April 29, 2015
(last updated September 21, 2020) 
Normally, I’d start this glowing cookbook review by telling you all about the author, Kathy Patalsky, and how talented/cool/inspiring she is. I don’t think I have to, though, because readers of my blog have heard me sing Kathy’s praises before. Most recently, my readers got to know Kathy when she posted her wonderful Green Recovery story on CR.
If you aren’t familiar with Kathy’s wildly popular food blog, Healthy Happy Life, then you may know her as the author of 365 Vegan Smoothies—which may as well be the definitive vegan smoothie collection! Kathy is known for her colorful, vibrant recipes and her beautiful food images. Everything on Kathy’s website is something that I would like to eat; she seems to have an intuitive understanding of what’s appetizing.
The thing I love most about Kathy’s recipes, be they smoothies, salads, or soups, is that they’re as healthful as they are appealing. I can count on a HHL recipe to be packed with whole foods and rimming with color, but I also know that it will look and taste comforting and satisfying. Whereas a lot of recipes seem to be carefully crafted for aesthetics, it’s always clear to me that Kathy uses her own tastes and cravings to develop recipes that will be as enticing to others as they are to her. And that’s what makes her food so soulful, so joyous.
I’ve always hoped that Kathy would publish a collection of her favorite recipes. Kathy’s new book, Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen, has far exceeded my already high expectations.
This collection of over 220 vegan recipes has it all: accessibility, flavor, foolproof techniques, and so much heart. Kathy’s own story is interspersed throughout the collection, and her friendly, welcoming voice animates every single recipe headnote. The book is also packed with helpful tips and inspiration, which I think are especially useful for new vegans. When you get the book, check out her “ten tips for new or test-run vegans,” her comprehensive list of kitchen tools and pantry ingredients, or her ten wonderful wellness tips and lessons. These include wise feedback on finding a healthy weight, building self-esteem, and practicing awareness in one’s own eating habits. I love every single one of them.
The images you see strewn throughout this post are pictures of the mouthwatering food from HHVK. A few graphs ago you spotted Kathy’s easy, 5-step kale salad, and the image directly above is her lovely lasagna verde. I’ve also bookmarked her spicy peanut soba noodles with veggies and (for dessert) her thumbprint cookies.
As you can see, all of the food in this collection is bright and beautiful. The recipes are also really easy to prepare; Kathy understands that a lot of folks don’t want to spend endless time and energy making food, and she’s developed streamlined recipes to help make her readers’ lives easier.
Other features that I love about this book? A whole section of bowls, for one thing. In my experience, most plant-based eaters are suckers for a great grain and veggie bowl, and Kathy offers plenty of options. She’s also got tons of “how-to” tutorials to offer her readers. My favorites are her how-to guide for making veggie burgers, her almond milk how-to, and her guide for soaking nuts. It’s all super useful and designed to help you navigate a vegan kitchen easily. You can read more about special features of Kathy’s new book here.
There are so many gorgeous recipes that I could have highlighted from Kathy’s book today. But I wanted to pick one that seemed to embody who she is and what her food represents. I chose to share her strawberry mache salad. Maybe it’s the vibrant color, the simple-yet-life-changing flavor pairing of avocado and strawberry, or the simplicity of the recipe, but somehow, this one just screams “Kathy” to me. And it’s a perfect salad to have in your pocket as we move from spring to early summer.
Strawberry Mache Salad from Kathy Patalsky’s Health Happy Vegan Kitchen
Author -Yields: 2 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups mâche lettuce
- 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 avocado diced
- 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint plus more for garnish
- Pinch of freshly grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons raw hemp or sunflower seeds optional
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Toss the mâche in 1 tablespoon lemon juice and olive oil. Divide between two serving plates. Gently toss the avocado with the strawberries, mint, and lemon zest. Arrange over the mâche.
- Sprinkle the hemp seeds over the top, if desired, and garnish with mint and additional lemon juice to taste. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Simple. Fresh. Seasonal. Healthy. This recipe–and the entire collection of recipes in Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen–is what Kathy’s food and message is all about. She is such a wonderful ambassador for veganism and for mindful living in general, and I am so proud of this new accomplishment in Kathy’s writing career!
Obviously, I want my readers to have a chance to experience Kathy’s new book for themselves. Kathy’s publisher has generously agreed to share a copy of Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen with one of my readers today. (Note that you must be a US resident to enter.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I can’t wait to pick a lucky winner. And Kathy can’t wait, either.
Congrats to my friend on her exciting publication. I hope you all enjoy the salad recipe, and that you’ll check out more about Kathy by visiting Healthy Happy Life.
I’ll be back on Friday with an awesome new veggie burger recipe–I think Kathy would be proud 😉 Till soon!
xo
Text excerpted from Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen, © 2015 by Kathy Patalsky. Photos © Kathy Patalsky.
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Categories: Recipes,
Salads,
Side Dishes
Dietary Preferences: Gluten Free, Soy Free, Tree Nut Free, Vegan
Recipe Features: 30 Minute or Less, Quick & Easy
Dietary Preferences: Gluten Free, Soy Free, Tree Nut Free, Vegan
Recipe Features: 30 Minute or Less, Quick & Easy
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This cookbook looks beautiful! I have been following Kathy for awhile now and love her blog. I have been wanting to start my collecting cookbooks for awhile now. I’ve just gotten into cooking a few years ago (I’m only 18). I love seeing my mom go through her cookbooks and finding go-to recipes. I want to start a collection like that with cookbooks like Kathy’s!
I love how her recipes let the ingredients shine! The nutrition info is also very helpful and saves me time.
that salad sounds so good, ive never had mache before (on its own, at least!
nice book!
The recipes look very yummy so I’d love to own the book.
I am excited to try some great, new vegan recipes.
I really think I need to have this book in my life. I’m not currently vegan, only vegetarian, but this looks like a great way to try it out.
I’ve been feeling a bit in a cooking rut lately, which is somewhat unusual for me. I feel like a new cookbook like this one will be just what I need to help me out of that.
More healthy sweets to bake!
Great review, her blog is amazing and I need to add her book to my collection.
I’ve been dying to get this cookbook as I love Kathy’s blog and recipes. I would love to win a copy!
I want to try to make that burger on the front color- it just looks so beautiful!
I am super excited about her cookbook! I am a big fan of her blog and have enjoyed many of her recipes already, especially her panini series and an amazing sweet potato burger. I look forward to seeing what else she has in store!
I have been following Kathy’s blog for quite some time now and just love everything about her (and her incredible recipes of course!). I would love to have one, central location to access all her best-of’s!
Awesome recipe! Love the strawberry & avo combo. I can’t wait to check out her new cookbook. It sounds so amazing. Thanks for sharing the lovely salad recipe =)
Kathy’s recipes always look so appetizing. I can’t wait to try this salad!
The simplicity of her recipes – with healthy ingredients. Can’t wait to try it!
I’m a little obsessed with collecting cookbooks. I have added 19 or so to my collection in the 3 years I’ve been vegan. I’m really excited about Kathy’s book because all her recipes that I’ve tried have been completely delicious! I know that I will actually use this book over and over.
You had me at “easy to prepare”!
I’ve followed Kathy for years and love everything you’ve said about her — vibrant recipes, fun, relatable attitude, and overall beautiful food that is accessible and makes you want to run to the kitchen immediately. Also, her bazillion smoothie recipes were clutch when I first got a blender and was clueless about combinations. Yay Kathy!
I’ve followed Kathy’s blog and love her recipes, they are delicious, healthy, plant-based and fun also!
Looking forward to some new ideas as I get excited for fresh, local produce!
Great review, Gena! My copy arrived this week and I’m totally in love! Such a sweet friendship you two have. 🙂
This book is going to be a wonderful addition to my kitchen! Thank you!
I’d love to win a copy of her book! She inspired me to try pan-glazed tofu for the first time and now there’s no going back!
this is very exciting! I would love to own this book! I’ve been following her for so long!
I’ve followed her blog for years, and I’d love to own a copy of her book!
Wow, how do you make a simple salad look so pretty?!! And the book sounds wonderful!
I just love her blog, and she seems like such a sweetie, that I’d love to own a copy of her book. It would be so fun to cook through her book with my 2 little kids who are all about plant-based eating.
I would be most excited to have that many healthy recipes in the book to choose from!
I would be excited to own this book so that I can make healthy plant-based recipes for my friends and family 🙂
The recipes on her blog look amazing and I’m sure the ones in this book are too!
Those pictures look scrumptious! I will have to check out her blog, and Kathy’s book looks amazing.
Kathy’s positive energy radiates through her recipes and it would be a pleasure to be able to share a piece of that joy — whether its alone or together with friends or family. You can’t really beat a healthy, vibrant and tasty meal.
P.S. I promise break out into a happy dance in true HHL-style if I win!
All of the recipes I’ve tried from the site have been winners, so I’d love to see what’s in the cookbook!
The recipes you mentioned sound delicious–I would love to try the kale salad, and those soba noodles.
Her cookbook looks perfect for my style of cooking! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m moving out and getting into plant based cookbooks, so food inspiration from such a cookbook would be amazing!
Everything! Kathy is such a fabulous woman!
What makes me most excited to own a copy of Kathy’s new book, is the fact that it will be even more fabulous content (just like on her website). Love Kathy’s approach to wellness!
This cookbook looks divine!
I’m not vegan but I would love to incorporate more vegan eating into my diet–and owning my first vegan cookbook would be a great way to do that!
I love how the pop design of the bood as much as her recipes! So pretty and welcoming!!!
I use Kathy’s blog all the time; it would be amazing to have a collection of her recipes in book form (I’m a traditionalist and love to read cookbooks)!
I absolutely LOVE her blog, so i can only imagine how amazing the cookbook is!
Thank you for this beautiful review Gena and for being such an amazing friend! I truly hope you and your readers love this book as much as I do! 🙂
This cookbook sounds amazing! From just the snippet of recipes you featured here, I can tell I’ll love everything in it!
Love her blog & her smoothie book so I’m excited for this new book–I’m sure it’s a winner!