I never stop learning.  I spend much of my time doing research on topics that relate optimal health through proper diet and when I come across valuable information …I feel the need to share… WHY? … because I care about you.  I don’t think information that leads to optimal health should ever be kept a secret!

Today I want to share something with you about MENOPAUSE!

Did you know that by the year 2020 there will be 967 MILLION women over age 50!  That is an astounding number.  I… being over 50 myself and recently (2 years ago) changed my diet to 100% plant based, vegan, no oil,  felt the need to know more about this phase of my life.  With people living longer most women will spend the majority of their lives in menopause and I think we need to be as knowledgeable about it as possible.

Menopause… is exactly what the term implies.  Meno (menstruation) Pause (stop).  It is the phase of our lives when our menstruation stops and we are no longer able to bear children.

You probably knew that… but did you know….

A whole lot of symptoms come with this title.  If you are going through it or have gone through it you probably know that also.  But did you know that what also comes with this title is an increased risk for certain diseases… heart disease, osteoporosis, female cancers, Alzheimer’s? … to name a few.  

Sounds like bad news!  But the good news is you can manage most of these with what is on the end of your fork!  If you are already vegan… you are more than half way there.

SO WHAT IS THE VALUABLE INFORMATION I CAME ACROSS THAT I WANT TO SHARE… BECAUSE I CARE?????

It is a you-tube series and book by Barbara Taylor MD

Menopause: Your Management Your Way… Now and for the REST of your life.  

Her you tube series is called MENOPAUSE BARBIE 

I suggest you watch all of them starting with number 1.  The information is for women of all ages because you are either in menopause or will be entering it at some point.  The medical information as well as the lifestyle information is so important for you to know at any stage of your life.

I even recommend it for men!  Why? …because they most likely have a menopausal woman in their life.

WARNING…THE INFORMATION MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE

If you don’t want to watch it all… or just want a sneak peak… I was most impressed with MENOPAUSE BARBIE episode 14 where she imparts some dietary wisdom.

I hope you check it out!

Enjoy 🙂

EARTH ANGEL VEGAN’S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES are moist and sweet!  They are so good right out of the oven they should come with a warning.  I love them with a cup of tea or glass of soy milk.  Call me crazy but they are amazing with an ice cold beer… no judgement please 🙂

I made mine with pecans and orange extract … you can use any nut and any extract.  Traditional cookies are vanilla extract and walnuts.  You can leave the nuts out all together but keep vanilla extract or extract of your choice…

You will need to line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  There is no fat in this recipe so parchment is a must.  Also… preheat the oven at 350

RECIPE: Makes about a dozen cookies

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 dash fine salt

1 dash cinnamon

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup non dairy milk

1 teaspoon vanilla (or other) extract

1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk to incorporate.  Mix the wet ingredients in a measuring cup.  Add the wet to dry and stir to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts if using.   Drop spoonfulls onto parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes… until they look done.  I topped mine with whole pecans.

Take them out of the oven and let them cool slightly before using a spatula to get them off the parchment.

Enjoy!

EARTH ANGEL VEGAN’S – Cucumber Sauce is the bomb!   It is simple to make with Wildtree Organic Tzatziki Spice Blend.  You can put this on gyros, potatoes or any veggie or sandwich and it is so simple to make.  I think this might be good on veggie sushi too!  I was inspired by the vegan ranch served with the sushi at Lotus.  P.S…Recipe for the gyro seitan coming soon.

RECIPE:

1 5oz container of non-dairy plain yogurt

1/2 cup shredded cucumber

1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of Wildtree Tzatziki Blend (It is super garlicy… so use it to your taste…start small)

Mix altogether and let chill for at least 1/2 hour…. Then enjoy

You can buy this Wildtree Tzatziki organic spice blend from me at http://www.wildtree/gerri

Thanks for your support

Hey everyone… whether you live near Clearwater Florida or are just visiting like me… you have to check out Lotus Vegan Restaurant!

We just put the address in the GPS and easily found this little gem!  The menu was huge… so much to try in so little time.  3 of us went and we decided to share some appetizers and get 3 different entrees’.  You all know how nice it is to be able to order anything off of a menu and not have to worry one bit about any animal products in the ingredients.

They do use oil but I chose items that are naturally no or low fat.

We started off with the spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce and the veggie sushi… YUM!  The dipping sauce for the sushi was a vegan ranch dressing with a pepper sauce… sounds weird but ooooohhhh my!  Delicious.

We got the garden wrap with sweet potato soup and it tasted like a big mac.  I asked what the sauce was and it was an eggplant based dressing.  So simple and really so good.  I think it was my favorite. 

We also go the vegan pho noodle soup.  The broth was so flavorful and the veggies and tofu made it super filling.  I could eat this pho everyday! 

This mandarin orange fried tofu was seriously so good you would never know you had a vegan dish.  All of the oriental flavors you love are in this dish.   My sister got a mushroom noodle dish that somehow we didn’t get a picture of.  Too busy stuffing our faces I suppose!

We also woofed down a graham cracker chocolate pudding parfait and a piece of raw chocolate cheesecake….CAN YOU SAY FOOD COMA???

The staff was so kind and helpful.  And I am not joking… there had to be 100 items on this menu!

GET YOUR VEGAN BOOTIES OVER TO LOTUS VEGAN RESTAURANT!  If you are visiting the Tampa/ Clearwater area this place is a must…

ENJOY 🙂