Every few months, I give you a glimpse into 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.

What I’m working on in life 

For most of my life, I have been a clear Type A. Extremely organized, self-driven, hard worker, the kind of person who excels in a structured environment like law school, etc.

And a workaholic. 

Even in high school, I’d spend what I now understand to be highly unnecessary hours studying for classes that came easily to me (e.g., in my senior year, after I had already been accepted into college, I still wrote out 300 study flashcards for art history class). 

For a long time, I simply believed this is how my brain is wired. My dad was famously a workaholic, working 16-to-18-hour days for decades. 

I just have his genes and that’s that, I told myself.

But over the last few years, I’ve been able to witness my personality mellow, my desire for control weakening, my identification as a workaholic dissipating. 

And while I’m not sure I’ll ever qualify as a clear “Type B,” I have enjoyed allowing myself to embrace uncertainty, to react with patience instead of stress, and to, dare I say it…”go with the flow.” 

Recently, on the two-year anniversary of Big Vegan Flavor, I sent an email to my newsletter reflecting on what’s next. I talked about how I haven’t been able to start writing a new cookbook because my allocation of time looks much different now than it did when I wrote BVF (long story short: I spend a lot more time living and focusing on my health instead of working). 

I received so many supportive, kind responses along the lines of—”don’t worry about another cookbook, your priorities are perfect.” 

And that got me thinking about how I want to continue to be open to rewriting narratives I’ve had about myself. There’s so much talk about anti-aging and preserving youth in our society, but I have to say that getting older has been such a treat in the realms of self-discovery and self-love, and I wish more people talked about those clear advantages.

What I’m working on in the biz

For years, I’ve been getting questions about where I get the aprons I wear in my videos. And I’m very excited to say that we officially have a Rainbow Plant Life apron! 

I designed this apron with Hedley & Bennett, who makes all the aprons I’ve been wearing for years, and I’m so jazzed with how it came out. It’s a reflection of how I think cooking should feel: joyful, playful, and full of colorful produce.

And when you look at it from afar, you can see the pattern because, of course, Rainbow Plant Life

And it’s not just a cute apron. It’s also professionally made here in the U.S., durable, and functional, like all of their aprons. I’ve had Hedley & Bennett aprons since 2020/2021, have washed them many times, and they still hold up great.

Grab your RPL apron!

Get 20% off your RPL apron when you order before October 17, 2026. Use code NISHA20 at checkout!

What I’m loving right now

TV/Movies

Hacks (HBO). I’ve had this show on my list for a few years because I love Hannah Einbinder, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite series.

Things to love: it’s hilarious, the writing is edgy and smart, it’s a show about female friendship and intergenerational friendship, Jean Smart is brilliant in her role as a legendary standup comic, and unlike many shows, all of the secondary and even occasional characters are genuinely funny. 

Ride or Die (Amazon Prime). Another show about female friendship starring Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham, this Thelma & Louise-style action-comedy is silly, very fun, charming, and feel-good. And in this chaotic world, it’s nice to cozy up to a show like this.  

Books

Some favorites from the last few months!

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine. It’s hard to do this National Book Award-winning novel justice in a few lines, but it combines dark comedy with great storytelling. The narrator—a 63-year-old gay teacher living in Beirut with his 85-year old mother—manages to tackle dark topics (and minor grievances) while simultaneously making you laugh out loud. Buy it here.

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. Every so often, I’ll read a novel that opens my eyes to a historical era I need to know more about. Past examples include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun (Nigerian Civil War) and Barbara Demick’s Nothing to Envy (the plight of North Koreans), both of which set me down rabbit holes to learn more. 

This year, it was the HIV/AIDS crisis after reading The Great Believers, which tells the story of a group of friends, mostly gay men in Chicago in the 1980s. Of course, I knew about AIDS, but I was shocked by how much I didn’t know. 

It’s a wonderfully written novel with achingly beautiful narratives, complex character development, and memorable reminders about the power of love and belonging. Buy it here.

Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton. The sweetest book about the unlikely bond formed between a London woman who retreats to the English countryside during the Covid pandemic and a newborn wild hare who shows up at her cottage. Expect lots of awws and cozy feelings in this one. Buy it here.

I Am on the Hit List: A Journalist’s Murder and the Rise of Autocracy in India by Rollo Romig. My friends joke that I’m a magnet for depressing books, so if that’s not your jam, you may want to skip this one. But as an Indian American, I felt almost obligated to read this account of the rise of right-wing Hindu nationalism in India explored through the 2017 murder of Gauri Lankesh, a female journalist. Buy it here.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. Chances are you’ve heard of this ultra-popular recent novel so I won’t say much except it went smooth and easy like a milkshake, the plot keeps you hooked, and I didn’t want to put it down! Buy it here.

Currently reading Koolaids: The Art of War by Rabih Alameddine. After falling in love with Alameddine’s writing and looking for more novels that touch on the AIDS crisis, I knew I wanted to read his first novel, which alternates between the sites of two different “wars”: the Lebanese Civil War and the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. Buy it here.

Podcasts

NPR Fresh Air’s 2001 interview with Dolly Parton. Like every person with a pulse, I was very sad to hear about Dolly Parton’s passing. If you don’t already love this multifaceted, funny, and compassionate woman, this interview will surely make you a fan. 

NPR Fresh Air’s interview with Colin Kaepernick. 10 years after being blackballed by the NFL for peacefully protesting police brutality against Black people, Kaepernick finally gets to tell his story. There was one quote that really stuck with me: “Why would that be an issue for anybody? To say, we want police to stop killing Black people.”

Fashion

“On the loose work pants” from Ruti. I’ve been on a lifelong quest to find flattering yet comfortable pants, and these are the ones! I wear them on date nights, when I want to look fancy yet relaxed, and pretty much any time I can’t wear athleisure.

Bamboo Stretch Knit Sleep Dress from Cozy Earth. Last year, I upgraded my mismatched pajama sets from 2012, and I finally feel like an adult (also SO comfortable).

Fun Things 

I spent Labor Day weekend in Montreal with my closest girlfriends, and it was a wonderful reminder of a few things. 

1. You can really slow down the passage of time by doing different things out of your ordinary routine. We were there for a weekend, but it felt like a 2-week long trip because we did something new multiple times a day.
2. The power of close female friendships. I used to feel guilty that I’m not an extrovert who has a huge group of friends that I’m always socializing with. But, over time, I’ve come to appreciate that I prefer what I have–a handful of very close friendships with women I admire, adore, and cherish.

A few highlights from our trip:

• Sushi Momo: Thank you for all the recs—this place exceeded our expectations! My non-vegan friends were shook. 
• Damas: A beautiful Syrian restaurant with several vegan options. Excellent fattoush salad and service! 
• Grand Staircase of Mount Royal: A nice way to get in a workout (~400 stairs!) and a beautiful view of the city skyline awaits you! 
• Quiz Room: You rent a room that looks like a DIY version of “Who wants to be a millionaire” and play trivia against your pals. More fun than we expected! 

That’s it for this month! Let me know in the comments what you’re reading, watching, or working on in your life!

PS: I have something exciting that I REALLY want to share, but it’s not quite finalized… so stay tuned until the next RPL at Home for the update !

The post RPL at Home: September 2026 appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

Every few months, I give you a glimpse into 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.

What I’m working on in life 

Most people get super excited for summer and make a lot of summer-specific plans. But for the last five-ish years, summer has been—more or less—just another time of year for me. 

For one, the weather is fab year-round in San Diego. It’s warmer in October than in June. And when you look out your window on a July morning, it’s indistinguishable from a December morning (aside from the angle of the sun). 

Two, running an online content business doesn’t have a “slow season.” Over the last many years, I’ve probably worked about the same amount in summer as I have in winter.

But this year, I want summer to feel different. At least a little bit. 

I got a headstart on this goal by starting June off with a glorious vacation in Europe (more on that below!). 

And for the rest of the summer, I’m making a low-stakes summer joy list (I got this idea from the Liz Moody podcast, which I love!). It’s basically a list of seasonally specific things that I are best enjoyed in summer. 

My Summer Joy List

1. Eat a piece of stone fruit every day (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, or my favorite, red-skinned plums).
2. Do at least one water sport. I love stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking on vacation, but I’ve never done it in San Diego.
3. Enjoy an ice cream cone outside at least 5 times. My favorite spots in San Diego are Stella Jean’s and Bobboi Gelato (the dairy-free pistachio, my oh my!).
4. Read on a blanket in the park at least 5 times (one of my favorite activities from last summer!)
5. Host a summer-themed dinner party where every dish features peak summer produce.

What I’m working on in the biz 

Speaking of summer changes, I’ve been pouring a lot of energy into Meal Plans by Rainbow Plant Life lately, and I’m really happy with how it keeps getting better and better!

On the recipe side, we’ve been listening to your requests and adding more high-protein meal plans, more lunch recipes, and more quick-and-easy options.

A few that have been on repeat in our house:

• The 10-minute avocado lime bean salad. Max has been absolutely smashing this with tortilla chips while watching the World Cup, while I have been eating it outside for lunch with a book in hand (no surprise there!).
• The high-protein red lentil curry and high-protein tofu scramble, which each clock in around 30g of protein per serving.

A few new features I’m excited about

We’ve also been adding new highly-requested features to the Meal Plans!

The big one is Cook Mode. If you ever cook from your phone, this is a major upgrade (no more squinting at your screen or losing your place).

Tap the Cook Mode button in any recipe and you can tackle the steps one at a time, then swipe between the ingredients list and instructions without scrolling up and down the page. Pro-tip: check off ingredients as you go and the list autoscrolls to the next thing you need to add

A few other new features we’ve added:

I’m always delighted when I hear from subscribers about how the plans are helping them eat better, save money on groceries, and even win over their non-vegan partners.

But my favorite recent review had to be this one, which came via our feedback form:

To whoever wrote that: don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere

If you’re not already a meal plans subscriber, you can see what all the fuss is about with a risk-free, 7-day trial. Click here to get started for free!

What I’m watching, listening to, and reading

Watching

Hands down the best show I’ve watched lately is Widow’s Bay starring Matthew Rhys. He’s been one of my favorite actors since he starred in The Americans — possibly my favorite series of all time — and I’m delighted to see everyone is currently obsessed with him. 

He’s also a master of accents (he’s Welsh but based on the roles he plays, you’d never know!). 

One of my regrets about not being able to write RPL Home every month is that I read so many books in the meantime and I can’t share all of them with you… but here are the highlights! 

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. This book has been on my list for over a decade, and I’m so glad I finally took the time to read it. It feels like it should be a classic, up there with Great Expectations and Les Misérables. 

We follow four characters in 1975 India who come from very different backgrounds but find their lives intertwined during the national “Emergency” declared by then-Prime Minister, Indhira Gandhi. Trust me when I say these characters—their stories, their hardships, their courage—will stay with you for years.

Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black by Gregory Williams. A few weeks ago, I read this article about a recently deceased professor, Gregory Williams, who grew up thinking he was white but learned—at the age of 10, in 1953—he was actually Black (his tan-skinned father had been passing for white for years).

I knew I wanted to learn more about his story, so I bought Williams’ memoir and read it in just two days. His life story is compelling and gripping and his unique ability to understand race in this country is eye-opening, to say the least. 

3 more books I loved (in one sentence)

Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. I’ll read anything Lahiri writes, and this novel is as heartbreakingly beautiful as her other novels and short story collections.

A Calamity of Noble Houses by Amira Ghenim. I love a sprawling multi-generational novel with an interesting cast of characters, particularly when it takes place in a different country and era (Tunisia, early-to-mid 20th century). 

Flashlight by Susan Choi. Nominated for the Booker Prize in 2025 and much better than the book that won

Currently reading: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine. I am thoroughly obsessed, 10/10 so far.

Listening

If the second book I mentioned interests you (Life on the Color Line), you’ll probably find this episode of NPR’s Fresh Air fascinating. Journalist Susan Saulny connects the dots of her family’s history, from the Black family she grew up with in New Orleans to her white-passing great-uncle’s family in Chicago. Here’s a gift link to the full article. 

And for the romantics, I recommend this recent episode of Modern Love, “Friends for 16 years. Lovers for One Night.” I don’t want to say more because I might give something away but it was beautiful, funny, and sad all at once. 

Have you watched, read, or listened to anything great recently? Let me know in the comments!

Fun Things

Thank you for all your recommendations for Barcelona and Paris! We had an *incredible* trip, and I’m still feeling so grateful.

First stop: Barcelona. 

Highlights: Falling in love with everything the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí designed, as well as the broader style of Catalan Modernisme that adorns many historic buildings. 

We visited Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, just days before the Pope did so it was even busier than normal. Normally, my introverted, sensitive-to-loud-sounds self would run away, but the grandeur of the architecture had me hooked. Also, noise-canceling headphones helped a lot

We followed the crowds to his other well-known creations, Park Güell and Casa Batlló, both delightfully whimsical and beautiful. My only regrets are that (1) I had more time in Barcelona to explore all of his work and (2) I came during a less busy time (eventually, even the noise-canceling headphones couldn’t persuade me to visit any more tourist sites). 

Where to eat in Barcelona

Finding vegan food in Barcelona was so easy! Here were my favorite spots: 

1. Fronda Pasaje. We did the 5-course menu and every dish was truly excellent!
2. Asante Café. Thank you to everyone who rec’d this brunch spot. The vegan Eggs Benedict was wild (photo below) and Chef Niki was so sweet!
3. Xavier Pellicer. Fine dining where the focus is vegetables! There were a couple of dishes that were maybe too innovative lol, but overall it was a great experience.

We then headed north along the coast near Girona to celebrate our friends’ wedding. 

The wedding took place in a monastery originally built in the 13th century(!) and nestled into the Catalan hills. It was absolutely beautiful. I love love! 

Next up: The Dolomites. 

When we were initially planning our Europe trip, we knew we wanted to go somewhere we could hike. Our friend couldn’t stop gushing about her trip to the Dolomites, so that was all the convincing we needed. 

I have to say, I was wildly underprepared for just how gorgeous the Dolomites were. 

We were nestled into the mountains with a stunning view of the jagged, white-faced Dolomites, bordered by picturesque rolling green hills and endless rows of pine trees. The air was absurdly fresh and the water, straight from the mountains, was SO delicious (yes, plain water can be delicious!). 

Along the hikes, we marveled at the ethereal scenery as well as these gorgeous horses. Maybe we marveled too much because our hike times were a lot slower than the estimated times we found online lol! 

Finally: Paris

When we were booking our ticket, the best flight deal we found was a return flight from Paris, so we ended our trip with a few days there! This was my third trip to Paris, and like pretty much everyone else in the world, I love it so much lol.

Having already done many of the mainstream touristy things on previous visits, we mainly spent our time walking (10 miles a day ) and exploring all the charming side streets and admiring the architecture. 

We hired Cédric from Paris B-sides to take us to some lesser-known areas off the beaten path. He was a great tour guide, and I highly recommend getting in touch with him if you want to see a different side of Paris from a local’s perspective

Where we ate in Paris

1. Verjus. We’ve dined here each time in Paris because it’s that good! They have a tasting menu that can be made vegan, and their attention to vegetables (and to detail) is exquisite!
2. Boneshaker Donuts. I know you’re supposed to eat croissants when in Paris, but these donuts were SO good. 
3. Restaurant Végé. A casual Mediterranean spot. Loved the tchi kofta (Turkish-style cold meatballs). 

Luckily, we left the day the scary heat wave began. I’m thinking of everyone who’s been dealing with the insane heat in Europe and hoping you’re staying safe! 

Upcoming Travels – Request!

I’m going to Montreal for a girls weekend in early September!

I’m the only vegan and there are some allergies in the group, so if you have recommendations for restaurants that have great vegan options, I’d love to hear them! And of course places to visit and things to see

That’s it for this month! Drop me a line below and let me know what you’re reading, watching, or working on in your own life

The post RPL at Home: June 2026 appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

Every few months, I give you a glimpse into 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.

What I’m working on in life 

Over the years, I have dabbled in different forms of practicing gratitude. For a while, I kept a gratitude journal where I wrote three things I was grateful for every morning. Then I did the Five Minute Journal. Then I tried journaling every morning and every evening. 

One year, every Sunday, Max and I would write down on a notecard the best thing that happened during the week, put the notecard in a jar, and then read them all at the end of the year. 

All of these have been fun experiments, but recently, I’ve been trying to find something that would (1) allow both of us to express gratitude together and (2) to do it on a daily basis. 

So, lately, we’ve been verbally expressing gratitude together, either: 

1. First thing in the morning while we’re still in bed, but sometimes Max is too sleepy to form coherent sentences. Admittedly, I am that annoying morning person who can have deep philosophical conversations or start a dance party immediately upon waking; or
2. On our daily walk together. Living in San Diego, where the weather is usually perfect and the surroundings aren’t too shabby, it is quite easy to feel grateful; or
3. At night, on the couch, as we wind down and reflect on the day. 

It’s a new practice, but so far I am loving it and look forward to it each day. The habit would probably be more likely to stick if we committed to doing it at a specific time every single day, but I want this to feel like a spontaneous and meaningful part of our day, not a rote obligation (I’ve often stopped a journaling practice because it felt too forced). 

As for what we talk about, it’s a mix of small things—another beautiful day in the neighborhood—medium things—being grateful to not have a commute—and big things—feeling safe and not wanting for anything, particularly when there is so much war, violence, and poverty in the world. 

One more thing to be grateful for: Max and I are celebrating 16 happy years together this week! 

What I’m watching, listening to, and reading

Watching

Last month, Max told me he wanted to watch the new prequel to Game of Thrones, and my initial reaction was “hard pass.” While I did watch GOT many years ago, I always had issues with it, primarily the gratuitous sexual violence (as well as the final season, what a disappointing character arc for █████!).  

But I am happy to report that season 1 of this prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, was delightful. There is violence, of course (knights be dueling) but not sexual violence, and there is a lot of humor. The interaction between the two main characters is funny and endearing, and the episodes are short and sweet. 

As for movies, we recently watched A Nice Indian Boy. I’m not normally a romantic comedy buff (Max says my taste in movies skews towards the depressing lol), but I really enjoyed this one. It was very sweet, funny, and had a beautiful message about family, love, and acceptance. 

Reading

I’ve read countless books since I last updated you, so I’ll do my best to pick my favorites! 

James by Percival Everett. It’s pretty obvious why this book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. I was so captivated by this retelling of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that I read it in one sitting on my flight back from Australia, taking a break just once to use the bathroom (as someone who drinks countless cups of tea on flights, this is a big deal!). 

The Director by Daniel Kehlmann. A historical fiction novel inspired by the life of the famous 20th century film director, G.W. Pabst, who was recruited / forced by the Nazi government’s minister of propaganda to make films for the German Reich. There are so many scenes in the book that either had me on the edge of my seat or near tears, and the way it explores the complicated relationship between artistic ambition and political complicity is something I think a lot about in our current world. 

Kin by Tayari Jones. I loved Jones’ last novel, American Marriage, but I think I like Kin even more. It explores the friendship between two young motherless Black girls as they grow up in the Deep South in the 1940s and 1950s and navigate early adulthood in two very different worlds. I brought it to a doctors’ office to occupy me in the waiting room and actually found myself annoyed when the receptionist called my name after a 1-hour wait because I was enjoying the book so much! 

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green. Another book that was a hit for good reason. It’s rare for a book to explain a medical phenomenon so clearly in laymen’s terms — rarer still for it to read like a compelling, page-turning narrative with characters you’re genuinely rooting for. Equal parts sad, inspiring, and eye-opening. 

I’ve also been really into short stories lately! Here are some I loved. 

Listening

The podcast I’ve been most enjoying lately is “Our Ancestors Were Messy,” created and hosted by Nichole Hill. Each week, she covers “the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines and then history in pre-Civil Rights Era America.” 

It’s one of the most creative podcasts I’ve listened to, fusing history lessons with humor in the best way possible. I’ve learned way more about historical figures like Paul Robeson and Zora Neale Hurston than I ever did in high school (or college) and I’ve been laughing along the way. Win-win! 

Fun Things

Back in February, we visited Australia for a glorious two-and-a-half weeks. If you’re new here, we try to visit Australia once every year or two, as Max has the most lovely grandparents and family there (and also Australia is wonderful to visit). 

After some family time in the Adelaide Hills, we visited Kangaroo Island, a small island off the coast of South Australia that’s known for, well, kangaroos! It’s a small, remote island with very few people, so we got to explore a lot of nature and beautiful beaches with virtually no one else around.

In addition to spotting kangaroos everywhere, we got to watch seals and sea lions sunbathing (their specialty), spotted koalas in trees, and enjoyed seeing a family of wallabies camp outside our Airbnb each night.

About half of the island was burned in the devastating 2020 bushfires, but the island has had a pretty miraculous recovery, so if you want an off-the-beaten path, nature-heavy adventure, add Kangaroo Island to your list! 

After Kangaroo island, we spent a few days in my favorite food city, Melbourne, where the food once again did not disappoint. Click here for my vegan food guide to Melbourne!

On the morning of our flight home, as we were packing for the airport, we had the zany idea of extending our trip just a tad longer. So, three hours before our flight, instead of departing for the U.S., we flew to Sydney! The former-type-A-control-freak inside of me is having a mini panic attack thinking of that, but it was so nice having the flexibility to be able to do that. 

While the (vegan) food is not nearly as good in Sydney, the city is stunning and the walk to Bondi Beach was magical. Also, the lovely Sadia of Pick Up Limes happened to be in Sydney at the same time, so we got to catch up

Upcoming Travels – Request!

We are going to Spain in June for a wedding, so we’ll have a few days in Barcelona (plus a morning in Girona) and a few days in Paris!

If you have recommendations for places to eat, things to see, or sites to visit, please drop them in the comments

Previous Editions of RPL at Home

• January 2026 RPL at Home
• The best things I read and watched in 2025
• October 2026 RPL at Home
• July 2025 RPL at Home

That’s it for this month! Drop me a line below and let me know what you’re reading, watching, or working on in your own life!

The post RPL at Home: April 2026 appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

Welcome to the January 2026 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.

Every few months, I give you a glimpse into 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.

👩🏽‍🍳🍽️ What I’m working on in the biz

In case you missed the big news, after a year of hard work, we finally launched our brand new meal planning website this month! 

From running surveys and interviews with thousands of readers like you, I’ve learned that what most home cooks need is not more recipes, but structure and help with the logistics side of things.

The mental burden that exists outside of the kitchen — choosing recipes, cobbling together grocery lists, and figuring out meal prep steps so weeknights are a little smoother — is actually the biggest challenge most home cooks face.

We designed our meal planning website to do that work for you so you can simply focus on the fun part: cooking delicious meals.

And it brings me GREAT JOY to see that so many of you are absolutely loving the meal plans and already experiencing so many of the positive impacts I had hoped you would 🥹

If you want to take our new site for a spin, you can try it out risk-free for 7 days!

🧘🏽‍♀️What I’m working on in life 

About a decade ago, I was dealing with quite a bit of stress—a demanding job, uncertainty about my career as a lawyer, chronic migraines, a restrictive elimination diet to uncover the cause of said migraines (which made said migraines even worse). 

I started meditating to deal with the stress, and it helped quite a bit. But, if you’ve ever tried to meditate, you already know—it was hard. Like, really hard. 

In the years since, I’ve halfheartedly tried to resume meditating on a number of occasions, but frankly, I am weak and soft. While the practice of meditation eludes me, I have been working on mindfulness more broadly. Here are a few ways I’ve been adding more mindfulness into my life. 

Breathwork

In the last 3 to 4 weeks, I’ve been doing deliberate breathwork every day, specifically “cyclic sighing,” which has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. 

I knew I would stick with this habit only if I tied it to another habit I already do (AKA habit stacking) or bundled it with an activity I like (AKA temptation bundling). 

I have the habit of brushing my teeth and scraping my tongue as soon as I wake up, and during winter, I’m always tempted to get back into bed afterwards (it’s still dark out and 61ºF in my house). So I started allowing myself to get back in bed after my oral hygiene routine, but only if I do my breathwork for 7 to 10 minutes while in bed.

And so far, I haven’t missed a day. 

I feel calm and centered during and immediately after breathwork, which is a nice way to begin the morning instead of rushing around to get my day started. I also find myself using this technique later in the day if I feel stressed or agitated, and while it might not solve 100% of the problem, it does noticeably help. 

Hobbies 

A few years ago, the idea of taking a break in the middle of the workday to read a novel or to color on the couch would have felt so foreign, so lazy, so unlike me. But, after working hard on my workaholic tendencies (ironic!), I’m proud to report that I do just that on a regular basis. 

And luckily, these two activities are also good opportunities to experience mindfulness…if, of course, you don’t allow yourself to get distracted by other things, namely your cell phone. 

So, whenever I treat myself to one of these breaks, I make sure I leave my phone in another room. That way, I can truly focus on the activity, whether it’s getting utterly absorbed in the plot of a great book or giving all of my attention to coloring an intricate design. 

📚 What I’m watching, listening to, and reading

📺 Watching

I can’t stop recommending Task, the new-ish HBO show starring Mark Ruffalo. It follows two main characters—an FBI agent heading a task force assigned to investigate a string of violent robberies, and an unsuspecting family man. 

It’s dynamic, weaving between leave-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense and heartfelt emotions, and it delves into the complicated question of what happens when good people make bad decisions. 

📚Reading

I’ve read SO many good books lately (check out my top reading picks of 2025), but there’s one I want to spotlight for this month.

Family of Spies, Christine Kuehn

A thrilling, shocking true story of an American woman who slowly uncovered her family’s past as Nazis, first living in Germany in the 1930s as Hitler came to power, then in Hawaii as spies who aided the Japanese government in attacking Pearl Harbor. 

Even though you know the basic premise of the story from the beginning, every page is gripping and suspenseful. 

It feels like a particularly important read now for Americans, as it’s a reminder that the Nazis didn’t start executing Jewish people as soon as they came to power. 

They laid the groundwork over years: they tapped into nostalgia and nationalism for a Germany that once was great, created a cult of personality around one man, attacked the press for reporting facts, banned books deemed unpatriotic, waged war on intellectual thought and expertise, targeted political dissidents, demonized Jewish people as The Other, and crushed dissent with violence on the streets…before they eventually turned to their Final Solution of death camps and gas chambers. 

The parallels with what’s happening in the U.S. today are striking. It’s easy to feel helpless, so here are some organizations doing great work that you can support:

My goal with RPL at Home is to generally focus on the positive—things bringing me joy, experiments I’m trying out in my personal life, fun stuff in my personal and professional life.

But things are really heavy and scary in the U.S. right now, and I’d be remiss to not talk about it here.

🎧 Listening

Circling back to the theme of building habits, I loved this recent episode from NPR’s Life Kit podcast on building tiny habits. Good habits can be hard to build, and I loved this bite-sized, low-effort approach to it from behavior scientist, BJ Fogg, author of Tiny Habits. 

Also from Life Kit, I enjoyed this episode on how to take a break from alcohol. Even as someone who’s drastically reduced their drinking over the last few years—dabbling between zero alcohol to minimal alcohol to sober curiosity—it was still an informative listen. 

💃🏽 Fun Things

It’s been a busy work period launching our meal planning website…but we are headed to Australia for two weeks!

We’ll be in Adelaide visiting Max’s family, then Kangaroo Island for lots of wildlife viewing and outdoor activities, and Melbourne for a couple days (my favorite food city!). 

If you have recommendations for fun things to do in the Adelaide area, Kangaroo Island, or Melbourne, please leave them in the comments!

That’s it for this month! Drop me a line below and let me know what you’re reading, watching, or working on in your own life!

The post RPL at Home: January 2026 appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

Welcome to the complete guide to cooking tofu (and making it taste DELICIOUS). 

This post details the essential techniques for tofu preparation aimed at enhancing the flavor and texture potential of tofu so you can take your tofu skills to the next level! 

Meet your chef

Why should you let me be your guide through the world of cooking tofu?

1. I’ve been cooking tofu for a decade, and have published over a dozen of the most popular tofu videos on YouTube, with a combined 8 million+ views.
2. My recipes are trusted by experts. I hate self-promotion but am apparently supposed to do it, so this is where I tell you I’m an NYT Cooking contributor (and my tofu recipes are pretty popular there!). I’m also a vegan cooking expert for Chowhound and Tasting Table, and my most recent cookbook (packed with tofu recipes) was an NYT bestseller and James Beard nominee.
3. I love the science of tofu so much, I spent weeks researching the best methods to make crispy tofu at home.

I tried every way to make Crispy Tofu. This is the best one.

With over 1.2M views, this video was a huge hit with my audience!

A quick review of the tofu basics

Tofu is a plant-based protein made from soybeans and water, and it comes in a wide range of textural varieties based on water content.

On the watery end of the spectrum, we have silken tofu. It’s very delicate and often served raw and blended into recipes to lend creaminess in texture without flavor. On the firmest end of the spectrum, we’ve got super-firm tofu, which is best used as a meat substitute. 

For a more thorough walkthrough on the different types of tofu and how to use them, check out my Tofu 101 Guide.

In between those two extremes on the spectrum, you’ll find firm and extra firm tofu, which are the most user-friendly and versatile: they’re porous enough to successfully absorb flavors from sauces and marinades, but still sturdy enough to withstand high heat. This versatility lends itself to a variety of cooking methods. 

In short, while I hate to play favorites, we’ll focus on firm and extra firm tofu in this blog post, as they are the types of tofu I most frequently call for in my recipes.

Methods of prepping tofu 

To maximize tofu’s flavor absorption potential and prime it to take on the texture you’re aiming for—whether that’s maximum crispiness or juicy tenderness—you first need to prep tofu. 

TLDR: There is a suite of options available to you when it comes to tofu preparation, and knowing each technique and its optimal application sets you up for success in a major way.

Prepping Method 1: Pressing Tofu

Firm varieties of tofu (except for super-firm tofu) are almost always sold packed in water. Even when you drain the tofu from the water, you’ll notice the tofu seeps out water when you squeeze it—that’s because there’s a significant amount of water inside the tofu.

Pressing out some excess moisture has two benefits:

1. With less water, the tofu is better able to absorb other flavors (from sauces, marinades, etc.)
2. Tofu with less internal moisture is better able to crisp up.

How to press tofu: classic method

1. Drain the water from the package, then wrap the block* in a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towel. 
2. Place it on a cutting board or large plate. Weigh down the brick with a heavy cookbook, a cast iron skillet, or a large plate weighed down by a few cans of beans or tomatoes.
3. Let the water drain from the tofu for at least 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes depending on the recipe. Change the towel halfway through if needed.
   
   *If the recipe doesn’t require specific tofu shapes, I prefer to first slice the tofu into 4 vertical slabs, wrap them in towels, then press. It’s faster to press out excess water from smaller pieces rather than one large block.

How to press tofu: tofu press method

A tofu press is a device designed to press all of the water out of a brick of tofu. I have this one and love it.

Try this method in action 

Pressing is the method called for in my extremely beginner-friendly simple baked tofu, as well as my baked peanut tofu, my tofu scramble, and so many more. 

Prepping Method 2: Soaking Tofu in Hot Salt Water 

Interestingly—and perhaps counterintuitively, but stay with me—soaking tofu in a hot saltwater solution often removes even more moisture than pressing it!

From a high level, here’s what’s going on: the salt in the hot water attracts the water molecules within the tofu and draws them out (thanks, osmosis!). 

How to soak tofu in hot salt water

1. Cube or tear your tofu into chunks first—you don’t want to soak the block whole.
2. In a heatproof glass or jar, combine 2 cups (480 mL) boiling water with 1 tablespoon of Diamond Crystal kosher salt (see the recipe card if using another type of salt). Stir to dissolve the salt, then pour over the tofu. Soak for 10 minutes.
3. Drain the tofu in a colander, spread it out on a clean dish towel, and gently pat dry.

Try this method in action 

Soaking tofu in hot salt water: This is the method used in the featured recipe of this blog post, so scroll down and give it a try in my Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu Chunks! Or try my Indian Tofu Curry.

Boiling tofu in salt water: Try my Tofu Curry or Vegan Palak Paneer. 

Prepping Method 3: Freezing Tofu

Once again, we’re relying on science to level up our tofu prep: freezing, then thawing a block of tofu can improve its texture and flavor depending on the recipe, because it essentially changes the tofu’s internal structure!

As tofu freezes, the water inside of it turns into ice crystals. These ice crystals melt upon thawing, leaving little air pockets throughout the tofu that make it better at absorbing flavors, just like a sponge.

The result is often a tofu that is chewier and meatier. Employ this technique in recipes where the tofu needs to be fried and/or simmered in flavorful sauces, because it primes the tofu to sponge up the flavor like a dream.

How to freeze tofu

You have two options:

1. Chuck the entire unopened package of tofu in the freezer and let it freeze for a minimum of 10 hours. Be sure not to place anything else on top of the tofu package, as it will interfere with the freezing process.
2. Open the tofu package and transfer the tofu to a freezer-safe container, with or without its water (or add fresh water). Freeze for at least 8 hours.

In our experiments, the second method yielded slightly better and more consistent results, but both methods work great!

How to defrost tofu

1. Long method: Leave the tofu to thaw in the fridge. This can take between 1 and 2 days, depending on how long you froze the tofu.
2. Shortcut: Place your tofu on an aluminum sheet pan like this at room temperature for up to 2 hours, then return it to the fridge. Thermodynamics magic happens when you defrost frozen food on aluminum defrosting trays. Alternatively, leave the tofu in a bowl or pan of warm water.

Pro Tip: After you defrost tofu, you’ll notice there’s still quite a bit of water in the tofu. You can simply use your palms to squeeze out any excess water (the defrosted tofu is sturdy enough to handle gentle squeezing). 

Try this method in action 

Give freezing and thawing tofu a try by making my Vegan Curry with Tofu, Tofu Stir Fry, Marinated Tofu, or my Spicy Noodle Stir Fry with Salt & Pepper Tofu from NYT Cooking (gift link!).

Prepping Method 4: Marinating Tofu

Marinating tofu can be tricky because, unlike meat, tofu is quite watery and porous. If you were to pour a liquidy marinade on top of some cubed extra-firm tofu, most of the marinade will slip right off, leaving you with underwhelming tofu. 

So, here are my two main tips for marinating tofu:

1. Use previously frozen and thawed tofu (or tofu that’s been boiled in hot saltwater) 
2. Use a fairly viscous marinade (i.e., not a water-heavy marinade). Adding a bit of oil or toasted sesame oil along with a sweetener like brown sugar or maple syrup can aid in this. 

Try this method in action 

My savory, sweet, nutty Marinated Tofu recipe is seriously delicious! Use it in bowls, wraps, salads, or as a topper for savory oatmeal. 

Looking for no-prep tofu recipes? 

In a rush and don’t have time to press, soak, or freeze your tofu? 

You can skip these prep steps if you are (a) crumbling extra-firm tofu, (b) slicing extra-firm very thinly, or (c) using super-firm tofu. 

(1) Cooking extra-firm tofu crumbles

Simply break the extra-firm tofu block into 6 to 8 large chunks. Gently press each chunk between your hands over the sink or a bowl to release excess water. From here, crumble the tofu into small pieces. 

You can toss the crumbles with spices, salt, and cornstarch and pan-fry, or just pan-fry plain. 

(2) Cooking thinly sliced tofu 

Gently press down on the extra-firm tofu block with a dish towel, then slice crosswise into ⅓” (.75 to 1 cm) thick slabs. Spread them out on a cutting board and gently press down with a dry towel a few times.  

Sprinkle with salt and pan-fry until golden brown on both sides. Try this method in my 20-Minute Crispy Tofu with Peanut Sauce recipe. 

(3) Cooking super-firm tofu

There’s no need to press or soak super-firm tofu in salt water, as most of the water has been pressed out already. 

Once you remove super firm tofu from the package, here are some options for preparing it:

1. Grate the tofu using a box grater and pan-fry it, as in my Super Savory Grated Tofu recipe for NYT Cooking (gift link!)
2. Crumble the tofu into medium pieces and pan-fry it, as in my Chipotle Copycat Sofritas recipe 
3. Crumble the tofu into smaller pieces and pan-fry it, as in my High-Protein Tofu Noodle Bowl 
4. Thinly slice the tofu and pan-fry it as in my Tofu Shawarma recipe for NYT Cooking (gift link!) 
5. Shave the tofu with a Y-shaped peeler and pan-fry it (see this YouTube video for instructions)

Methods of cooking tofu

Now that you’ve prepped your tofu, it’s time to get to the main event: cooking the tofu! And the good news is, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to how, exactly, you do this.

Below are five fantastic ways of cooking tofu. 

Each has its unique strengths, which I detail for you, but with these five methods to choose from, you unlock huge potential for transforming a humble block of firm/extra firm tofu into mouthfuls with major textural variety and big-time flavor.

PS: You’ll notice that most of these methods include coating the tofu in a starch, like cornstarch or arrowroot powder. This enhances the crispy potential of tofu, but the best starch option often depends on the method of cooking. Keep on reading for more details.

Cooking Method 1: Baking Tofu 

Let’s start simple—just like with animal proteins, you can throw tofu onto a baking sheet, pop it in the oven, and end up with something tasty in about 30 minutes.

Pros

• Uncomplicated, straightforward, and largely hands-off (the oven does most of the work)
• Weeknight-friendly
• Super versatile and customizable

Cons

• Tofu doesn’t get quite as crispy as other methods (pan-frying, deep-frying, or air-frying)

When to bake tofu?

If you’re looking for a hands-off, weeknight-friendly tofu-cooking experience, bake your tofu. You press, toss the cubes in the world’s simplest batter, and while the tofu is in the oven baking, you can prepare the other components of your meal.

Pro tips for baking tofu:

• Tofu variety: I prefer extra-firm tofu.
• Tofu shape: cubes (or chunks) 
• Starch: I prefer potato starch or arrowroot powder. Cornstarch tends to taste a little chalky when baked (at least for me, I may be very sensitive to this).

Try this method!

• Start here: my simple baked tofu
• Level up with my Sesame Baked Tofu recipe, p. 270 of Big Vegan Flavor

Cooking Method 2: Pan-Frying Tofu 

Spoiler alert: this is the method used in the featured recipe of this blog post!

Pros

• Yields crispier tofu than baking 
• Weeknight-friendly
• Quickest of all the tofu cooking methods

Cons

• Requires more hands-on work than baking tofu

When to pan fry tofu?

If you want delectably crispy tofu with relatively low time/effort investment (i.e. the crispiest tofu you can achieve on a weeknight), look no further than this method.

Pro-tips for pan-frying tofu: 

• Tofu variety: I prefer extra firm tofu. If you prefer a softer interior, try firm tofu. 
• Tofu shape: For maximum crispiness, don’t cube your tofu—tear it into pieces instead. The craggy irregularities maximize the surface area exposed to the heat, yielding the crispiest tofu morsels. Plus, they’re easier to toss than cubes and they crisp up faster! 
• Starch: fried tofu typically is best with cornstarch. Arrowroot powder and potato starch can make the tofu stick together in the pan, which makes some pieces gummy.

Try this method!

• My favorite method of pan-frying tofu is used in the recipe at the bottom of this blog post, so be sure to check out my recipe for Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu Chunks!
• My fried tofu blog post is another great resource for simple pan-fried tofu.
• If you’re in the mood for a killer Vietnamese sandwich, try this tofu bánh mì.

Cooking Method 3: Deep-Frying Tofu 

Yes, it’s a little more involved than most of the other techniques in this post, but you really can’t beat this method for a special occasion, or if you want to bite into your tofu and experience movie-sound-effect-style crunch.

Pros

• Yields THE CRISPIEST tofu of any of the methods
• Not as difficult as you think it’s going to be, promise
• Perfect for impressing friends or a special occasion

Cons

• More involved and less weeknight-friendly than other techniques 

When to deep fry tofu?

When nothing but maximum crispiness will do. And you don’t mind a little extra cleanup. 

It’s also a great way to please tofu skeptics, because I genuinely don’t believe someone could bite into these heavenly nuggets and complain.

Pro-tips:

• Tofu variety: I prefer firm tofu, as it yields a nice contrast between super crispy exterior and slightly pillowy interior. Extra-firm tofu comes out a bit dry IMO. 
• Tofu shape: As with pan-fried tofu, tear the tofu into chunks but keep them slightly bigger. This helps ensure the tofu gets crispy but not rock hard.
• Starch: Use a mixture of cornstarch and white rice flour in your batter. White rice flour doesn’t absorb as much oil as wheat-based flours, meaning your fried tofu stays light and airy rather than greasy and heavy.
• Safety Note: Never fill your pan up more than halfway with oil—if the oil level is too high, hot oil can bubble up out of the pan, which is very dangerous! 

Try this method!

My favorite-ever fried tofu recipe, Tofu 65, can be found on p. 477 of Big Vegan Flavor. Try it—you won’t be sorry.

For a simple Chinese salt-and-pepper fried tofu, watch this section of my YouTube video on crispy tofu methods!   

Cooking Method 4: Air-Frying Tofu 

If you’re an air fryer aficionado, this one’s for you.

Pros

• Yields impressively crispy tofu—crispier than baked tofu!
• Weeknight-friendly

Cons

• Results are less crispy than pan-fried or deep-fried tofu
• If you don’t have a large air fryer model, you’ll have to cook a block of tofu in two batches. This makes it more time-consuming than baking or pan-frying, unless you’re cooking for one (in which case a half block of tofu is perfect). 

When to air fry tofu?

If you’re a devout air fryer-er, go for it! This is also a great method if your oven is full but you still want to whip up a versatile protein, or if you want crispy tofu in the dog days of summer. 

Pro-tips:

• Tofu variety: I prefer extra firm tofu.
• Tofu shape: Tofu chunks technically get a tiny bit crisper, but I prefer cubes because you can fit more cubes in a standard-sized air fryer basket.
• Starch: Arrowroot powder produced the crispiest results in my tests, but potato starch and cornstarch also work.

Try this method!

I’ve dedicated a whole blog post to Crispy Air Fryer Tofu here!

Cooking Method 5: Braising Tofu

The four methods above are primarily aimed (and excellent!) at getting tofu to be crispy, but this one comes at the job of cooking tofu with a different top priority—imparting maximum flavor to tofu slabs.

Pros

• Unmatched when it comes to infusing tofu with deep, rich flavor
• Fancy-feeling, while still being doable on a weeknight

Cons

• Requires pan-frying and simmering the tofu, so it’s a bit more time-consuming and hands-on than other techniques

When to braise tofu?

If you’re in the mood for saucy tofu, it’s time to get braising. This method infuses the tofu with deep flavor from your braising liquid, so you’ll end up with strikingly flavorful, tender yet chewy results.

Pro-tips:

• Tofu variety: I prefer extra firm, but firm tofu is also nice. 
• Tofu shape: I like to cut the tofu into squares or rectangles, rather than small chunks or cubes. 

Try this method!

• My Chinese-inspired braised tofu is truly one of my favorite ways to eat tofu, and once you try it, you’ll see why.
• …And while we’re talking about my favorite ways to eat tofu, check out my Sticky Coconut Milk-Braised Tofu on p. 278 of Big Vegan Flavor, for beautifully spongy, tender tofu with Thai-inspired flavors.

Excited to cook some tofu?

With these techniques for tofu preparation and cooking in your repertoire, you are well-equipped to start whipping up some fabulously flavorful and downright showstopping meals starring soy.

Try my absolute favorite method for pan-frying tofu below and let me know what you think of it by leaving a rating and review!

Print

Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu

Meet my favorite weeknight-friendly way to turn a block of tofu into a pile of perfectly crispy morsels. Thanks to a dynamite combo of crisp-enhancing techniques, you’ll end up with bouncy, golden tofu chunks that work beautifully as a crunchy protein upgrade to any meal!

Course Side Dish

Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 3 to 4

Calories 152kcal

Author Nisha Vora

Ingredients

• 1 (12 to 14-ounce / 340 to 400g) block extra firm tofu, drained
• 2 cups (480 mL) boiling water
• Diamond Crystal kosher salt, (see Note 1)
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• 3 tablespoons (24g) cornstarch (see Note 2)
• 3 tablespoons (42g) olive oil, avocado oil, or cooking oil of choice

Instructions

• Use your hands to tear the tofu into 1” (2.5 cm) chunks. Add to a large bowl.
• In a heatproof glass or jar, combine the boiling water and 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt. Stir to dissolve the salt, then pour the hot saltwater over the tofu. Soak for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt, several cracks of black pepper, and the cornstarch.
• Drain the tofu in a colander and gently shake it to release excess water. Spread out the tofu on a clean dish towel and gently pat dry (or let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes to dry a bit).
• Dry the bowl and return the tofu to it. Sprinkle it with the cornstarch seasoning. Use a silicone spatula to gently coat the tofu all over.
• Heat a 12-inch nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat with the oil. Line a cutting board or plate with a few layers of paper towels. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the tofu. Push the tofu around in the oil to evenly coat in one layer. Fry until golden brown on the bottom, about 5 minutes.
• Use a wide spatula to flip the tofu. Many pieces will stick together, which is fine–it marks them easier to flip. Cook on the second side until golden brown on the bottom, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the tofu to the paper towel-lined surface to absorb excess oil. If desired, sprinkle the tofu with a pinch of salt.

Notes

1. Diamond Crystal kosher salt is less salty than most salts, teaspoon for teaspoon.
   If using sea salt or Morton’s kosher salt: in step 2: use a scant 2 teaspoons salt; in step 3, use a heaping ½ teaspoon salt.
   If using table salt: in step 2, use 1 ½ teaspoons salt; in step 3, use ½ teaspoon salt.
2. I don’t recommend substituting cornstarch with arrowroot powder or potato starch, as they tend to make the tofu stick together in the pan and parts of it get gummy.
3. If you want to add spices, feel free to do so. Use 2 ¼ teaspoons of your favorite spice blend for this amount of tofu. Stir the spices into the cornstarch in step 3. For Chinese five spice tofu, try 1 teaspoon five spice powder, ½ teaspoon white pepper, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder. The tofu may need an extra 1 to 2 minutes while cooking on the first side.

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.2g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10.51g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 361.4mg | Potassium: 210.2mg | Fiber: 2.1g | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 1.5mg

The post How to Cook Tofu: The Complete Guide appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

In lieu of an RPL at Home post for December, I wanted to close out the year by sharing the best things I read and watched this year.

I hope you find something that piques your interest here!

The best books I read this year 

Reading is my favorite hobby (whenever I’m ready for a new career, it will be professional reader), so I’m sharing the 12 best books I read this year.

Mother Mary Comes to Me, Arundhati Roy (2025)

This is one of the most compelling memoirs I’ve ever read. This one is from Indian author Arundhati Roy—whose first novel The God of Small Things won the Booker Prize in 1997—and it centers on her complicated relationship with her larger-than-life mother. Raw, gripping, and brilliantly written. 

Read this if you: Admire memoirs that feel both fiercely personal and quietly political. It helps to be familiar with Roy’s work but it’s not necessary.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sonny, Kiran Desai (2025)

I’m a sucker for sprawling family sagas as well as novels that unpack the unrootedness and loneliness of being an immigrant, so I knew I was going to enjoy this one, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much I would enjoy it.

I re-read and highlighted passages and entire chapters simply because I felt them so deeply, because I could envision the characters as people I’ve met before, because it stirred up feelings and experiences I was never able to articulate so eloquently. 

Read this if you: Can’t resist a sweeping family novel or immigrant stories that capture the quiet ache of displacement and belonging.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

Great Circle, Maggie Shipstead (2021)

My friend lent me this novel, telling me it was “transformative.” I thought she was exaggerating because the subject—a female pilot in the 1930s and 1940s—sounded only mildly interesting to me. I’m proud to report she was right. This is such a creative novel that brings to life a character I’ll remember forever. 

Read this if you: Love ambitious, character-driven storytelling with a fearless woman at the center. Also, if you think you’re not into “historical fiction,” this will change your mind.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

Random Family, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc (2003)

In this narrative nonfiction, we get to know an extended Puerto Rican-American family in the Bronx between the ‘80s and ‘90s as they navigate love, family, drugs, and incarceration. I found myself utterly absorbed with even the most minute details of these characters’ lives, often wondering what I would have done if I had been in their shoes.  

Read this if you: Are drawn to immersive narrative nonfiction that blurs the line between journalism and novel. Or want to understand how structural forces like poverty shape everyday choices.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2006)

Before reading this, I had never heard about the Nigerian Civil war, despite its heavy toll (millions of civilians died from starvation). The novel is told by several interconnected characters as they struggle to survive the war. It starts a bit slow but quickly becomes a page-turner (even though I found myself routinely pausing to learn more historical context). 

Read this if you: You love to learn history through storytelling, and are willing to sit with a slower beginning in exchange for something deeply moving.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen (2015)

Another historical fiction novel, this one follows a North Vietnamese mole in the South Vietnamese Army at the end of the Vietnam War. Sometimes it feels like a spy novel, other times dark comedy, and yet other times, political intrigue. Always thrilling. Like the novel above, you’ll also get the kind of history lesson they rarely teach you in school. 

Read this if you: Enjoy spy novels or political satire. Or are interested in the Vietnam War and its aftermath.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

Martyr, Kaveh Akbar (2024)

I lent this novel to a friend and merely said “I’ve never read anything like this.” A week later, she returned it, and said “I know exactly what you mean.”

The narrator is a young Iranian-American man who is acutely self-aware of his flaws, but he’s impossible not to root for. He deals with universal feelings—grief, addiction, loneliness, the search for meaning—but Akbar writes about them in a very character-specific way that’s never trite. 

Read this if you: Appreciate messy, deeply human protagonists. Or Find yourself grappling with the question, “How do I make sense of a world that often feels senseless?”

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

A Manual for Cleaning Women, Lucia Berlin (2015)

This is definitely one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. It’s a collection of short stories, each of which delves into the intimate lives of working class women with raw candor and dark humor. You can never tell what’s fiction and what’s based on Berlin’s own life as a single mother who worked various odd jobs and battled addiction. 

Read this if you: Love short stories with a distinctive voice and emotional honesty. Or are interested in raw, unsentimental portraits of working-class women told with dark humor.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

Evicted, Matthew Desmond (2016)

Around 2008, Desmond followed eight poor families in Milwaukee as they each struggled to stay housed and documented their stories. While this is technically nonfiction based on research and fieldwork, it reads like a novel you can’t put down. I think it should be required reading for every American. 

Read this if you: Are drawn to immersive narrative nonfiction that reads with the urgency of a page-turning novel.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

LaRose, Louise Erdrich (2016)

I’ve been a fan of Erdrich’s since I read her acclaimed novel, The Round House, a decade ago, so when I found LaRose in one of my free public libraries, I knew it was time to revisit her work. Erdrich takes a seemingly simple premise—a tragic accident that kills a child—and turns it into a nuanced, richly layered tale of atonement and justice. 

Read this if you: Enjoy quiet novels that leave an emotional echo. Or are interested in nuanced explorations of grief, justice, and forgiveness.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

Salvage the Bones, Jesmyn Ward (2011)

This novel takes place in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina in a poor town on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Our main character is a pregnant 15-year old girl, living in a rotting junkyard alongside her three protective brothers and alcoholic father.

Ward herself grew up in rural Mississippi and survived Katrina by sheltering in a car, which makes the novel feel all the more urgent, especially the last 80 pages or so, when the family hunkers down to survive the storm.  

Read this if you: Want to read a novel that feels visceral and urgent.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver (2009)

I found myself utterly absorbed with the life trajectory of the protagonist, a young man who floats between Mexico and the U.S. as his life is shaped by interactions with artists (Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera), revolutionaries (Leon Trotsky), and political movements (the Red Scare).

The way Kingsolver blends his intimate personal narrative with these big historical moments made me think he was, in fact, a real person in history.

Read this if you: Adore historical fiction, especially if you love when real figures and fictional lives intertwine.

• Get it on Bookshop
• Get it on Amazon

The best TV shows I watched this year 

There is SO much to watch on TV these days. The staggering amount of choice can be overwhelming, so if you’d rather someone pick your next show for you, here are six shows I thoroughly enjoyed this year.

Slow Horses (Apple TV)

Spy thrillers are my favorite TV genre, and the British show Slow Horses is close to my favorite spy series (second only to The Americans and the French-language series, Le Bureau).

Season 5, like the previous seasons, strikes a great balance of humor, thrilling intrigue, and realism.

Watch this if you: Love spy shows but want realism and hilariously dysfunctional characters instead of James Bond jumping out of exploding helicopters.

The Lowdown (FX)

Once in a while, we are lucky to witness a show or a movie where it genuinely feels like the role was written for that particular actor. I feel that way about the main character in The Lowdown, who Ethan Hawke plays so brilliantly.

He’s self-centered but generous, he makes terrible decisions but he’s smart, he’s reckless but confident.

Hawke isn’t the only draw though. The storyline—the search for the truth about corruption in Tulsa, Oklahoma—is intriguing and the artistic direction is utterly unique, with each episode featuring something quirky to savor. 

Watch this if you: Appreciate actors completely disappearing into a role. And enjoy shows that feel artistically alive.

Pluribus (Apple TV)

In this post-apocalyptic sci-fi series, we follow author Carol, who is one of only 13 people in the world who survives an alien virus that transforms everyone else into a peaceful hive mind.

The two things I love about the show the most: (1) Carol is often cranky and rude but you still root for her; (2) every episode, I pause at least a few times to debate philosophical questions like, “if I were Carol, would I try to save the world, or would I just give in and enjoy the happy-yet-creepy vibes?” 

Watch this if you: Prefer your sci-fi to be more “philosophical thought experiment” rather than lasers and space battles. Also, you don’t mind a slow burn.

Eastern Gate (HBO Max)

Another spy thriller, this one Polish and set in 2021, on the brink of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We follow Ewa, a Polish spy who’s tough and captivating, as she stealthily tracks down information about a nuclear bomb program and tries to uncover a leak in Polish intelligence. 

Watch this if you: Want a spy drama that feels current, enjoy being on the edge of your seat, and love a strong female lead.

Mo (Netflix)

Loosely based on comedian Mo Amer’s life as a Palestinian refugee who grew up in Houston, Mo is one of the most unique shows on TV. It’s impossible to not fall in love with the quick-talking, joke-spitting, code-switching, entrepreneurial Mo, as well as his family.

The show touches on deep topics and is often heartwrenching, but the humor is always present. 

Watch this if you: Appreciate heartfelt stories about immigrant families that aren’t cliche. And want to fall in love with a main character you wish were your friend IRL.

The Beast in Me (Netflix)

In this thriller, Claire Danes plays a once-successful writer who’s been unable to write since her son died and has alienated everyone around her. Mathew Rhys plays her mega-millionaire real estate tycoon neighbor, and their lives begin to intersect in more ways than one.

What I like most about the show is Danes’ ability to convey stress, angst, and emotional distress in such a realistic, visceral way (fans of Homeland will appreciate this).

Watch this if you: Prefer psychological thrillers that are more about emotional tension rather than jump scares (though there are a few of those too).

What were the best things you read and watched in 2025?

I’d be delighted if you left a comment with the best book you read (or best TV show you watched) this year. And let us know why you loved it!

Wishing you all a relaxing and love-filled holiday season!

The post The best things I read and watched in 2025 appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

Every few months, I give you a glimpse into 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.

Table of Contents
1. Fun Things!
2. What I’m working on in life
3. What I’m watching, listening to, and reading

We stayed in the rainforest, explored the Volcano National Park, road tripped, and stopped at beautiful waterfalls, gardens, and beaches. 

My mom is the opposite of what I would call an “outdoorsy person” and has barely exercised a day in her life, but she surprised us with her sense of adventure and I’m so glad we got to spend that time with her. 

Stay tuned because I’ll be sharing a detailed summary of our trip, including recommendations for things to do on the Big Island, where to stay, and what to eat. 

NYC Trip!

As soon as we got back from Hawaii, we hopped on another plane to NYC where I had the privilege of filming recipe videos in the New York Times Cooking studio! 

In case you missed the announcement in the last installment of RPL at Home, I became a contributor to NYT Cooking this summer! 

We filmed four recipes in one day(!), which certainly wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the team at NYT Cooking. From the videographers to the food stylist, they made it so easy for me. All I had to do was show up and be myself in the kitchen, which is always the most fun part. 

My first video on NYT Cooking’s YouTube channel will be out in mid-November (another one coming in January). Until then, you can find several of my recipes for NYT Cooking on their app/website, plus videos on my YouTube channel.

Double the Birthday Fun!

Then, a few days later, we celebrated my 38th birthday! 

I was lucky enough that my mom had planned her 70th birthday party (with 200+ guests!) for the same week, so several of my closest friends and family were already in town and got to celebrate my birthday with me

We topped off a busy but very fulfilling season with my mom’s party, where Max and I regaled the audience with stories about my mom’s sense of humor. 

Oh, and in case you missed the email about this update, Max—who’s never baked anything in his life, not even pre-made cookie dough—baked me a cake for my birthday!!!

And not just any cake. He made The Celebration Cake from my cookbook Big Vegan Flavor, and he did an A+ job. Texture: 100. Flavor: 100. Happiness: 100. 

What I’m working on in life 

If the Oxford English Dictionary crowned a health-related word of the past few years, I think it’d be strength training (okay, fine, that’s two words!). 

With each month, more and more scientific research continues to shed light on just how powerful strength training is for overall health and aging, especially for women. And I’m pleased to say I’ve finally hopped on the bandwagon! 

I’ve documented my fitness journey in past editions, but as a brief recap: Four years ago, I was in a lot of physical pain due to a combination of my floppy joints, an exacerbation of old injuries, and lack of exercise. I was in too much pain to exercise, which created a vicious cycle of getting injured frequently because being weak = my joints get out of place more quickly and my old injuries resurface more easily. 

Two years ago, I started to get stronger by committing to pilates several times a week, which strengthened my core and hips. And this year, I decided to take my strength journey to the next level with heavy weights. Good-bye, 3 pound dumbbells! 

Listen, I’m not doing anything crazy like lifting and slamming heavy barbells down on the floor of a Crossfit garage. I don’t even have a gym membership. 

But I have been quietly obsessed with the at-home workout program Evlo. Perhaps one of the reasons I love it is that the program is created by physical therapists and it’s designed specifically for women’s bodies.  

The emphasis is on “gentle consistency”: consistently strength training but in a way that’s gentle to the body. I used to easily get injured when I tried strength training on my own, whether at home or at a gym, and this is the first time where I feel safe and grounded when lifting weights. 

The only downside is that my office is now turning into a weight room, as I’m collecting more heavy dumbbells. But I suppose it’s a small price to pay for feeling stronger, mentally and physically! 

What I’m watching, listening to, and reading

Watching

I’ve discussed my love for spy TV shows in the past, so it’s not surprising that the first two on this list are just that. 

First up, season 5 of the British TV show Slow Horses, which is IMO one of the best shows of the past decade. It’s a spy thriller series but it’s also really funny, so it scratches two itches at once. We watched the penultimate episode last night, and I’ve been hypothesizing finale endings with Max all morning (he’s very tired of listening to me by now). 

Next, The Eastern Gate, a Polish espionage thriller series. Set in 2021, it follows Ewa, a Polish spy, while international tensions between Poland, Belarus, and Russia unfold. It’s intense and sometimes quite violent, but also captivating and full of clever twists and turns. 

I particularly love non-English TV shows because you have to give them your undivided attention; otherwise, you’ll completely miss the plot. In an age where there are now TV shows literally being dumbed down for “second screen viewing,” I, for one, love a TV show that requires your full attention. 

Finally, The Lowdown, a crime drama starring Ethan Hawke. He plays a scrappy, chaotic yet charming journalist who’s single-mindedly focused on uncovering the truth about corrupt, big money actors in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s shot artfully, has a great mix of humor and intrigue, and is each episode is packed with delightful surprises. 

PS: Ethan Hawke was my neighbor for a few years when I lived in Brooklyn, and he was always so nice. The first time he said hello to us, I think I garbled in surprise “uh, yes, you too.” 

Reading

While I’ve read several books since I last shared an update, I wanted to share the one that stuck with me the most: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Adichie’s novel, now nearly 20 years old, is an epic and heartbreaking novel that recreates a moment in history that had long been forgotten: the brutal Nigerian Civil War and Biafra’s fight for independence in the 1960s, which resulted in the starvation of millions of civilians.   

I loved this book for two reasons. One, it’s just a masterful novel. It features complex characters with a page-turning plot. Two, it introduced me to a part of history I had embarrassingly never heard about (and sadly reminded me that history often repeats itself). 

As I was reading the novel, I’d find myself regularly putting down the book to research a fact about Nigeria or the Igbo people or the civil war, so I felt like I got to read an engrossing novel and get an education. 

Listening

I’ve been a longtime listener to This American Life, and the recent episode Harold has become one of my all-time favorites. 

It tells the captivating story of Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington, elected in 1983.

Like the novel Half of a Yellow Sun, I enjoyed this episode so much because it placed me in a different historical period with such specificity that I almost felt like I was in Chicago in 1983 on the cusp of this historic moment. And I got learn about an incredibly inspiring politician who I had never heard of (sadly, he died shortly after being elected to his second term in 1987).

Okay, that’s it for this edition! Drop me a line below and let me know what you’re reading, watching, or working on in your own life!

The post RPL at Home: October 2025 appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

Each month (or so), I give you a glimpse into 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.

Exciting update! 

In case you missed the email announcement, latest YouTube video, and Instagram post, I wanted to share some exciting news here! 

I’m officially a contributor to New York Times Cooking!  

Several months ago, I received a message from NYT Cooking that said something like, “We love your recipes and content! Would you like to collaborate?” 

I assumed it was a phishing attempt because why would the New York Times be interested in little ol’ me? 

Turns out it was not a phishing attempt! They really liked my recipes and cookbook, Big Vegan Flavor, and wanted to showcase my recipes and videos

We met in person during one of my trips to NYC and after a few months of hashing out details, we’re finally here! Several of my recipes will appear on NYT Cooking’s website and app, many of which will also live on my YouTube channel (and a few on the NYT Cooking YouTube channel!). 

When I wrote Big Vegan Flavor, my biggest goal was to empower home cooks to cook downright delicious food without animal products. But I also had a secondary goal, and that was to elevate vegan food in the culinary world at large, to show folks that you don’t need meat or dairy to make food taste incredible. 

So being invited to contribute recipes and videos to such a celebrated culinary outlet has been a surreal moment for me. Thank you all for watching my videos and making my recipes–your support is the reason I’ve been given amazing opportunities like this! 

You can get my first three recipes on NYT Cooking’s website or app for free! 

1) Whipped Tofu Ricotta
2) Heirloom Tomato Salad With Ricotta and Chile Oil
3) Jammy Zucchini 

What I’m working on in life 

My relationship to work has been evolving over the last few years, which I’ve written about several times. For those of you who aren’t familiar, let’s just say I worked myself to the bone for a few years, and the stress manifested itself through many physical health problems. 

I’ve come a long way since those 90 hour workweeks, and right now, I can honestly say I’m in a pretty good groove: (1) I’m working on mostly things I love, and (2) I’m still working hard but way smarter than before (and way fewer hours). 

One of the things that has really redefined my relationship to work is taking conscious breaks during the workday. 

In the past, when I was tired of working or just felt like procrastinating, I might have grabbed my phone as a break…but that never really felt like a true break. If you’ve ever scrolled social media with no purpose, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The experience doesn’t feel relaxing or restorative; in fact, it often feels stressful or anxiety-inducing. 

Now that I have kicked my social media addiction, the breaks I take during my workday are much more intentional. And truly restorative.

Here are some of my favorite breaks in case you need some inspo for our own work-life balance: 

1) Go for a walk outside. I’m lucky to live in a lovely, walkable neighborhood in sunny, temperate San Diego so this is a no-brainer for me.

2) Sit on my porch and read a novel for 15 minutes (or some days, 45 minutes).

3) Drink a fizzy beverage and play a crossword puzzle.

4) Color in my adult coloring books (deemed “adult” because the designs are complex, not because the pages are filled with nudes).

I can’t explain how luxurious it feels to sit outside during the middle of the day and read a novel. And 95% of the time, I return to my desk feeling better, more energetic, and ready to work. The other 5% of the time, I just want to continue reading, which is also okay. 

Taking breaks during the workday might not sound revolutionary to some folks, especially for readers outside of the U.S. where hustle culture is not as pervasive. But as someone who has struggled with workaholic tendencies and who operates in a nonstop industry that rewards constant work, this feels like my own little private revolution. 

What I’m watching, listening to, and reading

Watching

We recently watched the 2021 movie Pig starring Nicolas Cage, which I would highly recommend. 

Vegans, beware, you will be sad (a beloved pig is kidnapped, after all), but it’s a beautifully told and filmed story about a man’s relationship with his truffle-hunting pig. There’s loss and melancholy, but there’s also pure, unadulterated love.  

In terms of TV, we recently finished season 4 of The Bear (animal titles are the theme this month!).  

The pros: I love the cast: their complex lives, their storylines, their relationships to the other characters. And the cinematography is exquisite.  

The cons: This season moved too slowly for my taste. And Carmy seemed incapable of verbalizing any real words besides “No, I know” and “I’m trying,” which got annoying (albeit hilarious at the same time).

Criticisms aside, I’ll obviously be watching season 5 whenever it drops!  

Reading   

The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen. 

A few months ago, I read (and loved) The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2016. The Committed picks up where The Sympathizer left off, following the life of the narrator as a Vietnamese refugee in France where he continues to reckon with his identity as a spy, as well as questions of identity, colonialism and empire, capitalism vs. communism, immigration and assimilation.  

Recommendation: Start with The Sympathizer. If you love it (chances are high), try The Committed next. It’s a denser read, but read together as a whole, this is contemporary literary fiction at some of its finest. 

This is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz.

After reading (and, again, loving) The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, I started reading Díaz’s collection of short stories, which features the same narrator, Yunior. Yunior writes about the Dominican-American immigrant experience, masculinity, and love with such incredible uniqueness. He’s witty yet deep, funny yet profound, seriously flawed yet seriously lovable. 

Recommendation: Reading The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is not a pre-requisite, but it will give you more context and appreciation for the narrator. 

Remainders of the Day by Shaun Bythell 

Written by the owner of the largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland, this is basically a daily diary of all the customers who come into the author’s store, what they buy, and importantly, their quirks and eccentricities. The author is sarcastic and his humor reminds me a bit of Ricky Gervais’ but in a PG way.  

Recommendation: If you need a light and funny read that you can pick up for 10 minutes a day, this is a fun one. 

Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius.

A coming-of-age novel that takes place in the Arctic Circle (Northern Sweden to be exact), it tells the story of an indigenous Sámi girl who struggles to defend her family and culture’s way of life—herding reindeer—against a backdrop of xenophobia and discrimination, violence, and climate change. 

Recommendation: This features the torture and killing of reindeers (based on real life events), as well as suicide, so it’s not for everyone. But if you want to learn about an indigenous culture you’ve likely never heard of while simultaneously reading a heart-wrenching yet inspiring coming-of-age story, this is an eye-opening read.

Listening

I recently listened to an episode of the What Now? with Trevor Noah podcast, where he interviewed Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation. 

It’s a frank conversation about how smartphones and social media have rewired childhood and created a mental health epidemic for Gen Z in particular, but really for all of us.

The conversation is not without hope, though. Haidt offers several solutions for empowering kids to step out of the smartphone trap, from changes in school and government policy to more individual changes, like allowing your kids to explore the outdoors on their own. 

Even as a non-parent, I thought it was a really important and fascinating episode.

Fun Things

Back in June, we traveled to Boise, Idaho to attend the Craft and Commerce conference. It’s the annual conference hosted by Kit, the email marketing platform we use to send our emails (the ones you likely are subscribed to!). 

Earlier this year, Kit asked me if I wanted to give a keynote speech at the conference–and they said I could speak about whatever topic I wanted! 

Inspired by my own journey of carving out a sustainable relationship with work, as well as conversations I’ve had with fellow creators who are either working so hard they’re burning out or are so caught up in metrics that they’ve lost the joy of creating, I decided to give a speech on “the creator’s guide to sustainable productivity.” 

Though I’m one of those rare people who isn’t terrified of public speaking, I was still a bit nervous in the days leading up to the speech, considering it was my first time giving such a long speech (20 minutes) to such a large crowd of people (400 other creators). 

Luckily, as soon as I got on stage, whatever nerves I had disappeared, and it felt like I was talking to a group of friends (or a live YouTube audience). Despite a couple minor technical difficulties, it went really well and I can totally see myself doing more speeches in the future!

Okay, that’s it for this month! Drop me a line below and let me know what you’re reading, watching, or working on in your own life!

The post RPL at Home: July 2025 appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

Each month (or so), I give you a glimpse into 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.

What’s happened in the last few months 

So many fun and amazing things have happened since I last caught up with you here. 

Cookbook news!  

A few weeks ago, I learned that my baby, Big Vegan Flavor, had been nominated for a James Beard Award!  

In case you’re not a food nerd, the James Beard Awards are often described as “the Oscars of the food world,” so it’s pretty exciting stuff! 

This would have been exciting news regardless of what cookbook I had written, but given how long and winding and often arduous this cookbook journey was, it felt even more special. 

When I was writing this book, my main goal was always to help you—the home cook—level up your skills in the kitchen, feel more confident and joyful when cooking, and fall (further) in love with plant-based cooking. So receiving your emails, messages, and comments that the book is doing just that is truly the biggest reward. 

Being nominated for this award is the icing on an already delicious cake. 

Popup dinners 

When I first went vegan in 2016 and was still struggling with eating plain quinoa & steamed broccoli bowls (so sad!), one of the few things that gave me hope was eating at Avant Garden, an upscale plant-based restaurant in NYC.

Their approach to cooking elevated my understanding of vegetables from side dish to centerpiece, from something healthy to eat out of obligation into something wildly delicious to be celebrated.

And for the next four years that I lived in NYC, Avant Garden became my my go-to restaurant whenever I wanted to impress someone, especially non-vegans.

So when Avant Garden reached out to me earlier this year and asked if I wanted to collaborate on a popup dinner, it was a no-brainer.

We initially started with one night only for the popup, but y’all were so generous in your enthusiasm that it sold out in less than 1 hour. So we opened a second night, and then a third night. 

We curated a 6-course tasting menu from my cookbook, Big Vegan Flavor, which the culinary team executed even better than I could have imagined. Seriously, every dish was SO good, as were the custom cocktails and mocktails. 

And being able to meet some of you in person, hearing your stories and your joy for plant-based cooking, and hearing how I’ve become a part of your kitchens was such an honor and a beautiful reminder that I have pretty much the greatest job on earth. 

Thank you to everyone who came from near and far and for making these dinners an unforgettable experience. Watch the video recap here! 

If you want to make the dishes from the popup dinner at home, here’s what we served from Big Vegan Flavor: 

1) Whipped Tofu Ricotta (page 206) slathered on toast and topped with figs & red watercress, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil & white balsamic vinegar 

2) Glazed Torn Beets with Pistachio Butter (page 395)

3) Charred Cabbage in Spiced Tomatoes with Lemon Tahini (page 401)

4) Loaded Mushroom Shawarma Flatbreads (page 524)

5) Buttermilk Fried “Chicken” with slaw (page 531)

6) Dessert sampler: Fudgy Brownies (page 580) with Dark Chocolate Mousse & Raspberry Compote (page 577), plus house-made strawberry ice cream. 

What I’m working on in life 

Recently, I was chatting with some friends about my parents, and all of a sudden, I got weepy. Like full on tears came running down my cheeks. 

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. 

Over the last year or two, nearly every time I think or talk about my parents and all they’ve sacrificed to give me the best possible life, I get weepy. 

For someone who is not a crier, it is a strange experience. But beautiful. 

Last year, when I filmed a voiceover about my parents’ story and how it connects to my journey for Harvard Magazine, it took me 27 attempts because I kept crying six seconds into the voiceover. 

On take #16, Max came into my office, looked at my teary eyes, and said “you’re in your ‘parents era.’“

That about sums it up. 

So, what exactly am I working on in this era? 

I guess just embracing the weepiness, feeling my feelings, encouraging myself to sit with the immense gratitude I have for them. Not feeling embarrassed as I tear up on the airplane while writing this post. And taking the time to reflect on how my parents have shaped my entire life, who I am, and my successes. 

When I evaluate my life—that I am content and love myself, have no significant mental health issues, run a successful business that brings me joy and purpose, am in a loving relationship—I can trace all of the good stuff back to my upbringing. 

I am so fortunate that I had (and still have) parents who loved and supported me unconditionally, who taught me my worth and to value myself as a girl, who pushed me to excel but never too hard, who provided for my every need without spoiling me, and who taught me to be kind and accepting of others despite our differences.   

And of course, I’m working on actually spending time with my parents!

The reason we moved to San Diego 4 ½ years ago was so I could be closer to them (and my sister, who is also wonderful btw!). But if I’m being honest, during particularly busy periods, I didn’t see them as often as I should have. 

So even though my schedule is always busy with work (and their social calendar is booming!), I’ve been making weekly dinners with my parents a top priority. And every time I leave their house, my heart is always so full.

Reading 

One of my regrets of not keeping to a monthly schedule with these posts is that I’ve read so many books I haven’t been able to share! 

Here’s a quick roundup of recent favorites with a blurb on who will absolutely love these picks.   

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

Perfect pick for: Readers interested in the Vietnam War and its aftermath, told from a rare and richly layered Vietnamese perspective. It’s a thrilling spy novel but rooted in history. 

Martyr by Kaveh Akbar.  

Perfect pick for: Anyone grappling with the question, “How do I make sense of a world that often feels senseless?” especially those navigating the complexities of cultural identity and the immigrant experience. 

The Known World by Edward P. Jones. 

Perfect pick for: Any student of American history. As critic A.O. Scott writes much better than I can, “You may think you know about American slavery, about the American novel, about the American slavery novel, but here is something you couldn’t have imagined, a secret history hidden in plain sight.” 

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. 

Perfect pick for: Anyone feeling disillusioned with our hyper-capitalist, mega-industrialist method of growing food. 

Note: This book documents Kingsolver’s family to live off the land on their small family farm. They raise and eventually kill animals for food, so vegans may not love those sections (I glossed over them). I still think it’s an important read on our food system and what we can do to fight back. Since finishing the book, I haven’t missed a weekly trip to my local farmers market. 

Fun Things

Currently, I’m basking in the feel-good high after finishing a weekend retreat with 7 other food bloggers in Savannah, Georgia. 

When you hear someone is a food blogger, it might sound like a fun little hobby, but doing it at a high-level means running an incredibly well-oiled, savvy business. 

It means working well beyond a 9-to-5, becoming an expert in 37 different fields, solving challenging problems and finding creative solutions, managing employees, figuring out a way to be creative and analytical and entrepreneurial often on the same day, and constantly honing your craft.

Over the course of a few days, we shared both highlights and challenges from our year, discussed navigating a world in which AI is making our jobs both easier but also more precarious, exchanged tactical strategies for running our businesses better, chatted about the importance of branding and authenticity, and so much more. 

And most importantly, everyone was such a big cheerleader for one another, celebrating every little and big win. 

This was my first time doing a retreat like this, and it was a 10/10. I was so blessed to be among a group of supremely talented, warm, inviting, and thoughtful individuals. 

And a couple more snaps from this past Memorial Day weekend: spent some time by the beach with the family!

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

The post RPL at Home: May 2025 appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.

Rainbow Plant Life is on a mission to help people cook irresistible vegan food with confidence. Our recipes are meticulously developed and tested, packed with bold flavors, and made to turn even skeptics into plant-based believers. 

We’re looking for a part-time staff writer to help us tell better food stories, keep our blog fresh, and engage our community. We plan to start this position off on a part-time basis (about 10 hours per week) with room to grow in the future. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Writing new blog posts that make plant-based cooking exciting and accessible
• Refreshing old blog posts so they’re even more useful and engaging
• Crafting emails that connect with our audience in a fun, conversational way
• Pitching in on other content as needed—think PDF guides, landing pages, or social media captions

What We’re Looking For

• A strong, adaptable writer who can match our brand voice (Hint: check out our website & YouTube channel!)
• A self-starter who can work independently (we’re not micromanagers!)
• Some familiarity with vegan cooking—you don’t have to be an expert, but knowing your tofu from your tempeh is a plus
• A willingness to learn SEO (no experience required, we’ll show you the ropes!)
• Someone with some overlap in Pacific Time for easier collaboration (this is a remote role)

Compensation:

• Based on experience (sorry sorry, I know this is annoying, but our applicants typically come with a very wide range of experience). 

How to Apply:

Think you’d be a great fit? Fill out our application form (linked below)! We’ll ask about your writing experience, familiarity with plant-based cooking, availability, and desired compensation. You’ll also be asked to submit a writing sample.

We look forward to reviewing your application!

The post Rainbow Plant Life is Hiring a Staff Writer! appeared first on Rainbow Plant Life.