Thanks for visiting! I hope you find something useful here. My name is Shira, and in 2012, I started this blog as a way to share plant-based recipes that were easy, accessible, and nutritious. Over 10 years later, this collection of recipes still stands the test of time.

When I started sharing on the internet, it was to get the word out about the latest iteration in my lifelong entrepreneurial journey. Looking for a creative outlet outside of my day-to-day, I started a project called Not So Fast, a non-profit organization aimed at encouraging those that could, to go without in order to give a little more. We collected donations to buy healthy food for low income families and taught kids cooking classes, to name a few of our initiatives. I've since shuttered that project, but you may see mention of it some of my earlier posts. It was through Not So Fast, and my desire to see more people have access to nourishing food, that this blog came about.

As a lifelong vegetarian, it’s my goal to illustrate the ease of eating healthy, plant-centric meals that taste delicious and look beautiful too. I come from a food family, and I grew up eating home-grown organic vegetables and grains and beans as staples. I learned early that the cornerstones of quality vegetarian eating were nutrient dense, unprocessed foods that filled you up and made you feel good.

My parents were "chop wood and carry water" types in the 1970's and it is thanks to their example that I am able to share from such a deep well. We grew up picking bowls of parsley for our salads and our street was filled to the brim with conscious young people actively cultivating a simpler way be. I am part of a family of Generation X kids that grew up with outhouses, communal saunas, potlucks, nature, natural food, and lots and lots of freedom. I didn't have a mobile phone until I turned 30.
Thanks to this foundation at a young age, I’ve always had a somewhat obsessive interest in food, both from a cultural and political standpoint as well as a means of achieving good, lasting health. I live in Vancouver, BC with my family and my cat, and when I'm not working you can find me in the kitchen, in the garden, daydreaming about travel, planning my next trip, or reading about astrology, religion, or philosophy. I'm happiest surrounded by beauty, music and art and I thrive in organized spaces.

I am also the co-founder of Flourist, which is an extension of my desire to contribute to making better ingredients more widely accessible. Established in 2014, we started supplying dry goods to my restaurant friends in the hopes of starting our own flour mill. We opened our flagship retail space in 2019, and not a day goes by that I am not grateful to be able to serve the community in this way.

A minimalist at heart, my passion is to pursue a life of more while consuming less. I truly believe there is dignity in simplicity and that the path to simplicity is never the easiest way. In fact, it's much more difficult, but without difficulty there can be no growth. To me, living with less means making room for more meaning, for more joy, for more ideas, and for the people in our lives that matter most.

To see where my work has been featured elsewhere, visit my press page here. If you’re interested in collaborating or just dropping me a line, contact me here.

If you've been following me for a while, you'll notice I don't post much. I took a break from posting here after opening the Flourist Mill + Bakery in 2019, just six months before the pandemic. This space is, and will always be, a work in progress, just like me. Thanks for being here.