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The Engine 2 Diet / The Daily Beet / The Daily Beet / Guest Post: Lindsay Nixon Talks About Simplicity (Plus A Giveaway!)
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Guest Post: Lindsay Nixon Talks About Simplicity (Plus A Giveaway!)

by May 22, 2012

First, we have a giveaway winner for Jeff Novick’s “Burgers and Fries!” is Angela who said: “ooh! ME ! ME! ME! I need the Burgers and Fries! I’ve got 4 kids, we are on the 2nd week! the 3 kids are doing great, the youngest is handicapped CMV (deaf, CP, PDD-NOS, Epilepsy, free running syndrome) and I really want her to eat healthy. Right now she only takes Pedisure, Ravolis and BURGERSand FRIES. I’d love to find a healthy substitute. I hate that Pediasure is full of fat and milk.”

Congrats Angela!

Stay tuned for more giveaways throughout the summer! And to pick up a copy of Jeff’s DVD you can order it here.

Today, Lindsay Nixon from Happy Herbivore talks about simplicity.

“I went to visit my parents recently. It was the first time I’d seen them in person since they went plant-strong in January (after my father had his first heart attack) and since my husband was in tow, we invited his parents to come up for a few days, too.

At first I felt this need to really show off my cooking skills and make several elaborate menus showcasing a variety recipes. On the one hand, I wanted to impress my in-law and on the other, I wanted reward my parents for their hard work (while also reminding them how great and boundless their new lifestyle is) but (and this is a big but!) then there was this other, rather large part of me that didn’t really want to spend all my time in the kitchen. I wanted to relax and enjoy my parents and in-laws company.

My mom and mother-in-law both insisted I didn’t need to do anything. Simple was fine, they said — but I didn’t really buy it. Could simple be enough?
YES. Simple proved to be both delicious and awesome.

The first night, my parents prepared Andrea’s Puttanesca from Everyday Happy Herbivore with a side salad. The next morning my mother served a beautiful fruit tray.

For a “cookout” that afternoon, we steamed fresh, local corn, my parents made a double batch HH baked beans (from The Happy Herbivore Cookbook) and my mother-in-law contributed a quinoa-citrus salad (everything was made without oil).

And for a second off the next morning, I finally got in the kitchen to make 3 easy recipes from Everyday Happy Herbivore: whole-wheat drop biscuits (5 ingredients), tempeh sausage crumbles (just tempeh + spices) and white bean gravy (6 ingredients in a blender!) It all came together in 15 minutes!

Everything was so simple, and yet, so delicious. Simple is good!”

What simple dishes do you like to prepare for guests? Submit a comment and you can win a copy of Lindsay’s cookbook, Everyday Happy Herbivore!

About the author

Lindsay Nixon
Lindsay S. Nixon is a rising star in the culinary world, praised for her ability to use everyday ingredients to create healthy, low fat recipes that taste just as delicious as they are nutritious. She is the author of two bestselling cookbooks, The Happy Herbivore Cookbook and Everyday Happy Herbivore. Her third book, Happy Herbivore Abroad, will be released in December 2012. Learn more about Nixon and try some of her recipes at happyherbivore.com.
  • Candyce

    For guests, we go with the “build your own” approach: maybe a chili station with toppings like chopped tomato, brown rice, and purple onions, a baked potato bar with toppings like salsa, beans, and nutritional yeast, or a burrito bar with options like grilled corn, limes, cilantro, different types of beans, and so forth. Dessert might be a banana split station with chopped bananas, fresh pineapple, fresh strawberries, maybe blueberries or other fruit, and toasted nuts or plain almond butter to melt and drizzle over the fruit. It’s fun, easy to put together, and it lets guests have a choice about what they’re eating. This summer, we want to use our grill more, so we might have guests put together things like veggie skewers to put on the grill. We’re all about letting the guests do the work ;)

  • http://www.JoynessSparkles.blogspot.com Joyness Sparkles

    I love just going out to the garden, finding whatever is ready to be picked and either make a salad or a soup out of it (depending on the weather). It is so simple, and to the point and yet as it is our home grown produce it still says, “made with love.” Our boys are even getting better at this…they just need to work on getting more of the bugs and dirt off…

  • Dawn

    I am working on becoming plant strong & so is my guy, but he’s a little more resistant than I am. However, I have found that the simpler the meal I do make the more he is likely to like it. So, I’ve worked on perfecting the simple easy meals and forget about all that fancy shmancy stuff! LOL

  • Tammy

    We don’t have a ton of guests in, but we do have 8 kids. We like make your own pizza night. Also, we do a lot of baked potatoes with tons of veggies for you to load those babies up with. Yummy!

  • tammy

    Baked potatoes, steamed kale and some fresh garden tomatoes … yum!!

  • Jenn

    We usually have a taco bar when we have guests over. This is the easiest option for me because I can have a lot of different options for toppings and everyone can make their own. My favorite mixture to include with the tacos is black beans, rotel and corn. Of course we have a bunch of spinach, tomatoes and other veggies as well. Yum!

  • James Hill

    We love the Happy Herbivore books. I should win this one so I can return the library copy so someone else can check it out!

  • Jennifer

    I love to make a burrito/taco bar! I put out corn tortillas, brown rice wraps, black beans, pinto beans, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onions, avocado, salsas and brown rice. The kids love creating their own meal!

  • Shana Brannon

    I am all about finding the freshest produce I can find. There is nothing like a just picked juicy peach or a fragrant tomato. I find that when I buy local or grow something myself, I don’t want to mess with the intense flavors that nature provided. Especially in the summer, I find myself making lots of salads and grilling veggies. I pile on as much variety as possible. Believe in the KISS! (Keep it simple, silly!)

  • http://anemoneflynn.com Heidi

    I like to prepare HH’s Cheater Pad Thai with cabbage & rice noodles, or I make a Chipotle Grill style dish of pinto beans, rice, salsa, and some guacamole on top. I’ve never had complaints about those two dishes!

  • Rachel Guidry

    I love the HH books, I would love a copy of my own.

  • Desirae Johnson

    Although I don’t have Lindsay’s cookbook, I like to use the recipes from her website when I entertain. I love taking classic Southern staples and showing my family and friends that it’s still delicious without the animal products. Most recently, I cooked a plant-strong meal for Mother’s Day. We had sweet potato biscuits, mac & cheese, greens and “crab” cakes–all vegan of course! It was a hit.

  • Erin

    I love to keep things simple with a build-your-own bowl buffet: cubed sweet potatoes, quinoa, lots of chopped fresh veggies, cilantro, and a nice lime dressing. People pile on the items they like, and everything tastes good with lime and cilantro. My omnivore friends are always amazed at how something so simple can be so delicious. :)

  • jari

    I always get compliments on my pasta salads, which are full of a variety of veggies, but they really are just a way to clean out the fridge!

  • Michele P

    The simple snack I serve guests (who are mostly kids for playdates), are “Chocolate Balls”. They are simply raw oats, shredded coconut, honey, almond butter, vanilla extract and coconut oil all rolled up and chilled. The kids love them and so do I.

  • Kyle Lahm

    I help organize our local farmers market as part of my job… being there every week is helping my plant strong journey immensely. Last week I took the cuisinart and simply dropped in cucumber, jalepeno, banana pepper, tomato, huge green onion, garlic and spices. I was intent on making salsa and it was great, due to a heavy hand with the pulse button it also doubled as a delish gazpacho, baked potato topping, weekend hashbrown topping etc. My dinner guest and the hubs were impressed! I want this book, that gravy sounds awesome!

  • Carol Whitaker

    Have pre-made batches of hummus, chopped salad veggies, and fruit salad in your fridge. Mix and match to make great meals. Here’s one for an example:
    SUMMER WRAPS
    Hummus for the “glue”. Spinach/kale leaves for color. Toss on a spoonful or two of the chopped salad veggies for the filling, a splash of hot sauce to give it a kick. Serve with a side salad. Whip up a batch of fresh fruit spritzers to wash it all down.

  • Peggy

    Thanks so much for reminding us that easy is great! That is why your cookbooks are my go-to every day!

  • Heidi Weinman

    What is more simple than grabbing whole fruits and vegtables to eat on the go? I have found so many simple recipies but our favorites are new York times veggie burger from E2 and mixing any vegtables(frozen or fresh) with rice or quinoa.
    Whole foods are simply easy.

  • Jeremy

    My wife is now joining me as E2′ers after I showed her Forks Over Knives. I successfully completed the 28 Day Challenge about a year ago and then not-so-successfully went back to bad ways. We’re both committed now and I love all the options I have to cook for her and soon our newborn son. This weekend we’ll take the E2 diet on the road as we stay with my parents. I plan on cooking a couple meals for them including some veggie burgers that they can grill. I would also love to make them that biscuits and gravy recipe! That sound delicious and I know biscuits and gravy is going to be one of the things I miss most.

  • Bree

    I really like Chloe Coscarelli’s Chinese Takeout Noodles and her Mandarin Peanut-Crunch Salad. I actually just made these two for some guests recently and they loved it! They were both really easy recipes and of course deliciously plant strong!

  • Anne Krause

    My copy of HH cookbook is totally falling apart from over use, lol I so need a copy of the Everyday HH! I serve a whole wheat pasta tossed with whatever veggies are in season, mixed with a vinegar, date, and cashew dressing. Fast, yummy and satisfying.

  • Shawna

    I like to do a “build-your-own” type bar when we have guests over. Bowls of greens, chopped veggies, a few dips or spreads, some nuts, seeds, and superfoods for the fun bits….and some grains or wraps. That way there is something to appeal to everyone whatever their preferences are. And of course, a big fruit platter for dessert.

  • Joyce

    I sure could use simple right now. Having a tough time hanging on to plant strong (doing good, but still having a tough time)

    • Candy H.

      I was having a hard time after getting sick and then moving. Nothing sounded appetizing at all. I decided to check out Leslie’s EHH cookbook for some new flavors and dishes. Best desision I could have made. I love the simplicity but everything is so well flavored it’s amazing!! Even my husband has loved all the dishes I’ve made. Hope this helps to reinvigorate you as it did for me, good luck!!

  • J Sullivan

    I love the abundance of fresh vegetables available during the summer.

  • Larry

    I’m trying to move more and more to a plant strong diet for the health of me and m two children. We are all excited to be eating healthier than we ever have before. Our favorite thing to make is kale, cucumber, bok choi, apple, celery, and carrot juice! We would love to have a copy of the HH Cookbook!

  • Elizabeth Moran

    I prefer to do pasta with a quick, homemade tomato sauce when we have guests. The meal is ready within 30 minutes and everyone likes it. It’s meat free but even the carnivores don’t mind a meatless tomato sauce and the kids all love it. Then, we have something simple for dessert (cookies, squares, fruit, ice cream, whatever we have on hand).

  • Kelly

    My favorite simple meal is vegetable soup in a pressure cooker! Whatever you have in the pantry/fridge/freezer goes in the pressure cooker with canned tomatoes, vegetable broth (or water), spices and voila! The pressure cooker makes it taste like it’s been cooking all day but it only takes 30 minutes from beginning to end!

  • http://talesfromthesandwichchronicles.blogspot.com/ Meg

    Can I give you 2? I make a corn salad that uses just 5 ingredients, plus salt & pepper: fresh, barely cooked corn cut off the cob, finely diced red onion, fresh basil cut “chiffonade” and a simple cider vinegar/olive oil/salt & peppr dressing. The other is a potato salad that uses just 6 ingredients: boiled red skin potatoes, “chunked” to about an inch, thinly sliced red onion, minced fresh parsley and dill and dressed with white wine vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper.

  • karen

    Build your own falafel with lots of fresh vegetables, homemade hummus and vegan tzatziki. Everyone can pile on the goodness, and we usually have leftovers.

  • http://www.ourdesignedlife.com Monica N

    I tend to go to the somewhat familiar with jazzed up spaghetti. I through in every veggie I have on hand and some kind of bean- which always seems to blow people away. Served with a fresh salad and a piece of garlic bread and you have yourself a crowd pleaser.

  • Carolyn

    One of the easiest & tastiest dishes I prepare for guests is a pasta casserole that tastes like lasagna, but healthier because it’s less pasta & more veggies. I mix cooked pasta with my homemade marinara sauce, & put half in baking pan. Layer lots of sautéed veggies (sweet onions, red bell pepper, zucchini, spinach, grated carrots, fresh basil, whatever you like) on top. Sprinkle some Daiya & vegan parmesan over that. Top with remaining pasta. Cover with foil & bake until hot & bubbly. Top with more fresh basil & serve with mixed salad greens tossed with homemade Italian dressing. The best part is that it can be prepared in advance, so I don’t miss time with my guests.

  • Sam

    We do a lot of quick Mexican food for guests. Particularly tacos, burritos, or enchiladas. I love that you can build your own.

  • Merrill

    Veggie and portobello kebabs on the grill and my husband makes the most amazing vegan potato salad I’ve ever had. I would love to own the HH cookbook!

  • Nanette Eshom

    I make a salad bar with lots of fresh vegies. It is a big hit every time! I am hoping to win the cook book, because mine is gone. I loaded it into my suitcase to take on our trip to Florida and we forgot to put up our tailgate on our truck. We lost two suitcases before we realized it was down. We drove around for an hour trying to find them. Never did. We think someone picked them up and kept them. Very sad to lose my Everyday Happy Herbivore Cook Book! But, maybe the person that found it is becoming vegan!

  • kerstin

    I really like make your own pizza, during summer its even better on the grill. Just put out dough, sauce, garlic oil, rive parmesean and plenty of toppings. Its a sure fire hit even with my non vegan or vegetarian friends :)

  • Jennifer

    I love preparing a simple, but delicious, massaged kale salad for friends or family when they visit. So good and so healthy.

  • http://www.foodlogiksmart.com Wellness Nurse Gina

    I love tossing together a quick organic spinach, beet, red onion and walnut salad dressed up with some fruity vinegar like pear or pomegranate…tangy, sweet, crunchy and delicious!

    For quick snacks, apple slices or celery sticks with nut butter and raisins always hits the spot!

    Thank you for making the world a healthier place!

  • http://allnaturalchick.wordpress.com Brittany

    I like showcasing local, seasonal produce when I have guests over. In the winter, I roast butternut and serve with wild rice, quinoa or pasta; in the summer I grill peppers, zucchini and corn and serve with a fresh tomato salad.

  • Amalie

    For a quick dinner I throw black beans, homemade salsa and veg broth in a pan. Makes a great soup full of flavor from the salsa. With it is a simple salad dressed in oil free dressing. I would LOVE to win your book! :)

  • Stan

    Simple is the best. I was eating my salad at my desk for lunch when a co-worker stopped by. The salad was simple. Romain Lettuce, Spinach and Kale. Topped with Salsa. He looked at it and then was asking what was in it. The Best was when he asked what Kale was. My response was it this amazing super food. Simple is good.

  • Deneen

    Favorite simple vegan meal for my family is my vegetarian chili with homemade corn muffins. My omnivore husband and kiddo (who I am converting successfully & who now only eat meat once or twice a week) just gobble the chili up & ask for seconds! I would love a Happy Herbivore cook book to keep the simple healthy vegan ball rolling with my family…they deserve it, after all!!

  • http://www.Runningvegan.com Jana Yowell

    I love simple recipes. Sometimes canned beans and veggies are all we need. I love Happy Herbivore recipes. I hope I win a copy.

  • http://cnorrisblog.wordpress.com Christie

    Lindsay, you are such an inspiration, and I would be honored to win yoir cookbook. Your colorful, delicious-looking photos are what inspire me to keep eating this way, and I have recommended your books and website to others looking to change their unhealthy habits. Your recipes are simple enough that anyone can make, which helps when encouraging others to adopt this lifestyle. Thank you for making such a difference in so many lives!!

  • Molly

    enchilada lasagna!

  • Lisa

    I made a super easy meal the other day; zucchini, squash, garlic, tomatoes, basil chopped up then sauteed. Once it’s finished I mixed it with fusilli pasta. It is an easy meal that is very tasty.

  • Stephanie

    I love the Barbeque-Style Portobellos from the NutritionMD website. Make the sauce in a blender, then cook the mushrooms in it for about 10 minutes. I usually serve them with quinoa and steamed kale. So good, and the red sauce plates up beautifully with the green kale!

    Crossing my fingers to win the book! Happy Herbivore is my go-to cookbook when I need something simple and tasty.

  • DeAnn

    This is my second day on the E2 diet plan. My three kids are behind me on this but my son is a bit leary. Last night was the first time we all tried gnocci with the E2 basic red sauce, it was so simple and fast and for my kids, it’s our new “pasta” night meal! I couldn’t believe how filling it was and even my son admitted it was good. I would love to try the recipes from Everyday Happy Herbivore. Even if we didn’t win the cookbook, I know I’ll be picking it up from the bookstore!

  • http://outinthemsticks.blogspot.com rebecca

    I already own these books but I still want to win so I can gift this to a dear friend of mine who most definitely would love and use it!

    I love fresh berries for guests. Right now pineapple and strawberries are cheap. Later, it’ll be blueberries and strawberries, etc. Keep it fresh and in season. :) For winter, I make blueberry loaf and top it with sliced bananas for guests.

  • Aimee Douglass

    Last weekend I attended my nephew’s second birthday party, my first such party since becoming a vegan. It was a picnic, and my brother was kind enough to purchase vegan burgers for me to eat, and asked that I bring a good vegan dish. I threw together two salads that I knew would travel well in the heat and hopefully wow everyone. Instead of going to the store for special ingredients, I came up with two great recipes using what I had on hand – a rainbow slaw with kale, red cabbage, and carrots dressed in a lime cumin tahini dressing, and a quinoa and chickpea salad with roasted walnuts and a raspberry balsamic dressing. I’m happy to report that both went over very well and I answered lots of questions about my diet. For entertaining, I think keeping it fresh, flavorful and simply working with what you have is the best.

  • Susan

    I love to make enchiladas. I get the Xtreme Fiber tortillas, mix black beans, corn, fire roasted tomatoes (let heat up before you roll them). Roll them in tortilla wraps, place in a glass dish for the oven. Pour enchilada sauce over. Bake until bubbly. I am going to try crushed cashews next time on top. This is delicious!

  • http://www.whispersinthesilence.blogspot.com andrea

    Pasta and salad are always a simple dish. I also found a great dip on the Whole Food Market site using black beans – it’s easy to make and easy to leave out the oil, though I’m still experimenting with increasing flavor to reduce the salt. A copy of the book would be great – my cookbooks need a total makeover. :)

  • Ellery

    I love simple rice and veggies! Quick brown rice (made with low sodium vegetable broth for extra flavor), seasoning, and fresh steamed veggies – so simple and delicious!

  • Kimberly Louis-Jean

    I like to just make a nice simple colorful salad. My friend’s love it every time.

  • martha

    Taco night! Easiest meal ever! :)

  • http://lifeinthenest.com Jen Charles

    My husband and I are brand new herbivores! Just watched Forks over Knives last Wednesday.
    I’m still pretty new to have a favorite recipe, but was pretty happy with what I called Creamy Mushroom Sauce Over Pasta – my own concoction of baby bellas, sauted with onions, garlic and thyme. I made a simple pan sauce with white wine, almond milk and arrowroot. Yum!

  • http://trailingtatum.blogspot.com/ Kate

    A big bowl salad is our go-to for guests. Just shred and chop, then let everyone put theirs together as they wish.

  • Diane

    I usually try to have some E-2 3 bean chili in individual servings in the freezer in case a friend stops by for lunch. Serve it with a whole wheat pita. Our favorite easy go-to meal for dinner is Rip’s Sweet Potato Bowl – so fast, easy and delicious! Would love to have more recipes for ‘everyday’ that are fast and simple to make after a day at work.

  • http://www.catherinechandler.com Catherine Chandler

    Our favorite simple dishes include vegan enchiladas, which is more like a mexican casserole, with nutritional yeast instead of cheese on top, quinoa tabouleh, or a salad of roasted potatoes (using broth, not oil!), green beans, and corn (a recipe borrowed from Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle”). For appetizers we do homemade hummus or bean dip with veggies and rice crackers.

  • Gayle P

    A simple white bean and avocado dip with backed tortilla chips.

  • anastacia norris

    My current favorite: roasted asparagus with a teaspoon of veganaise, a squirt of lemon and another squirt of dijon mustard.

  • Debbie

    Yes please, I would love to win a copy of Lindsay’s book! I debated back and forth with my husband as to if I should make the taco dip for Mothers Day vegan, and I ended up making it with dairy. I have no idea how to appeal to my husband or extended family with this diet. Complicated isn’t working, but I feel like I don’t know how to keep it simple.

  • Shontae Alston

    I like to make simple but hearty meals for my family, friends and guests. I use fresh (or frozen veggies when I am in a pinch) to make a savory veggie chili or stew. I change the veggies that I use, so no two chilies or stews are alike. I also like to make fresh loaf of bread or cornbread (both vegan) to make my meal complete!

  • Amy Holt

    I NEED the cookbook. I need help! I have a (fairly fussy) 6 year old son and we are trying to become plant strong. I am finding it hard to come up with meals he will enjoy, especially as a working single parent I don’t want to spend all my free time in the kitchen. As I am new to this I haven’t been brave enough to prepare any meals for my friends yet (more need for the cookbook) but a simple meal that my son enjoyed was a heap of roast veggies, some mashed carrot and swede and some chilli black beans. The key for him is a little of everything so he doesn’t feel overfaced by too much of one vegetable.

  • http://www.powershealth.com Linda Powers

    I am a nutrition coach and I recognize that while not everyone is plant strong adding more and more plant strong choices is the healthy way to go. My biggest challenge is to show people that eating plant strong CAN be easy and simple AND delicious. I love to bring in books that show that and this one would be a good one to help me put this point across.

  • Lisab

    i make steel cut oats in the rice cooker! Love it- so simple.

  • Maria

    That´s an inspiring article. I’m vegetarian and I also make vegan dishes. But eating mostly plant-based seems to me unfortunately a big deal. I’m eager to learn more though.

  • Toni Kulma

    I need a new cook book because i am in a rut. I make the same several dishes over and over. When i want something quick though, i make Jeff Novick’s jambalya.

  • http://lifeinflow.blogspot.com Becky Leff

    Now that the weather is warm, we love to barbeque — vegetable skewers, homemade veggie burgers, grilled onions! I always like baked sweets potato and kale for dinner. We also eat lots of pasta, so I really like having quick, healthy sauce recipes! For dessert, whatever fruit is in season.

  • Quinta

    One of my favorite dinners for company is the Hawaiian Chickpea Teriyaki from Lindsay’s the Happy Herbicore cookbook! It’s so simple, but tastes wonderful and everyone likes it!
    A simple lunch for me consists of Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grain tortillas spread with either hummus or The Esselstyn’s Walnut Spread, topped with kale, spinach and lettuce, and then rolled into a burro . It’s crunchy and satisfying.
    To polish off either meal, some cut up fruit with lime juice and mint from the garden is refreshing and delicious:)

  • kalisa

    I usually make a vegetarian cashew chili that I adapted to be plant strong / oil free. After all, who doesn’t like chili?

  • Ninufar

    Most often I serve lentil soup, using whatever fresh greens my CSA has to jazz up the basic lentil/onion/carrot combo which I can make the night before. Favorite dessert to serve? McDougall-style rice “pudding” with no added sugar that doesn’t come from the fruit I include. Most of my guests are young adults used to eating whatever they want, & almost none of them are vegetarians, but they eat this up!

  • http://www.juiceplusbehealthy.com kim tyler

    i love serving mejool dates + almonds as desert…people are always amazed at how sweet the dates are! and i’d love a HH book!

  • http://veganatcollege.wordpress.com Lauren Stewart

    We often bake corn tortillas for make-your-own tostadas with black beans, rice, veggies, and avocado and salsa. Really easy, and everyone likes it!

  • John

    …kale chips.

  • Renata H.

    Quinoa and black beans are always a hit!

  • BH

    Call me bland, but, I never tire of a mixture of beans, brown rice, hummus, salsa…oh yeah, and kale of course. :-P

  • http://journalthroughlens.blogpsot.com wen

    I love to make dessert for guest…we all scream for ice cream…using frozen banana, cherries (in food processor till creamy)…adding cocao powder…3 ingredients, and here comes our treat: chocolate cherry banana ice cream. Quick and simple!!!

  • Christine

    I usually try to do some sort of “build your own” type of meal so everyone can be as adventurous as they feel. Tacos, salads, dips with veggies and homemade chips/ crackers, etc.

  • http://livinlavidavegan.blogspot.com Ananda

    I really enjoy making banana ice cream for our guests. They are amazed at how wonderful it tastes! So much better than any commercial ice cream. Lots of living enzymes to boot! We often will top our frozen treat with things like chia seeds, fresh blueberries, raw cacao powder, mangoes, etc! The fruit has all of the complex complete sweet you need! Sugars in their true whole form! For our friends that can’t have too much of the sweet stuff I make an amazing avacado chocolate chia pudding!

    Thanks for the chance to share, and to get some great ideas and to WIN an awesome prize!

  • Walt Huntsman

    We are still at the beginning of our dietary journey, but I would love to find some recipes my autistic teenager would enjoy, not to mention some tasty dishes for me and my wife. My son can take an immediate dislike to a food just by hearing the name (any milk that is not cow’s milk, for example), so I am in need of some really tasty dishes that can help overcome this dietary bias he has.

  • Beth

    Wow…that “saugage,” biscuits, and gravy breakfast might just be the thing I need to make to convince my husband that plant-strong is the way to go! He keeps telling me, “We have canine teeth for a reason.” And my response has been, “Yeah, and your mom and my dad have had bypass surgeries FOR A REASON.” I need to sway him with culinary delights, not just words.

  • Jennifer Stiber

    HELP!!!!!! At first my family was excited over the new plant strong dishes I was making, but they have slowly been loosing their enthusiasm and starting to resent it and even bring in things I don’t want in the house (I don’t need to go into specifics I think y’all can guess.) I would love a copy of the Happy Herbivore to add some variety and renewed excitement to my families plant strong menu. I really could use some more ideas because not everyone is so enthusiastic about me becoming plant strong. I would be so very grateful if you could send me a copy of the book and maybe it would help convince everyone else to come on board the plant strong wagon.
    For a simple meal I use the slow cooker/crock pot to make a simple and hardy stew of sweet potatoes, tofu (fresh or frozen deepening on texture you want), barley, onions, garlic, brags liquid amino, tomatoes or tomato sauce, dried beans (presoaked/cooked if you can remember to do so) and kombu (to help with gas from the beans :) ) oh and enough water so it won’t burn. I love that I can just stick everything in and not worry about watching the pot. If I will be serving it for Saturday lunch I start cooking it the night before. In the morning you are greeted with the most wonderful aroma!
    Thanks for reading! Peace…..

  • Karrie

    I like simplicity. Since going plant-strong, my taste buds have awakened and I like to taste the individual ingredients. No doubt about it; I enjoy my food more now!

    Going to my neice’s first birthday party this weekend, and I’m taking a simple quinoa/black bean salad and fruit for dessert.

  • Stephanie

    Simple is great! I’ve recently decided that we’re going to keep our meals simple and have the same thing on a rotation for 2-3 meals per week (i.e. every Friday we have the same thing, every Tuesday we have the same thing or a variation on the same thing, etc.). Keeping things simple is healthier in so many ways – mentally and physically!

  • Willow

    I love to have fresh veggies and hummus dip on hand for guests to much on.

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