QUICK AND EASY VEGAN BAKE SALE by Carla Kelly: Insider Edition

Click here to order Quick and Easy Vegan Bake Sale!

 Though they probably didn't know my Veganniversary was this month, Carla's publishers did send me a present -- my copy of Quick and Easy Vegan Bake Sale!  WOOHOO!  As I mentioned in my last post, Carla's acceptance of me, as a newbie vegan and cookbook tester, was one of my first exploratory steps into the vegan lifestyle.  For being such a welcoming member of the vegan community and a patient, knowledgeable mentor in our shared cyber kitchen, I will never be able to thank her enough; as for this cookbook, my tummy and those of many, many others will be continuously grateful for years of delicious eats to come.

Before Quick and Easy Vegan Bake Sale was published, I repeatedly returned to several of the recipes, even after I'd already tested them and despite the concurrent amassing of a substantial vegan cookbook library.  Furthermore, I have repeatedly denied satiated, yet clamoring, mobs begging me for the unreleased recipes, yet satisfied others by remaking their new favorites upon request.    In anticipation of this cookbook's release, people have also asked me what recipes they may have tried before, so that they could make them again upon purchasing their copy of the cookbook.  These events, I think, are the best review a cookbook could possibly receive; for any cook in any kitchen, "We want the recipe, we want more, we cannot wait!" validates the effort and satisfies the soul.  And this is what I heard about the QEVB recipes...again and again and again.

Here are the items that I tested as they appear in the cookbook:

*   Some of my favorites.  (Let it be known that I only allowed myself to mark one per category, since when I started marking them, I noticed that I was marking all items in a category.)

** Some favorites requested repeatedly for remakes.

Bars, Slices, and Squares

Agave Crackle Cakes

*Banana Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Lemon Bars

Biscuits, Scones, and Loaves

* Apple Tea Loaf

Straight Up Spelt Banana Bread

Cakes and Cupcakes

Espresso Chocolate-Chip Coffee Cake

*Mango, Pineapple, and Mint Upside-Down Cake (both versions :))

**Citrus Bundt Cake

Cookies

Cocoa Oatmeal Cookies with Cocoa Nibs

*No Bake Chocolate Truffle Cookies

Muffins

Apricot and Cranberry Muffins

Parsnip Orange Muffins

*Pumpkin and Cranberry Muffins

Pie Crust

Pecan Pie Crust

Pies, Tarts, and Handheld Pastries

Coconut and Pecan Chocolate Pie

Sticky Nut Pie

Individual Baklava

*Raspberry Clafouti Tart

Vanilla Creme Puffs 

Sweet Potato Pie

White Balsamic Fruit Tart with Jam Glaze

Sauces and Toppings

Crazy Whipped Topping

Drizzle Icing

Ganache Style Chocolate

Savory

Arugula Tart

*Asparagus, Pine Nut, and Roasted Garlic Quiche

From Scratch Cheesy Straws

Irish-Inspired Soda Bread

**Mini Sausage Rolls

Pea, Tarragon, and Cream Cheese Tart

Roasted Garlic and Peppercorn Crackers

Yeasted Treats

**Garlic Flatbread

*Savory Pinwheels: Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic

And if the audience reception and partial recipe list hasn't tantalized you enough, how about some visuals?

Roasted Garlic
and Peppercorn Crackers

Sweet Potato Pie

Cocoa Oatmeal Cookies
with Cocoa Nibs

Mango, Pineapple, and Mint
Upside-Down Cake

Oven Potato Farls

Coconut and Pecan Chocolate Pie

Roasted Garlic Flatbread

Vanilla Creme Puffs

Raspberry Clafouti Tart

Apple Tea Loaf

Quick and Easy Vegan Bake Sale, Carla Kelly's first of (hopefully) the many cookbooks to come, is not just another baking book: it is a varied collection of yum that will unite, guide, and inspire all ages and dietary lifestyles in the kitchen and at the table. Whether you are a vegan/kitchen newbie like me, need allergen-conscious or kid-friendly recipes, desire a compilation with both sweet and savory, or just want a vegan cookbook with diverse recipes, helpful tips, and humorous accessibility, Quick and Easy Vegan Bake Sale is the book for you.  From making these recipes and using the suggestions and guidance, I didn't just enjoy luscious cakes or creamy pies; I became more confident about making baked goods, even creating my own recipe variations, and have encouraged people to open their minds to vegan eats.  Yes, this cookbook is that good.  Check it out -- and ENJOY!