vegan quickies

Get your minds out of the gutter, kids. That's not what I'm talking about. Tonight's topic is quick, tasty vegan meals.

Move over Rachel Ray and make room for vegan diva Nava Atlas and her newest vegan cookery treatise, Vegan Express. A founding mother of veggie cooking [this is her 11th cookbook], Nava chose the "method writing" technique while penning these recipes; she wrote this book *gasp!* while she was completing her graduate thesis in studio art.

Since I'm one busy vegan, I felt well-qualified to review this book. After one extremely trying day at work, I threw together the Zucchini and Polenta Marinara in a matter of minutes. I actually used yellow squash instead of zucchini and also added a red pepper--which just goes to show you how adaptable these recipes are. The result? Lots of flavor and a nutritious meal for very little effort.


Another night after coming home sizzled, I prepared the Roasted Brussels Sprouts in less than five minutes of prep time. Once again, tasty, healthy and quick.

Nava's recipes do not require esoteric ingredients. They're crafted from foods that most of us have stocked in our pantries. Two other time-savers: clear, pared-down directions and a layout with a defined visual hierarchy that's easy to navigate. Busy moms, working stiffs, and homework-laden students: when your tummy is growling but you're too tired to cook, this book is a lifesaver.