It took me a while to warm up to the idea of quinoa, much less pronounce it. (KEEN-wah). Let me tell you, I feel like a bit of a fool now, knowing what a nutrition powerhouse it is, how easy it is to cook and that it's widely considered one of the world's healthiest foods. Did I mention that I'm a late bloomer?

My first attempt at ordering quinoa was years ago, in a cold Mediterranean salad at the Nordstrom Café in Seattle, much like this one by Plant-Based on a Budget. It pains me to say that …

There is nothing like a new year full of magical mushroom possibilities!  I feel exhilarated and hopeful after what always feels like a ‘layover from life’ holiday season, during which I ate a crazy number of mushroom-packed dishes that were nutritious, simple and delicious, like Angel “Eggs”, Mushroom Walnut Pâté, and Creamy Mushroom Lasagna.

Mushrooms can be the best supporting actor in a recipe or hold their own as the star of the show.  The braised carrot dish I made for Thanksgiving, with …

For the first half-century (plus!) of my life, I couldn’t imagine a meal, much less a Holiday, without a carnivorous centerpiece that needed to be expertly carved and kept moist at all costs. 

This holy grail of holiday fare was surrounded by a symphony of plant-based side dishes that were adorned with sausage in the stuffing, marshmallows on the sweet potatoes, cheese in the mashed potatoes, bacon in the brussels sprouts and butter and cream in nearly everything.

Divinely rich, decadent and d…

Hustling to the gate from Ling & Louie’s bar at DFW, where I enjoyed an incredible Asian chopped salad with sesame-soy dressing, I pass Popeye’s Fried Chicken.  Growing up, Popeye represented strength, fortitude and spinach!  Today Popeye represents a very long line of fried chicken lovers awaiting their fast-food fix. And it breaks my heart.

Traveling is one of my life’s greatest pleasures!  On the plane and attentively listening to the pre-flight safety announcement, I realize how vague the i…

Now what?  I’ve encouraged you to try a meatless meal, Monday or lifestyle, right? I know you can do it, and hope you really want to!  You’ll surprise yourself with the incredible flavors that you’ll create and devour!  As you rediscover food in its naturally wild state, remember that your body will soon be thanking you and your mind will be rolling out the red carpet for your fabulous self, as you strut into the kitchen, or any restaurant, armed with powerful plant-based option knowledge!  YAY,…

Let’s talk seafood.  I have been in the throws of seafood heaven and never gave eating it a second thought. I still remember picking pin bones out of my teeth from my first McDonald’s fish fillet sandwich in childhood. Shooting oysters on Bourbon Street with my dearest BFFs. Fish Fry’s my entire life growing up in northern Wisconsin when not eating meat on Friday’s during Lent. Living the Alaskan fisherwoman’s dream, pulling crab pots full of King and Dungeness crab from the serene waters of the…

Cabo is on the horizon for me and I’m already smelling the ocean air and hearing the crashing waves on the beach.  It’s been about five years since I’ve visited and it’s about damn time, I say! A known fishing mecca, (insert sad face here) I’m forced to reflect on my potential food choices in the land of seafood and cervezas.  No shade toward the cervezas, naturally!

Cabo is also supremely Baja Mexico.  Bountiful fruits and vegetables await and glorious aromatic flowers bloom everywhere.  Sunsh…

Before you formulate expletives in your mind, (or out loud!), please hear me out! Plant-Based cheese is on fire at the moment and there is no reason not to embrace this exploding trend in the food world! I’m on the record as being born and raised in America’s Dairyland and have eaten hundreds of times my weight in cheese over the years, (#not proud) but saying that dairy-free cheese is where it's at, makes me wildly unpopular among many of my friends and family.  To say I was cheese-obsessed is …

No where is it easier to order a meatless, dairy-free meal, than at an Asian restaurant.  Do any even use cheese? Thankfully, no. Granted, there are often eggs and meats spattered here and there and are the star of the show in many dishes, but there are also countless ways to creatively order delectable meals that are jam-packed with umami, sweet, salty and tangy goodness, and many may already be on the menu! No special ordering antics or hoop-jumping required.

Asian restaurants really know how…

Salad.  I know! The word would always conjure up the “D” words to me…deprivation and diet.  Maybe that’s the way it used to be, but these days the “Salad” menu at most restaurants can run the gamut of simple greens with croutons and a tomato slice to a voluptuous salad topped with everything under the sun!  Whether eating out or in, it’s become one of my favorite go-to meals and I’d love to share how to banish boring and embrace exciting!

As a teenager concerned with my weight, a bag of sour cr…