I’m sorry for the mass email but I want to quickly reach out about my cookbook Dumplings Equal Love that publishes this Oct. 13th from Sasquatch Books and is available for pre-order. It’s a really strange and difficult time and I hope that you are doing all right and riding the waves. They just keep coming.
A lot of you are either in media, bookselling or are just really cool cats who I adore. I’m reaching out because I believe that my book will bring folks comfort + joy + love + a new kitchen project to feed themselves and loved ones. And, I want to get as much media coverage as possible to help it flap its wings. I feel the need to really shout this cookbook out from the rooftops since the retail environment, book events and gatherings look so very different these days. Everything does.
Dumplings are a culturally important, deeply satisfying food that you can easily make at home especially with a few tips and techniques. They’re also a super duper fun and empowering kitchen project for kids. One of my primary goals with Dumplings Equal Love is to make this international comfort, and often celebratory, food easy peasy for the home cook. I include heaps of variations and substitutions to make dumpling making a fun and go-with-the-flow endeavor. Store-bought skins are a-ok, although I include plenty of dough recipes including colorful and creative art skins made with powdered fruit and vegetables, herbs, spices and seeds.
I’d also love to set up more book events. I’m so lucky get a Powell’s Books virtual book launch (I’ll be Zooming in from my kitchen!) on Tuesday, Oct. 13th date 6-7pm PT followed by a virtual dance party (in my living room!) with my boyfriend DJ Jimbo from 7-9pm PT. I’ll be in conversation with one of my food heroes Marisa McClellan for that. And I have a very fun event and/or series of events with Travel Portland that I’ll be announcing soon as well.
I’ve included a few bullet points below, after the press release synopsis, about the Dumplings = Love along with more of the book’s bright and fun photos by kick-ass photographer Dina Avila. Sasquatch Books publicist, Molly Woolbright, can be reached directly at mwoolbright@sasquatchbooks.com if you’d like a galley or any other materials or info. about Dumplings Equal Love. I’m also more than happy to get you those things and help you in any way that I can. If you’d like to check out media spots I’ve done or coverage I’ve received in the past you can watch this or go here.
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE
Internationally, dumplings have always played the dual role of an inexpensive comfort food passed down through generations; and a ceremonial, celebratory festival treat. Whichever way you enjoy them, you can now make your own dumpling memories with Dumplings = Love. Rooted in deep cultural respect, steeped in curiosity, and fed by the traditions of families who hold these recipes dear, Liz Crain adapts dumpling recipes from all over the world.
Inside, you’ll find everything from hearty, fist-sized Norwegian komper and small, delicate Chinese shumai to Pacific Northwest morel dumplings in orange-hued, smoky pimento skins. There are also recipes for ways to experiment with vibrant powdered vegetables, fruits, and spices to add color and versatile dipping sauces for extra flavor. Three primary dough recipes—all-purpose egg, all-purpose eggless, and gluten-free rice flour—plus techniques for forming and cooking dumplings, advice on sequencing tasks, and tips and tools for streamlining your kitchen will set you up for dumpling-making success.
“If you often turn to simple kitchen projects to make things right in your world, to either soften its edges or celebrate the small stuff, you’ll find a friend in this book.” —LIZ CRAIN
SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN THE BOOK:
Vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian soup dumplings aka XLB (xiao long bao) that are really easy to make.
