How has your 2011 been so far? I’ve been hitting the cutting board once again; cooking, recipe making, researching and writing. I’m involved in two big projects for 2011; though the foundations were laid months ago it feels more real to launch new projects in this shiny new year.

Big project number one: I’m working on a new solo cookbook with a publication date for 2012. In a way Viva Vegan! was the stepping stone to my dream of working on a great big global book; a vegan vision of region cuisines all over the world. Besides, there is yet more Latin vegan food to uncover, and I’m thrilled to have an excuse to dive into my growing obsession with curries, all things Asian food and Middle Eastern cuisine. Essentially the continuing Terry spin on the great ethnic foods that inspire our vegan way of eating.

And the second project is a collaboration with Isa concerning all things pie; sorry no savory pies, just dessert. This one has a tighter deadline than the former book, and I’ll have more to add come early February.

Will I need testers? Certainly my dears, especially for ethnic vegan book. Currently my website elves are building a new blog-style format for recipe testers. Expect general fixing, updating and more website grooming thrills as well. I aim to have the testing open for business mid-February, with recipe testing itself extending into the fall/early winter in an attempt to cram in all seasons of produce.

Do I have a name yet for the “big” book? Heavens no, but for now it will go by codename: World of Vegancraft. It’s just a name; testers won’t have to commit to the grueling quest for The Scepter of the Shifting Sands*, only be willing to make some curries, noodles, roti breads, soups and dips once or twice a week, such as the lovely Sri Lankan style Butternut Curry depicted above (recipe post coming very soon). So clean out your coffee grinder (get ready to stuff it with coriander and cumin), it’s going to be a fragrant-as-hell 2011.

*Disclaimer: A hardcore mmorpg-ing friend schooled me on this insanely grueling of World of Warcraft task. Though nerd, I’m not of the online gaming tribe; I just like the name. Testers don’t need to know a thing about WoW, all you need is a burning desire to quest on for cooking and eating.