A Taste of Heaven and Earth: A Zen Approach to Cooking and Eating with 150 Satisfying Vegetarian Recipes

by Bettina Vitell

Book Overview

For Bettina Vitell the simple art of cooking holds the seeds to a deeper, more life-enriching experience. It is a way to become more aware of ourselves and the world around us, to think clearly and to delight in even the most basic daily activities of our lives.

The dishes in A Taste of Heaven and Earth reflect this Zen philosophy. Bettina Vitell's uncomplicated recipes produce sophisticated, creative meals without ever losing site of her goal...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060969342
• ISBN13: 9780060969349
• Release Date: August 1993
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

yummy!

As a vegetarian who loves to cook, I have lots of veg or veg-friendly cookbooks, but this one is my absolute favorite. I trust it completely-- every recipe is delicious. My favorites include the light quiche-like vegetable tarts (I started with the tomato and chard tart recipe, but then branched out into mushrooms, broccoli, leeks, etc, as my mood strikes) and the broccoli salad with chili lime basil dressing. The simple stir-fry tofu made for this salad is the absolute best tofu I've ever had-- the only trouble with it is how hard it is to refrain from eating it so that enough ends up in the salad!

Excellent recipes; the Zen link is tenuous

A "Zen" approach to cooking? The book features an essay by Eido Shimano roshi, and the author is informed by her experiences cooking for the sangha at Dai Bosatsu monastery, but this book stands most prominently as a fine vegetarian cookbook, light on dairy ingredients and hard-to-find items. The recipes are clear, uncomplicated, and my own "success" rate with them has been very high.The book's sections are organized into breakfast ideas, an excellent chapter of soup recipes (check out the minty lentil soup - a lentil soup primavera?!?), mexican ideas, pizzas!, great salad ideas, and desserts. Crepes and polenta are also introduced to the beginner or near-beginner.

Zen Cooking

Excellent book easy to use and read, Food is excellent

My favorite cookbook

I was given this book as a gift several years ago, and didn't try it at first as I thought somehow it would be complicated (hmm... how can Zen be complicated?) But when I tried some of the unique and so very tasty recipes, I was hooked. I turn to this book every week when planning my food shopping and menus. I have given it to several friends and have heard wonderful things from them. The tastes are refined and elegant, but the ingredients are not difficult to obtain. You may find yourself trying new things too, which is always good in life. The simple Zen introductions are beautifully and poetically written. As a vegan I was happy to discover that this book is not heavy on dairy, so there are many recipes for vegans to choose from. Thank you, Bettina Vitell!