Author(s): Lakshmi Wennakoski-Bielicki

FOOD

An inspired vegetarian cookbook with 108 recipes inflected with the practices of Ayurveda and mindfulness practices derived from a bhakti yogic lifestyle. Food is so much more than nourishment for the body, and health is not just a results-oriented goal. Lakshmi Wennakoski-Bielicki, the creator of PureVege.com, creates food that is healthy, tasty, ethically sound, and spiritually resonant: it is an offering of devotion. To Lakshmi, a vegetarian diet is simply the practical starting point on the path toward a more mindful life. "Pure""Vegetarian" melds yoga philosophy with mindful food preparation and delicious meals, any day, all year long. You do not need to practice yoga or Ayurveda to find these recipes accessible, delicious, and divine. Many of the 108 recipes are influenced by Indian tradition but modified for the Western palate. Lakshmi encourages experimenting with favorite vegetables and seasonings to create fresh versions of familiar classics: spelt crackers with hummus, strawberry halva, fig tart with frozen pecan pudding. The recipes are easily adapted to a vegan or gluten-free diet as well.