Happy 2015! To welcome the New Year I have some exciting news to share. You’ve been asking me for months and I can finally tell you that I’m working hard on a second cookbook! It’s slated for 2016 (official date TBA) and I’m incredibly excited to create this next collection of fresh, healthy, and inspiring recipes for you. I’ve been listening to your feedback over the past several months, and I hope to create a second book that will make a kick-butt companion to the first. I’m bursting with ideas and simply can’t wait to share it with you.
I remember vividly how daunting the creation of the first cookbook felt. I took on all of the writing, recipe development, food styling, photography, etc. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done and I felt like quitting a few times, but having come through the other side I realize it was just part of the journey. I feel like the second cookbook process will go more smoothly in some ways; I now have a solid organizational system in place as well as the experience of creating the first book under my belt. I will do many things differently this time, and I know where I’m headed (which is half the battle). Other parts of the next book will surely feel more challenging because I now have a baby who’s becoming more active as the days go by (this year, she’ll be crawling, walking, etc….crazy!). But I’ll figure out a new normal, as I have been these past 3 months. One bonus since having her is that I find I’m much more efficient when I do sit down to work. I can crank out a blog post in half the time now. Well, on a good day, anyway.
One thing is for sure, I can’t wait to see this new cookbook come to life! And I am so thankful for your enthusiasm for a second book. After going through a lull in creativity during my pregnancy, I totally feel like I have that spark back and ideas are pouring into my mind on a daily basis. I have hundreds of recipe ideas and a dozen new recipes already in the vault. It’s a solid start.
PS – I will be putting out a call for recipe testers in the coming weeks. I just need to finish getting the testing site ready and the recipe feedback and submission forms in place. Last time I simply relied on a big group of friends and family as my recipe testers, but since many of you expressed interest to be a recipe tester I’m going to open it up to my dear readers. I will be looking for ALL kinds of skill levels, so don’t worry if you are just starting out. More on all of this soon. It’s going to be fun!
For an end of the year recap, I put together the most popular 15 healthy recipes of 2014. I left out the desserts because I figure most of us are looking for healthier fare this time of the year (with one big exception below because it was the chocolate hit of the year! Keep it in mind for Valentine’s Day). I’m also sharing some of your comments about the recipes below just for fun.
Most Popular Healthy Recipes of 2014 on Oh She Glows:
15. 5-Minute Oatmeal Power Bowl {4.9 stars out of 24 reviews}
Frances writes, “Hot oatmeal! My favourite! I’ve been having this every morning at work. I actually look forward to work because of this bowl. (is that weird?) Instead of soaking the oats though, I just put the oats, cinnamon, coconut sugar, and chia seeds in a small ziplock, and my toppings in another container. Then I’ll assemble and mix with almond milk and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. Totally delicious and energizing! Loveee <3”
14. Glowing Green Pasta Primavera {4.9 stars out of 8 reviews}
Chris writes, “I just made this and had to come on here and post something about it. IT WAS AMAZING!! I didn’t even use a blender for the sauce, just added the ingredients at the end… sans the hemp seeds, was fresh out of hemp. But it still came out so amazing. The taste… And the colors… And the…EVERYTHING! Even my husband, a very non-vegan was amazed at the taste. I had to give him mine and came another for me. I cut the veggies in half for a single portion but made the sauce with the amount it called for… Worked out great!”
13. Banana Bread Muffin Tops (4.9 stars out of 19 reviews}
Roxane writes, “The kids approved of this treat! My youngest was even eating the batter raw off the spatula. My eldest took and bite and said: “this tastes just like a muffin! You can’t tell the difference.”
12. Speedy Veggie n Brown Rice Noodle Bowl {4.7 stars out of 10 reviews}
Kate writes, “This was omg fabulous. I am super picky about sauces and this one was phenomenal, I actually was eating some with a spoon, lol. Overall lovely mix of flavors and seasoning was perfect. I deal with a lot of food and allergy issues (gluten, dairy, nut free and low histamine) which has made eating and cooking incredibly difficult for some time. This blog helped get me back into enjoying cooking and eating again, so I am incredibly grateful for all the great recipes and comprehensive allergy info.”
11. Creamy 10-Spice vegetable Soup {4.8 stars out of 62 reviews}
Sheila writes, “GREAT recipe!!! I cannot say this enough. My husband and I were in the mood for soup and I thought I would try this out. We were blown away with how delicious this soup was! I made it again for a pot luck party at work and received so many compliments. There was not a drop left over! Thanks again Angela for another stellar recipe!”
10. Green Warrior Protein Smoothie {4.8 stars out of 4 reviews}
Brittany writes, “Thanks for creating a wonderful, delicious, and filling smoothie! I work in the medical field and don’t know when lunch will be. I have made this smoothie for the past 3 days and it has kept me full until lunch!”
9. Feel Good Hearty Granola Bars {5 stars out of 16 reviews}
Annaliese writes, “These are wonderful! I mixed up a batch last night for some back-to-school/broke graduate student snacks when hunger strikes at the lab, and they are wonderful. Not too sweet, crunchy from the seeds and nuts, and oh-so-oat-y! I also added in a TB of chia seeds for good measure. Will be trying these with dates and dried coconut next time! I love that the binder and major sweetener is banana…affordable, on-hand and good for you!”
8. Crispy Quinoa Cakes {4.7 stars out of 93 reviews}
Katie writes, “These are drop-dead delicious. I made these Tuesday night, I “tested” about 5 of them straight from the oven, I just ate the last of the batch for lunch today. So good. Next time I make these, I need to make sure I eat dinner BEFORE I make a double batch of these bad boys so I can make them last!”
7. Ultimate Green Taco Wraps {4.9 stars out of 46 reviews}
Jordan writes, “Made this for dinner last night…YUM! I used a packed of taco seasoning I already had in the cupboard instead of the spices in the recipe because that’s all I had. Was so good – I ate three and I still have HEAPS left over for lunch at work today…and dinner tonight. Maybe even lunch again tomorrow if I’m lucky ;) I also used green and brown lentils because that’s all I could find in the supermarket. Love this recipe – it’s so fresh and filling, but in the good, satisfying way. THANK YOU :)”
6. Almost Instant Chocolate Chia Pudding {4.8 stars out of 6 reviews}
Eva writes, “Delicious and easy! I added some carob powder and it made for a nice rich flavor. Thank you!”
5. Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Creamy Garlic Aioli {4.9 stars out of 81 reviews}
Zilia writes, “I had some dinner guests over tonight and make these… Even my 8 year old LOVED the avocado-aioli. Yum yum yum. Huge hit, thank you!”
4. Soft and Chewy Baked Granola Bars {4.5 stars out of 6 reviews}
Andrea writes, “Angela, I love these! What a fantastic, easy, healthy for me and my children. I am especially excited about these because they are nut-butter free, which means that I can pack them for my kids when they need a snack out of the house… almost everywhere we go requires that foods are nut-free.”
3. My Favourite Vegan Chili with Homemade Sour Cream {no reviews as the plugin isn’t working – will fix this soon!}
Leigh writes, “It wasn’t just me who loved your chili and sour cream but everyone in our house loved it. Okay, all 3 of us give it 2 thumbs up and our cat who LOVES the smell of cumin for whatever reason became “kitchen cat” while it was cooking!”
2. Cauli-power Fettuccine Alfredo {4.8 stars out of 35 reviews}
MB Savino writes, “I found your website when looking for some meatless recipes for my 21 year old vegetarian/vegan daughter for when she comes home for the weekend from college. I’ve made several, including this one and WOW it was great. My Italian husband gobbled up the fettuccini Alfredo and neither one of us felt guilty! We had some sautéed broccoli on the side and mixed it in as we ate, it was filling, delicious, and healthy. Also a recipe that can be made on a week night after work. It’s a keeper!”
1. 6 Tips for Flawless Kale Chips + All Dressed Kale Chip Recipe {5 stars out of 35 reviews}
Can you believe kale chips won??
Kimberly writes, “These were perfect! I’ve struggled with getting my chips ‘just right’ for a while now. So glad I found your tips!! I did have to adjust the time in the oven, but not by much! Thanks for posting.”
The most popular dessert award goes to my Double Dark Chocolate Coconut Macaroon Torte! You guys went nuts over this grain-free dessert (pssst – it’s nut-free too!) {4.9 stars out of 42 reviews}
Brigette writes, “I made two of these for a Hanukkah party I attended yesterday where the hostess was both gluten-free and vegan. I haven’t had a ton of luck producing vegan desserts I’m thrilled about in the past, but let me tell you… This was DELICIOUS. And easy! I had people following me around the party asking about it. Two women insisted I share the recipe. It is so rich and good, and it was perfectly suited for the occasion. I would definitely make it again. BRAVO!!!!”
So…which recipe was my favourite of the year? I’d have to pick my Crowd-Pleasing Vegan Caesar Salad! This has also been a popular recipe on the blog since I posted it at the end of November. {5 stars from 42 reviews}
Noreeny writes, “I made this as a New Year’s Eve treat for myself (along with the favorite chili recipe [which was also fantastic]) and this was by far – not a second of doubt in my review – the best Caesar salad I’ve ever tasted. Forget all the recipes with chicken/shrimp and dressing rich in milk products and anchovies. This is the real deal.”
As always, thank you for your feedback on recipes. I really appreciate when you give tips on substitutions you tried out (as I’m sure others do) and whether the recipe is kid/partner/family/friend approved.
Cheers to all the vibrant veggie-filled food we’ll eat in 2015! Can’t wait.
Love, love your blog. Congratulations on all your successes this year and a special congrats on the birth of your first child. So, as if you didn’t already have enough challenges ☺️, I’d love to see more of your vision on raw-vegan, gluten-free recipes this year. I live in Florida where the weather is warm to scorching, and fresh and raw is so appealing! Health and Happiness to your and your family!
I am so excited to hear you are putting out a new cookbook! I love your first cookbook! There are a lot of recipes that I love! My favorite out of there is the tomato soup . My kids love that one as well. I would love to be a recipe taster.
I try to eat vegan as much as possible and have started to look into gluten-free diets as well and this post has given me a tremendous amount of motivation to continue – just the photographs alone make my mouth water! Thank you x
Happy New Year! Last year was a big one for you and will be hard to top, but I am confident that you’re gonna pull it off.
Geez, your readers have great taste! A delicious list to be sure, the pesto primavera is my hands down favorite.
I am beyond excited to hear you are working on a new cookbook and and absolutely chomping at the bit to apply to be a recipe tester. It is very hard to find food that is vegan and jibes with all of our food allergies and your cookbook and blog always come through for us. It’d feel amazing to be able to give a little back.
oh my goodness, that torte looks amazing! I thought I was over desserts for a little while, but I guess not! These all look wonderful!
Angela – your first cookbook changed my life. Not to be overdramatic, but seriously, it did! I have been a vegan for several years now but I feel like I didn’t really hit my groove with cooking and eating well until I received your cookbook as a gift and started making recipes from it. I can’t wait for round 2! Wishing you and your family all the best for this year – it will be a busy but exciting one for sure!
xx Kathryn
http://www.throughthethicket.ca
Thank you so much Kathryn! So glad I could be a part of your journey :) All my best in 2015!
I have read your blog for several years, and so many of your recipes have turned into my favorites. So of course I pre-ordered your cookbook when it came out! There have been a couple good ones, (even my nut hating husband really liked the walnut lentil loaf! :-) ) but actually I was a little disappointed as a whole. It seems like a lot of the recipes take a very long time to prepare, and for my personal preference there are way too many mushroom recipes. (Maybe I’m alone on that one though!) For cookbook number two it might be really nice if you had a section of quick & easy or something along those lines. I know cooking whole foods does take a little longer, but some of these just seemed too daunting to even attempt. But I am very excited to see what’s in cookbook number two!!
And, I would love to be a part of your behind the scenes practice test team!
I am beyond excited to hear that you’re creating another cookbook! Congrats! Your cookbook has become my go-to and an absolute staple in my kitchen. If I’m bringing a dish to an event, it most likely came from your book or your website (I actually got on here today to find a dessert recipe for a girl’s night I’m having haha). My friends can almost expect me to say at some point during the night, “Oh it came from Oh She Glows” or more frequently, “Oh, it’s from my FAVORITE blogger!” As for being a recipe taster, I’m in! If I could professionally taste-test recipes/food all day, I would be a happy camper.
I can also attest to the popularity of your Green Warrior Protein Smoothie. I make it, or a version of it if I don’t have the ingredients, on a daily basis. When I have bell peppers and dandelion on hand, I like to throw those in to mix it up a bit!
I cook with your cookbook more than any other and though I’ve tried probably half of the recipes, there has not been even one we didn’t absolutely LOVE. HOORAY HOORAY!
Congratulations! That’s great news! I have been loving trying the recipes in your first book, and they really have turned out so well that I can tell you tested them to perfection. I can’t wait to see what recipes you’ll come up with for book 2! Also, thanks for posting healthy recipes to start out the year…I definitely overdid it on the sweets this holiday!
OMG!!! Another book, sooooooooo excited. I have dirtied up the first one (real nice) as it is my go to in my kitchen. I feel like I should have another copy just to look pretty. Congrats on 2014 Angela, you have inspired and help me transition to a plant based diet. Your blog was the first I came upon when my journey started in 2013, then the book, whoa! Anyone who says plant based/vegan is too restricted has not seen your blog/book. Thank you, thank you and thank you.
This is so excited and I wish you the best on your new adventure! I would love to help test your new recipes so I will keep a look out for that post. Can’t wait to try that caesar salad – all of these recipes sound so good!
Brilliant. I would love to be a recipe guinea pig for the new cookbook!! Thank you for all that you do.
i need to try those kale chips!
Happy new year! I’m thrilled that you will be doing another cookbook. Your blog and book are an inspiration and the best! I’d love to be a recipe tester!
Oh my gosh, I soooo want to be a recipe tester; I’ll be keeping an eye out for info. Congrats on your second book!
And I want to make all of these recipes now.
YAY – I’m SO happy to hear you’re creating another cookbook Angela! I pre-ordered your first ages before it came out and could barely wait to get it into my hands. I’ve made so many of the recipes with rave reviews from friends, family, and colleagues. Your cookbook was one of my favourites from 2014.
I also made many of the recipes on your “best of 2014” list…and I can totally believe that kale chips took the top spot – even the veggie skeptics in my family can’t get enough of them ;)
Hi Angela
You did much more than survive 2014. A new cookbook. A new home. A new baby. A new business, I am in awe. That’s a lot! Kudos to you and to Eric. I think next up for me will be a soup and a salad. 10 Spice Soup and Vegan Caesar. Congratulations on everything.
Just to be totally off-topic, I finally made your Vegan Nog tonight and am SO HAPPY about it! I am not a dedicated vegan (“just plain” vegetarian), but after reading the ingredients in my beloved egg nog, I just couldn’t do it to myself–forget cholesterol, I knew that was in there–but high-fructose corn syrup, carageenan, and I don’t know what-all else. Sugar and chemicals. I knew I had to try this one. I had to look up how much bananas and avocados normally weigh, so that I could make a 1/3 recipe, since you said it doesn’t save well and my husband actually doesn’t like egg nog, so I was on my own. It worked just fine and made one 12- or 14-oz. smoothie … and after New Years’, I finally got my nog! Thanks Angela!