I was recently slowed down by a sinus infection and craving some comfort food. The crisp mornings and cooler nights of September are an ideal time for rich and savoury meals, but my low energy levels zapped my desire to prepare my usual thick soups and stews. I wanted something easy, different, yet still very satisfying. Luckily for me, I know about Oh She Glows.
Angela Liddon, New York Times bestselling cookbook author and well known blogger, is the creator of Oh She Glows. Liddon also has over a million followers on social media and I became a personal fan after my mother introduced me to her first cookbook, The Oh She Glows Cookbook in 2014, followed by her more recent cookbook in 2016, Oh She Glows Everyday!
I missed the app she launched that year. Usually when I hear or see the words “app” or “try this on your phone”, my attention fizzles. However, during my most recent search on her blog for something to hit the spot, it caught my eye that a particular recipe was only accessible on her app. Of course, I wanted to be able to see the Breakfast Brownie Bake recipe so I clicked on the link. Three dollars and a few minutes later, I was happily scrolling through the gorgeous array of meals, snacks, salads, breakfast porridges, and desserts.
As I reached the bottom, I saw 15-Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta and I just knew it had to be mine. The mouthwatering picture and the fact that it was just 15 minutes to make, sold it for me. The brownies would have to wait for another time.
The ingredients were few and simple – garlic, avocado, olive oil, lemon, fresh basil, salt and black pepper. I decided to double the portion, and after mixing in the food processor and combining with red lentil pasta, I was in heaven, and so was my husband. The meal was just what I was looking for: thick, creamy, tasty, and very satisfying. The garlic, lemon and basil were a fresh, light and flavourful accompaniment to the avocado, and it was all a welcome contrast to my usual entrees. I found that the portion went a long way given the natural fats and oils from avocado plus our protein-packed pasta. It did take me just over 20 minutes to put together from beginning to end, but I’ll gladly spend the extra five minutes on this dish anytime, and you may be happy to know the recipe is also available on her blog!
I appreciate that Oh She Glows offers a wide range of recipes and flavours. There is something for everyone — even if you aren’t vegan or drawn to “plant-based” foods. I am not vegan, just dairy free, but I can easily modify many of her recipes to fit my dietary preferences. Now that I’ve discovered the app, I also like that I can take her recipes on the go and search on my phone (and iPad!) more easily than on her blog. It also has over 100 recipes available, several of which exclusive to the app. Liddon stated that in this production, all of these fan favourite selected dishes were revised along with sleek new photos. A notable feature are the filter options – such as gluten-free, grain-free, raw, nut-free, soy free and more. You can also select by dish and meal types, seasons, and other – which includes budget friendly, freezer friendly, party favourite, kid friendly, homemade staples, and quick + easy options.
If you are curious to learn more, check out her app introduction here. I have been happily searching through the app for the past week and am looking forward to trying the Breakfast Brownie Bake next!
Joy Elkayam is currently the Production Manager and an editor for Parvati Magazine. She is also a volunteer at Parvati.org, dedicated to realizing the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary. Before landing in teaching in a kindergarten, her career started out in health care as a coordinator in research and cancer screening. She is living in Toronto, Canada with her husband.