Vegan MoFo Day 29: My Favorite Cookbooks

I want to give a shout out today to some of my favorite cookbooks that I use regularly. I've mentioned some of them here and there, but some of the ones I neglected this month need their own shout out, since I didn't get to share one of their recipes (I should have planned this MoFo better). Any (or all) of these would AMAZING gifts for this gift-giving season.

1) Vegan With A Vengeance: This book totally changed my cooking. Before this, my vegan cooking mainly took the form of omni recipes with mock meats in place of the meat. Not very tasty. VWAV taught me how to cook. The Scrambled Tofu, Pancakes, Basil-Tofu Ricotta, Matzoh Ball Soup, and Brooklyn Pad Thai have become indispensable regulars on my kitchen table because they're quick, easy, or the very best thing I've ever eaten.

2) Yellow Rose Recipes: I make the Tamale Pie from this book often. It's tastes fantastic and it's so easy to throw together. Actually, that's an accurate description for all the recipes in this book. So quick and easy and delicious. It's out of print now, so if you're lucky enough to have snagged one, keep it close to your heart. If you don't have it, try to snag one of the few used copies available out there.

3) The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur: I just got this book and I'm already in love with it. Just browsing the recipes takes all day because there are SO many. I've only made the Soft Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies so far because that's all I had on hand, but everything looks so good. Some of the creative recipes in here include Piña Colada Cookies, Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, Thin Mint-type cookies, Chocolate Peppermint Cream Bars, S'mores Bars, classics like snickerdoodles and chocolate chip, and an entire section of no-bake cookies for those summer days when turning the oven on is out of the question. I can't wait to get in there and start making everything.

4) Anything at all by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and/or Terry Hope Romero: I am convinced that these two wonderful women are literally unable to make a recipe that isn't delicious. Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World is the reason I'm known as the cupcake girl wherever I go. The Magical Coconut Bars from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar are truly magical, as they seem to disappear from the pan within moments of making them. Viva Vegan puts canned refried beans to shame and makes me hate Taco Bell. Veganomicon made me star of many potlucks. And Vegan Brunch has replaced the question "What should I make for breakfast?" with "What ELSE should I make for breakfast?!" Don't get caught up in the assumption that this is only for breakfast, though. The quiche, crab cakes, and sausages are just a few of the recipes that are wonderful for lunch or dinner as well.

5) Appetite for Reduction: This one's not out yet, but I already have it on pre-order. It's another one of Isa's--filled with healthy, wholesome recipes. If you head over to Amazon, you can use the "Look Inside" function to check out the table of contents. I dare you to read it and not pre-order the book. It's impossible