A veggie cookbook that is *REALLY* for beginners and non-gourmets?

[Bonnie]

Pretty please?

I'm looking to make the shift to a primarily plant-based lifestyle. Not necessarily vegan or vegetarian, but plant-based, whole foods. I know there are scores of lovely, appetizing, yummy cookbooks out there that feature veggie meals. But they all seem to assume three things: 1. you can cook, 2. you have lots of cash, and 3. your family loves ethnic foods.

(1.)I can't cook for squat. Seriously. If it involves 45 minutes of prep and an actual "technique" of some sort, I'm gonna ruin it. Really. (2.) I know meat costs more on some level, especially the "good" stuff, but I can use very little and still have a meat-centered meal and save money. I can't do that with veggie meals...and I can't afford to buy obscure vegetables and grains at Whole Foods. (3.) I like Indian flavors and such, but my meat-and-potatoes dh? Notsomuch. I really really want to make this shift as natural as possible, no faked "meats", just adding more and more meat-free meals per week without them really noticing or making a big deal out of it. No recipes with six kazillion ingredients and requiring a refined palate and an expensive red wine. The best success I've had thus far has been de-beefing my Mexican-style stuff...more black beans, lots of taco seasoning. But we want cheese with that, thank you. And "rainbow nachos", (red tomato, orange pinto beans, yellow corn, green ortegas, "blue" black beans, "purple" olives, served on chips with cheese !) while tasty, won't go over for more than two meals a week, kwim?

I need staples. Simple, yummy meals. Stuff my kids (read: dh) will eat. That's easy to make and doesn't confuse me while grocery shopping...

Asking too much?