300th Post and a Confession
A Louisiana Iris in Mississippi
Two-hundred and ninety-nine posts ago I started this blog on a whim. Today, it has come to be a valuable part of my life, and I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you who, through your comments and emails, make blogging so much fun!
I'm sorry that new posts have been so scarce lately, but I'm hoping that that's about to change. I've been busy cooking someone else's food and taking photos for that writer's next cookbook. I'm not a superstitious person, but I'm unwilling to risk jinxing what has been the best opportunity ever by giving you any more details. I'll let you know more as soon as I'm comfortable. Meanwhile, if there are any vegan cookbook writers who need a photographer for their books, I'm available!
And I think it's time I confessed to a hidden agenda. For months I've been planning on publishing my own cookbook, but something always manages to get in the way. So I'm hoping that putting it in writing here will make me buckle down and get to work. I've never written a book before and I have no idea of the time required to write it, design it, take the photos, and edit it, but I would like to have it printed and ready for purchase by Christmas. You can help me out by letting me know which of the recipes in the archives you think should be included and what kinds of recipes you'd like to see more of. I'll keep adding new recipes to the blog, but every now and then expect a "teaser" photo of a dish from the book. (I promise not to do that too often, though!) Maybe with your help (i.e. pressure) I can get the book finished on time.
Coming in the 301st post, this mystery dish:
posted by SusanV at 3:59 PM
60 Comments:
Hey Susan, as a possibility for your cookbook - one of the most helpful things I've seen in raw cookbooks is a symbol beside the recipe that indicates what appliances are needed to prep the food. So if a recipe calls for a pressure cooker or crock pot or something you could have that symbol next to the recipe. I also think a good index is a big deal. I frequently look for recipes by whatever major ingredient I have a hankering for (or an abundance of)!
Good luck with this endeavor. I'll buy one and if I can get it into the big box book store I work at it will be on the shelves and/or cookbook table!
Susan,
I have wanted you to create a cookbook for as long as I have enjoyed your blog! Your recipes are healthy, beautiful and inspiring. I am on my way towards a vegan lifestyle and I appreciate your blog so much. My love for cooking and food has blossomed in the past year. My boyfriend may be a bit skeptical sometimes when I try a new recipe but I just say "Don't worry- It's from the fat-free vegan blog!" and then he trusts me. The Quinoa Paella is our favorite. We frequently make a big vat and eat it for lunch all week.
So good luck, I know you can do it!
Katie
San Diego
I figured you were up to something sneaky, since all of your food is way too good to not publish! As for recommended recipes, how about all of them? :)
Yeyyy!! Congratulations!! Do you have a publisher yet?
I think nutritional info would be really awesome to have in a healthy cookbook. And how about WWCore recipes and WW points? Core desserts?
Good luck!
Yay! Susan I love your blog and I would so preorder your cookbook the second I could! I'm so excited now! I was really hoping you would write a cookbook. I strongly second nutritional info because that's so helpful. You definitely have to include your spinach and mushroom lasagna, peanut pasta sauce, and the chocolate raspberry cake you made for your daughter's birthday last year.
definatly the eggplant florintine pancakes.... those were to die for!!!!!!
katrina
Looking forward to it! I'd love ETL-friendly recipes, featuring lots of greens and beans and minimizing grains.
Susan,
I am not a vegan, nor do I eat fat free. Nonetheless, I read your blog regularly and have tried several recipes. I love the Asian/Indian inspird dishes.
Wow! I'm so excited for you!
Do you have a publisher? That is just fabulous... and that you are taking pics for someone elses cookbook. You have such amazing talent and I'm thrilled it is turning into a "job"! I can't wait to buy your book!
Yay!! Thank you Susan! I've been hoping you would write one ever since I became vegan a year ago! I would think you'd have enough recipes to include already-- I have made so many and loved nearly all of them!
Thank you for providing so many great recipes over the past year. I proved to my family not only that vegan cooking can be delicious, but fat-FREE cooking can be delicious. My mother stated once that she could never like anything without butter or oil, but was soon forced to retract the statment after I made several of your dishes.
Much love,
Molly, an 18 year old high school vegan :-D
Hi Susan,
I make more recipes from your website than my cookbooks so I would definitely buy your cookbook! My favorite recipes are the southern/louisiana ones, and the ones that use fresh vegetables and beans. Most vegan cookbooks nowadays, while very delicious, use a lot of oils and don't use that much in the way of locally grown fresh produce and beans. I am a member of a local CSA (community supported agriculture) and I get a box of fresh farm produce every week that I have to figure out how to cook. Your recipe for curried lentil soup with danelion greens is the only way I've found to enjoy dandelion greens! I also enjoy your black-eyed pea gumbo, real louisiana red beans and rice, and tofu jambalaya, thanks to my southern heritage. and anything that involves kale, collard greens spinach and other greens (escarole...); and beans. :) oh, and have you ever tried ramps?
thanks, barb from wisconsin (previously from louisiana)
Hi Susan,
As a vegan and as someone who has a great passion for cooking and photography, I have been truly inspired by your healthy vegan recipes as well as your photographs. That is such great news that you will be coming out with a cookbook!! I hope that the majority (if not all) of the recipes you have featured so far on this blog will be included in the book!! I always look forward to reading your blog, and I will continue to do so!!
Thanks for your inspiration!
- veggiegirl
Happy 300th post! Your recipes are all works of art, so I'm sure that your book will be a huge success. As for my favorites, definitely too many to list... are you going to make it a fat-free book? If not... chocolate raspberry cake, pepperoni, and those ribs. I just made the ribs this weekend (will post soon) and we could not stop raving over them. And of course, anything eggplant and chickpea. And no sugar desserts. And- and- and...
Yay!
I would definitely buy your cookbook (or have someone buy it for me for Christmas). Your recipes are all amazing, and I personally would love to see tons of Southern/Cajun recipes. I'm also going to third nutritional info.
I"m going to be the voice of dissent here. I find it upsetting when vegan chefs publish cookbooks. I think that the main reason most vegans are vegan is to help stop this mindless destruction of the planet we live on. Book publishing is one of the biggest destroyers of the environment to date. While a small percentage of publishers have agreed to cut down on the harmful practices associated with the industry - the majority don't. I haven't seen a single vegan cookbook that prints on 100% recycled paper with 100% non toxic inks. They all print on high quality gloss paper which is incredibly incredibly detrimental to the environment.
That's why people embrace the digital era. Because blogging helps cut out these harmful and unnecessary creations.
As a graphic designer I know how one longs to put ideas to print. Print is sexy. There's something satisfying about holding a printed product. I think however if people are vegan then it has required will power to make a change.
I personally think it's irresponsible..
I enjoy your blog and it has helped me to no end and on the plus side, it never gets sticky.
Indigo, those are great suggestions! I had planned to have a good index, but I hadn't thought of the symbols. Thanks!
Thanks, Katie! And tell your boyfriend I appreciate his support, too!
Oh, Judy, I don't think I can fit all of the recipes from the blog into the book, but it's sweet of you to say.
Anon, I plan to publish it myself, and nutritional info will definitely be part of the plan. But I think that Points and Core are registered trademarks, so I'm afraid I wouldn't be allowed to use them.
Thanks, Helena! I'll note those recipes.
Katrina, I'm so glad you enjoyed the eggplant pancakes.
Tracy, you got it!
Thanks, Anon and Melody!
Hi Molly! I wish I had been a vegan since high school. Good for you for introducing your family to fat-free, vegan cooking.
Barbara, I've never tried ramps, but I'll be on the lookout for them. Thanks for all the suggestions. Greens and Southern food will definitely be included.
Thanks, veggiegirl. It means a lot to hear that people want to see a lot of the recipes from the blog in the book. I would like to include some that haven't been posted here, so that people feel that they are getting value for their money. But on the other hand, I have a hard time not posting every recipe to the blog--I really like the free exchange of information, available to everyone. So it's going to be interesting to see how this turns out.
Bazu, it won't be a strictly fat-free book; like this blog, it will contain some recipes that have nut butter and, for special occasions like the birthday cake, a little oil. Glad you liked the ribs!
Thanks, Too Fond!
Fatchan, thanks for sharing your point of view. I will consider your objections and see if I can come up with any ways to make the book less harmful. At least, I don't expect it to be a large printing--and I will probably use a print on demand service so that excess books are not printed.
Happy 300th post!
some recipes i will love to see there:
Pineapple Coffee Cake
(so good)
Mini Crustless Tofu Quiches (yum)))
well i love all the recipes i made from you but this 2 was the more i use.
im very happy that you will make a book! i know that will be amazing.
Hi Susan,
I have been reading for a while but I have never posted before. I have a recommendation for a great on-demand online publisher: Lulu.com, with an office in North Carolina. Check them out. Also, as for suggestions for cookbook content, I would encourage you to use the most comprehensive nutrition info possible (i.e, more micro-nutrient info than is required on nutrition labels currently), and even Omega-3/Omega-6 values if possible. There is a free nutrition analyzer here: http://spaz.ca/cronometer/
You can get all of these values I am suggesting here, once you input your recipes. One final thought: I am very glad you are not going to make the cookbook fat free, because it has taken me several years to realize how important fats are in a healthy diet. I was actually found to have high cholesterol, which the doctors say is a result of too *few* fats, especially Omega 3s. Plus Omega 3s are crucial for kids' developing brains, and since a lot of your readers have families I think that inclusion of flax oil and flaxseed in some recipes would be a great adddition.
-Hilary
I will have to ask that you please make sure that you put in the pineapple coffee cake recipe. I love the recipe and no one believes me when I tell them it is vegan. As to any others, well they are all great. And I will be waiting for you to announce the cookbook is ready to either preorder or order.
Hi Susan
I just wanted to chime in (a little late!) to say congrats and I would buy your cookbook in the blink of an eye! I hope that it works out and that it is in bookstores soon!
Courtney
Susan,
I have NEVER posted any comment on a blog before however I was SO glad to read that you are going to publish a book that I decided to come out of hiding. I will definetly buy you book, I think your blog is the best on the food blog world. I have yet to find a blog equal to it. I always save your posts to read last so I can savor and enjoy them longer. Thank you for inspiring us all to eat healthy and please publish your book soon. Thank you so much! Tamar.
Congrats on writing a cookbook. I am eagerly anticipating the book from Clotilde of Chocolate and Zucchini, although it looks like I will miss her when she is in Chicago. I just came across this blog and love your recipes. My blog is mostly vegetarian, and I have a few vegan recipes at: http://treataweek.blogspot.com/search/label/Vegan
In the next few weeks I will be putting up an awesome vegan, bittersweet mocha silk pie I just made this weekend.
Hi Susan,
I think you should definitely include some of your recipes for homemade fake meats, like seitan, seitan pepperoni and ribz. These types of recipes seem harder to find in other cookbooks, and I think people want to make healthier and less expensive versions of packaged fake meats.
Good luck! Keep up the fabulous work.
Hannah
A cookbook.. whaaat! How exciting. The mystery dish looks good!
Oh yeah.. Happy Mother's Day!
I really love the polenta "lasagne". Definitely include that one.
You should make sure to clarify whether it should be covered in foil or not.
Also, for all recipes that include nutritional yeast (including that one), you should specify whether you're using flakes or granules, and include the conversion for using granules instead (I think you use 2x as many flakes as granules, but it's been a while).
Hi,
I'm from Sydney, Australia. I stumbled across this website a couple of months ago and had never even heard of fat-free vegan foods, but after looking through your yummy-looking recipes, I've decided I might give fat-free vegan cooking a go. I especially love the desserts and, though I've never tried any of your recipes as yet, it's given me invaluable tips on healthy cooking - healthy cooking to me used to mean bland and boring stuff, but I'm glad these recipes have proven me wrong! So I just want to encourage you to keep it up, I love your website and check it daily for new recipes to give me ideas, and I think you should publish your own recipe book because I'd definitely buy if it becomes available in Australia!
MM
Great news!
I'm so glad you're doing that.
And I think my favorite of the recipes I've tried on here is the Tofu Jambalaya.
Get a-crackin' and good luck!
Oh, and I second indigo warrior's index advice with a pound of the fist on a table. And I think it would be very difficult to put too many pictures in a cookbook, at least for my tastes.
:)
-Mary
Another from Australia here! I love your blog, I get some great ideas from it!
I ditto the nutritional values. I love having these on the recipes so I can try and work out if I can afford to make something on the spur of the moment for tea.
Good luck with the book! :D
Just another comment saying what exciting news this is. :) I don't buy many cookbooks anymore - my collection is bigger than my needs at this point - but I would definitely, definitely order this one as soon as it became available! Best of luck to you as you're putting it all together. I know it will be wonderful.
Jessica
(a mostly lurker on the planet eggplant & fatfree vegan email lists)
Congratulations on your 300th post and the good things coming your way. I remember when I first started reading your blog I suggested you write a cookbook and offered to test any recipes for you. My favorite recipes of yours are Mini Crustless Tofu Quiches, which I made again this weekend, Sante Fe Spaghetti Squash Casserole, Fettucini No-fredo, and Pineapple Coffe Cake.
congratulations! and I've always hoped you'd publish a cookbook. I know I've printed enough of your recipes to MAKE a book!
I love your chocolate beet cake, that MUST go in there, along with the story!
I'll preorder the second I can. :)
Kari
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your recipes (and life) with us!
The chai coconut cake HAS to go in the cookbook. There is a path worn between the computer and the kitchen due to that recipe. Either I break down and get a new printer or I buy your cookbook. Maybe I'll do both! ;) Good luck putting it together!
I was *hoping* a post like this was coming. Congrats! You certainly have enough material and, obviously, enough loyal fans. Good luck and please keep us posted on the process.
I'd buy your cookbook for sure! I really like lots of color photos (one per recipe ideally) as well as nutritional info for each recipe. As to actual recipes, your banana date muffins, kale and polenta lasagna, noodle-less zucchini lasagna, mini quiches, vegetable vindaloo, and collard greens and split pea soup should for sure be in there, for starters, that's what comes to mind. Good luck! You can do it!
Yay! I look to your blog for recipes more than I do to the over 30 cookbooks that I have. I hope this doesn't mean you are going to stop posting recipes on your blog though...that would be horrible. I really liked the tamale pie recipe, it has become a staple in our house. My boyfriend loves it, even though he is a committed meat eater. I also love the brown rice bake with eggplant and veggies.
Love most of the recipies, but my favorite is still the spinach artichoke pie, absolutely delish, and all my non vegan friends love it too, without the salt!! Which is a massive accomplishment.
I always assumed you were planning to write a book. It's seems so natural for someone with your talent. I'll be on the pre-order list, certainly.
Congrats on coming out of hiding ..even though you weren't hidden that well...haha!
I'm so glad you have decided to write a cookbook! I have often wondered why you haven't! Can't wait for it to come out! Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on the 300th post, and the photographing project for the cookbook. I love coming here for the recipes and to oggle at the pictures - the eggplant pancake is my favorite. It will be wonderful to see your cookbook :) all the best.
Susan,
Your tofu-spinach lasagna is to die for!
I, too, harbor secret desires to write a cookbook, so I wish you all possible success with yours. You can be an inspiration to the rest of us.
Yay a cookbook! This is so exciting. You are an amazing chef and I've loved your recipes. Some of my faves- kale and toor dal, farmers market quinoa, quinoa paella (well all quinoa recipes really), baba ganoush, the peanut sauce spaghetti...
If I every publish a book of any genre, you will hands down be my top choice for photographer.
Good Luck and Happy Mother's Day!
-Teresa
Ive never commented on yuor site, even though I check it every day! I wanted to say Thanks for all your postings and beautiful pictures and good luck on your cookbook. You go girl!
Cant wait! I'm veggie rather than vegan but you come up with some total winners which I just love! I'll be in the queue for a cookbook. I would love the nutritional info too.
I'd be thrilled to see a book of yours!
You have all the 'ingredients' for sure (ha!).
One recipe I'd definitely include is the White Bean Garlic Stew (is that the actual title?). . . I'm about to prepare it again for dinner tonight!
I love your cooking! I have two points:
The first being a comment about fatchan's environmental damage of bookprinting. I agree in part with what was said and I think that you might do well to investigate recycled paper, in part if not all, and soy inks. I do know that I cherish, make notes in, and shop with my cookbooks. this saves me from ever having to print any recipes from the web.
Second point, Vegan With A Vengance, as you know is great, but one thing in particular I appreciate is the lack of salads! Now if you have a great salad that is just too good to pass up or compliments other dishes really well, that is different. I think salads have been covered.
Good luck,
Elizabeth
Hi Susan! I think a recipe book is a great idea. I would even take a binder to sort out all of the pages I have printed from your blog in the last 6 months. I really enjoy the recipes and I make a minimum of 3 a week on my vegan detox diet. Please keep writing and sharing. Good luck with the book.
Congratulations, Susan! I love how your recipes keep me full but not heavy and that they don't concentrate on grains (I'm gf). At first, I was going to suggest labeling recipes gf, but the more I thought about it, I'm not sure it's really necessary since I can usually alternate a gf flour for all but the seitan or processed "meat" recipes. What I'd really like, however, is for you to list options - you know, like to add vegan parmesan/nutritional yeast if you like a cheesy taste, alternate vegetables to incorporate to keep the dishes more seasonal, etc. I can't think of a recipe of your's that I disliked, but I especially like the vegan cushaw pie and split pea soup with kale. I also appreciate it when you give alternate cooking directions - for example, when you give crockpot directions in addition to stovetop or pressure cooker directions. In general, I appreciate your recipes that are lower on the glycemic index, though I don't care if they are truly fat-free. It would be great if you set up space on your website for readers to discuss the recipes that you use in the book, or ask you questions.
Oh, and regarding the energy and environmental issues of book printing, perhaps you could offer an e-book version that would be paperless. I personally prefer to get my recipes online since I like to be able to electronically search by ingredient, but I sometimes borrow cookbooks from the library, and I do own a few. Since I really like your recipes, I would buy your book, but probably type up my favorites for easier searching.
Best of luck!
Congratulations on 300 post! :)
I made three recipes of yours. I've made them several different times and really love them.
* Mini Crustless Tofu Quiches
* Polenta Lasagne
* Kale and Toor Dal (but with red lentils)
I think your recipes come over so well and make me want to try more is because the ingredients are usually in my pantry or available at my supermarket. And yet they are fancy and exotic.
Thank you so much for all your hard work and helping further vegan eating options.
SusanV
Thank you so much for the dedication you have given to this blog and recipe site. I haven't commented on your blog before but absolutely love your blog and check it every day. Please include your White Bean Garlic Stew recipe as well as nutritional information in your cookbook. That, among other recipes that evade me right now, has become a staple in my house. I barely finish the leftovers before I'm making another pot of it. When available, I will pre-order a cookbook for each one of my family members. Your recipes make it easy for non-vegan eaters to be exposed to healthy vegan choices.
ReneeK
As everyone else has expressed, I too would love to see you write a vegan cookbook. You make vegan eating appealing to vegans, vegetarians, and, I'm sure, some carnivores out there! I wish you every success in your endeavor.
That’s so exciting about the cookbook! I have always wondered why you have not got a book out as all your food and photography is amazing! I will buy it for sure!
You know what? I think i've completely missed my anniversary blogging date! EKK a 300th post may be in store for me as well :)
Teddy
My absolute favorite of your recipes are Mexican Lasagna, Ethopian-Inspired Red Lentil Soup, Black Bean burgers, Coconut Basmati Rice, and Eggplant "Parmesan".
Actually, I don't think I've ever made a recipe of yours that I didn't like.
*oh, and don't forget that International Couscous Salad, which is delicious
I would buy a cookbook you produced in a second! It would make it easier than leafing through the million pages I have stuffed into a folder...
Dear Susan,
Congratulations with your fabulous blog. It's my favourite vegan website and makes vegan food look so good, even to all those meat-eaters around me. I wish they visited you more often.
I was searching for a laksa recipe today and couldn't find one. Maybe an idea for next weeks dinner?
Keep up the great job!
Marit
I would love to see a symbol to indicate gluten-free and dairy free.
I have recently discovered your blog, and have recommended it to everyone I know. I would LOVE it if you would publish a book - then I could get the book for everyone I know. Your food is inspiring, and my entire family is enjoying it! Thank you for all of your wonderful work
Hi, Susan,
This is maybe out of date, as I've just happened on this thread several months after the fact, but I want to add my voice to the yays. I really enjoy your blog and the recipes. One suggestion I have is that I love to see menu suggestions with the recipes - especially easy ones that don't require a recipe. Not being a natural cook, it helps to see suggestions about what to serve with something, especially if it doesn't require more hours in the kitchen following complex recipes! I know, it's probably hard for you to imagine someone who actually doesn't like to cook!
Hi Susan,
I stumbled onto this post way after the fact as well, but wanted to add my two cents to this remarkable set of great comments from so many of your readers.
Although I am relatively new to this blog, I haven't made a single recipe I didn't like, and within days of finding it, I wondered why you were not putting together your own cookbook. So it would be fabulous if you did. I like the alternate cooking suggestions you give, say, for stovetop, if you don't own a microwave or a pressure cooker, for instance. Those are helpful.
In reading the comments about paper and the environment, I have been reflecting on the fact that although I've cooked several of your recipes, and commented on some, I've done it entirely from the computer screen, and have enjoyed not printing anything out. I also enjoy the democracy of the blog, the feedback from others who have tried the recipes, and how willing you are to share such wonderful cooking and recipes and approach to food on the internet.
Although I am a writer myself, I rarely buy books, but instead get the public library to buy them whenever I can convince them of that, which is often. So I would either buy it or get them to, or both. I don't think there should be no more books printed in the world, but we do have to do something about the fact that the publishing industry, and the catalogue industry and phone book industry still largely source their paper pulp from old growth forests. . .I'm not suggesting I know what the answer should be, because if I ever finish my second book of poems, and a publisher takes it, I would be in the same boat (again). It is, however, something to think about, and I'm glad your readers and you are willing to grapple with it. We all need to.
Best of luck with your book--I hope you do it, and I hope you keep doing your beautiful and very democratic blog!! Your recipes are awesome--I just wowed friends with yet another set of things off your blog for dinner last night. Ethiopian-inspired red lentil stew, baba ganoush, and pineapple coffee cake!! They wanted to have me send them the link to these recipes. Thanks for making meal time beautiful, delicious, and healthy!!
i am writing a cookbook too~ crazy ride isn't it?
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