Monday, September 28, 2009

My First Cookbook Giveaway!!!

Welcome to my first giveaway! I was fortunate to be contacted by cookbook author, Nava Atlas, who is doing a blog tour to celebrate the 5th anniversary of her cookbook, The Vegetarian Family Cookbook.

Now, one glance at my blog and you'll know I'm not a vegetarian. But I do try to make a variety of balanced meals for my family. I have a large cookbook collection but this is my first all Vegetarian one. It has ten chapters such as Easy Breakfast Treats, Soothing Soups and Savory Stews, Salads and Such & Vegetable, Grain and Bean Main Dishes, just to name a few. It is a wonderful resource book as well. The author, Nava, talks about organic food, reasons to eat vegetarian and gives great choices and tips throughout the book.

I believe making small changes and better choices in the food we eat can make a big difference to your health and overall well being. Thank you, Nava, for providing your cookbook to me and one of my readers.

Banana Pecan Yogurt Pancakes

Enjoy!

These yogurt pancakes are one of the many recipes found in The Vegetarian Family Cookbook. It is the first time I used whole wheat flour. I used half whole wheat and half regular flour. I didn't tell my family about the whole wheat flour. They ate up the pancakes and we all liked them. My husband and I really liked the banana pecan version. My daughters ate them plain. We had some fruit on the side and I felt really good about this Sunday breakfast.

Banana-Nut Yogurt Pancakes
Recipe by
The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas

4 to 6 servings

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds, optional
1 1/2 cups low-fat yogurt or soy yogurt
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups low-fat milk or rice milk
2 tablespoons nonhydrogenated margarine (such as Smart Balance)
1 medium banana, sliced thin
1/4 to 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans
pinch of ground nutmeg
Pure maple syrup

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and flaxseeds (if using) in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the yogurt and milk. Stir with a whisk until the batter is just smooth; it should have an easy to pour consistency, but not too thin. Add more milk as needed. Don't overbeat.

Heat a nonstick griddle or a large nonstick skillet that has been lightly coated with some of the margarine. Ladle on the batter to form 3 to 4 inch pancakes. Cook on both sides over medium heat until golden brown. Serve hot with maple syrup.

Now, on to the giveaway details. In order to win The Vegetarian Family Cookbook, you must leave a comment answering this question:

What is your favorite breakfast food? (it doesn't have to be vegetarian) You must answer the question to be eligible. I want to see what other people like for breakfast. Also, to earn a second chance to win, go to the blog Aggie's Kitchen. Aggie is doing the same cookbook giveaway. So, bump up your odds and visit Aggie's Kitchen. You have until Tuesday night, Sept. 29th, at midnight to enter. I will announce the winner Wednesday morning by using Random.org.

Also, anyone can enter. You don't have to have a food blog to enter. So, family, friends, strangers and of course food bloggers can enter.

Mom's Cooking Club Lesson: Was it wrong that I didn't tell my family about adding the whole wheat flour to these pancakes? I really don't think so. Sometimes you have to be the "deceptive" cook (my husband prefers to use the word "creative") to get them to try new things. The more I expose them to healthier food choices, the more they will like them. Well, that's my hope anyway.

29 comments:

Barbara Bakes said...

It would be fun to win this cookbook, because I really need to get more creative with vegetables in my meals. My favorite breakfast is Citrus Cream Cheese Pull Aparts http://www.barbarabakes.com/2008/04/citrus-cream-cheese-pull-apart-rolls.html

Unknown said...

This sounds so yummy! My favorite meal in general is Breakfast, but in particular pancakes! Love banana and pecan pancakes loaded with syrup and butter..so usually try to eat on special occasions. But this recipe makes it healthier..so will have to try. We once made blueberry pancakes with blueberry yogurt because we ran out of blueberries, and the yogurt seems to make them really fluffy and taste great.

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Great giveaway! Eggs are my favorite breakfast and I like them so many ways.

Shelby said...

I would LOVE to win this cookbook! My favorite weekday breakfast is yogurt with granola topping. Weekends I'm usually making pancakes, french toast or waffles for Grumpy and me!

Tracy said...

I love baked goods for breakfast. Right now it's a banana chocolate chip mini bundt cakes.

Tiff said...

My favorite breakfast food is Eggs Benedict! Yummy! Thanks for the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

My favorite breakfast foods are on the savory end of the spectrum... preferably I like egg whites, turkey sauce, and a little American cheese on a whole wheat English muffin. Usually I end up with a Larabar or banana though :)

Brooke said...

I would love this cookbook. My fave meal for the morning when I'm rushed is my "cereal mess"...some cereal (my fave combo is honey nut cheerios and grape nut flakes), cottage cheese, and applesauce with flaxseed mixed all together. If I'm not in a hurry...pumpkin pancakes! I love those and am so excited its pumpkin season...yum-O!

Laura said...

What a cool giveaway !!!
Breakfast for me is usually a piece of whole wheat bread toasted and spread with a little crunchy peanut butter. I also love a small cup of light yogurt in the morning. ( especially blueberry activia) yum :)

Laura in Paris said...

It's banana day, I guess! I have left a comment in a post with tasty pics of Banana fritters (Aggies' Kitchen), and of Banana muffins (Erin's Cooking and Eating in the city of wind). Worst is I have no bananas in my pantry!

Laura said...

Pancakes with brown sugar and bacon. Or French toast with powdered sugar and sausage. Or waffles with either meat.

I have a sweet tooth in the morning. :) Neat giveaway. And I like vegetarian cookbooks too, despite not being vegetarian.

AllThingsYummy said...

My favorite breakfast is pancakes, bacon (because everything tastes better with bacon, especially thick-cut) and lots of maple syrup. If I'm trying to be healthy, my favorite is oatmeal with sliced strawberries.

Unknown said...

Banana Walnut flax seed muffins...one of my fav's! Healthy AND yummy!

Mary Ann said...

I would have to say that I really love scrambled eggs and toast- kinda boring, but I like starting my day with something not too sweet and loaded with protein. This cookbook looks great!

Unknown said...

Every morning my wonderful husband makes me a smoothie that includes a banana, honey, frozen berries and other good stuff. When I have time I also have a bowl of oatmeal ... it's so versatile, I can flavor it any way I want.

Melanie said...

I love smoothies and yogurt for breakfast...if I am splurging a greek style omelette......

Unknown said...

My favorite breakfast food is hash browns. Yum! I love me some potatoes.I would love to win this. Thank you and your sister in law for the opportunity.

Unknown said...

I entered your sister in law's giveaway. must be nice to have two great cooks in the family.

Andre' said...

My favorite breakfast food are eggs because there are so many different ways they can be prepared. For example you soft, hard, scrambled, sunnyside up, poached, in omelet form etc. They kind of remind me of the different moods we find ourselves.

Cindy said...

Hi -
I love to eat oatmeal and oatbran during the work week, but the weekends are meant for eggs or french toast - yum :)
Thanks for having such a great giveaway.

Unknown said...

This looks delish! My favorite breakfast is chorizo, potato, and egg breakfast burritos. Not vegetarian, but certainly yummy! I'd love a copy of this book!!!

bhdancegirl said...

Bananas and pecans mmmmmmmm

Anonymous said...

My favorite breakfast food is cereal--boring I know :) But I love some good old fashioned granola in the morning!

If I should be soooooo lucky, you can contact me at:

the lost earring at yahoo dot com

Thanks!

Sandra Foyt said...

I'm too late, shucks! Oh, well, I'm still glad I found your delicious recipe. I don't do much cooking. That's why my typical breakfast is cereal, but I'll ask my husband to try it out this weekend. Any breakfast is tastier when served in bed!

Lea Ann said...

My favorite breakfast food is Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. Especially right now with a counterfull of beautiful home grown tomatoes. Nothing fancy, just toasted whole wheat bread slathered with a good quality mayo, topped with bacon, sliced tomatoes and a leaf of fresh and crispy iceburg lettuce. yum. I started my blog in May also, that's why I was drawn to your blog. Just happened to see it. Thanks for the chance to win a cookbook. How fun

danyell said...

I would LOVE to win this cookbook since I am a vegetarian. My fave breakfast is eggs scrambled with a dash of Tabasco and Worcestershire along with a generous helpin of grated cheddar cheese. To lighten things up a bit, I also include (on the side) chopped fresh bananas (not too ripe) and chopped apples also stirring in some mandarin oranges--yummy!!!

Anonymous said...

My favorite breakfast food is a yogurt parfait: fruited yogurt layered with toasted walnuts or pecans and fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, etc). I'm also a huge pancake fan as are my two sons.
You're not being "deceptive" by adding whole wheat flour to your pancakes. You're just "weaving in" a nutritious ingredient!! Switching to omega-3 eggs is another easy way to up your family's nutrition!
I hope I win...

Robert Smith said...

My favorite breakfast food is Eggs. Great giveaway...!!

outdoor furniture atlanta said...

Wow, this is really awesome! I like how you have presented the whole thing.

 
Blog Design By: Sherbet Blossom Designs