The Organic Family Cookbook Giveaway and Interview With Anni Daulter

I was very first introduced to Anni Daulter and her amazing love of food when I won a copy of her first book, Organically Raised, last year (thanks Ginny!). Needless to say, I was super impressed by all that Anni had to offer and was honored to host a giveaway this past spring on my blog for Anni’s book Ice Pop Joy. Anni and I have conversed a bit via email through out this past year, I wrote an article for her online magazine, and as fate has it…food brought us together in an even bigger way. Straight across the country, to the suburbs of Chester County, our little girls played, and we swapped candied maple pecans for homemade garlic butter at one of Anni’s infamous food swaps. And here we are today, back in this space together…to offer you a glimpse into Anni’s world and to offer you another wonderful giveaway.

Welcome Anni! I am so happy to have you here with me!!

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Food is something that you clearly hold dear and close to your heart. What kind of “priorities” do you have when it comes to feeding your family?

Anni: Fresh/local/seasonal/organic and communal…these are my fundamentals…I think that the closer we keep our food to the source, the easier it is to eat healthy, tasty foods and as a super busy mom, this is very important to me. I also like that food brings communities together and is something I want to help my children learn as they grow their own food traditions.

Having a big family with varying ages, needs and preferances can often make for a bit of chaos…especially at dinnertime. Do you have any advice when it comes to gathering the family together to eat and connect in a posative way at the end of the day?

Anni: Good question. The truth is we have the best of intentions of having a peace-FULL meal at the end of the day, but it does not always happen. We do our best. We light a candle, trying to bring some calm to the table, but really the real draw, especially to get my teenager to the table is…good food! Not many folks can resist that!

I loved reading your story in The Organic Family Cookbook about washing lettuce leaves at Tassajara. What are some thoughts you have that connect midfulness with preparing the food that goes into the food we eat and share with our families?

Anni: Mindfulness is a state of being that permeates every moment of every day. When we bring our awareness into the kitchen, we infuse our food with our loving intentions, and that really makes it taste better. People may not believe that, but just the very simple act of saying a blessing before you prepare your meal or a mama mantra that brings your loving intentions of feeding your families soul, is a great way to start. I also would recommend a no fighting in the kitchen policy…I don’t let folks contaminate the food I make with negative vibes! Also, having a little family altar up in the kitchen is a great idea. Put pictures of your kiddos on there and honor the kitchen space by lighting a candle before you cook and blowing it out after the last dish is done. This act of completion is satifying and also teaches your children to have reverence and respect of their food and environment.

I am awe struck by your ability and love to write books! I am very much looking forward to your book coming out this spring, Sacred Pregnancy. Can you share a little bit about what this book encompasses and has to offer?

Anni: Well, next year I actually have 3 books coming out!!

The first is a kids party book called, Naturally Fun Parties for Kids. That book is seasonal and holds really fun unique parties in each section that I hink people will find refreshing, beautiful and fun. We have parties such as a “gratitude” birthday party, edible spa day party, retro pancake party, bohemian faerie party, wild girls teepee tea party, and a rennaisance play boys party. There are several others and the book is gogeous with amazing pics, eco ideas, carfts and of course, fun recipes.

My next book is called Sacred Pregnancy. This book is the closest to my heart. It tool me 4 years and SO MUCH perserverence to sell, but it happened and I am so excited about it. My two photogrpahers, Elena REfgo + Alexandra DeFurio created the most gorgeous pictures for the Sacred Pregnancy book and I am so excited to introduce it to the birthing community. Its broken up into 40 weeks, and has a different topic per week that speaks to the mother’s experinence of pregnancy. There are journal pages, cool ideas and great information. It’s beautiful, reflective and thought provoking which is what you need when on the path to having a baby.

Lastly, I have another baby/family cookbook coming out in the fall, 2012, called 2-in-1. This book has over 60 puree recipes and 60 family reciupes that you take the puree and use it to help prepare a family meal. So yes, many books on the horizon next year! I am looking forward to you reviewing them all! Sorry Lisa, you are gonna have to be busy next year with these reviews!

Do you have a favorite recipe from The Organic Family Cookbook that you can share with us? (ps- Mine so far is the butternut squash soup (adapted to be vegan) with the shitake topping! My kids even devoured it!)

Anni: Um…this is actually a tough question, because this book is chalk full of my families faves! If I had to choose, I would say, I love the garden tacos, the french toast and the chicken and dark chocolate dipping sauce…oh and the vegan apple pie and the flourless chocolate cake rock too!