Who doesn’t love a big ol’ scoop of ice cream on a hot summer’s day? If you don’t consume dairy, though, you may be missing out. But I don’t mean missing out on ice cream. I mean missing out on enjoying non-dairy ice cream that’s far better than anything dairy-based.

Ham. Turkey. Green beans. Asparagus. Carrots. Sweet potatoes. All of them make their way into typical Easter fare. But as I sat down last week planning out my Easter menu, I thought of adding something a little different into the mix: a Spring-inspired soup.

Who doesn’t love fresh, vibrant food filling their plate? An abundance of produce growing in their gardens? The sweet smell of local markets taking advantage of the spring soil?

Sure, the Irish-inspired diet doesn’t really run synonymously with green. With visions of heavy beef stews, beer-laden dishes, and corned beef springing to mind, neither does the word vegan.

We are in dire need of a Winter warm-up. Well, we are here, at least, when we were blasted with loads of snow yesterday, continuing to the present moment as I type.

Cranberries and pears are highlighted this time of year, and we recommend taking advantage of their bounty. Try them in this easy dessert with a flaky vegan pastry sure to please everyone!

Tomorrow marks the yearly event of Groundhog Day, the second day in February when we all anticipate if Spring is around the corner. I recently read an article, however, noting that if we discontinue our traditional shadow-spying ways, Spring will, indeed, be on the way.

We’ve been raving about Jennifer Cornbleet and her quick, easy and delicious raw vegan  dishes. We’ve reviewed two of her books:  Raw Food Made Easy and Raw for Dessert… and first highlighted her Harvest Salad as the perfect winter side dish. This dessert recipe comes from Raw Food Made Easy, wonderfully comforting and oh-so-delicious.

The delicious combination of apples, walnuts, maple and cinnamon is highlighted with hearty oats in this baked casserole that is perfect for dessert or brunch.

Let’s be honest with you. Right away, we have a proposal for you. And we promise it’s easy. Adopt this mantra into your minds: “The cleaner we eat, the clearer we think, and the better we can embrace good health and nutrition.” (Terry Walters, Clean Food).