Summer plant based eating adventures in the USA

At Candle Cafe, NYC

Susan writing here...

Vegan combo plate

This summer brought us to many friends and family while driving in the USA as we do every year. Eating a plant based menu is not very difficult in this country with an abundance of goodies in all restaurants and grocery stores. I will highlight a few of my favorite moments through words and photos.

A special time was a visit to the home of "carnivore" friends Nancy and Gary. (These were Nancy's words to describe themselves.) They were both challenged with a few health problems so I offered to bring some things and cook for them in their kitchen, using some of their garden crop. This was the menu:

Decadent...coconut non dairy frozen
dessert with parfait and cherries

Kale chips made by Nancy with fresh kale from her garden

Chips/guacamole and bean dips

Black beans, mushrooms and sweet potato, served with quinoa and brussel sprouts.

Avocado, mango, lettuce salad with lavender vinegrette (also made by Nancy)

Fruit salad

Ginger sun tea

Nancy and Gary were so happy to have a meal of all plants served in their kitchen with the usual interest and joy that such variety was so easy to create and so delicious. It was better than a restaurant meal because we could just relax together while cooking and eating. We topped off the visit with a dip into their hot tub! Great way to spend a summer evening in New Hampshire.

Here are a few recipes from Nancy:

Kale chips

1.  Cut and de-vein the kale into bite-sized pieces. Pour a thin layer of olive oil in a cookie sheet. Toss pieces to coat.

2.  Bake in a hot 425 oven about 5 to 8 minutes until crisp. Watch carefully so they don't burn.

3.  Top with sesame seeds and sea salt to taste.

Lavender vinegar

1.  Use fresh lavender flowers. Rinse stalks and dry. Strip flowers from stems.

2.  Pack dry flowers in a sterile jar. In a proportion of 1 to 4 or 1 to 2, heat white wine or champagne vinegar in the microwave and pour over flowers.

3.  Cover the jar with plastic or wax paper before putting the metal lid on. Store in the fridge for 4 to 6 weeks. Strain out the flowers when ready to use.

4.  Mix in equal proportion with a mild oil (avocado, almond or walnut) for a vinagrette dressing.

Ginger sun tea

1.  Use a clean quart jar. Tie 6 or 8 tea bags together (ginger, lemon ginger, gren tea) and add cold water.

2.  Cover and set in the sun for at least a day. Serve over ice with sweetening if desired.

chips and dips

Lavender vinegar and
Ginger sun tea

cutting a mango - porcupine method

Ready to serve

We ate out quite a bit during the travels and another favorite (and new) restaurant was Life Alive in Central Square, Cambridge, MA. Hard to make choices in this spot.

Life Alive in Cambridge, MA

Amazingly delicious salads at Life Alive

And our beginning and end were in Carrboro/Chapel Hill, NC. The Saturday Farmers Market brought back great memories of our days here and how lucky we are to find great markets like this in all our favorite places...NC, SMA, San Cris.

Always fun at the Farmers Market, Carrboro, NC

Flowers, flowers, flowers

Lastly I would like to mention that we had a chance to see the movie 

"Plant Pure Nation". 

From the Producer and Writer of FORKS OVER KNIVES comes a breakthrough documentary, PLANTPURE NATION which features Dr. T. Colin Campbell Co-Author of THE CHINA STUDY. 

A short visit with Director Nelson Campbell and his wife Kim (friends of ours from our days in Ithaca, NY) made it even more special for us. Please check out their website for a synopsis of the film and information for screenings near you. 

http://plantpurenation.com/the-film/#press

The documentary film PlantPure Nation tells the story of three people on a quest to spread the message of one of the most important health breakthroughs of all time. After renowned nutritional scientist and bestselling author T. Colin Campbell gives a stirring speech on the floor of the Kentucky House of Representatives, his son, Nelson, and Kentucky State Representative Tom Riner work together to propose a pilot program documenting the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Once the legislation goes into Committee, agribusiness lobbyists kill the plan. Undeterred, Nelson decides to try his own pilot project in his hometown of Mebane, North Carolina.