Happy New Year! A new beginning, and a year full of opportunities to show your family and friends just how delicious eating vegan can be! Unbelievably, there are still folks out there who still think that eating vegan is tantamount to some sort of deprivation, when in fact, eating vegan is truly a celebration of taste, texture, and color! To my burgeoning collection of fabulous vegan cookbooks that illustrate this point, I recently added Dynise Balcavage's new book, Celebrate Vegan, a spectacular collection of the most delicious, celebratory vegan recipes you'll find anywhere!
With 200 sumptuous, recipes for every occasion, Dynise invites readers to "use holidays—both our own and those of other cultures, as a conduit to affirming life and to savoring and sharing its pleasures." She writes, "Life, after all, should be a celebration. And vegan food certainly celebrates life in every sense of the word." I couldn't agree more!
Check out the Table of Contents, and you'll find some fascinating holidays represented! There are recipes for Diwali (the "festival of lights" in India), Barbados Independence Day, Eid al-Fitr (an Islamic feast that marks the end of a month-long period of fasting called Ramadan), Earth Day, and even Festivus! Some of the yummy recipes for the aforementioned holidays are respectively, Clementine-Sweet Potato Halwah, Farfalle with Shallots and Chard, "Conkies" (a mildly sweet cornmeal-based pudding), Muhammara (a lovely sweet and spicy dip), and Prismatic Wild Rice Salad. Of course, the book is filled with dishes for more familiar holidays and celebrations like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Passover, and St. Patrick's Day. But I can't tell you how much fun it was learning about international celebrations with names like Vesak and Timkat!
While I received this book just before the winter holidays, I wanted to sample a wide variety of dishes, so I didn't limit myself to recipes designated to Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year. One dish that was a part of our Christmas eve dinner, was EZ Tzimmes. While this sweet side dish is normally associated with the the Jewish New Year (celebrated in September), it paired fabulously with the Celebration Roast, stuffing, and gravy I served on Christmas eve. As Dynise points, out, there are as many recipes for tzimmes as there are cooks. But I love her citrusy-sweet medley of carrots, parsnips, sweet potato and fruit, which brought back some very warm family memories.
I like to include greens with our holiday dinners, because they are usually pretty heavily laden with starchy foods. Sicilian-Inspired Kale (for Columbus Day), is a brilliant fusion of garlic-infused olive oil, raisins, and pine nuts which cling lovingly to gently wilted kale. This tasty dish gave our dinner just the right balance.
It was really chilly here just before the holidays, and I had a hankering for soup. (Did I mention the recipes for tailgate parties, slumber parties, and snow days you'll find in Celebrate Vegan?) Dynise's Minimal Pastina with Spinach Soup sounded like just the ticket to warm my cold bones. (It gets awfully chilly inside our house when it's cold, wet, and gloomily grey outdoors.) This tasty soup made with itsy-bitsy pasta and a hint of lemon was a snap to prepare, and was satisfying, warming, and nourishing—just the kind of dish you'd enjoy, even when you're not feeling well!
Since I've talked to so many people lately who are feeling a bit under the weather, here is the recipe for Minimal Pastina with Spinach Soup from Celebrate Vegan reprinted with the kind permission of Dynise Balcavage ©2011.
Ingredients:
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup pastina (or any small pasta like orzo or ditalini)
1 cup spinach, shredded or cut (frozen is fine, too)
Nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper to taste
Splash of lemon juice (optional, but I highly recommend it!)
Directions:
In a large saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add pasta, lemon juice if desired, and spinach. Cook according to pasta package directions. Adjust seasonings, and serve. Yields 4 (very yummy!) servings.
When Kwanzaa rolled around, I was still craving soup, and the recipe for Tanzanian Curried Chickpea-Banana Soup sounded intriguing. Boy, were we ever in for a treat! Coconut, tomatoes, chickpeas, and bananas came together to create a happy dance of flavors right there in our bowls! I was so glad that I made a huge pot, because I ate this soup for lunch every day for a week, and with each new slurp, I fell ever more deeply in love with it!
Dynise's recipe for Thai-Centric Cheezy Mac takes a classic American comfort food dish and infuses it with my very favorite ethnic cuisine! Made with red bell pepper, carrots, So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer, and just the right amount of nooch, this is the cheesiest, creamiest, most delicately spiced mac 'n cheese ever to cross my lips. It's so good, I almost feel like licking the screen when I look at this photo:
As you can see from the book's beautiful cover, you'll also find lots of taste-tempting dessert recipes in Celebrate Vegan—from Mexican Wedding Cookies to Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Crust! You can bet I'll be delving into all of them!
Now, you can certainly wait for the next holiday to roll around to start celebrating vegan, but I say that everyday is the perfect day to celebrate eating compassionately and deliciously. So, get yourself a copy of Celebrate Vegan, and make every meal a festive occasion and every day a holiday!
Update: Congratulations to Ashley! She won a copy of Celebrate Vegan! Ashley, please send me an email with your postal address so I can send you your book! Thank you to everyone who made this giveaway such a great one! Stay tuned for more great giveaways in 2012!
Would you like to win a copy of Celebrate Vegan? All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me what your favorite holiday is.* (Please make sure I have your email address to contact you when you win!) If you'd like to earn additional entries, please do any or all of the following, and leave a comment for each item you complete:
1. Follow this blog by clicking the "follow" link in the upper left-hand corner of this page, subscribing via email, or through NetworkedBlogs.
2. Tweet the following message: Win a copy of @theurbanvegan's Celebrate Vegan via @Vegiegail and make everyday a holiday! http://bit.ly/tJBteh #vegan #cookbook #giveaway
3. Like The Urban Vegan on Facebook.
4. Follow @Vegiegail on Twitter!
5. Follow @theurbanvegan on Twitter!
3. Like The Urban Vegan on Facebook.
4. Follow @Vegiegail on Twitter!
5. Follow @theurbanvegan on Twitter!
Good luck!
*Sorry international friends. Giveaway is only open to readers with a valid US postal address.
118 comments:
Fave holiday: in our home, it's my son's bday!
mreid14 at hotmail dot com
I follow you!
I love Thanksgiving-- it's a holiday about being grateful, and you can't get better than that!
thanks
hmcnaron at gmail dotcom
Following the urban vegan on facebook now, My fb name is A marie hj saver.
hmcnaron at gmail
My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. I'm a sucker for fireworks.
I follow you on Twitter.
I follow @theurbanvegan on twitter now!
I tweeted the message!
Wow, all the recipes look DELICIOUS! Makin me hungry!! :-)
Returning to Veganism for 2012 :) I need this cookbook! Favorite holiday is 4th of July!
just look me up on facebook so I don't get spammed lol!
Amanda Clarice Torrez
I love Easter, because it is in Spring.
HilLesha@gmail.com
I like Urban Vegan on Facebook (Lesha Anderson).
Hillesha@gmail.com
I'm following via Networked Blogs (Lesha Anderson).
HilLesha@gmail.com
I'm following @Vegiegail on Twitter.
@HilLesha
I'm following @theurbanvegan on Twitter.
@HilLesha
I tweeted at https://twitter.com/#!/TalihinaNight/status/153939319411838976
i follow the urban vegan on facebook.
i also follow this blog via NetworkedBlogs. :)
Christmas Eve is my favorite, I think! It's all about celebrating and anticipation! :)
I follow you via email and liked you on Facebook.
This book looks incredible.
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving! Thank you for the giveaway!
I follow Urban Vegan on FB!
Thank you for the awesome post and for getting the word out about Dynise's great writing! My favorite holidays are the Solstices, and celebrations of Light from any tradition.
sallytinker AT gmail
I have subscribed to the Hungry Vegan and follow the Urban vegan on Facebook. I'm not yet a Tweeter. Happy 2012!
sallytinker AT gmail
I would love to have that book...sign me up.
my favorite hholiday is thanksgiving!
I follow your blog!
I like you on FB!
Count me in please! I like Thanksgiving the best.
-Britt T.
fieldofbread(at)aol(dot)com
This book sounds wonderful! And of course, you make all the recipes look so delicious! My favorite holiday is the harvest festival, Samhain!
I follow Hungry Vegan!
I follow Hungry Vegan (through Google Reader).. not sure if that one counts!
My favorite holiday has to be Christmas because it's when family's all get together, eat, have a good time & hangout. It's cold outside so everyone loves to stay inside, have a fire going & keep warm :)
I'm following The Urban Vegan on facebook by "liking" her page!
I'm following @vegiegail on twitter!
I'm following @theurbanvegan on twitter!
I just tweeted about this giveaway! @rebeccaablock
I follow your bloggity blog!!
I tweeted about this giveaway!!
https://twitter.com/#!/JennsAdventures/status/154028949704409088
I follow you on twitter!
I "like" The Urban Vegan on facebook!
I follow @theurbanvegan on twitter:)
This is one of my favorite cookbooks. I tried many of its recipes and they are as delicious as they are healthy. The great thing is that you don't have to feel guilty after eating these meals. It is a great cookbook to have. I gave a copy to all my friends for Christmas and they all loved it.
My favorite holiday is "Buy Nothing Day" :) All the other holidays- even spiritual ones- seem to all involve buyin more stuff!
I liked the Urban Vegan on facebook
dangchristine{at}hotmail{dot}com
My favorite holiday is MLK day!
My favorite is Christmas :)
leafynotbeefy (at) hotmail (dot) com
I follow you via email :)
I like The Urban Vegan on FB
Ooooh Favourite Holiday that's a tough one. I think maybe Thanksgiving. So much food!
Already subscribed to your blog by email :)
Made a twitter post - username Spookeriffic!
Following vegiegail on Twitter, username Spookeriffic :)
Christmas is my favorite holiday.
cereza25 at yahoo dot com
I follow you on Twitter.
cereza25 at yahoo dot com
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/GoddessFoodie/status/154221932177391619
cereza25 at yahoo dot com
Following @theurbanVegan on Twitter.
cereza25 at yahoo dot com
My favorite holiday is my anniversary with the love of my life!
marygouthro (at) Gmail (dot) com
I follow your blog!
marygouthro (at) gmail (dot) com
I tweeted!!
marygouthro (at) gmail (dot) com
I follow you on twitter!
marygouthro (at) gmail (dot) com
I follow @theurbanvegan on twitter!!
marygouthro (at) gmail (dot) com
I like the Urban Vegan on FAcebook!
I love Halloween - I'm a big fan of all things spooky, so I love spending the whole month watching horror flicks.
I already follow Hungry Vegan in my Google Reader. :)
I just tweeted the giveaway.
https://twitter.com/#!/wickedliz/status/154254374993002497
I already follow you on Twitter.
I also already follow The Urban Vegan on Twitter.
And I just liked The Urban Vegan on Facebook!
My favorite Holiday is the 4th of July. We always host a vegetarian BBQ. Inevitably, the non veg people who come are shocked at how good the food is!!
larkspurpurple (at) gmail.com
I follow via email
larkspurpurple (at) gmail.com
Tweet! https://twitter.com/#!/PurpleLarkspur/status/154267279843000320
larkspurpurple (at) gmail.com
I follow @theurbanvegan on Twitter. I am @purplelarkspur
larkspurpurple (at) gmail.com
My two favorite Holidays are Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July Thanks for the chance to win this book
I subscribe to your blog via e-mail
My favorite holiday is Samhain (Halloween for the non-pagans)
gaia (at) cinci (dot) rr (dot) com
I follow this blog
gaia (at) cinci (dot) rr (dot) com
i am following the urban vegan on FB
gaia (at) cinci (dot) rr (dot) com
Love, love, love all the recipes in this post! I have been wanting soup to find some tasty new soup recipes to warm up with, so thank you for sharing the one for pastina and spinach! My favorite holiday is Hanukkah. There's something very lovely about lighting the candles. I'm sure I would love Diwali, too!
I follow Hungry Vegan! And Happy New Year!
Christmas and birthdays. I love that kind of celebrating. And I would love a copy of this book! Thank you for the great giveaway!
I follow this blog. (natch!)
That mac and cheese looks really really good! Thanks for posting the soup recipe. I woke up with a cold this morning and I actually have all the ingredients for the soup. :) Go figure!
My favorite holiday - Christmas. I love the reminder to celebrate Christ's life. My love language is gifts so I have a lot of fun giving and receiving. Plus the food is wonderful! Such a great time of year. :)
I liked Urban Vegan on Facebook.
I follow your blog via Opera's in-browser RSS feed. I can take a screen shot to prove it if necessary! :)
Following your blog!
Tweeted!https://twitter.com/#!/billiejeanie327/status/154394701213089796
Following The Urban Vegan on FB!
Follow VegieGail on twitter! @billiejeanie327
Following the urban vegan on twitter too!
Favorite holiday is either Halloween or 4th of July.
1. I follow your blog!
2. I tweeted! @martielou
3. I like "urban vegan" on FB!
4. I follow veggiegail on twitter!
5. follow urbanvegan on twitter!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Favorite holiday is Halloween
Following Urban Vegan on Fb--and planning to make all the recipes in her book this year!
Following the blog!
Following Urban Vegan on Twitter!
And following you!
It's a nearly a tie between Thanksgiving & Christmas, but Chirstmas it is. I love the warmth & cheer of the season!
I like Urban Vegan on Facebook
I follow Urban Vegan pn Twitter.
I follow vegiegail on twitter
I susbcribe to Hungry Vegan by email
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/vegenista/status/154612070883667968
You are a life saver! I had a ton of extra spinach and no clue what to do with it. This simple yet comforting soup will fit the bill beautifully. :)
i think its my birthday..i get to pick a vegan friendly restaurant for dinner, even though my friends are not vegetarian..everyone goes and has a good time.
My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas, so now I have a long time to wait for the next one! Thanks for the giveaway :)
ammauceri@gmail.com
I like the Urban Vegan on FB
I follow urbanvegan too!
St. Patricks day!
My favorite holiday is the 4th of July!
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I follow on GFC.
mittens0831 at aol dot com
https://twitter.com/#!/CarolAnnM/status/166281299894607872
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I like the Urban Vegan on Facebook - Carol Mintz
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I Follow @Vegiegail on Twitter - CarolAnnM
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I Follow @theurbanvegan on Twitter - CarolAnnM
mittens0831 at aol dot com
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