More-With-Less Cookbook Book

This wonderful, one-of-a-kind cookbook, originally commissioned by the Mennonite Central Committee in the 1970s, focuses on preparing simple but tasty food, with a minimum of waste and expense. It advocates eating more whole grains and fresh produce, consuming meat and dairy in moderation, and avoiding over-processed convenience foods. The idea is not simply to provide a healthier lifestyle for the individual, but to foster an ethic of food that promotes planetary health and human welfare.

But despite its very earnest intention to "do good" in the world, "More-With-Less" never comes across as heavy-handed. Instead, it is infused with a sense of warmth and humanity, with personal stories about cooking, spirituality, and world food issues interspersed among the recipes. If this book has one over-riding "message," it is that world hunger is not unrelated to our own personal food choices. But have no fear, it is not a proselytising book, despite the fact that many of the personal stories come from missionaries and their families.

This book was recommended to me many times by a very dear friend from my college days, who used to swear that no matter how few ingredients she had in the house, "More-With-Less" always gave her a recipe that could transform them into a tasty meal. Whether you want to address ethical issues through your food choices, live more frugally, or just adopt a healthier lifestyle, this is the book for you.