Back when YumUniverse had it’s first birthday (almost 6 years ago!) I held a recipe contest to celebrate, and while every entry was delicious, there were a few that stood out to me and my fellow recipe testers—the Grand Prize winner Lisa Pitman’s Party Perfect Petit Fours (check out her Crustless Kale & Mushroom Quiche too) and Nicole Axworthy, who came up with a decadent, rich Brownie Blizzard Ice Cream Cake that none of us have forgotten since. So, it’s exciting for me to announce that the two have teamed up to co-author the new book DIY Vegan, which shares over 100 plant-based recipes with gluten-free options that I think YU’ll love.
I’m so grateful that they’re allowing me to give you a recipe preview for Coconut Bacon Bits from their book. And not only that, but you can enter a giveaway below for a free copy of DIY Vegan!
Coconut Bacon Bits from DIY Vegan
Makes 2 cups
“You’ve just got to give these a try. We love to use them in vegan club sandwiches, in salads, or to coat an amazing Classic Cheese Ball (page 60). But if you’re someone who loves smoky, salty sweets, you can also add these as a topping to doughnuts, cookies, and brownies. P.S. One of ourtesters told us this recipe alone was worth the price of the book.” —Nicole and Lisa
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon tamari
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce, homemade (page 139) or store bought
2 teaspoons liquid smoke
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons olive oil (optional)
½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
2 cups large coconut flakes
STEPS
1. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the tamari, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, maple syrup, olive oil (if using), vinegar, and paprika and stir. Toss in the coconut flakes and stir until well coated and no liquid remains at the bottom of the bowl.
3. Spread the coated coconut in a single layer over the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Watch carefully—the edges can burn quickly! Let cool on the baking sheet. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.
TRY THIS: If you’re looking to reduce your oil consumption, the natural fat in the coconut flakes make these delicious with or without the oil in the recipe. If you like things a little more on the salty side, add a sprinkle of salt once you lay out the coconut flakes on the baking sheet, before they go into the oven.
Reprinted from DIY Vegan. Copyright © 2015 Nicole Axworthy and Lisa Pitman. Published by St. Martin’s Griffin.
Photos ©Nicole Axworthy
GIVEAWAY!
If you’d like to enter to win a copy of DIY Vegan:
1. Register here.
2. Tell us with a comment below, why you’d like a copy of this book. And if you like, give a shout out FB, Insta, or on Twitter:
3. One winner will be selected at random December 29, 2015.
Say Hello to Lisa & Nicole:
Nicole Axworthy’s Website
Lisa Pitman’s Website
Buy the Book:
A very long time vegetarian, looking for easier ways to eat more vegan and eventually make the full ‘transition’ so to speak! I think this book would help a lot with that! Thanks for the contest 🙂
I’m always looking for new vegan cookbooks, and this one looks terrific! Excited to try the coconut bacon recipe.
I love the sample recipes listed here! It’s always fun to find new ways to spruce up a healthy dish. I’m sure the new book is AMAZING!
I like the DIY idea and using whole foods. I’m always looking for healthy items to make for my kids for their lunches.
I’ve been a vegetarian for 8 months now and want to take the next plunge into being vegan. I think I’m going to start with being vegan at home and a cookbook is just what I need to get inspired and feel supported. Thank you!
I love vegan food and am always looking for new and wonderful recipes to try. Eating vegan has come so far since I first started eating vegan and to be able to make wonderful vegan meals from scratch is such a joy. Your site is one of the best resources on the web, thank-you so much for sharing your wonderful recipes and detailed information.
I’d love to win this cookbook because even though there are tons of great looking recipes online, I still consult my hard copy cook books as a first step. This one looks really good! Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to WIN this book because it will assist me in properly caring for my overweight and diabetic veterans (a volunteer position) as well as provide the opportunity to learn to care for myself.
As I am aging I am understanding more about the importance of how meals affect my over all being. Not to mention I am experiencing digestive issues with myself. I have diverticulitis so my intestines and colon are very sensitive. They dont tell me what i can do but they tell me what not to do. It very painful sometimes experiencing this trial and error session of learning how to eat and drink properly.
In conclusion, I simply want to age healthy with simultaneously promoting that same environment for those who experience me.
I’d love to win a copy of DIY Vegan because I love making my own food staples. I make my own nut milk, cereal, granola, dressing on a regular basis. I’d love to branch out with more recipes! I’m definitely going to make these coconut bacon bits to go with my kale caesar salad!
I would love a copy of the book. Have been vegetarian for awhile and need help transitioning to vegan.!
Karen Adams
I would love to have this book and learn to make my own condiments.
I’ve been a strict vegetarian for 28 years but am now leaning more towards going vegan again. Things have changed a lot since I first took the plunge decades ago, so the DIY Vegan cookbook would be a great help to making the switch back super easy! But in all honesty, I am freezing right now and that cover reminds me of summer and makes me soooooo haaaaaappyyyyyyy….. 🙂
I had been fighting an illness for a long while, but have gotten better, and will finally be moving into a place of my own. I became a vegetarian some years ago, but was never really good at preparing a variety of meals. Variety is important in a vegetarian diet. This book will help me discover new recipes to make for myself and to serve to friends as we celebrate my new independence and healthier living.
I would like to win this cookbook because the recipes sound great and I love to try new vegan recipes.
I love being vegan, but have come to realize that being prepared is the key to success. Having a copy of DIY Vegan would be an excellent way to help me keep my kitchen stocked with healthy, vegan staples for my families meals.
I would love to have a copy of this book because I LOVE to cook and bake plant based food and this book seems like it has some wonderful recipes in it to discover!
Always excited to try new vegan recipes!
My family would love a copy of this book! We have decided to eat more mindfully for ourselves and the planet, and could use some inspiration and guidance for a plant based diet.
I love the idea of making staples from scratch! It is often hard to find healthier alternatives (less sugar, etc.). This book sounds so awesome!
I’d love to win a copy of this book because I love to make my own vegan staples. I think this book would be a great resource to have!
I would love to be able to make vegan pantry items from scratch. . That way I can ensure they are delicious and safe (I have celiac ).
I first found the YU site via Lisa Pitman (who’s the daughter of someone I know). I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the YumUniverse cookbook (just made the Toasted Pecan Florentines to give away for Christmas!) and would LOVE to have a copy of Lisa’s cookbook, too.
So hoping I win the DIY vegan book. I’m still new to eating only a plant-based diet, and this seems like a great book – along with yours, of course 🙂 to help me get there.