Cookbook Reviews! And 2 books to pass on to you…Winners!
Monday, December 14, 2009 at 1:36PMMy sweet husband chose the two winners this evening while he was cooking dinner for us. The lucky winners are #18--Heather, and #39--Erin.
I'll be sending Vegan Yum Yum to Heather and 500 Best Sauces to Erin this week. Thanks to all of you for entering! Stay tuned for more fun giveaways!
I love cookbooks! I know, shocking, right?
I was recently given two cookbooks to review that I absolutely fell in love with. One of them is all about sauces. Sauces for any dish you could ever think of! I’ve always wanted a book just like this, because sometimes, all you need is a nice sauce to perfectly finish a particular dish. The other one is the best vegan cookbook I’ve seen so far. Seriously!
First up is 500 best sauces, salad dressings, marinades & more, by George Geary. Who is George Geary? He’s a cooking school instructor that teaches at over 200 schools every year. He’s also a food journalist and has authored six cookbooks.
This book isn’t just about sauces, it’s about:
- Tools & Equipment
- Common Ingredients
And includes chapters on:
- Salad Dressings
- Complete Salads and Accompaniments
- Mayo & Other Condiments
- Stocks and Brown Sauces
- White Sauces and Warm Butter Sauces
- Pasta Sauces
- Marinades, Barbecue Sauces and Rubs
- Savory and Fruit Salsas
- Butters and Cheese Spreads
- Sweet Sauces, Coulis and Dessert Fondues
I haven’t even scratched the surface with this book. But I sure have tons of pages earmarked! You may remember the Deep Dark Chocolate Truffle Sauce I served up with breadsticks. Fabulous and easy! I’ve also made a couple of salad dressing recipes in the book, including the Balsamic Vinaigrette. There are some mouthwatering photos--of course if I had my way there would be one for each recipe, but that would be 500 photos! I completely understand the need to keep costs down, and truthfully? The 500 recipes more than make up for it! I can’t wait to try more of these fantastic recipes, and it sure feels good knowing that when I need a recipe for any kind of sauce my heart desires--I only have to look in one book to find them all.
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Next up is Vegan Yum Yum. Of all the vegan cookbooks I’ve looked at and have on the shelf, this is my favorite and most used. Some of you may know Vegan yum Yum, the blog by Lauren Ulm. This is her book! We’ve tried so many recipes in it, and not one has disappointed. I’m not kidding! I’ve got at least 80% of the recipes marked to try, and many of them we’ve already had more than once. All of the recipes have at least one gorgeous photo, and each one has an introduction--I love that! It’s a beautiful book.
Lauren’s recipes don’t leave you feeling like you just ate vegan food--they’re full of flavor and so satisfying. They’d be a great way to introduce yourself or your family to cutting out meat a couple times a week. The book would also be a wonderful gift for your favorite vegan!
Chapters include:
- Introduction
- Breakfast and Brunch
- Main Dishes
- Appetizers
- Salads
- Side Dishes and Light Meals
- Soups
- Pasta
- Desserts
This book is seriously packed with recipes. And she has “under 30 minute” recipes clearly marked in the chapters, but so far, every single one we’ve tried has been quick and easy. To date, we’ve had the Breakfast Sandwiches, Italian Rice and Beans, Caesar Salad, the Picnic Sandwich (twice already!), Smoky Miso Tofu Sandwiches (also twice), Spicy Tomato Chickpea Soup (twice--it’s such a thick, hearty, comforting soup), Hurry Up Alfredo, and Lime Peanut Noodles with Seitan, Kale and Carrots. And we have tons more we can’t wait to try!
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And guess what? I’m giving away one copy of each to you guys! This one’s open to everyone, everywhere! I’ll choose two random winners on Friday, January 1st, 2010.
To enter:
1. Leave a comment here--easy, right?
2. You can tweet and earn unlimited entries, just be sure to leave a comment for each tweet, ok?
3. If you're on Facebook, feel free to post a link to this giveaway, and come back here to comment for your extra entry.
4. BE SURE to leave an email address where you can be reached, or I'll have to choose another winner. And trust me, I hate doing that--it's not fun.
That’s it! You have three ways to enter. And like I said, this giveaway is open to everyone, no matter where you live. Good luck!
Reader Comments (58)
Elle, If I win, I'll opt for the Sauces book...the Vegan book...meh! ;0
Both books sound fantastic. I've recently committed myself to learning a few sauces that I can prepare to liven up a dish. I also occasionally do a detox diet when I've indulged a bit much that, even though it isn't completely vegan, I find is a lot more interesting when I use some vegan recipes to supplement the recipes that are officially attached to the diet.
Oh, I'd love to win the book on sauces! That's one area where I really need to get brave and jump in with both feet ... a good sauce can make or break a dish!
Great give-away! We are omnivores but I have veggie and vegan books too/ to keep the week balanced!
And a book on sauces sounds brilliant!
Ohhhh sauces ! Love that!!!! I've always wanted to make my own dressings. And every Thursday night at my house is pasta night - I'd love to have something other than marinara sauce to put on!!!
I don't know why I'm so afraid of making sauces. Being afraid of vegans I understand because I can't imagine a world without bacon. Who knows, maybe either one of these books could change my mind!
Ooh Elle, #2 sounds dangerous. Just sayin :P
I loved your McDonalds fries + chocolate shake comment on my blog. Definitely made my day when I read it haha!
I'd love to try the Vegan Yum Yum!!!
Incredible cookbooks!
Ha! I'm doing a cookbook giveaway this week too. :D Vegan cooking isn't really my thing (not that I would mind having a vegan cookbook, just in case) but the sauce/marinade/etc one sounds priceless!
I've followed the Vegan Yum Yum site for some time, but have yet to purchase the cookbook -- I'm excited to try recipes from it, however! Thank you for this great opportunity :)
I have been wanting to pick up the Vegan Yum Yum book. It looks awesome and I am glad to hear you loved it. So of course I would love to win it!!
Both look like awesome cookbooks Elle!
That sauces book sounds like so much fun...I am always looking for a new one to try!
Thank you so much for the great review on my Sauce Book... Make the Vodka Sauce.. iits oh lala!
I worte the book becuase I was tired of the bottled dressings/pasta sauces etc.. and the other sauce books have 3 pages for one recipe.. I wanted it to be easy!
George Geary
Love the site,and what a great give-a-way!! In my family,cooking is always easy,but my grandson,brought his girlfriend over last Christmas,and she is a "Veggie",in major terms!! Not,butter beans,peas,etc,but fries(cooked only one way,baked),and other things so touchy!! These may help in the times ahead!!
Good Morning from *frosty* southern Manitoba! I would LOVE that fab. 'Vegan' cookbook...so many fab. recipes for a healthy lifestyle...many thanks! 'Merry Christmas', Valerie.
Hmmm... sauces. Hmm... veggies.... MMM SAUCES for my VEGGIES! Sign me up!
Both of these sound right up my alley - and you know I love Vegan Yum Yum, since you turned me on to it. I'm not even vegetarian - but we love to cook meatless several days a week, and it's nice to have options. I'm all over this! :-))
A sauce book like that sounds indispensable.
And here's a tweet for good measure! http://twitter.com/RJFlamingo/status/6697476736
I want! PLease and thank you. :)
And a RT for good measure. http://twitter.com/DragonsKitchen/status/6697728686
those cookbooks look like lots of fun. I am always trying to come up with sauces to switch it up.
What a fun giveaway!!! Gotta love cookbooks :)
nutmegnanny (at) hotmail (dot) com
What a FANTASTIC giveaway! I put "sauces cookbook" on my Christmas list this year, and this morning ran into Vegan Yum Yum's blog! I would be so happy to win this!! Thanks for the giveaway.
The books look great! I love your blog - just discovered it!
I would love to win the Vegan Yum Yum book. You have a great blog.
I just bought Vegan Yumyum for a friend for the holidays and would love my own copy. I may have snuck a peek or so :)
That vegan book looks awesome.
the vegan book. while not a vegan i am a vegetarian and am always looking for new/different recipes that would fall in that category.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I tweeted! @tifscatku
The George Geary book on sauces, etc. sounds great!
Both books sound really good! I trust your opinions! :)
oh yum! thanks for sharing! (fingers crossed for a win) :)
starryskies78@yahoo.com
I've been looking for a sauces book! Would love to win!
Thanks for sharing these books and the opportunity to win! They both look great!
terrianne83@yahoo.com
ooohhh, two areas i yearn for more ideas! this would be a great way to start the new year
posted to facebook
erin neu
tweeted
http://twitter.com/erunuevo/status/6915927298
Wow! So excited at the chance to win :)
very cool! I'd love to win :)
Ooo that Vegan cookbook looks fun! Great giveaway :)
Oh and I (re)tweeted about this :) http://twitter.com/FrenchieWBee/status/7165630864
.. and I re-tweeted it :)
How fun! Both of these books look amazing =D.
This two books sounds wonderful but the vegan one is the one I like hehehehehe.
Either book sounds great to me!
Just RT your post!