Interview with Michelle Schwegmann author of Eat Like You Give A Damn – 02.18.16

Michelle Schwegmann is co-owner of The Herbivore Clothing Company, a vegan clothing, cookbook and lifestyle brand based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2002, Herbivore designs and makes clothing and accessories for people who like to fashionably proclaim their compassionate beliefs. Tee shirts, hoodies, belts, wallets, bags, cookbooks, body care and more are at their store in the vegan-minimall, and online at herbivoreclothing.com.

Michelle and her husband Josh Hooten are the authors of Eat Like You Give a Damn, a cookbook and guide for new vegans. They are parents to ten-year-old Ruby, whose daily vegan lunch you can see via the hashtag #rubybirdslunch. 

Red Lentil Soup with Lemon

3 cups red lentils, rinsed

6 organic potatoes, cubed

16 cups water

3 Tbs. olive oil                                                

2 onion, chopped                                             

4 carrots, chopped

1 organic red pepper                                                   

1 Tbs. chopped garlic

1 GF Vegetable Bouillon cube             

1 can diced organic tomatoes

3 Tbs. tomato paste or ketchup

1 Tbs. cumin

1 Tbs. dried mint          

1 t salt 

1 t. pepper

Lemon and Cilantro for Garnish

Rinse the lentils and put in a large pot with the water and potatoes, and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, sauté the onions and carrots in olive oil for 5 min. Add garlic and red pepper, and sauté for 5 more minutes. Add the vegetables to the pot of lentils. Add the cumin, bouillon, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 40 minutes until lentils and potatoes are soft. Add the diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Puree soup with immersion stick, and taste. Adjust salt and pepper, as desired. Serve with fresh lemon wedges and chopped cilantro as garnish.