Has it actually been four years since we started this little blog? Jeff double checked my math and confirmed that yes, it’s been four years and 317 posts counting this one, to be exact. In some ways it feel like we just started this blog but, when I look back to posts we did back in 2011, I can see how much we’ve grown.
2014 was a crazy, but crazy-good year. The biggest thing that happened this year was our move from Boston to Los Angeles. After living and working in Boston for the past 10 years, swapping the city skyline for the beach has been a big change, but we’re settling in and happy to call Redondo Beach home for now.
This area has also been a huge inspiration for the blog. The diversity of the produce I come across is amazing: romanesco, pattypan squash, zucchini blossoms, Buddha’s hand, buckets of avocados, multicolored carrots, super-cheap mushrooms, one million varieties of apples, pretty tomatoes and kabocha squash, to name a few. I could also go on and on about the vegan cheese options, but you get the point.
For 2015, this blog will continue to be a fun partnership. Our respective love of recipe development (me) and photography (Jeff) grows with each post, so we’re always grateful when you visit, to read what is written and see what has been shot. And if you cook what has been made, I can’t thank you enough. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.
To thank you for being a reader of this blog, I’m hosting an annual giveaway of a newish-to-me cookbook, Plum: Gratifying Vegan Dishes from Seattle’s Plum Bistro, by Makini Howell. Packed with gorgeous photos and breathtakingly beautiful recipes, this hardcover vegan cookbook could live in your kitchen or sit on your coffee table and fit nicely into either spot. How does Tiramisu Pancakes, Cauliflower Bisque with Fresh Fennel, Chimichurri Seitan Steaks, Plum’s Smoky Mac and Toasted Chocolate Bread with Cream Cheese and Crème Fraîche sound?
For a chance to win a copy of Plum, just leave a comment below that includes a dish you’d like to see made on Olives for Dinner in 2015. On January 7, I’ll pick one at random to post on the blog in the coming weeks. Be sure to leave your email, twitter handle, blog url or some way to contact you in case your comment is drawn. Shipping is limited to US only.
The winner of this giveaway is Eva, congrats! And thanks for the fantastic suggestion for making pad ped, a Thai dish I’ve never heard of, but am excited to try! Thanks to all who entered and made suggestions.
Thanks again for your support of this blog by visiting, commenting and making the recipes! If you ever have a suggestion, question or feedback, I can be reached at erinwyso [at] olivesfordinner [dot] com. xo
Chimichurri seitan steak!
A dish I would like to see?
I am still trying to catch up with all the marvelous recipes you already posted and I enjoy every bite of all those dishes!
Happy new year to you!
Variety of soups
oooh, so hard to choose just one dish. maybe some sort of super fancy pasta primavera? with "alfredo" type sauce?
Homemade tempeh or tofu!
You may have already done this, but I'd love to see a rich & creamy fettuccine alfredo. Happy New Year!
Kar177@hotmail.com
I always love more Asian-inspired favors – Korean and Chinese being my current favorites.
Can you come up with a vegan quiche? I would love that.
Surprise me! Sauces to marry up to fresh produce. You blog has been such a discovery of treasures that I never could have dreamed. I look forward to the inspiration that your new local inspires.
A "seafood" based casserole. =)
I just traveled to Mexico and had enchiladas made with hibiscus in mole sauce. Would love to learn how to recreate that! Thanks and congrats on your 4th birthday!
Love the blog, Erin!!! Huge congratulations. I'd be thrilled to see you make a really thick vegan milkshake–I've been looking all over, but all of them are too liquidy for me. Great giveaway, btw!
SAUCES & DESSERTS!!! Can you ever have enough of either? I became vegan in January 2014 and find myself craving some of my old favorites…well, that and cheese. Still haven't been able to find a really good cheese that tastes like the real deal.:)
Oops…forgot my details. Jenniferk123 @ hotmail . com
Anything Thai inspired!
I would love to see a dish with Kohlrabi. I always get them from my CSA, and they taste awesome, but I don't think I ever use them to my full advantage. Maybe they would taste great with some Asian twist to them.
Congrats on your wonderful four years! Love your blog. I can't get enough of one pot meals – soups, stews, curries.
Desserts made with vegan lemon curd.
Pho please!!!
Tom Kha Gai – Spicy Thai Coconut Soup 🙂
Happy 4th birthday to Olives for Dinner! Picking up on the suggestion for kohlrabi, would love to see recipes using root vegetables in general. Determined to have a garden again this year, I want to include more roots.
More sushi variations.
@travis_lt
Would love to have a tamale recipe! I've found vegetarian ones for sale, but not vegan. And can you make it an easy recipe? I'm a "challenged cook" 🙂
Congrats on your anniversary! I love your blog!
thesmiths2@mac.com
I'd like to have a good sloppy joe recipe.
zollers@bellsouth.net
I would love dishes that would be good to serve first-time veg eaters…I often have guests over and I am always stumped as to what to serve people who think we only eat lettuce. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway! ammauceri@gmail.com
Happy 4 year anniversary! I'd love to see more Mexican dishes that emphasize sauces and no "cheeze" substitutes! vegan4lyfe@comcast.net
I'd love a tetrazzini recipe, it was my hubby's favorite before I starting cooking vegan. troubletribs@hotmail.com
I'd love to see sauces too! Something tasty to drizzle over the rice-beans-greens bowl. Congratulations on four years! I love this blog.
The pizza on the front of the book looks great! So how about that? heatherct2@gmail.com
I would love to see some recipes that use good spring vegetables.
I would like to see a soy free recipe.:)
I'd love an easy pot pie recipe!
Love your site – not sure of any recipes you could do. Nileta Jackson — facebook
I'm a tofu scramble junky. .. I'd love to see a new spin on this classic staple! Info@allisonweeksthomas.com
I would love to see a recipe for Vegan French Onion Soup. Happy Anniversary! 🙂
sborgnis @ gmail.com
buffalo tempeh wraps
A falafel wrap with vegan tsasiki sauce! Love your blog and what your doing with it.
Happy Blog-iversary! I'd love to see more slow cooker recipes.
Anything Thai inspire with peanuts & limes! The cookbook looks amazing, move over Jamie Oliver!
Vegan quiche or vegan creme brulee
Ooooh! Cream of mushroom soup. Yes, I know, so BASIC!
I would like to see some raw food recipes! blankenmi@gmail.com
Recipes with TVP, only thing I know is veggie/vegan chili… solstrina09@yahoo.com
vegan mac and cheese!
shastinag@yahoo.com
I'd love to see a fancy tartelette of some type. Filled with vanilla custard perhaps?
Congrats on your 4 years! I would love to see you do some Vegan Nut Cheeses. The stuff in our Supermarkets is awful.
Congratulations! Maybe a coconut loaf. 🙂
More raw recipes!
I'd love to see a spice crusted tempeh or tofu of some sort. Maybe a Jamaican Jerk or Thai-inspired Coconut tempeh.
I would love to see a spice crusted tempeh of some sort. Maybe a Jamaican jerk or Thai-inspired coconut?
A casserole that is creamy but also includes lots of healthy ingredients. =)
I would love a new take on my favorite dish, lentil soup! Some fun and fresh and exciting.
I have loved making some of your asain inspired dishes before and would love to see your take on pad ped!
Soups! Lot's of soup!
heatheranne99 at gmail dot com
Happy "Anniversary"! Hmmm…there are so many recipes already, I suppose I would like to see hardy breakfasts (sandwiches, egg alternatives) without having to always rely on tofu. amelia6097@hotmail.com
Thanks!