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Home » Reviews » Recaps and Roundups » Four-Year Anniversary + a Giveaway! [closed]

January 1, 2015

Four-Year Anniversary + a Giveaway! [closed]

Erin and Jeff Wysocarski of Olives for Dinner

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

Plum cookbook, by Makiini Howell

You may also like:

Heading Back Home to Boston!
Vegan Food in Kyoto, Japan
VegNews Magazine | The Summer Issue!
2014 Vegan Cookbook Gift Guide

Filed Under: Recaps and Roundups

We hope you enjoy this content!

We'd love for you to leave a comment below. For recipes, we would also love it if you gave it a rating. Thanks so much!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy Ewing says

    January 1, 2015 at 5:35 pm

    Chimichurri seitan steak!

    Reply
  2. Spécialiste de l'éphémère says

    January 1, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    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!

    Reply
  3. Stark Raving Delicious says

    January 1, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    Variety of soups

    Reply
  4. Michelle says

    January 1, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    oooh, so hard to choose just one dish. maybe some sort of super fancy pasta primavera? with "alfredo" type sauce?

    Reply
  5. Taylor Reffett says

    January 1, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    Homemade tempeh or tofu!

    Reply
  6. Kimberly says

    January 1, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    You may have already done this, but I'd love to see a rich & creamy fettuccine alfredo. Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Kimberly says

      January 2, 2015 at 3:03 pm

      Kar177@hotmail.com

      Reply
  7. Ali says

    January 1, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    I always love more Asian-inspired favors – Korean and Chinese being my current favorites.

    Reply
  8. douglas colberg says

    January 1, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    Can you come up with a vegan quiche? I would love that.

    Reply
  9. Tracey Christianson says

    January 2, 2015 at 12:29 am

    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.

    Reply
  10. Lydia Claire says

    January 2, 2015 at 3:15 am

    A "seafood" based casserole. =)

    Reply
  11. Priscilla says

    January 2, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    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!

    Reply
  12. farmersmarketvegan says

    January 2, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    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!

    Reply
  13. Keys4Education says

    January 2, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    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.:)

    Reply
    • Keys4Education says

      January 2, 2015 at 4:46 pm

      Oops…forgot my details. Jenniferk123 @ hotmail . com

      Reply
  14. Christa O says

    January 2, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    Anything Thai inspired!

    Reply
  15. Jennifer says

    January 2, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    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.

    Reply
  16. Donna says

    January 2, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    Congrats on your wonderful four years! Love your blog. I can't get enough of one pot meals – soups, stews, curries.

    Reply
  17. Anonymous says

    January 2, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    Desserts made with vegan lemon curd.

    Reply
  18. Carolyn Jacobson says

    January 2, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    Pho please!!!

    Reply
  19. Anne says

    January 2, 2015 at 7:00 pm

    Tom Kha Gai – Spicy Thai Coconut Soup 🙂

    Reply
  20. Carolyn says

    January 2, 2015 at 11:48 pm

    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.

    Reply
  21. Travis Thomason says

    January 3, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    More sushi variations.

    @travis_lt

    Reply
  22. Sandy Smith says

    January 3, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    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

    Reply
  23. Anonymous says

    January 3, 2015 at 11:21 pm

    I'd like to have a good sloppy joe recipe.
    zollers@bellsouth.net

    Reply
  24. Ashley says

    January 4, 2015 at 1:54 am

    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

    Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    January 4, 2015 at 7:27 am

    Happy 4 year anniversary! I'd love to see more Mexican dishes that emphasize sauces and no "cheeze" substitutes! vegan4lyfe@comcast.net

    Reply
  26. Anonymous says

    January 4, 2015 at 4:03 pm

    I'd love a tetrazzini recipe, it was my hubby's favorite before I starting cooking vegan. troubletribs@hotmail.com

    Reply
  27. jennifer says

    January 4, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    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.

    Reply
  28. Heather C. says

    January 4, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    The pizza on the front of the book looks great! So how about that? heatherct2@gmail.com

    Reply
  29. Sydney says

    January 4, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    I would love to see some recipes that use good spring vegetables.

    Reply
  30. AG says

    January 5, 2015 at 1:12 am

    I would like to see a soy free recipe.:)

    Reply
  31. Tracey says

    January 5, 2015 at 1:20 am

    I'd love an easy pot pie recipe!

    Reply
  32. Anonymous says

    January 5, 2015 at 1:20 am

    Love your site – not sure of any recipes you could do. Nileta Jackson — facebook

    Reply
  33. Sarah Elizabeth says

    January 5, 2015 at 1:37 am

    I would love to see a recipe for Vegan French Onion Soup. Happy Anniversary! 🙂

    Reply
  34. Sarah Elizabeth says

    January 5, 2015 at 1:55 am

    sborgnis @ gmail.com

    Reply
  35. gumboot goddess says

    January 5, 2015 at 2:16 am

    buffalo tempeh wraps

    Reply
  36. InstructorBri says

    January 5, 2015 at 3:39 am

    A falafel wrap with vegan tsasiki sauce! Love your blog and what your doing with it.

    Reply
  37. allison says

    January 5, 2015 at 1:27 am

    I'm a tofu scramble junky. .. I'd love to see a new spin on this classic staple! Info@allisonweeksthomas.com

    Reply
  38. Jessica says

    January 5, 2015 at 4:02 am

    Happy Blog-iversary! I'd love to see more slow cooker recipes.

    Reply
  39. Marti Miller Hall says

    January 5, 2015 at 2:03 pm

    Ooooh! Cream of mushroom soup. Yes, I know, so BASIC!

    Reply
  40. Dawn says

    January 5, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    Anything Thai inspire with peanuts & limes! The cookbook looks amazing, move over Jamie Oliver!

    Reply
  41. Anonymous says

    January 5, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    Recipes with TVP, only thing I know is veggie/vegan chili… solstrina09@yahoo.com

    Reply
  42. shastina gamble says

    January 5, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    vegan mac and cheese!
    shastinag@yahoo.com

    Reply
  43. Devorah says

    January 5, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    Vegan quiche or vegan creme brulee

    Reply
  44. ann says

    January 5, 2015 at 8:14 pm

    I'd love to see a fancy tartelette of some type. Filled with vanilla custard perhaps?

    Reply
  45. Tanya says

    January 5, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    Congrats on your 4 years! I would love to see you do some Vegan Nut Cheeses. The stuff in our Supermarkets is awful.

    Reply
  46. Lisa Marie Berry says

    January 6, 2015 at 12:22 am

    Congratulations! Maybe a coconut loaf. 🙂

    Reply
  47. jstew52@hotmail.com says

    January 6, 2015 at 1:01 am

    More raw recipes!

    Reply
  48. Ashley Le says

    January 6, 2015 at 1:26 am

    I'd love to see a spice crusted tempeh or tofu of some sort. Maybe a Jamaican Jerk or Thai-inspired Coconut tempeh.

    Reply
  49. Ashley Le says

    January 6, 2015 at 1:33 am

    I would love to see a spice crusted tempeh of some sort. Maybe a Jamaican jerk or Thai-inspired coconut?

    Reply
  50. Corrine Greenfield says

    January 6, 2015 at 5:38 am

    A casserole that is creamy but also includes lots of healthy ingredients. =)

    Reply
  51. RadicalDame says

    January 6, 2015 at 1:59 pm

    I would love a new take on my favorite dish, lentil soup! Some fun and fresh and exciting.

    Reply
  52. Eva says

    January 6, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    I have loved making some of your asain inspired dishes before and would love to see your take on pad ped!

    Reply
  53. Heather Sebastian says

    January 6, 2015 at 8:14 pm

    Soups! Lot's of soup!
    heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  54. Amelia says

    January 7, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    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!

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Erin Wysocarski. Glad you’re here.

I create vegan recipes for those who love to cook and eat. My husband Jeff photographs them. We live in Boston with our rescue dog, Harper. More about Erin →

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