Glorious day it is! It's raining (pouring, actually) here in the Vancouver area, but it is still wonderful. I finished up my work of the photo shoot the weekend, and you know, you are lovely people!
Even though I wasn't blogging last week, and didn't even get to reply to any of your comments, I was energized by the kind and enthusiastic comments you folks leave here on my posts, when you e-mail, and through your reviews on amazon. Really, you are lovely to share such good words, and I am grateful for that.
I'll move on now from the love fest!
How many of you know these darlings pictured? Come on, 'fess up, I know you do! Of course, they are my Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies from Vive.
I made them for snacking during the ED&BV cover photo shoot on Saturday. We had lots of other food there, but some of it was "off-limits" because we were using the dishes to take a couple of food photo shots after the cover shoot was complete.
It was a LOT of work, and much to prepare and organize the weeks beforehand. On Sunday, I seriously felt like I had been on a bender the night before, and I didn't even have a drink during the shoot! But, what a superb time we had! We had a little 'party' of people for the cover shot, including my hubby, my sister (I have one sis that lives in BC), one of my dearest friends that sometimes comments here (Vicki) and her husband, and also my naturopath (whose food introduction schedule became part of the feeding infants/toddler section in Vive).
We first did the cover shoot, which took about 2 1/2 hours. The photographer arrived at 11:30 am to get set up (lights/equipment/setting the scene), and then we started taking photos at around 1:30. So much preparation and detail goes into an event like this, it is difficult to even describe. I can only imagine the hours of work and levels of detail that must go into larger projects like a Food Network cooking show.
Anyhow, after we did a few different scenes and lots of photos, we wrapped up the cover shoot and proceeded to take some photos of the food that I made. Once we finished with a dish, we let everyone dive in!! Unfortunately, some of the food was still in photo time when my friends were leaving, but I think they sampled enough goodies to keep them happy.
The cookies were one of the nibblers, and then for the photos, the photographer took a beautiful shot of this chocolate pie and cream. We also did a trio of hummus dips, which were my Peanut Sesame Hummus, Chipotle Lime Two-Bean Hummus, and White Bean Dip with Fresh Thyme and Basil (pictured here by Carrie). It was so much fun to watch everyone sample the three dips and notice how each person had a different 'favorite'. I love them all, and on any given day I cannot choose which I like best. But, for most of my friends/family, they could definitively say that one of these dips was a clear favorite. Very cool! We photographed one other recipe that I will keep a secret for now... a girl's gotta' have a few secrets, right?
All in all, what a spectacular day. I cannot wait to see the final pics from the cover shoot and food photos... and I still have another day or two of food photo pics to come! We are including 16 color photos in total in ED&BV, and some of these 16 photos may include more than one recipe from any given section. Lots of work when we finish these food photos, but also lots and lots of fun!
While you're waiting for Eat, Drink and Be Vegan, go make a batch of Homestyle Chocolate Chippers. Come on, I know you wanna.give in.
soooooo tender and yummy.
mmmmmm.
20 comments:
16 photos! Wow! I'm glad it went well and I'm very excited for the new book!
Yay Dreena! It sounds like a fun and successful photo shoot. And 16 color photos- what more could a college vegan girl ask for? It must be so exciting for you to have completed. I seriously don't know if I can wait any longer for this book to come out. I'm glad that amidst all the hard work and preparation you were able to enjoy the time with some guests and downright good vegan food. Thanks for always keeping us posted.
-Teresa
ps- I made your stork muffins from Vive last night and enjoyed one this morning for breakfast alongside some plain soy yougurt.
(oh and based on a few posts ago, you've gotten me to purchase some carob chips for the first time. I think I'll try them out with the crisi squares in Vive.) What would I do without your cookbooks and constant support via blogland?
Hi Dreena! This is my first time posting on your blog. I just got Vive a couple of months ago and am really enjoying all of your recipies. My family's transition to veganism has been so painless thanks to you. I had to post when I saw your chocolate chip cookies because these are our faves and I was trying to talk myself out of making a batch when I got on the computer tonight! Anyway, keep up the great work and thank you thank you for your wonderful efforts so far. You have changed the way we eat. Really.
Sounds like you had a great time!
This will prepare you for the day when you have a show on Food Network...or some better network ;)
Ohhhh, how cool. I just made my first batch of those cookies on Sunday for me and my son! Except, I added some chopped walnuts and chopped candied ginger. Super yummy! One of your many recipes that I will make over and over again in the years to come.
I've got cheesecake to eat before I can make any cookies, but I do admit that recipe is the best vegan cookie recipe ever!
Love your Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies. They have actually become the only recipe I use; I have stopped looking for others.
I know you're glad the photo shoot is over. One more step. Surely you're very excited now and can see the light at the end of the tunnel (with a new cookbook there waiting for you--and the rest of us).
Hi Dreena - sounds like you've had a great time. I must confess those cookies are baked regularly in our house - they are fab! I'm so pleased that your book is progressing too! Does it feel like it's coming to an end - or do you just enter a new era, getting it "out there" with appearances etc?? Best of luck, as always! -- Maureen--
Oh, how exciting! I'm glad it went so well, and that you had such wonderful snacks to keep you going. :) The color photos are going to be great in the new book--I can't wait!
How fun!! You must be SO excited for the new book to come out! (Clearly you are not the only one- LOL!!)
Congrats on having the photo shoot done! I too am so looking forward to seeing the finished product. In the meantime, I am trying new recipes from TEV and Vive to add to my rotation of favorites.
Welcome back! You've been missed!!! Can't wait to see the pics!!!
HARMONIA
Of course we recognize those cookies. What a day you had!
That sounds like a fun day! I haven't made those cookies yet...I am scared to because I have heard they are so good! I am already becoming addicted to the fudgy brownies...I have made them 3 times now and I need to stop while I can still fit in my jeans!
I am very much looking forward to your new book, but in the mean time I still have plenty of recipes to try from Vive Le Vegan! And I still have to get Everyday Vegan too, but I will need to wait a while as my husband had banned me from buying any more books right now!!
I am really looking forward to ED&BV (although I still have lots of recipes to try from Vive and Everyday Vegan)! Unfortunately my pants don't like all the baking and icecream-making that's going on here, so please don't post pictures of those cookies, I just stopped thinking 'bout them... ;-) And thanks, Scottishvegan, now I'll keep thinking that I HAVE to try those brownies... :-P
Thanks you guys. The photo shoot was a hoot, and your excitement about this new book is almost as exuberant as mine!!
Teresa, I'm glad you like the Stork muffins, my sister 'saved me' with those after our second daughter was born! :)
mom2wilmo... that is so touching for me to read. Very much. Thank you for that note, it is meaningful to know that my recipes are really helping folks make changes. :)
Maureen, yes, it's definitely moving through phases, because once I finish the manuscript, it goes through editing, and then comes back to me to review the edits, and then we go through more final changes and style plans, and then later to print. Then, to promotion and 'getting the word out', and I do cooking events and such (which I usually love to do)!
Raising, you don't like chickpeas, right??? If so, well, yes, I think you'll find a couple of hummus/dips you'll like - not all chickpea based! :)
Ha, ScottishVegan, that's funny... hmmm, maybe buy a new pair of jeans instead of giving up the brownies. Kidding! You can always freeze these cookies too (they freeze quite well). Am I a cookie pusher, or what?! :)
The funniest part of this whole thing.. is that after reading your entry.. I actually might go make these cookies. I don't have a minute of free time until Saturday though.. so maybe that's what I will do after work. A relaxing Saturday evening of baking!
How exciting, Dreena! I can't wait to see it all. :o)
Here's how to make delicious chocolate covered strawberries. First of all ensure that the strawberries you are intending to use are dry, then allow them to be room temperature warm prior to making them. After the strawberries have been covered in chocolate, put them in your refrigerator to cool, but do not store them in the fridge. Consume within 1-2 days.
Those homestyle cookies are my FAVORITE...i make them all the time...unfortunatly I tend to eat the whole batch straight from the oven ! I love your cook books so much...they made the switch to being vegan very simple. Keep up the amazing job....and Im very excited for the new book to come out.
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