Sunday, September 30, 2007

My Taste of Health cooking demo!

Hiya guys! Well, I was a bit absent last week. Not only has it been very busy as a mom with the girls, but it's also been busy with the release of ED&BV and preparing for my Taste of Health demo yesterday.

I had a super time at my demo!! Some of you reading may have been there, and if so, I hope you had fun and enjoyed the munchies! :) I did meet a few of you in person, and that was truly a treat for me!! How special to actually put a face to a name... like Angie with her beautiful little girl. So, thank you all for coming out to my demo. Yay, I love cooking for you!!

Here's a picture from after my demo, and the Earthsave volunteers you see here in matching shirts... well, they were just marvelous - helpful, keen, and lovely people. Can I have you help in my own kitchen?! Evan, thank you for all the food prep and serving all those samples. It was tricky to pull off the 4 recipes in 45 minutes, but we did it!

So, as I mentioned I showed four new recipes from ED&BV at the demo. I started with my Acai Antioxidant Smoothie, followed by Tamari Roasted Chickpeas, then my Living Caesar Salad ('raw' foods dressing), and of course.... of COURSE a sweet! I finished with 5-Star Ice Cream Sandwiches, and did another version using my Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe from Vive. So, needless to say we had LOTS of samples floating out to the audience.

I had a number of people comment on how 'authentic' the Caesar Dressing tasted. One of the volunteers, Emma, kept saying "I'm just shocked... it tasted like Caesar... for the first time... and not like tofu"! That's EXACTLY what I was going for with this dressing. Hurray! And there's a story behind this dressing. I originally had a 'Classic Caesar Dressing' for the book, which was delicious but like many vegan caesars, it used silken tofu. Then, I came up with this 'raw' dressing, using raw nuts. I remember e-mailing my publisher as we were close to finishing edits with the book, saying "we really need to add this Caesar... can we?" They did, thankfully, and we decided to swap it out for the other Caesar so the recipes wouldn't get confused in the book. Later I'll give you info about the soy-based Caesar, along with some cool and exciting news, but it will be a couple of months before I tell you about it (and no, it's NOT another book)! And isn't this the prettiest picture? We did this outside at our photo shoot... I love this photo, though I tend to use more dressing on my own personal Caesar. As I've said many times, I'm a saucy girl!

One more thing about this Living Caesar Salad. The recipe gives two versions - one with nuts using cashews and pine nuts, and the other using seeds. I wanted to give you two options because of nut allergies. So, the second option uses sunflower and sesame seeds... and is just as delicious! You simply need to add a touch more agave nectar to the seed version because the seeds are not as naturally sweet. You'll see this in the recipe sidebar. Finally, this is another photo from my book, showing the salad with my Polenta Croutons. The polenta croutons obviously aren't 'raw', but they are delicious - and EASY to make! So, use what you want as an accompaniment to the salad - traditional croutons, my Polenta Croutons, or use raw or roasted pumpkin seeds. Any way it's delicious!

Now that I've raved about this Living Caesar recipe, I won't tease you much longer. I WILL post the recipe this week, once I have the electronic edited version.

I will also publish the Tamari Roasted Chickpeas, shown here in another photo from ED&BV. So, check back for those recipes... unless of course you already have ED&BV! Do you?... has it arrived yet?!!

I sampled a few foods at TOH, which were really yummy, but I didn't stick around too long. I was rather wiped after the entire week, so I headed home early knowing I still had a bit of a drive ahead of me. But, if I lived in Vancouver, I'd be back there today getting some nummies! Taste of Health is still happening today (Sunday), so go down to the Croation Cultural Centre if you want to check out new veg foods and samples!

20 comments:

Teresa said...

Wow Dreena, you sure have been busy! But the Taste of Health Cooking Demo sounds like it was a huge success. And I've been thinking about that 'live caesar' dressing since you first posted about it. You're always so thoughtful to provide different options based on people's allergies!

I hope you get some much deserved R&R soon!

About the book- I've contacted Amazon since they still have it listed as "not-released". They replied back to me saying that they rely on the publisher to know when it's released. So they haven't yet released it or gotten copies. Should I keep hounding them?

Anonymous said...

How luck am I?? Not only do I have a copy of the new book and I got to meet you, I also got to watch you cook and I got to eat your food. Everything was fantastic (as I would have expected). Thank you so much for yesterday. Meeting you was a total highlight for me. I came home and read your book half the night. I am so excited to start cooking. I made the chocolate/pb cookies last night. How great were those cookies? Thanks again Dreena. Now stay home on this rainy day and rest!!!

Angie

Michelle.S said...

mmmmm... everything looks delish. can't wait for the book.

Anonymous said...

Well I don't have the book yet even though I recieved an e-mail from amazon saying it would be released Oct 1. Then when I checked my order status it says delivery date is mid NOV!!! I can't wait that long.lol I am sure it will be here soon.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! Your books have changed me and family so much. My husband now refers to the Vive CC cookies as "are you making MY cookies"

Thanks Heather

laura k said...

I'm glad the Taste of Health demo went so well--it sounds like it was great fun!

Like Teresa, I remember when you first posted about the raw Caesar, and I've been excited about it ever since.

Take care, rest, and thank you for all the wonderful ways you inspire the vegan world! Oh yes, and I can't wait to hear your news--way to leave us with a cliffhanger!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

oh my goodness what a FANTASTIC variety of food that you made at the Taste of Health Cooking Demo event - you KNOW that I would have been there if I could have. I am sooo looking forward to cooking and baking all the delicious recipes from ED&BV.

By the way, did you receive my most recent email? I'm only asking because my email account has been a bit screwy lately, so I just want to make sure that you received it. I know you're insanely busy, so no rush!! :0)

Anonymous said...

Oh, how I wish I lived in Canada! :) It looks like you had loads of fun...I'm so glad.

I can't wait to try all of the recipes from your new book! I have no clue what I will start with first, although that Caesar salad looks divine.

I pre-ordered ED&BV and Amazon says it won't be shipped until November 5th :(

Kristen's Raw said...

Everything you made sounds delicious! And, as a Raw Vegan Chef, I can't wait to try the dressing! It sounds fantastic :)

Cheers!
Kristen Suzanne

urban vegan said...

Looks like a fab time was had by one and all....

Amazon says my EDABV will not ship until November. Boo-hoo. But seriously it is majorly something to look forward to.

Cngrats again, Dreena!

The Little Mama said...

My copy has shipped! Horray! Maybe it will get here in time for (Canadian) Thanksgiving....

Anonymous said...

I am not trying to be negative, but this blog has gotten to be too much. It used to be fun when it was about the food, the vegan ideas, the recipes. Now the constant stream of astonishing self-promotion is making it really hard to stomach. "My" this "me, me, me, me, me." It's gotten really really hard to take. Please return to the food.

Dreena said...

Thanks guys!
----

Teresa, I doubt that checking in with amazon will help much. I'll check in with my publisher to see if they know when the books arrive at amazon - not sure if they do, but I'll look into it - I'm curious myself.

Angie, I feel the lucky one - to have met you and so many other wonderful people in the audience that follow my blog and have used my books over the years. So rewarding for me, and it was a fun demo... hard to get me to stop when the time was up! Glad to hear you went straight for trying some cookies!! :)

Heather, I'm honored that my recipe has become such a staple for your family, that your hubby has taken 'ownership' of them... cookie happiness indeed!

Yay! Vegmomma, did you order from amazon.ca rather than .com... just curious, maybe the Cdn orders are getting out quicker.

Anonymous, you know, this book has JUST been released. My posts still feature food... I did show food pics here and mention I'd be posting recipes I did at TOH. But of course I'm going to talk about the book right now! It took three years to write, and frankly I worked my butt off to finish it. So, I'm happy. And darn proud. And relieved as a mom to have the work finished, because it is an all-consuming project to write a book. So, I won't apologize for that.

bazu said...

Wow, Dreena, how cool! I wish I could have been there. I pretty much think the raw Caesar salad might be reason enough to order the book. And, I'll get off my lazy bum right now and go to Amazon and do it!

Dr. Melissa West said...

Got my copy of ED&BV today! Dreena you have really outdone yourself this time. The chocolate pumpkin pie comes just in time for the Canadian Thanksgiving next weekend. And, I can't wait to try the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies! Kudos!

Anonymous said...

I got the new book today. It couldn't have come at a better time. When the mailman rang the doorbell with the book my 3 year old was crying b/c she didn't want to eat her lunch and wanted an apple and crackers and the 8 month old was being fussy as well. I can't wait to have some time to myself to flip through the book and get going on some recipes.
The cover, by the way, is gorgeous. The colours are so bright and lively.
The Veggie Vixen

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the amazing book! I am lucky enough to have my copy as well (I had quite the delivery service..wink,wink)!!! Can't wait to try the recipes - I just don't know where to start! You worked so hard on this book Dreena, don't listen to the negative people, or shall I say person, that wants to take away your pride and feelings of accomplishment. There are plenty of other blogs that 'anonymous' can visit if they aren't happy here. Don't change a thing, you are an amazing woman!!
Vicki
XO

Anonymous said...

Oh and by the way Dreena, you should be very proud of your accomplishments. A blog is about self promotion but I don't think this blog has changed in any way. There is still lots of food & recipes.
Kudos to all your good work and for how easy you make vegan living.
The Veggie Vixen

Anonymous said...

I was at Chapters in Coquitlam last night. The new book is there. Lots of copies, but I am sure not for long.

Angie

The Little Mama said...

I ordered from Chapers, and my copy just came! Hoo-ray!!!! The pictures are all fab (I checked those out first), and now I am going to leaf through all the recipes. Just in time for Thanksgiving! I'm so freaking excited!

Dreena said...

Thanks Bazu... and we need to let our bums be lazy sometimes!

Hiya Melissa! Yay you got it!! I agree, the choc pumpkin pie is a terrific Thanksgiving dessert - if I had thought about it in time for TOH I would have shown that with Thanksgiving around the corner, but it didn't occur to me when I was planning my 'menu'. Anyhow, I hope you have a blast trying out some recipes. :)

Hey Veggie Vixen - double yay!! you got your copy too. Isn't it just sublime when a little perk can break up a day of tantrums, crying, and other constant mommy needs?!! We need some pick-me-ups during the day - at least *some* days. And... thank you for your sentiments on that negative remark, I appreciate that.

Vicki, xoxoxo back to you. You are a dear, and I appreciate that as you know.

Awesome, Angie! Thanks for letting me know. :)

Vegmomma, looks like the chapters and maybe amazon.ca orders are getting out quicker than the US orders. Maybe just another few days for their orders to arrive - hopefully! Anyhow, I'm delighted you have your book and also that you are freaking excited... woohoo!!