If there is one food product, kitchen appliance, or cookbook that I have talked about the most on my blog, it would easily have to be The Happy Herbivore cookbook collection. I first came across Lindsay’s recipes about a year and a half ago, shortly after I had transitioned to a vegetarian diet. I was on the hunt for easy vegetarian meals and what I found was even better: easy vegan meals that I could cook up with pantry staples I already had on hand and in a short amount of time. I like elaborate recipes now and then, but let’s be real…the simpler and faster the better, especially for week night cooking.
Lindsay has three amazing vegan cookbooks already, which I have mentioned in numerous What I Ate Wednesday posts and one of which I reviewed here on the blog about a year ago. When the BenBella Books publishing company reached out to me a couple of months ago to ask if I would like to review Lindsay’s latest cookbook, Happy Herbivore Light and Lean, I said yes in a heartbeat. Not only would it mean that I would get my hands on a copy of the book earlier than the release date ;), but I was also extremely excited to be able to share my love for her recipes with all of you!
Lindsay’s latest masterpiece is filled with over 150 recipes focusing on “lighter” vegan cooking. The recipes (as with all of those in her cookbooks) are simple, delicious, healthy, and very affordable to make. You’ll find recipes for breakfasts, muffins/breads, sandwiches, burgers, bowls, wraps, soups, salads, pasta, sides, snacks, desserts, drinks, and more. Putting together an entire vegan meal is completely realistic with the help of this cookbook. The Light and Lean cookbook also places a special emphasis on weight-loss and even includes some of Lindsay’s favorite exercises. Lindsay truly proves that you can eat seriously delicious food and maintain a healthy weight- all without deprivation.
As a part of the Light and Lean cookbook tour, I was able to ask Lindsay a few questions regarding eating a vegan diet and her latest cookbook. Here are her responses:
Now I can’t leave you hanging with just the picture that I posted above and my testimony of how fantastic The Happy Herbivore brand and cookbooks are. No, that would just be mean. So don’t worry. Lindsay has graciously allowed me to share one of her latest recipes with all of you. There were many for me to choose from, but one instantly jumped out at me: The Meatloaf Bites. As a meat eater, I used to love meatloaf. As a result, every time that I find vegan alternatives I get super excited, and this time was no different.
Happy Herbivore Meatloaf Bites
Servings: Makes 8
Ingredients
1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed (I used dark red)
1 TB onion powder
1 TB garlic powder
1 TB Italian seasoning
1 TB chili powder (add another 1 tsp if you like it spicy)
3 TB ketchup
2 TB mustard
1 TB vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
6 TB instant oats
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or use nonstick. Mash beans in a bowl with fork or potato masher until well mashed. Add remaining ingredients, except oats, and stir to combine. Stir in oats. Spoon into muffin tin and pack down. Bake for 20 minutes until crisp on the outside and fairly firm to the touch (firms a bit as it cools). Serve with ketchup, Quick Gravy, etc*.
*I served mined with barbecue sauce!
These were SO good and I absolutely loved that they packed in a lot of extra veggies. Talk about easy, too! Tasty and easy is the name of the game for all of Lindsay’s recipes!
The Giveaway
And now, for the fun part. Lindsay and BenBella Books are offering a copy of Light and Lean to one of you! To enter the giveaway, please complete one of the following (or all!):
1. Leave a comment telling me about which non-vegan food you would love to see Lindsay make vegan.
2. Follow me on Twitter.
3. Follow BenBella Books on Twitter.
4. Tweet about the giveaway.
Please leave a separate comment for each entry.
The giveaway is open to all residents of the United States and Canada. The giveaway will be open until Tuesday, December 17th at 11:59 p.m. CST. I will announce the winner shortly after. Good luck! 🙂
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the Happy Herbivore Light and Lean cookbook in exchange for my review, but as always, all opinions are my own.
Comments on this entry are closed.
I made something extremely similar the other night for my son – of course I did, we always choose the same meals! I think I will make this over the weekend as well though, I like the idea of baking it like little meatloafs and getting him his vegetables. I love using kidney beans, they offer great texture…as for new vegan recipes, I always like a good dessert!
Interesting interview! I really want to try these…. they sound really easy and super tasty!
I follow you on twitter!
I tweeted!
Vegan angel food cake! I’ve been trying and failing on that front for a while, but don’t want to use the weird egg replacers.
I follow you on twitter.
I could always use another chili recipe!
Lasagna!!
Twitter follower
Yum! I can’t wait to give my sister and her husband their Happy Herbivore cookbook! I might have to get one myself 🙂
I would love to try vegan desserts – I LOVE baking, but wouldn’t have a clue where to start
This looks like a great cookbook! I’m definitely going to have to check out her others too! I love it when vegan recipes makeover super traditional dishes – things like meatloaf, beef stroganoff, stews, and burgers. Although I have to admit that vegan baking TOTALLY intimidates me too!
I also follow you on twitter!
And I follow BenBella Books on twitter!
AND I tweeted about the giveaway. Phew!
I really need to get that cookbook! Everything you make from it looks and sounds so good!
I love for a vegan version of Eggplant Parmesan – I love it but it has SO much cheese!
I follow you on Twitter 🙂
These look so good! I would love to try this recipe! I honestly have no idea I would like to see her make.
Yum! Awesome giveaway too!
how about some vegan cottage cheese? Is that possible?
Looks like a great cookbook I wish I could enter 😉
I am loving how this recipe looks too.
I’d love to have her figure out a vegan yogurt that tastes decent and doesn’t have load of ingredients!
I would love for her to make a vegan version of hearty dumplings!
What a fabulous giveaway!! I follow you on twitter!
I follow BenBellaBooks on twtter
I would love to try to bake a vegan version of my beloved half-moon cookies!
Oh my I would be so excited to win this cook book! I think the only recipe I’ve made of hers was her hippy meatloaf recipe which I seriously went crazy over! So good! I would love to see what other tasty concoctions she has come up with!
I could always use more vegan breakfast ideas.
I follow you on Twitter. 🙂
I was honestly going to say hot dogs are the one food I would love to see Veganized. And I mean easy enough to make at home- then I noticed your carrot hot dog in related links- awesome. I am bookmarking too many of your recipes.!!
I follow you on Twitter
I follow BenBellaBooks on Twitter
And I tweeted about the giveaway!!
I am always interested in seeing other people’s recipes for vegan french onion soup. I make a great vegetarian one but getting the cheese right to make it vegan is hard
I follow you on twitter
I tweeted
I am following Bella Books on twitter
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/Jenny_Vegan/status/411984368425394176
I followed you on Twitter
I followed BenBella Books on Twitter
Oh my gosh…what can Lindsay veganize that hasn’t already been done?? hmmm the only thing I haven’t had veganized is gefilte fish, not sure she’d even think to do that…lol!
I’d love to see a veganized bbq recipe!
I would love a vegan french silk pie!! Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy–those bites look fab!
I follow you on Twitter!
I would love a good recipe for homemade vegan yogurt.
I follow you on twitter!
I’d love to see some vegan breakfast ideas, great giveaway!
Crap I’m too late! I bet this book is amazing!