Thursday, July 29, 2010

My Big News! Plus Tempeh Steak!

Ready for the exciting news? I know you're all just holding on to the edge of your seats. I bet some of you were so anxious that you couldn't even sleep last night. Well, maybe not. I slept fine and I'm sure y'all did too. Honestly, I'm just writing silly stuff to build the anticipation. If I could go to an annoying commercial break right now, I would.

But alas, I'll delay no further. Guess what? I'm gettin' published!!! Yep, after almost three years of slowly working on my Southern vegan cookbook, I've landed a book deal. And you're never gonna guess the publishing company? Okay, well maybe you will. This is a company that I mention all the time on my blog. A popular publisher of important vegan tomes. A company located right down the highway from me in Summertown, Tennessee. Any guesses?

If you said the Book Publishing Company (yes, that's the formal name) at the Farm, then you'd be spot on. I've adored this company for years because a) they publish some of my favorite titles like The Uncheese Cookbook, Raw Food Made Easy, and Tofu Cookery and b) it's only a three hour drive from Memphis, and c) it's run by some of coolest hippies you'll ever meet. Many of the folks who work there have been with the company since the Farmies caravaned to Summertown from San Francisco in the early 1970s.

My manuscript is due in January so that's why you've seen more and more tester recipes on the blog. I'm in the final re-testing and editing stages right now. Though there's no set release date, it should be out within a year of the Book Pub Co receiving my manuscript.

If asked to pick a favorite recipe from my book, I'd be hard-pressed to choose just one. But if you really, really pushed me, I'd probably vote for my Country Fried Tempeh Steak with Soymilk Gravy:

To be fair, the above tempeh steak wasn't fried. Though my original recipe calls for pan-frying, I'm working on a baked variation for folks who fear the fat. We'll call this Country Baked Tempeh Steak. It's tasty, but my heart belongs with fried version. Both variations will be included in the book.

On the side, I'm also tweaking my recipe for Mama's Mac & Tomatoes:

I grew up eatin' macaroni and stewed tomatoes at least once every couple of weeks. It was always a favorite side dish. This version is made with quinoa pasta and fresh summer tomatoes from the Memphis Farmers Market.

62 comments:

Vic Robinson said...

Congrats! The tempeh looks awesome!

Jackie (Peaces of Earth) said...

Congrats!!! That is SO exciting and what an awesome publisher to work with!

The Chubby Vegetarian said...

Go Bianca! Wonderful news!

J and A

Sarah E. Jahier said...

Congrats!

Can't wait for the book!

Belle said...

Congrats!!!

The Voracious Vegan said...

CONGRATULATIONS! This is so exciting, Bianca, and I'm so proud of you. I have been waiting (not so patiently) for your cookbook for the longest time. And BookPubCo is the greatest, well done!

Sarah (GF vegan) said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I finally get to try the recipes you've been posting that make my mouth water! That's such awesome news, I'm very happy for you :)

Anonymous said...

So exciting! Make sure we'll be able to get in Australia! Congrats!

Anonymous said...

congrats, I can't wait to read/cook with it.

foodfeud said...

Yah, congratulations! and thanks for including a baked version of typically fried foods too...

The Health Sensei said...

i'm doing a party dance for you in my cubicle right now! congrats!!!

JL Goes Vegan said...

Great news and congratulations! I'm so anxious to get your book!

Chocolate-Covered Katie said...

Oh congratulations, Miss Bianca!!! Congrats times a million! I'm so excited for your book to hurry up and come out!

Candy Beans said...

Congratulations! This is exciting news and I'm really looking forward to the book :)

miss v said...

awesome... i'll get on over to the tester site and get back on testin' wagon! congrats!

Meg said...

Crunktastic! Congratulations Bianca!

Sarah @ See Sarah Eat said...

Hooray! Congrats!! That is awesome :)

Sheridan said...

Woohoo!!!! You're so amazing and your food is too! No one is more deserving of this than you. Congratulations my best friend! I love ya!

T said...

Congrats! That is a fine publishing house indeed, and I think when your book comes out I will buy it together with the uncheese cookbook to celebrate! (Been hearing about that one forever.) It will be great to finally have a southern cookbook to add to my Latina, Italian, Asian, and Jewish collection!

The Kuntrageous Vegan said...

Congratulations Bianca!! I can't think of a better company for you to work with. YAY FOR KEEPING THE LOVE IN TENNESSEE!!
You'll have to stop in Nashville sometime now <3

Vegan In The VI said...

Great job! I smell bestseller!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I am so excited for you.

Velovegan said...

HOW EXCITING!!!! Congratulations! I can't wait to buy your book :) xxx

Lauren said...

CONGRAAAAATS!

That's some pretty exciting news. I can't wait for your cookbook!

Tami said...

Yay, Bianca! Congratulations!I'm so looking forward to your book.

Jen said...

yay times infinity! i'm so proud of you. you know you're a good vegan cook when my very omni husband asks me, "when's that bianca chick gonna come out with her vegan cookbook?"

Jessica said...

Hooooraaay! I can't wait. I see your food and it always looks like something I'd want to try. I love the Farm - it's where I first learned about plant-based diets, had my first soy ice cream, and had my first okara patty. I can't wait to buy your cookbook!

LisaMarie said...

Congrats!!! I can't wait to see your book!! I'm always looking for vegan dishes!!! This Steak looks amazing!! My huuby's fav dish is Country Fried Steak and I could make this for myself when I make him his streak :)

Kara Hadley said...

AHHHH! Congrats!
I'm quite possibly nearly as excited about this as you because I'm dying to cook all the food I've seen in your thoroughly drool-inducing pictures.
I can't wait!

Leslie Richman said...

Congratulations, Bianca!!! Can't wait to feed my family from your great cookbook!

Californiaesque said...

It's been a long time since I fell in love with a blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you for inspiring me! I am pretty alone in my okra love here in San Diego. I am so buying your cookbook when it comes out!

Jenni (aka Vegyogini) said...

I had a feeling that was the news...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! The Book Publishing Company sounds like a great fit for your book and I'm very excited to hold it in my hands when it's ready.

Chrissy said...

FINALLY! I mean, congratulations! :) I can't wait to snatch up a copy of your book. As a fellow (honorary) Southerner (having been adopted by Texas six years ago) I am so looking forward to the vegan versions of everything. Three cheers for you!

thedalyn said...

Finally! I feel like I've been waiting for your cookbook forever. And congratulations as well! The Farm is totally rad. It's a match made in heaven.

dreaminitvegan said...

Woohoo! Congrats!!!

Erin said...

Congratulations Bianca! That is so so so exciting! I am looking forward to purchasing your book when it comes out! And I for one appreciate the baked version of that delicious looking tempeh :)

Just Us said...

That's awesome...congrats!!! BTW the tempeh looks yummy!

helgstarrs said...

Congratulations Bianca! If you need any taste testers, we are right here in Midtown.

Tanya said...

Yay! Congrats :) They seem like a great company and have a ton of great cookbooks, so I'm looking forward to getting yours too!

Babette said...

I am definitely going to buy your book. I love the fact it specializes in one cuisine (ie Southern) and that you make an effort to make healthy dishes.

Congratulations!

Christine (The Raw Project) said...

Congratulations, how exciting!!!

Unknown said...

Congrats, can't wait to purchase the book!

Anonymous said...

Congrats! Does this mean more recipes on the tester site?!? I hope so!

Courtney

Dianne said...

Yay! I can't wait, and congratulations!

Theresa said...

Congratulations Bianca! I can't wait to see your cookbook on the shelves of bookstores around the world!

Jacklyn said...

Congrats! Hows exicting! : D

Jessica said...

Congratulations! I will be looking for it on Amazon! Thanks so much for making vegan recipes out of traditional Southern dishes. Love 'em!

jessyburke88@gmail.com

celine said...

so happy for you Bianca!!!!

Carrie said...

Congratulations!

Ali - YumVeggieBurger said...

congratulations! so exciting :)

Wendi said...

Can't wait to buy the cookbook! Wonderful!

Teresa said...

YAY!!!! Cannot wait to 'sink my teeth' into your new cook book!!

Mihl said...

Yay, xay, finally, finally! Congrats, Bianca!

Anna said...

Congratulations Bianca, I'm so happy for you! I've been excited waiting for your book to come out anyway and am even more excited now that I know when it might come out! Well done you!

jessy said...

so awesome, Bianca! wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! you kick so much ass - i'm so superhappyfaced for you!!!!! i cannot wait for your cookbook - everything we've been testing has been beyond amazing! superw00t!

Susan G said...

That is great news! The only bad part is we have to wait so long for it!

Jenny said...

So happy for you!

Lindsey said...

Congratulations again, Bianca!! I've been wanting to buy your book ever since I found your blog a couple years ago. Can't wait!

Eric said...

Right on, congrats! Can't wait to check it out in the near future! Grab a beer for me down there :)

Heather said...

Congratulations Bianca :) I hope to join you in the vegan southern cookbook ranks one day, but you're years ahead of me! Enjoy the journey and have a lot of fun along the way towards being published.

Unknown said...

Congrats on the cookbook!! I just found your blog, I'm a new follower. Love your stuff! :)

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

HOORAY, it ended up working out! That is SO awesome. Congrats!