It’s official! Cover number two for the win! Thank you all so much for voting last week. It’s all becoming very real and I’ve had a blast reading all of your feedback. I didn’t know that so many of you detest cabbage; now I’m on a mission to bring cabbage back!
For those who are curious, here’s the final count:
FINAL RESULTS: 7445 Votes
Cover 1 – 949 Votes (12.8%)
Cover 2 – 3425 Votes (46.1%)
Cover 3 – 3058 Votes (41.1%)
Funny enough, those percentages match perfectly with my own preferences. One of a million reasons why you all are the best people on the internet! Thank you again for your support throughout this crazy cookbook-making process, and for your input on the cover. I wanted a bold, vibrant, eye-catching photo of a fresh and satisfying recipe on the cover, and I think the salad is exactly that.
The book comes out May 16th, which seems so far away, but it will be here before we know it. It’s available for pre-orders on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can find more details here. Chris pre-ordered some cookbooks to give as gifts this Christmas, and he’s printing out copies of the cover to give for now. Love it.
I absolutely cannot wait for you to see the book and all of my new favorite recipes that I’ve had to keep under wraps. For now, I’ve rounded up ten of my favorite festive recipes to celebrate the official cover announcement. They would all be fantastic options to serve at holiday gatherings.
1) Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparkling Sangria
If you can’t find blood oranges yet, regular oranges would be great, too
“Well, in spite of yourself and your perfectionism, you have created the perfect sangria! We’re having a Super Bowl Ungame Party and we’ve inconveniently run out of Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparking Sangria. Back to the store!” – Peggy
2) Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
“This became my pocket cocktail for the 2015 holiday season! I impressed party guests AND my bartender roommates! I occasionally used an egg white for more body (it’s a thing!) and it was super delish. Thank you!!” – Carlin
3) Kale Guacamole
Let me know how you like this one! I love it.
4) Roasted Veggie Enchilada Casserole
“Hi Kate! I’ve made LOTS of your recipes…they’re some of my favorites! This one is no exception. I used a mix of jack and cheddar cheeses and cooked the veggies in the skillet to save on time…it was a huge hit all around! I will definitely be making this again soon. Looking forward to your cookbook!” – Brooke
5) Tortilla Soup
“This was the MOST yummy and satisfying soup!! I’m making it again tonight. It will be a regular in my house from now on.” – Annemarie
6) Simple Seedy Slaw
“Yes this is delicious! Just made it and I’m very impressed with the flavours. Planning on having it with tempeh fajitas tonight! Thanks!” – Sarah
7) Citrus Olive Oil Cake
“Baked this cake today using navel oranges and it was DELICIOUS! Super moist and flavourful, and not crazy-complicated to make either. Bookmarking this so I can recreate it with other citrus fruits in the future.” – Laura
8) Dark Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons
“I made these for my church discipleship group and everyone loved them! So easy and delicious!” – Trish
9) Pear Cranberry Crisp
“Made this recipe tonight and wow it was amazing!” – Kristen
10) The Very Best Brownies.
“Hi Kate (and Cookie!), I made this brownie recipe and it turned out beautifully! Chocolatey, chewy, and the perfect crispy top – just as promised. I followed the directions carefully, no substitutions, and really got an upper body workout in while I stirred. Rave reviews from my taste test crew too! Love your blog.” – Kitten
More holiday resources you might appreciate: my 2016 holiday gift guide, 2015 holiday gift guide, 23 favorite holiday recipes, kitchen essentials shop, favorite cookbooks list and holiday Pinterest board!
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Susan
I’m glad to see which cover won. It happens to be the one I voted for, because I liked the balance and because it was the easiest on the eyes, while still being interesting. It will be wonderful to see the cookbook in the flesh. May is not far away…
Kate
Thank you, Susan! I’m glad you liked this cover best, too. Hope you love the book!
Danica
It’s beautiful, Kate. Although I voted for #3, I thought that #2 was more representative of your recipes. It gets more real every month, doesn’t, it?
Kate
Eek, yes, it does! I loved cover #3, too. :)
Pat Ives
I have just gone vegetarian about a month ago, and I love it. Your blog and site are totally cool! Thank you so much!!
Kate
Thank you so much, Pat! I’m glad you found my blog, and high five for becoming a vegetarian!
Sara @ Last Night's Feast
Congrats on your new book!!! Merry Christmas
Kate
Thank you, Sara! Merry Christmas to you, too!
Patrick Andrew Adams
Got it on my wishlist, can’t wait. Love everything you do here.
Kate
Thank you so much, Patric! Can’t wait for you to see the book.
Nella
Yay, that was my favourite cover!
Nice balance with the composition and the colours.
One more step to the big book release! So exciting!
Happy Holidays to you & Cookie!
Kate
Woohoo! Thank you, Nella, and thanks again for your help testing the recipes. Happy holidays!
Jess @Nourished by Nutrition
Congratulations! This is so exciting for us…I can’t even imagine how you must feel! Giving the pre-order is such an adorable gift idea…and now I’m rethinking all of my holiday gift purchases… Happy Holidays Kate!
Kate
Thank you so much, Jess! Eep! I can’t believe it’s going to be a real printed book soon.
Krystal
So I was hoping to ask for advice from a local…
My family will be visiting KC this holiday season and was wondering if there are any amazing restaurants you might recommend? We’ve been to KC before, but we’re wondering if you might know of a place that might not show up in out Google and Yelp searches.
You seemed like the perfect person to ask, being a vegetarian, like us and being someone whose site I visit often for inspiration!
Kate
Hey Krystal, thanks for your note! I need to publish a KC restaurant guide. My favorite restaurants are Beer Kitchen (it’s in Westport, great brunch!), The Mixx (near the Plaza, epic salads) and Westside Local (in the Westside area). I love the eggplant Parmesan at Regazza (Westport), Mediterranean food at Aladdin Cafe (39th Street) and Indian food at Korma Sutra (Westport).
Dedicated vegan/vegetarian restaurants that I enjoy are Eden Alley (on the Plaza), Cafe Gratitude (Crossroads) and Füd (Westside area, beware that service is always very slow).
Some places with limited vegetarian options that I still really like are The Rieger (Crossroads), Gram and Dun, Westport Cafe (more for drinks than the food—although you can ask for the omelet for dinner), and Ça Va (super cute little Champagne bar in Westport). Char Bar is a barbecue place in Westport with a big, fun patio and some interesting vegetarian options (epic pimento grilled cheese).
Manifesto is a speakeasy in the basement of The Rieger (enter through the door on the back of the building) with great cocktails and a cool ambience. Check their website for reservation details.
r.a.
My computer was in for repairs and by the time I got it back the whole voting for the cover had been posted and was over. I am glad to see the one I would have voted for had I seen it was chosen. Looking forward to purchasing your cookbook but I hope we have an opportunity at some point to have you sign a copy.
Kate
Well, I’m glad #2 was your favorite! I hope to do a book tour and it would be lovely to meet in person!
Jessica
I make many recipes from your blog, and some of them are favorites and on my regular rotation. I am glad you’re publishing a book and am very interested in it, as I think you have a gift for combining flavors effectively. However, I am vegan, not vegetarian. On the blog I can pick and choose. But I’m concerned that in the book too many of the recipes will include animal-based products, and even if you suggest vegan alternatives, if you haven’t actually tested the recipes yourself using those alternatives (like the crisp and cake above), they are just guesses and would be experiments for me with no guarantee of decent results, not something I really want to pay for. Of course others, like the tortilla soup, are easily veganized by simply omitting a non-essential ingredient. I’m wondering if you can give me some idea of the percentage of recipes in the book that are vegan or can be easily veganized, or for which you tested vegan alternatives.
Kate
Hi Jessica! You’re right, I often include vegan suggestions on the blog and rely on readers to confirm that they work. However, for the book, I tested every single dietary substitution suggested so I could be 100% confident about them. So I actually created and tested about 250 recipes for the book, to make sure they could be made vegan/gluten free. That’s why I’m so tired. :) I think there are at least 85 vegan/easily made vegan recipes in the book. I will have an exact count closer to launch.
Margaret
Thank you SO much Kate for the fabulous Christmas gift of pre ordering your Cookbook!!We have ordered our copies and It will definitely be worth the wait!We have already been making the rosemary shortbread-YUM! And we look forward to making those cocktails and that Citrus olive oil bread- YUM!
Also thank you for making me and my husband Eric look like such wonderful and fancy cooks!
We wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Sincerely ,your friends in the forest,
Marg Eric and our furry friends Phoebe and Rosie Posey
PS We LOVE the cover! and pats to Cookie!
Kate
Thank you so much for your support, Margaret! That means a ton. Merry Christmas to you and Eric and Phoebe and Rosie Posey! I have some new cocktail recipes in the book for you. :)
Kathrin
Well – this is a first. I’ve preordered your book, and I’ve never preordered anything before. Expect maybe a Harry Potter book when I was 12 :-). Since I needed to make use of international shipping, I figured I might as well buy 3 copies – having made dozens of your recipes, I just know that I’ll be gifting your book A LOT.
I’m really looking forward to your book and I’m so happy that you’ve accomplished so much – you deserve it ;-)
Kate
Kathrin, your comment totally made my day. Thank you for pre-ordering! That really helps the book to rank well. I hope you and everyone that you share the book with loves it.
Jacqueline Meldrum
How exciting Kate. I can’t wait to see it.
Kate
Thank you, Jacqueline!
Sarah
Yay! I’m so happy this cover won! I mean, it’s the obvious choice. ;)
Now I want to celebrate with a those roasted veg casserole, sangria and a big fat brownie. Merry Christmas, Kate!
Kate
Belated thank you and Happy New Year, Sarah! Here’s to lots of sangria and brownies in 2017.
Cassie
Those brownies, kale guacamole bowl, pear cranberry crisp, macaroons, seedy slaw, and olive oil cake are calling my name!
Theresa blake
Just made the gluten free apple tart wow light and fresh. First baking I have done for many years.
Thank you
Tb
Kate
Thanks, Theresa! I’m so glad you enjoyed that one.
Kate
I want that cover recipe soooooo bad. :D
Kate
It’s really good, if I can say so myself. :D
Mary
I thought I missed the cookbook debut, but found this post on cover votes that I did miss while out of town. Great choice! And I love the idea of giving the pre-order with copies of cookbook cover for Holiday gifts! Can we go back two weeks so I can do this? Will pre-order next month, after I tally how many I need to give as Birthday gifts. Best comment during the holidays, “Who is that dog on your computer?That’s not one of your dogs.” My younger daughter answers her Aunt, “Oh, Mom’s a fan of hers, it’s Cookie and her Mom.”
Kate
Mary, Happy New Year! Thank you so much for your support. Your comments always brighten my day!
Lee
YOU ARE SO TALENTED. THATISALL
Kate
Shucks, thanks pal! I’m so impressed by your Glow Guide. High five!!!
nicole hebel gamzon
I had j nooo o idea this was your book!!! I have it do a year and followed your recipes for longer than that but I usually don’t read the blog and I never put 2 and 2 together! Ha! Now I have a face! I love it! Thank you so much. I’m actually sharing some of your recipes tomorrow nigh in my webinar about how to have a healthier Passover! ( I hope that’s ok, giving you all the credits of course ;)