New Vegetarian Dishes

** "New Vegetarian Dishes" by Mrs. Bowdich is a cookbook that offers a wide range of vegetarian recipes from the late 1800s. The book is designed for people who want to cook tasty and healthy vegetarian food, back when more people were starting to think about not eating meat. With over 200 recipes, the author wants to show that you can make exciting meals without meat that still have plenty of flavor and nutrition. The book starts by telling you why the author made these recipes and what she hopes to achieve. A special introduction points out that many cookbooks at the time weren't good enough for vegetarians because they just took out the meat without adding anything interesting back in. The first recipes teach you how to cook basic ingredients like beans and lentils, and how to make good soups and stews. The beginning of the book feels hopeful, encouraging experienced and new vegetarians to enjoy cooking and eating a diet without meat. **