This week's article is a long one! I am posting it in two parts. Here is Part 1. I hope to have Part 2 posted early this week, and I will be doing a new article for next Sunday, as usual.

Good Vegetarian Cookbooks
Cookbooks make a great gift and always bring a smile. When you go shopping, you will notice there are many vegetarian cookbooks on the shelves. How to choose? Here are a few I particularly like. Happy reading!

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art46369.asp

Some cookbook tips:

* Recipes are not set in stone. Many are open to experimentation. That is, after all, how new recipes are created! Don't be afraid to change a recipe to suit your own taste.

* If you are trying to eat healthier, the amount of fat and salt can often be cut down considerably without affecting the recipe. Because fat and salt carry flavour, you might want to increase the other the seasonings slightly.

* In most recipes, whole-grain pastas and brown rice can be substituted for their white-flour counterparts. Be aware that brown rice takes longer to cook and time the recipe accordingly.

* Remember to mark down any changes you make to a recipe, so if you love the outcome, you can make it again!

If you have a favorite cookbook or you are hoping to get a particular book as a Christmas present, tell us about it in the forum. Other holiday ideas, including recipes, are welcome too!

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=55

I will send a notice when I post the remainder of this week's article. I hope you enjoy it and find it useful.

Shona Porteous, Vegetarian Editor
http://vegetarian.bellaonline.com

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