Original Moosewood Cookbook recommendations?

[Mousie29]

Partially thanks to this BB (emilycat), I just got the original "Moosewood Cookbook" (2000 update). I would greatly appreciate any recommendations you have.

[emilycat]

Gosh, I'm flattered! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

These are my favorites, but I've honestly not tried anything in the book that I didn't like:

Hummus
Swiss Cheese and Mushroom Quiche
Spinach-Ricotta Pie
No-Fault Pumpkin Pie
Mushroom Bisque
Onion Soup
Lentil Soup (really delicious and sooo easy) Macedonian Salad (probably my favorite recipe in the whole book)
Sri Wasano's Infamous Indonesian Rice Salad, Stellar Mushroom Sauce (it really is!) Lentil-Walnut Burgers
Stuffed Eggplant (the 1970's alternative lifestyle version is awesome!)
Spinach-Cheese Calzones (these are to-die-for and so satisfying)
Spanakopita (insert previous parentheses' comment)
Ratatouille
Szechwan Eggplant and Tofu.

Have fun with your new book!

Emily

[kwormann]

Is this one of the "healthy" lowfat books, or is it the original???

Kim

[Mousie29]

This is the original, not to be confused with "Moosewood Low Fat Favorites", "Moosewood Cooks at Home", something like "New recipes from the Moosewood Restaurant".

This is the original Moosewood Cookbook that has been in print since '77. This is the '00 update.

[Tiger]

That's what I was wondering too. Are the recipes low-fat? I know they do have a specific low-fat book, but how healthy are the others?

[schuh]

The original (which I have) is not low in fat at all. It's loaded with various cheeses, etc. I'm not sure how the updated version is.

Also, I recommend the cornbread. Nothing fancy, but very good and reliable.

[This message has been edited by schuh (edited 04-09-2001).]

[Mousie29]

To address the issue of "how low in fat" is the updated original "Moosewood Cookbook"....I have heard comments about it not being necessarily "low in fat", but the updated book's recipes are primarily fresh veggie, fruits, whole grains accented with some cheese at times......I think 15 recipes call for eggs.

I think it's very healthful! But, I have heard that it's not too much low fat.

[chefbec]

The Moosewood Cookbook would not be considered low-fat, although many of the recipes are healthful. I have the original 1977 and revised 1992 editions. In the revised edition, Molly did reduce some of the fat where she was able to, and added a few more recipes. I also believe a few recipes were taken out of the revised edition that were in the first edition (such as the Spaghetti Squash recipe). I think another revision is also available, and I don't know what changes were made to that one. I've made most of the recipes emilycat has made (and they're great), as well as many of the desserts. Try these:
Yogust-Cream Cheese Pie (called Yogurt Pie in the revised; she cut out the sour cream), Apple Krisp, Ukranian Poppyseed Cake, Apple-Honey Custard Pie, Crunchy-Top Peach Pie, and I also must add my all time favorite entree in there, the Lasagne. Also the Vegetarian Chili is wonderful. The original edition had a lousy index; the revised is much easier to use. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif And the restaurant itself is a dream come true!

[emilycat]

I would say that even though many of the recipes in the Moosewood Cookbook (I have the original) aren't low-fat, they're very easily altered. I make nearly everything at least relatively low-fat, and I've very successfully altered all of the recipes I've made from her book.

Besides that, most of the ingredients, like Mousie said, focus on veggies, legumes and whole grains http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif ; I would absolutely call it a healthy cookbook.

[DMurray]

One of my all time favorite soup recipes is from The Moosewood Cookbook. It's the Cauliflower-Cheese Soup on pg 20. I substitute broccoli for cauliflower, use 2% sharp cheddar for the grated cheese and 1% buttermilk or FF half and half. It's great with a salad and bread.
Deb

[Susann]

Not positive that I am thinking of the right cookbook, but if so I would recommend the turkish style zuchini and cascadilla.

[karen]

Originally posted by DMurray:
One of my all time favorite soup recipes is from The Moosewood Cookbook. It's the Cauliflower-Cheese Soup on pg 20. I substitute broccoli for cauliflower, use 2% sharp cheddar for the grated cheese and 1% buttermilk or FF half and half. It's great with a salad and bread.
Deb


Please post your soup recipe when you have time.

Thanks ,Karen

[DMurray]

Cauliflower-Cheese Soup
Moosewood Cookbook (Is it OK to post this?)

2c potato chunks
2c culiflowerets (or broccoli-I use the tender parts of the stems for this part and save the tops for later)
1c chopped carrot
3 medium cloves of garlic
1c chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 cups water or stock

Place above ingredients together in a pot. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 15 minutes (or until veggies are tender). Let cool 10 minutes. Puree entire mixture in the blender until smooth and creamy. (I use my hand blender for this part and process it in the pot-it's a lot easier!) Transfer back to a kettle (double boiler if available) and whisk in:

1 1/2 c grated cheddar (I use 2% sharp cheddar)
3/4 c milk (skim works fine)
1/4 tsp dill weed (don't always use)
1/4 tsp ground dill or caraway seed (have never used)
1/4 tsp dry mustard
black pepper

Heat gently (don't let it boil!)

Steam or saute in butter 1 1/2 cups more culiflowerets (this is where I use the broccoli tops). Add these to the soup. Just before serving, whisk in 3/4 buttermilk (I use 1% buttermilk or FF half and half). Serve right away with chopped scallions onad extra cheese. Seves 4-5

This is really good!
Deb

[Alky]

Tell me more about "The Enchanted Broccoli Forest" Cookbook? I have looked for it at several bookstores and they don't have it. I kind of wanted to look at a copy before purchasing it. How does it compare to the regular Moosewood?

[This message has been edited by Alky (edited 04-09-2001).]

[chefbec]

Enchanted Broccoli is sort of like a continuation of Moosewood Cookbook, but I have to say I haven't made much from it. I prefer the original, and the Moosewood Collective cookbooks.

[makedah]

Is the 2000 update in regular print or is it that handwriting stuff? I picked up a copy of an updated Moosewood original (1992 or 2000, I didn't check) and it made my eyes cross.

[Mousie29]

The print is in the handwriting style with her gorgeous artwork.

[emilycat]

That's so funny! Two of the things I love so much about The Moosewood Cookbook and The Enchanted Broccoli Forest are her hand lettering and fun drawings! (Not that the recipes aren't important, too. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ) I think it gives the book so much character http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 04-09-2001).]

[karen]

Thank you DMURRAY. I can now try out my new hand mixer.

Karen

[emilycat]

Alky,

The recipes in the two books are quite similar, and I've had loads of success with both of them --The Enchanted Broccoli Forest, though, seems to have a greater concentration of specific kinds of dishes; i.e, fritattas, quiches, breads, soups....it doesn't seem to be quite as all-encompassing as the other one. But it really has some delicious recipes; I wouldn't really say that I liked one book better than the other.
Does that help? And if you'd like, I'd be happy to post my favorites from that book, as well, to give you more of an idea.

Emily

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 04-11-2001).]

[Liz R]

A long time ago I had a chicken recipe from the old Moosewood cookbook. It was a sweeter recipe maybe with some kind of glaze on it. Does anyone recall this recipe or even have this I would love to try it again. Thanks

[emilycat]

Liz,

Are you sure it was Moosewood? Those books are all vegetarian, and I do have the original edition. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/confused.gif

[chefbec]

Yes, definitely no chicken recipes in that!

[Mousie29]

Debbie and Emily, thanks. I've tried:

Cauliflower cheese soup- awesome! Next time broth instead of water. it's yummy and impressive. Debbie thanks for the handmixer idea. That's a life saver.

Sir Wasani's Infamous Indonesian Rice Salad - Good, interesting. Different and exciting for me to have in my repetoire. Very healthy.

Eggplant Parmesean - Good, rich? Pretty easy. I made it late at night and now I'm kinda grossed out, but at the time I thought it was awesome.

[Trish K]

CHS53
The greatest cheescake recipe is from the original Moosewood cookbook. It's called "Montana's Mom's Dynamite Cheesecake," and believe me it's definitely not light in any sense of the word. It's simply wonderful if you can restrain yourself. I always plan to hace a lot of people to feed it to so there are NO leftovers to lay in wait for me.

[Mousie29]

I tried:

TART AND TANGY BAKED BEANS (formerly cheese beans)

Wow, I'm not making these again. I spent a long time chopping, etc. Even though using less vinegar and wine might make them taste better, I just didn't think they tasted very good at all. Of course, mine were too hard.

[neenbeez]

Salsa Yucateco is very good on fish or rice.

The Hummus recipe is good, but watch how much lemon you put in. The recipe calls for two lemons and I find that a bit much.

Broccoli Mushroom Noodle casserole

Zuccanoes are very good

Ode to Chang Kung is good, but makes an enormous amount--cut the recipe in half.

The Spaghetti Squash casserole in the original (did I see that it was eliminated in the revision--what a shame!) is something my meat and potatoes, mid-western husband loves!

Mexican Corn and Cheese Bread (great with soup)

Not low fat but delicious desserts:

Moosewood Fudge Brownies (Oh so decadent! I made them for a party circa 1981 and had someone come up to me 10 years later and say "did you make those really good brownies?")
Carrot Cake and Banana Bread
Cardamom Coffee Cake (so what if it has 2 cups of butter--if you die eating it you will die with a smile on your face!)
And Montana Mom's Dynamite Cheesecake--the best I've ever had

I bought the original Moosewood around 1980 because my first roommate in college lived in Ithaca and was a huge fan. This is the cookbook that made me love broccoli--I used it so much that all the food caked on the pages molded and rotted and I had to buy a second copy.

[gertdog]

I moved to Ithaca (home of Moosewood Restaurant) about ten years ago, and that year someone gave me the Moosewood Cookbook for my birthday. Here are some favorites, if you're still looking for recipes to try:

Alsatian salad (with far less cheese than the recipe calls for)
Bermuda salad
Gingery marinated chickpeas (addictive!)
Mondo bizarro sauce for pasta

[Mousie29]

Cream of Spinach Soup (unexpectedly) - VERY GOOD. I like this much more than the cauliflower soup.

I used 3x the butter and some light broth instead of some water. It's still light.

[Mousie29]

Spinach Calzone- AWESOME! I didn't try her dough recipe though.

Stellar Mushroom sauce- I was so disappointed. It tastes ok and I think I did everything right. It was pretty involved.