Cornelia Guest's Simple Pleasures: Healthy Seasonal Cooking and Easy Entertaining

by Cornelia Guest

Daughter of fashion icon C. Z. Guest and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, polo champion and heir to the Phipps steel fortune, Cornelia Guest resisted eating animal products from childhood because of her passion for “critters.” When her mother became ill, her research compelled her to take the leap to eat cruelty-free. In Cornelia Guest’s Simple Pleasures, she reveals the secrets of understated elegance she learned from her parents and the family’s extraordinary friends. Her favorite simple recipes are so delicious, even the most fervent carnivores do not miss the meat, and her tips on entertaining take the stress out of any event. Her ulterior motive is to inspire readers to have fun experimenting with healthy alternatives and to change the way they think about food.

She shows readers how to incorporate affordable, cruelty-free eating into their daily lives and how to serve that wholesome food to friends. Organized by season, each section begins with a luscious meal—a light spring lunch of chilled asparagus soup and quinoa salad, an alfresco summer dinner of veggie carpaccio and stuffed squash blossoms, a fall breakfast buffet of pecan waffles, faux buttermilk pancakes, and raspberry muffins, and a cozy winter’s dinner of shepherd’s pie with a chocolate tart for dessert. Each season contains recipes for beverages, soups, salads, pasta, side dishes, main courses, and an abundance of desserts that everyone will love. Special sections feature recipes for grains, greens, and beans. Her favorite chefs, doctors, a veterinarian, and other health experts have contributed sidebars with tips, advice, and eye-opening information.

Dismissing fussy food and pretention, she believes the key to entertaining well is simplicity. Cornelia Guest’s Simple Pleasures is filled with advice on how to set a lively and original table, how to bring nature inside, even how to stay calm in the face of entertaining disasters. She shows how a little thought and effort makes it a snap to create a relaxed, warm atmosphere and fabulous food free of animal products that will not only please family and friends but will also allow you to enjoy your own party.

Richly illustrated with photographs of personal memorabilia and of Templeton, her legendary home, the book captures the feeling of a well-lived life. Cheerful, colorful, and unpretentious, Simple Pleasures will give readers all they need to know to cook in the most nutritious way possible and to serve it up with great style.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m having such a hard time rating and reviewing this more than a cookbook. It’s a cookbook, and entertaining book, and a book filled with facts about food and veganism and the author.

I adored the gorgeous photos (though I wish there had been more of the completed recipes) and the lovely colored drawings. The food looks delicious. The author is interesting and personable. There is quite a bit of good information in this book. The whole book has a peaceful and fun feeling. I appreciated that the author loves animals, and some of the photos and art work show animals.

But my hackles went up. There is iffy dietary/nutritional advice. There is a bit of not so great information in this book. The author is upper, upper class and I really didn’t need to read about her very wealthy family and background and her being a debutante, etc. People with families and wealth might better enjoy her anecdotes. (I think I’m a curmudgeon these days.) Her idea of what constitutes good manners and proper entertaining I found kind of laughable at times, though some of it made sense to me. All that good food is made with a plethora of Earth Balance vegan butter (so many problems here but that’s another review/story), oil, vingegar. Veganaise, and other foods I either don’t like or do my best to avoid. The “Healthy” in the subtitle I guess is open to interpretation; most of the recipes are healthier than those in cookbooks containing animal based foods.

People who like to feel immersed in the upstairs of “Downton Abbey” or “Upstairs, Downstairs” and who are Martha Stewart fans and who like to entertain and serve vegan food, and who appreciate beautiful books, are likely to rate this book higher than I did, especially if they’re not health nuts. It is a lovely book, and I admit as I was finishing it, reading very late into the early morning hours, it made me so hungry I had one of my extremely rare middle of the night snacks. That’s something I do maybe 6 times a year.

I like eating my food. I’m a huge water drinker and only occasionally drink hot and iced teas, black, green, and herb. So when I list the recipes I found especially tempting, it happens that I didn’t include any of the drinks, but I want to say that there are many really creative recipes for various kinds of drinks in this book, in each section.

Even though I’d first read the Contents, for awhile I wondered if this was even a cookbook. There is so much text before the pages with recipes even start, and the extra material continues throughout the book.

The book is divided by seasons and then further divided.

I’m glad this is a library book because I doubt I’ll use this cookbook. I did enjoy reading, and especially viewing it, though.

The recipes that most appealed to me are, in order of appearance:

from Spring: Michael’s Chilled Asparagus Soup; Strawberry Rhubarb Pie; Soba Salad; Baked Vegetable Risotto; Pea Pesto; Red Velvet Cake; Curried Quinoa; Barley, Rice, and Bulgar Salad

from Summer: Pea Pâté; Spaghetti in Fresh Tomatoes and Basil; Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Amaranth; Lemon Chickpea Puree; Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad; Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Roast Eggplant; Grilled Herbed Corn on the Cob; Zucchini Fritters; Black Bean Burgers

from Fall: French Toast; Raspberry Muffins; Guacamole Hummus; Mushroom Pâté; Porcini Pappardelle with Pistachios; Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette; Winter Squash in Bulgar; Roast Cauliflower with Turmeric; Cauliflower Puree; Mashed Potatoes with Spinach; Vegetable Tart; Three-Potato Roast; Chard Lentil Soup; Potato Soup with Greens and Farro; Kale and White Bean Sauté; Pumpkin and Split Pea Soup; Curry Chickpea Soup

from Winter: Black Bean Hummus; Squash Soup with Pumpkin Seeds; Broccoli Soup; Kale and Cabbage Soup; Spinach Tofu Lasagna; Penne with Potatoes and Chard; Penne with Peas and Mushrooms; French Onion Tart; Baked Carrot Fries; Cauliflower with Pine Nuts; Dal Vegetables; Kale, Lentil, and Vegetable Stew; Gingerbread; Crepes with Strawberry Rhubarb Crepe Filling; Ice Cream Bombe

The drawings really are darling and they’re probably my favorite part of the book. The whole book is put together nicely. This is a gift worthy book though it does depend on the recipient’s taste in books and in food.

In the Contents, all the recipes all listed under their sub-sections, something I did appreciate, and I like how each season has its own categories not identical to each other as in many cookbooks.

Contents:

A Note from the Author

Part I: Simple Pleasures

Chapter 1: Easy Elegance
Chapter 2: Wholesome Eating
Chapter 3: Effortless Entertaining

Part II: Spring
A Perfect Spring Lunch
Spring Drinks
Spring Starters and Spreads
Spring Salads
Spring Dressings
Spring Pastas
Special Spring Dishes
Spring Desserts
Grains

Part III: Summer
Alfresco Summer Dinner
Popsicles
Summer Drinks
Summer Salsas, Spreads, and Dips
Summer Soups
Summer Salads
Summer Pastas
Special Summer Dishes
Summer Sandwiches
Guilt-Free Burgers
Summer Desserts

Part IV: Fall
Hearty Fall Breakfast
Fall Drinks
Fall Spreads, Dips, and Starters
Fall Salads
Fall Pastas
Special Fall Dishes
Fall Desserts
Greens and Beans
Soups
Special Greens Dishes
Mostly Beans
Soups
Special Bean Dishes

Part V: Winter
Cozy Winter Supper
Winter Drink
Winter Spreads and Dips
Winter Soups
Winter Pastas
Special Winter Dishes
Winter Pastas
Special Winter Dishes
Winter Stews
Winter Desserts

Resources
Metric Conversion Chart
Index

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. Some of the preliminary prose was a little tedious, but the pictures are gorgeous and kinda make me want an estate. The recipes are simple and awesome. I might eat truffle vinaigrette on everything now. My favorite part, though, were the pictures of the unique serving pieces that she uses (the rabbit casserole around page 180 was my #1).

[Marianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes are very accessible compared to so many vegan cookbooks. I love reading lifestyle books written by heiresses. I'm always left feeling a bit ashamed that I don't have gargantuan sterling silver polo/yachting trophies to display on my buffet! :))

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim from a Free Little Library... only skimmed through it, but it's just not my style.

[Angelc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook, and entertaining guide, is really so nicely done. It is a beautiful book, with a gorgeous teal hardcover and beautiful photos and drawings inside. The photos are really inspiring and lovely to look at. The recipes themselves are vegan, so they may not be for everyone but I think anyone could find at least a side dish or breakfast item that they would enjoy making and eating.

The first half of the book is devoted to entertaining, something I don't do that often, so I really enjoyed the cooking portion of the book more. The author's style of entertaining is on the frou frou side so take that into consideration before reading the book. Even if her tastes for entertaining may be fussy, the photos are still beautiful to look at, and she shares the history of her family's home and it's nice to read about all of that history as well.

I loved the tiny sketches of little animals throughout the book, they are just too cute. I also loved that the author let her adorable pets model with the food for some of the photos. The book really is beautiful, and it would make a lovely and lasting gift for a vegan friend.

I want to try a lot of the recipes, they don't look too difficult and they are all made with fresh seasonal ingredients. The recipe portion of the book is split into the four seasons and consists of recipes and foods that pertain to that time of year. One of my favorite parts was the fall breakfast section. There are a lot of new things I want to try!

I liked that the author added basic instructions for cooking some vegan staples like grains and beans. It's helpful to have a list of cooking times and instructions for many grains and beans at a glance.

Overall, a beautifully made book with lots of inspiration for cooking, entertaining, and even decorating.


book sent by publicist in exchange for honest review

reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't heard of Cornelia Guest, but after the introduction where she talks about being buddies with Andy Warhol and Truman Capote I was sold. Also, I had a little google and found out that she'd dated Rob Lowe and Sylvester Stallone! wowsers!

anyway... I received this as a gift and it's a really beautiful book about cooking simple vegan food and entertaining. The photographs are lovely, the food looks good and the little illustrations are super cute. I don't do much entertaining and live in a one bedroom flat... I do not put fresh flowers in old polo trophies (cornelia does!) but when i do serve food I usually do it buffet style which cornelia approves of as food served already on a plate is dated.

the recipes are very simple (hence the title) but sound really good, nutritious and healthy, I'd like to try pea pate, pea pesto and all of her cauliflower dishes and the burgers sound good too. She doesn't go in for much tofu, setian or tempeh but focuses more on wholefoods and beans and lots of kale.

this is a very warm and charming book and i bet cornelia is great at entertaining! there's lots to read aside from the recipes and the book is set up seasonally with lists of what fruits, vegetables and flowers are in season.

if she'd have written about her relationships with stallone and lowe she'd have gotten that coveted extra star!! ha ha! also, she makes cookies for a 'living' but there isn't one cookie recipe in the book!

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely took note of the recipes here, which is why I was interested in the book, but found the animal drawings and "Notes From my Friends" features quite darling and informative. I have no idea who Cornelia Guest is but she seems like a nice, rich and eco-friendly lady who lunches.

[lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I saw that she had dedicated her book to her dog I knew it was not the book for me. Vapid observations, and recipes no one would make without a professional caterer at their beck and call. This is a total dismiss for me.

[Kezia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of flaws but an otherwise delightful book. Possibly not ideal for the beginning chef, but lovely seasonal, rustic, veggie-forward dishes.

[Una Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a child of the 80's and vegan, I was very happy to learn that one of the icons of the era also is vegan and lives a cruelty free life. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Fun and with recipes that are both easy and delicious, it is, when you look beyond the celebrity, an excellent vegan cookbook. I like Cornelia's including seasonal and gardening information, as well as basic and helpful entertaining tips. Its just a lovely book and something different and refreshing in the world of vegan cookbooks.