INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – saluting Mollie Katzen

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Hi there,

International Woman’s Day is March 8, and I would like to salute an extraordinary female chef, the groundbreaking Mollie Katzen.

In the 1970s a cookbook was born that captured the world’s flavors in a new way. It was called the Moosewood Cookbook, revolutionizing how people cooked.

The Moosewood Cookbook was written in 1977 by an artist and self-taught cook Mollie Katzen. This book drew on her experience cooking in her beloved Moosewood natural foods restaurant in Ithaca, New York, and featured recipes inspired by her travels. This cookbook was a major influence on the vegetarian food movement and helped to expand our horizons in the kitchen. 

Mollie presented her readers with a wide variety of vegetarian dishes which are both accessible and flavorful. Further, readers were also introduced to ingredients and techniques from around the world. The book helped to make cooking and exploring new ingredients accessible to cooks of all levels.

Creative, flavorful, and inspiring, the Moosewood Cookbook has won many awards and honors and helped raise the vegetarian food profile. Of Mollie’s many books, the Moosewood Cookbook remains her best-known and beloved, inspiring a new generation of cooks to be Gutsy Gourmets and to explore the global table.

I chose to make Mollie’s Ratatouille to showcase the simplicity of her genius.

““Women of my generation were keen – rightly – not to be tied to the stove, but the ramifications of this were that they felt a sense of dread in the kitchen. How can this be good for anyone? I also feel that to denigrate any activity because it has traditionally been associated with the female sphere is in itself anti-feminist.” 

Nigella Lawson

INTERNATIONAL WOMAN’S DAY – saluting Mollie Katzen

Recipe by Mollie Katzen Course: AppetizersCuisine: MediterraneanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Cooking time

40

minutes

Ingredients

Preparation

  • Heat olive oil in a large, heavy, cooking pot. Crush the garlic into the oil. Add bay leaf and onion, salt lightly. Saute over medium heat until onion begins to turn transparent. Add eggplant, wine, and tomato juice. Add herbs. Stir to mix well, then cover and simmer 10-15 minutes over low heat. When eggplant is tender enough to be easily pricked by a fork, add zucchini and peppers. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper, tomatoes and tomato paste. Mix well. Continue to stew until all vegetables are tender. (How tender is tender? Do a taste test and decide what seems right to you.).
  • Just before serving, mix in the fresh parsley.

Notes

  • Serving Suggestions/Options: Serve on a bed of rice, or in a bowl, accompanied by some good french bread. Top with grated cheese and chopped black olives.

I hope you have enjoyed meeting Mollie and learning about her groundbreaking cookbook. Our COOKBOOK CONFIDENTIAL COOKBOOK CLUB will be reviewing the Moosewood Cookbooks in April and will be giving you lots of other recipes to try.

37 responses to “INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – saluting Mollie Katzen”

  1. Darlene – British Columbia, Canada – Writer of children's stories, short stories and travel articles. https://twitter.com/#!/supermegawoman http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201634059868404&id=631897250&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/pages/Darlene-Foster-Writer/362236842733
    Darlene says:

    A favourite cookbook in my collection. I’ve made this ratatouille many times and have never been disappointed. I’m looking forward to April.

  2. V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
    V.M. Sang says:

    An excellent recipe. The cookbook sounds like one that should be in every kitchen.

  3. Annette Rochelle Aben – Westland, MI – My life is ALL ABOUT being a COMMUNICATOR, so I write/publish books, (find my on Amazon) articles, essays, poetry, heck I love writing LETTERS. I am also a host/producer of internet radio shows; (find me on Blog Talk Radio) my own shows as well as shows that other people host. Since I was a little girl I have been a singer and fronted bands for years. People everywhere are wearing my jewelry and eating the food I create and sell. In my spare time I am a mentor/guide for others along their personal and professional paths. Thank you for joining me here and be sure to let me know what I can help YOU with!
    Annette Rochelle Aben says:

    I LOVE this cookbook! I got it in 1981 and our family STILL finds pleasure in the recipes.

  4. Thanks Bernadette, we just bought a copy of the Moosewood Cookbook. Looking forward to using it.

  5. the Painted Apron – Life is all about creativity for me, as long as I'm creating something I am happy! I hope I will inspire your daily life and give you ideas for your own wonderful creations!
    Jenna says:

    Wow, she was gutsy and brave to introduce the vegetarian cooking style at that time! Ratatouille is a wonderful classic recipe~

  6. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen – I'm a writer, cook, gardener, photographer, poet, quilter, and accomplished daydreamer. I'm also a wife, mother, grandmother, sister. cousin, aunt, and friend, no particular order on any given day. I've been a writer all my life, newspaper reporter and columnist, radio news writer, and magazine contributor, and poet and short-story writer as the spirit moves. Now, I turn my attention to my cookbook, the blog, and a cooking column "Memorable Meals," which runs in our county newspaper. Besides my family, I love dogs, cats, good coffee, and my never-dwindling pile of books I intend to read. Our family ran a small Vermont Inn for 18 years, with our focus on local, organic ingredients. After many years of daily serving up of our local delicacies, cooking classes, and catering, we are now only open for special events, and the odd cooking class as the spirit moves me. We also host musicians and artists, having helped produce a musical festival and other musical events for nearly 20 years. Many incredible artists have found a place at our table. Wonderful experiences, we will treasure always. My family and friends are my practice subjects. With a family that includes nut, peanut, tree fruit, and vegetable allergies, gluten intolerance, dairy intolerance, vegetarians, vegans, heart conscious, and a couple of picky eaters, there has to be a few quick tricks in the book to keep everyone fed and happy! Personally, I do not eat red meat or most dairy (usually) for health reasons, making the occasional exception at Thanksgiving and Christmas or our anniversary if the duck is locally raised. I do eat fish and seafood, so I try to come up with alternatives and substitutions when available. I serve local organic eggs and cheeses to my family who can tolerate dairy (My husband recently had a heart attack, and I need to watch my own cholesterol so I am careful, but have been known to let a little piece of really good cheese accidentally fall on my plate!). I believe strongly that eating in a way that is good for our planet is also good for our bodies! I cook by the seasons and draw on inspiration from the strong and talented women in my family who came before me, as well as the youth in the family who look at the world with fresh eyes. Food links us all, whether sharing a meal, cooking it together, or writing about it for others to enjoy. I love taking an old recipe and giving it a modern spin, especially if I can make it a littler healthier and use foods that are kinder to the Earth and to our bodies. I believe strongly in sustainable, delicious eating of whole foods, and the wonderful flavors we have at our fingertips! And finally, I love conversing with all the talented cooks and chefs out there who dot the globe! It's a wonderful, world full of culinary pen pals, and I cherish them all! XXXOOO Dorothy
    Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen says:

    A standard on my shelf since I first set up my kitchen! I’m so glad you chose this Bernie because it was one of the first things I made from the book, and the first time I had even tasted ratatouille. Little did I know that all these decades later, I would still be making this dish, in all my wonderful variations!

  7. Chef Mimi – As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!
    Chef Mimi says:

    I think we all bought that cookbook! It was great.

  8. A classic recipe for a reason!
    Growing up on Mediterranean foods, this wasn’t new to me, but no doubt the book contributed a lot to American cooking. 🙂

  9. HI Bernadette, I have not as yet made this recipe. I made the Hungarian Mushroom Soup and the Greek spanakopita both of which were delicious.

  10. sue clancy – I create visual stories: fine art and artist books – in the genres of "animals in art" and "books in art". I tell my stories on walls, in books and even on "nontraditional" surfaces like coffee mugs. My fine art is represented by Caplan Art Designs www.caplanartdesigns.com and by Joseph Gierek Fine Art www.gierek.com – Thank you for letting me tell you a story!
    sue clancy says:

    I love Molly Katzen and have 4 of her cookbooks on my shelves! I use them often! Reliably good recipes!! Thanks for this post!!!

    • sue clancy – I create visual stories: fine art and artist books – in the genres of "animals in art" and "books in art". I tell my stories on walls, in books and even on "nontraditional" surfaces like coffee mugs. My fine art is represented by Caplan Art Designs www.caplanartdesigns.com and by Joseph Gierek Fine Art www.gierek.com – Thank you for letting me tell you a story!
      sue clancy says:

      My comment autocorrected my spelling of Mollie’s name…🤦‍♀️

  11. I’d never heard of Mollie or the Moosewood cookbook before picking up a digital copy for cookbook club, but last week in Wellington saw an anniversary copy of it for sale. I’ve just finished reading it – now to decide what to cook…

    • Jo, I can’t wait to read your post on the Moosewood Cookbook. It will be interesting to read your review, since you never read the book in the past.

  12. Awakening Wonders – Everyday life is filled with wondrous things and embraceable moments, but only if we allow ourselves to be fully awakened. I invite you to join me as I share passionate life adventures and ramblings that awaken my spirit. I look forward to awakening your senses to the simple, joyous wonders that are all around us. I feel that we are destined to become soulful adventurers!
    Awakening Wonders says:

    Celebrating Mollie Katzen and all her tasty recipes on Women’s Day is wonderful!

      • Awakening Wonders – Everyday life is filled with wondrous things and embraceable moments, but only if we allow ourselves to be fully awakened. I invite you to join me as I share passionate life adventures and ramblings that awaken my spirit. I look forward to awakening your senses to the simple, joyous wonders that are all around us. I feel that we are destined to become soulful adventurers!
        Awakening Wonders says:

        I hope your day was extra special!

  13. yes i have had her cookbooks for many years! I love that quote about not denigrating a task just because women have done it for years. I’ve been reading a book about France; funnily enough there is a recipe for ratatouille which states that each vegetable must be cooked separately! interesting …

  14. I adore ratatouille in any shape or form, so this is great! I enjoyed the highlight of Mollie Katzen’s cookbook. I have heard of the book but never have seen it. Looking forward to all the great recipes from the cookbook club!

  15. I had that cookbook! Your post is making me want to go find it! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for dinner party. I’m looking forward to what you’ll bring tomorrow!

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