May
15
Raw ~ The UNcook Book that I can’t seem to use
Has anyone used this cookbook? I have mentioned it before but I love the concept of a raw diet. I admire those people who are raw because I believe it’s a challenge to maintain this type of eating plan. I say this because of the soaking and dehydrating of the food. These things take planning and time, sometimes 8 hours or more in a dehydrator. And this after you’ve soaked the nuts/beans/legumes/grains overnight.Not that it can’t be done. It can. It’s just that you must be diligent in your prep and planning. I believe in the benefits of a raw diet so I incorporate as much raw food as possible into my diet. I always have Buckwheaties (soaked and dehydrated buckwheat groats) on hand at all times and keep the supplies to make nut patés.
In my quest for delicious raw meals I found the book “RAW The UNcook Book” and promptly bought it and brought it home. I want to mention that I paid retail for this book, $35.00, which was more than I spent on any of my cookbooks. But when I flipped through it I saw beautiful (and colorful) pictures of amazing meals. I thought “I want to make that”! So home we went to try out some recipes.
And, we messed up the Essene Bread. It was…gloppy. When it did firm up it tasted like….ugh. Then I tried dressings, wraps and a dessert. Some were winners (dessert) but others were just blah.
My problem with this book is that almost everything in it requires soaking or dehydrating. Which, like I’ve mentioned, takes a lot of time. I want recipes that are easy to throw together after a long day of work. I guess if I spent the evenings making food for the next day….I just don’t know. I am not very fond of this book. I haven’t made anything from it that was “wow” worthy plus it cost a fortune. Has anyone else had the same experience?
I know that there are people in the raw community that love the author, Juliano. He is/was a leader in raw food chefs and really helped bring attention to the raw diets. Maybe I just need to go and eat at his restaurant….I don’t know.
Does anyone have any favorite raw uncook books? I have Ani Phyo’s book already (which I love). If you are raw, how to you plan for dehydration times and soaking times? Tell me more, maybe I just don’t get it?
Raw – The UNcook Book gets “1 Goat” for it’s complicated, labor intensive recipes that require days of prior preparation before you “uncook” it.
Have you bought this book? Used it with success (or failure)? Rate your experience below!
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I think this book is highly labor-intensive. I much prefer the simpler raw cuisine found in The Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw, Any Phyo’s Raw Food Kitchen, and Raw Food in Ten Minutes.
I’ll second the vote for Raw Made Easy. This is a raw ‘cookbook’ that you will use, guaranteed.
I just noticed that Raw Mom’s 2nd link learnrawfood.com is the book I mentioned that everyone has recommended to me. I had the title slightly off. It is ‘Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2′
That book doesn’t seem like it would work for me either. Thanks for the review. I think it would be disappointed it I spent $35 and didn’t like it.
I have been recommended by several people the book ‘Raw for 1 or 2′. They say that it is a great book for non-raw or begining raw people. None of the recipes require a dehydrator and they are suppose to be fairly easy. I have had it in my Amazon cart for awile, but haven’t got around to getting it yet.
I’m a raw mom and yes, raw food takes alot of planning. Pre-plan your weekly recipes so you know what needs to be soaked and or sprouted, Alissa Cohen’s book has some great tips and meal plans. I do agree with you though, didn’t find any recipes in Juliano’s book that were doable for me, my busy life. Too complicated. Beautiful, but complex. One tip I have though, is borrow the books from the library before purchasing, see if the recipes are appealing, then buy.
Try http://www.rawrose.com/
http://www.learnrawfood.com/
http://www.alissacohen.com/