Okay, guys. This will quickly become one of those 'if you don't know, now you know' posts for a lot of you. And for some of you, it'll be more like uhm, duh! If you know me personally, it's probably the latter. Before I totally shock you with my grand exit from the green closet, let me just remind you that this is my choice. You can make yours. I am very pro-choice, and I want to offer these reviews both for people who may medically need the products and would like an honest review before they try 'em, and because medical marijuana is now legal is 28 states and DC and frankly, it seems like everybody's enjoying it. One more quick note - this is very much a safe space for questions and discussion, but no hate. I'm happy to indulge curiosity but never douchebaggery. 

That said, I live in California, which was well known for it's Emerald Triangle long before last month's election. Weed, mary jane, marijuana cigarettes - whatever you call them, it's very available and widely accepted here. I've had my medical marijuana card for years to help with hunger and essentially help to break my battle with eating disorders. Seriously - it helped me calm down and get hungry enough to stop worrying, which is what I really needed to ultimately overcome my consistent binge/purge/starve cycle. While I will always stuggle with it, it's been a solid 6 years since I 've felt those really awfuly urges in full swing. And that is amazing for me. 
If you're still reading, you're probably at least curious about self-healing with and exploration of marijuana. And I'm so glad, because it is such a great, natural alternative to prescritpion medications. (Obviously check wih a doctor before trying anything new!) 
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Besides increasing my hunger and appetite, marijuana helps me sleep more deeply, deal with aches, pains + PMS, and regulates my stress levels. I'm a big fan, but also understand that for many, including myself, smoking simply isn't the best or easiest option. Luckily, with states legalizing left and right, producers have gotten more creative with how to deliver to medicine to your system. Nope, you no longer have to smoke a joing or take a hit off a germy, passed-around water pipe to feel it, friends. You can eat, sip, suck, swallow and rub it on, instead! That sounded really innapropriate, but seriously - you can medicate just by sucking on a hard candy! 

When I attended the Women GROW Conference in LA last month, I was lucky enough to meet (in-person!) several companies that are pioneering healthier, easier to enjoy edibles. Most companies are still making sugar-packed sweets like brownies, gummies, and cookies - so if you're actually very sick or simply are avoiding sugar, gluten or dairy, it can be tricky to find edibles that you know you will enjoy and that would leave you in a sugar crash three hours later.   When I first met the folks at the Dr. Raw booth I was immediately interested. I could see right on the packaging that they were offering up some totally vegan, soy-free, gluten-free products -and even some that were sugar-free, too! 

​Dr. Raw Organics is based in Southern California and makes a range of products - both THC-based (the part of marijuana that makes you feel mentally stimlated - i.e. 'high'), and CBD-based (the part of the plant that is for purely pain relief. You'll get NO high from this.), so they have something for everyone. Their team of herbalists has been handcrafting organic, non-GMO edibles for over a decade, and they always potency test for consistent results you can trust. They make their own tinctures, balms, oils, hard candies and range of baked goods (not ALL are vegan), which you can peruse on their website. At the conference, they were whipping up fresh hard candies, and I immediatey loved how simple and yummy they were. Because they contain both THC + CBD, they offer more a hard-hitting pain relief. I have a pretty high tolerance - I usually ingest about 50 mg~ when I want to get 'high' or feel some serious pain relief. These hard candies start in 10 mg portions, so you can start small and without messing your entire day up. Of course, as with any new medication, prepare to be home the first day so you can see how your body reacts. Better safe than asleep on your desk at work! 

I ended up getting a little care package sent to me from them later, since I was so in love with all of their vegan options! We've found some great vegan things at dispensaries before, but usually they're full of crappy ingredients, so I was so so happy to open it and find all of the goodies pictured here. We're tried the candy hearts, in multiple dosages, the 1:1 balm, and the raw bites. The 1:1 balm is a cocoa butter topical analgesic, great for aches and pains. It works much like arnica to help soothe the tender area and provide relief, and I love it for my sore neck, after yoga, and on any place that just feels not good - I slathered it all over my cracked fingers after my trip to Maine and it worked wonders - plus it smelled great!

The raw balls are a great option for more pain or in a case where you can really relax. They contain 50mg of THC per ball, so most people should start with half a ball or less. I can pop a whole one, but it definitely leaves me feeling sleepy and verrrrrry relaxed about 2 hours later. They are made with organic, gluten-free steel-cut oats, infused coconut oil, ground peanuts, cocoa powder, flax-seed, cinnamon and a touch of agave nectar.  The small portion size gives you the perfect indulgence you crave, with just the right amount of medicine.

The butterscotch-flavored candy hearts are my favorite. So easy to just pop one in your mouth and very discreetly medicate! They are made using seasonal, certified organic fruit and veggie based flavorings and colorings, plus they come in two dosgae sizes. Each regular Candy Heart contains 10mg THC and 1mg CBD and there are 10 Hearts in a package – so 100mg total. Each 1:1 Candy Heart contains the perfect dose of 5mg CBD and 5mg THC, also containing the 100mg total as well.

Whether you're just getting interested in the medical cannabis industry or you just really love edibles, I highly recommend searching these guys out. They have a convenient product locator on their website and offer free samples to curious consumers. Dr. Raw Organics are offering some of the highest quality, certified tested products out there right now, and we love supporting a company like that. Visit them + get more info at DrRawOrganics.com and on their IG at @Dr.RawOrganics!

As a new vegan 6 years ago I really struggled to find healthy, real-food recipes that weren't all tofu and brussels sprouts. The climate in the vegan world - and the online blogging world ALONE - has absolutely sky-rocketed in the last few years, but it used to be really bleak. Some of the first real recipes I found that totally enticed me were on Angela Liddon's site, Oh She Glows. Back then she was still doing a little treats business on the side, but now she's a powerhouse almost mom of two and cookbook author who is still regularly churning out drool-worthy recipes that make the rest of us look like absolute newbies. If you can't tell, I've got a mega- girl boss crush on Angela. She's got it together, works super hard, and manages to still absolutely kill it as a food blogger - she is #goals, guys!
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Angela's recipes and food photography - both in the book and on her blog- are consistently on point. Every recipe comes out so well you can pretty much guarantee she re-worked the recipe 6 times making it perfect before you ever got there. And every photo is so crisp, clean, and well-thought out. Her book is a visual joy to look through and totally makes you want to get in the kitchen and whip up all of her creative, nourishing dishes. Some of the dishes on my to-make list are: Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars with Strawberry Vanilla Chia Seed Jam, Sun-Dried Tomato and Garlic Super-Seed Crackers, Golden French Lentil Stew + High-Rise Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Buttercream Frosting (some pictured below)!

In OSG Every Day, Angela has managed to create an impressive follow-up to her last book with 100 new hearty plant-based recipes easy enough for the busiest of eaters to enjoy. And lucky for you, she's letting us give away one her books to one very lucky WINNER! We're so excited to share this book with you, because it is such a solid addition to collection - whether you are a new or experienced cook. You can scroll down to enjoy some of the incredible photos from the book and to enter our giveaway to win a copy of the book for yourself. Entry details below, as well. 

You've made it to the giveaway! Simply follow the instructions on the widget below to enter. We will randomly select and email a winner when the contest ends. Entrants from the US and Canada only, please. Good luck!

-Reprinted from Oh She Glows Every Day by arrangement with Avery, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © 2016, Glo Bakery Corporation.

-Food photos credited to Ashley McLaughlin and lifestyle photos/headshots credited to Sandy Nicholson. The cover photo is credited to Angela Liddon.

Summer's just about over - unless you also live in Southern California where it be HOT until at least Halloween. Ugh. But that, my friends, is exactly why we're here with a fantastic giveaway! To boost your spirits, cure your sweet tooth and get you back into that mid-summer vacation feeling. We got you. 

I used to work as a nanny and the family that I worked for had ZOKU pop makers in the freezer that the kids LOVED. I used them all the time to keep the kids entertained but never really realized just how cool they really are. They come in all kinds of cute and creative shapes and designs and the Single Quick Pop Maker - pictured above! - can have a frozen-solid popsicle in your hand in literally minutes flat. These products are not only durable and made of high quality materials, they whip up sweet treats in seconds - which is perfect for both impatient kiddos and adults with a raging sweet tooth. I love the versatility of ZOKU's products and how, like me, they HATE waiting for food! ?They offer a range of quick treat makers for popsicles, slushies and cold beverages - something for all your icy treat needs! 
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Because we're such big fans, we teamed up with ZOKU for a fun end of summer giveaway. You can enter alllll the way at the bottom of the page to win $70 worth of ZOKU goodies including their Single Quick Pop Maker, Ice Cream Maker + Chocolate Station!

Seriously - these products are so easy. You just store the chillable bowl and pop maker base in the back of your freezer to chill overnight. Once cold, remove them anytime and pour in your desired ingredients! With the ice cream bowl you use a long, flat spoon to scrape and spoon the ice cream mixture around until it firms up. I like mine a little soft so I ate mine before it totally froze, but Alex later made some killer strawberry ice cream that froze up really nicely and was ready in about 10 minutes. With the pop maker you literally just pour juice, milk, or whatever other liquid into the mold and let it freeze - about 5 minutes and you'll have a totally frozen creation!

​The chocolate station lets you have fun and get creative with toppings, my favorite part. You can of course use it to drizzle chocolate, or butterscotch, caramel, melted coconut butter - whatever you can think of, really! I love whipping up something healthy and sweet with fresh fruit when I am craving some sugar but don't want to overdo it. Having to wait just a few minutes before its ready usually helps me to make the healthier option rather than just munching whatever snack is in the cabinet. And we've made some REALLY delicious things on the fly - my fave is probably coconut yogurt mixed with fresh strawberries and maple syrup and mixed into a frozen yogurt. YUM! At this point I KNOW you want your own set to play with - if you don't you crazy. But I still like ya. Scroll down and enter for your own ZOKU prize pack! 

You made it to the giveaway! For the record: I was given these products, but not compensated and all thought and opinions are honest and my own. I fucking love this stuff. So, US entries only please. Winner will be randomly selected and alerted via email when the contest ends. Good luck! 

GUYS. I am so excited to share this book with you. I've been lucky enough to call Jackie - girlboss over at Vegan Yack Attack - a friend for a few years now, and I just love her. She is smart, witty, sassy, fun to drink with and best of all - a fantastic chef! She's pretty easy on the eyes, too. 😉 And so is her new cookbook! Vegan Bowl Attack is packed with more than 100 one-dish, plant-powered meals, and comes in a gorgeous hardcover edition. Jackie combines vegetables, protein, and whole grains in one dish to make simple and delicious meals. And who doesn't love a good bowl? It means less dishes, easier food-mixing on a single fork, and an excuse to slurp up leftovers. 
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Filled with creative recipes like Peanut Butter Pretzel Oatmeal, Tex Mex Potato Salad, Mean Green Ramen and a S'mores Pudding Bowl, this cookbook is a must-have of the summer for sure. The recipes are well thought out and because Jackie is already a superstar, you know anything you try will turn out perfectly. The accompanying photography is gorgeous, with bright and colorful photographs alongside most of the recipes in the book. I included a few of my faves from the book below - they're all on my must-make list.

First Jackie's Cherry Amaretto Ice Cream, followed by her Smoky Corn Chowder Bread Bowl (which I was luckily enough to try at the cookbook release party) and her Apple Pie Smoothie Bowl. Doesn't that last one sounds PERFECT for fall?!
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Lucky for you, even if you don't have a copy yet (they're available wherever books are sold, and also here!) we get to share with you all a favorite from the book - Jackie's Loaded Potato Breakfast Bowl! Scroll down for the recipe, and be sure to grab yourself a copy of Vegan Bowl Attack ASAP! ​

LOADED POTATO BREAKFAST BOWL

INGREDIENTS
For the potato hash:
2 teaspoons coconut oil
1½ pounds (680 g) russet potatoes, chopped
1 cup (160 g) diced white onion
1 cup (180 g) diced tomato
½ cup (75 g) diced red bell pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup (20 g) firmly packed arugula

For the mushroom gravy:
1½ cups (355 ml) plus 1
tablespoon (15 ml) light coconut milk, divided
½ cup (80 g) diced white onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
½ cup (35 g) diced baby bella mushrooms
1 tablespoon (8 g) cornstarch
3 tablespoons (12 g) nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon (15 ml) liquid aminos
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Vegan cheese shreds, for topping (optional)

DIRECTIONS
To make the potato hash:
Melt the coconut oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. When the 
pan is hot enough to make water sizzle, put the potatoes in. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, 
stirring occasionally. (Start your gravy now, if you can.) Add the onions to the potatoes, cover, 
and sauté until the onions become translucent. Lower the heat to medium and then add the 
tomatoes and bell pepper to the pan. Leave uncovered and sauté until the potatoes are crispy and 
cooked all the way through.

Season the hash with salt and pepper. Wait until right before serving to fold in the arugula, so 
that it does not become too limp.

To make the mushroom gravy:
Make the gravy at the same time as the potatoes if you can; I 
wouldn’t recommend doing it afterward, as the potatoes may get mushy when reheated. Coat a 
medium saucepan with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of the coconut milk. Bring to a simmer over 
medium heat. Next, add the onion and sauté for 2 minutes and then stir in the garlic. Cook until 
the onions are almost translucent and then add the mushrooms. Sauté until the mushrooms have 
darkened and reduced in size. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the onion-mushroom mixture and stir 
until everything is coated evenly. Put the contents of the saucepan in a blender or food processor 
along with the remaining coconut milk, the nutritional yeast, and liquid aminos and pulse a few 
times for a smoother consistency.

Pour the gravy back into the saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat so that the gravy 
simmers. Stir or whisk every couple of minutes until it reaches the desired thickness and then 
season with pepper.
​
Divide the potato hash among 4 bowls (don’t forget to fold in the arugula first!) and top with 
cheese shreds, if using, and the gravy. Serve immediately.

Yield: Makes 2 large or 4 small servings. 

Reprinted from Vegan Bowl Attack!: More than 100 One-Dish Meals Packed with Plant-Based Power By Jackie Sobon, published by Fair Winds Press.

I just completed my 3-Day cleanse program from Kaeng Raeng and I feel FANTASTIC! Refreshed, rejuvenated, and really ready for some bread...haha. I actually went in for an endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood work and stool tests late last week to try and diagnose why I've been feeling so crummy lately. Though they still haven't figured out what's wrong, I needed to eat healthy, nutritive, easy to digest foods afterward and really enjoyed starting this cleanse after my procedures; it was a great way to ease back into eating after being forced onto a liquid diet for 36 hours prior, and was nice and gentle on the tummy! Plus, it was a great way to up my water intake, since I was pretty dehydrated afterward.
I first became familiar with the Kaeng Raeng company at Expo West two years ago and loved both their Director of PR, Kelly, and the simple ingredients that make up their products. Their cleanse, available in 3 or 6-day varieties is made of simple ingredients, each containing just fruit, pea protein, psyllium husk and probiotics. Unlike most juice cleanses where the fiber is completely removed from the drink, leaving you hungry and without energy, Kaeng Raeng's cleanse pack a fiber-ful punch punch thanks to the addition of the psyllium husks. This is better for your body because it slows the digestion of the drink so your body can absorb more nutrients and doesn't instead just get a sugar rush from all that fruit juice.

The cleanse comes in 3 flavors, so its easy to pick and choose a flavor that suits you best at each meal. I also love that they're made (locally for me) in California and are certified organic, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO. Plus, they're completely free from artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives. And each serving (thats 3x each day!) contains a full serving of fruit, 15 grams of pea protein, and 2 billion probiotic cultures. That makes for one very happy tummy and definitely helps keep #HANGER at bay!
These cleanses aren't about fasting or starving- you're encouraged to eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as you'd like, and of course drink plenty of water. Like I said above, I did the 3-day detox cleanse. It comes in 3 flavors: Into The Blue (blueberry + banana), Daybreak (mango, peach + pineapple), and Joyful (strawberry, raspberry, + pineapple) so you can mix it up at each meal. They come in powder form and are recommended mixed with water, juice, or blended into a smoothie. I mixed mine with water so I could fully taste the drink's flavor and texture, but I actually really liked it that way and thought it was plenty sweet enough to enjoy that way as well. Each drink is made from a mix of 1 oz of freeze-dried raw fruit, non-gmo protein, probiotic cultures, and vegetable fiber.

The strawberry, raspberry + pineapple flavor was my favorite and the one I finished first. I liked the mango peach flavor second best, and preferred the blueberry banana least- but I'm not a huge banana fan, either. I loved the way they made me feel. All day long I felt light, energized, and satisfied. I have a lot of stomach issues so I usually get a few hours a day of stomach ache-age, but on the cleanse I really felt great and had almost no stomach pain. I was eating plenty of raw fruits and veggies along with the drinks and was using the higher end recommendation of adding 32 ounces of liquid to each packet. The best part about these drinks- and maybe what I was most surprised by- was how realistic and full they tasted. Since Kaeng Raeng freeze dries whole, raw fruit and adds psyllium to the packets, the detox drinks are packed with fiber and actually have a great mouth feel when you're drinking them. Add some ice and it makes a super easy, yummy smoothie! Plus the 9 grams of fiber per serving (27g/day) keeps you filled up for way longer than a juice ever could.  Just make sure you mix the powder in water very well (like with a fork or whisk, not just in a shaker bottle) before you drink it or it can get a bit clumpy. I'm sure if you're mixing it into a blended smoothie there would be no problem, though. ​

I mean it when I say I really loved these drinks- I would definitely order the 3-day cleanse again (it recommends about 4x per year) in a few months when I'm ready for another digestive reset or to help detox a bit before my wedding next fall - though for us brides, they do offer a special Bridal Cleanse Pack. Doing a Kaeng Raeng cleanse is a great way for ANYONE to sneak a little heath into their week, and a really great way to ease back eating after a couple icky health procedures like I had. I'm back to feeling like my old self, my skin is glowing, and I actually haven't had any mega stomach issues since starting the cleanse at all. I'm so happy with it! You can check out more about Kaeng Raeng, their philosophy, and order a cleanse for yourself HERE! 

*Kaeng Raeng provided the cleanse to me at no charge, but all opinions are true and my own. It's good stuff! *

I've followed the gorgeously curated Love & Lemons blog for quite some time now. Jeanine's effortless looking recipes accompanied by her brilliant photography, with some help from her husband Jack, are the epitome of drool-worthy food porn. Their photos are always bright, crisp, and inspire me to get cooking. While their recipes aren't always vegan, they usually are, and are always vegetarian. This holds true for the cookbook as well, with many GF options clearly laid out. The book is organized by the type of food you're cooking with, (i.e. carrots, onions, stone fruits, winter squash), which makes finding a recipe super easy. The book also offers simple meal suggestions based on whats leftover in the fridge, things you always wants to have in your pantry, and even recommended cooking tools. 
It's a gorgeous, hardcover book with over 120 recipes and 300 photos that will truly inspire spring and summer cooking and will have a space on our bookshelf for years to come. And we're lucky enough to not only share a favorite recipe from it, but to offer a FREE copy to one lucky winner in our giveaway below! 
The recipe we're sharing from the book is for these gorgeous, easy-to-eat Vegan Carrot Waffles. They come out fluffy, sweet, and just a bit crunchy around the edges. They were perfect topped with coconut whip and a bit of maple syrup! Other recipes I'm excited to try? The Crispy Shiitake BLT, Pea + Sweet Potato Samosas, and Green Tomato Basil Grilled Cheese. You're going to love this cookbook. So, let's get cooking!

(Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway!)

VEGAN CARROT WAFFLES 

INGREDIENTS
2 cups (500 mL) whole spelt flour or white/wheat mix
2 teaspoon (10 mL) baking powder
2 tablespoons (30 mL) ground flaxseed
1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) cinnamon
1 cup (250 mL) grated carrots
2 cups (500 mL) almond milk at room temperature
1/4 cup (60 mL) melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon (5 mL) vanilla extract
2 tablespoons (30 mL) maple syrup, plus extra for serving
Sea salt
1 recipe coconut cream (page 287 in the cookbook) (optional) 

DIRECTIONS
Preheat a waffle iron. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, flaxseed, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. In a medium bowl, mix together the grated carrots, almond milk, coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup. Fold the carrot mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Scoop an appropriate amount of batter onto your waffle iron and cook until the edges are slightly crisp. Serve with maple syrup and the coconut cream, if using. 

Yield: 4 to 6 waffles

[Reprinted from The Love & Lemons Cookbook by arrangement with Avery Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © 2016, Jeanine Donofrio. Photographs copyright © 2016 by Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews.]

You made it to the giveaway! To enter to win a copy of the Love & Lemons cookbook, please use the widget below. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Sorry, mates. And good luck! 

We've been Honest Tea fans for a long time because of their simple ingredients and organic, high-quality teas, and I love nearly all of their flavors. Sometimes I prefer something a little sweeter, sometimes something completely unsweetened - and Honest Tea always ahas something to satisfy. This new Green Dragon tea flavor is possibly my new fave. Its super lightly sweetened, just enough to balance out any bitter left behind by the green tea. It is slightly fruitier than a traditional green tea, with hints of lemon and passionate fruit, but has all the health benefits - and I could easily drink it all day long! Find it at your local grocery store.

I have a TON of tummy troubles and even occasionally trouble feeling like I've completely emptied my gut after an especially hard-to-digest meal. That's where Digestic, a totally vegan, organic herbal supplement comes in (I SWEAR I WOULD NEVER SELL YOU DRUGS OR PHARMA). It's made from foods you'll recognize and that naturally aid in the body's expulsion process like papaya, fennel, wormwood, cardamom and aloe. Frankly, if you're constipated: this is a really healthy way to get things moving. You don't need to need it consistently, just when you really need the extra help, though some people choose to eat it with every meal. I don't need THAT much help, but I liked having these on hand after particularly heavy meals. Since this is a bit of a personal product, perhaps it's best explored further on your own. You can get all the info + order some for yourself here! 

Making your nut milk is great and probably cheaper, but isn't always convenient. And at home, I never splurge on the fun or fancy nuts, so I always just have boring old almond milk. Elmhurst Harvest took the work out of it with these awesome new Walnut and Pistachio milks! Okay, so they make an almond version too but again - I'm all over the almond milk. These milks come in original, vanilla, and chocolate flavors and are really yummy! They're a bit thicker than traditional nut milks, so instead of using them for cereal I prefer enjoying a glass by itself or using them to mix it up in my baked goods and donut frostings. The drinks are rich, creamy and best of all - I don't have to shell a single pistachio! You can buy some for yourself here.

If you're looking for reasonably priced specialty superfoods like golden berries, cacao, maca powder, goji berries - whatever! - you should definitely check out the Imlak'esh Organics brand. They make a range of super high quality products in beautiful packaging, sold at really great prices. Their products come in a variety of sizes so you won't get stuck with a ton of something you don't want, and they even sell in bulk, which can be really hard to find when it comes to organic, raw superfoods. Plus they have creative superfood + nut snack mixes like their ChargeBoss Clusters and Camopy Clusters, which are great way to squeeze healthy superfoods into your afternoon snacking routine. You can see al of their products here! 

Purple Carrot is a plant-based (meaning TOTALLY VEGAN Y'ALL) meal delivery service that sends fresh, often organic, always non-GMO, perfectly portioned ingredients paired with seasonal recipes to your door weekly. They recently partnered with co-founder and NYT journalist Mark Bittman to create even more innovative recipes and to spread the word on this awesome alternative service. With popular brands like Blue Apron and Plated touting meaty and vegetarian-friendly meals, us vegans sort of get left out of the shuffle. But we have little time and want to eat delicious meals, too! I was impressed with the ease of the meals, and 2 out of 3 were something I would've probably made at home anyway, but were prepared and served in a slightly fancier way that I normally might've. The ingredients were fresh, though having each one individually packaged seemed a bit excessive as far as plastic waste goes. Broccoli isn't really my favorite so I didn't LOVE that particular dish, but otherwise I thought they were really yummy and made plenty for Alex and I. I'm a chef, so having someone else pick out all my meals isn't really my jam, but if it is, you can at least let them know your preferences. The meals are really quite reasonably priced. A box with 3 meals for 2 people costs $68 and to feed 4 people twice a week it costs $74 - so pretty fair, really. And if you're looking for a little practice on looking techniques or some kitchen inspiration, these meals will definitely get you there quickly - the meals generally take only about 30 minutes to prepare. I really enjoyed my Purple Carrot box and would definitely order it again on a busy week or maybe a week I had guests in town and wanted to skip the guess work. You can check out sample meals and get $20 off your first order with the code NEWCARROT here!

The Taco Cleanse has been making its round all over the internet. It's the tortilla-based diet proven to change your life! Okay, so maybe that's a very tongue in cheek look at the book, but thats kind of the point. The whole book is written with this over-the-top, satirical look at eating only tacos as a means of dieting and/ or cleansing. But of course, unless you're eating all veggie tacos with no delicious sauces or toppings all the time, it doesn't really work like that...so try and remember -  they're only joking! It's just such a fun concept for a book idea and totally pokes fun at an obsession our culture has with fad dieting. It's the best. 
Packed with 75 recipes from savory to sweet tacos they claim will 'Detox Your Dreams' and 'Redefine Your Dinner', there is literally something for everyone here. From Mexican Chopped Salad Tacos and Infinite Fish Tacos to Healing Jalapéno Popper Tacos and Thankful Sweet Potato Pie Tacos, you'll be sure to find something you love in here. Plus, who doesn't love a book whose authors don't take themselves too seriously? It adds way more fun. The clever authors even included a crossword puzzle and a quiz so you can find out exactly what type of taco eater you are; I got 'Taco Sentimentalist'...what can I say, I love a traditional street taco! 

The recipe we chose to make and share was the Inspiring Churro-Waffle Tacos, because they sound DELICIOUS...and they were! Sugar cinnamon crusted waffles topped with sliced bananas and agave or maple syrup. YES PLEASE! We ate them for a late breakfast but they are easily a dessert kind of treat, depending on your ideal sugar intake. They come together really quickly and both Alex and I really liked them. Not an everyday splurge, but a worthy sweet treat for sure. Ready for the recipe?

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup (106 g) sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 cup (120 g) all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (240 ml) water
1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
1/4 cup (60 ml) agave nectar or maple syrup
2-3 bananas, sliced in half lengthwise

DIRECTIONS
On a shallow plate, whisk together 1/4 cup (53 g) sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and set aside. Whisk together the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, salt, remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a large bowl. 

Add the water and oil to the bowl and stir until just combined. Follow your waffle iron's directions to cook the waffles, sing about 2/3 cup (160 ml) of the batter for each. Press one side of each cooked waffle into the plate of cinnamon sugar while still warm. With the sugar side up, lay 2 banana halves side by side on one half of the waffle. Drizzle with agave or maple syrup and fold waffle in half to cradle the bananas.

NOTES
​This recipe said it makes 3 waffles, but we only got two out of our waffle iron.

We loved our experience on the Taco Cleanse and would highly recommend it to a sassy chef or someone who just realllllly loves Taco Tuesday. They include tons of great recipes for taco filling, toppings and the taco shells themselves, as well as a whole section of thirst quenchers to help it all go down a little easier. You've gotta get on the Taco Cleanse! You can find out more about the book HERE or buy our very own copy HERE.

Last weekend Alex and I were lucky enough to attend the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Vegan Oktoberfest! Last year when we went (you can read about that here) we had a very different experience. Not better, for sure. Last year the event was held in Santa Monica, basically on the strand, and was kind of a disaster. People had trouble parking, the event was really overcrowded and hot, and tickets were oversold so the fire marshall ended up capping the number of people allowed inside the gates and people who paid for tickets were getting turned away. A lot of people were mad about it, but I can understand the logistics of assuming it would be a relatively small event and being way overwhelmed. It was their first time! Plus, we got in and had a blast, so I hold no grudges. This year, we weren't sure exactly what to expect, but it ended up being a THOUSAND times better. The people behind Vegan Oktoberfest definitely heard last year's complaints and made an effort to prevent all of last years problems and prevent any new major issues. This year they moved the event to the much larger LA Center Studios in Downtown LA, which had tons of paid parking around to use and a much larger space capacity for people. Last year we waited in line for an hour to get in, but this time we strolled right in. There was a decent crowd when we got there, but not overwhelming. We showed up pretty early on in the event, but it never seemed to get overwhelmingly busy at any point this year. It was actually really nice to be able to stroll around with Alex and hear each other talk, and since the lines weren't very long we were able to spend more time hanging out and less time waiting in separate lines for food and beer. 

Our first stop was to one of all-time faves, the Sage Truck! Sage has three locations plus the food truck, and they all serve up some of the yummiest vegan food EVER. We shared a pretzel with sriracha mayo + honey-free mustard and an order of the Chili Cheese Fries, and Alex used his first drink ticket to fill up his mug with his fave alcoholic ginger beer, Royal Jamaican. I don't really drink, so my mug was mostly empty, but Alex was able to try a few beers as we walked around. It was of course nice to see my home state of Maine represented with both Shipyard AND Seadog Brewing in attendance! 

Our next food stop was at the Blode Kuh cheese booth. We're good friends with Doug + Maxie, the couple who runs the vegan cheese company, and we were so happy to catch up with them for a few minutes. They were selling an ah-maz-ing traditional Bavarian cheese platter with 3 different cheeses (including BEER CHEESE!), homemade brown bread + potato salad. I love eating little bits and being able to try smaller portions of more foods, so this plate was perfect for me. Plus, the gals at Blode Kuh wore traditional Dirndl dresses which was super cute and festive! There were at least 20 food vendors, and while we definitely didn't stop at every place, we definitely felt like we ate a TON. We tried to go to new places and get our very favorites rather than trying to squeeze something from every single place in. 

Our last big savory food stop was at Broke Hungry Vegan's booth for a Seitan Bratwurst with housemade kraut and grilled onions. It was Alex's favorite stop and I was alllll about that kraut. They did an amazing job recreating a traditional sausage, and I love that they didn't shove it in a huge bun, you could really taste all the great flavor! Plus, I finally met Brittany, the face behind BHV, and she is totally rad. 
We were ready for sweet treats after so much delicious and filling savory food, so we hopped in line at Divine Dips for a small cone of their Rastaberry (raspberry) flavor. It went with the whole t-shirt theme AND tasted amazing and refreshing after a lot of heavy, fried foods. Next time I NEED to try that Maple Cardamom flavor...YUM!

We finished off the event with a slice of German chocolate cake (naturally) + maybe the best jelly-filled donut I've EVER had from Ridiculous Baking Company, and of course grabbed a few take-home donuts from Donut Friend, including my absolute fave the 'Custard Front Drive'. We had met up with tons of vegan blogging friends and eaten our respective weights in fried foods and ice cream, so we headed home about an hour before the event ended. I think overall this year was way more effectively planned and executed, and I hope that now that they've proven they can do it, more vendors will come back. We had a blast either way + can't wait for next year! Keep up with the latest news from Vegan Oktoberfest, including details on next year's event on Facebook, Instagram + at VeganOktoberfest.com!

Laura Theodore is a vegan of over 30 years who has pioneered vegan recipe creation on a local and sometimes nationally broadcast stages. She was a vegan long before it was cool, and now is in the 5th season of her publicly broadcasted show, which airs in over 30 states! Her show, 'The Jazzy Vegetarian' is 100% vegan, but was conceived with the idea that, at the time, many people were either unfamiliar with a vegan diet or assumed it was awful. By calling herself vegetarian, she opened up the eyes of many viewers to how yummy and easy living a plant-based lifestyle can really be. She regularly hosts small celebrities and has been asked onto several nationally broadcasted TV shows to practice her craft. So why the Jazzy part? Because as it turns out, Laura is ALSO musically inclined, with three CD's to her credit. She's a lady with talent! 
Her cookbooks (Vegan-ease is her 3rd) focus on nutrition, delicious, easy-to-prepare vegan meals and lifestyle tips for making the transition to a plant-based diet easy and enjoyable. 
As a pretty experienced vegan chef, I approached Laura's recipes with hesitation - would they be too easy for me to make? Would I enjoy them? Some of her recipes are very simple, and made that way purposely to not only gently introduce meat-eaters to the recipes, but to emphasize how easy it really can be to live a plant-based lifestyle. I ended up actually liking her recipes for their simplicity and the way she invitingly writes them. This is definitely not a book for the advanced chef looking to further their technique, but rather the new to the plant-based lifestyle explorer who like easier, friendlier to first-timer recipes. Would make a great Christmas gift for the veg-curious or someone older transitioning to a vegan lifestyle for their health. Many of the recipes are oil or fat free, with a big focus on using vegetables to re-create traditional meals.
We chose to share this super easy recipe from Laura for her Quick Red Lentil Curry Soup. It was a 'set it and forget it' kind of recipe, which I love when I'm running around the house trying to accomplish a million other things. At the end of the post, you can enter to WIN your very own copy of Laura's book, Vegan-ease! [Just be sure to scroll alllll the way to the bottom.]

But first, a note from Laura on the recipe: 
Needing only fifteen minutes to pre, with only 7 ingredients to assemble, this soup is an excellent candidate for a nutrition lunch or informal supper. As the red lentils cook, they break down to magically thicken the broth. Before you know it, you have a hearty delicious soup, ready to serve. 

Quick Red Lentil Curry Soup 
INGREDIENTS
32 ounces vegetable broth
2 cups peeled and diced red or white potatoes 
1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup red lentils, sorted + well rinsed
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, diced
1/2 cup filtered or spring water, plus more as needed
1/4 teaspoon curry powder

DIRECTIONS
​Put all of the ingredients into a medium-sized soup pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, decrease the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the lentils are soft. Add more water, as needed, if the soup becomes too thick as it cooks. Severe piping hot. 

OUR NOTES:
-Because we're not the biggest fans of chunky veggie soups, we opted to use a immersion blender to blend the soup to a creamy texture (shown below) before we served it.
-This recipe is super easy and whips up fast, but doesn't have a ton of flavor. We added a few pinches of our fave spices, and added a bit more curry powder, plus salt and pepper.
-This recipe is ideal for someone new to plant-based cooking or looking for a simple soup that doesn't require any real kitchen time. If you're an advanced cook, this recipe might be a little under-whelming to you.

You've made it to the end for a chance to enter to win your very own AUTOGRAPHED copy of the Vegan-ease Cookbook! All you have to do is scroll the to the very bottom of this post and enter of one like 6 ways to win. Entries only open to US, sorry mates. Good luck!