Woman in Real Life

11 Plant-Based Recipes I’m Loving Again, Thanks to a Local Strawberry Haul!

There’s something truly special about spending a morning at a local U-pick farm—especially during peak strawberry season. We went recently on a hotter-than-usual day, and I’ll admit, I felt a little lightheaded after wandering the rows under the sun. Thankfully, my husband stepped in and picked most of our overflowing basket while I took a breather. (I did manage to eat a few sun-warmed, chemical-free strawberries straight from the vine!)

Despite the heat, the experience was sweet in every sense—and we’ve already made plans to head back this week before the short Ontario strawberry season wraps up.

Back at home, with a kitchen full of juicy, sun-ripened berries, I found myself returning to some of my favourite plant-based recipes—dishes that showcase the fresh, vibrant flavour of strawberries in both comforting and creative ways. Whether you’re juicing up a strawberry lemonade, churning some easy dairy-free strawberry ice cream or baking a plant-based treat, these 11 recipes are perfect for helping to the most of every berry. Let’s dig in!

In a world that feels uncertain and challenging, it’s comforting and uplifting to take a moment to celebrate the values Canada stands for, including community, kindness, resilience and hope. Canada Day is not just a day off (although I'm sure we all need one!), it’s a chance to come together, reflect on our shared strengths and express pride in this beautiful land we share.

Canada Day is also an opportunity to celebrate the simple joys of summer—good food, great company, and a touch of Canadian pride. Whether you're planning a picnic, a backyard BBQ or a cozy afternoon at home with a great Canadian novel (The Handmaid's Tale feels appropriate at the moment), you can make it feel festive with a few thoughtful recipes and easy decor ideas.

Here at Woman in Real Life, we’re sharing plant-based recipes, kid-friendly snacks and creative DIY decor to help make your July 1st both fun and fuss-free. 🇨🇦

My daughter (who is also my youngest child) is heading into year four of university (yes, I’m emotional just typing that). This year she’ll continue to live in a small home shared with two roommates. While the apartment has its perks over a small dorm room (a full kitchen, a cozy living room to hang out in and watch movies with friends), it also comes with typical university space constraints: a tight kitchen, shared counter space and roommates whose sleep needs to be respected (ie., no noisy juicer running at 7 a.m.).

So, what did I get her as a little “you’ve got this” gift as she looks towards her final year of undergrad? The H310 Easy Clean Compact Juicer—and I’m telling you, it is a total game-changer. A real MVP for my health-focused Kinesiology student.

This vegan apple cinnamon cake recipe (no eggs, no dairy) is so easy to make, but looks impressive and tastes delicious! You'll fool your guests into thinking you crafted a complicated dessert. 

A cake that helps you get your seven servings of fruit and vegetables a day? Yes indeed! This recipe for vegan apple cinnamon cake combines two of my favourite foods - cake and fruit - in a very good way. Take a homemade vanilla cake base and swirl in a delicious mix of spicy cinnamon and sweet sugar. Top it with firm, sweet Organic Washington apple slices and bake. 

The result is an incredibly tasty, moist cake that's perfect for afternoon tea or evening dessert. May I suggest having a slice of this easy vegan apple cinnamon cake for breakfast as well? An apple a day and all that.

Organic Washington Apples

For this scrumptious little apple cake, I used Organic Washington Granny Smith apples. Washington State is one of the premier apple-growing areas in the world and the growing conditions make it an ideal region to grow organic apples.

*This post is sponsored by Organic Washington apples. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*

Classic baked apples with tasty oatmeal crumble topping are so easy to make and are a perfect comforting dessert for fall and winter.

Baked apples are a classic comfort food dessert. Add a crumbly, slightly sweet, crispy oatmeal topping and you have a suitably delicious alternative to apple pie, without the oil-laden pie crust. These baked apples with oatmeal crumble topping make for a healthy, delicious dessert that couldn't be simpler to make. And the recipe calls for a short list of handy ingredients. The result is very much like an apple crisp, with a little less fuss involved.

Organic Washington Apples

For this cozy baked apples recipe, I used Organic Washington apples in the Honeycrisp variety, but other firm, sweet apples like Organic Washington Granny Smith apples would work wonderfully too. Washington State is known as one of the premier apple-growing areas in the world and the growing conditions make Washington an ideal region to grow organic apples.

*This post is sponsored by Organic Washington apples. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*