RPL at Home (March 2024)

Welcome to the March 2024 edition of RPL at Home!

This month, I’m sharing how you can finally order my cookbook(!), how I’m resuming an energizing habit, and a recap of our trip to Australia!

Get cozy with a cup of tea or coffee and come hang out for a few minutes :)

Welcome to the March 2024 edition of RPL at Home, where I share what I’m up to when I’m not in the kitchen or in front of the camera. 

Each month, I’m sharing snippets of what I’m working on, habits I’m cultivating, things bringing me joy, books/TV shows/podcasts I’m enjoying, and more. Think of it as stream-of-consciousness blabbering meets a semi-curated list of recommendations meets life update. 

📖 My new cookbook is *finally* ready!

I am so dang excited to announce that my second cookbook, Big Vegan Flavor, is finally available for preorder!!! 

After 3+ years of hard work over two thousand recipe tests, this baby is ready for the world. I have never worked so hard or so passionately on a single project in my life, and I could not be more proud. 

And I would be so honored and overjoyed if you preordered a copy! Your support means so much to me and is the reason I get to do the work I do. 

If you want more context on why it took so long to write this book and the cookbook writing journey, check out this previous RPL at Home post

What’s inside the book? 

This is no ordinary cookbook.

It’s a 600-page(!) comprehensive guide to mastering vegan cooking, complete with 150 recipes with lots of global inspiration.

The book is divided into three parts:

  • The first four chapters are your education in vegan cooking with tons of techniques, tips, and ingredient pairings that will level up your skills in the kitchen and empower you to whip up big flavor meals without a recipe.
  • The next four chapters are devoted to “building blocks” (if you watch my YouTube videos, you’re probably already familiar with this concept). These are high-impact condiments, big flavor proteins and grains, and everyday vegetables that you can mix and match to make gourmet meals even on a weeknight. Perfect for meal prep or easy weeknight dinners.
  • The final five chapters are devoted to wow-worthy recipes, the kind of dishes that’ll allow you to flex your culinary creativity and impress your guests and loved ones.

And if that’s not enough, it’s also big enough you can use the book as a tofu press 😉

Why does pre-ordering matter? 

I know it seems kind of silly to talk about ordering a book that won’t be officially published for months, so let me give you a little insight into the publishing biz. 

Your preorders actually make a *huge* difference to the success of the book. Preorders determine whether stores like Costco and Target will stock the book in person, how many copies bookstores and big box stores will order, whether mainstream media outlets will decide to cover a book about vegan cooking, and so many more things. 

And don’t toss those receipts! I’m working on some fabulous bonus content as a thank you for folks who preorder, and we’ll send that out in a few months once it’s all ready! 

🙏🏽 A note of thank you!

I would be remiss if I didn’t end this section with a big THANK YOU! You may not realize it, but by being here—by reading my content, making my recipes, and watching my videos—you are the reason I get to write this cookbook in the first place. 

No sane publisher would let me write a 600-page treatise on vegan cooking if I didn’t have the support y’all have shown me. So thank you for making this dream of mine come true and for your constant support over the last several years 🥹🥹🥹 

☀️🚶🏽‍♀️What I’m working on in life 

If you’ve been reading along for awhile, you know that I love walking. During the summer months, Max and I were pretty religious about going on a 45 minute walk every morning, shortly after waking up. 

It was a great way to start the day with light exercise, as well as a nice opportunity for us to chat about both big and small issues in the business, in life, and in the world. And lots of research has shown that viewing sunlight early in the morning has lots of powerful benefits: it improves our energy and mood throughout the day and primes us for better sleep at night. 

However, once winter arrived, our dedication to the morning walk waned. I’d be awake for an hour before the sun rose, which was enough time for me to ensconce myself at my desk and lose myself in work. And I know many of you live in actually cold climates, but winter mornings in San Diego can be chilly for someone with my constitution (it gets into the 40s!), so a long walk became less appealing. 

During the last few months, we’ve still gone on morning walks…but only a few times a week and usually for 20 minutes instead of 45 minutes. 

So now that warmer and brighter days are ahead of us, I’ve re-committed myself to the morning sunlight walk. To hold ourselves accountable, Max and I have decided to stick to the same morning schedule. 

I am an extreme morning person, while Max is a moderate morning person. For the first time ever in our 14-year relationship, he has finally agreed to wake up early with me: 5:30 am to be precise. I am over the moon. 

It’s only been a week and a half, but here’s where we’ve landed:

After our basic hygiene stuff, we have the opportunity to do our own thing until 7 am. I’ve very recently started meditating for 10 minutes (as has Max), and then I then brew a cup of my Indian-spiced tea, followed by settling into my desk to plan out my day. I’d like to meditate for longer, but for now, I’m taking baby steps since it’s been several years since I regularly meditated.

Then we have a hard stop at 7:00 a.m. We unload the dishwasher (it’s always full in my house) and do a brief tidy up. Then, we must put on our sneakers and go for a walk.  

We’re still taking 20ish minute walks instead of 45 minutes, but we’ve built in time for another 20 minute walk in the afternoon (and we always take a 20-minute walk after dinner). 

So far, we’ve stuck to the schedule! The morning walk is energizing even if it’s not as long as it used to be, and our afternoon walk is a great way to break up the day and ward off afternoon slumps. 

The only downside is that I live in constant fear of the day when Max decides he’s no longer a 5:30 am person. 

getting that morning sunlight!

What I’m watching, listening to, and reading

📺 Watching

Currently, we’re watching the new series Shōgun, a historical drama miniseries that takes place during the Sengoku period in Japan in 1600 (it’s based on the 1975 novel Shōgun by James Clavell). 

The visual effects are mesmerizing, situating you in Japan in the early 17th century (or the closest you’ll ever come to it). The characters are layered and interesting. There’s mystery, intrigue, and tension. 

It’s been compared a lot to Game of Thrones, and I agree to a certain extent. The visual production is stunning and the central plot revolves around taking, shifting, and holding power, but unlike Game of Thrones, there is less glorified violence and lawless brutality (a plus in my book). 

So if you liked Game of Thrones (but thought it was maybe too much in some ways), I think you’ll love Shōgun

📚 Reading

Over 10 years ago, I read the debut memoir from writer Jesmyn Ward, The Men We Reaped. I instantly fell in love with her writing, so when I spotted a weathered copy of her third novel—Sing, Unburied, Sing—in one of the lovely free libraries in my neighborhood, I knew it would be the next book I’d read. 

The novel tells the intimate, often heartbreaking story of a family in Mississippi whose lives are interconnected by the cruel history of the Parchman Prison. 

After reading just the first chapter, it became clear to me why this book won the National Book Award, and why I think Ward is one of the most talented writers and storytellers of our time. 

It was so good that I immediately went to my local bookstore and bought a copy of her new book, Let Us Descend (not finished with that one yet). If you’re interested in Ward’s work, I really enjoyed her interview in The Guardian

On my recent trip to Australia (more on that below!), I read Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo, which tells the remarkably true story of a couple’s daring escape from slavery in Georgia in the late 1840s and their journey to freedom. 

The woman, Ellen, used an elaborate costume to disguise herself as a wealthy white man seeking medical care in the north, while her husband, William, pretended to be her enslaved property. 

Every chapter is engrossing and keeps you at the edge of your seat. It reads like fiction but is an exhaustively researched and true story that—until Woo’s book—was barely known. 

🎧 Listening

For the last 9 years, I have listened to almost exclusively “serious” or serious-ish podcasts. Podcasts on history, racism and homophobia and sexism, the news and politics, life in prison, threats to democracy, war, climate change, and other big questions about humanity. 

I have learned so much from these podcasts, and I’m so grateful for this free education. 

But after 9 years, I finally felt like I needed something a bit lighter. So, back in January, I granted myself a temporary break from serious podcasts. 

And what have I been listening to for the last 2 months? The most ridiculous and hilarious podcast that, given its wild success, I can’t believe I had never heard of until 2 months ago: My Dad Wrote a P*rno

Here’s the description from their site

Imagine if your dad wrote a dirty book. Most people would try to ignore it – but not Jamie Morton. Instead, he decided to read it to the world in this groundbreaking comedy podcast. With the help of his best mates, James Cooper and Alice Levine, Jamie reads a chapter a week and discovers more about his father than he ever bargained for.

Warning: While this podcast is not sexy in any way, it is dangerous to listen to while operating a car or motorized equipment. 

While listening to this podcast, all of the above has happened: I missed my exit on the freeway, I was stared at with sheer terror by children crossing the street (I was cackling hysterically while waiting for a red light), I laughed so hard I started crying. 

So, yeah, if you need a funny and light podcast in your life, I cannot recommend this one enough (of course, don’t listen with your kids in tow!). 

New Recipes and Posts

RECIPES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

  • Saag Aloo: If you enjoy my Indian recipes, I think you’ll fall hard for this dish. My version of saag aloo features pillowy yet crisp potatoes, silky greens, and an intoxicating blend of Indian spices and aromatics.
  • Buffalo Cauliflower: Make your favorite game day bar snack at home, no deep frying needed! Cauliflower florets are coated in a seasoned batter, baked in the oven, then doused in a spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet buffalo sauce. When dipped in my vegan ranch, it’s the most addictive pairing!
  • Sesame Noodles: My new favorite noodle recipe! These cold Chinese noodles are perfectly saucy, a little nutty, contain layers of rich savoriness, and are easy to customize into a balanced main dish or an indulgent side dish.

Videos you might have missed

  • 24 hours of healthy vegan meals: After I got back from a very indulgent vacation in Australia, I was ready for some home cooked meals, so I filmed a day in my life of nourishing, high-protein, and easy meals. 
  • The mushroom noodle soup I can’t stop making: This is probably my favorite recipe from this year (you know I don’t say that lightly!). It’s got a super creamy and highly savory broth, bouncy udon noodles, and seriously crispy mushrooms (that won over my mushroom-hating partner). Make this soup—you won’t regret it!

🧳✈️🏝️ Fun Things

In February, we traveled to Australia for 12 days! Max’s grandparents (originally from England) moved to Australia 20+ years ago, and this was my third time visiting. 

They are the *sweetest* people I know, and I feel so grateful for the time we get to spend with them. At 91 and 88, they’re still deeply in love, hold hands, and look after one another.   

When I ask Max’s grandfather what their secret is, his response is always “I always agree with my wife.” (Max, are you reading this?). 

We also got to spend time with Max’s cousin and her husband, who are expecting their first child very soon, as well as Max’s dad and brother who came along for the visit. So it was a lovely family trip that both of us really enjoyed. 

We then headed to Melbourne for 5 days. I had heard that Melbourne was vegan-friendly, but I was not prepared for what a vegan paradise it was! 

We truly had some of the best vegan food we’ve ever eaten and were shocked by how many “regular” restaurants and even bars served vegan options that were actually interesting and delicious. 

I’ve always enjoyed the food in Australia and found it to be vegan-friendly, but Melbourne was on another level. If you love to travel to foodie destinations, Melbourne is a must! Check out this video for some of my favorite dishes from the trip!

  • Ballard’s 915 High Street. Definitely a highlight of the trip. Fully vegan, fine dining quality food with extremely reasonable prices. The food is brilliant. 
  • Vegie Bar. A super fun and delicious menu in a cute, casual spot from a popular vegetarian & vegan restaurant (almost everything is vegan).
  • Smith and Daughters. We did the chef’s tasting menu, which was really creative (and so much food). If you’re into vegan “meat,” check out their sister restaurant, Lona Misa. The tasting menu was too “meat-heavy” for my taste but the dishes were very innovative. 
  • Molly Rose Brewing. A bar that serves really great food, including several vegan options. (it’s not just “bar food.”).
  • Red Sparrow Pizza. Really great vegan pizza joint with melty cheese! 
  • Yuni’s Kitchen. A casual Indonesian spot that had amazing vegan laksa in a lovely outdoor setting. 
about to enjoy one of the best meals of my life at Ballard’s 915 High St.

Okay, that’s it for this month! Drop me a line below and let me know what you’d like to see in the next edition :)

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @rainbowplantlife and hashtag it #rainbowplantlife

Leave a Comment & Rating

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating along with your comment! It helps others discover my blog and recipes, and your comments always make my day :) Thank you for your support!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

58 comments on RPL at Home (March 2024)

  1. Dharma

    Hi Nisha!
    Thank you for all you do and offer. I already ordered your book and can’t wait to receive it here, at the other side of the world :)
    These RPL at Home “letters” are a “not to miss” for me as well. All your book, movies and podcast recommendations are something I take note off and already have enjoyed myself. Thanks for always sharing them, insightful comments on them, and your joyful spirit you bring forward in all you share.
    Be Blessed.

  2. John Lincoln

    Can’t wait for my preorder book to get here! I’m more analog than digital so I really love big giant cookbooks with lots of picture. I have two dogs, brother and sister, they’re jack Russel blue healer mix. Just to let you know, they haven’t let me miss an early morning hike in the hills behind our house in 17 years! Rain or shine 85° or 17°. We keep each other in great shape. If I could just teach them to mow the lawn.

    1. Dharma

      Yeap… dogs do that “to” us :) I love it. Can’t miss my daily walks because my doggie reminds me even of the time it is…. no alarm clock or watch needed for that! hahaha

  3. Sahiti

    Was waiting for the next edition of RPL, you always have the best book and podcast recommendations! Cant wait for your book, About 50% of my cooking comes for your recipes, thanks for all the hard work! :)

  4. Jackie Cuba

    CONGRATS on your 2nd book!! September can’t get here fast enough, right?! 😊 Ya know, long walks are so underrated… Do you guys go hiking in nature at all? I think you would really love it! Shögun will certainly win several awards. It’s such a great series! You’ve definitely sold me on Australia, Nisha. Our vacation this year will be in Thailand (our first time in Asia) but next year we’ll celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary so we’ll just have to head over to Melbourne to check out all of your amazing restaurant recommendations. Thanks for sharing your travel tips with us. ♥️

  5. Jackie Bessette

    Hello, I started following you about 6 months ago. I love making the recipes you post. I have always been a quick and easy sort of cook. Your recipes make me stretch my cooking legs and I really enjoy learning about the different ways to make food tasty and interesting. Your ‘how to make a great salad’ series has helped me get salads into my wife’s diet. I have pre-ordered your cookbook because I love having a reference when cooking and it looks just beautiful. I can’t wait until it comes. Stay awesome.

    Jackie

  6. Sheila E Foy

    I just love your writing, which I was introduced to through your amazing recipes!

    You go girl!,

    Signed by a. Non-Vegan who loves your Vegan recipes,

    Sheila E

  7. Daniela

    Your recipes are delicious! Well done! Pls keep sharing your travels and food recommendations. Keep doing what you’re doing so well. 💪💪

  8. KATE

    I loved everything about your March newsletter!
    I am gathering ingredients to make the Sesame Noodles!
    You have an excellent work ethic and an encouraging presentation style. Thanks for taking time to share the deliciousness of all areas of life!
    Keep doing what you do so well!
    ( I am saving to buy your new BIG book! Congratulations on birthing such a beautiful “baby”!)

  9. Roberta Edwards

    I recently had Saag Aloo. I could not stop eating it and googled recipes immediately. Can’t wait to try yours.

    Let Us Descend is on my list too.

    Just pre ordered your book. Excited!

  10. VG

    What a wonderful update! Thank you.
    Any new recipes you’ll try to re-create at home (and share with us 🙏), inspired by the delicious restaurant food in Australia?

  11. Ruby Rosemary

    We just finished what I can honestly say, was the most delicious meal that I have ever prepared…Buffalo Cauliflower! Five Stars!

  12. Karen Mazich

    Omg – my dad wrote a porno is the best podcast!!!! I just relistened to it, and it is just as funny (if not more funny) the second time through!

  13. Jacqueline

    Thankyou for promoting Melbourne! Everyone international talks of Sydney, but us locals know where it’s really at… The food capital of Australia. So glad you loved it here. ❤️

    1. Cyndi J

      I live in Melbourne, Florida. Our idea of vegan restaurant food is a veggie burger. And it might just be vegetarian, not vegan. And from the freezer. Definitely not vegan friendly.

  14. Debra Wolfson

    Good for you and your morning walk in cooler temperatures. I live in Southern Oregon where it is even colder and walk daily for 1 1/2 hours. The key is in dressing correctly. I may start out a little cool and after 15 minutes I am warm and sometimes even have to unzip my jacket. I can’t miss a day. My body craves the fresh air and lucky for me being in nature too.

  15. Deborah

    Greetings, Nisha!

    I’ve made your Saag Aloo several times (having some leftovers to dinner tonight!) and absolutely love it. I also love your Chickpea Tagine. Thanks for generously sharing your wonderful recipes!

    1. Kathy Tullis

      I preordered your book and am so excited to receive it this fall. I am a 73 year old woman who is relatively new to vegan cooking and so appreciate all of your content. Your videos are so engaging that I often watch them more than once. Thanks for offering such great professional content.

  16. Vikie

    I have the book, “The Men We Reaped” on my bookshelf. I bought it about two years ago, but for some reason have not been able to take it off the shelf and read it. I have always been afraid that it might be too sad, but with your recommendation I am going to give it a go. I am 72 yrs old and about two years I gave up watching the news and reading sad books about the horrible acts we have committed against mankind. With that aside, I have to say your recipes are always a sure win. I am never concerned when trying out a new recipe you have created because I know it will be delish :-)

  17. Wayne

    When I retired, I was not entirely sure I had made the right decision. I missed my colleagues and the stimulation of my work — but when I decided to do a daily walk of at least 5K, I was glad that I had chosen to retire. My health improved, I experienced no weight gain (which can be a problem in retirement), and it really brightened my mood. I only wish I had starting “serious” walking sooner. I know, that for you, with your very busy day, it would be hard to do 5K walks, but they are marvellous things for your health and spirit. Really appreciate your reading suggestions and will definitely seek out Master Slave Husband Wife.

  18. Clotilde

    I, like you, am just venturing into the world of fun, entertaining podcasts to complement my more serious listens. In that vein, my FAVORITEST of all is Normal Gossip. It is very popular so I may be making an obvious recommendation but if you don’t know it, you’re in for a treat!

  19. Patricia Welty

    I’d love to know the names of the ‘serious’ podcasts. Thanks.

  20. Susan Waterworth

    Love, love, love everything you share with us! Thank you. I have not been to Oz in over 40 years, but this makes me want to go back.

Development Alchemy + Aim