Happy Herbivore and my birthday often seem to conspire to do something marvelous together.

On my 28th birthday, my first cookbook, The Happy Herbivore Cookbook, went off to the printer.

On my 31st birthday, I found out I'd crossed a landmark: I'd sold 100,000 cookbooks.

(As of this last June, the count was up to 150,000!!).

I wonder what today will hold :)

Then again, I think …

I have a confession: I've been struggling. 

My struggles have mostly been internal, but today I'm sharing my personal turmoil with you because it was my minimalism that helped me decide what to do. 

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Happy Herbivore happened to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not ungrateful. I don't have any regrets, but when I got the wild idea to start a blog because... well, I was bored and …

You've got questions...

Q: Do you have any suggestions as to what I can use as a replacement for mushrooms? I don't like them.

A: Unfortunately, mushrooms are one of the few ingredients that have no alternative or culinary substitute (miso is another). If it's something with just a few mushrooms in a big mix of veggies, you could try adding another vegetable, but if the mushrooms are a main item, the center of the recipe or used specifically …

Back when I was working on the plant-based guys series (you can read Part 1 and Part 2), I met Jeremy who dropped a hint into our conversation that he (and his family) wanted to be Herbies of the Week. 

Actually, he said, specifically, "I would love the chance to be a Herbie of the Week! Not only have I lost over 70 pounds, but my wife is well below her pre-pregnancy weight even though …

When temperatures drop, I like to welcome in the new season with comforting recipes filled with fresh fall ingredients. Nutty Sweet Potato Soup (NEW!), Creamy Fruit Muesli (NEW!), and Slow Cooker Caribbean Black Bean Soup (NEW!) are some of the newest seasonal delights on this week's meal plans.

And make room for more fall favorites like Beet & Sweet Potato Salad, Chocolate Espresso Quinoa, Oatmeal Muffins (family plan), Polenta & Black Beans, and Jalapeno Hummus. Maybe summer …