January 1st, 2024 Newsletter
Dear Readers,
The new year is always a special time of year, one of reflection and making exciting changes. Samosas and Mimosas is officially two years old. I remember thinking I’d never be able to find anything new or exciting to share, and here I am, a full cohort of recipes for the world to enjoy. Sharing my recipes is one of the biggest honors. It’s a gift to be able to share something so personal, and yet so universal.
As I reflected on what else Samosas and Mimosas can offer, I thought a lot about how my own diet has changed over the years and how best I can share this with the world. The truth is, I’m a plant-based eater and always have been. Meat and animal products have taken a back seat on many of the foods I consume, and I’m much happier for it.
My reasons for eating plant-based are both personal and environmental. I’ve never loved eating meat. Even as a child, eating animals never felt right. Though I rarely thought about eating dairy and how this also is consuming animal products, dairy would later have an effect on my health that made me cut most of it out of my diet. It was a practical decision at first. As I later came to understand the effects of the dairy industry on climate change, this decision felt even more powerful for me, one that I increasingly saw as a philosophy and a way of living. As someone living in the twenty-first century, I firmly believe it’s our responsibility to eat a more sustainable diet. It’s quite possible. In fact, there are almost too many alternatives to choose from now (something I intend to delve into in future newsletters). What was once a bleak landscape for vegans and vegetarians is now full of healthier, more sustainable options.
But eating plant-based can also be somewhat confusing largely because it means different things to different people. Plant-based eating does not equate to vegan dieting (which eliminates all animal products), but it does mean emphasizing plants above all other ingredients. This doesn’t mean you have to forget about eating meat (though it could). It doesn’t mean you have to cut out all dairy (though again, it could). You could honestly eat everything that’s put in front of you, so long as plants are the primary ingredient.
I intend for Samosas and Mimosas to offer some fun, practical, sustainable, and delicious plant-based recipes. My goal in doing so is to make plant-based eating an exciting and fun journey for those that are interested in a plant-based diet. In doing this, I don’t intend to be restrictive. Readers should still be able to find a range of diverse eating options from various cuisines and cultures. Nor do I intend to fully cut out meat and dairy. To do so would go against how I see the plant-based movement.
But I also aim to make a plant-based diet understandable. This will be the first of what I hope to be weekly newsletters discussing some topic or other related to food, plant-based eating, and fun cooking.
Without further ado then, let’s talk about this week’s recipe. We’re starting the new year with some cookies. Orange and chocolate are two flavors that forever set my heart on fire. And though it is a new year, why not continue the influx of sweets and goodies from the holidays? You can make these with plant-based butter or regular butter (more on plant-based alternatives in future newsletters), and of course, if orange isn’t your flavor, try something else! I will forever promote having my readers make these recipes their own!
May you all have the very best of New years and I look forward to what 2024 has in store!
Rachel