Unlike most cookbooks, I read the entire Vegan Divas Cookbook all the way through. Normally I will only read parts of the first section then flip through the recipes to see if anything pops out at me, then I will put the book on the shelf and forget about it. This book kept my attention from the very first page. Most cookbooks don’t start out with personal stories and struggles. Nor do they come with comprehensive and knowledgeable ingredient lists. This book will keep your interest and make you want to whip out your mixing bowls and turn the oven on – and get baking!
The book starts out with the Fernanda Capobianco’s story of growing up in Brazil, but knowing the personal need to become as fully vegan as possible; it isn’t every book that brings you an authors ethics and personal standards. Following her story is a comprehensive list of pantry items, both gluten free and not, with explanations of why you should have the items on hand, then heads on into some amazing sounding breakfast and brunch items. After that? Look out, because we are heading into sweets territory and boy do they look and sound amazing. And decadent. And super easy. One of the worst things about a cookbook are that the recipes have too much going on in them to make them realistic. Or make me want to make them. If the ingredient list is too long or directions too complicated then I don’t even think about trying them. These recipes however are not intimidating at all. I mean just check out the Passion Fruit “White Chocolate” Mousse on page 122. So super simple and easy and with a different flavor than I have seen before – passion fruit!
Using her Brazilian heritage in her recipes really comes through in the different spices and add-ins in her amazing baked goods. Oatmeal Raisin Chili Cookies or Spicy Gingersnaps, anyone? Who would have thought to add chili powder to oatmeal cookies or black pepper to gingersnaps? Or making more tropical flavors come out in her baked yummies, like the Pineapple Squares or Mango Pineapple Cake. With different ingredients like these, Fernanda’s cookbook stands apart from other books that I pick up at stores and put down. Her knowledge comes through in her different baking recipes – makes me want to travel to NYC and have her make me something. Even though I don’t eat chocolate I would definitely be eating her Vegan Divas Chocolate Layer Cake if Fernanda made it for me!
After all those luscious baked goods come a few breads then on to the real food. The good food. Like the Roasted Kabocha Squash with Peanut Sauce; I have never had this type of squash but Fernanda describes it as between pumpkin and sweet potato – yep, I am definitely trying this with the peanut sauce. And the Vegetable Sushi Rolls? I have had this on my list to make for a while now, but haven’t wanted to try it. She explains how to make the rolls from cooking the Japanese rice all the way through the rolling; this is another one of her recipes that sound easy for sure. She also had the classic American dish, Macaroni and Cheese, with a different way of making it “cheezy” than I have seen.
The book ends with some Vegan Basics, like pie crusts and frosting. Ever wanted to know the different toasting times for roasted nuts? That’s in the Basics section, along with a how-to guide for making almond milk. Add in a few sauces and a vinaigrette and you have one awesome cookbook on your hands! One of the best things about this entire book are The Savvy Diva tips. While making different items is fun and sometimes enlightening, it can also be worrisome that you are making it right, or it won’t taste like what the recipe is supposed to be. Fernanda starts each recipe with a little tip on the flavor combo or her reasons for making things. It is a fun read, and the Savvy tips after some of the recipes are super helpful also.
This book was an awesome read, and gave me some good recipes to try out. Needless to say, it did not get put on a shelf and get forgotten!
We have a copy of The Vegan Divas for one lucky Chic Vegan reader. Follow the instructions below to enter. U.S. residents only, please. Contest ends at midnight EST on Sunday, January 26th. Good luck!
Leigh Anne says
Vegan pumpkin pie! My husband’s favorite too – he asks me to make it all the time. 🙂
Amy says
Vegan red velvet cupcake!
Jess C says
My bf’s coffee cake – mmmmmm ☺
Erin says
Pie is my favorite vegan baked good and my favorite anything!
Martha says
I’m old school–chocolate chip cookies all the way! 😀
Tanya says
raw pumpkin pie
Devorah says
Brussell sprouts, kale, any Veggie baked!
Shelly says
Anything with Pu8mpkin in it:)
kinderwoman says
My favourite is vegan apple pie.
Julie says
Black bean brownies!!!
Crystal says
vanilla vegan cupcakes
Kelli Clem says
My favorite vegan treat is chocolate chip banana oatmeal cookies.
Heather Koch says
This looks awesome and i would love to cook more vegan options for the family to try.
Amanda J. Clark says
My favorite vegan baked goods are cookies! Particularly a hemp granola flax cookie! delicious and good for you!
Jennifer LP says
Vegan cupcakes!
Stephanie says
Chocolate vegan cupcakes!
Ashley says
Traditional chocolate chip cookies!
Holly says
Mac and cheese, lasagna, and cakes!
Mae says
I make one mean vegan gluten-free chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting…
andrea costa says
Passion Fruit “White Chocolate” Mousse
Shannon says
Zucchini Spaghetti! Such a wonderful creation!
Diana says
Vegetable stir fry
josee cyr says
cupcakes all the way!
Tracie Lin says
Vegan cupcakes any & all 🙂
Denise Covelle says
Tofu Stir fry with Serrano peppere and onions and mango salsa
Jodie Higgins says
I’m a simple girl, baked aubergine or baked squash are both fab! Either on there own or to add to curry/soup… xxx
Carolyn says
vegan cookies from whole foods
Rosene S says
I Have been began for 20 days. I dont have a vegan book. Would love to win one. Thank you
Dorothy says
Any about all desserts vegan are best love them all, chocolate maybe.
Nina Botta says
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lydia Claire says
Cake with lots of frosting!
Corrine Greenfield says
Chocolate chip cookies.
Suzy Steigert says
Vegan cardamon cupcakes!!!
Tasha Raymer says
Vegan pumpkin cookies they come out more Like little pumpkin pillows. They are incredible! I made them for a potluck and they were gone in 5 minutes!
janet says
vegan chocolate cupcakes with mocha frosting
michele erez says
vegan chocolate chip cookies!
Ruby Lee W. says
The chocolate chip cookies my lab partner made for our vegetarian cooking class!! Just divine!!!
Lyndsey says
Vegan cheesecake has my heart!
elizabeth findlay says
I love any kind of PIE! Brownies are great, but pie is the best.
theresa sprague says
Vegan Pumpkin Pie wins every tie .
Laurie Weisman says
Any veggie drizzled with some olive oil, sea salt and garlic, and baked
Adrienne Mattioli says
Vegan waffles. I’ve been vegan 44 years now and you could say I’ve perfected that recipe! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.
Lindsay says
Vegan sweet potato pie… MMMMM, so good
Wendy says
Chocolate marbled banana bread!! om nom nom
jennika wasilewsky says
cookies! any cookie, especially something with chocolate, or cinnamon or nuts!
Heather Winkler says
My favorite baked vegan treat is a lemon blueberry scone from my favorite local vegan bakery. I will literally drive 30 minutes just to get one! Yum!
Jeanne Kaiser says
Molasses cookies.
Jaimey says
My favorite vegan treat is my homemade chocolate orange vegan cupcakes. You can find the recipe here on my blog. They are delicious!
http://flytyingmountaingirl.blogspot.com/2012/12/chocolate-orange-vegan-cupcakes.html?m=1
cindy buteyn says
Anything chocolate, but mostly brownies.
Ann says
I made some vegan gingerbread recently–it’s my new favorite!