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.
Go for it! Being a vegan chef is about creativity! You are not in a box and have to follow rules! It’s about creating healthy foods to prolong our life! Who cares how many ingredients you use? If you receive negative feedback, do not allow that to diminish your passion for being an awesome chef!! Be creative! Forget about counting and have fun in the kitchen! That’s my 2 cents!
I’m so excited you’re branching out! And I couldn’t be more excited to know you have a second book coming out! I use your first book all the time, I have so many notes in it, and the cornbread page is starting to fall out from overuse 🙂 Are you able to say when we might see this second book available to buy? I will count down the days!
Frankly I think you’re a complete genius to be able to create such outstanding recipes with only eight ingredients! Think about how much more genius work you can do by not limiting yourself! Crazy excited for you as you branch out! My family loves your recipes and we’re with you all the way.
I’m so happy you’re following your heart! I am a cook and love your recipes but have often wondered how far you could go if we turned you loose in the kitchen. NOW we’ll get to see this. THRILLED! And looking forward to tasting your GF creations! Best to you in 2021!
Phew! Almost didn’t finish reading because I was scared to hear you say you were not blogging any longer. Glad you’ll be around for when I’m looking for delicious vegan treats and tasty foods. I didn’t originally follow you because of the 8 ingredients, so adding more or less won’t remove you from my favs list. Thanks for sharing your passion for healthy recipes with us. It’s encouraging and fun.
I made a post earlier. Please excuse the typo. 😜
I types recipe and then the picture of a pizza 🍕 also was added. Please excuse that typo. Again thanks!
I am just so thankful that you are not going away. That was my fear when you sent the email announcement. I really enjoy your recipes. I am grateful that most of your recipes have simple easily obtainable ingredients and directions. The amount of ingredients is not a really problem for me.
Thank you for sharing your talents with us. I hope to continue to learn from you long into the future.
Thank you.
sounds delicious! i will certainly be sticking around.
Whew,,,,when I first started reading your posting I thought you were going to stop publishing your recipes and starting a totally new adventure. We all grow and change and expand based on our experiences. Your recipes and insights are wonderful and I think what you are doing is a natural progression is growing your business. All the best and I look forward to reading your new blog posts.
Sounds good to me! While I value simplicity for most meals, it’s not always possible. For special occasions, that’s fine. Thank you for your recipes!!
I love your recipes and can’t wait to see what your new creations will be! I fully support you branching out and letting those creative juices flow!
Girl let that creativity flourish. I love your openness to change and I feel that this will allow your blog to grow even more. I honestly did feel like sometimes I would like some more complex recipes from you. Because easy and few ingredients is nice of course but I recognize it is limiting and there is so much more that you can do if you allowed yourself to include more ingredients. I am excited for this change and can’t wait to see what you create.
I think this is awesome news! Change is always a little scary and exciting- that’s how you know you’re on the right path! Your recipes are delicious and simple. Adding a few extra ingredients will only add even more variety. Can’t wait to try them!
I , for one, am SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS POST. I have been saying for SO LONG ‘look what does with 8 ingredients or less – JUST IMAGAINE what she can do with MORE!’ Seriously, I’m a total fan girl of yours and I appreciate everything you do and have created. Your staple recipes like your alfredo sauce and ranch dressing have made sticking with a plant based diet not only possible, but SUSTATINABLE. I am SOOOOO excited to see what you create now that you’ve decided to expand your creative perimeters.
I think you should be Vegan 8+ now 🙂
Funny you say that because the idea of calling my next book is either The Vegan 8 2.0 or The Vegan 8 Plus! You are the 2nd person to mention that now, hmmmm 😉
Are you kidding me! Do you think you could get rid of me that easy, by increasing a few ingredients. Well try again because I am here to stay. Your I Recipes 🍕recipes are too delicious. No way…. I will be right here waiting on your next cookbook with the 8 ingredients plus. Lol. Seriously you have been such a blessing in my household, I was the only vegan at one point but with your recipes now my husband is on board. Thank you for all that you have done and all of your time that you have put in to sharing your great recipes with us. What you are about to do (expand) is awesome! What a blessing. Ps for a minute you scared me, I thought you was leaving us. Continue blessing to you and you family.
I love simple recipes for sure, but like you, sometimes I want something that’s a bit more complex. As many have shared, I thought at first that your title was 8 in the family, or that’s how many recipes you were sharing at the time, not realizing there were 8 ingredients or less in the recipe for quite a while. Well, the quantity of ingredients only matters to me if there is something I see and want to create at home and I find I don’t have what it needs (or something I can suitably substitute with) for the recipe. Then and only then do the number of ingredients matter to me. 🙂
I love the recipes. I love that they are gluten-free since that’s how I found you in the first place, searching for a recipe for something I wanted to make, don’t remember what it was it was so long ago now…but create! create! create! Complex or simple, we want you to keep sharing the wealth with us. Thank you for doing so. Blessings!
I’m excited to see what new recipes you post!
Your recipes are so amazing, Brandi! I love your book and blog. Your gluten free dessert recipes are the absolute best! Thank you for sharing your creativity, and I look forward to trying out the recipes you create that have more than 8 ingredients! I know they will be delicious just like all of the others!
Aww I’m so honored Candiss that you think my GF desserts are the best! That means so much, thank you!
I love your recipes no matter how many ingredients! Your recipes always make GREAT TASTY FOOD!!! We love it and you always give such good, clear directions on how to make it. I have no worries or concerns about increasing the number of ingredients – I know you will keep using wholesome ingredients, keep being plant based no oils, and using ingredients that are readily available. BRAVA! time to expand! BRAVA to pushing forward!
Makes complete sense! Looking forward to what’s to come!
More than okay with your idea…..you have such wonderful recipes and I can’t wait for your new ones to appear. Thank you for the time and energy you put into your blog, I am forever grateful.
Your decision to proceed this way makes total sense, and thank you for sharing your thoughts and reasoning. (I was wondering how you did it this long…). I have followed your blog for quite awhile now and several of your recipes are in my growing go-to list, so I’m personally excited to hear about this shift. Just because you start somewhere doesn’t mean it’s where you have to stay–it’s smart to make changes and adaptations when it makes sense to! Sounds to me like a win-win: more creative room for you = more great recipes for us! And, like you said, it’s really not a huge switch from your focus or approach. If some people are turned off by or want to be sticklers about there being more than 8 ingredients in some recipes, well, they’ll be missing out. But I also think they’re in the minority 🙂 Life’s too short to be held back by that kind of stuff! Looking forward to more Vegan 8(+) recipes!
So very sweet of you to say all of that Christa! This is exactly what my husband has been telling me too as I struggled to make the choice. Thank you so much for the support!
Thank you for sharing your journey. I absolutely love your recipes! I know that if a recipe comes from Brandi Doming it will be a success not a failure in taste, texture, healthfulness and every other aspect. Keep creating more wonderful recipes without limitations on the number of ingredients! I am a fan for life 🙂
Thank you for the update!! I love your recipes because they are vegan and oil-free. But most of all, I know that anything you put out there has been meticulously tested over and over to be the best it can be (I can tell from your recipe notes!). So if it’s more than 8 ingredients, so be it!!! Definitely looking forward to what else you have for us!! 🙂
Aww thank you so much Meg! Haha, yes, I know my notes are a bit detailed, lol, but I just want them to be as helpful as possible, so thank you so much for reading them and the support!