Happy November! I was sad to see summer go, but early autumn has been wonderful. Here in Atlanta the street trees have turned brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, and the cooler air is a welcome relief after months of humidity and heat. I think fall might be my favorite season.
What’s New
After a month on the road, I’m back home with no travel plans for the rest of the year. I love traveling, but I also treasure being home—settling into my routine of parenting, tennis, yoga, and work. I’m already thinking about the holidays and planning my decorations, though I’ll wait until Thanksgiving to put them out.
October took me to Washington, D.C., Maryland, New York City, Huntsville, and Mendocino, California. Every stop felt meaningful, but Mendocino was especially moving. I stayed at The Stanford Inn, an all-vegan eco-resort that I highly recommend. It was my first time there, and the rugged coastline brought me to tears with its raw beauty. It reminded me of the modern classical album The Dharma at Big Sur by John Adams—perfect music for that landscape.
Recipes I’m Loving
Now that travel is behind me, I’m trying to return to simple meal prep. It’s challenging because much of my work involves testing and shooting recipes that aren’t always practical weeknight meals. After a full day of cooking, photographing, and cleaning, I usually want something quick and easy. Right now my daughter and I are enjoying a few go-to recipes:
Instant Pot Veggie Sausage Pasta
Sweet Potato Bisque
Rosemary Lemon White Beans
Wellness Tip
To improve sleep, reduce exposure to blue light in the evening. Blue light signals wakefulness and is emitted by the sun and electronic devices like TVs, computers, and phones. At night, use warm, low lighting and consider software that reduces blue light on screens. When watching TV, blue-blocking glasses can help, and a red light reading lamp is a gentle option for bedside reading. Morning daylight, stress management, healthy eating, regular exercise, and spending time outdoors also support healthy circadian rhythms and better sleep overall.
Work These Days
In October I attended a plant-based medicine conference in Huntsville, Alabama, hosted by Dr. Helen Powell-Stoddard, who helps patients reverse type 2 diabetes through diet and lifestyle changes. Her Reverse It conference highlighted the power of plants. I taught a cooking class—Oyster Mushroom Alfredo Pasta and Mango Avocado Salad—and loved connecting with speakers and attendees. If you or someone you know is interested in reversing diabetes, consider Dr. Helen’s approach and resources.
The Mendocino trip doubled as a small team retreat for Sweet Potato Soul. My longtime editor Jess joined me, and we filmed a video while we were there. That photo of us on the rocky beach captures a memorable moment from the trip—stay tuned for the video.
Upcoming events
My new cookbook, Vegan Vibes, releases February 4, 2025. I’ll be doing several events to celebrate; here are the dates confirmed so far:
February 6, 2025 — Atlanta, GA: Book signing and discussion at Eagle Eye Books.
March 8–15, 2025 — Holistic Holiday at Sea: I’ll teach multiple vegan cooking classes and host book signings. This vegan vacation often sells out, so consider booking early if you plan to join.
Listen to this podcast
If you enjoy theology and ancient history, check out The Ancient Tradition podcast. I discovered it recently and quickly caught up on many episodes. The show explores similarities across ancient religions and suggests those shared elements may be remnants of older traditions. Whether you’re religious, spiritual, or simply curious about history, it’s a thought-provoking listen.
In closing
The holidays are approaching—if you’d like help with holiday recipes or health-focused cooking, let me know in the comments. Tell me what recipes you’d like to see or ask any questions. Make sure you’re signed up for my weekly newsletter so you don’t miss recipes and updates.
Order my first cookbook, Sweet Potato Soul, for more holiday inspiration and stay tuned for upcoming recipe roundups.
Thanks for reading!