Happy New Year! As we welcome 2024, it’s a perfect time to reflect and deepen our commitment to a compassionate, plant-based lifestyle. This January at Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary, we’ve been celebrating “New Beginnings with Plant-Based Choices,” focusing on enriching our existing practices and welcoming those new to this journey.

The Power of Plant-Based Choices

Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just starting, each plant-based choice has a profound impact. As Jen Sale often reminds us, “Our daily choices can be a powerful form of advocacy for our planet and its inhabitants.” Embracing a plant-based lifestyle is a stand for environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and personal health. Let’s continue to inspire those around us with the positive change we embody.

Elevating Your Plant-Based Goals

For those who’ve been on this path, consider setting goals to deepen your impact. It could be advocating for plant-based options in your community, exploring zero-waste cooking, or volunteering for animal welfare causes. For our vegan-curious friends, consider incorporating more plant-based meals into your daily routine or trying out dairy and meat alternatives. Remember, every step counts!

Navigating Challenges Together

Even as experienced vegans, we encounter challenges. From navigating social situations to continually finding innovative ways to enjoy our food, there’s always something new to learn. Sharing experiences, tips, and recipes within our community can be incredibly enriching. Let’s continue to support and learn from each other.

Recipe of the Month: Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup

We’re excited to share a delightful Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup recipe this month. It’s a celebration of seasonal produce and is perfect for cozy nights. We encourage you to put your twist on it and share your culinary creations with #SaleRanch and #KindnessLivesHere.

Beyond the Plate: A Holistic Plant-Based Life

Living plant-based is more than what we eat. It’s about making ethical choices in all aspects of life. This year, let’s explore new ways to align our lifestyle with our values through sustainable fashion, cruelty-free products, or supporting ethical businesses.

Community and Connection

The community around us enriches our journey. Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary is a sanctuary for animals and a haven for people like you who share our ethos. We invite you to engage with our events, workshops, and community initiatives, strengthening our collective voice for a kinder world.

As we enter this new year, let’s embrace the diverse paths within our plant-based community. Whether you’re a long-time vegan or just starting, your journey is valuable and contributes to a more significant cause. Share your goals, experiences, and insights with us. Together, let’s make “Kindness Lives Here” resonate in every choice we make.

Stay connected and inspired – follow Sale Ranch on Facebook and Instagram, and consider supporting our mission. Your involvement is a vital part of our community’s strength.

Here’s to a year of compassion, growth, and plant-based living. Cheers to 2024! 🌿 

Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup

SERVES: 4-6

PREPARATION: 20 min

COOKING: 90 min

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp / 30 ml extra virgin olive oil (or vegan stock for an oil-free version)
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 6 garlic cloves, finely diced
• 2 fresh rosemary twigs, leaves chopped finely, or 1 tsp dried
• 4 fresh thyme stalks, leaves picked or ½ tsp dried
• 2 celery stalks, roughly diced
• 2 carrots, roughly diced
• 1½ tsp sweet smoked paprika
• 1¼ tsp salt, adjust to taste
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp chili flakes (optional), adjust to taste
• 2 x 14 oz cans peeled plum tomatoes*
• 2 bay leaves (fresh if you have one growing in your garden)
• 5 medium potatoes, scrubbed clean and cubed into ¾” dice
• ½ small savoy cabbage, shredded very finely

METHOD

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. If you want to keep this soup oil-free, use veggie stock and add it together with diced onion.
2. Once the oil gets hot, throw in diced onion. Sauté on a very medium-low heat until soft (approx. 5 minutes).
3. Next, throw in garlic and herbs. Sauté for another 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Once the garlic is fragrant, add in roughly chopped celery and carrots. Sauté for another 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Stir in smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and chili flakes if you like a bit of heat.
6. Add plum tomatoes to the pot, squashing them with a wooden spoon or a potato masher once they are in the pot, but before adding water, as otherwise, they will splash everywhere.
7. Add 2 cups of water and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for about 45 minutes, until the tomatoes fall apart. Top up with more water if the pot is looking dry. Give the pot a good stir every 15-20 minutes to ensure nothing gets caught at the bottom. You are ready to go to the next step once the tomatoes have broken down nicely, and the soup looks more or less uniform and thick (see photo above). If not, add another 1 cup of water, cover it, and continue simmering for 15 minutes.
8. Add about 3 more cups of water and the cubed potatoes. Once the soup comes to a simmer, allow the potatoes to simmer for about 10 minutes.
9. Next, add finely shredded cabbage and allow the soup to simmer for 5 minutes, until potatoes are fully cooked (check with a skewer or a sharp knife) and the cabbage is no longer raw.
10. Taste and adjust the seasoning. You may want to add a touch of sugar (½-1 tsp or so) if your tomatoes are too tangy.
11. Ideally, allow the soup to ‘cure’ overnight (it will taste better) before serving, but that’s not necessary. If you plan to make it for more than one meal, what tends to happen is that the cabbage absorbs all the extra liquid while the soups stand around, so make sure to add some more water (go by your preference) when heating it to bring it back to the consistency you like.

NOTES

HOT TIP: If you have time to make this soup a day ahead (recommended), make it until step 7 and allow it to cool down. Finish the remaining steps (8-11) just before serving – that way, your vegetables won’t be overcooked and discolored.

*If you prefer a less tomato-y soup, use one can of vegetable stock or more water to compensate. It will be thinner, though.

Recipe create by Lazy Cat Kitchen