They are designed for younger kids, but the Mollie Katzen kid's cookbooks are great: http://astore.amazon.com/httpwwwgetcoo-20

I've been doing it since I was 13 (22 years!), so I know how she feels. I have the above Adaptable Feast, and it's a good book, but I rarely use it. A variety of blogs, Bittman's "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" and books from the Best Recipes collection have been the best for me and mine. Don't dumb it down, the ones aimed just for a particular generation or lifestyle usually have boring, bland recipes (Post Punk Kitchen being an exception).

Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian is a great book for beginner cooks with lots of simple recipes.

I'd recommend Vegetarian Suppers or Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. Also, it has fewer whole meals and more side dishes, but Fast, Fresh, and Green by Susie Middleton is amazing.
I've been a vegetarian since I was about her age--and come from a meat loving southern family (who luckily were supportive enough). Maybe some of the "flexitarian" themed books that came out recently would be helpful.

Adaptable Feast also did another book called Double Take which uses one recipe to make 2 versions of the same dish - that'd be helpful if she were ready to cook for the entire family or if the chef in your family were willing to capitulate.

I had the same problem around 15. I kept a stash of ready-to-eat vegetarian items for nights when I was unprepared to make something seperate (ie frozen meals, soy chorizo, baked tofu, seitan, veggie burgers, Annie's soup, Udon bowls, etc...) You *might* be able to put together a small gift basket of items like that - but it'd be tricky since most need to be frozen or refrigerated.

I love Jay Solomon's 150 Vegan Favorites. The recipes are really simple, yet delicious. It's designed to make more than one serving; however, that may not be a problem since the recipes are so easy. When I was living by myself in college, I loved having leftovers.

Definitely go with Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.

I got this cookbook as a gift in college and it is great for one-two person meals and has a lot of quick, easy recipes. It would definitely work for a younger teen too. They also have a Vegan book, which I gave to my sister a few years ago. I highly recommend them both!

http://www.amazon.com/Students-Vegetarian-Cookbook-Quick-Recipes/dp/0761508546

Also, I just spotted this book on Amazon as well. I haven't read it but it has good reviews and seems relevant: http://www.amazon.com/Teens-Vegetarian-Cookbook-Judy-Krizmanic/dp/0140385061/ref=pd_sim_b_2

I really like Bittman's book. I have a ton of cookbooks, most of which just sit on the shelf and look pretty. I'm not really into following recipes, but I like being able to look things up and see how he uses them. I like that he offers alternatives to each recipe, so it's not always the same thing, and he has a lot of general non-recipe-specific information that I think would be very useful for a beginner.

In general, I tend to just google for the things I'm interested in and pick and choose from the recipes that pop up. There are a lot of really great veg*n food blogs out there. (PPK has a seitan recipe that is really easy and super delicious.)

When I became a vegetarian at age 10, my grandmother gave me "The Gradual Vegetarian." I'd gone cold turkey (so to speak!), so most of the information wasn't that useful to me. But it might be good for your sister, particularly if your family is making it difficult for her to suddenly give up all meat/fish.

Along these lines, Mark Bittman encourages a pseudo-vegetarian diet, focused on reducing the amount of animal products in your diet. Your family may never give up meat, but by cooking meals where meat isn't the main focus, they may get over the all-too-common idea that meatless meals have to be boring or unhealthy.

As for "cooking for one", I recommend cooking a normal sized meal and having leftovers for a few nights. Some things freeze well. Highschool students are busy, and she probably doesn't want to be in the kitchen every night, especially if she's vying for space with whoever is cooking the non-veg meal for everyone else.

I became a vegetarian at 14, too, and although my family was initially unsupportive, as I became a good cook they began sticking a fork into whatever was on my plate. That was decades ago. They now eat vegetarian a few times a week without even noticing it. I wish your sister the same luck.

All the suggestions above are great. I'll add Jack Bishop's cookbooks--very accessible and very well-tested. My faves are his Italian Vegetarian cookbook (it's older) and his newer 365 Vegetarian Meals, which is arranged seasonally.

Bittman's book is easy but not as tasty as it could be, I vote for quality--Deborah Madison Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. It is the best tasting vegetarian food out there (I'm not a vegetarian). Its designed so that you can make this food for everyone and add meat if you want, or not. No judgement, that's my favorite part.

Ditto! Deborah Madison Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. As many have said, you can add meat easily, but this book also just teaches you so many techniques that allow you to riff off the recipes in the book once you get more confident to make endless variations (i.e. the basics of soup making, fritatta making, risotto making, cooking beans from scratch, vinaigrette and flavor combos for salads, etc.). Learning techniques and flavor profiles is the best thing a budding vegetarian can do for themselves to make cooking easy, healthy, and fun.

The Flexitarian Table is fantastic... same idea as Adaptable Feast. Second Deborah Madison.

I also like the Vegetarian Slow Cooker- it would be easy to make and freeze her own meals with a slow cooker.

PETA has a cook book for single college students that sounds perfect- easy, cheap recipes that are nutritious, serve one, and don't require fancy tools. Also The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life is an excellent guide to living veg, including recipes, dealing with non-veg family, how to deal with travel, etc. Really useful all-around guide for a person with no veg community to help them out.

My vote is Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. It is such a great cookbook overall - and really helped me to cook GOOD vegetarian meals 10 years ago after 5 of trying other cookbooks. Bittman's is How to Cook Everything Vegetarian is also a great book and perhaps a 14 year old might find it more fun or engaging. Can't go wrong with either, I think.

Eat, Drink, & Be Vegan by Dreena Burton has some fantastic recipes, especially for hummus. I realize your sister is not a vegan, but there are some great and creative ways to use veggies in the cookbook. :)

I gravitate toward the old school vegetarian books like:

Madhur Jaffrey's World of the East Vegetarian Cooking - excellent variety of Asian cuisines represented here

Diet for a Small Planet - favorite recipes include "Tomato Soup Like Campbell's Never Dreamed Of" and "Lentils Monastery Style" (mmmm sherry & carrots).

Laurel's Kitchen - probably the most appropriate for a beginner cook; she describes ingredients and techniques alongside the recipes, and offers generous lists of substitutions & variations. I can't believe this is out of print, but luckily readily available from used book sellers.

I find these older books to be useful in areas where the more recently invented meat substitutes (soy burgers & crumbles, etc.) are not available. The recipes use tofu or beans as the protein.

A new cookbook, Kim O'Donnel's "Meat Lovers' Meatless Cookbook," might be worth a go. Kim is a longtime food blogger and good teacher, and the recipes are designed to appeal to carnivores who are looking to maybe eat less meat part of the time, so they shouldn't be too scary for the meat eaters in the family.

I became veg at her age, too. I'd recommend the Deborah Madison or Mark Bittman books -- simple and alk about produce.

When I was a teenage vegetarian, I loved the Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook. (By Judy Krizmanic, linked above.) So simple, straightforward, and full of recipes that could be accepted by steadfast carnivores. I was both lazy and not very good in the kitchen, so it suited me immensely, all through college.

I second the Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian suggestions. Although I've been cooking for years, I still go back to it frequently since it gives great, simple ideas that don't need many ingredients (beans: what to do with them; cabbage: 3 ways to prepare it). That'll probably help if your sister is starting to cook by herself, as well as with her schedule (quick meals that don't distract her from homework/activities).

I also strongly recommend Delia Smith's Vegetarian Collection. The recipes are delicious, not uber-complicated and the photos are gorgeous. It also include cereal bars, cakes, breads, eggs, etc. It is a nice step up from Bittman's book and will provide more varied meals.

Good luck to your sister! :)

I've been a vegetarian since I was six (yes, six!). My parents were meat eaters, but luckily for me, they tolerated what they thought was a phase (even though it ended up being a lifelong commitment)!

I love Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian--it's great for a cook just starting out, and it's really flexible, so you can find a recipe no matter what you're in the mood for or what ingredients you have on hand. Nothing from the book is necessarily spectacular, but it's all reliably good, and most of it is very easy.

I also love Deborah Madison's books, although sometimes her recipes are a bit more complicated/call for more obscure ingredients. And I want to second the Madhur Jaffrey recommendation. After a while, you start to eat the same vegetarian meals over and over, and Jaffrey's book has a lot of new and interesting flavors. To be fair, some of her recipes might call for ingredients not available everywhere, but I haven't had too much trouble.

I would also advise your sister to stock up on frozen foods like Amy's burritos (tasty, protein-rich, and cheap!) and canned beans (ditto, and you can doctor them up in so many ways), so she always has something to eat even when her parents won't cook for her and she's busy with homework.

I also recommend Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. I've been a vegetarian my whole life since my family is but that book serves as an amazing reference and learning tool. I've learned about vegetables and fruits I've never had before (persimmons, celeriac, etc) as well as technique (how to make tofu, seitan, etc). Its a great place to start exploring vegetarian cooking and have gotten it as presents to other budding cooks in my family.

Second for <em>Bittman</em>.

Also, I really love the Veganomicon -- and I'm an unapologetic omnivore!

Mollie Katzen does have a wonderful book for kids, but I would HIGHLY recommend the classic Moosewood Cookbook. This is the book that taught me how to cook. She give such wonderful, thoughtful advice and really encourages the cook to be creative. There's even a section on "light meals" or "meals for one" ... I forget which and I'm not in my kitchen to look it up. There's nothing complicated in terms of technique and the recipes are very approachable and yummy. It's perfect for a budding chef!

I agree with with Monkeymilk, Moosewood is a plus! I like Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home (http://www.amazon.com/Moosewood-Restaurant-Cooks-Home-Recipes/dp/0671679929)
Easy recipes that even omnivores can love. :)

Moosewood is great, definitely, as are Katzen's other books -- "Enchanted Broccoli Forest" and so on. And of course Madison and Jaffrey. But if you can only choose one, I think I'd go with Bittman -- and include a list of further recommendations! After all, there are birthdays and next Christmas to think of...

The main reason I recommend Bittman is that he does a truly fantastic job talking about balancing a vegetarian diet. The best and many sources of protein are crucial knowledge for a young (aspiring?) vegetarian; so many 'beginners' fall into a starch-based or off-white diet (I definitely went through that phase).

While I agree that the recipes can be somewhat bland or at least could use some flavor tweaking, I'm not sure how important that is in this case. Teenagers don't have the sophisticated palates we develop later on, and it's probably more useful for a young person to have a lot of ideas, simple recipes, and comprehensive information presented in an encouraging and humorous way. Bittman does all of that.

(P.S. Bittman also has an inter/active presence online, between his Minimalist column in NYT, his tweets, his column about running and nutrition, and his fantastic Minimalist videos. It might be nice to be able to continue a "conversation", as it were, with the author.)

Fourthing the Moosewood recommendation. What I love about those recipes is that meat can be added... so it can please both sets of people.