Paper Palate

Even though I am not a full-time vegetarian, I subscribe to Vegetarian Times for the articles, informational alerts, recipes and design. While I always enjoy the magazine, the July/August 2006 issue is really something special. Almost every feature touches on an area or food I am interested in. Many of these are focused on helping you take advantage of Summer’s bounty of food and fun.

For example:

The “Ask the Nutritionist” feature explores the community supported agriculture (CSA) movement. I subscribed to a CSA veggie box for more than 10 years. Learn how you can support your local organic farmer on a very basic level, while enjoying the freshest veggies you’ve ever tasted.

“Quick — 5 Ingredients” features picnic food, including a Mediterranean pita pockets and strawberries with lemony whipped topping. The pita pockets feature baba ghanoush (a smoked eggplant dip) and the berries’ topping uses silken tofu and agave nectar, two ingredients I try to use more of.

“30 Minutes” showcases no-cook pasta sauces, a must-have in this Summer of record heat. Farfalle with feta and chipotle combine some of my family’s favorite tastes.

“Quick — Veglite” offers a soy smoothie base and four variations, including tropical treat with mango juice, peaches and mango sorbet.

The “Cuisine — Easy Entertaining” section offers a tapas’ party with lots of Spanish flare. The article offers serving, shopping and other party information, in addition to recipes.

There is also a feature on what to buy this season in the farmer’s markets and cooking suggestions and recipes for when your purchases come home to your kitchen.

There is so much more packed in this issue, including a grilling feature with tips to keep your tofu kebobs on the skewer, an article about how technology might be able to “grow” meat without ever killing a single animal, and lastly a “1 Food 5 Ways” article featuring cherries with a mouth-watering recipe for chocolate-cherry breakfast bread.

The Vegetarian Times website offers lots of information and recipes, but does not carry much from the current issue. This issue’s feature on Composting 101 is accessible on-line.

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Photo: Vegetarian Times