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May 5, 2014

"vegan finger foods" giveaway


SPINACH SWIRLS


It's that time again, when another wonderful cookbook I tested for is being released across bookstores nation-wide and I get to give away a copy to a lucky winner. I seem to be rotating back and forth between Robin Robertson and the duo of Tamasin Noyes and Celine Steen. 

The duo's latest creation is Vegan Finger Foods. Get the party started! The ladies have conjured up "more than 100 crowd-pleasing recipes for bite-size eats everyone will love." Including my family!

During testing, I feasted on Spinach Swirls (above), with a Quickie Marinara dip. Below is Banh Mi Lettuce Wraps, which is truly scrumptious.

BANH MI LETTUCE WRAPS

This book, as all of their cookbooks from Fair Winds, is just as beautiful as their first one, Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day! They keep the goodies coming with the Hot Pepper Toastwiches, pictured below.


HOT PEPPER TOASTWICHES

GREEN SNACKERS

Another favorite was the Green Snackers, above, perfect for dipping or just chowing down, and Polenta Fries, below. This is the way to throw a party!


BAKED POLENTA FRIES WITH AVOCADO DIP

And this was one of my faves during testing, the Portobello Horseradish Bruschetta. The mushroom was tender, the sauce just piquant enough and the pea shoots added just the right touch of crunch and earthiness. So delicious!

PORTOBELLO HORSERADISH BRUSCHETTA

The ladies and Fair Winds Press have sanctioned the publication of the recipe for the first photo, Spinach Swirls with Quickie Marinara:

Spinach Swirls
Yield: 20 swirls

These easy little spinach bites are an impressive part of an appetizer spread. Try to resist eating the filling with a spoon, but we won’t blame you if you do. Serve these with our Quickie Marinara (page 16).

For the dough:
1⁄2 cup (120 ml) warm water
1 teaspoon Sucanat
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 cup (120 g) white or regular whole wheat flour
1⁄2 cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
1⁄2 teaspoon Italian herb blend
1⁄2 teaspoon fine sea salt
Nonstick cooking spray

For the filling:
3 cups (90 g) finely chopped spinach
2 tablespoons (15 g) nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper

To make the dough: Stir together the water, Sucanat, and yeast in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes, until the yeast bubbles. Add the flours, oil, Italian herb blend, and salt. Mix on low until the dough forms a smooth ball, about 6 minutes. (Alternatively, knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes.) Add an extra 1 tablespoon (8 g) flour or (15 ml) water if needed to make a cohesive dough. Coat a large bowl with cooking spray.

Round the dough into a ball and place it in the bowl, turning so the oiled side is up. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 1 1⁄2 hours. Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Divide the dough in half and roll each half into an 8 ≈ 10-inch (20 ≈ 25 cm) rectangle.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C, or gas mark 5).

To make the filling: Stir together the spinach, nutritional yeast, oil, and pepper in a medium-size bowl. Spread half the filling evenly on each rectangle. Roll from the 10-inch (25 cm) side, pinching the dough together as you go, including the ends and the last edge of the dough, so the swirls don’t unwind in the oven. Cut each roll into 1-inch (2.5 cm) slices, and place on a baking sheet with the filling side on top, and against the baking sheet.

Bake the rolls for 18 to 22 minutes, until lightly browned and the centers are cooked. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

Quickie Marinara
Yield: 13⁄4 cups (415 ml)

Extra easy, famously fast, and very versatile, this is a go-to in our homes to use as a pizza sauce,
for dipping sandwiches or calzones, and served alongside our Twisted Bread Sticks (page 108) and Spinach Swirls (page 111). Nobody will believe you can make a sauce this flavorful in only 15 minutes. Because canned tomato sauces vary in consistency, add a tablespoon or two (17 to 33 g) of tomato paste to thicken the sauce if needed.

1 teaspoon olive oil
1⁄2 cup (80 g) minced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian herb blend
1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
1 can (15 ounces, or 425 g) tomato sauce
Fine sea salt, to taste

Heat the oil and onion in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Cook until fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, herb blend, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant, but do not brown it.

Add the sauce and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the sauce for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust the seasonings. The sauce may be made ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Gently reheat over low heat if refrigerated.


After you've come back from the kitchen with a plate full of Spinach Swirls, enter the contest to win your own copy of Vegan Finger Foods. By now you know that I hold giveaways quite frequently, so hopefully you won't mind following me on Twitter or liking me on Facebook. Once that is taken care, just leave a comment and a winner will be chosen on May 29, my son's birthday. Contest open to US and Canada residents. {Winner will be announced on the second of June}

Since my cookbook, Everyday Vegan Eats, will be releasing next week, there will be more giveaways before the month is up! 

AND, in case you missed it, Tami is hosting a raffle (Quilts for the Cause) which benefits two amazing charities. Check out the info HERE and this gorgeous quilt she is raffling off: 







I am linking to these recipe parties: The blogs hosting Healthy Vegan Fridays are Suzanne at Hello Veggie, Anna at Herbivore Triathlete, and Kimmy at Rock My Vegan SocksI’ve also decided to submit this dish to What I Ate Wednesday hosted by Peas and Crayons. 


40 comments:

  1. Ohhhh, you know I am SO entering this one! Those spinach wheels look amazing! That book would be really handy to have, since I attend potlucks so frequently. :)

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  2. Ooooh, these look amazing! Thanks for the chance. I follow you on FB and Twitter.

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  3. We have at least 10 at our table almost every Friday night. I love the idea of starting with finger food. also great for kiddushim and outdoor eating in the summer. We are temporarily without a dishwasher I'd love a copy right now!!!.

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  4. These recipes look fabulous! I would love to win this book. I follow you on Twitter. Thank you for the chance to win! My name is Amy and I am AmyRoseSu on Twitter.

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  5. I've had this book on my wishlist since it was announced. Tami and Celine are two of my favorite cookbook authors. Thanks for the sneak peek!

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  6. These finger foods look amazing! My baby shower is in a few months and these dishes would be quite impressive!

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  7. This is an amazing giveaway. I'm so excited for this book and I really hope I win!

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  8. I have liked your page on fb. (Nishie pounder) abd Twitter (tanishahammell)

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  9. So excited to try these, yummy on the Bked Polenta Fries with Avacado dip!

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  10. Yum! Everything looks delicious. :-)

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  11. I follow you on Facebook. The recipes here look awesome!

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  12. I have liked you on FB and follow you on Twitter. =)

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  13. I follow you on Facebook but I don't have a Twitter account. Thanks!

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  14. Yippee! Those lettuce wraps looks yum! I did a follow on FB and Twitter!

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  15. All of the recipes look so good! Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks, and so I'm sure this one will be great.

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  16. I follow you on Facebook, and finger foods are my favorite!

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  17. Everything looks so yummy! I would love to win!

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  18. I follow on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  19. Such great ideas for recipes! My birthday is May 29th too. :) Following on Facebook. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  20. I like you on Facebook as Shannon C. Looks great!

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  21. following on twitter and fb!
    @candy_is_sweetr
    candy.hoffman.33

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  22. What's better than vegan food? Vegan finger food! I'll follow you everywhere! :D

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  23. These rolls remind me of these Asian scallion rolled baos, ;) I always follow you on your social networks ;)

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  24. I'm a twitter follower! The portobello bruschetta look wonderful.

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  25. I would love a chance to win this book thank you!

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  26. Thank you for the chance to win this cookbook!

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  27. Two of my favorite things together. ..vegan & appies!! Liking you of fb!

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  28. The Polenta Fries look great, Thanks! Follow you on FB

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  29. with all the summer parties coming up, this will be a major help!

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  30. Everything looks so elegant, especially the Bruschetta and the spirally Spinach Rolls!
    ...Although it would be fun to put the spirals on sticks (like lollipops) and do different versions (spinach, carrot, beet, etc) to get kids to eat their veggies! :)

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  31. This book has been on my wish list for some time. It's about time I started entertaining again.

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  32. what a cool book and love the recipes..I would love to win it. I follow you on fb and twitter

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  33. Of all the amazing looking things, I am actually most intrigued by the Green Snackers - perfect for packing in lunches! wickedliz at hotmail dot com

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  34. So excited about this cookbook -- especially the polenta fries!! :) Thanks for doing the review and giveaway!! :)

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  35. Roof without a roof happy about Celine & Tami's latest collaboration, since everything they have done has given me tasty recipes, and great ideas for making vegan even more delicious. Already liking you on FB, Zsu's, and looking forward to your book, too.

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  36. All of these meals you made look amazing, I want to try any of the finger foods from the cookbook!

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  37. This book looks amazing! I follow on twitter and Facebook jennybunny_(at)hotmail

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  38. I have been recuperating from surgery since Wednesday, and able to do too much cooking, but I tried the marinara sauce for some pasta and it was very tasty. I can't wait to get back to cooking full meals again soon. So happy to have found your blog, and FB page! I have found some great recipes to try out and can't wait to try out the Spinach Swirls!! Thanks for your posts. Look forward to reading more.

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    Replies
    1. Not sure why I showed up as Unknown. My name is Tomi Wilson. Thanks!

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    2. No worries, Tomi. I'll make sure to enter you and notify you by name. Thanks for visiting and heal quickly!

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Thanks for your comment! I'll check if it's spam and post if it is not. I appreciate your time and effort for commenting! ~ Zsu