Minted Green Pea Bisque, Eggplant & Cucumber Salad and Cookbook + Yonanas Giveaway!

UPDATE: Contest now closed! Thanks so much, everyone!

 

Hey lovely, loyal, and amazing readers!

Today is a very special day for me. I am happy to announce that my book Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats is available now on Amazon. No more pre-sale; this is the real deal, guys.

So, first! Huzzah!!! I’m so excited to launch this book off, and even more excited for all of the support I’ve been getting lately: the emails, the tweets, the posts on facebook. I am incredibly grateful for it all. Thank you. So so so much.

I’m really pumped about it finally being available, and hope a few people find it helpful in expanding their idea of vegan and gluten-free cuisine. It includes a really great comprehensive set of recipes, with accompanying full page photos to each recipe. Chapters include: Basics, Main Courses, Sides & Appetizers, Soups & Salads, and Desserts & Beverages. There’s even nutritional info, plus a section up front laying down the basics of a gluten-free vegan diet.

the cover

and a peek inside (pardon the glare; the book has a really nice matte finish)

Second, I’m giving away 5 signed copies of GGFVE right here on this blog. Plus! one of the 5 lucky winners will also receive a Yonanas Ice Cream Treat Maker. Never heard of Yonanas? I first heard about it from Samantha who did a guest post about it on The Blissful Chef’s blog. And, I thought it looked like a fun gadget for gifting. Check it out.

I’m going to open it up to everyone who leaves a comment below, and then I’ll choose 5 winners next Friday. Be sure to leave a valid email address so I can get in touch if you win. The first lucky person chosen will win 2 prizes: a signed copy of my book, plus the Yonanas.

Third, I’m sharing two recipes from GGFVE:

The first one is not only one of my favorites, but a fave of many of my amazing cookbook testers as well. I decided to go with a soup, given the popularity of the soups listed on my blog; they all get so many hits! More than the desserts even. So, I figure you guys must like soup. A lot. Plus, this recipe has only a handful of ingredients and is pretty good for you; so eat up!

Minted Green Pea Bisque

  • 1 small sweet onion, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, divided
  • 3 cups (450 g) frozen or fresh green peas
  • 2 tablespoons (12 g) minced fresh mint leaves
  • 1 cup (235 ml) nondairy milk, plus more if needed
  • Fresh cracked black pepper to taste

Yield: 2 servings
In a small frying pan over medium-high heat, sauté the onion and garlic in the water until translucent. Season with 1⁄4 teaspoon of the salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the onions are caramelized, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
Bring a medium-size pot of water to a boil, and then add the peas and cook until tender, about 5 minutes if frozen or 2 to 3 minutes if fresh. Drain well and then rinse under cold water until the peas are cool to the touch.
Transfer the peas to a blender and add the sautéed onions and garlic, mint leaves, nondairy milk, and remaining 3⁄4 teaspoon salt. Blend for 5 minutes or until super smooth. Add more nondairy milk if the soup seems too thick for your taste.
Warm gently over medium heat, sprinkle with fresh cracked black pepper, and serve.

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The second recipe has been a favorite comfort dish of mine for a while now. I was inspired by the Korean cucumber Banchan I used to gobble up frequently as a kid and young adult. When developing this recipe, and I added a hefty twist of my own culinary voice into the mix to create this salad. The combination of the two makes an unexpectedly tasty dish!

Eggplant & Cucumber Salad (photo up top)

For Eggplant Mix:

  • 3 Japanese eggplants (about 1.3 pounds, or 600 g), peeled, halved, and cut into large bite-size pieces
  • 1⁄4 cup (25 g) chopped scallion
  • 1 tablespoon (10 g) minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon (4 g) minced fresh oregano
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
  • 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon (15 g) horseradish (freshly grated or jarred, not powdered)

For Cucumber Mix:

  • 1 large English (or thin-skinned) cucumber, diced
  • 2 tablespoons (8 g) chopped fresh oregano
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil 1 tablespoon (15 ml) agave nectar

Yield: 4 servings
To prepare the eggplant mix: Combine the eggplant, scallion, garlic, oregano, and olive oil in a medium-size saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until soft, about 8 minutes.
Add the water, salt, and horseradish and cover with a tight- fitting lid. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook about 10 minutes longer, stirring occasionally so that the eggplant doesn’t stick to the pan. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
To prepare the cucumber mix: In a large bowl, combine the diced cucumber, oregano, lemon juice and zest, salt, olive oil, and agave. Cover and let rest in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes, allowing the eggplant to come to room temperature as you wait.
Drain the excess liquid from the cucumber mix and toss with the eggplant. Serve at room temperature or chill before serving.

For the giveaway: just leave a comment below letting me know you’d like to be entered and I’ll pick 5 random winners Friday, May 11th. I’ll announce them in the following post. Again, the first winner chosen will get 2 prizes!

For another chance to win a signed copy of GGFVE, I’m hosting another giveaway on its facebook page until this Friday, May 4th.

:)

 
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178 comments

  2. Wow, looks like a wonderful book and scrumptious recipes! I can’t wait to try the bisque… been looking for a way to use peas. Greta giveaway too – I’d love to be entered.

  4. Congratulations! It must be so satisfying, after so much work, to finally see your book out there!
    Thank you for offering is a chance at winning a signed copy – I’d really love to have your book. Actually, I know I’ll buy it soon whether I win or not, as I want a copy for myself and another one to give to a friend.
    Thanks also for sharing the bisque and the salad recipes: they sound delicious – just like all of the recipes in the book, I’m sure. I can’t wait to try the raviolis pictured on the cover!

  6. Congrats!!
    I will certainly buy a copy of your book very soon (as soon as the budget will allow it).
    Please enter me for the contest!!

  7. Your blog and recipes have been an amazing resource for me over the last few years. I knew that eating delicious food was still possible following a vegan gf lifestyle after I started trying your recipes. I would love a copy of your new cookbook… I’ve been anxiously awaiting its release! Hope I can wait till next Friday ;)

  15. what an epic giveaway! congrats on your book being fully alive and out in the world!!!! I already pre-ordered my copy, but if I win your excellent contest, I will give the extra copy to my cousin who is vegan and GF. Plus, YONANAS!

  16. Hi Allyson!

    First of all, congrats on your book release! I bet you’re on top of the world!

    I’d like to win, if it’s all possible! Thank you!

    Daniela

  17. Your new book sounds and looks fab Christy! I have 5 sisters with families who would benefit. My youngest Sis Mame, is gluten-intolerant, and she’s married to a meat-eater, so she’s a bit lost. Thanks again for all you do and share! :)

  20. I would love a copy of your book! My boyfriend just went gluten free, so I’m trying to cook good things for him.

  22. Congrats on the release of your book! It looks like another book that I have to my growing library of vegan cookbooks.

  23. I’m just becoming vegan and gluten free and am looking for some ideas. The cookbook looks beautiful

  24. Yay! I’m so happy you posted these recipes; they were definitely among my favorites from testing and I’ve been itching especially to make the soup again but couldn’t remember exactly how. Congrats on the book coming out!

  25. I would love to be entered into the giveaway! The book seems amazing and so does the yonanas ice cream maker!

  26. I am so excited about your new book Allyson! Congratulations!!

    I have heard all about the Yonanas, but never tried it. I’d love to be included in the giveaway: )

  27. Oh I love that you have full page pictures of all your recipes (I must admit, I’m a bit of a visual-recipe-browser… so the cookbooks with more pictures see way more action!).

    I already have your book on preorder, but I thought the yonanas gadget sounded just awesome when I first heard about it, so I can’t pass up a chance to try and win one, so I’d like to enter. ^-^

    Congrats on your book (and getting it out early too!), it looks just beautiful.

  29. We would LOVE to be entered! My 2 year old and I have been vegan for a bit over a year now. We found out he has various food allergies and at the same time found out my mother had cancer. With all te research I did regarding both we have decided that being vegan is beat for us and our health. It was a blessing in disguise and we would so enjoy the book as well as the neat I’ve cream maker! Thanks for the opportunity !

  31. I can’t resist a big HURRAH!!!

    I’m thrilled about your book, testing for you was a dream. Plus that Yonanas thing looks incredible. I know some little ones who would get quite a kick out of that gadget.

  32. I would love to be entered! These recipes sound delicious and I’m sure I will love your new book. Thanks for the giveaway!

  33. Ms. Kramer,

    Congratulations on your book! It is always great to have more delicious recipes available out in the world for more people to try. I was so excited when I came across your facebook page because that led me to your blog! I adapted a vegan lifestyle in October of last year and a gluten-free lifestyle earlier this year- I have never felt so alive and healthy! I always enjoy the recipes you share :) Thank you for your generosity and dedication.

  34. I just discovered your blog, and now your cookbook! Very excited to check it all out and I would be thrilled to win a signed copy!

  36. Oh yes please enter me in the giveaway. I am finding a vegan diet is very good for me as a diabetic. that eggplant and cucumber salad is on the menu for this weekend – we have both ready to pick in the garden. Congratulations and thanks for the chance to enter.

  37. I just found your blog through MapleSpice. It looks so inviting. Congratulations on the book. I’d love to win a copy!

  42. I came across your blog recently and am very much enjoying reading it! Congrats on the release of your book! – Looks wonderful!

  45. Is it okay if I want two? And an awesome yonanas?
    I’ve been saving for one. it’s in my amazon cart, along with your book that is already sent. no kidding ;)

  47. Yaaaay soup!!! I’d like to be entered in the giveaway please! Congrats on the new book, it looks superb! :)

  48. I would love to be entered, as a vegan who’s just been diagnosed with coeliac, thank you! :)

  49. hmm pea soup, so simple so tasty love the mint in it , would love to win, your gorgeous book .