As a vegan, I enjoy buying fresh, local food and making meals from scratch. I am a big fan of lentils and other legumes.

My favorite lentil soup recipe is my own Curried Lentil Shitake Mushroom Soup which is a hearty soup containing lots of onion, carrots, celery, garlic, parsley and either shitake or portabello mushrooms. Sometimes I add whole barley for a lentil barley variation.

I rely on the strong flavor of fresh, organic vegetables to create a tasty stock. Plus, tumeric powder or curry takes the flavor to a another level.

Always satisfying and filling, I try to make enough soup to have for a couple of days or to share with family and friends.