A Little News. . . and Giveaway
Well, I’ve been keeping this one under my apron until I knew it was definite, but finally I am able to share some news!
[Note: photos are of recipes already on this blog. . . just click on the photo to be directed to the recipe!]
I’m writing a new cookbook!
As of this week, I have a contract with the fine folks at Sellers Publishing (who excel at producing high-quality, artistically designed, beautiful books) for a new, all gluten-free, refined-sugar free, and–of course–vegan cookbook!
This is the book many of you have been requesting for some time–and I’m so glad I can deliver!
The book will be a revised, updated and expanded version of Sweet Freedom, made to reflect more the way I cook and bake now: no gluten, with with lower glycemic sweeteners and with whole, real-food ingredients. The recipes are also allergy-friendly, with no dairy or eggs and many nut-free, soy-free and corn-free options as well. Recipes will range from breakfast foods like muffins, pancakes, biscuits and scones to cookies and bars, cakes, tarts and pies, puddings and ice creams, to raw treats and more. There will be over 30 new recipes that weren’t included in the first book. And I think they are all pretty delicious, too!
I am thrilled to be working on the book and so grateful for this opportunity. More than anything, I want to thank all of YOU for helping to make this happen--your continued support for this blog over the years, your wonderful comments and feedback about the recipes, your ideas and advice, all were essential in moving me toward this very book. So thank you, all, for continuing to visit me here, for reading and trying out my recipes, for letting me know what you think. I couldn’t be more grateful for this wonderful food blogging community!
I want the book to be something special that DDD readers will love to own.
I hope you’ll continue to help shape the contents of the book with your continued feedback, ideas, opinions and suggestions along the way (and feel free to start in the comments below: which recipes from Sweet Freedom are “must-keep,” remade as gluten-free? Which recipes from the blog absolutely must be included? What are some new recipes you’ve been dreaming of, that you’d love for me to develop without gluten or refined sweeteners? Dish, readers!). 
I’m ecstatic about this new book–and I decided I wanted to do something special for one of YOU, too!
In order to express my thanks, I’ve created a very special giveaway: an individualized, custom box of hand-picked goodies from me to one of you! This is not a sponsored post; I am personally choosing and purchasing each of the items on my own. The prize will contain a selection of some of my favorite products that I’ve used or promoted on the blog, some fun kitchen tools, and a few other surprises! Once I select a winner, I’ll contact you so that I can further personalize the gift. For full details, see the end of this post!
Recipe renovations have already gotten underway in the DDD kitchen, and now I need your help!
I’m seeking recipe testers and hoping that some of you will be interested (and if you’ve tested for me previously you are of course welcome to return)! The book’s current projected publication date is Fall, 2013, so the testing will begin fairly soon and will run fairly quickly.
Here are the basic recipe parameters for recipe testers:
- All recipes are gluten-free. You must be willing to purchase a variety of gluten-free flours (especially these four in my All-Purpose Mix, which is used most often; other flours, such as brown rice flour, sorghum, quinoa or amaranth will also be used occasionally).
- All recipes are refined sugar-free. The most common sweeteners used in the recipes are coconut sugar, stevia, coconut nectar, and (very occasionally) agave. I will rarely use maple syrup or brown rice syrup.
- Most recipes will be ACD-compliant, with a few suitable for ACD maintenance.
- All recipes are vegan, of course!
- The testing due dates and turnaround will be fairly quick; we will test throughout mid-September through end of November, 2012. You must be willing to commit to testing at least 8 recipes in that time.
- All testers will be acknowledged in, and receive a complimentary copy of the finished book.
If you are interested, please email me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom with the subject line, “Cookbook Tester.” I can’t wait to hear from you!
And now, THE GIVEAWAY!
What: A prize package of gluten-free, sugar-free foods and ingredients, kitchen tools, a cookbook, and a few other surprises, hand picked and purchased by me. Value: minimum $75.00.
Who: Open to anyone, anywhere.
When: Giveaway open until midnight my time on Friday, September 14, 2012.
What: To enter, simply leave a comment below, telling me any or all of the following: (a) what your favorite food is; (b) what kitchen tool you’ve been wishing for [EDIT, Sept 1/12: As much as I'd LOVE to get one of you a VitaMix--and judging by the comments, that's what most of you would like--as I mentioned, I am paying for these prizes out of my own pocket, and a VitaMix would send me waaaay over that $75 or so value for this prize!! LOL! For this item, I was thinking of smaller, hand-held kitchen tools that I could easily fit in your prize pack--like a whisk, a good knife, maybe a spiralizer, or whatever else you can think of! But really, I do wish I could get one of you a VitaMix--sorry I can't (hear that, VitaMix people?!)]; (c) which cookbook you wish you could have. BONUS ENTRIES: for extra entries, you can follow me on twitter, Facebook or Pinterest; tweet about this giveaway by clicking here; subscribe to DDD; or mention this on Facebook with a link to this post.
PLEASE BE SURE TO USE THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM, BELOW, FOR YOUR ENTRIES TO COUNT!
Good luck, everyone! Whoo hoo!
“That’s great news, Mum, especially since it means more recipe ‘testing’ for us, too! Whoo hoo, indeed!!”
1. Chicken Pot Pie!
2. I would really love one of those hanging baskets for fruit and veggies, or if that doesn’t really count as an appliance, I’d love one of those small blender/mixers that blends it right into the cup for smoothies.
3. YOURS!
[Reply]
Bekah Reply:
September 13th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
*vegan/imitation chicken, sorry! SHould have specified.
[Reply]
Hi Ricki…congrats on the book! How exciting!
Fave food: Cheese, but I’m L/F so…organic chocolate
Gadget: I would so love a spiralizer, because an ice cream maker is too expensive
Cookbook: Well, it’s a cookbook too, but I would love to read Elaine Gottschall’s “Breaking the Vicious Cycle; Intestinal Health through Diet”. Or your book!!!
I don’t think I’m doing the Rafflecopter thing properly. I may end up having this posted again. Thanks for the fun giveaway!
[Reply]
(1) My favorite food is hummus!
(2) A good knife would be wonderful as all of mine came from hand me downs or my wedding 7 years ago. Or, just a simple wire mesh strainer to catch the seeds while squeezing fresh lemons into my dishes.
(3) We have such an extensive list of allergies, it’s really difficult to find a cookbook to incorporate all of our needs. I can usually only use 5-10 recipes or so (usually modified) from any cookbook I have purchased. I would need one free of wheat/gluten, dairy, egg, nuts, peanuts, coconut, seeds, avocado, banana, oats, white rice (easily substituted with brown usually), corn, and even strawberries. Due to the corn allergy, no xantham gum and I cannot find guar gum that isn’t cross-contaminated with something we cannot have.
Thanks for all that you do and for the opportunity to enter!
[Reply]
(1) My fave food was Italian bread. Now that I’m GF, I’m looking for a new one.
(2) I’m still rebuilding my cooking supplies so I’m after a microwavable mixing bowl, ramikans, and measuring spoons and cups that have more than 4 measurements.
Thanks! I’ll be looking for your cookbook!
[Reply]
I love deep dark chocolate so rich you can only take one bite.(or two!)
I would like a flour sifter(to mix and prepare my gluten-free flours)
Your new cookbook sounds Awesome!
[Reply]
I would love “eat like a dinosaur’ and ‘sweet freedom’ books!! For my kitchen I would love a spiralizer-thingy to make zucchini noodles! My favorite food is PIZZA, which is hard to come by with no dairy, but we are working on it. Love your blog, and keep up all the delish recipes!!!
[Reply]
Spiralizer! I’m so excited you have a new cookbook coming out, SweetFreedom is not one I have.
[Reply]
Oh, I subscribe on Facebook, don’t tweet or Pinterest or Tweet.
[Reply]
And of course follow DDD, my fav GFV blogger of course!
[Reply]
I love anything with beans in it – Mexican inspired food is my favourite. I would love to have a spiralizer. I’ve been wanting to make some zucchini “pasta”.
[Reply]
My favorite food is bread, however, now I’m GF and looking to find a recipe that I can bake for myself.
[Reply]
My favorite food would be (as of right now) tomatoes with basil. I would love to have another very small spatula. The cookbook I would love the most is the breakfast cookbook, it is the meal I have the most struggles without eggs.
[Reply]
1) My favourite food is definitely sushi! I could eat it until I explode
2) Hmmm..as far as a kitchen tool I’d like to own goes probably a sifter or a spiralizer or really anything out of the ordinary! I’m in university and just got my first apartment so I pretty much only have the basics right now.
3) Any cookbook with dessert in it is one I dream of
[Reply]
My favorite food is falafel – always. And I would LOVE love love a vitamix. OR a a hand immersion blender will work too. I actually would LOVE to get my hands on one of your cookbooks. I think I may order one soon. Thanks!
[Reply]
1) Favorite food: mac n’ cheese
2) Food Processor and/or mandoline
3) Vegan Artisan Cheeses
[Reply]
I’d like to have a Santoku knife!
[Reply]
RICKI!!!! I am so happy for you! I know this has been a goal of yours for a long time!! I can’t wait to see the new recipes, too! There are so many SF recipes I want to use revised!
xoxoxoxo!!!
Amy
[Reply]
Ricki Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 11:06 am
Thanks so much, Amy.
Revisions have begun. . . and so far, so good. 
[Reply]
Congrats on the new book!
I would have to say my favorite food is guacamole’
I would love, love, love to have an infuser pitcher to make infused waters.
And for the cookbook…YOURS, of course!
[Reply]
[...] more exciting, though, was Ricki’s gift bag of goodies from her upcoming cookbook, which we dove into after lunch with glee. Gluten-free and ACD-friendly, Ricki’s treats were [...]
I know I’m chiming in late with this, but I would LOVE a remake of your carrot cake. It’s a staple in our house, but we are going completely gluten-free for 2013 and your original recipe calls for spelt flour.
Just my 2 cents
[Reply]
Ricki Reply:
January 1st, 2013 at 8:56 am
Working on it!
[Reply]