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Esther the Wonder Pig and Baconish Giveaway

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I haven’t done a giveaway in a while and this one is very special.  It’s a two book giveaway (to one lucky person) to win a copy of Esther the Wonder Pig: Changing the World One Heart at a Time, the long-awaited story of the eponymous Internet sensation and animal ambassador, as told by Esther’s dads, the men who love and care for her, Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter.

PLUS… you’ll also win a copy of Baconish: Sultry and Smoky Plant-Based Recipes from BLTs to Bacon Mac & Cheese by Leinana Two Moons, an amazing new cookbook featuring recipes for plant-based bacon made from mushrooms, carrots, eggplant, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, seitan, and coconut, along with loads of delicious recipes that use them such as Pasta Carbonara, Cauliflower Bacon Gratin, and Maple-Bacon Doughnuts.  Best of all, Baconish is “Esther-approved!”

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If, like so many of us, you’ve been captivated by Esther and her winning smile, you’ll love reading the touching, funny, and inspiring story of Esther and her dads.  I love Esther and the way she has captured the hearts of so many fans.  She does a great job in showing people how funny, smart, and deserving of respect pigs (and all animals) are.  My hope is that thanks to Esther, more people will stop eating animals as they make the connection between the wonderful sentient beings and the food on their plate.

And as many of us already know, you can enjoy the salty, smoky crispy taste of bacon without the cruelty inherent in animal products and the recipes in Baconish show how to do it deliciously.

Would you like to own a copy of Esther the Wonder Pig AND Baconish?  Just leave a comment at the end of this post telling me your favorite way to enjoy plant-based bacon (mine is in a BLT with avocado!) and you’ll be entered in the giveaway.  BOTH books go to ONE lucky winner.  The giveaway ends on Wednesday, June 8th at midnight.  The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 9th.

While you wait to see if you’ve won, why not make a batch of tasty roasted chickpea bacon from Baconish? It makes a great snack or salad topper!

chickpeabacon CROPWEB

Roasted Chickpea Bacon

Makes 1 1/4 cups

Move over, hummus! There’s a much more glamorous chickpea dish in town. Here, the humble chickpea shows the world how it can transform into a smoky, salty, crunchy, utterly addictive delight, with just a hint of sweetness from brown sugar. These are perfect for topping salads, soups, adding to sandwich wraps, or just munching straight from the bowl. In fact, you might find yourself making double batches just to keep plenty of these snacks on hand.

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons tamari

1 teaspoon liquid smoke

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon smoked salt

Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Using paper towels or a clean dishcloth, pat the chickpeas as dry as possible. The drier they are, the crunchier they will get. If there are any loose skins, pick those out and discard them. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon of the oil, tamari, and liquid smoke. Add the chickpeas and toss until they are evenly coated.

Transfer the chickpeas to the baking sheet and arrange them in a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes, take them out to stir, and then bake another 10 minutes or until the chickpeas are dark brown and crunchy.

In another medium bowl, combine the remaining 1 teaspoon oil, brown sugar, and smoked salt. Add the warm chickpeas and toss until evenly coated. Serve warm or at room temperature. These will last a couple of days in an airtight container stored at room temperature but will lose their crunch, so it’s best to eat these immediately.

Recipe from Baconish by Leinana Two Moons © 2016 published by Vegan Heritage Press. Used with permission.

 

{ 88 comments… add one }

  • Teresra June 2, 2016, 3:52 pm

    I love plant-based bacon on pizza! That smokey, salty taste really enhances all the other toppings.

  • Julia June 2, 2016, 3:55 pm

    I like my plant bacon w/ beans–either a stew in winter, or a cold bean/veg salad in summer. It’s so good either way!

  • Peggy Moniz June 2, 2016, 4:26 pm

    I love plant based bacon crumbled up on my soup. Potato soup now because it’s still cold here.
    Thank you!

  • Shira Isenberg June 2, 2016, 4:37 pm

    My favorite is a tempeh bacon BLT! Yum!

  • Christine June 2, 2016, 4:53 pm

    I love BLTS with fresh from my garden sliced tomatoes & of course delicious tempeh bacon!

  • Rhonda June 2, 2016, 5:03 pm

    I like classic BLT with Just Mayo spread and a fruit salad on the side.

  • kirk June 2, 2016, 5:45 pm

    Classic BLT with a nice iced tea.

  • Stephanie June 2, 2016, 5:57 pm

    First of all, that recipe looks amazing – thank you!

    I love my plant-based bacon on a vegan BLT with avocado!!!

  • Jan Scholl June 2, 2016, 6:00 pm

    Potato salad-red taters with the skins on! Yum!!

  • ren June 2, 2016, 6:02 pm

    I love a VBTLA, too! But I’d love to mix it up and try all kinds of new types of bacon-ish items on them. I’m particularly intrigued by eggplant bacon.

  • amanda June 2, 2016, 6:10 pm

    tempeh bacon 100%! with coconut bacon as a close second.

  • Carla June 2, 2016, 6:27 pm

    On burgers! It’s classic.

  • Jeanette June 2, 2016, 7:08 pm

    Over a salad is my favorite way to enjoy crispy vegan bacon!

  • Katey June 2, 2016, 7:17 pm

    I’m boring, but my favourite way to enjoy tempeh bacon is alongside some freshly made waffles topped w/maple syrup. I love the back and forth between sweet and savory!

  • Teslaca June 2, 2016, 7:17 pm

    Oh, definitely a BLT! But in my case, with roasted red peppers instead of the tomatoes. So a BLP? Would also love to have some plant-based bacon on a roasted potato or on potato skins. Esther is adorable. 🙂

  • Tanya June 2, 2016, 7:21 pm

    I like making seitan bacon to put in baked beans. But a BLT with avocado sounds pretty good too!

  • Lisa Bloom June 2, 2016, 7:33 pm

    I would do love to win these!! Esther???? My favorite way to eat “bacon” is on a BLT! Thanks so much for the chance!????

  • Ann Clements June 2, 2016, 7:42 pm

    I love plant based bacon with heirloom or wonderful Ripley tomatoes from Riley, TN!

  • Jessica Eagle June 2, 2016, 7:44 pm

    Ohhhh wow…nice…! What a great and generous giveaway. Thanks a thousand times. It is so appreciated. I love Ester, so this book will be a great pleasure to have it.

    My favorite way to eat vegan bacon is in a BLT with avocado, just like you. Also, I really enjoy it in a vegan cesar salad. Yummm…!

  • Riva June 2, 2016, 8:56 pm

    Love a BLT with red onion. Thanks for the chance to win!

  • Daneen June 2, 2016, 8:57 pm

    If I can actually contain myself from not eating it all off the baking tray I put in on a salad. It adds such a nice crunch. Truthfully though straight up as a snack is so good! Thanks Robin!

  • Julia Smith June 2, 2016, 9:53 pm

    I love tempeh bacon in a tofu “faux quiche” (fiche?) with some spinach and mushroom and garlic with smoked paprika. Yes…that’s the good stuff.

  • Melany Lowen June 2, 2016, 10:02 pm

    Plant based bacon and peanut butter sandwich ! That Elvis guy was on to something.

  • Liza June 2, 2016, 10:06 pm

    Awww! Esther is the cutest! I normally crumble my plant based bacon on top of my salads but I don’t discriminate. I will throw it whatever whenever!

  • Susan June 2, 2016, 10:33 pm

    Seems I am going with popular opinion… I just can’t got past a yummy BLT with avocado and lots of creamy mayo. It is a classic for a reason!

    (Not sure if this is open to international entries, if not please disregard this entry!)

  • jan June 2, 2016, 10:46 pm

    I make a dill and dumpling vegetable dumpling stew that is comfort food to the max.

  • Patty June 2, 2016, 11:32 pm

    Plant-based bacon with a tofu quiche of course!

  • Andrea June 3, 2016, 12:39 am

    I like to sprinkle coconut bacon on salad, but if I’m being honest, I mostly just eat it plain!

  • Kerrie June 3, 2016, 2:23 am

    I love plant based bacon in soups, such as minestrone, or as a topper on roasted pumpkin soup.

  • Catherine June 3, 2016, 7:08 am

    My favorite plant-based bacon is when tomatoes have just become ripe in the middle of the summer and it’s too hot to cook dinner; this is when I use my favorite plant-based bacon to make a BLT with a tall glass of iced tea.

  • Susan June 3, 2016, 7:08 am

    Plant based bacon with a fresh summer tomato on homemade bread. Yum!!!

  • Jen June 3, 2016, 10:06 am

    I haven’t made plant-based bacon yet, but I really miss BLTs. That will be the first thing I make, as soon as I get some plant-based bacon made.

  • Jacquelyn June 3, 2016, 10:21 am

    Tempeh bacon – yummy, smokey, salty deliciousness! Beautiful ripe tomatoes in the store right now and I see numerous variations on that BLT sammie combo!!

  • Louise Landers June 3, 2016, 11:13 am

    I am new to this vegan lifestyle and I have a feeling that I’m going to LOVE plant-based bacon! Can’t wait to give it a whirl. It will give my chickpea dishes that extra zip I long for!

  • Amber Cunningham June 3, 2016, 11:48 am

    I also love BLT’s with fresh from the garden tomatoes! I throw it on all my salads. It is really delicious over grits with nutritional yeast, too! Mmmm veggie bacon. <3

  • Simona June 3, 2016, 12:26 pm

    For me it is carbonara! I loved it as a non-vegan and may love it even more in my vegan version now 🙂

  • Aimee Brimmer June 3, 2016, 12:53 pm

    My favorite way to eat veggie bacon is most definitely in a BLTA, but I also love it on veggie burgers/hot dogs, in salads, or with tofu scramble.

  • Eve B. June 3, 2016, 1:33 pm

    Vegan BLT on rye with avocado is the best! Would love to learn more. Thanks!

  • Jamie June 3, 2016, 1:54 pm

    I have never tried plant based bacon! I’d love to give it a shot though. Teach me your ways 😉

  • Ashley June 3, 2016, 2:04 pm

    Mine is with green beans, southern style! Thanks for the chance to win!

  • Jillian H June 3, 2016, 2:51 pm

    I adore peanut butter cupcakes, with peanut butter frosting, topped with coconut bacon!!
    Sweet, salty, smokey… what’s not to love?!

  • Aradria June 3, 2016, 3:08 pm

    I like to use faux bacon bits in chickpea salad recipe.

  • Deb E June 3, 2016, 3:33 pm

    I love a good plant-bacon BLT salad, hold the bread! This chickpea bacon recipe looks great. I once found liquid smoke bottles on sale for a dollar each and bought half a dozen! I love how it adds that smokey flavor without a speck of meat. I love little pigs way too much to eat them too!

  • Jamie June 3, 2016, 4:19 pm

    I like it on a BLT with avocado. I follow Esther everyday so I’m excited about both books.

  • Shari June 3, 2016, 5:05 pm

    My favorite way to enjoy faux bacon is on loaded potato pizza!

  • Jessi Kneier June 3, 2016, 5:11 pm

    I love my plant based bacon crumbled on pasta with a little olive oil and herbs!

  • Psuke June 3, 2016, 7:24 pm

    I *love* the idea of bacon without the cruelty and grease. This book has been making me drool for awhile now.

  • Deborah Saas June 3, 2016, 10:04 pm

    My favorite Sammy is a BLT with mashed avocado!

  • Steph June 4, 2016, 12:38 pm

    Dark chocolate covered!

  • Michelle June 4, 2016, 1:59 pm

    My favorite is a BLT wrap, or maybe a BLT salad, or maybe vegan bacon and cabbage… I can’t choose just one!

  • Plowing Through Life (Martha) June 4, 2016, 3:33 pm

    Right next to fresh fruit, particularly watermelon! Oh, how I love Esther. She has captivated my heart.

  • Em June 4, 2016, 4:22 pm

    Definitely the classic BLT

  • Diane Barnard June 4, 2016, 7:10 pm

    Plant based bacon adds a salty savoriness to anythimg. I love it with grits and home fries for a Sunday morning breakfast.

  • Betty June 4, 2016, 9:02 pm

    I love pasta carbonara with shitake bacon

  • Becca F June 5, 2016, 12:42 am

    I don’t eat plant based bacon often but when I do it’s in a BLT and I always ask myself why I don’t eat it more often.

  • Jennai June 5, 2016, 2:15 am

    Crumbled up in a Cobb Salad is good!

  • Jennifer June 5, 2016, 6:01 am

    We love “bacon” on our loaded baked potato soup! It’s a special treat to eat anything that takes longer than 20 minutes to prepare since we operate a vegan farm animal sanctuary 🙂

  • Kelly M June 5, 2016, 9:41 am

    I love my plant based bacon in a classic BLT sandwich ….. however, Pizza sounds like a good idea too.
    Baconish sounds like an excellent book.

  • Mike V June 5, 2016, 10:44 am

    I still like it the old fashioned way; mixed with The Vegg scrambled eggs, chopped vegan bacon and slapped on a vegan English Muffin with some Chao cheese. Then when I feel guilty about all the fat I consumed, I crack open one of Robin’s many cookbooks to get back on track!

  • Janel M. June 5, 2016, 2:09 pm

    I defintely like it best in any sandwich with vegenaise.

  • Jenna O June 5, 2016, 2:12 pm

    I love bacon with mushrooms and pasta 🙂

  • Lydia Claire June 5, 2016, 9:40 pm

    Mine is also as a BLT w/Avocado and the addition of Basil!

  • Carmen June 6, 2016, 6:29 am

    Broccoli salad with mayo, corn, onions, and bacon bits!

  • Jess June 6, 2016, 11:11 am

    I enjoy tempeh bacon best, along the side of a good tofu scramble!! I usually end up purchasing it in the store tho! I need to start making it!

  • Kelly C June 6, 2016, 12:44 pm

    I love plant-based bacon on pizza!!

  • Gail Dawson June 6, 2016, 12:49 pm

    I like coconut “bacon” on top of a salad.

  • Carolyn June 6, 2016, 5:03 pm

    As a woman who grew up in the South, I loved plant-based bacon with grits for breakfast!

  • Lindsey Gunn June 6, 2016, 8:19 pm

    I love tempeh bacon with scrambled tofu and toast. Yum!

  • kat June 6, 2016, 11:20 pm

    These books look fantastic! Hands down my favorite is coconut bacon on a blt with avocado. mmmm….

  • Karen D June 7, 2016, 8:28 am

    ‘B’LT sandwiches are the best!

  • Sandra Lee Childs June 7, 2016, 11:33 am

    We love it on BLTs!

  • Katy Bailey June 7, 2016, 11:44 am

    I love Esther approved Mac and cheese with bacon!

  • DS June 7, 2016, 1:04 pm

    Pancakes with plant based bacon and maple syrup.

  • Jasmine June 7, 2016, 5:06 pm

    My own vegan version of the canned bean & bacon soup that I used to love as a child

    • Cash November 5, 2016, 7:46 am

      Please teach the rest of these internet hogaoilns how to write and research!

  • Susan June 7, 2016, 5:54 pm

    I love plant based bacon any way I can get it! BLT’s or in pasta. Even covered in some dark chocolate. It’s allll good! And I feel good knowing no animal had to sacrifice it’s life for me to enjoy it 🙂

  • Anne June 7, 2016, 8:43 pm

    I love tempeh bacon and peanutbutter sandwiches. Or tempeh bacon in a salad with corn, chick peas and lots of lettuce and tomato.

  • Carrie June 8, 2016, 1:36 pm

    I’m a BLT girl myself, with a little vegan mayo please! 😉

  • Marie-lou Levesque June 8, 2016, 2:48 pm

    BLT sandwich 😉

  • Terri June 8, 2016, 2:54 pm

    Well, it’s not original, but I love a good BLTA. Bacon (tempeh), lettuce, tomato and avocado.

  • Heather D-G June 8, 2016, 3:08 pm

    In a BLT or in a chickpea-flour frittata. Mmm…

  • Laura Thompson June 8, 2016, 3:30 pm

    Caesar salad! Just isn’t the same without some sort of “bacon”.

  • Amy L June 8, 2016, 6:31 pm

    I love to make mushroom bacon and eat it with avocado and tomato salad – sometimes with tofu cubes. Just yum!!

  • Christine June 8, 2016, 10:18 pm

    I love vegan bacon along with some sautéed mushrooms, onions & peppers in my scrambled tofu….yum?

  • Kristy Schmauch June 8, 2016, 10:57 pm

    I use it in a wrap with egg whites, kale, spinach, peppers and avocado. Yummy.

  • Liz Goode September 2, 2016, 1:45 pm

    My favorite way to enjoy plant-based bacon is in a BLT!! It’s a BLT, BLT, BLT all the way!!

  • Anne Casageanse August 30, 2018, 4:06 pm

    I also love the vegan BLT with avocado. Cat wait to try other vegan bacon recipes.

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