And so it begins.
The next round of cookbook editing is going down in my living room. This round is called the “first pass” and it marks the first time that I’ve done any editing on paper. It’s kinda nice to be off a computer screen for a bit, however spending half my life on a keyboard has not improved my penmanship one bit! Oh boy, I feel like I need to re-train my hand how to write…
It felt a bit like Christmas morning when this huge package arrived in the mail this week…for some reason, I felt so nervous to open it!
I love seeing the book in its actual size – a gorgeous 8×10” trim (I fought hard for this large trim size!) with 100 of my most-loved photographs and recipes.
Line by line, I’m going through the entire book with a fine tooth comb marking any last minute edits in red ink. Hopefully by page 300 I can still see straight! Maybe an IV of caffeine would help?
Thank you again for supporting me throughout this journey. I never thought I’d be here, that is for sure.
As many of you know, it’s also Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. Big work assignments love to fall around holidays, don’t they? I had high hopes of sharing a couple Thanksgiving recipes for you this week, but I’m afraid they are not quite ready to share. I did a trial of this stew yesterday and was hoping to finalize the recipe this morning after a second trial, but I haven’t nailed the gravy broth yet. The first trial was too bland and the second one, well, let’s just say I overcompensated a bit. I guess you know what I’ll be eating for the next week. It will just have to wait a bit longer. In the meantime, I’ve put together a round-up of some of my favourite Thanksgiving recipes from my archives and from some of my favourite blogs! As always, no turkey is required to enjoy one helluva good holiday meal.
To my fellow Canadians, I wish you all a lovely Thanksgiving!
Appetizers:
Spiced Red Lentil, Kale, and Tomato Soup
Roasted Yellow Beet Salad with Warm Maple Mustard Dressing from Post Punk Kitchen
Holiday Salad with Cranberry Apple Orange Vinaigrette
Main Course:
Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaf
Herb and “Cheese” Drop Biscuits
Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprout, and bread Stuffing with Apples via Gena Hamshaw on Food 52
Roasted Butternut Squash with Kale and Pecan Almond Parmesan
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts with Rosemary and Garlic
Cranberry Apricot and Pecan Wild Rice Pilaf
Quinoa and Red Lentil Cutlets from Fat Free Vegan
Itty Bitty Pumpkin Garlic Knots
Dessert:
Pumpkin Pie with Gluten-Free Pecan Crust
Appleberry Pie with Olive Oil Crust from Post Punk Kitchen
Pumpkin Gingerbread with Spiced Buttercream
Gift Ideas:
Homemade Pumpkin Butter From Scratch (or from a can)
Slow Cooker Naked Apple Butter
Smoothie
Creamy Butternut Date Smoothie for Two
Baked Doughnuts for Everyone Giveaway Winner!
Last but not least, the winner of the Baked Doughnuts for Everyone giveaway goes to #519 – Christine H. Her favourite doughnut flavour is “Double chocolate with sprinkles!”
Congrats Christine! I will shoot you an email to collect your info. Thanks again to Ashley for this generous giveaway. :)
For the record, growing up my favourite flavour of doughnut was always Maple Glazed or Sour Cream Glazed (from Tim Hortons, of course). I think I will have to recreate one some day…
I cant wait for your cookbook to come out.
I can’t wait to buy your cookbook! Many of your recipes make regular appearances in our house (the broccoli cheez soup is a weekly item!) and your soft ginger cookies and pumpkin gingerbread are always top sellers at our scout event bake sales. The sneak peaks of the pics here look lovely! Congratulations!
I’m so excited for you! I love turning to your recipes when I have vegan guests coming for dinner. Congrats friend.
I just want to thank you Angela for all of your hard work in producing such great recipes. In February my husband was diagnosed with sugar diabetes and I decided to make changes in the way we eat. We haven’t entirely gone vegan but I am finding that your recipes work very well for cutting back on sugar and additives. It is back to the basics for us. I love how you embrace all kinds of vegetables and we are slowly but surely getting there. When I would read in your blog about drinking a green smoothie and how much you loved it, I would think that is just nuts. And speaking of nuts we sure have embraced them. I have yet to sit and eat a whole spaghetti squash by myself but I have definitely enjoyed the green smoothie in the morning. We have a huge garden and I have been smoothing everything. Thanks again for all your hard work.
Hi Judy, Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I appreciate it so much.
My mouth is watering at the sight of the spiced buttercream atop the pumpkin gingerbread. I need to get this book NOW!
I am sitting over here dying over how beautiful the cookbook looks so far from the photos, and I cannot WAIT to get my hands on it once all is finished. You are such a huge inspiration to me as a new-ish food blogger and new-ish vegan… sometimes I start browsing your site and get lost in all of its amazing contents. Keep up the good work, and thank you for inspiring me always :) I will be forever grateful.
Xo,
Jordan
P.S. Happy Canadian New Year!
Congratulations on your book and hope you had a great Thanksgiving! These recipes look DE-LICIOUS, can’t wait to try them!
So so so excited about your cookbook! :D
I’ve been debating leaving a comment for so long! Just wanted to let you know how thankful I am for your incredible vegan inspiration. I decided to begin a vegan lifestyle 6 months after finding this website. Without you, I would still be on an unhealthy path, getting sicker each day. These recipes have been everything to me, I make at least one of your beautiful dishes each week, you’ve been SUCH an amazing inspiration to me! So, thank you thank you thank you!!
Hey Shannon!
Aw thank you so much for your sweet words!! I’m sorry for the delay in replying – our internet was down this weekend. I so appreciate you reading and taking the time to leave me a note! All my best.
Your book looks so beautiful. Congratuations. Can’t wait to get it.
I am a bit late saying this – but many, many congratulations :) It must be so exciting to be at this stage!
OMG the cookbook looks SO beautiful!!! I pre-orderd mine a few weeks ago and am already getting impatient, lol. Congrats! And thanks for the TG recipe recap as well — will definitely be pulling this out in a few weeks when American TG rolls around.
I CANNOT wait for your cookbook to come out!!!! I LOVE your website and have started making healthier meals for my family!! (Not without weird looks, “do we really have to eat this”s and grunts, haha) but we have really begun to appreciate the value of nutritional and delicious food!!! Thank you SOOOO much for all your hard work! :)
Aw thank you Rachel! That means a lot to me :)
I cannot wait until the book comes out!
Angela, I just wanted to write to let you know that I am SO excited for your cookbook, and very much appreciate this preview of how absolutely beautiful it will be! Sending lots of encouragement and detail-oriented-strength to get through the last few editing stages – all your hard work will pay off, and be enjoyed in a physical format for years to come by so many people!
Thank you, from a fan of your blog, recipes, writing, photography, mission, and spirit.
Wow, can’t wait for the cookbook. We’re getting ready for our 1st vegan Thanksgiving this year and will be preparing a few of these dishes; they sound delicious.
Hello!
I’ve been reading your blog for about seven months and have really enjoyed adding vegan recipes to my family’s diet thanks to you!
I went on Amazon to order you cookbook today and I have to say I like the Canadian cover better than the US cover. Is there anyway to order that one?
Thanks for sharing your amazing talent!
Hi Becky, Thank you for your support! You can ship the Canadian book from amazon.ca, so it’s totally up to you!
Fun new song by Brandeis philosophy student who’s vegan.
Thanksgiving Turkey Song – YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvIFDhZ3Ejw
Who are the turkeys in our lives?
I just pre-ordered your cook book! I am super excited. I cannot wait for it to be released! Your photographs of food are amazing and the recipes that you create look so tasty! Cannot wait to start cooking! :)
Thank you Christina, I appreciate it so much!
I am SO excited for your cookbook. I absolutely LOVE your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Have a wonderful holiday and mine will be super yummy thanks to you!!