THE VEGAN 8 BLOG UPDATE
I have been wrestling with this decision for the past year or so and have finally made one. I’ve been blogging for nearly 9 years (started my first food blog June 2012) and have been running this vegan food blog, The Vegan 8, since October of 2013. I originally created The Vegan 8 because I realized just how many people wanted delicious, but simple and easy recipes that didn’t require a ton of ingredients. I’ve gone over this on my About page. But in short, my concept of 8 ingredients or less recipes (not counting the very basics of salt/pepper/water) began because the recipes that most readers were making were just that, 8 ingredients or less.
I knew that I wanted to reach and help as many people as I could. I knew that my idea was going to help so many, which it has. It has enabled for me to reach hundreds of thousands of people over the years and hear countless testimonies of how my recipes have helped your transition to a vegan lifestyle, get healthier and actually love vegan food.
I’m incredibly grateful to have connected with thousands of you over the years and become friends with several of you. It is a true honor and blessing.
I’ve reached a point now where I feel like my creativity wants to further flourish. A nudging that I can no longer ignore.
My blog has become known as a resource for a few specific niches.
- 8 ingredient concept
- Simple, easy, but incredibly delicious plant-based comfort food
- Oil-free recipes being a big one
- Resource for gluten-free recipes, but them being just as delicious as regular recipes made with traditional flour. This has been one major thing that I’ve heard from thousands-that my gluten-free baked recipes have made you love gluten-free food or helped your kids. Gluten-free baked goods are notoriously known for having awful textures. My years of experience as a baker and commitment to super high standards, has allowed me to create a blog resource for those wanting gluten-free recipes that will wow any eater. I never want people or children to feel like they can’t enjoy a delicious dessert because they cannot have gluten.
- Wholesome plant-based recipes that don’t rely heavily on processed ingredients like fake meats or cheeses. (that you’d buy from the store)
Where I’m at now. I have felt a burning for awhile now to venture out just a bit from my 8 ingredients concept. I receive recipe requests from readers weekly. Some I have to turn down simply because of that. My husband requests recipes as well. Some recipes simply cannot be done at 8 ingredients, without sacrificing my high standards of quality and taste.
For example: Gumbo, Tiramisu, Boston Cream Pie Donuts. These are just examples of requests I’ve received that I have not been able to post due to realizing that they would be impossible to do at 8 ingredients. A true gumbo would need 10-15 ingredients and a Boston cream pie donut has 3 components to it. A Tiramisu is my all-time favorite dessert. That is a multi-layered dessert that would require more than 8.
This doesn’t mean that hundreds of recipes can’t be done at 8, obviously, I’ve been doing it for years, haha. That is the whole reason I started this blog, because I knew I could do it. But this does mean, that certain recipes, cannot. And as I’ve grown over the years as a recipe developer, I want to venture out from time to time.
When I have posted pics of dinners I’ve thrown together, I’ve had requests for the recipe, which I then state it’s more than 8 ingredients, people reply “I don’t care, I want it!” That is a relief to me now.
GOING FORWARD
While I recognize that to many, it was my original 8 ingredient concept that stood out to so many, over the years of building a large reader base, it has been the quality of flavorful recipes that have kept you here. You’ve spread the goodness of your love of my recipes by word of mouth to so many of your friends, family, social media, etc.
So, my plan going forward is to allow myself a little bit extra with some of those recipes that will require a few more, sometimes maybe just 1, maybe 5, who knows, it will depend on the recipe. This way I can share my full creativity with you all. I don’t want to hold back myself any longer.
Plus, one thing that many people have told me over time is that they have followed and made my recipes for a long while and only recently realized the “8” in my blog name meant 8 ingredients and that they were just here for the yummy recipes! Haha.
So, that has made me realize that it is not just my 8 ingredient concept and wholesome ingredients, but the flavors and textures you love about my recipes. Because, let’s be honest, if the recipes were horrible, it wouldn’t matter if they were easy 8 ingredient recipes anyways, right?
DON’T WORRY!
Now, please, I don’t want anybody to panic and think going forward that all my recipes are going to be 10-15 ingredients! No, no, no, no. Most will still be 8 ingredients or less, not counting salt/pepper/water, like always! Because honestly I personally get anxiety over recipes with 10-15 ingredients. Too much work. I like simplicity and ease.
BUT, I have always made an exception to make a recipe with a few more if it’s a great recipe I really want to try. But it’s certainly not a daily thing for me, lol.
This would just be a sometime thing, so I am not changing my blog name or any crazy stuff like that.
I just felt that I wanted to share this with you all and get your thoughts. You readers are the most important thing to me when it comes to blogging.
Additionally, in my next book, I have these exact same thoughts. I will not be advertising my next book as “8 ingredient only” recipes. But rather, many 8 ingredients will be but several will not be. It is so unbelievably frustrating to get reviews on Amazon from people who failed to read the multiple places in the book where I noted that my recipes did not include salt/pepper/water in the 8 ingredients, or obviously anything listed as optional, because, well, it’s optional! Some left me awful reviews hurting my overall rating because they didn’t count properly or read. As an author and a person that works very hard and puts my whole soul into my work, it’s incredibly upsetting. I do not want to go through that again with another book.
MY PROMISE
This small progression of my recipes is simply because of my commitment to not only myself, but also to you because I care so much to give you what you want and ask for. If I didn’t care so much about providing all that I could, I wouldn’t even bother to change anything at all. But I feel sad when I have to turn down a recipe request because it’s not one that could be done at 8 ingredients of high quality.
My recipes will still all be vegan, mostly gluten-free and oil-free, like always. That is not changing. That is who I am and what I love creating. Just some once in a while will have a couple/few of extra ingredients, so I hope you are all okay with that. It will make me happier and feel more free to let my creativity flourish to share with you all. I need to be true to what my heart is tugging at for awhile now.
I feel like change is a must in life if we want to grow, and while this may seem like a small change or a big change to some of you, it has been weighing heavily on my mind since I’ve been writing 8 ingredient only recipes for, well, going into my 8th year now. And they will still almost always have that, but with some extra fancy ones thrown in the mix now!
Love you all so much and thank you for all the support you’ve shown me over the years. I can’t express my gratitude enough.
You go girl!! I have enjoyed your leadership and skills and every now and then an update on your family life. You go where God is leading you and you will certainly be blessed. I’ll be right here waiting for the next recipe! Congratulations on this new adventure of yours.
I’m happy to see you branching out! You have really helped this girl and her family become vegan by giving us great and easy recipes. Now that I’ve been doing it a for a bit I feel confident enough for a few more ingredient recipes and I’m glad that you will be able to fulfill your dreams and goals while still helping me with mine. Have a blessed day.
I totally support this! I believe most people have that one recipe that may have more steps/ingredients but they still make it because it’s totally worth it! If you’re looking for ideas, I would LOVE a good plant-based/vegan recipe for Tamales! 😉. I can’t wait to see what you have in store! I love your recipes….thank you!
Yes, yes, exactly!! Some are the exception for me, as well. Oh I have enchiladas on the plan, too!
I thought you were a family of 8 vegans at first! I am thrilled to see you expand your recipes. Maybe you could call them 8+ recipes? I have read every one of your recipes, and wondered about them, but not made any yet because I didn’t have one or more of the ingredients. I appreciate the time you put into each one with explanations and reasons behind what you do use. Yesterday I finally got the pan I need to make the gluten free pumpkin cake.
Congratulations on your new plan. Love that you use weights in your recipes. Go ahead and add more ingredients, we will still follow you along this new road. We all need to keep growing and changing. Looking forward to all the new Vegan8+ recipes.
Hi Brandi,
I love your Vegan recipes and love your commitment to using as few ingredients as possible. I’ll continue to look forward to seeing what amazing recipes you come up with to share. Keep up the good work!
Brandy, Your recipes could be 80 ingredients and I would still be overjoyed to make them, as they are always delicious, nutritious and amazing. Here’s to Vegan 8, and Beyond! Thank you for all your hard work. I continue to be in awe of your skills crafting recipes. Keep up the good work, I was so happy to come to this blog post and see that it was about “evolution” and NOT that you were ending it! You are one my top go-to sources for sharing recipes and I cannot wait for this next chapter.
When you follow what your heart feels, the true joy of what you do will continue to inspire! So excited you’ve taken this step, Brandi❤️
So true and so kind, thank you Kathleen!
Oh my gosh this initially scared the crap out of me I thought you were going to be quitting the business entirely! Thank goodness because I would likely starve to death, I make AT LEAST one recipe of yours WEEKLY! As, what I can only assume to be, your biggest fan, I truly support this transition and I am SO EXCITED for your next book!! Also very happy you hear you will be maintaining oil free and no processed, that’s what I really stay for. Can’t wait!
I was thinking the same thing Marcella! So glad to see this blog continue and I’m excited to expand my “kitchen muscles” a bit with adding a few more ingredients! 🙂
Haha, oh no Marcella!! You are too sweet! I realize many of these comments thought that same thing. I’m so honored you make my recipes weekly and you saying you’d starve without my recipes both touched me and made me laugh, haha! Thanks so much for all the support!
I look forward to your creative endeavors. I don’t care how many ingredients you use. I am WFPB and try not to use any add sugar, oil, or salt. It’s all about food as medicine. And you make the medicine delicious. Thank you for being here and thank you for continuing to be here.
Put in all the ingredients you want! I just want yummy food. Please don’t hold back! Your followers can choose to make the recipe or not, based on the number of ingredients. Let your creativity flow!!
Very good point Jayne, thank you so much!
Thanks for the no oil recipes. Add as many ingredients as you wish, as far as I’m concerned!
I agree, Put in all the ingredients you want!
I think that’s an awesome idea. I have never really counted the ingredients. I love the delicious recipes which I’ve been making for over 3 years. I think that keeping the name the same sounds good. I will still recommend your website for new people becoming plant-based but think it’s time consuming to make meals, telling them that most of your recipes are 8 ingredients or less. Can’t wait to try your new recipes!
Thanks for helping to keep me healthy!
-Bill
I love your recipes and am grateful for all that you post & publish (your Vegan 8 cookbook was one of my first vegan cookbooks). I am looking forward to your new recipes as you branch out. Thank you!
Yippee! Sorry people have been mean to you❤️
I had no idea what the 8 stood for either until just now. I’ve just alway been happy with the results of your recipes. I’ve often said to my wife “why couldn’t I have had this 30 years ago?”, referring to your site.
Aww that is so wonderful to hear Alessandro, that means so much, thank you!
Go for it! If we squelch our creativity, we lose who we are and what motivates us. You are not an 8; you are a 10! Keep growing and changing, and we will follow you and buy your cookbooks.
Yay! The ankle weights have been shed! Have fun and we all will, too!
110% behind your decision and am SUPER excited that you have a second book coming out! Your creativity and enthusiasm is what I love about you – you have made me into a fantastic baker (who knew??lol) I’m very excited to see what you have in store for us next! p.s. The motto in our house is, “Brandi never disappoints!”
Super excited to hear this. I do not follow any other bloggers except you. Really, you create the best tasting and simple meals around and I cannot wait for another cookbook! Let that creativity flow and I will happily except a few extra ingredient! Thank you for your continued effort. My family and friends always benefit from your effort and I appreciate you making me look like an amazing cook to them!
I am nit a cook at heart. I like the idea of 8 ingredients or fewer. That being said, sometimes you need something more. If I follow you recipes to the ketter, I never have a failure. Whatever you do will be healthful and delicious. Keep on doing the wonderful work you do hiwever you choose. Woohoo!
Hi I just discovered you and as a gluten free vegan, who uses little to no oil- I am so excited to explore your amazing recipes that speak to my needs – especially your instant pot ones! When I saw your title, I was concerned that you were no longer going to blog here! Whew!
Thank you for all that you do!
Happy New Year!
While I was initially drawn to your Blog by the simple 8 or less ingredient list format, what has kept me not only coming back time and time again for recipes but to also recently purchase (and LOVE ) your book was the healthy great tasting recipes, using ingredients I can easily find nearby. So I say absolutely branch out and share recipes for dishes with more than 8 main ingredients if you want, why not! I for one will definitely be looking forward to trying them out! I even asked for and received a Vitamix blender for Christmas and now can try absolutely everything and know it will turn out amazing!
Love your blog, thanks for sharing!!
Oh man, I was so afraid you were going to say you wouldn’t be blogging anymore. NOW I’m just incredibly excited!!! I always thought about how restrictive the 8 ingredient limit must have been for you and I literally can’t wait for the new creative recipes to come! Such an expansive decision! Can you start, like, right now? We trust you, every offering you bring forward is a blessing, let’s do this.
I enjoy your recipes. I’m whole food plant based no oil and gluten free. It does not matter how many ingredients are in the pot, I’m just happy to have a spot that can inspire and improve my own cooking. Thank you so much for all you do.
Thank you and you are of course welcome to use more than eight ingredients. You are just awesome. I love reading your recipes and trying them out. Some things are impossible for me, living in Europe.
Keep up the good work. Shame on those leaving negative comments. You are a wonderful woman and creator.
Xoxo
I love your recipes and have your cookbook and have followed you for many years, but I have to admit I’m one of those people who didn’t know the 8 meant only eight ingredients. I have been grateful your recipes are oil-free. That’s what matters to me. Now that I know what the 8 means, I’m amazed you came up with so many delicious recipes with that restriction. Thank you! More ingredients is fine with me.
Yes, it must have been limiting. I’m glad you continue + show your creations.