The Happy Herbivore
Posted by Saskia on Jan 31, 2011 · Member since Jan 2007 · 1976 posts
I just picked up The Happy Herbivore when I saw it on sale at a local bookstore. It's gotten great reviews on amazon.com. Has anyone tried any of the recipes in this book?
It's not that the recipes are just similar to other recipes (similar ingredients, nothing new, same flavor profile, etc), because that definitely is going to happen a lot. Her recipe names, book category names, recipe ingredients/method are most definitely PLAGIARIZED. I could tell that without even having the book/knowing anything about it beforehand. (and just like saskia pointed out above) Ridiculous!
(not saying you should now throw about the book or anything, by any means!)
I wonder is there any precident for suing someone that has plagiarized a cookbook, because that's a serious offense.
My disclaimer would have to be that I object to the allegations, but will use it as it's in my possession now. Sucks.
Yemisir W'et -= This uses a blend of over 10 spices called Berbere (which she gives the recipe for) and tomatoes and lentils. It called for red, but I used brown lentils. This is a nice tomatoey fat free dish.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248654_1840289805821_1197836956_31678710_1570662_n.jpg
Tempeh joes - pretty basic, simple recipe that pairs brown rice with grated tempeh to make a sloppy joe. She uses a couple of tsps of chili powder which gives it more of a chili flavor than a sloppy joe flavor, but it's still good. I used one of her options and used lettuce to wrap instead of a bun. An option I didn't take for time consideration of sauteeing onions and peppers...this would have been a better option in hindsight.
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/270904_1925029204253_1197836956_31734646_5849232_n.jpg
Mushroom Burgers: These are pretty tasty, although I still prefer the black bean burgers from VCON. The flavour is right on. I subbed 1/4 cup of ketchup plus a few drips of liquid smoke to replace the 2 tbs of steak sauce and 2 tbs bbq sauce. The texture is the only thing I had a problem with - they are super soft, and fall apart really easily. It helps to increase the baking time a little. They did hold up in the end, you just have to be really really careful while turning them during the baking process. Worth making again, though :)
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq138/XxDanniDarcyxX/DSCN0962.jpg
did any of you read Lindsay's response to Isa's accusations? Frankly, I have the HH on my FB, I love alot of her recipes. And, since she does follow McDougall and Esselstyne's recommendations, and they endorse her, she should be applauded.
Isa is a big name name in the industry, and it doesn't take much to get people going, but did she sue her or send a Cease and desist to her? did she get her publishers to stop publishing the cookbook on grounds of plagerism? NO! Give the girl a chance....I can't say I love all of her recipes, but I like a lot of them, and am looking forward to her new cookbook in the fall- again low fat.
Don't forget that when you try her low fat baking recipes, that they are just that- low fat- made with applesauce, so they are moister, and do not necessarily mimic higher fat recipes. It may take some getting used to really, but just know, that you're consuming healthier foods!
Interesting first post above, but no I havne't read her response, can you share with us where it is?
I'm sure people would thing that actually for the first post personally! lol
anyway, it's right off theppk's site. Lindsay's response is this: It is really sad to see this. I hope you all know this doesn't help veganism in any kind of way -- the in-fighting. I don't understand why PPKers are so quick to tear down every other aspiring chef.
For the record, I've been writing these recipes for years. So no, I didn't plagiarize anything.
I've seen recipes by all sorts of authors (including Isas) that were strikingly similar to other recipes that came before. Do I assume these people copy them? No. I just assume that it's bound to happen -- there are only so many ways to create a recipe for chocolate cake after all.
In fact, if we really want to get down to it, there are several recipes in Isa's new book that have been on my blog for years. But I would never accuse her or anyone... I'm just not that type of person.
When I first was vegan I worshipped Isa. I tried to get into the PPK community and was never welcomed. I guess I wasn't cool enough. So I went off and did my own thing. And now I'm being attacked because why exactly?
BTW, I did low fat and fat-free long before Isa, so... umm??
Regardless, that didn't make me any less excited to see her writing a low fat book. or buying it.
This popped up on twitter re: the whole thing -- how true!
"For cruelty free dieters,vegans sure are cannibalistic."
and the whole post where she an Isa get into it is here on the whole page.....http://forum.theppk.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5978&hilit=happy+herbivore&start=25
you just have to decide for yourself where you stand, or if it even matters. Lindsay has a huge following now, which I'm happy for her for.
People either seem to love or hate her style of recipes....I'd say if you're intake of fat matters to you, then by all means give her cookbooks a shot. She lives on St Maarten Island currently
Thanks so much for that.
I've been on some vegan websites and Vegans can be brutal especially to non-vegans especially ovo-lacto vegetarains. This forum does seem to be an exception in that people here are reasonable, supportive and kind.
Anyway she makes some good points, but hasn't always been classy about it. Same with Isa and her fans.
I have a lot of cookbooks that have nearly identical recipes in them. The similarity between the set up for example the scones above is strangely similar to be a conincidence, but I suppose it could be.
In the end I decided for it to be a nonissue since I already have the book and will continue using it. It's not a bad cookbook.
i agree with you too. I kind of lost some respect for Isa, although I love her cookbooks over the whole thing. But I think there's plenty of room for newcombers and oldies alike. I find Robin robertson amazing with the number of cookbooks that she has out, and that she can continue to come up with new recipes all the time!
I hope Lindsay continues to increase her following as she has a large one now!
Yeah, I think threre's room for all and everyone should treat each other with respect. Funny how cooks have fans and followings. I'm a huge Donna Kein fan and I'm loving Tamasin Noyes these days too. Love Sarah Kramer and Isa too. Robin is amazing and I own five of her books, so I guess I'm a groupie now. LOL
I think if you find an author that cooks like you do, you become a groupie! I have one of Sarah's books, and I have to look up donna Tamasin.....don't know either of them. I have 30 vegan and veg cookbooks, but should sell some I don't use, lol!
I got this book a few months ago because of all the awesome photos but I was disappointed at first because the first 4 things I made I did not like at all. I did not like the cornbread, I threw out the blackbean brownies and the single serve brownie and I didn't like the pancake recipe either. But then I made the Fettuccini Alfredo, I had to add a lot of seasoned salt and other spices to it, but when I did, then I really liked it. The Cinnamon Banana Toast Crunch was really good, but a little too sweet for me that early in the morning.
The Loaded Nachos and all the cheese sauces were good. The Apple Crisp Muffins were delicious, loved those! And last night I made the Carrot Cake Cupcakes and cream cheese icing - Loved those! Simple, lowfat, moist, great flavor. I used 2 large carrots instead of 1 because 1 just did not look like enough.
The Tofu Ricotta Cheese was awesome! I mixed with wholewheat rotini and a stirfry medly of veggies, it made alot so I took some to my parents and my sister and they all liked it, as did my coworker. I will be making this often!
Stacy
oh yeah, I really liked the apple muffins too! Be on the lookout for her new cookbook in the fall
i was not aware of the whole plagiarism controversy when i bought this book. so i will just say that with all of those issues aside, it's an okay cookbook. definitely not my go-to, but it does have a few keepers. my hubby, who isn't a pancake fan, actually likes the ones from this cookbook. he also likes the chocolate chip cookies; they taste pretty good but definitely came out with more of a cakey texture than a cookie texture, which is fine if that's what you're going for. i do like the chapter on condiments, spices & more, which can be helpful in a pinch. i didn't realize that this was a beginner-style cookbook, so i probably won't be making a lot of the recipes here, but i can say that most of the ingredients are pretty basic so that can be good for some people. as far as lindsay's alleged unprofessionalism: not cool, and kind of a turn-off. if it weren't for the cute little elephants on every single page, (as well as the ginornmous coffee spill stain) i'd consider parting with this one solely on principle. but as tweety said, i already own it, so might as well make the best of it!
p.s. although i've owned the cookbook for several months now, and only just heard about the "controversy" today, i do have one confession: when i first perused the book and saw the sausage recipe, i was surprised that no credit was given since the unique "tootsie roll" technique (wording included) originated with Julie Hasson and then Isa and even Vegan Dad, all of whom i relied upon previously for my first attempts at vegan sausagery. (yes, i said sausagery.) i guess i should have done some research when i had that first misgiving! trust those instincts!
when i first perused the book and saw the sausage recipe, i was surprised that no credit was given since the unique "tootsie roll" technique (wording included) originated with Julie Hasson and then Isa and even Vegan Dad, all of whom i relied upon previously for my first attempts at vegan sausagery. (yes, i said sausagery.)
When you say 'tootsie roll' technique, if you are referring to wrapping the seitan in foil before cooking, the first reference to this method that I am familiar with can actually be credited to Jo Stepaniak. She used it in her seitan pepperoni recipe which appeared for the first time in the original edition of her book Vegan Vittles (1996).
ooh see i didn't know that! i actually just ordered vegan vittles because it was actually jo's book - the vegan sourcebook- that first got me interested in veganism years ago. what i meant by "originated" was that julie's was the first recipe of that type that i had seen, and both Isa and Vegan Dad referenced that source.
There's a review in here somewhere...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHaRWUjPs8o&feature=bf_prev&list=FLAdL-BVAESykyC5HpqIRIzw&lf=plpp_video
"Hot beans," is kind of an inside joke.
Mexican cabbage - Gotta give this recipe just a "meh". Not bad, but nothing to rave about and not something I would make for company, but for me it's a healthy dish and so it redeems itself. It's cabbage, beans, corn, onions, garlic, cumin and oregano and tomato sauce. She suggests topping it with corn tortilla chips which would have been good but I didn't want to buy any because I'd eat the whole bag. :)
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/426990_3047700950345_1197836956_32370604_1462834770_n.jpg
Everyday Happy Herbivore's Dijon Rice With Broccoli - I didn't eat this, but R made it and said it just tasted ok. Said he'd prefer to make a stirfry with leftover rice instead.
Recipe here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/fast-and-easy-vegan-dishes/
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