Transatlantic Cruise and Wedding

I'm leaving Saturday May 3, 2025 for a 15 day transatlantic cruise on Virgin Cruise Lines . It leaves from Miami and ends in Barcelona. We will spend 8 consecutive days at sea and then we will stop at various ports including Casa Blanca, Morocco, 2 stops in the Canary Islands, 2 stops in Portugal, and end Barcelona. 

My nephew is getting married in Toledo, Spain the 3rd week in May. The transatlantic cruise was an add-on for us to get to Europe for the wedding. Believe it or not, it was about the same price as flying economy plus.

Our 15 day transatlantic cruise ends in beautiful Barcelona. From there we’ll hop on a scenic 2.5-hour train ride to Girona, Spain, where we’ll be spending three nights in a lovely Air BnB equipped with a washer and dryer, because I will need to do wash.

Girona is a captivating medieval town, known for its enchanting architecture, winding cobblestone streets, and postcard-worthy views. The historic Jewish Quarter, El Call, is one of the best-preserved in Europe, and the Girona Cathedral—with its dramatic Gothic design—is an absolute must-see. Fun fact: several scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed in Girona!

The city also boasts a fantastic food scene, from traditional tapas to gourmet experiences. With my limited diet, I hope I'll be able to find something to eat (gluten-free and vegan). I’m especially looking forward to strolling along the colorful houses lining the Onyar River and walking the ancient medieval walls. It’s the perfect blend of history, culture, and modern charm.

Next stop: Madrid!

From Girona, we’ll head to Madrid by train to explore Spain’s vibrant capital. My kids and grandkids visited last summer and couldn’t stop raving about it. We plan to dive into some of the city's world-class art and history, starting with the Prado Museum, Reina Sofía, and the Royal Palace. And of course—plenty of amazing food to enjoy along the way.

I've been flipping through the Bucket List of Europe book for inspiration—it's full of great ideas for things to see and do in each city. I highly recommend getting it if you plan to go to Europe. 

The grand finale: the family wedding in Toledo!

After five nights in Madrid, we’ll take a short train ride to Toledo for the highlight of our trip—our nephew’s wedding! We’ll be staying on a beautiful country estate for three days while celebrating with family who will be joining us from multiple countries.

I’ll be off the grid and soaking it all in until mid-June, so I won’t be visiting your blogs and commenting until I’m back. I do have a few blog posts scheduled while I'm away.

See you on your blogs in mid June! 💛

Transform The Way We Feel

We’re learning more every day just how much real, whole foods—such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and beans—may help transform the way we look and feel. The truth is, we can’t keep relying on processed foods and expect to feel our best. Far too many people are walking around with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease. Isn’t it time we made the connection between the way we eat and our overall health?

Let me share a true story:

A close friend of mine went to the doctor about five months ago and received some concerning news—she was borderline diabetic, and her cholesterol and blood pressure levels were also elevated. On top of that, she was carrying an extra 60 pounds. In her mid-50s, she knew she didn’t want to become another statistic, dependent on medications that often come with their own set of side effects. So, she made a decision to take control of her health.

She eliminated sugar, white flour, and processed foods from her diet. She joined Weight Watchers to learn about portion control, and she started walking daily—an hour each day, side by side with me. Five months later, she’s 40 pounds lighter, and her latest blood work showed all her levels are now within a healthy range. She feels amazing, looks fantastic, and most importantly—she’s off all medication.

And she’s not alone. I know several others who’ve taken similar steps and dramatically improved their health, simply by changing their diet and lifestyle.

The biggest culprits? Processed foods with sugar, refined flour, plastics, unhealthy oils. Processed food and lack of movement. 

One simple and delicious way to help nourish your body is by making your own homemade soup using fresh vegetables. Soup is easy to make, packed with nutrition, and tastes wonderful. 

You can keep soup low in fat and calories, and high in fiber—making it super satisfying. It’s one of my go-to meals for maintaining a healthy weight. There’s no better time to treat your family to a warm, wholesome bowl.

Spring Soup: Delicious recipes

Spring Green Pea Soup (link to recipe)m

Creamy Asparagus Soup (link to recipe)

Italian Escarole Soup ( link to recipe)

Spring Asparagus Soup (link to recipe)

If you are a soup lover (like me) you might want to take a look at my soups cookbook with over 80 global soups recipes-all plant-based and most can be made in the Instant Pot. Easy Plant-Based Soups (link to Amazon) by Judee Algazi available on Amazon.

All of my recipes are gluten-free and plant-based 

My notes: 

The first photo is not my kitchen- but I really like the kitchen!!

Simple Tofu Scramble

Do you ever cook with tofu?

This versatile, plant-based protein has long been a staple in Asian cuisine. You might’ve come across it in miso soup or served atop stir-fried vegetables at your favorite Chinese restaurant.

Today, I’m sharing a super simple tofu scramble recipe. 

Passover 2025: A Celebration of Freedom

Passover 2025: A Celebration of Freedom

April 12, 2025 though April 20, 2015 this year, Jews worldwide will begin celebrating the religious holiday of Passover commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. 

Today I'm explaining the story of Passover

The Taste of Tradition: Our Family Charoset Recipes

There are certain traditional holiday foods that instantly transport me back to my childhood, and charoset is one of them. Every year when I was young, as Passover approached, our kitchen would fill with the sweet aroma of apples and cinnamon as we prepared the ritualistic foods for the Passover Seder.

IN MY KITCHEN - APRIL 2025

It's the first of the month and time to give you a peek at what's in my kitchen where I will join other bloggers at sherry's monthly IMK blog share. 

I'm going to be taking a vacation in Europe in May. Being gluten-free and vegetarian/vegan makes it difficult to sometimes find good meals. I'm looking into protein bars to keep as a back up. So far I've tried these three bars. I think I'll be buying a case of the no cow bars. They are vegan, taste good, and lowest in calories but high in protein. 

I've been making organic asparagus which I get in a large bag at Costco. 

I love adding pine nuts to my salads and quinoa dishes.         

Palmini looks like spaghetti strands but is actually made from hearts of palm. I love to eat it with tofu and roasted vegetables. Very low in calories and a nice alternative to spaghetti. 

I made a potato kale soup that was hearty and warming. 

These little yellow balls are called golden berries. They are sweet and delicious. They grow in Florida and other warm countries such as Colombia. 

I made this tofu filling for lettuce wraps. (recipe link)

My Mugs 

I bought some Passover macaroons on sale for the Passover holiday in which begins in 10 days. We will be driving home to Pennsylvania to be with family, leaving our car and then flying back to Florida. Our transatlantic cruise starts in Florida to Barcelona and then we will fly home to Pennsylvania. I'll be writing about our BIG vacation in future posts. 

I'm still getting flowers from the flower man who comes to our condo 

every week.