Happy April, friends! How are you? We were hit with a couple early spring snowstorms this past week, which served as the inspiration for my newest blog recipe—Glowing Spiced Lentil Soup! Every cloud has its silver lining, right? I’m so happy that many of you love this soup as much as we do. It already has a rating of 4.9/5 stars from 46 reviewers; be sure to check it out if you haven’t already and let us know how you like it. Or maybe we can just have one huge dinner party someday? Ok, enough chitchat about this soup, let me tell you about the reason for this newsletter’s special edition (though if you've read today's blog post, you can probably guess!)...
 
We’ve officially launched the Oh She Glows - Healthy Plant-Based Recipes app for iPhone and iPad devices! I'm pinching myself because we've had a lot of hurdles along the way, and I couldn't be more proud of what we created. Our app features your favourite (and my favourite!) Oh She Glows recipes from the past 8 years, and includes brand-new photography with an updated, vibrant new look. All of the recipes have been edited, and many have been improved as I cooked my way through Oh She Glows’ archives. You can be confident that all of the recipes in our app are delicious, reliable, and will wow all of your family and friends. Yes, even Uncle Ted. You’ll now be able to cook from your phone or tablet with ease, or meal plan while commuting to and from school or work with convenient offline access. Think of it as your personal OSG on the Glow!

This project has been a huge labour of love involving myself, Eric, our app team, and also hundreds of you—our awesome beta testers who applied via this newsletter. Thanks to those of you who tested our app during the development phase, we were able to improve it in many ways, and add all kinds of useful features based on your feedback. We are sorry that we couldn't invite everyone who applied, but we appreciate each and every one of you who offered to help. Be sure to check out the app's features below!
 
One thing I'm excited about is that each new blog recipe I post in the future will also upload to the app, so the app will continue to grow over the years! Can you imagine how big it will be in a couple years? You should keep your eyes peeled, too, for exclusive recipe bundles only found in the app. We plan to release all kinds of fun holiday bundles in the future. (Spoiler Alert: there are a couple bundles in there right now as our thank you for purchasing the app!)
 
I’m also thrilled to let you know that we’re donating 10% of the proceeds from the first week’s app sales to Blessings in a Backpack Canada, a children’s charity that is near and dear to our hearts. Each Friday, Blessings in a Backpack provides backpacks of food to children all across the country who otherwise may not get enough to eat on the weekends. I’m excited to be working with Executive Director Karen Green on this wonderful initiative, and together we’ll be directing our donation to local children right here in the Greater Toronto Area! I encourage everyone to check them out (they are nationwide in the US, too).
 
We thank you in advance for your continued support and we truly hope you’ll love this app and use it in your kitchens (and on the glow!) as much as we do. You can now purchase our app in the Apple store or click the button below.

Last but not least, be sure to check out a BIG giveaway on the blog later this week. In celebration of our app launch, one lucky blog reader will receive a brand new iPad and iPad stand—and it could be you!

Q + A of the Week

Q: Hi Angela, I'm wondering if green lentils would substitute well for red lentils in your Glowing Spiced Lentil Soup. Is there a difference between red and green lentils?

A: Hi Brandon, Great question! Red lentils are perfect for thickening and providing body to soups and curries (such as in my Glowing Spiced Lentil Soup and Golden Red Lentil Dal) and are also thought to be the sweetest and nuttiest of the lentil family. They break down while cooking and are not supposed to hold their shape. Green or brown lentils are somewhere in between—they do break down a bit, but they also hold their shape slightly better than red lentils while cooking (depending on how long you cook them, of course). I like to use green and brown lentils in veggie burgers and lentil loaves. While I haven’t tried using green or brown lentils in this soup, I do think it should work (the flavour will change a bit—green and brown lentils are a bit earthier tasting, but still delicious). French green lentils (or Le Puy lentils) are great for when you want the lentils to hold their shape (such as in a salad or pasta). I love using French green lentils in my Roasted Potato and Asparagus Lentil Salad. I hope this helps and that you’ll be enjoying a delicious bowl of soup very soon! Be sure to let us know how it goes.

Way Back, Play Back

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."
Luciano Pavarotti