Calling all Vegetarians and Vegans!! HELP!

Hey guys!! I need some cook book recomendations...
preferably ones i can buy at Barnes and Nobles, waldenbooks/borders... err those are the only book stores i know of around here actually. haha
I havn't the first clue as to how to make tofu, or well anything that isn't already packaged (i.e. morningstar veggie patties *MM YUM*.. Beginners guide to Vegetarianism/Veganism anybody!? lol
I refuse to eat meat anymore, i never liked red meat, i only liked chicken, but now i can't even stand to see the chicken my dad buys. I can't stand the smell of my sisters house when she's cooking.. it makes me sick to think my family will put that crap in their system.. I have for so-many years and i'm not exactly healthy right now...
So i'm getting there!! Next step is to start exercising again.

but yes, i need to get me some cook books... and bookshelf haha, but thats not happening yet cook books first! (kind of need to eat) haha

I havn't the first clue as to how to make tofu

There are lots of recipes on line for how to make your own tofu... it seems an awful lot of work, though.  I'm sure most people just buy it.

http://www.soya.be/how-to-make-tofu.php

i didn't mean make my own tofu, i mean like a have a block of tofu in my fridge and have no clue what to do with it...

how to pre-pare tofu i should have said eh' 

oh sorry... i misunderstood!

Im not a vegetarian, so i cant help very much.  But i have had tofu in a stir-fry, and you just chop it up and stir-fry it with the veggies as you would do with chicken.   

Dont worry -- im sure some of the veggies will be along later with better advice.

My only real advice... halloumi!   I had that the other day.. chunks of halloumi on skewers, alternated with chunks of onion and courgette (zucchini) and it was grilled on the barbecue and absolutely gorgeous!!

One of the nicest ways to prepare tofu I think is to slice it up, marinade it in soy sauce, garlic and spices for about an hour then grill it.  I can't think of any cookbooks off the top of my head that have loads of tofu recipes but Rose Elliot is a good vegetarian cookery writer, have a look out for her books.  I used to have a book called Laurel's Kitchen that is quite good for new vegetarians, not sure if it's still in print though.

hmm as i said, i'm new at this! lol so i'm probably even more clueless than you about this kind of stuff.. and i'm REAAAAAAAAALY cluless. all i've eaten for the plast week is morningstar products.. i tried them morningstar chick'n strips and i don't like those... so i won't be buying them again.. i have never eaten tofu before so i don't even know if i am going to like it.  If not oh boy! lol
halloumi= goat/sheep cheese?  or am i thinking somthing else..

halloumi= goat/sheep cheese?  or am i thinking somthing else..

yep... it's pure gorgeous when you cook it.

Brit-wife
i don't need a book w/ loads of tofu recipies, some yeah, but not loads.. as i have never had tofu before so i don't even know if i like it.
am looking up  Laurel's Kitchen  now

hey i looked up  Laurel's Kitchen  online at BN.com and theres a "new Laurel's Kitchen " http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780898151664&itm=1

Check this out Vicki!

step by step vegetarian cooking, with little videos to help you along...

http://www.videojug.com/tag/vegetarian

hey i looked up  Laurel's Kitchen  online at BN.com and theres a "new Laurel's Kitchen " http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780898151664&itm=1

I notice that was published in 1986 and I had the previous Laurel's Kitchen so how old does that make me?! Check out books by Mollie Katzen too. These are all good starting places for new vegos.

hey thanks.. has anybody taken a look at this book "The Clueless Vegetarian" By:
Evelyn Raab.. seems like a book for a starter  clueless = me. haha
was thinking about the for dummies too granted that isn't a cook book but will certainly educate me a little about balanced diet..

My favorite books are...

Delia Smiths Vegetarian Collection

Rose Elliots Vegetarian Express (most of her books are great)

The low GI Vegetarian Cookbook, by Dr Jeannie Brand-Miller

Carb Conscious Vegetarian (my favorite) by Robin Robertson

Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

i actually picked up vegan with a vengeance today was going to buy it then said nah' i wanna get that clueless book first.. haha

thanks for the ideas

I find Laurel's Kitchen (Mom has the old, I have the new) a bit preachy nowadays, and the recipes are somewhat involved and not always that tasty, but it is a useful reference. My more recent favorite is Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. It's a HUGE and expensive book, but it's very comprehensive--it has sections on how to cook nearly every vegetable you can think of, beans, rice, pasta, eggs, etc. Maybe you could check it out of a library before deciding to buy it? I also really like Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Cookery, which has some pretty simple but lovely recipes as well as more complicated ones, and a good reference section in the front with lots of pictures.

I also love www.vegetarianepicure.com --I haven't bought any of Anna Thomas's books yet but the New Vegetarian Epicure is on my wish list.

If it makes you feel better, I've been a vegetarian for 14 years and I'm still not a huge fan of tofu!  I love Morningstar products (well, loved, when I was in the US, *sniff*), although they are pretty processed.