After way too many months of keeping the cover of the Blissful Basil cookbook under wraps, I'm so excited to finally be sharing it with you today! Technically, it was revealed by Amazon well over a month ago when the pre-order link went live and some of you saw it then, but it feels awesome to officially be sharing it with you.
The cover image itself is new but you might recognize the recipe, because it's one of the very few (10 or so) blog recipes that made it into the book: Sweet Potato Pizza Crust! And because I can't seem to leave well enough alone, I tested, retested, and perfected that darn crust, so you'll be getting a new and improved version in the book.
As a newbie to the cookbook process and a self-taught photo-snapper, the process of shooting a cover image proved to be a real challenge. From the start, I was set on having a single cover image (as opposed to a collage), and I (naively) wasn't all that worried about making it happen. As it turns out, capturing an image that is strong enough to stand out on a cover while also being representative of a book as a whole is tough. My publisher emphasized the importance of it being 1| vibrant and eye-catching (that rules out dishes with too many earth tones), 2| fresh but cooked (that rules out salads), 3| a recipe that was complex enough to intrigue but not overly fussy (that rules out smoothies + juices), and 4| preferably a main course (that rules out breakfast + brunch, snacks + appetizers, and desserts). Gulp.
But just when I was about ready to throw in the kitchen towel, I remembered that I still needed to re-photograph that new (and improved) sweet potato crust. Even without toppings, the crust offers a vibrant orange hue, so I figured that with a little creativity and a rainbow of veggies on top, it might just turn out to be the one. And it did.
Of course as I was shooting it, that lingering self-doubt turned me into a trigger-happy photo hoarder, and I spent over three hours taking nearly 200 photos of this one. single. pizza. before spending several more hours editing every last image. And out of those 200 photos, can you guess which one was the winner? Photo #3. Mmhmm, the third photo I snapped. Moral of the story: three's a charm (and photo-hoarding is exhausting).
Pre-Orders
In other exciting news, the book is now officially available for pre-order from the following online vendors:
The book will be released on December 20, 2016! It's packed with over 130 plant-powered recipes and nearly 130 full-page photos, and you can read more about it here.
This cookbook has been a complete labor of love. There have been lots of nervous laughs, several lessons learned, too many tears, countless womp-womps on the kitchen floor, and about a dozen cookies stomped. And it was so worth it, because it's been one of the most fulfilling life adventures I've ever had. Thank you for making it possible—I am forever (and ever) grateful.
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Robin McGinnis says
Congrats on you on the release of your cookbook I know your work via your mother and infant welfare. I just ordered your book on Amazon. I am looking forward to having it in my collection.
Ashley says
Hi, Robin! Thank you so much for your support and for pre-ordering. It really means so much. Also, my mom says "hello!" :)
Abby @ Heart of a Baker says
CONGRATS! It looks amazing already and I can't wait to see the whole dang thing! xo
Ashley says
Thanks so much, Abby! I started to comment on your Instagram comment on my post and then somehow deleted it. Basically, I was just rambling on about how this year has been so crazy that I've fallen incredibly far behind on keeping up with all the blogs I love so much (e.g., yours!) and that I'm so excited to have a bit more time to catch-up on your beautiful, delectable recipes and thoughtful musings. I hope everything is going great for you! Btw, love your new blog name!! It feels so fitting for you because I'm always able to sense the passion and heart that goes into each of your recipes and posts.
linda \\ the baker who kerns says
Ahh I can't wait to see this in bookstores! That cover is AMAZING, you will definitely be getting lots of peoples attention with that cover. Its vibrant and bold and the composition and photography is fabulous. Since I am a designer and all about aesthetics I do find myself literally judging a book by its cover when the photo doesn't attract me at all, so I can't wait to browse through the beautiful pages of this cookbook!
Ashley says
Linda!! Your kind words and compliments seriously put the biggest smile on my face! Given that you're a designer, they're especially meaningful! I'm so happy with the way it turned out but you never know how it will be received, so it's incredibly encouraging to hear your thoughts. I'll be sure to pass your comment along to the cover designer on my publishing team, as I'm sure she'll appreciate it! :)
Eva says
Beautiful. Congrats Ashley!!!! : )
Ashley says
Thank you, Eva!! Your consistent support throughout the years has been so encouraging and appreciated. Hope all is wonderful for you!
janet @ the taste space says
Congratulations! The cover looks fabulous and I look forward to seeing your cookbook in person. It will be a long wait, for sure.
Ashley says
Thank you so much, Janet!! I'm so grateful for your support and kindness. Hope everything is going well for you!
Dan M says
Congrats, Ashley! You're an inspiration to us all and I'm extremely proud of you! <3
Ashley says
Couldn't have done it without you -- that is a fact. <3
Cheryl, Hollister, CA says
Kudos, Ashley! We're so happy for you. Thanks for sharing your recipes, it's apparent they come from your heart. Thanks, also, for sharing your honesty and humor with your blog readers. You are an inspiration to us all.
Ashley says
My goodness, what a generous compliment to receive. Thank you for this, Cheryl. It's truly a pleasure (and an honor) to share the recipes, thoughts, etc. here on the blog, and I wouldn't be able to do it without such a compassionate and appreciative community of readers like you. So really, I should be thanking you for fostering my happy place. :)
Donna F. says
It looks amazing! Congrats!!
Ashley says
Thank you, Donna! :)
Jermisha says
Never have I seen such a gorgeous cookbook cover in my life! This is coming from someone who is always looking up cookbooks and recipes alike. 130 recipes and almost 130 photos included is unbelievably generous of you to share throughout your cookbook. I have owned cookbooks that only featured 10 - 15 photographs and cost almost double the price of your current cookbook. Not sure how you pulled it off but I would like to thank you! :) Congrats!
Ashley says
Jermisha, you are so wonderful! Thank you for your support and for always spreading such kindness. I'm so glad you're excited about all those photos, because I am too! I'm one of those people who cannot buy a cookbook with no photos or a very limited number of photos (and I think this is true of most people), so it was important to me that this book be visually enticing and packed with images. While it can be fun to be imaginative, I didn't want people to have to imagine what their meal might look like when deciding whether or not they wanted to invest the time, ingredients, and effort! :)
Helen says
Not sure I can preorder as I live in a different country, but the moment it's available to buy, I'm getting this!!! We love your recipes and blog, and no doubt this cook book is going to be a wonderful addition to anyone trying to eat a healthy, yet super tasty plant based diet.
Ashley says
Thank you so much, Helen! I'm so grateful for your support. Where are you located? I believe it's also available for pre-order in the UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blissful-Basil-Plant-Powered-Vibrancy-Happiness/dp/1942952457/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462804366&sr=8-1&keywords=blissful+basil), and I can inquire about others with my publisher.
Aya Tsintziras says
Congrats, what a beautiful cover! I can't wait to see the book in person :)
Ashley says
Thanks so much, Aya! I can't wait for you to see it in person either! :)