It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention and Debbie Adler epitomizes that phrase. In 2006, she opened Sweet Debbie’s Organic Cupcakes bakery, the first to feature vegan and sugar-free treats.  However, a year later her son was born with many life-threatening allergies, forcing her to take an even deeper dive into nutrition and food-related illnesses. Because of her son's needs, she developed recipes and new baked goods that were not only vegan and sugar-free, but also gluten and allergy free. Her business skyrocketed.  Her son is now 14 and doing great, thanks in part to her diligence. Debbie has since gone on to write three cookbooks, including her latest, The Mediterranean Plate, which is what we discuss today.  This book is filled with delicious Moroccan, Greek, Spanish, Italian, French, and Middle Eastern recipes without all of the oils, fish, meats, and cheeses that are so prevalent on the Mediterranean diet. In fact, not only is every recipe whole food plant-based, but also salt, oil, sugar, and gluten-free. We dig through foods that may be familiar to you, but with Debbie’s special twist - think gnocchi, moussaka, pancakes, her recipe for feta, soups, and so much more.  Cooking from scratch can be intimidating, which is why most of these dishes are “one-pot” recipes, minimizing mess and clean-up. She even provides her recommended equipment and pantry staples to make this adventure as simple as possible.  So enjoy this conversation and mouth-watering tour through, “The Mediterranean Plate,” with Debbie Adler. Episode Highlights: Debbie’s reason for starting her vegan and sugar-free bakery Why write The Mediterranean Plate? Her Top 18 Ingredients for Healthy Aging Kitchen must-haves and favorite spices and seasonings Gathering grains, flours, and powders - What should you have in your pantry? Preferred sweeteners, canned foods, and favorite tools/appliances Rip and Debbie’s mouth-watering tour through the book! Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube Order The Mediterranean Plate Debbie Adler’s Website Follow Debbie on Instagram @plant.based.debbie.adler Follow Debbie on Facebook @SweetDebbieAdler To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our broths and soups, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong ?? Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode