In addition to my chronological blogging backlog, I also have a whole pile of books here that I was sent to review over the last couple months. It’s time to get started on those!
We’ll begin with the latest book from one of my favorite bloggers, Hannah Kaminsky of Bittersweet. The über-talented Hannah – she of the infamous Mocha Devastation Cake – recently came out with another tome of sweet treats, entitled Vegan Desserts: Sumptuous Sweets for Every Season
This isn’t your average vegan baking book. Every single recipe in here has some sort of creative twist on it, from Persimmon Blondies to Chocolate Chestnut Torte to Watermelon Bombe ice cream cake, plus you get to drool over Hannah’s gorgeous photography throughout the book. As busy as I’ve been the past few months with my own recipes, I did make this treat for Matt a few weeks ago: the Black Bleeding Hearts on page 171.
Even though I didn’t have the right heart-shaped pans for them, these dense, thirst-inducingly-chocolaty little spooncakes were devilishly dark and delicious; Matt and I both gobbled them up. I can’t recommend Hannah’s new book
Next up is the first offering from my friend Christy Morgan of The Blissful Chef (read about some of our hanging-outage here and here). Christy is a vegan and macrobiotic chef extraordinaire, and also one of the organizers of the Texas State Veggie Fair, at which I’m doing a raw food demo in just two and a half weeks! Her new book, Blissful Bites: Vegan Meals That Nourish Mind, Body, and Planet
Christy’s book is a one-of-a-kind treasure. The design is soothing and pleasing to the eye, the recipes are unique and outrageously delicious, and the photography is utterly mouthwatering. There’s something for everyone in this excellent book, from garam-masala-spiked Taste of India Artichoke Dip (page 59)…
…to luscious Peanut Butter-Like Mousse or Heavenly Raw Chocolate Mousse (both page 220), or this combination of the two that I whipped up! Christy’s book
Lastly, I received Ellen Jaffe Jones’ Eat Vegan on $4 a Day: A Game Plan for the Budget Conscious Cook
GIVEAWAY TIME! Want to win your own copy of Eat Vegan on $4 a Day
1) Comment below with your answer to this question:
What’s your favorite money-saving tip when it comes to food shopping?
2) “Like” Almost Vegan on Facebook AND Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on Facebook and comment below confirming you did so.
3) Follow Almost Vegan on Twitter AND Ellen Jaffe Jones on Twitter and comment below confirming you did so.
4) Tweet the following message:
I entered to win a copy of @VegCoach ‘s Eat Vegan on $4 a Day from @AlmostVeganChef ! #Giveaway here: http://wp.me/pYLdq-Ti
and comment below confirming you did so.
This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada only. I’ll announce a randomly-chosen winner at the end of next week. Good luck, and happy weekend!
THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!
3 years ago…
Vegan restaurant meals
2 years ago…
Almost Vegan in London
Almost Vegan in Paris
1 year ago…
“Hello Dolly” bars (raw)
Almost Vegan goes Almost Raw!
Plan your meals so you know what to buy and only buy what’s on your grocery list.
Already like Almost Vegan on Facebook and just liked Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on Facebook!
Thanks for the giveaway! I’m with Karen – when I’m on my game, I do some meal-planning ahead of time and strategize about which ingredients I need more of for multiple recipes.
Dried legumes! They are so cheap and freeze so well.
i don’t do this every time but i have written down the price of each thing as i put it in the cart, and add it up as i go. it keeps me from picking up things that aren’t on my list.
like you and the book on facebook
Thanks for the thoughtful review, I’m so glad you like it thus far!
My money-saving tip would be to buy in bulk whenever possible, and cooking as much as you can from scratch.
One of the best things I ever did to save money on groceries was to start my own garden. I am a huge juicer, which can be a pretty expensive habit. Now I can just walk in back yard and grab my favorite fruits and veggies. Another thing that I do is to make a large vegan meal each week and freeze individual portion sizes so it lasts all week (or sometimes longer).
I love buying in bulk to save some dough! This book looks great!
I look for coupons and I also try to find Surplus or discount stores.
I like you on FB!
I follow you on twitter!
I like both pages on FB
Money Saving Tip: Buy foods that do double, triple duty. Foods that can be combined with different flavors and ingredients to make multiple meals.
It takes some extra time but I shop around and compare prices between different grocery stores and online stores
I liked Almost Vegan on facebook
I liked Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on Facebook
I love buying from bulk bins! It’s amazing how much less expensive legumes, oats and dried fruits are when not purchased in a box. Re-use bags or containers when buying as it cuts down on waste.
Liked Almost Vegan and Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on FB
Now following AV and EJJ on Twitter!
tweeted about giveaway!
Ooooh I want this book! It is exactly what my daughter needs!
My favorite money saving tip is to buy local and in-season produce. I know, I know, everyone says it, but it’s true. Using tomatoes, herbs, garlic, and onion from the farmer’s market in July, I can make the best pasta sauce EVER for about 12 cents a serving (yes, I added it up once).
Naturally I already “like” you on FB; EVO$4 has also been “liked” by me.
And I already follow your tweets; EJJ is now being followed by me.
And now I have twit a tweet that you…..twat?
(told you I wanted this book!)
Tweeted!
I already liked your page a long time ago
and just liked the book Eat vegan on $4 a Day.
Following Almost Vegan on FB ^_^
Following Eat Vegan for $4 a day on FB also!!
My saving money tip at the stores: go for the local and in season produce! Buy bulk! Stop living off of processed food and try to avoid that freezer section!
Don’t be lazy, get the dry beans, it’s not much harder than a can of beans ya bum lol
I try to buy bulk as much as posible to try to save money. These tips are great cuz I struggle with sticking to the budget. Btw, that mousse looks amazing!
To save money on groceries, I try to buy in bulk, buy local, and buy seasonally (seasonal harvest has a free app to keep me updated on what’s seasonal in my area)! Like/love you both already on FB.
I’d love to win the cookbook! I find the best way to budget for food is to make a meal plan at the beginning of the week & remember to factor in leftovers to take for work lunches.
it’s been said several times, but buying in bulk really helps me save…especially spices and such. instead of having to get a whole jar i just buy a little bit for super cheap.
Definitely buy items like nuts, flour and grains in bulk rather than individual packages.
buying in bulk
liked both pages on facebook
As far as vegan eating is concerned, my favorite tip to save money on food is shopping at Walmart. Seems like a no-brainer, but for some reason, a lot of people I talk to think the only way to eat vegan is to shop at Whole Foods. I live in a small town where there are no Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s or any specialty health food stores. There are so many vegan staples you can get for dirt cheap at Walmart. Great Value brand is my best friend as a semi-vegan, health conscious college student. I’m talking rice, beans, frozen veggies, cereal and oatmeal, and produce (not the best you can find, but you’re still better off eating whole fruits and vegetables even if they’re not organic and all that jazz.) I make a grocery list and I hit Walmart first, then if there is something specific I need that Walmart doesn’t carry, I hit the natural food aisle at Smith’s.
I buy all my grains in bulk and buy frozen veggies and fruit for stir fry and smoothies
I cut coupons and buy things that are on sale! Thanks so much for the giveaway
Like you and the book on FB
I follow you both on twitter
Buy fresh and local directly from the farms…you can often score great deals or have baskets delivered to your door for cheap!
I already follow you on twitter @celinaelizt
The only thing that works is to make a list, grab every coupon you can for what’s on it, then
stick. to. the. list.
…and in my case, go with my partner, who is unforgivably frugal and guilts me into being a good little grocery buyer. sigh.
Only buy what you NEED and find the cheapest brand! Even though you may be tempted to buy a lot of unnecessary packaged foods!
I liked Almost Vegan and $4 a day Vegan on facebook!
I’m already following Almost Vegan on twitter!
I just tweeted about this amazing giveaway!
I try to shop cheap places like Winco, eat before I go shopping and make a list before I get there so I don’t impulse buy.
I had already “liked” Eat Vegan on $4 a day and now I have also “liked” Almost Vegan : ) I would love to win that book!
*sticks out tongue*
I definitely buy whats local and in season!
like on facebook!
yay. my best money making tip is to go through my shopping list and write beside the item how much i am willing to spend on it, like
grapes $4
then figure my total before i go to the store. that way i know exactly how much i can spend and see how much i can save.
liked you on fb
i liked almost vegan and eat vegan for $4 a day on fb.
For $ saving I shop sales and also what’s seasonal. I very rarely buy any sort of conveinence type food and make most things from scratch!
For food shopping: buying in bulk! Saves on time and money.
Favorite tip #1: Always shop around the perimeters of the grocery store! nutrient dense foods are usually their!!
Favorite tip #2: You probably seen this comment a trillion times but is true!! BUY BULK!!! With bulk you can control how much you want for the price you want to pay!! this is essential to those on a strict budget! Every vegan has their GO-TO food item( By GO-TO I mean cheap, versatile, nutrient dense( protein dense), quickcooking)
sidenote: My GO-TO bulk food item is Lentils( Dhal)!!! they are one of the cheapest source of plant protein price per ounce!!Youy can buy silos of the stuff and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg!!
Favorite tip #3: I buy all my herbs and spices in bulk at a reputable grocery store( My HEB is has a health food section that is comparable to Whole Foods Market)!! I’m not talking about those low- quality spices and herbs prepackaged in big plastic containers that are even worth a cent!! I’m talking about high-quality organic sices and herbs that are in bins that you scoop as much you want to buy!! It is Spice Paradise to a culinary junkie like me!! the best thing is you avoid paying pre-set prices for prepackaged spices so you again get to control how much you want to pay by weight!
tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/hihorosie/status/122531310542655489
Fun! I like to always keep an eye open for special offers and also to buy in bulk through an organic co-op. Oh, and know which things are more ‘ok’ not organic. And of course the big one–eat seasonally!
Following both on twitter!
I love to buy local produce in bulk and split it with roommates or family friends
My #1 tip is to plan your menu in advance so you get exactly what you need at the store. It also helps you to avoid too many impulse buys (that you’ll probably end up throwing out anyway because they’ll go bad before you have time to eat them).
I tweeted the giveaway. Thanks!
1) Comment below with your answer to this question:
What’s your favorite money-saving tip when it comes to food shopping?
I watch for good sales and puree & freeze my greens/fruit for future green smoothies. If frozen within 20 minutes of juicing/pureeing the enzymes remain good for up to six months.
2) “Like” Almost Vegan on Facebook AND Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on Facebook and comment below confirming you did so.
I love it when you ask me to do something that’s been done for months.
3) Follow Almost Vegan on Twitter AND Ellen Jaffe Jones on Twitter and comment below confirming you did so.
Done.
4) Tweet the following message:
I entered to win a copy of @VegCoach ‘s Eat Vegan on $4 a Day from @AlmostVeganChef ! #Giveaway here: http://wp.me/pYLdq-Ti
and comment below confirming you did so
I did so!
My best money saving advice for eating a healthy vegan diet, is to buy local, in season and only what you can use to avoid waste. I have tweeted and facebook all links and sent out messages on twitter. Would love to win this book!
Money saving tips plan shopping trips ahead with coupon match ups
Liked on facebook
Followed in twitter
Also retweeted
My favorite money-saving tip on food is never shop hungry!
frozen vegetables
liked both on facebook!
folllowing on twitter too!
I like you both on facebook!
My biggest money saver is planning out meals at the start of the week and making one big thing (like a stew, falafel, chickpea burgers etc.) to last out a few meals.
Liked Vegan meals $4 a day on facebook AND Almost vegan
Go to a farmers market or small produce-only store to avoid buying junk food/anything that’s not on your list! This will leave you with only fresh fruits/veggies and maybe some breads. Then save your soy milk (and other large supermarket needs) for a different shopping trip.
Also a good tip, shop with only a certain amount of cash in hand. No cards.
my fav money saving trick is the farmers market!!!
Buying in bulk, especially dried beans and legumes. They are SO much cheaper than buying them in cans.
I buy in bulk, and usually only on sale. I liked Eat Vegan, and Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on Facebook, and I follow Almost Vegan and Ellen Jaffe Jones on Twitter.
I liked your FB page and already have Vegan on $4 a Day on FB…. I really want her book… it is in my cart on Amazon… just waiting on the funds to buy this and another Vegan book! Soooo… my pocket book sure could use winning the book instead of buying it!!! I am dying to get it!!! Please let me win!!! I can’t wait to check out your site too! With my husband and I now cooking Vegan, many of our friends are giving it a try, so I’d love to share with them how to do it on $4 a day!!!
oh.. and money saving tip… cook larger meals and freeze lunch size portions for the future!
I try to buy only what I know we will eat before it spoils and not everything that looks good to me.
I liked Almost Vegan on Facebook and Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on Facebook.
I love buying reduced bananas that are turning brown……I come home and peel and freeze them to use for ice creams or smoothies!!!
I like both on facebook!!!
follow you both on Twitter!!!
tweeted!!!!
I liked both on facebook!!!
My favorite money saving tip at the market is to buy only what I’m going to fix and eat in the next few days. Fruits and veggies don’t last as long as packaged foods so I had to adjust how often I shopped and how much I bought of perishables at a time.
shop bulk, and buy fresh food, saves tons of money when you avoid expensive processed foods
i like almost vegan on facebook! and eat vegan on 4 a day!
I entered to win a copy of @VegCoach ‘s Eat Vegan on $4 a Day from @AlmostVeganChef ! #Giveaway here: http://wp.me/pYLdq-Ti
Hope I win!!! Thanks so much for the contest!
already a liker of both!!!
BTW: My favorite money saving tip is to learn how to make things from scratch! That Quorn Chik’n stuff is good but its expensive!!! Learning how to main Saitan from Wheat Gluten saves so much and provides so muchmore food!! <3
My favorite money saving tips are never shop on an empty stomach, and try to shop alone when the supermarket isn’t packed. If you bring your children with you and the store is hectic, not only will you give in to what they want justy to keep your sanity, you aren’t really able to concentrate on what you are buying and you can’t take the time to really comparison shop, comparing price per lb., ingredients etc. Oh and I grow some thing in my yard, I was just able to pick a head of broccoli!! Can’t wait for more
I followed Almost Vegan and Eat Vegan for $4.00 per Day on both FB and Twitter. I also Tweeted 
My #1 Money saving tip is make a list of meals for the week and make a shopping list. Stick to it at the store.
I “liked” Amost Vegan and Eat Vegan on $4 a day on Facebook.
I don’t Tweet so I guess I can’t do the last two. Hope I win though.
Set a budget, make a list and then stick to it! Also, avoid the crazy colorful processed food aisles – I’m a sucker for good packagin!
I like you on Facebook
The best way I have found to save money is to buy stuff when it is on sale, use coupons when you can, or if you can’t do that, plan your meals.
I “liked” Almost Vegan and Vegan on $4 A Day on Facebook
I “Follow” @AlmostVeganChef and @VegCoach (Ellen Jaffe Jones) on Twitter
and I just Tweeted the message you asked me to tweet…so close to winning!!!!
I “Liked” both pages on Facebook
Money saving tips: I buy goods that keep for a long time in bulk when they are on sale. I also look for coupons and buy foods that are seasonal.
I Tweeted! (BeesandTeas)
My best way to save money while food shopping is to go with a list. Don’t buy anything not on the list except if you forgot to put it there. If you’re making kale chips and you forgot to put the kale on the list, well, ok. But you can’t grab a bag of chocolate covered gogi berries. Well, you can. Maybe you should. But it’ll cost ya.
Marty
Marty’s Flying Vegan Review
http://www.martysnycveggiereview.blogspot.com
@veganpilotmarty
I liked both of you on FB. Well, you I already like.(d)
Marty
Marty’s Flying Vegan Review
http://www.martysnycveggiereview.blogspot.com
@veganpilotmarty
Following you both on twitter.
Marty
Marty’s Flying Vegan Review
http://www.martysnycveggiereview.blogspot.com
@veganpilotmarty
tweeting out your tweet.
Marty
Marty’s Flying Vegan Review
http://www.martysnycveggiereview.blogspot.com
@veganpilotmarty
I try not to buy anything in a box and make my meals myself, so much more cost effective and I know what I’m eating!
I liked everyone on fb & twitter & tweeted too!
My favorite money saving tip is to shop in bulk at my local food co-op & to grow whatever I can myself, like greens, sprouts & herbs!
Thanks for the fun post!
I liked Almost Vegan and Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on Facebook
AND
I started following Almost Vegan and Ellen Jaffe Jones on Twitter
When it is economically possible purchase stock pantry items in bulk, cacao, lucuma, vanilla powder, these types of items. You will not only save money in the long run but your pantry will almost always be full.
I already “Like” Almost Vegan on Facebook AND Eat Vegan on $4 a Day on Facebook and now I am confirming that I do. =)
I tweeted the message on Twitter.
I buy raw almonds at a Club store (much cheaper) AND then I can make my own almond milk, which is also cheaper than buying
All of these books look awesome!
I follow both of you on Twitter (@TanyaTheViolist)
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/TanyaTheViolist/status/123875145537425408
I would love to win Ellen’s cookbook. I am a 58 year old that is trying to change my poor eating habits into healthy habits so I can eliminate diabetes and other health issues. Thank you for your posts and the wonderful pictures.
Just TWEETED =)
I tweeted about the giveaway!
Here is a link to the tweet (if needed) : http://twitter.com/#!/PorcelainDoll27/status/124396277105561601
my money saving tip is to shop the sales and only buy what is on your list – no impulse buys!
I tweeted the message.
According to Klout, I’m a top influencer on food, so there’s that
The link above to follow Almost Vegan on Twitter actually links to FB, but I found AlmostVeganChef and am following.
Good catch! I can’t believe no one told me about that yet. Fixed!
Hi! I have been following you for a while but added my like to book’s FB page Ellen’s FB page. Also tweeted about the contest at @wannabevegan. Looking forward to being the winner!
Just a note – the link for your Twitter account above goes to your Facebook page.
Utilize the bulk bins at Whole Foods. Much cheaper!
I liked both of you on FB!
I follow both of you on Twitter!
and I tweeted!
Best tip: buy in bulk! Saves tons of money