Sometimes I’m not entirely sure where I fit on the foodie spectrum. On the one hand, I have friends who are vegetarians and vegans. On the other hand I have the Weston Price followers who are all about lots of meat (especially organ meat). I tend to think that Westerners eat too much meat and not enough vegetables. I could probably live quite easily without it. I could not be vegan, however; I love cheese way too much!

What intrigued me about Ripe from Around Here: A Vegan Guide to Local and Sustainable Eating (No Matter Where You Live) is the fact that it’s a vegan book that focuses on local eating–something that might not seem to go together.

From the publisher’s website:

[Jae Steele's] new cookbook underscores the importance of local, sustainable eating and living by helping readers deepen their understanding of organic and local foods, and their positive impact on our health and our planet.

The book includes chapters on the concept of local food and why it’s important; finding a balance between various food issues and personal priorities and values; and the benefits of the local food movement that go beyond reducing the carbon footprint on our plates. It also helps readers become more informed about where their food comes from no matter where they live, whether their source is the farmers’ market or the grocery store down the street.

The 180 recipes, which encourage the use of fresh, organic ingredients wherever possible (as well as potential alternatives, depending on where you live), include Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins, Pear Parsnip Soup, Asparagus and Spring Onion Quiche, Mushroom Asparagus Risotto, and Butternut Chipotle Chocolate Cake.

Jae Steele did a great job, I think, of explaining why she’s a vegan and also incorporating local foods. The first 50 pages are all about being green, and she gives some great information on composting and preserving food. Then the recipes are categorized into different types. While many of them are accessible, the most interesting ones require a juicer or homemade rice or almond milk, neither of which I think I would ever have the time to make.

Overall I really enjoyed this cookbook, and I think it’s a great read even if you are not vegan. If you are, you’ll love it even more!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy from the publisher; I was not obligated to review it and all opinions are mine.

Congratulations to Colleen, the winner of the giveaway!

Would you like to win my copy?

I have very little room on my bookshelf, so unfortunately this one needs a new home.

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1. Comment below saying why this book sounds interesting to you.
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Deadline for entry: Thursday, August 19, 2010, midnight EST. Open to U.S. and Canada.

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1. Farmer’s Market Desserts: Cookbook Review
2. The Commonsense Kitchen: A Cookbook Review
3. Harvest to Heat {Cookbook Review}
4. The Blackberry Farm Cookbook: A Review
5. Eating Local: Cookbook Review