I think we are done, recipe reports are coming in faster than I can blog them.

This has been quite a year and the benefits to the lifestyle change are amazing. I will be reporting those along with daily recipe reviews. There are some amazing dishes to talk about so I don't want to rush it. I will just take a few a day.

One thing that has amazed me is the weight loss (or gain as in my Mother's case) and the balancing out at our ideal weights. We never have to think about gaining weight. We all eat as much as we want and never have to worry about it.

My mother, age 98 is up to 95lbs. She used to be underweight at 85lbs for several years. Josh, our 17 yr old, "adopted" kid, has lost 35 lbs. He has been overweight his whole life and now looks and feels great. Sam and I both weigh the same as we did the day we got married, 130 and 180 respectively. I had always struggled with a yearly weight gain of up to 20 lbs and Sam had gone up the same amount but over a period of years. Its so great to throw out the scale and the weight worries along with it.

Let me give you a few foodie reports:

1 Turnip Apple Slaw, pg 60, rated V+. It made a nice side but it would not be anything I would be dying to have again. I am sure it must be very healthy but I'd rather have a salad.

2. Stuffed Cabbage, pg 146, rated V++. This was a treat. If you remember Mom's stuffed cabbage and have been feeling deprived because of your new plant based diet, then by all means try this tasty dish. It is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palette. If you want to spice it up a bit add a little Braggs and red pepper. My friend Darlene prepared this dish and then was gracious enough to give us a whole casserole full of beautifully stuffed and rolled cabbage.

3.Summer Melon Soup, pg54, rated V++. This was wonderful, even in the winter. It was little like a fruity gazpacho. I would love to make this for company next summer and decorate it with a fresh mint sprig and a few blueberries.

More tomorrow...........................

3