Almond milk is an essential in my kitchen. It’s easy to make once you’ve done it and got the hang of it. C’mon, you can do this. Buying almond milk will make you roll your eyes in the supermarket. Really. You won’t go back to drinking static almond milk stabilized with gums and stuff.

Shepherd’s pie is the traditional “meat and potatoes” dish. Perfect for family meals and get togethers, this vegan version replaces the meat with hearty French lentils and umami-rich mushrooms, layered with carrots and peas, and topped with a cozy amount of mashed sweet potatoes.

Thai Bliss Curry Soup, a raw vegan take on the flavors of Thailand.

Impressionist painter Claude Monet’s cook, Marguerite, used carrots grown in the Monet home garden within many of the dishes served at the artist’s dining table. Since discovering the cookbook Monet’s Palate, I made a recent jaunt to my local farmers’ market, gathering handfuls of carrots to make this soup.

I’ve always found the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to be so intoxicating. Perhaps it’s just the idea of coffee that appeals to us tea drinkers, but the actual taste lacks that verve we were so promised. Like that handsome Italian boy that seduced you during your Roman holiday adventure, he didn’t quite live up those romantic words he whispered in your ear, but you fell for it anyway.

This turmeric milk tea recipe is a soothing, warm and comforting chai latte made with turmeric, fresh ginger, manuka honey, homemade almond milk and chai spice.

Chinese noodles are symbolic of a long life during the Lunar New Year celebration. This inspired me to make garlic noodles with some fresh Asian veggies. I used Melissa’s brand fresh Chinese noodles and Asian vegetables to make this special recipe. I love a rich, creamy sesame sauce mingled with lots of finely chopped garlic sticking to the long noodles. I want it gingery, garlicky and loaded with flavor. 

It is winter here in California. We have perfectly warm and sunny beach days that make people in colder climates jealous. As the last week of December goes by, a day of heat changes into crisp cool weather and back again. Then a spell of wind comes along and brings out the sparkle in everything.