"MollieKatzen" news and stories

The cookbook shelf of a former vegetarian. Photo: emdot, Flickr.

Whether you're a full-fledged veg or a pro-greens protein fiend, vegetarian cookbooks are the door to a world where beans, greens and grains are celebrated. These books will introduce you to a whole new pantry of ingredients. Just as a meat eater might strive to make use of the entire animal, vegetarian cooks grab inspiration from far and wide and turn every bit of edible, natural earth into a grand culinary experience.

What follows after the jump are five vegetarian cookbooks that any veggie lover must have, covering the staples of meatless cookery -- secret recipes from restaurants, classic culinary bibles, respected names and haute vegetarian food. Which do you think will reign supreme?

There's no reason why a healthful meal cannot also be the most delicious meal. For example, check out the recently launched SMART menus program created by renowned cookbook author Mollie Katzen, and one of Oprah's favorite docs, Dr. Michael Roizen. They put together a series of recipes that show how you can can easily remake your favorite recipes without all of the unnecessary indulgences of high amounts of saturated fat and calories.

Mollie is best known for her classic Moosewood Cookbook and her more recent The Enchanted Broccoli Forest. Her message is that "there's no dividing line between great-tasting and great for you." The SMART menus program makes it easy to create dishes that are both healthful and tasty. Some of my favorites are: curried walnut chicken, walnut carrot cake muffins, and the couscous walnut cherry salad. Check out these recipes and let us know which ones are your favorites.