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 just finished re-reading Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. It’s been many years since I first read it but it is one of my favorite books.
Reading The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.
The Doors of Perception, by Aldous Huxley. It’s been very interesting, so far!
I’m reading Stressed Less Living and Agatha Christie novels.
Followed you on Facebook and Twitter.
I’m ‘reading’ River Cottage Veg Every Day! by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall! The recipes are fabulous, but I was looking for something more oriented towards vegan (just shopping on Amazon this morning), so this would definitely be perfect :)
I am reading “At Home: a short history of private life,” by Bill Bryson. Each chapter of the book describes history and random facts related to each room of the author’s house (e.g. The history behind hallways and how these were invented and what they were used for in the past, or the history behind the kitchen: the origin of “a bakers dozen” and other random facts). It is a very engaging read and will make you appreciate how the ‘home’ evolved throught time.
I’m reading 500 vegan dishes by Deborah Gray. I bought it with my mum and everytime I cook a recipe from it I e-mail her and tell her if it was good or not. But all of them have been yummy so far :)
I’ve just started reading the Alchemist after the recommendation of my father. It’s a story of great adventure and intrigue.
Oh god, look at that number of comments… My chances to win are slim, but I’ll leave comment regardless because my book recommendations might come in helpful for someone! For my course in Postmodernism I just read Don DeLillo’s “White Noise” and it’s an ingenious satire on the postmodern human condition. Brilliant dialogues, too. I also recently read the collected work of Sarah Kane – a powerful British dramatist. Quite intense reading matter, but worth it. Right now I (finally) began 1984 and I am very much enjoying it so far.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for this giveaway, because veganism isn’t widely accepted in Belgium and I’d love to cook some convincing dinners for my friends.
I just followed you on facebook, too!
I have just read “Crazy Sexy Diet” by Kris Carr. Learned so much about how important your pH level is, especially if you are fighting chronic illness. I have been juicing double time and trying to incorporate more greens ever since. I also just read “The Storyteller” by Jodi Piccoult. Whew. Very heavy, but important.
I just started to read Eatting Animals. I have heard great things about if it. And really can’t wait to sink teeth in try it. I also follow you on facebook and love your recipies. :-)
Im reading A Dance of Dragons (the 5th Game of Thrones) and Spirit Junkie at the same time. Spirit Junkie is absolutely amazing and I think everyone needs to have a bit of Gabrielle Bernstein in their life :)
Im following you on Facebook and am about to on twitter and instagram!
I am reading ‘The art of hearing heartbeats.’. It’s an amazing love story! Thanks!
I just finished The Fate of Mercy Alban and The Thirteenth Tale.
Great Saturday morning. Birds chirping and my three kids are around the kitchen table eating their favourite oatmeal – your Apple Pie Oatmeal recipe !!!
Our family recently started transitioning to a vegan diet and your website has been really helpful! I just checked out a couple vegan cookbooks from the library to try and find some quick easy recipes for days when the kids are driving me crazy and there is just too much to do! Def looking forward to your cookbook! Thanks so much for your website!
I’m currently reading “Incredibly loud and extremely close” by Jonathan Safan Foer which I’m enjoying a lot!
Reading Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss…fascinating look at the processed food industry!