So I could tell you long and lovely stories about all these recipes and stories from Thanksgivings past....but don't we all just want the dang recipes when we go to a recipe page?! I know I do. So I'll get straight to the point: this is my Thanksgiving menu this year. I hope you find inspiration for your own Thanksgiving dinner here!

Much plant based love to you,

~Olivia   

Starter: Pumpkin Soup

Recipe:

You’re going to start off with 6 cups baked pumpkin (you can just chop your pumpkin into quarters, scoop out the seeds, and bake at 425 for 30 minutes or so until it’s tender).

Then in a pot toss:

1 chopped onion

3 finely chopped big cloves of garlic

2 TBSP water (or olive oil if you prefer)

Sauté that on medium heat for 7 minutes until tender.

Then add:

1/2 tsp salt (or salt to taste)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground ginger

Fresh ground black pepper

2 TBSP maple syrup

2 cups water or vegetable broth

2 cups plant milk...

If you're like most people you likely feel overwhelmed trying to wade through like....the entire internet....trying to find answers to your health problems or the health concerns of your children or loved ones. 

I hear you. I've been there. While this list is by no means exhaustive, I have linked books, documentaries, and products here that could be the "missing link" in your healing, or, at the very least, a tool to get you going in a more healthful direction. 

If you are struggling with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, a stress related condition, or something else then read through this list and click on whatever resource resonates with your condition. 

I trust one (or more) of these resources will land in the hands of the person who needs it, and because of it will find the healing and health we all desire and deserve. 

Books:

When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection: This book by Dr. Gabor Mate explores modern research...

Ok; dressings--such an important topic! The dressing can absolutely MAKE or BREAK a salad. Am I right? 

And as much as I wish this wasn't true, it's truly so difficult to find good, clean, oil free bottled dressings. I've looked far and wide, they hardly exist. I have recently found some good dressings at Trader Joe's (their brand), so that's encouraging to see! But if you don't have a Trader Joe's near you, and you're not wanting to spend quite a bit of money on pre-made bottled dressings let me help you out. 

Here are my top 3 favorite raw vegan dressings I've been making nearly every night of the week for years. I never get tired of them! *Note: of course you do not need to be raw or even vegan to enjoy these dressings. Pour them over whatever salad, noodle dish, wrap, sandwich, etc and it will totally elevate your dish!

Ok, the dressings: 

All 3 of these dressings require nothing more than a bowl and fork to whisk them up. In fact, if I'm really in a rush...

I often get asked where I shop and how I find good deals on quality fruits and vegetables. Where I shop and what I buy depends on where I’m living or visiting at any given time. Availability, variety and cost varies depending on location. But here are a few of the methods and tips I use:

1) Discount grocery stores. These don’t exist everywhere, but here in central PA there’s a whole bunch of them—basically stores that sell the overflow or abundance they receive from chain grocers. Think a second hand clothing store--but for food. 

2) If you don't have a discount grocery store near you, the next best option is somewhere like Aldi, or a Grocery outlet--even somewhere like Walmart--these are places where you can get cheaper-than-Whole Foods-options. If I'm on a budget (which I always am to one degree or another) I never buy all my produce at Whole Foods. I use Whole Foods to supplement--to get those items I can't get at other, more affordable stores. If I...

Transitioning.

Let’s talk about it. How do you move from eating one diet—any diet—to eating a raw vegan diet? The answer?

There is no singular answer for everyone.

You see, transitioning to our natural human diet isn’t like going on any other diet—because it isn’t just a diet. When we start eating our proper diet we don’t just lose weight, clear up our skin, or improve our blood pressure.

Everything changes. Emotions come to the surface. Our minds open up. Our hearts expand.

It’s so. much. more. than a diet.

And it can be heavy. And scary. Most of us have no idea how much we use food to cope and suppress our emotions. We all do it. Every one of us at one point or another have used food to numb ourselves.

And let me tell you—it’s a lot harder to numb out or to escape eating watermelon than it is when eating burgers and fries.

Many people aren’t ready for the MASSIVE change that occurs when you start eating an abundance...

Ok, don't be intimidated--you can sprout! 

I'm just like you. I see people on social media with their trays of soil and wonderfully colorful varieties of sprouts and microgreens and I think "that looks complicated. I'd definitely mess that up."

But here's the thing--some things are incredibly easy to sprout. They take VERY little work or skill and they yield tasty and nutritious sprouts in just 2 days. 

So this is my advice if you're intimated or unsure where to begin: Lentils & Mung Beans.

I've found these two options to be the easiest, fastest, and least-space-consuming seeds to begin with. 

So here's what you need: a bag of mung beans. You can find dried mung beans at most Asian grocery stores, or some international aisles in grocery stores, or--of course--you can order online. Same with lentils, dried lentils (green or black), are easy to find in most grocery stores, Asian markets, or for sure online. 

Also, a mason jar--or really any glass jar will...

Hey all!

I've been asked many times what my favorite raw vegan kitchen equipment is so I'm going to list it all out for you here:

1) Kitchen Shears! My favorite must-have kitchen item is a good pair of kitchen shears! I use these every single day to cut and prepare my salads. They're so handy! I have the KitchenAid brand which is about $8 on Amazon. Such a cheap and highly useful item in my kitchen! 

2) Veggie Spiralizer! There are a lot of good veggie noodle makers out there but my personal favorite and the one I use nearly every day is a the brand: Zoodle Slicer. It's currently $9.99 on Amazon and well worth the price! This little hand spiralizer is so simple to use and easy to clean up if I'm just noodling up a couple zucchinis or cucumbers. I have a few larger spiralizers but I find this little one the most convenient and practical for small, daily prep for myself. 

 3) A Food Processor! Another kitchen item that is a bit underrated is a food...

In January of 2017 I was studying abroad in Israel. I was told NOT to drink the tap water OR brush my teeth with it, and to carefully wash all the fruits and vegetables I ate.

Well—I did none of those things. And within several days of being there my neck started getting all blotchy and I was developing a severe rash.

Within a matter of just a couple more days I knew something was seriously wrong. My digestion was terrible. I was bloated to the max and my whole body had such an unbearable rash. I was so itchy and uncomfortable any place other than soaking in the bathtub. It was also so bad I was embarrassed to wear anything other than a sweatshirt so no one could see my skin.

Things continued to get worse for many months, and by April of that year I noticed a large bulge in the bottom right side of my abdomen—which I eventually realized was the home of my parasite.

I was miserable, tired, and unhappy—to say the least. And desperate to get the parasite out. I had very...