is inexpensive in your area. There are also ideas for using leftovers. We have had some great meals at home since we found More-With-Less. I couldn't be happier.Book Review: One of the best cookbooks!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was just searching Amazon to see if this book was available as a used book. I was thrilled to see that it is still on the market as a new cookbook!
I have used this cookbook for about 30 years. It is one of the best for information on using plant proteins, substituting ingredients that have more nutrition for the refined ingredients people typically use, and general information about nutrition.
The recipes in this book use ingredients that are easy to find in almost any grocery store. Many of them are very simple and can become your own by adding or changing some of the ingredients. They are clearly written with ingredients listed within the recipe as you go through the steps to make the dish--making it harder to miss one. And, the recipes are tried and true--recipes provided by people from the Mennonite community.
I plan to purchase a new copy for myself and a few as gifts.