Page 61 - Fall2010

All Thumbs Book Reviews

Frugavore hour and the cost less than half the cost of the
By Arabella Forge fast food meal—without the sugars, trans fats,
Black, Inc. preservatives and flavorings, all with very ex-
pensive health consequences. Any leftovers can
Melbourne, Australia chapter leader Ara- go into soup—or fed to the chickens or tossed
bella Forge combines gardening and chicken- into the garden compost pile. The notion that
raising basics with practical advice and yummy convenience food is cheaper is a myth!
WAPF-friendly recipes in this little gem of a And then come the recipes. . . lots of deli-
cookbook. Subtitled “How to grow your own, buy cious, nutrient-dense, easily prepared dishes
local, waste nothing and eat well,” Frugavore that will tempt even the most reluctant cook into
introduces modern readers to the fundamentals the kitchen: cauliflower with bacon, potato and
of peasant cuisine, in which nothing is wasted, nutmeg omelet, Spanish-style chicken casserole,
every part of the animal eaten, abundance from fish pie, Moroccan rabbit hot pot, oatmeal slice,
the garden preserved in traditional ways, and baked fruits stuffed with ricotta and honey and
delicious meals prepared from scratch with fresh, a brewed pineapple beer! Forge does a lot with
local ingredients. a simple oatmeal pastry crust—soaked over-
“Many people would like to eat differently,” night—and puts a big emphasis on sourdough
writes Forge, “but aren’t sure where to start or bread, stock-based soups and raw milk. She
don’t think they can afford it.” The author takes explains how to make kefir, curds and whey,
her readers by the hand and shows them step by yoghurt and curd cheese.
step how to shop, how to keep a garden and a few The book contains a discussion on good and
chickens, how to stock a pantry, which fats to use, bad fats which is refreshingly simple and accu-
and how to prepare meals quickly and efficiently. rate, along with a section on the benefits of dairy
She explains that living frugally does not mean products. Another plus: instructions on how to
purchasing cheap food, but rather buying the best make your own inexpensive, environmentally
quality food possible and making the most of it. friendly cleaning products.
Forge describes an exercise in cost compari- Best of all, the book is infused with the spirit
son in which she took her sister’s family out for of cheerful can-do. As Forge points out, obtain-
a fast-food meal. The total bill for three adults ing your food from farmers, through farmers’
and three children was thirty-five dollars, and markets, a co-op or CSA, directly from the farm
the total time expended on the meal was half an gate or your own garden, and then preparing it
hour—the time it took to drive to the restaurant yourself, not only supports the local economy,
and back. The following week she invited the not only costs less, not only provides superior
family to her place for a meal of lentil soup, nutrition—it is also a lot of fun.
arugula salad (from her garden) and coconut Frugavore is available in the U.S. through
pudding. Total meal preparation time was one Amazon. Review by Sally Fallon Morell

World Peace Diet, continued from page 57 the occasional scientific façade, and oft-repeated emotionally charged
evidence of testosterone in the writing or style drivel. If this is one of the better examples of vegan thinking it should
of the book in general. There is so much more I stand as a testament to why you do not want to sacrifice your brain cells
could say, but that wouldn’t be very nice. or general health to veganism. I will concede that if everyone in the world
The thumb is very DOWN on this book adopts a vegan diet, there will be world peace by the time the last one of
which is packed with sloppy logic full of holes, us drops dead from malnutrition. Review by Tim Boyd

FALL 2010 Wise Traditions 61