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Peas and Thank You: Simple Meatless Meals the Whole Family Will Love
Over 85 Recipeas, One Very Happy Family
When Sarah Matheny, creator of the popular blog Peas and Thank You, decided to eliminate animal products from her diet, she knew there'd be skeptics. Her husband was raised on the standard American diet. Her grandpa was a butcher. Her mom was the best home cook around, with a generous pat of butter here and a crumble of bacon there. But now Sarah is a mom who wants to feed her children right.
Out went the diet soda. In came the smoothies.
Out went the "nutrition" bars. In came the nutritious cookies.
Out went a tired, caffeine–fueled mom. In came Mama Pea.
Peas and Thank You is a collection of recipes and stories from a mainstream family eating a not–so–mainstream diet. Filled with healthy and delicious versions of foods we've all grown up enjoying, but with a Mama Pea twist—no meat, lots of fresh ingredients and plenty of nutrition for growing Peas. From wholesome breakfasts to mouth–watering desserts, there's plenty here to satisfy the pickiest Peas in your life. It's easier than ever to whip up crowd–pleasing meals that will have the whole family asking for, "more, Peas."
When Sarah Matheny, creator of the popular blog Peas and Thank You, decided to eliminate animal products from her diet, she knew there'd be skeptics. Her husband was raised on the standard American diet. Her grandpa was a butcher. Her mom was the best home cook around, with a generous pat of butter here and a crumble of bacon there. But now Sarah is a mom who wants to feed her children right.
Out went the diet soda. In came the smoothies.
Out went the "nutrition" bars. In came the nutritious cookies.
Out went a tired, caffeine–fueled mom. In came Mama Pea.
Peas and Thank You is a collection of recipes and stories from a mainstream family eating a not–so–mainstream diet. Filled with healthy and delicious versions of foods we've all grown up enjoying, but with a Mama Pea twist—no meat, lots of fresh ingredients and plenty of nutrition for growing Peas. From wholesome breakfasts to mouth–watering desserts, there's plenty here to satisfy the pickiest Peas in your life. It's easier than ever to whip up crowd–pleasing meals that will have the whole family asking for, "more, Peas."
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
22 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 20, 2015
my god. i did not think it was possible for a cookbook to annoy and upset me as much as this one did.
although i am childfree, i often enjoy "family-style" cookbooks because they offer simple-yet-nutritious recipes that fit into my hectic lifestyle. so i checked this out of the library because i flipped through and a few of the recipes caught my eye.
but, OH MY GOD. you have to wade through SO MANY BORING ANECDOTES about her to get to the recipe! i suppose some people (like my fellow goodreads-ers) like that sort of thing. fine, i can flip. and flip. and flip. i made the mistake of reading some of them. the ones that were just about her family were irritating but bearable. the ones where she writes about going into restaurants/stores and irritating the waitstaff, not so much. this is a two-attorney family that seems to not really view service staff as, like, people. pisses me off on such a deep level. and then there was the little comment about how one of her daughters is SUCH A GIRL (omgz, you guys, SUCH A GIRL, as she is constantly reminding us, to assure us that there are no weirdos in her perfect little family!) that she INSISTS on choosing the line with the girl cashier, but that "was a little awkward when we got to that androgynous cashier." oh ha ha ha! clearly meant as a bit of comic relief.
as someone who has been that androgynous cashier, let me tell you, it is fucking dehumanizing to smile through an interaction with someone's bratty children shrieking, "mommy what IS THAT?!?!" and the wealthy mother looking at you as though you are something so terrible, like this is all YOUR FAULT simply for existing.
we aren't just little throwaway jokes. we aren't minions. we are human beings who need to feed ourselves. sometimes we read cookbooks. and we give them low ratings on goodreads because they fucking suck.
although i am childfree, i often enjoy "family-style" cookbooks because they offer simple-yet-nutritious recipes that fit into my hectic lifestyle. so i checked this out of the library because i flipped through and a few of the recipes caught my eye.
but, OH MY GOD. you have to wade through SO MANY BORING ANECDOTES about her to get to the recipe! i suppose some people (like my fellow goodreads-ers) like that sort of thing. fine, i can flip. and flip. and flip. i made the mistake of reading some of them. the ones that were just about her family were irritating but bearable. the ones where she writes about going into restaurants/stores and irritating the waitstaff, not so much. this is a two-attorney family that seems to not really view service staff as, like, people. pisses me off on such a deep level. and then there was the little comment about how one of her daughters is SUCH A GIRL (omgz, you guys, SUCH A GIRL, as she is constantly reminding us, to assure us that there are no weirdos in her perfect little family!) that she INSISTS on choosing the line with the girl cashier, but that "was a little awkward when we got to that androgynous cashier." oh ha ha ha! clearly meant as a bit of comic relief.
as someone who has been that androgynous cashier, let me tell you, it is fucking dehumanizing to smile through an interaction with someone's bratty children shrieking, "mommy what IS THAT?!?!" and the wealthy mother looking at you as though you are something so terrible, like this is all YOUR FAULT simply for existing.
we aren't just little throwaway jokes. we aren't minions. we are human beings who need to feed ourselves. sometimes we read cookbooks. and we give them low ratings on goodreads because they fucking suck.
October 24, 2011
Well, this is a library book so I had to read it and not procrastinate, but I have 3 new birthday money vegan cookbooks by authors I’ve met in the Vegan Cooking & Cookbooks group, and I’m eager to get to those!!!: The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes, Triumph of the Lentil: Soy-Free Vegan Wholefoods for all Appetites, and The Vegan Slow Cooker: Simply Set It and Go with 150 Recipes for Intensely Flavorful, Fuss-Free Fare Everyone (Vegan or Not!) Will Devour. The one thing that kind of bothered me just a tad about this (virtually) vegan cookbook is it’ll say …or honey, …or organic cheese, milk, etc. (vs. the non-dairy, vegan kind) but we’ve been talking about some people’s flexibility in the aforementioned group. Not my way but it probably gives this book a wider audience.
But, even with all the books I owned and have borrowed and am soon to borrow, I am so glad that I read this book. Someday, I’d like to try many of the included recipes.
I’d recommend this cookbook to every single family that has at least one member who has the time and ability to cook mostly from scratch. It should definitely be in the homes of every single vegan and vegetarian family. Many of the recipes are not hard to make, but there’s very little convenience food here.
As I do for most of my cookbook reviews, I started writing down each recipe I most would want to make/eat, but I had to stop; I was writing down most of them. I’d say at least 50% of the recipes in here looked incredibly tempting, and make that a good 2/3 or even more with minor adaptations.
I was tempted to add my biography shelf to this book’s shelves. It’s full of autobiographical stories and each recipe has a story. There are plentiful photos of the author’s two young adorable daughters, and the author and her husband, as well as of all the recipes.
So, great recipes, mouthwatering photos for all, a story for each, a “Pea Points” blurb section with tips, often using whole wheat pastry flour (a big hooray from me), nutritional info for each recipe by serving (calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol – 0 given that these are vegan recipes!, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, protein). And, best of all, the author is hilarious. I was laughing my head off on virtually every page. This book is funny and entertaining! Really, just read it as a humor book about family life if you’re not interested in the recipes. Really!
contents:
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Meet the Peas
In the Peas’ Pantry
1 Breakfast at the IHOP (International House of Peas)
2 Beyond Pea B and J: Lunches, Salads and Soups
3 Peas on the Side: Snacks, Sides and Sauces
4 Sure to “Peas” Dinners
5 Sweet Endings for Sweet Peas
Converting to Metrics
Index
About the Author
Truly too many delicious looking recipes to list a small selection of them!
Unfortunately, this will soon be back on its way to the library; I am sorely tempted to buy a copy, but I’ll wait and see. If I had kids, or even a bigger household full of adults, this would be next on my to purchase list.
But, even with all the books I owned and have borrowed and am soon to borrow, I am so glad that I read this book. Someday, I’d like to try many of the included recipes.
I’d recommend this cookbook to every single family that has at least one member who has the time and ability to cook mostly from scratch. It should definitely be in the homes of every single vegan and vegetarian family. Many of the recipes are not hard to make, but there’s very little convenience food here.
As I do for most of my cookbook reviews, I started writing down each recipe I most would want to make/eat, but I had to stop; I was writing down most of them. I’d say at least 50% of the recipes in here looked incredibly tempting, and make that a good 2/3 or even more with minor adaptations.
I was tempted to add my biography shelf to this book’s shelves. It’s full of autobiographical stories and each recipe has a story. There are plentiful photos of the author’s two young adorable daughters, and the author and her husband, as well as of all the recipes.
So, great recipes, mouthwatering photos for all, a story for each, a “Pea Points” blurb section with tips, often using whole wheat pastry flour (a big hooray from me), nutritional info for each recipe by serving (calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol – 0 given that these are vegan recipes!, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, protein). And, best of all, the author is hilarious. I was laughing my head off on virtually every page. This book is funny and entertaining! Really, just read it as a humor book about family life if you’re not interested in the recipes. Really!
contents:
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Meet the Peas
In the Peas’ Pantry
1 Breakfast at the IHOP (International House of Peas)
2 Beyond Pea B and J: Lunches, Salads and Soups
3 Peas on the Side: Snacks, Sides and Sauces
4 Sure to “Peas” Dinners
5 Sweet Endings for Sweet Peas
Converting to Metrics
Index
About the Author
Truly too many delicious looking recipes to list a small selection of them!
Unfortunately, this will soon be back on its way to the library; I am sorely tempted to buy a copy, but I’ll wait and see. If I had kids, or even a bigger household full of adults, this would be next on my to purchase list.
July 19, 2017
*****Please Note I received this from Goodreads as a giveaway*****
This is full of delicious and healthy recipes. There are several that I want to try, and one that we tried with little success. (Tofu is tricky to work with!). The recipes are varied and tasty. I do enjoy that there is a lot of fiber and protein in these, as fiber in particular is something that many people lack in their diets.
I learned a lot of tips and tricks for substitutions, which I hope to put to good use. There are a few recipes that stick out that I'm particularly eager to try.
I'm looking forward to trying the chocolate almond cherry smoothie,the apple cinnamon pancakes, and skinny elvis sandwiches.
When I first saw this on goodreads I thought that it was simply a vegitarian cookbook, and went on to discover when I received it that it's actually a vegan cookbook, so I wasn't familiar with a lot of the ingredients. This was a bit of a letdown for me, but the book mostly made up for it.
I like that the book is sweet and family oriented. I got caught up in the author's personal stories and enjoyed them very much. That being said, there was a bit of sexual innuendo that I thought was out of place. I wasn't offended by it personally, but there might be people who would be. Plus it just seemed out of character for a book so obviously oriented for families.
Passages that stick out to me in particular are when the author describes a box of cocoa Krispies as "sexy" or when she makes comments about her creation the "Hugh Jass salad" There are several other sexual type references but I'll stick to those two.
I understand that the author is trying to infuse some humor, but it just seems a little strange.
For the first cookbook I read all the way through, it's not bad.
This is full of delicious and healthy recipes. There are several that I want to try, and one that we tried with little success. (Tofu is tricky to work with!). The recipes are varied and tasty. I do enjoy that there is a lot of fiber and protein in these, as fiber in particular is something that many people lack in their diets.
I learned a lot of tips and tricks for substitutions, which I hope to put to good use. There are a few recipes that stick out that I'm particularly eager to try.
I'm looking forward to trying the chocolate almond cherry smoothie,the apple cinnamon pancakes, and skinny elvis sandwiches.
When I first saw this on goodreads I thought that it was simply a vegitarian cookbook, and went on to discover when I received it that it's actually a vegan cookbook, so I wasn't familiar with a lot of the ingredients. This was a bit of a letdown for me, but the book mostly made up for it.
I like that the book is sweet and family oriented. I got caught up in the author's personal stories and enjoyed them very much. That being said, there was a bit of sexual innuendo that I thought was out of place. I wasn't offended by it personally, but there might be people who would be. Plus it just seemed out of character for a book so obviously oriented for families.
Passages that stick out to me in particular are when the author describes a box of cocoa Krispies as "sexy" or when she makes comments about her creation the "Hugh Jass salad" There are several other sexual type references but I'll stick to those two.
I understand that the author is trying to infuse some humor, but it just seems a little strange.
For the first cookbook I read all the way through, it's not bad.
July 10, 2014
I had not heard of Sarah's blog or her books before Jenna Weber mentioned them on Eat, Live, Run, but they sounded interesting so got this book from the library. Now, if you are someone who has been whipping up meatless meals for years and own the entire Deborah Madison oeuvre, this book is not for you. If you are someone without a lot of time to prep and cook, and are looking for simple ways to introduce some meatless meals to your family that they might even eat, this is a good place to start. Yes, she uses a lot of tofu and its variants, but they're convenient and a good place for new vegetarians to start.
Many reviewers were put off by all the photos of her kids and the chatty stories. I'm not a mom and am usually disgusted by the "Behold, my perfect child!" attitude among many mommy bloggers, but I thought the photos in the book were cute and the stories were funny and down to earth. I like a cookbook I can read.If you're not sure, go read her blog and see if her style clicks with you before getting the book. Unfortunately her blog is no longer available.
Update: I liked most of the recipes I tried, especially the black bean burgers and the Thai veggie burgers. The pumpkin-spiced chickpeas were the only disappointment. The recipes are all easy to adapt for personal tastes.
Update 2: Made a few more things and upgraded my rating to 4 stars. The Mini Tofu Frittatas and Red Lentil Enchiladas were big hits.
Many reviewers were put off by all the photos of her kids and the chatty stories. I'm not a mom and am usually disgusted by the "Behold, my perfect child!" attitude among many mommy bloggers, but I thought the photos in the book were cute and the stories were funny and down to earth. I like a cookbook I can read.
Update: I liked most of the recipes I tried, especially the black bean burgers and the Thai veggie burgers. The pumpkin-spiced chickpeas were the only disappointment. The recipes are all easy to adapt for personal tastes.
Update 2: Made a few more things and upgraded my rating to 4 stars. The Mini Tofu Frittatas and Red Lentil Enchiladas were big hits.
October 14, 2011
I enjoy Sarah's blog Peas and Thank You so much that I assumed I'd love her book. I have to say though that the blog engages me much more than her cookbook ever did, and I'm glad this was a library loan for me rather than a purchase. It's a lovely book with a colorful layout and clearly organized recipes, but the personal stories and photos of her children that are endearing on her blog just annoyed me in the book. I guess there was just too much fluff in between the recipes for me. The food photos also seemed overly fuzzy and blurry, but that must have been a style they were trying to achieve since it was the case for most of them. It's just not a choice I loved.
Although this isn't a book I'll add to my personal collection, it's definitely worth a look if you're interested in adding some vegan meals to your cooking repertoire. I've picked out a few that I'll be trying soon, and I have had great success with the recipes I've tried from her blog.
Although this isn't a book I'll add to my personal collection, it's definitely worth a look if you're interested in adding some vegan meals to your cooking repertoire. I've picked out a few that I'll be trying soon, and I have had great success with the recipes I've tried from her blog.
Read
March 11, 2017My personal opinion: I have a confession to make. I hate cooking! Actually, I dislike anything to do with the kitchen but there is no way to avoid it and not die of starvation. LOL That being said, I found Peas and Thank You to have some excellent and easy recipes. I'm a meat eater but I want to start eating healthy foods and appreciate these recipes which spice up my meals. I, also, really enjoyed the little stories of her family that Sarah Matheny added. Delightful read.
Kim S., Harlequin Books ambassador
Kim S., Harlequin Books ambassador
Read
March 16, 2020I grabbed this out of my library, and wanted to make the Indian Shepherd Pie for dinner, which I did, and it was delicious. That said, too many of the recipes have added sugar, and the majority of the photos looked low-resolution. Perhaps it was the paper that the book was printed on, but who knows. I couldn’t get myself to read through the entire book, so am not going to give it a rating.
December 14, 2017
Bright colorful spreads for most recipes pushed this book into the plus column; however, I found some of the recipe ingredients off-putting (margarine just leaves a bad taste in my mouth).
June 30, 2020
Has a lot of useful and well put together vegetarian and vegan recipes. It does appeal to the whole family.
December 2, 2011
I made 3 recipes from this book, and also 1 recipe from the Peas and Thank You blog while I had this book out from the library. There are some great recipes, both in the book and blog. I imagine the anecdotes and other non-recipe content of the book are probably significantly more entertaining if you happen to be a parent. I generally skipped the non-recipe text because really...I don't get a recipe book to read funny/cute anecdotes. I get a recipe book because I'm hoping to find awesome recipes.
What I made:
-Spicy African Peanut Slow Cooker Soup (pg 75 in book). This stew was really great--I made it on the stove instead of in a slow cooker. It was not, however, spicy (nor was there a strong peanut flavor). If you like spicy definitely modify a bit. I served it over rice, like a curry, rather than as a stew.
-Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread (pg 97 in book). This was tasty, but the cook time wasn't quite right (for me). The bread was undercooked when I first took it out of the oven, and I had to put it back in after it had already cooled a bit (oops). It was still reeeeally good--just kind of ugly looking. I liked the tip included with this recipe to store it in the fridge.
-Double Chocolate/Single Chin Brownies (pg 199 in book). Vegan low-fat brownies. Sounds pretty gross, right? These brownies are actually delicious. I only wish I'd had the ingredients on hand to make some mocha frosting to spread on top--would've been perfect! Again, I had to bake longer than directed.
-Pumpkin Molasses Cookie Dough Balls (not in book). I didn't have all the ingredients to make the infamous Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls (pg 244 in book) so I decided to try one of Sarah's other cookie dough ball recipes. I ate all these cookies within 3 days. Needless to say, they were really good...too good. And, once again, I had to bake longer than directed.
What I wanted to make:
-Beg-Worthy Banana Bread (pg 19 in book)
-Tofu Fun Nuggets (pg 131 in book)--still hoping to make this one before I have to return the book to the library
-Better Than Ever Black Bean Burgers (pg 137 in book)--always looking for tasty veggie burger recipes
-Green and Red Lentil Enchiladas (pg 155 in book)
-Tempeh Chili (pg 159 in book)
-Indian Shepherd's Pie (pg 176 in book)
There are plenty of enticing recipes, and the ones I made turned out well. Quite a few recipes call for faux meats and soy products, so if you're not into that, this book might not be very satisfying. I don't like faux meats for the most part but in some recipes those ingredients could easily be subbed out for something else or simply left out entirely.
Overall, this is a nice collection of vegan recipes (some easily convert to vegetarian if you want to include milk/cheese/butter).
What I made:
-Spicy African Peanut Slow Cooker Soup (pg 75 in book). This stew was really great--I made it on the stove instead of in a slow cooker. It was not, however, spicy (nor was there a strong peanut flavor). If you like spicy definitely modify a bit. I served it over rice, like a curry, rather than as a stew.
-Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread (pg 97 in book). This was tasty, but the cook time wasn't quite right (for me). The bread was undercooked when I first took it out of the oven, and I had to put it back in after it had already cooled a bit (oops). It was still reeeeally good--just kind of ugly looking. I liked the tip included with this recipe to store it in the fridge.
-Double Chocolate/Single Chin Brownies (pg 199 in book). Vegan low-fat brownies. Sounds pretty gross, right? These brownies are actually delicious. I only wish I'd had the ingredients on hand to make some mocha frosting to spread on top--would've been perfect! Again, I had to bake longer than directed.
-Pumpkin Molasses Cookie Dough Balls (not in book). I didn't have all the ingredients to make the infamous Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls (pg 244 in book) so I decided to try one of Sarah's other cookie dough ball recipes. I ate all these cookies within 3 days. Needless to say, they were really good...too good. And, once again, I had to bake longer than directed.
What I wanted to make:
-Beg-Worthy Banana Bread (pg 19 in book)
-Tofu Fun Nuggets (pg 131 in book)--still hoping to make this one before I have to return the book to the library
-Better Than Ever Black Bean Burgers (pg 137 in book)--always looking for tasty veggie burger recipes
-Green and Red Lentil Enchiladas (pg 155 in book)
-Tempeh Chili (pg 159 in book)
-Indian Shepherd's Pie (pg 176 in book)
There are plenty of enticing recipes, and the ones I made turned out well. Quite a few recipes call for faux meats and soy products, so if you're not into that, this book might not be very satisfying. I don't like faux meats for the most part but in some recipes those ingredients could easily be subbed out for something else or simply left out entirely.
Overall, this is a nice collection of vegan recipes (some easily convert to vegetarian if you want to include milk/cheese/butter).
April 30, 2012
I was introduced to the Peas and Thank You blog through a few of the vegan food bloggers I follow. I actually spent quite a few work hours combing through her blog archives and bookmarking recipes to try. Full disclaimer: I am not vegan. I am not vegetarian. I dabble, but I have not committed. My house practices Meatless Monday and I was looking for a book of quick, easy, and tasty dishes for my family.
At first, I just really liked the author’s sense of humor, but as I read more and more of the blog, I started to realize her recipes were really fun for a novice vegan cook. Does she rely on faux meat and soy products? Sure. But is her fare accessible and easy? Yes.
I picked up a paper copy of the book because I don’t use my nook in the kitchen (bad experience with a pot of noodles). So right off the bat I was hoping for a lot from the book since I purchased a physical copy. In my experience, some vegan books can come off as pretentious and preachy. For those of us who simply need some vegan guidance, those books really don’t hit the spot. I wanted something that was more grounded in the “transition” phase of veganism. No hardcore raw foodies exist in my house, so accessible vegan food is key in any vegan cookbook I buy.
Since I knew the author’s voice from her blog, I decided I wouldn’t mind if a lot of the recipes and stories were recycled from that content. A few were recycled, a few were extensions of recipes or reinterpretations, and a few were completely new.
I spent about two days reading the stories from the book before I moved on to the recipes. Is the author a bit self-deprecating and emasculating? Yes, but I knew that from reading her blog. I bookmarked quite a few recipes on my first pass through and jumped in right away. At this point I have probably made about 30 recipes from the book.
I have one meat-eating husband and one picky two year old son. While none of the recipes have blown me out of the water with flavor, all have been things the whole family will eat. That alone makes the book a great purchase for me. A couple recipes have become family favorites and have actually been requested by my boys. There are a few recipes that just didn’t work for my family. Most everything, though, has been pretty solid.
I like that the book provides dairy substitutions (the hubby simply won’t eat dairy free cheese). I also like some of the pea tips that are printed in the sidebars. While I don’t think this is a great book for a cook who is familiar with veganism and all it’s intricacies, it was a great purchase for my family, who needs meatless meals I can actually cook.
At first, I just really liked the author’s sense of humor, but as I read more and more of the blog, I started to realize her recipes were really fun for a novice vegan cook. Does she rely on faux meat and soy products? Sure. But is her fare accessible and easy? Yes.
I picked up a paper copy of the book because I don’t use my nook in the kitchen (bad experience with a pot of noodles). So right off the bat I was hoping for a lot from the book since I purchased a physical copy. In my experience, some vegan books can come off as pretentious and preachy. For those of us who simply need some vegan guidance, those books really don’t hit the spot. I wanted something that was more grounded in the “transition” phase of veganism. No hardcore raw foodies exist in my house, so accessible vegan food is key in any vegan cookbook I buy.
Since I knew the author’s voice from her blog, I decided I wouldn’t mind if a lot of the recipes and stories were recycled from that content. A few were recycled, a few were extensions of recipes or reinterpretations, and a few were completely new.
I spent about two days reading the stories from the book before I moved on to the recipes. Is the author a bit self-deprecating and emasculating? Yes, but I knew that from reading her blog. I bookmarked quite a few recipes on my first pass through and jumped in right away. At this point I have probably made about 30 recipes from the book.
I have one meat-eating husband and one picky two year old son. While none of the recipes have blown me out of the water with flavor, all have been things the whole family will eat. That alone makes the book a great purchase for me. A couple recipes have become family favorites and have actually been requested by my boys. There are a few recipes that just didn’t work for my family. Most everything, though, has been pretty solid.
I like that the book provides dairy substitutions (the hubby simply won’t eat dairy free cheese). I also like some of the pea tips that are printed in the sidebars. While I don’t think this is a great book for a cook who is familiar with veganism and all it’s intricacies, it was a great purchase for my family, who needs meatless meals I can actually cook.
August 27, 2011
As far as cookbooks go, it's pretty entertaining. But that's not really what cookbooks are about though, right?
As far as the actual recipes go, there isn't anything really new or innovative. I was a little disappointed with how much faux meat and tofu were in the recipes. I'm not vegan, not even vegetarian, but I think if you are going to be, or even a flexitarian, it is important to focus on real foods - fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains. But that's just my omnivorous opinion. I only bookmarked 3 recipes that really got my attention to try and if I am going to drop $25 on a cookbook, I want more than that to feel like I got my money's worth so I'm glad I borrowed this from the library before investing in it myself, as much as I'd love to support a fellow food blogger.
The photos in the book bothered me and maybe this is just me being nitpicky. I found that many of them (namely the ones not taken by Ashley) were yellow-y and could have been better with a white balance adjustment. Many were also far too close to actually distinguish what the food was and thanks to huge full page and even double spread photos, you had to stretch the book out away from you to actually see the picture. I think the book would have benefited from a little bit more food styling and tablescape photos.
As far as the stories associated with the recipes were, as I said, entertaining. But like Mama Peas blog, I found myself losing interest after the fifth time a joke was made. I'm not fond of beating dead horse's and there is only so many Tommy Bahama and lack of shower jokes this girl can handle. I'm sure many find it wildly entertaining, and maybe I don't just because I don't empathize with SAHM's.
I did really enjoy the layout of the book, especially the introduction and the "peas pantry" sections. I also really liked the "peas points" tidbits next to each chapter but the extensive use of the "peas" cracks started to agitate me. I get it.
All that being said, it was one of the better blog-to-book's that I've read so it gets 3-stars instead of the 2 I would probably otherwise give it.
As far as the actual recipes go, there isn't anything really new or innovative. I was a little disappointed with how much faux meat and tofu were in the recipes. I'm not vegan, not even vegetarian, but I think if you are going to be, or even a flexitarian, it is important to focus on real foods - fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains. But that's just my omnivorous opinion. I only bookmarked 3 recipes that really got my attention to try and if I am going to drop $25 on a cookbook, I want more than that to feel like I got my money's worth so I'm glad I borrowed this from the library before investing in it myself, as much as I'd love to support a fellow food blogger.
The photos in the book bothered me and maybe this is just me being nitpicky. I found that many of them (namely the ones not taken by Ashley) were yellow-y and could have been better with a white balance adjustment. Many were also far too close to actually distinguish what the food was and thanks to huge full page and even double spread photos, you had to stretch the book out away from you to actually see the picture. I think the book would have benefited from a little bit more food styling and tablescape photos.
As far as the stories associated with the recipes were, as I said, entertaining. But like Mama Peas blog, I found myself losing interest after the fifth time a joke was made. I'm not fond of beating dead horse's and there is only so many Tommy Bahama and lack of shower jokes this girl can handle. I'm sure many find it wildly entertaining, and maybe I don't just because I don't empathize with SAHM's.
I did really enjoy the layout of the book, especially the introduction and the "peas pantry" sections. I also really liked the "peas points" tidbits next to each chapter but the extensive use of the "peas" cracks started to agitate me. I get it.
All that being said, it was one of the better blog-to-book's that I've read so it gets 3-stars instead of the 2 I would probably otherwise give it.
September 26, 2011
Like no cookbook I’ve ever seen. The recipes look and sound delicious and doable, the writing is witty and fun, and—very importantly—there are lots of photos. It just makes me want to start cooking right away! I sometimes dislike cookbooks because they are just lists of recipes, without all the photos and comments that come from a blog. This one is really the best of both worlds. It’s like the blog but all printed and bound in an enticing fashion! I have never read a cookbook cover-to-cover but this one I did. That said, I really hated the crude humor and innuendo that popped up in this book. That is the only factor that would really keep me from giving or recommending it to others. There were also a few minor factual errors (for example, quinoa is NOT “the only naturally occurring plant-based food that contains all nine essential amino acids.” Soy, hemp, spirulina, buckwheat, and amaranth are other plant sources of complete protein. It kind of bothers me that no one bothered to check the facts on that. I think in a previous life I might have been a copy editor. :P) I liked the variety of recipes and I have already made almost twenty of them (though some of these I had previously made from the recipes that were on her blog), and I look forward to making even more. I appreciated that each recipe had the nutrition facts. I don’t count calories, but it is nice to know how much protein, etc. is in a recipe when trying to prepare a complete meal. However, I’m not sure if all the nutrition facts were spot on; some seemed not-quite-right for what was in the recipe. But it is still a good estimate. I also loved the "Pea Points" next to the recipes that gave meal suggestions, ways to substitute, etc. I was surprised that there were quite a few recipes calling for processed food—such as vegan sausages. I guess this is okay, but I appreciated the whole foods recipes the most. I hope Sarah writes more cookbooks, as I really liked this one over all (except for the crude humor. I really hope future books have less of that).
cooking
August 14, 2011This is easily the funniest cookbook I have ever read. I was so focused on all the stories that I sort of forgot to look at the recipes until the second go-through.
If you don't eat soy, you might find your choices a little limited here.
Skinny Elvis Sandwiches: Man, those are good! I even burned mine and had to scrape it. Still delicious.
Crazy Good Hummus: Hummus is one of those things I never really follow a recipe for. My method is usually tossing a can of garbanzos in the food processor with some red bell pepper, olive oil, cumin, a ridiculous amount of garlic, salt, and pepper. No tahini because I never have any because I never buy it because it costs a ton and I never use it so it goes bad and it's a vicious cycle. Also, I'm not crazy about it. So my hummus is almost always tahini free and I kind of forgot where I was going with all this. Anyway, I kinda sorta followed this recipe and it was tasty. The only reason I'm reviewing it here is because I took her advice to remove the skins off the beans and it really does make a very creamy hummus. It takes forever, though, and I don't have the benefit of child labor, so I'm not sure if this is something I will continue to do. Also, the sight of all those little chickpea skins in the sink is super gross, but if you are having a haunted house, they would be perfect for that thing where you make kids touch peeled grapes and tell them they're eyeballs.
Crack Wraps: I didn't have any cheese. So my crack wrap was just tortilla and hummus. And Tapatios hot sauce, which really is my crack lately. It was delicious. I didn't miss the cheese.
If you don't eat soy, you might find your choices a little limited here.
Skinny Elvis Sandwiches: Man, those are good! I even burned mine and had to scrape it. Still delicious.
Crazy Good Hummus: Hummus is one of those things I never really follow a recipe for. My method is usually tossing a can of garbanzos in the food processor with some red bell pepper, olive oil, cumin, a ridiculous amount of garlic, salt, and pepper. No tahini because I never have any because I never buy it because it costs a ton and I never use it so it goes bad and it's a vicious cycle. Also, I'm not crazy about it. So my hummus is almost always tahini free and I kind of forgot where I was going with all this. Anyway, I kinda sorta followed this recipe and it was tasty. The only reason I'm reviewing it here is because I took her advice to remove the skins off the beans and it really does make a very creamy hummus. It takes forever, though, and I don't have the benefit of child labor, so I'm not sure if this is something I will continue to do. Also, the sight of all those little chickpea skins in the sink is super gross, but if you are having a haunted house, they would be perfect for that thing where you make kids touch peeled grapes and tell them they're eyeballs.
Crack Wraps: I didn't have any cheese. So my crack wrap was just tortilla and hummus. And Tapatios hot sauce, which really is my crack lately. It was delicious. I didn't miss the cheese.
February 16, 2013
Sarah Matheny's cookbook is delightfully similar to her blog of the same name. If you enjoy reading cookbooks, not just looking up the recipes and cooking them, then this book is formatted for you. As in her blog, she introduces each recipe with a funny anecdote or story from her life. The book is laid out with colorful pictures of the food as well as her adorable family. I tried a couple of the recipes and enjoyed them enough to plan on cooking many more.
My two small complaints are 1) many of the main dishes use some form of tofu or fake meat. I'm not a big fan of the fake meat sold in grocery stores which she incorporates into multiple recipes. 2) I am in favor of time estimates in cookbooks intended for everyday cooking (even though they're rarely accurate) but her recipes are not labeled with those.
As an omnivore who enjoys vegetarian and vegan cooking I appreciate the book is enthusiastic about a vegetarian/vegan diet but not aggressive about it. I like that she is focused on healthy eating but not militant. Some of the snacks and desserts contain sugar, and fat is not an enemy in this cookbook. She healthifies many traditional favorites without destroying them or the reader's love of food. Her cookbook reaches for a balance between healthy vegetarian, family friendly, and fun food and I think in most cases she achieves this.
Ms. Matheny's writing style is playful, fun, and encouraging which makes me want to get in the kitchen and give more of her recipes a try. I'm looking forward to her next cookbook!
My two small complaints are 1) many of the main dishes use some form of tofu or fake meat. I'm not a big fan of the fake meat sold in grocery stores which she incorporates into multiple recipes. 2) I am in favor of time estimates in cookbooks intended for everyday cooking (even though they're rarely accurate) but her recipes are not labeled with those.
As an omnivore who enjoys vegetarian and vegan cooking I appreciate the book is enthusiastic about a vegetarian/vegan diet but not aggressive about it. I like that she is focused on healthy eating but not militant. Some of the snacks and desserts contain sugar, and fat is not an enemy in this cookbook. She healthifies many traditional favorites without destroying them or the reader's love of food. Her cookbook reaches for a balance between healthy vegetarian, family friendly, and fun food and I think in most cases she achieves this.
Ms. Matheny's writing style is playful, fun, and encouraging which makes me want to get in the kitchen and give more of her recipes a try. I'm looking forward to her next cookbook!
August 6, 2011
I cannot gush enough about the book. She also has a blog, Peas and thank you. No-one is going to want to munch on carrot sticks or broccoli all the time. Her recipes are exciting. Exciting that is a word I have never used to describe a recipe before. I find her use of ingredients to be innovative, creative and balanced. Take the Thai veggie burgers, they have shredded broccoli. What a great way to eat your greens. The book has breakfast, lunch and dinner along with desserts. The photos are gorgeous.
Salivating gorgeous, where you want to make each recipe. This has become my go to recipe book. Even if I am not cooking vegetarian, I will make the recipe with meat and use her concept for the meal. Who would not want to have a chickpea strawberry mango salad or better than ever black bean burgers. Whether you are a carnivore or herbivore. Yes I am now comparing my readers to dinosaurs, I really think everyone will enjoy this book. Another plus is the ingredients are simple and easy to find . You are not running around spending money on an ingredient you will use only once. Doesn't everyone have tahini, cumin and garbanzo beans in the pantry?
Salivating gorgeous, where you want to make each recipe. This has become my go to recipe book. Even if I am not cooking vegetarian, I will make the recipe with meat and use her concept for the meal. Who would not want to have a chickpea strawberry mango salad or better than ever black bean burgers. Whether you are a carnivore or herbivore. Yes I am now comparing my readers to dinosaurs, I really think everyone will enjoy this book. Another plus is the ingredients are simple and easy to find . You are not running around spending money on an ingredient you will use only once. Doesn't everyone have tahini, cumin and garbanzo beans in the pantry?
February 28, 2012
There were quite a few good recipes in the book. However, the theme of calling family members "peas" wears on the nerves after a while. Also, the author talks WAY too much about her family. I like the little vignettes and stories that come with recipes- but they shouldn't really be more than a paragraph, would you agree? This lady writes a full page and a half describing the first time she *ordered* a Reuben sandwich- seriously, most of the lengthy tale wasn't even about EATING the dumb thing. There are also lots and lots and lots of pictures of her kids. They're cute kids, but it's just too much. The book reads like 60% memoir, 40% recipes. I wish it were more about the cooking. If I'm going to pay for a cookbook, I'd like to get more recipes out of it.
The cookbook has some great stuff in it, but the book itself is extremely unfocused. Also, I've read advertisements about this book that talk about it being "vegetarian", but most of it is actually vegan. The author occasionally notes that organic ingredients can be substituted for some of the soy based stuff, but the book really is full of vegan stuff.
The cookbook has some great stuff in it, but the book itself is extremely unfocused. Also, I've read advertisements about this book that talk about it being "vegetarian", but most of it is actually vegan. The author occasionally notes that organic ingredients can be substituted for some of the soy based stuff, but the book really is full of vegan stuff.
February 19, 2013
As a fan of the author's blog, I bought this book honestly more as a way to support her than out of my own interest. This cookbook was clearly a passion project for her and I respect and admire that. That being said, I don't have kids so I felt like I wasn't really the target audience for this.
Some of the recipes are a little too simple and basic to feel like they warrant a spot in a cookbook (such as a recipe for pitas with hummus - reminded me of something Pippa Middleton might write) but there are some that are creative and delicious. My mom recently made the vegetarian Indian Shepherd's Pie (p. 176) and it was incredible.
Some comments have mentioned just how much her kids feature in the cookbook and yes, there are a lot of stories and anecdotes throughout. There is also a heavy reliance on soy products and faux-meat. But I think if you're looking for kid-friendly vegetarian/vegan recipes, this is a good book to have.
Some of the recipes are a little too simple and basic to feel like they warrant a spot in a cookbook (such as a recipe for pitas with hummus - reminded me of something Pippa Middleton might write) but there are some that are creative and delicious. My mom recently made the vegetarian Indian Shepherd's Pie (p. 176) and it was incredible.
Some comments have mentioned just how much her kids feature in the cookbook and yes, there are a lot of stories and anecdotes throughout. There is also a heavy reliance on soy products and faux-meat. But I think if you're looking for kid-friendly vegetarian/vegan recipes, this is a good book to have.
January 24, 2012
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like that the author told where she is coming from and how she came up with these recipes. Many of the recipes look delicious and I would like to try them. I borrowed this from my library and I am thinking of buying my own copy.
I would only give it 3.5 stars because there were a few things I didn't like. Some of her stories seemed exaggerated and some I thought shouldn't be put in writing. It's a small world and if someone she used to know picked it up and read it they might be offended by what she wrote about them. I also thought that it was a heavy in recipes calling for tofu and I wish it had had more variety. The last problem I had was that a few of the recipes had a picture of her children instead of a finished dish.
I would only give it 3.5 stars because there were a few things I didn't like. Some of her stories seemed exaggerated and some I thought shouldn't be put in writing. It's a small world and if someone she used to know picked it up and read it they might be offended by what she wrote about them. I also thought that it was a heavy in recipes calling for tofu and I wish it had had more variety. The last problem I had was that a few of the recipes had a picture of her children instead of a finished dish.
October 28, 2012
I made the black bean burgers and butternut squash fries today. They were both great. The fries are truly better than regular potato french fries. I used a fresh squash and can eat these fries every week.They are an excellent side dish. The black bean burger was the most flavorful one I've ever tasted.
The recipes are easy and creative, and I like that Matheny isn't a professionally trained chef. Her writing style is funny and upbeat it felt like her recipes have been perfected through trial and error in her own kitchen. I am going to try the grilled almond butter and strawberry sandwich this week. It sounds like a great combination. I got this book from the library but am going to buy a copy for keeps.
The recipes are easy and creative, and I like that Matheny isn't a professionally trained chef. Her writing style is funny and upbeat it felt like her recipes have been perfected through trial and error in her own kitchen. I am going to try the grilled almond butter and strawberry sandwich this week. It sounds like a great combination. I got this book from the library but am going to buy a copy for keeps.
May 5, 2012
Of all the vegan blogs and vegan authors, I like this one the best. I often go to her snack section to make something for both girls. The chocolate chip cookie balls are great.
Dare I say - I like her better than Pioneer Woman? Gasp! But I do.
Updated to Add:
Her tofu fun nuggets and cinnamon mustard sauce are really good, but her baked goods drive me up the wall, as do the painfully long and random stories about her family.
My friend Liz is a vegan and certainly doesn't lectures as much as most vegan authors. This book is a great intro to eating less meat. No mention of any gluten-free substitutions.
Dare I say - I like her better than Pioneer Woman? Gasp! But I do.
Updated to Add:
Her tofu fun nuggets and cinnamon mustard sauce are really good, but her baked goods drive me up the wall, as do the painfully long and random stories about her family.
My friend Liz is a vegan and certainly doesn't lectures as much as most vegan authors. This book is a great intro to eating less meat. No mention of any gluten-free substitutions.
November 3, 2011
I'm always looking for new meatless meals, so this caught my eye. The author is a good writer, very entertaining. But I felt out of touch and disconnected from the book, her life and recipes revolve around young children. I'd love to see a future book expanded to include food that older kid might enjoy, quick foods for sports-minded kids, and busy working Moms who need a quick fix (no time to pull out blender or chop finger size foods). Overall, this is a fun read with lovely photos, but does feel alienating if you're not in the preschool/early elementary mindset. Or maybe I was just the wrong audience.
October 6, 2014
Beware - this is not a vegan cookbook. It's meatless, but not vegan. I'm happy that she is able to make a living doing what she loves, but Matheny is pretty clearly riding the veg trend, versus expressing her ethics through food. She has the nerve to promote "organic dairy" and even honey in some places.
Aside from this, the recipes are mostly pedestrian. (Quesadillas with hummus and store-bought non-dairy cheese? We needed a recipe for that?) Anyone other than parents who need to please the palates of their small children can safely skip this one.
Her essays have some merit, and I'm sure her fans will like them.
Aside from this, the recipes are mostly pedestrian. (Quesadillas with hummus and store-bought non-dairy cheese? We needed a recipe for that?) Anyone other than parents who need to please the palates of their small children can safely skip this one.
Her essays have some merit, and I'm sure her fans will like them.
January 10, 2013
I love this cookbook! Let me start by saying that I'm not a vegetarian, but I like the idea of less meat and more vegetables in my diet. I also try not to eat a lot of pasta- I feel that it adds a lot of calories without a lot of nutrition, and I'm always watching my weight. This book gave me some healthy, filling alternative dinner dishes to serve.
Usually I find a cookbook a success when I use two or three meal ideas. I've found eight ideas in here that I've tried and really enjoyed (and I'm still working through the book). I even crave the chickpea burger sometimes! The desserts still have a ton of sugar in them, but they are healthier than anything in a box with preservatives.
Usually I find a cookbook a success when I use two or three meal ideas. I've found eight ideas in here that I've tried and really enjoyed (and I'm still working through the book). I even crave the chickpea burger sometimes! The desserts still have a ton of sugar in them, but they are healthier than anything in a box with preservatives.
August 22, 2011
Thank you first reads giveaways! I am looking forward to this books arrival. I love trying out new things in the kitchen!
I enjoyed the tibits about life in the "Pea" household. I know life with young children can be hectic to say the least. The recipes are intriguing and worth checking out. There is a lot in this book for those not completely vegan. Thanks again for the great win First Reads! The anytime cookies are probably my favorite. But, the chocolate chip cookie recipe is very good also.
I enjoyed the tibits about life in the "Pea" household. I know life with young children can be hectic to say the least. The recipes are intriguing and worth checking out. There is a lot in this book for those not completely vegan. Thanks again for the great win First Reads! The anytime cookies are probably my favorite. But, the chocolate chip cookie recipe is very good also.
January 6, 2023
This has become one of my most-used cookbooks. I absolutely love Sarah's blog and this book, and am eagerly awaiting her next one. I've tried several of the recipes from both the book and the blog, and every single one has been a winner. A few have made it into my regular rotation, including the Apple Cider Donuts (on the blog) and the Spicy Peanut African Stew. I can see how the anecdotes about her kids might not be appealing to childless people, but really, just skip over them to the recipes. You will not be disappointed!
January 9, 2012
After getting hooked on the blog, I asked for this book for Christmas. I read it cover-to-cover and am so excited to start making these recipes. Now, I normally wouldn't count a cookbook as a 'real book' to go toward my reading goal, but this book includes a little anecdote along with each and every recipe. Sarah Matheny is quite funny, and I enjoy reading about her family and their vegetarian way of life in the book and on the blog. She, along with other people and blogs, has inspired me to give vegetarianism a try.
February 26, 2012
First thought, "Oh... this MUST be one of those cookbooks written by a woman with a blog who thinks she can write a book..." and it is.
This book relies heavily on soy, which alters estrogen levels in women and girls.
Mostly soy products used as fake meat rather than exploring actual meatless entrees utilized by other cultures.
I see no mention of a garden or a farmer's market (correct me if I am wrong), just reliance on places like Whole Foods, which we in lower income brackets cannot afford to shop at every week.
This book relies heavily on soy, which alters estrogen levels in women and girls.
Mostly soy products used as fake meat rather than exploring actual meatless entrees utilized by other cultures.
I see no mention of a garden or a farmer's market (correct me if I am wrong), just reliance on places like Whole Foods, which we in lower income brackets cannot afford to shop at every week.
April 21, 2012
There were several interesting-sounding recipes in this book, but I ended up returning it to the library before trying any. The featured flavors are bright and fresh and the photography is lovely, but in the end nothing grabbed me enough to make me add it to my menu.
I couldn't decide if I was put-off or amused by the cutesy-smartass stories that accompanied each recipe, and finally settled on put-off. (The Hugh Jass Salad intro and recipe title tipped the balance for me.) The author's blog has a huge following so clearly this is just a matter of personal taste.
I couldn't decide if I was put-off or amused by the cutesy-smartass stories that accompanied each recipe, and finally settled on put-off. (The Hugh Jass Salad intro and recipe title tipped the balance for me.) The author's blog has a huge following so clearly this is just a matter of personal taste.
June 30, 2014
I was not familiar with Sarah Matheny or her blog, and I put this on hold at the library because I've been looking for ideas for vegetarian meals. I never read the description, only the title, and did not realize this was a vegan cookbook. I flipped through the recipes, but none looked appealing, being that I am not vegan. The layout is bright, colorful and easy to follow, and the anecdotes about her husband and kids are fun. For vegans, I bet this would be a great resource--I just wish it had been more clear that this was a vegan cookbook.
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