After flipping through the book, I landed on a few recipes that I thought seemed both easy and satisfying. The first were these nori rolls. Though I didn't have any avocados lying around, I forged ahead and filled them with cucumbers, red peppers, and carrot. The little bit of miso in these rolls added an umami flavor, which left me feeling satisfied.
The second recipe I tested was the strawberry-cashew yogurt from the breakfast section. Yogurt is a wonderful way to start to the day, and I was curious to see if cashews would be a good alternative to the processed yogurts in the supermarket. Despite my lack of a high speed blender, I'd say this recipe was a success. It came out a little grainy, but it was still the right thickness and flavor. Between the lemon juice for tang and maple syrup for sweetness, this recipe satisfied my yogurt need at seven in the morning. I would definitely make it again, maybe with a different fruit like blueberries or pineapple.
You're probably most curious about the dessert section. I was too. Both simplicity and decadence were the requirements for me. That landed me on the chocolate mousse recipe. The secret to the mousse's chocolatey, smooth richness? Avocados. Mild and high in good fat, avocados are ideal for a healthy, after-dinner dessert. Without a doubt, this recipe would win over some die-hard meat eaters at a dinner party.
I'd definitely recommend this book to college students looking to incorporate healthier meals into their lives or even to families trying to eat more fruits and veggies. All the recipes seemed simple enough to follow and could easily be multiplied to make more servings. Jennifer has provided recipes for unique salads, green smoothies, flourless cake and even ramen. If you're at all curious about raw food, this is a good place to start.
Rachel is recent graduate of the University of Maine, where she studied Spanish and English with a concentration in professional writing. In addition to writing and editing for Eco-Vegan Gal, she is the blogger behind The Judgmental Vegan and writes for One Green Planet.