I turned twenty-seven on Friday.
(What did I do? Lots of time with Gabe, campfire mocha at Caribou, salty caramel ice cream at Jeni’s, film festival with my coworkers, and out to Thai and sushi for our first date night in nearly 14 months! Wonderful, quiet, sweet day.)
Anyway! I want to give you a little something.
I gave away some of my favorite pens and a makeup pouch a few years ago on my birthday, and it was so fun I wanted to do it again.
But, this time, FOOD! Well, a cookbook. You have to make the food yourself.
I have several cookbooks, but these are the ones I keep next to my stove. My tried-and-true, go-to, dog-eared cookbooks:
(Three Isa Chandra cookbooks and one family cookbook with all my grandma’s recipes.)
I’ve said it about a billion times, but Isa Chandra is my favorite cookbook author-slash-chef-slash-person-I-want-to-be-like. She just makes cooking so accessible and all of her recipes are freaking delicious. I use the internet for most of my recipes, because people rate the recipes, or blog about them, so I can be sure it’ll turn out well (there’s nothing worse than putting the time and ingredients into making something that tastes gross, am I right?).
Anyway. I want to give one of my readers Isa Chandra’s latest cookbook: Appetite for Reduction.
Yes, it’s low-fat. And vegan. But with recipes like Sweet & Salty Maple Baby Carrots and Lasagna with Roasted Cauliflower Ricotta & Spinach, you won’t even notice. She doesn’t use crazy, hard-to-find ingredients, either. There are also gluten-free or soy-free recipes, so food allergies welcome!
I just love these cookbooks and want to convince one of you to love them, too. Like when Nicole wanted us all to like Harry Potter and gave away a set of books. Or when Brandy gave away an entire series of The West Wing (Waaaaant. Even though I’ve never seen a minute of the show.) When stuff is awesome, people want to give it away.
HERE. I LIKE THIS. YOU SHOULD LIKE IT, TOO.
Want to win a copy of Appetite for Reduction? (See? 229 five-star reviews on Amazon! I’m not alone in liking it! Okay, okay, I’ll back off.)
[Anyone can enter. Anywhere.]
– Leave a comment. (You can tell me something about food or something, I don’t know. I just like talking about food, you guys.) (Oh, and you can only enter once this way.)
– Tweet about it with a link to this post and leave a comment linking to the tweet. (You can enter once a day this way.)
This little giveaway ends on Thursday, October 20th at 10pm EST.
And, one more little special for you: If you sign up to advertise TODAY, your first month will be HALF OFF! This is perfect for Etsy shop owners – the holidays are right around the corner – so snag a cheap space!
[THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!]
Congrats, Becky!! (I wish I could give a copy to all of you! Truly! I want to spread the love of these cookbooks!)
Birgit says
I’d love to win a cookbook – especially, as my birthday was on Friday as well :) I turned 30.
Peter DeWolf says
Happy belated birthday!
I could use some new gluten-free ideas.
KT says
Happy belated birthday!
My husband’s favorite go-to cookbook is the Joy of Cooking, but we are always trying to add to our collection!
Becky says
Great giveaway! I’m always looking for new recipes and I’ve kind of gotten bored with the cookbooks I have – time for something new!
Suburban Sweetheart says
Yum! Count me in! I just bought the (also easy-to-find ingredients) for two recipes from The Vegan Stoner – peanut stew & chickpea curry! I’m really looking forward to both of them & to finding others that are similar in my quest to eventually become a vegetarian.
Melinda says
I love learning about new things from people who are really passionate about them. you know it is really something special then. If I win the book I will be determined to introduce my husband the “meatetarian” to a vegetarian/vegan meal he hopefully won’t turn his nose up at.
Becca says
Love the fact that it includes gluten-free food!
Angela says
My brother has been a vegetarian since he was six, and my mother is always looking for recipes for him. I was a vegetarian for a year once, but when I got to grad school, they told me they wanted me to start eating meat again (the program was very physical, and I wasn’t getting enough protein to keep up). Always impressed when I find out someone is a vegan.
keri says
Intriguing! I love reading cookbooks and it’s always good to know where to find a versatile recipe that can be enjoyed by people with restricted diets for one reason or another.
Tori says
My sister is a vegetarian who prefers to eat vegan when possible. It has been so much fun learning to cook things that she can eat that I also end up loving, too! I would love to try recipes that I know will be winners!
Kim Yager says
Hands down the best cookbook EVER! Love it! Fabulous give away – I’d love to win an extra copy to give away. :)
Fun blog! :)
karen cecil says
I love cooking. Since going vegan a few years ago, we have tried so many dished we never thought we’d like. Every dish of Isa’s has been a hit, including the ones I’ve tried from AFR. I have a friend who’s recently cleaned out her pantry after seeing Forks Over Knives. I would love to pass a new cookbook her way in support.
Amy says
Hooray for awesome vegan cookbooks!!!
Jen says
She is my favorite go to for vegan recipes. Making my own seitan changed my world.
Sabrina says
Awesome giveaway! I love Isa – Vegan with a Vengeance was my first vegan cookbook.
Renata says
I LOVE FOOD! And, I LOOOOOVE Isa! :)
Michaela says
Great idea! Appetite for reduction helped me lose 25lbs of baby weight. My sisters and I love love love the potato spinach curry. My mom has borrowed mine countless times, it would be fun to win one for her :)
NicK says
It was my birthday this weekend and I almost bought this book as a present to myself. I have all her others. I love her as well. I ended up buying an Irish crime novel instead :)
dragonflyrunner says
I am vegetarian and I would LOVE this book. Chandra is awesome!!!!
kelly says
would love to win this book for my SIL. my husband and I are encouraging her and my neice to eat vegan and they seem pretty open to it. I think this would be a great book for them to get started as all the recipes are pretty easy and so delicious! Thanks!
Stephanie says
October is my favorite time of year in part because of all the different squashes that are available. They are so much fun to figure out and experiment with. My favorite is spaghetti squash, and butternut makes great squash fries. I am slowly transitioning to vegetarian myself, so rock on saving the planet!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
Your birthday sounds like it was absolutely fantastic and relaxing and perfect. :) That’s the way everyone’s 27th birthday should be. (Speaking from experience, haha.)
And I’m really excited to check out this cookbook. We are always on the lookout for wonderful cookbooks, and I’m sad to say that I do not have any vegan ones handy in our kitchen. I think this would be a fun change of pace for me and Winston, and it would be an adventure to try new things from it every week!
Thanks for hosting this, Ashley! And happy belated birthday, again!
Rachael says
Yay happy birthday! What an awesome idea to GIVE on your birthday!
I also want to be like Isa. She is a goddess.
doniree says
Ah, I love cookbooks! I’ve hardly done any vegan cooking and I’d LOVE to learn :)
rachieannie says
I have a whole board on Pinterest devoted to new recipes. The first 2 I have tried were deemed inedible by my husband. Sad, sad day.
Sabra says
I love learning about new cookbooks! This is one I’m definitely going to check out – giveaway or no giveaway. Another cookbook that I discovered recently and love is Greens, Glorious Greens! by Johnna Albi & Catherine Walthers. It tells you the best ways to cook all different types of greens, and has given me many good tips and ideas.
Laura says
What a fun giveaway. I love cookbooks (I have one entirely devoted to crepes, which was a splurge purchase when I moved into my first place). Ever since my parents told me they were going on vacation during the week of Thanksgiving this year, I’ve been trying to plan my own Thanksgiving day feast. There will be pumpkin pie, of course, but I’m thinking some real vegetarian dishes, not just veggie sides, for the menu this year.
martha says
Love Isa’s cookbooks! :)
Hilary says
I am a cookbook addict. My copy of Veganomicon is filled with little sticky flags marking recipes that I love and recipes that I want to try!
I can’t wait to get my hands on Appetite for Reduction!
Lisa Gleason says
My son has a serious metabolic condition which requires him to be Vegan. It’s cool, I’ve been meaning to abandon all things meatball sub (sob), and all things roasted on a spit (sniff, sniffle) and I just can’t WAIT to turn my nose up at a BLT (deargodsomeonesaveme!)
So, yeah, I can snag her recipes off the interwebs here and there and continue to admire her from afar, and eventually break down and buy her brilliance in book form… Or I could *win* one. That’d be cool. And stuff. But whatev… Happy Birthday ya little whippersnapper!!
XOXXO
Terra says
Oh I would love to learn more vegan ways to cook. A few of my best friends are vegan and I love when they come visit and enlighten my kitchen ways. We’re mostly vegetarian in my house and any chance to go further with that is always something I’m striving for.
Ginger says
I’ve been looking for a vegetarian/vegan cookbook actually. We want to start putting at least one or two meals a week into rotation that are veggie, so this would be perfect!
kristin says
happppppy birthday!!!! ive been thinking about buying that cookbook – thanks for the rec!
Lupe says
I just became a Vegan in September and checked out Appetite for Reduction from the library!! LOVE IT!!!! I agree with you, Isa uses regular, easy to find ingredients and the food is delish!!!! I would love to win a copy of her book!!!
Bhav says
Isa Chandra’s Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World is my go to book for the sweet treats in our house. I have the recipe for the chocolate cupcakes memorized. This one sounds fabulous too especially the lasagna…yum!!
laura says
I would LOVE to win this cookbook! I’m a vegetarian (and attempt to be vegan when I can), so I’d definitely put the book to good use;) I haven’t had much experience with Isa, but I did make those rosemary apple scones that you posted about last year, and they were absolutely delicious! Ashley – can you please post more of your recipes?
MsDarkstar says
I am not a vegan but “Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World” is my all-time favorite baking book (received from my cousin who IS vegan). How cool would it be for me to be able to exchange vegan recipes with her?
Michelle @ To mother with dignity says
I have Vegan Brunch, and I LOVE it. Tofu scrambles and vegan scones! Vegan scones are really just the best scones, IMHO.
Anyway, I’ve been meaning to add more of Isa’s books to my collection. You read her blog, right?
jennifer (take the day off) says
what to say about food…well, i made an experimental banana bread recently. lets just say baking powder isn’t an equal substitute for baking powder. The bread didn’t rise a bit and tasted a bit off–but i ate it anyway! any cooking mistake can be remedied with butter and raspberry jelly.
Deana says
I am not vegan but i am vegetarian and have found that I love Morocon food! Almost everything is vegetarian and they just add on meat if you ask. So good!
3catsandababy says
Ok, you did a good enough job convincing me that I NEED this cookbook that if I don’t win it here, I will probably buy it. And perhaps gift it to my mom for christmas too.
Susan says
I definitely only use recipes that have been rated or reviewed…too many disappointments!
lisa says
I used to be reluctant to cook vegan anything, but I’ve been trying a few things lately, and I’m surprised at how great some vegan recipes are. Now I’m wishing I had been less hesitant!
Lindsey says
Thanks for the giveaway! I am a cookbook hoarder … Would love a chance to check this one out!
Jen says
I’m new to your blog and it’s great! I love Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar! I have a grand plan to work my way through every cookie in there in a year. So far, I’ve gotten stuck on a few because I love them SO much! I would love Appetite for Reduction–I checked it out at the library, but then (as you do with a library book) had to take it back before I really got to make a lot of things.
Jamie says
Trying to start getting some vegan cookbooks and judging by your recommendation I’ll probably be checking it out if I don’t win.
Karen says
I love cooking and especially new recipes!! I tried your apple rosemary scones with homeade raspberry jam last year and I fell in LOVE. :-)
natalie (thesweetslife) says
um yes, i love cookbooks. esp when they’re free! love this giveaway :)
and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! so glad it was good!!
Abby says
I don’t so much want to win that book as to tell you I already own it AND I LOVE IT!!!!! So congrats to whomever picks it up.
meredith says
i would love to win! i’ve read it at the bookshop several times but just can’t justify buying a cookbook these days. what a happy birthday giveaway :)
Amanda says
I would really enjoy a good cookbook with vegan and gluten-free recipes. I’m a vegetarian myself with vegan tendencies, so it’s always nice to learn about a cookbook that I should check out.