The Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook, based on Cooking Off the Grid, also by Nadia Natali, blends 126 tasty, healthful recipes with lively tales of the Natali family’s adventures living close to the land-in the wilds of California’s Los Padres National Forest. Nadia Natali’s varied dishes, suitable for any group or family, are presented in a simple style that makes them both visually appealing and effortless, as a sequence of ingredients that correspond to numbered directions. Each chapter opens with a vivid account of the family’s trials and triumphs at Blue Heron Ranch, followed by a particular category of recipes, arranged in seven groupings. Whimsical illustrations adorn the recipes and embellish the sometimes poignant, often hilarious stories about raising a family in the wilderness, running a meditation center, and facing nature’s seemingly endless challenges-with the Blue Heron Ranch kitchen being the center around which these events unfold. Recipes include Blue Heron Ranch Potato Leek Soup, Saturday Market Quiche, Miso Pine Salmon, Ojai Bouillabaisse, Early Morning Rice Cream, Aunt Ev’s Cardamom Bundt Cake, and Honey Almond Chai. The Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook offers culinary and spiritual sustenance to anyone who wants to experience, or revisit, the pleasures of comforting, communal meals at Zen and other retreat centers.

I was so excited when I finally received this book! Each section of healthy recipes is prefaced by one of Nadia’s family adventures. It’s fun to read along and discover the story behind each of her recipes.

The recipes are extremely easy to follow and I ADORE the accompanying illustrations! I’ve earmarked several recipes that I plan on making ASAP, so I’m sure you’ll be seeing lots of delicious results on the blog soon.

Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook

For the oatmeal lovers!

'Tis the season

Lucky for you, you can give them a try, as well! Nadia has graciously offered a copy of her book to one of YOU.

3 ways to win!

1.) Leave a comment on this post

2.) Tweet about the contest (with a link to this post)

3.) Link to the post on your own blog or if you don’t have a blog, tell a friend of family member (just let me know you did so in the comments so I count the extra entry!)

I’ll use my good friend, the random integer generator, to select a winner!

GOOD LUCK!