Book Review

Eating Without Heating
by Sergei and Valya Boutenko
Review by Laura Bruno

Two and a half years ago, I attended a healing workshop. Though I continue to utilize what I learned, by far the most memorable-even haunting-aspect of that afternoon has remained a raw pecan dip brought by one of the participants. At the time, I was highly allergic to nuts, but one taste of the dip, and I could barely restrain myself. The preparer assured me of the recipe's simplicity: "just pecans, a little garlic and some dates." However, my attempts at re-creation tasted so unlike that delectable spread that I eventually stopped trying. Imagine my shameless delight in discovering the very same "Pecan Paté" in Sergei and Valya Boutenko's Eating without Heating: Favorite Recipes from Teens Who Love Raw Food." Simple, yes, but oh so unbelievably delicious!

Eating without Heating originally interested me because of its authors' young ages. I figured that raw food loved by finicky teens would please my omnivore husband more anything "raw gourmet." With the exception of "I Can't Believe It's Just Cabbage," every recipe I've tried has earned a "very tasty," or "you can make this again!" The "Pecan Paté," "Simple Crackers," and "Cranberry Apple Relish" had our Christmas guest clamoring for recipes. Aside from their own winning food combinations, the precocious Boutenko's reveal to readers "How We Make Our Food Tasty: The Balance of Five Tastes." They provide a number of "Generic Recipes," like "Chowder," "Live Garden Burger," and "Cake," encouraging readers to experiment with different categories of ingredients.

I highly recommend Eating without Heating for the raw vegan enthusiast, as well as for anyone anxious to include more raw fruits, vegetables and nuts in an otherwise cooked diet. Sergei and Valya Boutenko share wisdom and culinary expertise far beyond their years--delicious contributions to any vegan or omnivore's collection.

Order Eating Without Heating Now!

Laura Bruno is a freelance editor and author of If I Only Had a Brain: 51 Healing Hints from a Survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury. You can contact her by email at lauraleaf2004@yahoo.com. She lives and writes with her husband, Stephen, in the mountains of Arizona. Visit her website at www.internationalrenaissancecoaching.com/

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