This year some friends hosted a vegan/vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner. It was a lovely gathering with a table full of vegan-friendly dishes, and the first time in years I didn’t make the whole Thanksgiving meal myself. Ahhhh. Among the dishes I contributed were a cashew-based “cheese” ball, pecan pie, and sweet potato dish made with pineapple … Read more
I eat an enormous salad almost every day. Ever since I found out that whole food fats are needed for the body to absorb fat-soluble carotenoids from foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and leafy greens, this dressing has had a place of honor on my plate. This salad dressing is rich and creamy, and takes … Read more
The Weight-Loss Merry-Go-Round This is the backstory: part one of two. Click here to go directly to my experiment with intermittent fasting. I share this story not because it’s anything special, but because it’s so common. I share it because I’m now off the weight loss merry-go-round, and maybe my story can help others get … Read more
This is the second of two articles. You can read the first one (my weight loss merry-go-round backstory) here. I recently said to my husband “I don’t want to lose any more weight. I’m completely happy with my weight now.” His reply: “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a woman say that.” My experiment with … Read more
This curry is easy and quick to make, especially if you cook it in an Instant Pot. I took some liberties with the spices, as berebere is an Ethiopian spice. If you don’t have any, add a touch of cumin, clove, and cayenne. You can use any kind of vegetables–those in the recipe are what … Read more
I’ve been on a cheesy sauce kick lately. Remember that potato carrot cheese sauce that everyone seemed to be posting about a few years ago? If you don’t remember, this sauce was everywhere on vegan blogs and Facebook groups. I, of course, have my own version. I’ve been making this sauce a lot, this time … Read more
This is one of a series of articles about our trip to Cuba. Click here for a list of all the Cuba-related articles. After a week in Havana, we were ready to get out of the city for the day. Viñales is a World Heritage Site, and one of the few places that can be … Read more
This is one of a series of articles about our trip to Cuba. Click here for a list of all the Cuba-related articles. One of the reasons we decided to stay in Havana for our entire Cuba visit was to experience as much music as possible. Armed with my friend Ken McCarthy’s list of venues … Read more
This is one of a series of articles about our trip to Cuba. Click here for a list of all the Cuba-related articles. Cuba has two distinct economies, and that really shows up in food and restaurants. (You may want to read my section on money in the Preparing for Your Trip post before you … Read more
There are many ways to explore Havana. Lots of tourists opt for a tour in one of the gazillion restored 1950’s American cars–we didn’t do that. We found Havana to be a great city for walking, and we walked at least 5 miles or 8 km a day–some days double that. This is not meant … Read more
Whenever you prepare for a trip, there’s an element of the unknown. You can read all the guides and blog posts in the world, but until you go there yourself, you don’t know what will be important to you. This is one of a series of articles about our trip to Cuba. Click here for … Read more
This month marks 10 years of me being vegan: my veganniversary. I stopped eating all animal products cold turkey (pun intended) and I’ve never looked back. I feel better, look better, and am healthier than I was 10 years ago. When I switched to a plant-based diet, I was 47 and already had arthritis in … Read more
Each of the villages and towns around Lake Atitlán has its unique personality. Over the past year, the town of Santa Catarina Palopó has been adding to its personality with bright colors and designs that reflect the town’s history. Santa Catarina Palopó is the town closest to Panajachel–about 2.5 miles or 4 km. Though a … Read more
At this point in my life, there aren’t many things that I set out to accomplish and haven’t done. There’s one thing that has eluded me: learning to play piano. I’ve taken lessons several times over the years, but never stayed with it for more than a few months. All told, I had about a year’s … Read more
We’ve started seeing the first annonas of the season in the Panajachel market. Oh, how we love a good annona! And how we detest a bad one. I tried my first annona on my second trip to Guatemala. It was late November 2009, near the end of the season. The first one was delicious, sweet … Read more
We were on the way to the Panajachel market when we brought the motorcycle to a sudden halt. “Ooooh,” we said together as we gazed at the back of a pickup truck full of rambutan fruit. Yes, happiness is ours. At this time of year you’ll find them in the markets around Lake Atitlan. The … Read more
One of Guatemala’s blessings is our wonderful markets, filled with fresh local fruits and vegetables. Yesterday I went up to one of my favorite vendors, where I often buy basil and leafy greens. There was no basil on display, so I asked for it. The vendor pulled out a small paper bag: “Sí, hay.” She … Read more
I made my first vegetarian mushroom nut loaf back in the 1970s. Back then it was filled with cheese and seemed like a ton of work. Much as changed since then: no more cheese, and I have a food processor to grind the nuts and a great chef’s knife for chopping other ingredients. It no … Read more
I’m a bit of a soup junky. I make soup several times a week: sometimes hot, sometimes cold, but always flavorful and satisfying. You may have seen my recipes for Creamy Curried Cauliflower Potato Soup, Creamy Tomato Soup, and Gazpacho. This time, we’re going green! This soup is a powerhouse of nutrition. Tons of greens and … Read more
Last week a friend was telling me about his wife making pita brea. “Of course,” he said “when you make it at home it never puffs up into a pocket.” Au contraire! Mine does! With a couple simple tools, you too can make beautiful, pocketful pita bread at home. I’ve been making pita bread for … Read more