or buy it locally at:
Old Creek Ranch Winery (Ojai Valley)
Tri-County Produce (Santa Barbara)
Introduction:
This 274 page book is a collection of the 120 most popular recipes from the first two years of posts to my Valley Vegetarian blog. There's nothing fancy here, just plain good home style cooking that appeals to everyone without regard to specific diet.
The recipes tend toward comfort food with a taste of Ojai. Many have been published in the Ojai Valley News under the header Chef Randy. All recipes are vegetarian, of course, but what omnivore doesn't like a good side dish of Idaho Potatoes, a hearty main dish of Nutty Meatloaf or Vegetarian Meatballs?
Although all of these recipes are healthy, I find the term healthy to be subjective. Instead of focusing on nutrition I focus on fresh, fun and tasty recipes leaving the determination of relative health to you. With a little imagination many of the recipes can be modified to meet your specific needs. The Baked Potato Soup, for example, calls for whole milk but it can be made with 1% milk and still is good. Not as tasty as if made with whole milk but still good and healthy.
If you are vegan, try my Ojai Inca Wrap, Knishes, and Vegetarian Gravy or look in the Index of Vegan Recipes. If you are sensitive to gluten, try my Fenugreek Potatoes, Fresh Fruit Risotto, and Noodle-less Lasagna or look in the Index of Gluten-Free Recipes.
Ojai Valley News In Depth Interview by Misty Volaski:
See what others have to say about my new cookbook:
"This cookbook was just what I was looking for now that our son has given up meat and fish. Now I know what to cook for him when he comes for a visit!" - Alison
"Less Paula Deen, more Randy Graham!" - Lisa
"Less Paula Deen, more Randy Graham!" - Lisa
"A wonderfully tasty tome of cookery for the vegetarian who loves to show non-vegetarians just how well we eat without the meat. Entertaining stories lead into easy to follow recipes that will delight fans of "comfort" food, no matter what your tastes are. This is a great book to share with those who might be "on the fence" about vegetarianism as Chef Randy covers the range of meals and meal options, encouraging you to modify as needed. I'm confident that the Ojai Valley Vegetarian Cookbook will keep our stove warm long into the years to come. A must for any cookbook collection, vegetarian or otherwise."- C. Byerley
"Found this cookbook to be well written and full of excellent recipes and I'm not even a vegetarian! Have made the Cheese and Tomatoe Pie, pg 98, and will make it again, it's good hot or cold---will make the Mexican Hominy Bake next then the Leek and Potato Soup and on and on and on-------!" - MJW
"I've enjoyed cooking with Chef Randy's cookbooks since the first one was published. I've also had the privilege of sampling some of the meals cooked by Chef Randy himself. I've always thought of his cooking as more of a lifestyle than a regimen or discipline. You never have the feeling your tastes are compromised or restricted even though you're eating healthy. When looking for meal ideas in the Ojai Valley Vegetarian Cookbook, I've always got my eye out for what Chef Randy calls the "high flavor-to-effort" recipes. I've got the book version but kind of wish I had the Kindle version. I skimmed a recipe with Jack Daniels in it I wanted to try and could really use a word-search app to help me relocate it. By the way, according to Chef Randy, I'm a squeam-etarian - won't eat anything that makes me squeamish. I heartily recommend the Ojai Valley Vegetarian Cookbook and would encourage you to get carried away with Chef Randy's vegetarian concoctions." - C. Lauritzen
"Living in the Ojai Valley I have more than a few friends that have unique diets. They love it when I cook Chef Randy's vegan and gluten-free recipes for them." - JSFY Vegan
"I have followed Randy's development as a chef and cookbook author for more than 30 years. He's got a classic here!" - Lol
"This is great addition to my vegetarian cookbook collection. It's also just fun to read.Can't love it any more than I do!" - Rob
"I love how easy peasy the recipe's are! This mama loves feeding her little man healthy and DELICIOUS meals. Thank you Randy for making that possible. You're amazing!" - Juliana
"I am sooo enjoying your book! I love each little story before each recipe! Juliana shared some of her baked potato chowder....delish!!!!" - Jodi
"Another friend made happy by a gift of your wonderful cookbook!" - Rae
"These recipes work time after time without fail. Also, this is a fun read because of the stories that precede each recipe. It's like getting two books in one. There is a wealth of good food found between the covers of this cookbook. I recommend reading it through, one time, for the stories only. Then begin looking at the individual recipes." - Gary40
"Dear Master Randy - I am here in Santa Barbara visiting friends and came upon your wonderful book at the local Tri- County Produce. I have just spent a most delicious hour over a cup of coffee savoring your recepies and so enjoying your humor and perspective on life as well. I can't wait to return to Wash D C where i am a host family for up to eight foreign students at a time to prepare for them samples of your genius. I am positive that in doing so my reputation as THE HOST FAMILY will only be enhanced by including your creations. I thank you so much for your triumph and for your generosity in sharing it. - Maria
"Dear Master Randy - I am here in Santa Barbara visiting friends and came upon your wonderful book at the local Tri- County Produce. I have just spent a most delicious hour over a cup of coffee savoring your recepies and so enjoying your humor and perspective on life as well. I can't wait to return to Wash D C where i am a host family for up to eight foreign students at a time to prepare for them samples of your genius. I am positive that in doing so my reputation as THE HOST FAMILY will only be enhanced by including your creations. I thank you so much for your triumph and for your generosity in sharing it. - Maria
###
"VEG-O-MATIC: Local author Randy Graham will sign copies of his newly self-published "Ojai Valley Vegetarian Cookbook" during appearances from "1-ish to 4-ish" Saturday and Feb. 19 at Old Creek Ranch Winery in Oak View. To mark the occasion, winery visitors who pack their picnic baskets with vegetarian versions of typically meat-centric dishes will receive a 15 percent discount on purchases of wines by Old Creek Ranch and Vino V\. The wineries share a rustic tasting room and garden picnic area at the end of Old Creek Road." - Lisa McKinnon in VC Star Cafe Society
