The Skinny Bitch Cookbook

Kick-Ass Vegan Recipes for Hungry Girls Who Want to Look Hot

Apr 1, 2008

After the success of "Skinny Bitch," Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin are back with a rocking new recipe book that completely demystifies Vegan cuisine.

Food Freaks

As self-proclaimed food fanatics, Rory and Kim love to stuff their faces, and yet somehow maintain those annoyingly, model thin bodies that'll make a girl weep. They write, "we're total pigs and eating is, without a doubt, our favorite thing to do. We have, like, a violent passion for food." Damn them! And, yet, in their latest book, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, they claim that there's no reason you shouldn't be able to do the same AND get slim. While such advice from a dieting cookbook may leave you feeling like you've fallen straight into an episode of the Twilight Zone, do not adjust your TV... or, count calories! Instead, according to the authors, if you learn how to prepare and choose the right foods to eat, you too will be stuffing your face (without padding your impossibly svelte new figure) while hordes of violently jealous girls watch from afar.

Cut the Crap

Unlike so many diets that focus on religious calorie counting and unmercifully small portion sizes, Rory and Kim rely on high quality, organic ingredients that are readily available like fresh fruits, vegetables, and non-animal protein sources. (Think tofu and tempeh, here.) As their first book Skinny Bitch explains, the real culprits in weight gain aren't fruits and potatoes. Instead, they are processed foods, white flours, refined sugars, dairy, meat, and a myriad of otherwise unpronounceable ingredients that just love to set up permanent residence on thighs and asses. Rory and Kim "want you to replace your old, shitty ingredients and start eating better." While the ultimate goal is improved health, reaping the benefits of a bikini-ready body isn't half bad!

The Nuts and Bolts

But, the switch to vegan can be extremely bewildering for the average carnivore, and so their recipes are both simple and flavorful. "There's nothing more annoying," the authors rightly note, "than recipes with a million obscure ingredients. So we tried to make all of our recipes as "normal" as possible." While you won't be able to make one stop at Walmart for every ingredient listed in a few of the recipes (i.e. coconut oil, Mirin, Gomasin), the authors note what each less familiar term is and exactly where to acquire it. The occasional trip to the local health food store and Asian or International market will keep your kitchen totally bitchin'.

Happy Endings

While the long-term nutritional benefits of a 100% Vegan diet remain widely debated amongst members of the medical community, the dangers of processed foods, preservatives, and saturated fats are more and more recognized each day. Many popular diets today are also turning to veggies, fruits, and whole grains to provide a healthy foundation for realistic weight loss with staying power. Skinny Bitch in the Kitch is no different in its focus on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Its collection of innovative recipes will lure even the most stubborn veggie-haters into loving the green with mouthwatering recipes like: Spaghetti Squash with Spicy Braised Greens, Raisins, and Pine Nuts; Balsamic Portobello Mushrooms over Grilled Vegetable Couscous; and Bitchtastic Brownies. After all, a girl's gotta eat and rice cakes chipped from cardboard just aren't going to cut it for long. Despite the authors' controversial stance against meat and dairy, they definitely have one thing right,"[food] is the gateway to paradise. A gift from the heavens. Life's greatest pleasure."