Two New Titles for 2013!

Vegan Heritage Press will publish two exciting, innovative titles in 2013 that will give vegans, raw foodists, vegetarians, and other health-conscious people new options for delightful plant-based cooking and eating.

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In February, best-selling author, chef, and cooking teacher, Robin Robertson’s Nut Butter Universe: Easy Vegan Recipes with Out-Of-This-World Flavors will help people everywhere “think outside the jar,” with secrets on how to make scrumptious recipes using flavorful nut and seed butters. It’s the only cookbook devoted to recipes with nut and seed butters, including peanut butter, almond butter, tahini, walnut butter, and cashew cream.

Enjoy recipes such as:

• Artichoke Walnut Butter Bisque
• Roasted Tahini Cauliflower
• Chestnut and Winter Vegetable Pot Pie
• Penne with Avocado Cashew Cream
• Pistachio Butter Biscotti
• Pecan Butter Waffles
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
• Apple-Almond Butter Crumble

Find out for yourself how nut butters can add richness and deliciousness to appetizers, soups, main dishes, desserts, and more. The book has instructions for making your own nut butters, helpful sidebars, and 24 full-color photos. Pre-Order on Amazon! ISBN: 978-0-9800131-7-7. Paperback. $18.95

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In April 2013, Practically Raw Desserts: Flexible Recipes for All-Natural Sweets and Treats will be available. This follow-up title to Chef Amber Shea Crawley’s 2012 Practically Raw, in which she applies her revolutionary “flexible” technique to an impressive array of raw cakes, cookies, brownies, pies, puddings, candies, pastries, and frozen treats.

It’s a “new take on cake,” as the classically trained Chef Amber Shea offers baking options and substitutions so anyone can make great raw desserts without specialized ingredients or equipment.

Recipes include:

• Confetti Birthday Cake
• Pecan Shortbread Cookies
• Baklava Blondies
• Tuxedo Cheesecake Brownies
• Deep-Dish Caramel Apple Pie
• Cashew Butter Cups
• Summer Fruit Pizza
• Dark Chocolate Sorbet

Great for people seeking to avoid allergens. Chef Amber Shea’s second title provides color photos, nutritional data, pantry guide, variations, substitutions, and helpful tips. Pre-Order on Amazon!  ISBN: 978-0-9800131-8-4. Paperback. $19.95

Free Preview and Recipe Samples

Want to get a free preview of Chef Amber Shea’s spring title, Practically Raw Desserts?

Just click here to find out about this great upcoming book. 

The Perfect Storm II?

Meteorologists are warning the East Coast about a possible repeat of the Halloween 1991 weather disaster called “The Perfect Storm.” The movie of the same name is one of my all-time favorites.

It’s likely that Hurricane Sandy will angle up the coast as a cold front moves in from the northwest, creating a situation where a hurricane collides with a Nor’easter.  I hope they’re wrong, but if they’re right, an entire row of states could see the worst flooding, wind, and rainfall in many years.  This, of course, means the loss of electrical power.

One doesn’t need an event this large to create a loss of power.  In Washington, D.C., if three or more people in Maryland sneeze westward, 200,000 Washingtonians may go without power for two weeks.  Happens all the time.

In the meantime, for vegans and non-vegans (because you can’t keep meat and dairy unrefrigerated), I recommend a book I wrote with Robin Robertson: Vegan Unplugged: A Pantry Cuisine Cookbook and Survival Guide.

The book shows how to make excellent, quick, nutritious meals without electrical power, right out of your pantry, in 15 minutes or less.  Lots of tips, sidebars, storm preparation info, pet advice,  and stories, too.

People who use Vegan Unplugged love it for everyday cooking, too.  It’s a book you’ll be glad to have in your home, so it’ll be there where you want it, and, more importantly, whenever you need it.

Mars Will Be Vegan!

An article in the August 14 Washington Post explains how scientists at the Johnson Space Center are developing meatless and dairy-free meals to feed astronauts on a two-year mission to Mars in 2030.

Lockheed Martin scientist Maya Cooper and NASA project manager Michele Perchonok are trying to solve a number of problems: Enough food for 24 months; light in weight; food that astronauts can prepare themselves (dehydrated food works for short-term but too much of it would be boring for two years--oh, yeah!)

The AP article states:

“…Cooper’s team of three has come up with about 100 recipes, all vegetarian because the astronauts will not have dairy or meat products available. It isn’t possible to preserve those products long enough to take to Mars–and bringing a cow on the mission is not an option…”

Hmm.  Maybe we should send a few copies of Vegan Unplugged to NASA to help with their menu-planning!  I think the Almost-Instant Black Bean Chili and Ginger-Walnut Rum Balls would be a big hit on Mars!

Cookbook Giveaway Winners!

 A huge thank you to everyone who entered the Vegan Heritage Press Cookbook Giveaway!  Three winners have been chosen at random.  They are:

• In2Insight -- you have won a copy of The Blooming Platter Cookbook 
• Kittee Berns -- you have won a copy of World Vegan Feast
• Katherine DeBello -- you have won a copy of Vegan Unplugged

 Congratulations to the winners!! 

Winners: please e-mail me with your mailing address and we'll get your book right out to you.  If we don't hear from you within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks again to everyone for your interest in the Vegan Heritage Press cookbooks.  Stay tuned to this blog for more exciting announcements, contests, and other news in the coming months!

VHP Cookbook Giveaway

Here at Vegan Heritage Press, we continue to work hard publishing quality cookbooks to promote a vegan lifestyle.  Recently, two of our bestselling titles, Practically Raw and Vegan Fire & Spice, became available for Kindle, and we’re also busy getting our exciting 2013 titles ready to publish. We are grateful for your support.

As a special "thank you", we’re hosting a special giveaway of our cookbooks.  If there is a particular VHP title that you have yet to add to your collection, now’s your chance to win it!  Just leave a comment at the end of the post telling me which of these six books you’d like to win:

World Vegan Feast

175 Homestyle Recipes from 38 Countries

BRYANNA CLARK GROGAN

Leading vegan cooking expert Bryanna Clark Grogan shares recipes from her 22 years of experience in international cuisines. The book includes authentic dishes from around the world that you won’t find in other vegan cookbooks. It features an international bread sampler, gluten-free and soy-free options, as well as helpful sidebars, tips, and menus.

The Blooming Platter Cookbook

A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes

BETSY DIJULIO

This book is a celebration of fresh, seasonal produce, and features a wide range of recipes from easy homestyle dishes to creative upscale fare including American favorites and global cuisines. These 175 recipes showcase the taste, beauty, and nutrition of seasonal ingredients. Also includes recipe variations, menu suggestions, season­al icons, and tips.

 

Vegan Unplugged

A Pantry Cuisine Cookbook and Survival Guide

JON ROBERTSON with recipes by ROBIN ROBERTSON

Your go-to source for gourmet pantry cooking, these easy recipes can all be made in fifteen minutes or less, often in the same pan. With an emergency guide for family and pets, this book is a must-have during power outages. Also ideal for camping, boating, or anytime you just don’t feel like cooking.

 

American Vegan Kitchen

Delicious Comfort Food from Blue Plate Specials to Homestyle Favorites

TAMASIN NOYES

This cookbook provides recipes to make vegan versions of favorite comfort food dishes found in diners, delis, and cafes across America. The 200+ recipes will satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike with deli sandwiches, burgers and fries, pastas, pizzas, omelets, pancakes, casseroles, desserts, and more.

Practically Raw

Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make

AMBER SHEA CRAWLEY

This innovative raw food recipe book offers cooked options for many of the recipes. Plus, all of the recipes can be made with or without specialized equipment. With creative, satisfying  recipes and full-color photos, the book will appeal to seasoned raw foodists, newbies, and anyone who wants delicious, flexible, high-nutrition food.

Vegan Fire & Spice

200 Sultry and Savory Global Recipes

ROBIN ROBERTSON

Organized by global region, these mouthwa­tering recipes from the spicy cuisines of the world range from mildly spiced to nearly incendiary. This book features 200 international recipes that use readily available ingredients. Enjoy spicy recipes from the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, and Asia.

 

We’ll be giving away a total of THREE cookbooks.  To increase your chances of winning, in addition to leaving your initial comment, you can do any or all of the following, and leave a separate comment here for each that you do:

1. “Like” Vegan Heritage Press on Facebook
2. Subscribe to this blog
3. Link to this giveaway on Twitter
4. Link to this giveaway on Facebook
5. Link to this giveaway on your blog

The giveaway closes Monday night 8/6 at midnight.  The winner will be announced on Tuesday 8/7. So, choose the Vegan Heritage Press cookbook you'd like to win, and good luck to one and all!

Vegan Fire & Spice now available for Kindle

Great news!  The first book published by Vegan Heritage Press, Vegan Fire & Spice by Robin Robertson is now available as a Kindle book.  You can find it on the Vegan Fire & Spice page as an option or find it directly in the Kindle Store.   

This perennial best-seller is popular because the spicy recipes take you all around the globe with authentic dishes and intelligent vegan adaptations.  The recipes are easy to make and the heat levels can be adjusted for those who prefer their foods mildly seasoned or for those who like it HOT! 

World Vegan Feast's Bryanna Clark Grogan

World Vegan Feast author Bryanna Clark Grogan is keeping extremely busy these days!  She is featured in the current issue of American Vegan magazine.  In addition to a great Q&A interview, there are also two sample recipes from her book, World Vegan Feast, published by Vegan Heritage Press.

On July 1st, Bryanna be participating in the Victoria Vegan Fest where she will teach a class on how to make her amazing homemade “vegan butter.” She will also discuss the perils of palm oil, the production of which typically destroys rainforests and endangers many animal communities, including orangutans.

If you don't own World Vegan Feast yet, it should definitely be put at the top of your wish list.  Bryanna is the consummate cooking teacher -- having this book in your kitchen is like having your own personal cooking instructor with delicious vegan recipes and tips in this book that you won't find anywhere else.  Here are just a few photos of recipes from World Vegan Feast:

Italian Pear Tart

  

Seitan Wellington

Triple-Ginger Cake with Espresso Frosting

Practically Raw Goes International...and Digital

Many thanks to all who have said so many great things about our latest title, Practically Raw: Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make.  This truly innovative book with its cooked options is proving to be a much needed resource for people looking to experiment with raw foods as well as those who already eat a raw foods diet.  Amber's delicious recipes, easy writing style, and clear directions make it east to go raw -- a little or a lot.

Great news!  The Book Depository now carries Practically Raw.  Now all you international buyers can get Practically Raw anywhere in the world -- and with free shipping.  Can't beat that!

In other good news, Practically Raw is also now available on Kindle and soon-to-be on other electronic formats as well. And of course, it's still available in paperback with all its lovely full color photos. So wherever you are and whether you like to read on paper or digitally, you can now enjoy Practically Raw anywhere and everywhere.

Here are a few more of the stunning photos of the equally stunning recipes from Practically Raw:

Fiesta Taco Rollups with Nacho Cheese Sauce, Taco Filling, Corn Tortilla Chips, salsa and guacamole

Kale-Tahini Salad

Spanish Garden Paella

Practically Raw: Some Favorites in Photos

Flaxjacks with Miso-Maple Butter

We all know the benefits of adding more raw whole foods to our diet, but it wasn't until I saw some of the wonderful recipes Amber Shea Crawley was creating, that I realized it could be easier -- and more delicious -- than I imagined.  That's why I published Amber's book, Practically Raw: Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make and because a picture is often worth a thousand words, I decided to share some of my favorite photos from the book.  If you'd like to dip your toe into the world of raw food, check out Practically Raw.  With cooked options for many of the recipes, it truly makes it easy and nearly effortless to enjoy more raw foods.

Parisian Street Crepes

Chia Porridge with Blueberries

Deconstructed Sushi Bowl

Mushroom-Nut Burger

Raspberry Lemon Mousse Tart

Warm Apple-Walnut Cobbler

Cocoa Corruption Smoothie

All photos from Practically Raw by Amber Shea Crawley (c) 2012. Published by Vegan Heritage Press.

Easy Pantry Cooking for Convenience and Emergencies

With natural disasters once again taking the headlines, I am compelled to write a post about Vegan Unplugged because it's the very reason why Robin and I wrote this book after our experience with Hurricane Isabel back in ’03 and we had to live without power for over a week.

The tornadoes swathing the Midwest, which they say will continue into May, are just a reminder that while only the most devastated areas will find their way onto the evening news, many people in the surrounding areas will live without electrical power for weeks.  This is where Vegan Unplugged comes in. It shows you how to make excellent, quick meals without electrical power, right out of your pantry.

People who use the book love it for everyday cooking, too.  This is why Vegan Unplugged is spreading by word-of-mouth. It’s a book you’ll be glad to have in your home, so it’ll be there where you want it, and, more importantly, it will also be there when you want it.

http://cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2012/04/14/nr-levs-disaster-preps.cnn.html

VHP Author Develops Vegan Butter without Palm Oil

Bryanna Clark Grogan's Vegan Butter on Vegan.com. Photo by Christina Hoheisel. 

Recently, Vegan Heritage Press author Bryanna Clark Grogan (World Vegan Feast) accepted the challenge to develop a butter alternative that uses no palm-oil

Why was this oil a problem? Sources for palm oil in Indonesia and other localities routinely burn forests, and experts say this displaces and kills the native orangutans, who are threatened with extinction by the practice.

Bryanna, a gifted food technician, solved the problem with an ingenious recipe you can find on Vegan.com. The photo is by talented photographer Christina Hoheisel.

Congratulations to Bryanna for creating this amazing recipes and kudos to Erik at Vegan.com for sharing it with the world.

Practically Raw Giveaway on Vegan.com

BREAKING NEWS:  Vegan.com is currently hosting a giveaway of five (count 'em: 5!) copies of VHP's newest title, Practically Raw by Amber Shea Crawley.  The contest closes on Monday, so don't delay.  Enter now.  Here's the link.

In other Practically Raw news, Amber has added a new page to her Almost Vegan blog that is dedicated to her new book.  Check it out here.

Practically Raw Featured in VegNews' 2012 10 Must-Buy Cookbooks

Chef Amber Shea's Practically Raw: Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make has been chosen as one of 2012's 10 Must-Buy Vegan Cookbooks by VegNews.

This revolutionary cookbook presents a new way to enjoy the benefits of delicious raw food by providing cooked options for many of the recipes. The creative and innovative recipes can also be made without the need for any specialized equipment through ingredient substitutions and helpful tips.  

The wait is almost over!  This groundbreaking cookbook will be out in the next few weeks, and can already be pre-ordered online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com.  You can help spread the word by asking your local bookstore to order Practically Raw from Baker & Taylor. 

For a peek at some of the recipe photos in the book, visit Amber's website: Almost Vegan.

When People Publish Content That's Not Theirs

This post was prompted by the discovery of a Kindle e-book that lifted its content from a popular vegan blog.  The offending book can be found here, and an astute reader will immediately see that not only did the plagiarist dupe the content from Susan Voisin's FatFreeVegan website, but also swiped Joel Fuhrman's title.  Here is the content of the review I posted on Amazon, which I assure you, I have the rights to publish here:

Very clearly, this compiler of stolen content needs to learn that lifting material off websites and putting her name on it is just as much stealing as pirating a DVD or swiping someone's credit card number.  There are stiff penalties for this as there is for any other kind of larceny.

However, I think this shines a light on an unfortunate trend that has been brought on by the availability of online publishing. Any online bookseller can now set itself up as a publisher--to publish: to make a body of content public.  However, retailers know not where they tread when they do this. 

A qualified publisher understands copyright law, and is careful to vett and enforce via contract an author's warranty of originality, or official documents granting permission for use.  An author worthy of the name knows how much work and sweat and tears it takes to create a book. For these reasons, I advise Amazon and other online entrepreneurs to find a way to police those who apply to be "published" by them, and ensure title the way an experienced publisher would.  In cases such as this blatant theft, the plagiarist may stand liable, but the "publisher"--the online retailer--even moreso. I believe this is only the tip of the iceberg.

UPDATE: It appears that Amazon has removed the offending title from their site thanks, no doubt, to the many comments that were posted about it.  

Practically Raw: The Smart Way to “Go Raw”

I first became exposed to the benefits of raw foods more than 12 years ago when I attended several raw potlucks that hosted guest speakers such as David Wolfe, Loren Lockman, and many others.  

I came away from those experiences realizing two things: 1) I wanted to include more raw foods in my already vegan diet, and 2) I would never go 100% raw because I liked cooked food too much.

Flash forward to present day. When I first read the book proposal for Practically Raw: Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make, I knew I wanted to publish it.  Amber’s smart new relaxed approach to raw foods that included some cooked meals really spoke to me.

Recently there have been indications that Practically Raw is truly a book whose time has come.  From this article on One Green Planet to this VegNews interview, it’s clear that a more relaxed approach to a raw foods diet is making sense to others as well.

If you like the idea of adding more raw foods to your diet, but want to keep eating a sensible amount of cooked foods as well, then Practically Raw by Amber Shea Crawley is for you.  The book’s official publication date is March 15 but it's available for pre-order now on Amazon.

With recipes like Almond Butter Sesame Noodles and Vegetable Korma Masala, even a Cooked Foodist like myself can enjoy being Practically Raw.

News from Vegan Heritage Press

The new year is shaping up to be a busy one for Vegan Heritage Press and its authors.

Tamasin Noyes, author of American Vegan Kitchen is hosting a giveaway on her Vegan Appetite blog to win a copy of Bryanna Clark Grogan's new book World Vegan Feast. Enter now to win a copy of this fabulous book. Tami will also be featuring World Vegan Feast in an upcoming Vine and Dine segment on her blog.

Betsy DiJulio, author of The Blooming Platter Cookbook has some exciting news too:  her gorgeous Great Dane, Huff, is a finalist in a Super Bowl commercial.  Read all about it here.  Watch the commercial and vote for Huff!

Amber Shea (Ford) Crawley, the newest member of the Vegan Heritage Press family, now has an Author Page on Amazon, where her upcoming book, Practically Raw, is available for pre-order.  Read more about Amber and Practically Raw on the Vegan Heritage Press website.

Coming Soon: Practically Raw

I am happy to announce the newest title to be published by Vegan Heritage Press.  Practically Raw: Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make by Amber Shea Crawley is scheduled for release in early March of this year.   

Practically Raw delivers a revolutionary flexible approach to raw cooking by providing cooked options for many of the recipes. What’s more, each raw vegan recipe includes options for adapting it to your own taste, budget, and ingredient availability. This book is ideal for beginners as well as seasoned raw foodists, and filled with creative, satisfying, and delicious recipes that include: Almond Butter Sesame Noodles, Vegetable Korma Masala, Fiesta Taco Roll-Ups, Primavera Pesto Pizza, Maple-Pecan Kale Chips, Cherry Mash Smoothie, Parisian Street Crepes, and Warm Apple-Walnut Cobbler.

This flexible approach allows you to enjoy raw food at your own pace, even without special equipment or hard-to-find ingredients. Filled with full-color photos, this innovative book provides a pantry guide, menus, money-saving and make-ahead tips, nutrition information, as well as recipe variations and ingredient substitutions. If you’re looking for maximum nutrition and want flexible recipes for vibrant, sexy food, then you’ll love Practically Raw.

Chef Amber Shea Crawley specializes in healthful vegan and raw food. She was classically trained in the art of gourmet living cuisine at the world-renowned Matthew Kenney Academy, graduating in 2010 as a certified raw and vegan chef. In 2011, she earned her Nutrition Educator certification at the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute. Chef Amber blogs at AlmostVeganChef.com.

Practically Raw is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.  For more information on this book and the other Vegan Heritage Press titles, visit the VHP website.