It’s been a buuuuuuusy week around the Kramer household. I’ve been putting in some major overtime trying to get this cookbook wrapped up. Sleeping has been replaced with early morning recipe testing and late night writing, my refrigerator is jam-packed with WAY too much food for a family of three and a half to deal with, and there are regularly just enough dirty dishes in my sink to keep me from filling my coffee pot with water so I can function throughout the day. :\
But, despite the busyness, I am loving life right now. The weather outside has been a blissful 90 degrees (yeah, I’m a heat junkie), and my garden is in full bloom even though I haven’t been able to tend to it this year. I guess it wanted to grow so badly that it just took care of itself. Pretty rad! We have kale, scallions, chamomile, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, mint, oregano, sage, berries, roses, and even purslane! So, it’s really a great time to be cooking up a storm. Ah, yes… life is good.
And, you guys… I have good news! Well, great news! I’ve been sitting on this exciting announcement for a while until it became “official”. And now it is. I’m super happy to say that my cookbook is getting published by Fair Winds Press… one of my all time favorite publishers of beautiful reads! So with that, comes an emphatic thank you to all of you. There’s no way in heck I would have ever had this opportunity if it wasn’t for you glorious readers out there, subscribing to my culinary rants, making my recipes, and keeping me motivated. You guys are the best.
The book’ll be hitting shelves Spring of 2012, and the [tentative] title is Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats. Keep an eye out for it! Unless of course you’re a regular follower of my blog, in which case I’ll be sure to remind you. :)
My testers have been hard at work too! Check out what a few of them have been up to:
Tiffany’s (of Bread Without Butter) flickr photostream Check out her blog too!
And, last but not least, Tofu’s Mobile Me Gallery
They’ve been busy helping me out, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of all their hard work. ♥
With a schedule like I have these days, one thing that’s keeping me fueled up is salads. Yep… I’ve been thriving on simple, colorful, nutritious bowls of yum. They always include some of my garden bounty in ‘em, which makes me especially proud to be noshing them. They’re good for your mind and body, and they are super easy to prepare. Oh, and they require very little cleanup!
This recipe is one of my faves. It’s filling enough to count as a full meal, yet simple enough to whip up last minute before heading out the door for some summertime fun (if you happen to have some cooked brown rice on hand, which is a frequent occurrence in my refrigerator). Feel free to adjust all seasonings and ingredients to your taste! This is, after all, a salad… mix it up!
Fruity Spinach Salad
serves 4
Ingredients:
Salad Mix:
- 1 ripe peach, pit removed and diced
- 1 ripe tomato, diced
- 1 cup chopped fresh (and pitted) cherries
- 1 1/2 cups cold cooked brown rice
- 2 cups packed spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup loosely packed chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions (green onions)
- 1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
Dressing:
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar (or less if you’re using a really great brand)
- 1 tbsp agave or gf brown rice syrup
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
Directions:
Combine all ingredients for salad mix into a bowl and toss until well mixed.
Whisk all dressing ingredients together and pour over salad mix. Stir gently but thoroughly. Eat.
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Yay girl! Congrats!! And that salad looks divine!
big loves, Christy! <3
CONGRATS! Can’t wait to get it!
awesome! thank you!
I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOUR COOK BOOK! Thank you for all of your hard work!
Kayleigh, thank you for your awesome enthusiasm! <3
That is so exciting!! Congratulationsssss!
squeeeeeee!! Hugs, Becky!
Congrats girl! great news!!!!
Thank you Morgan! <3
That salad looks fantastic.
Huge congratulations on the official book deal. I can’t wait to see this baby in print. I will have some photographs of tester recipes up this week. xo
Thanks Lisa!! I’m looking forward to seeing your photos too! So glad you’re testing for me! <3
Wow, that’s really awesome news!! Congratulations! I can’t wait to see your book, I bet it will be so beautiful!
awe, thank you Amey! <3
you’re an amazing woman and i am so proud to be a recipe tester for your amazing upcoming cookbook ;) and i need to make this salad.
you’re not “kind of a bid deal”, you’re just a big deal ;)
you’re sweet, Caitlin! <3 <3
*big ;)
Congrats! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it!
yay! <3 thank you <3
Congratulations! I can’t wait to get my name on the waiting list to be one of the first to get one. If you go on a book tour, please come to KC! By the way, this spinach salad looks yumm!!
ooooh, Marly, I should come to KC!! You know I’d love to finally meet you. <3
That IS exciting news! Congratulations, Allyson! And thanks for the sweet mention. I’m loving the recipe testing. We’re certainly eating well at my house. :) Your book is going to be amazing!!
awe, thank YOU Tiffany! <3 So much.
Congrats on the cookbook. Your book sounds great. I’m getting into vegan cookbooks lately and a gluten free one will be a great addition.
yay! great to hear! thank you <3
In college I got in the habit of eating salads because they were easily transported and required no cooking. I felt so good and had so much energy but my salads never looked as good as yours!
Anne, I love how easily transportable salads are too… especially when I was in college! They are perfect little meals, ya know?
Fantastic news. I am so proud of you.
P.S. Where can I get a garden like that?
Laurel… thank you, dear! And, hey… don’t get too jealous of my “miracle” garden–it’s still full of weeds. But that’s half the fun, right? I’m literally foraging in my own garden! <3
Congrats on the cookbook! But spring of 2012?? We have to wait an entire year? That is just cruel!
Kiersten, that is such a sweet thing to say! I’m glad you’ll be full of anticipation about the book — I will be too! :)
Congrats, Alyson! I got to know Fair Winds a bit during my publishing days and think quite highly of them. Wish I could be a tester — pre-med life is alas too taxing.
As for this recipe, it looks amazing.
Gena, that is so awesome you had such a great experience with Fair Winds. I could tell from the very beginning that they were top notch folks to work with. I feel pretty darn lucky to have this opportunity. Thank you so much for your kind words and support… you’re a gem!
(and oh my goodness… with your schedule, I can’t believe the thought of testing would even cross your mind! Such a sweetie. <3)
Awesome news, Alyson! As well, this recipe looks great. Totally mix-and-match the fruit, greens and grain. I bet quinoa would work well, too. Yum!
Thank you! <3 And quinoa sounds awesome, Janet!
:) I’ll make sure to purchase a copy once it is released. My shelf totally needs some gluten free/vegan cookery books!!!
I just stumbled across your blog on foodgawker the other day and am finally getting around to making this yummy looking salad! I love that you have your own garden-that is definitely a dream of mine as well. Congrats on the new cookbook-that is so exciting!
OMG Congratulations!!!!! I cannot wait!!!!
Yuuuum, I am making this as soon as peach season hits! :) :)
I made this salad last night, and it was perfect! Thanks for the great recipe.