Christy Morgan has been a friendly beacon of light on the healthy vegan culinary scene for some time, a chef who emphasizes healthful whole foods without relying on junky convenience items and never sacrificing flavor. With a background in macrobiotics, a holistic dietary approach that promotes eating whole, unprocessed plant foods, as well as culinary school training, Christy Morgan creates recipes with a global worldview but ones that never stray from the reach of the average home cook. Her new book, Blissful Bites: Vegan Meals That Nourish Mind, Body, and Planet, is perfect for either the longtime vegan or the avowed meat-eater who wants to eat a little more healthfully and all points in between. Throughout, Christy’s generous and talented spirit shines on, sharing more than 175 recipes and so much more in her cheerful, beautifully photographed and very well-organized first book.
In keeping with the macrobiotic emphasis on eating local and seasonal natural foods, the recipes are color-coded and grouped together by the recommended time of year, flowing from green (spring) to blue (winter) and also including recipes that can easily be enjoyed any time of the year. For added value, there are informative side-bars shuffled throughout, called Blissful Tips, covering topics ranging from genetic engineering to diversifying your culinary palette for maximum antioxidants, as well as Blissful Variations, Definitions and Suggestions included with many recipes and inspiring quotes. There are also very helpful icons designating which recipes are chef and fan favorites, soy-free, gluten-free, raw, can be created in 45 minutes or less and are low or no oil options. I wish more cookbooks were this user-friendly.
I also really love the informative sections, which include topics as varied as how to stock a pantry, recommended kitchen tools, and even instructions on knife techniques. These features help the reader become more literate with cooking terminology – you will easily be able to describe the difference between chiffonade and shredding techniques after reading Christy’s brief but constructive tutorial - and comfortable in the kitchen, which is necessary if you want to create healthful, tasty meals. If that doesn’t encourage you, the promise of creating anything like the gorgeously vivid dishes photographed in Blissful Bites should.
Although the food is beautiful, the recipes are completely unfussy (look elsewhere for molecular gastronomy) and inspired by earthy world cuisine, especially foods from throughout Asia, which is not surprising given Christy’s macrobiotic roots and its overall emphasis on meatless meals. Recipes like Not-Your-Usual Pad Thai, Veggie Sushi Rolls, and Soba Noodle Sushi give home cooks those amazing Asian flavors without having to worry about the fish or oyster sauce one would have to contend with at a restaurant. There are also lots of all American comfort foods, too, revealing Christy’s Texas origins, so she offers healthy but satisfying versions of stick-to-your-ribs dishes like Quick and Easy Nachos (with her oil-free cheesy sauce), Six- (or Seven-) Layer Dip, and Macro “Mac and Cheese,” featuring steamed butternut squash as a key element of both flavor and creamy texture. My son is an avowed mac-and-cheese connoisseur and he loved this version. He is also nine so he has no problem turning up his nose at anything he doesn’t like.
With chapters ranging from breakfast to dessert, and including chapters on sea vegetables and plant-based proteins, Blissful Bites has it all: quick, healthful meals, more complex “show off” recipes, both simple and decadent treats and a lot more. I recommend Blissful Bites for anyone on your holiday list, whether they enjoy cooking or not. We can all use a little more support and information as we cultivate the blissfully healthy lives we seek, and Christy Morgan’s new book will be the perfect complement to deliciously reaching those goals.
Sizzling Tempeh Bacon
Makes 4 to 5 servings
You can buy store-bought Fakin’ Bacon or you can make a healthier version at home. This “bacon,” made with tempeh, is the perfect brunch side dish and is delicious sprinkled on top of salads.
1 package (8 ounces) tempeh
1/3 cup tamari
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
Dash black pepper
Slice tempeh in half lengthwise, then in thin slices lengthwise. Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a glass dish large enough to fit slices of tempeh in one single layer. Coat the tempeh and marinate for one hour, turning once. Drain most of the marinade from the tempeh and save, leaving a little at the bottom of the pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 375 degrees F, turning once halfway through. If it looks dry at the halfway point, add a touch of marinade to the pan.
Blissful Variation: You can also fry this bacon in a skillet over a medium flame to make it more reminiscent of bacon.
From the book Blissful Bites by Christy Morgan. Excerpted with the author's permission.
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