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!








Hmmm…nearly 4,500 comments and still two days to go. It’s always worth taking the chance though, right? I mean someone has to win. Plus I’m excited to share the two cookbooks I have been reading lately. They have so many simple and wholesome recipes that are either vegan or can be made vegan easily. They are Clean Food by Terry Walters and Martha Stewart’s latest Meatless. I’m so interested in the Flavor Bible as well after your post! Hope to win!
I’m a book addict, and love reading cookbooks too. I’m happy to see that so many of your other readers are too! Right now I’m reading “Vegan Eats World” by Terry Hope Romero (can I just say, yum!), “Vegan Soul Kitchen” by Bryant Terry, “The Land of Later On” by Anthony Weller, “Flight Behavior” by Barbard Kingsolver, “The Disaster Diaries: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Apocalypse” by Sam Sheridan, and “The Limits of Enchantment” by Graham Joyce. But, if you’re looking for my most recent, life-changing reads, I’d have to say “Thrive” by Brendan Brazier, and “Eat and Run” by Scott Jurek.
Love your blog!
I’m reading Eat & Run by Scott Jurek. I just started running and it’s already a huge inspiration!
I am obsessed with YA dystopian novels. My most recent series is The Ugliest books. So good and an interesting look at our society.
I know exactly how you feel and what you do as I am finishing up my cookbook to be published in Taiwan this summer myself. The cookbook- making process is relatively rough and brutal there. I’ve been only given 6 months of time and forced to learn food photography/ styling/propping while on the job. It’s been crazily intense and chaotic; fun and rewarding. I’ve shot more than 100 healthy recipes (only need 72 for the book) of primarily Asian fusion in East-meets-West style. Here are some of them. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200307579547340.1073741825.1089523063&type=1
So I’ve been reading LOTS of cookbooks. In fact, they are piling up right in front of me, my dining table, my kitchen counter. Ironically, I am studying the photos more than anything else for shooting inspiration.Thank you for the fun and inspiration this blog has offered and good luck with your and my book!
I`ve just finished Ray Bradbury`s Dandelion Wine – a perfect preparation for thw summer!
Right now I’m reading Slapstick!, one of my favorite books by Kurt Vonnegut.
Would love to have those amazing books. Currently reading “Quiet” by Susan Cain about introverts. Very fascinating.
I am reading the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, not vegan related but I am trying to read some classics!
So glad I found you! I am making the transition to vegan now and a cookbook would be a big help!
I just got the College Cookbook from Peta2 so I’m flipping through that for recipes.
I’m reading Pride and Prejudice! My first Jane Austen novel EVER!
I’m currently bouncing between Aimee Lui’s Gaining, a book on life after eating disorders, and Naikan, a book on Japanese the art of self-reflection. They are both fabulous and inspiring. I will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in May and these books have helped me so much in this final push to finish my undergraduate education.
I still stop into book stores and gawk over the wonderful recipes in the cook book section too. :) Getting cooking ideas from every source I can is so exciting and fun! You can create some interesting dishes when you use your imagination.
I am reading a mystery series by Laurie King – The Beekeepers Aprentice is the first book in ther series. I love mysteries! thank you!
Hi Angela,
I just finished “Sexy Easy Raw”. It contains lovely tricks to enjoy your veggies on daily basis. Thanks for your blog and your great blog,
A fan from Québec! :)
The beautiful online vegan magazine “Chickpea”. The spring issue has how tos for oat, nut, hemp milks and gorgeous pictures of the featured recipes. And _Mangoes and Curry Leaves_ for learning new wonderful Asian recipes every week.
I am just beginning my healthy living quest. It’s been a challenge so far because I have six children and one on the way, and I’m always looking for ways to help make the change easier for my family. So whenever I see a comment referring to a website with recipes or ideas, I check it out. It’s my first time to your website and I am loving the recipes I’ve seen so far. Thank you for the effort you make to share your talents with us.
I just posted and forgot to write what I am reading. I just read a great book called Dr Mom’s Healthy Living. I learned so much. The author is really the one who gave me the courage to begin making a healthy change.
Just started reading, “Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution by Dr. Robert Svobda.” So far, really interesting!
I’m reading Snow Crash right now. Love Neal Stephenson!