I never thought I’d say this, but I’m in the final days of finishing my cookbook manuscript and handing it in to my editor. After 15 months of testing recipes, writing, and shooting photography, I finally feel like things are coming together. Very, very slowly, mind you. I’ve shot about 50 recipe photographs so far, but that means I still have at least 50 recipes to remake and photograph. gulp, gulp, gulp. I’ve heard the editing process is pretty brutal, so I’m just taking it one day at a time and not looking too far ahead. The journey of getting my recipes to a place where I’m happy (and all my recipe testers) has taken much longer than I anticipated, but I didn’t want to rush the process. Quality over quantity, I say. If this is the only cookbook I ever write, I want it to be something I’m proud of. And seriously, it might be the only cookbook I ever write!
Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and say hello! I might not be able to post as much as I’d like to over the next couple weeks, but just know that I’m thinking of you always and looking forward to sharing some recipe inspiration as soon as I can. Right now, every creative cell in my body seems to be on hiatus, but it will recharge soon enough. Isn’t that what red wine is for??
Now for the giveaway fun! In my mind, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good cookbook and feeling more inspired with each turning page. Today’s giveaway highlights a couple awesome vegan cookbooks that I have in my collection as well as my favourite recipe creation tool that I reviewed recently – The Flavor Bible! I’m giving away all the books below to one lucky winner. If you happen to already own one or some of these cookbooks, I’ll be happy to send you an Amazon gift card instead. You decide. The books will be shipped new directly from Amazon.
In this giveaway:
Let Them Eat Vegan by Dreena Burton
Let Them Eat Vegan! is packed with 200 plant-powered recipes for the entire family. Dreena offers notes on how to modify her recipes for those with allergies or common substitution questions. Natural vegan ingredients are abundant in her recipes, many of which I already have in my own pantry. See my full review here.
Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero
Veganomicon is truly a work of art. With over 250 recipes for any occasion, this is a cookbook I turn to often. Whether you’re in the mood for something quick and easy or something fancy and elaborate, this book will have it. There are also handy user-friendly guides for soy-free, gluten-free, low-fat, and quick and easy recipes.
The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg
The Flavor Bible, described as “the essential guide to culinary creativity”, profiles ingredients and the corresponding herbs, spices, seasonings, etc. that pair well with each of these ingredients. As someone who has grown to love recipe creation, this book is a resource tool that I turn to when I’m looking for a nudge in the right direction. When I have an ingredient in mind that I’d like to cook with, I often look to this book for suggestions of other “compatible” ingredients that I can include in the dish. For my full review, see here.
To enter: Leave a comment below and tell me what you are reading right now or maybe tell me about a book you’ve read recently that you enjoyed. If you’d like a second entry you can follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest and leave a second comment letting me know you did so. This contest is open to anyone, anywhere and the winner will be chosen at random on Sat April 27th . Good luck!!
Please note: The links in this post are Amazon Affiliate links – if you click on the link and purchase something I will receive a small percentage from Amazon which helps support costs involved for this blog. Thanks in advance!
I’ve just finished reading Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. Amazing book that really speaks to me.
I also follow you on Facebook :)
I’m reading Forks Over Knives right now…it’s so interesting to read scientific proof on the health benefits of a plant based diet!!
Of course I follow you on facebook!!!! I’m going to start following you on twitter right now
Eagerly awaiting your cookbook! Hopefully you come out of it relatively sane and it will all have been worth it :) Right now, I’m reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon–a little late on that train, but to be fair, I was a little too young to read them when they were current!
Yes, I am reading Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert again. I absolutely love Flaubert’s writing style and Robert Baldick’s translation is extremely well done because it manages to reflect Flaubert’s genius! There are beautiful passages in which he describes the surroundings, with such a magnificent use of words that left me aghast! It has all the drama of French literature, which I love! At a certain point of the novel, I couldn’t understand why Madame Bovary was considered Flaubert’s masterpiece. However, after I finished reading it for the first time I came to realize that while Sentimental Education is an outstanding work of art, that I would like to read in its original french in a couple of months when my french is good enough to understand Flaubert’s vocabulary and prose, I have come to agree that Madame Bovary isn’t getting any undeserved credit.
I was completely surprised with Flaubert’s ability to reflect Frédéric’s emotions, changes and aging process. It is said that Sentimental Education is autobiographical, which could explain to a certain extent his mastery. A great difference between Flaubert’s books and others, especially british and american literature, is that he doesn’t worry about making the reader sympathize with the main character. I just didn’t feel very satisfied with Frédéric’s moral development… he struck me as immature and self-destructive at times. But I have concluded that french authors are much more concerned with the reality of the nature of man, much more than “selling” an idea, as contemporary literature has done. French authors show both sides of each character, reflecting their insecurities, their dreams, and even their darkest moments. This makes the book ever-changing and thrilling. You just never know what’s going to happen next, who is going to do what, and who will disappoint or surprise you! Just as in life!
But why would I want to read something that I can experience myself, you may ask? Why read about life if I am living it? Don’t I like to read to dream, to transport myself to other lives and places, to something entirely different? Well, yes! And I am!!! I just experienced life in Paris in the 1840s, by which I learned the political and social way of life of that time and circumstance! Isn’t that a wonderful mind-trip to take??
You might also wonder why I rated it with three stars, if its such a magnific novel praised by glorious writers such as Georges Sand, Emile Zola and Henry James? It is a little bit unfair for Flaubert, I must admit, but I considered four stars to be something that I would give to Madame Bovary, for example, a novel that I consider to be a little bit better than Sentimental Education. Many will surely disagree with me, but the difference between one novel’s greatness and the other’s is not as large as it may seem with my rating. Madame Bovary is, in my opinion, better than Sentimental Education, but both novels are terrific works, succeeding in captivating my heart and inspiring my own writing! Even though I don’t pretend to ever reach Flaubert’s niveau, his novels are an example that can enrich the life of any reader, whether he or she loves writing and french literature as much as I do or not!
I highly recommend reading Madame Bovary first, before Sentimental Education, to understand Flaubert’s different way of writing! After reading Madame Bovary, believe me, you’ll want to read more of him!!! I did, and I wasn’t disappointed at all with this novel! =D
Oops! I think I got too excited reviewing this book, I’m sure this is not what you wanted from me but I just couldn’t help it! Literature makes me so passionate, that I lose sight of myself!
Okay now I’m embarrassed! just skip my entry! I’m sorry! I went crazy!!
Hi!! I love you blog! I’m currently reading Fountainhead by Ayn Rand!! I follow you on pinterest!!:)
I’m currently reading My Grandfather’s Blessing
I am reading Lords of the Rings all over again, and I am enjoying myself :) Love your blog! Keep up the good work :)
Yay!!! The cookbook is almost done!!!! Congrats – I’ve been wondering about it :)
I recently read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I expected it to be an epically barf-worthy piece of chic-lit, and found that it was instead a very interesting and introspective piece about what to do and how to cope when life doesn’t go as you plan.
I´ve recently read “The Alchimist” by Paulo Coelho and i really loved it! Now I´m reading another book by Coelho (The witch of Portobello) but haven´t finished yet and also a book about Kundalini meditation which is quite interesting and has already changed my perception of everyday things :)
I am reading Sadhana of the Heart. It is a collection of talks on spiritual life by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. It’s changing ways in which I view life! So amazing :)
I am ready “50 Shades of Gray”
I’m reading Eat and Run by Scott Jurrek… also Robert Fisks Great War for Civilisations. Fingers crossed Ado
Hello! I love your blog and have been following you for a few years now. Right now I am reading Health and Healing by Andrew Weil along with my school textbooks :-x Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Also, I already like/follow you on every form of social media. :)
I am reading “I Am Grateful”, a raw vegan cook…er, non-cook book. This book has some of the BEST raw vegan recipes I have ever had. I was actually looking at the Flavor Bible the other day to gift to my husband, who just so happens to be joining me on my vegan journey…slow but sure, just like your writing process! Love your site, looking forward to your book. :)
I’m the proud mother of a beautiful new baby girl so I’m reading What to Expect the First Year. :)
I’m reading “Flow” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It examines the psychology of optimal experiences in which we lose track of time and our selves and become completely engrossed in the activity. For me, cooking puts me in this flow state. Cooking dinner sometimes takes hours just because I’m so lost in the joy of slicing and dicing or experimenting with substitutions. Good thing my boyfriend is so patient for dinner and understands my joy of cooking :)
What a great contest! I’m currently reading Kimberly Snyder’s Beauty Detox Foods–many of which you use in recipes on Oh She Glows! :)