Plant and Planet

Starred review from November 1, 2021
Delicious vegetarian recipes are paired with “practical, real life advice for a better planet” in this excellent collection from the folks at BuzzFeed’s Goodful. While they believe cutting out meat is the “most effective way to reduce your environmental impact,” the authors also explore other simple eco-friendly practices, such as buying seasonally and sustainably (“lean heavily toward fresh produce and pantry staples”), reducing packaging, and extending the life of food through proper handling. With a recipes section guided by the mantra “work smarter, not harder,” it will come as no surprise that meal prep here is king. Accordingly, unfussy instructions are on offer to make a week’s work of grains, precook beans, and roast veggies in batches. To save money and time, home cooks are offered a tantalizing selection of five-ingredients-or-fewer meals—including charred whole broccoli salad—and ten meals that can be made in less than ten minutes—such as mushroom scallops with quick pea mash, and caramelized banana and orange parfaits. Zero-waste dishes, including a glorious grainless pie crust with whole-citrus filling, zero-waste pesto, and vegetable scrap stock, are easy on the wallet as well as the planet. Home cooks looking to eat more consciously will find this immensely inspiring and deeply satisfying.

December 1, 2021

This new work by the editors of Goodful is written with sustainably in mind and provides vegetarian recipes, (most with vegan options), along with sections on shopping economically and limiting food waste and packaging. There are also tips from food experts on getting the most from grocery purchases. Rather than being divided into typical appetizer/entr�e/dessert categories, this book has nine chapters based on situational scenarios (e.g., prepare-ahead meals for the week; cleaning out the fridge; fast meals for busy times). There are also sections on food preservation, bread-making, (along with vegan butter), and a chapter titled "Live a Little" that has recipes for potato doughnuts and loaded breakfast nachos. Each section has an introduction by a chef or food writer, followed by seven to 10 recipes (about half of which are accompanied by bright color photographs). VERDICT More about general sustainable eating than it is about specific recipes. A practical work focused on ways to eliminate waste, and shop and cook responsibly while still eating delicious food.--Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2021
Plant and Planet by the folks at Goodful (The Goodful Cookbook, 2019) delivers a practical guide to vegetarian cooking that takes the guesswork out of developing basic cooking skills, building a pantry, and meal planning. The first thing that makes this cookbook stand out from the pack is its focus on sustainability, including hints, tips, and expert opinions on how and why to make your kitchen environmentally friendly. The second noteworthy feature of this book is the practicality. No one can balk at the idea of 10 meals in under 10 minutes, easy tips to reuse leftovers, and swapping out ingredients. Recipes are easy and flavorful, rarely leave a leftover ingredient, and have plenty of vegan adaptations. This cookbook provides a great entry point to new vegetarians that are motivated by ecology and plenty for those of us who want to audit their kitchen's sustainability.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.