Join us for a Memorable Plant-Based Cooking Retreat in Sedona, Arizona, September 13-16, 2019
- Learn simple, easy plant-based cooking techniques.
- View food differently with mindful cooking and eating.
- Enjoy urban farm-to-table cooking experience.
- Experience self-care with hiking and yoga.
- Take home retreat experiences to be healthier & make positive long-term lifestyle changes.
During our Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Fall 2019 Retreat, you’ll experience several days of hands-on, simple plant-based cooking with organic food, mindfulness in the kitchen and eating. We’ll enjoy a farm-to-table cooking experience at a local urban farm. You’ll experience self-care with hiking and yoga in the beauty of Sedona.
In the memorable life-changing retreat, our intention is for you to enjoy the cooking and self-care experiences during the retreat and then most importantly take home the experiences and plant-based cooking learning from the retreat to make positive lifestyle changes in your lives.
Learn Simple Ways to Cook Healthy Plant-Based Organic Food
During the Sedona retreat, our key focus is simple, beautiful, healthy plant-based cooking. We’ll enjoy cooking and eating beautiful, fresh, delicious farm-to-table plant-based meals. Alongside award-winning cookbook author, Melanie Albert from Phoenix, Arizona, you’ll learn simple culinary skills for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
With interactive, hands-on cooking with local Arizona farmers organic produce, you’ll learn simple plant-based culinary techniques. We’ll focus on learning the cooking methods and guiding you to be intuitive with your cooking so you will be able to cook intuitively at home with seasonal produce grown by your local farmers.
All of the cooking is based on the anti-inflammatory way of eating, Mediterranean way of eating, and inspired by the Blue Zones, where people live the longest and healthiest lives. Learn during the retreat and feel confident to prepare the foods when you return home.
Award-Winning Cookbook Author, Melanie Albert at the Sedona Retreat House
Key Plant-Based Foods
During the retreat, you’ll learn simple plant-based culinary methods to cook key healthy plant-based foods. Our organic retreat meals feature as much local Arizona farmers food, as possible.
- Roots & Greens
- Whole Grains
- Beans
- Nuts & Seeds
- Superfoods
Plant-Based Culinary Techniques
During all of the meals, you’ll learn a variety of cooking techniques to use when you return home. The culinary techniques during the retreat:
- Proper steps to sauté veggies with flavor layering.
- Steps to roast veggies for crispiness on the outside and a soft inside.
- The process to cook flavorful veggie soups.
- Simple steps to prepare whole grains perfectly every time.
- Steps to create a 3-ingredient salad dressing.
- Ways to create beautiful raw salads with what your local farmers are growing in season.
- Steps to make raw dehydrated crackers.
- Techniques to create simple raw sauces.
- Plant-based dessert techniques with nuts, fruit, raw cacao, and superfoods.
Organic, Local Arizona Farmers Produce
RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS: Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Retreat with Award-Winning Cookbook Author, Melanie Albert
- Sedona Eco-Retreat House: 3-Days and 3-nights at eco-retreat house in the beauty of Sedona, Arizona.
- Hands-on Cooking Experiences with Melanie Albert: 3 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners.
- Farm-to-Table Plant-Based Cooking Experience at an Arizona Organic Farm.
- Local Sedona Plant-Based Restaurant: Enjoy delicious afternoon snack at a quaint restaurant.
- Mindful Cooking and Eating: Practice Mise en Place, Beautiful Plating Principles and Techniques.
- Self-Care: Relaxation at the Retreat House.
- Hiking in the Red Rocks and Vortex Energy of Sedona. Chapel of the Holy Cross. Cathedral Rock.
- Yoga: Hatha Yoga with the music of the Tibetan Bowl.
- Massage: One therapeutic massage during the retreat.
- Sedona Experiences: Crystal and Card Readings. Kiva Ceremony.
- Explore Sedona: Uptown Shopping, Art Galleries.
- Visit Magnificent Antelope Canyon: Add on to Retreat (additional cost).
- Ground transportation to and from Phoenix and Sedona, Arizona.
Day-by-Day Itinerary: Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Retreat: September 13-16, 2019
Our days focus on plant-based cooking, along with self-care, hiking, yoga, massage, and special Sedona experiences.
Friday, September 13, 2019
- By 1:00 pm Arrive in Phoenix Arizona (Fly into Sky Harbor International Airport; flight not included in retreat price)
- 3:00-5:30pm Farm-to-Table Cooking Experience at Urban Farm
- 5:30-8:30pm Drive from Phoenix to Sedona, Arizona
- 8:30-9:00pm Welcome, Intentions, Journal
Saturday, September 14, 2019
- 8:00-8:30am Good Morning Reflections
- 8:30-9:30am Breakfast Plant-Based Cooking Experience
- 9:30-noon Chapel of the Holy Cross Hike, Massage, or Spiritual Reading
- Noon-2:30pm Lunch Plant-Based Cooking Experience
- 2:30-5:00pm Yoga, Massage, Spiritual Reading, Relax at Retreat House, or Shopping
- 5:00-7:30pm Dinner Plant-Based Cooking Experience
- 7:30-9:00pm Massage, Spiritual Reading, or Relax at Retreat House
- 9:00-9:30pm Good Night Reflections
Sunday, September 15, 2019
- 8:00-8:30am Good Morning Reflections
- 8:30-9:30am Breakfast Plant-Based Cooking Experience
- 9:30-noon Cathedral Rock Vortex Hike, Massage, or Spiritual Reading
- Noon-2:30pm Lunch Plant-Based Cooking Experience
- 2:30-5:00pm Yoga, Massage, Spiritual Reading, Relax at Retreat House, or Shopping
- 5:00-7:30pm Dinner Plant-Based Cooking Experience
- 7:30-9:00pm Kiva Ceremony
Monday, September 16, 2019
- 8:00-8:30am Good Morning Reflections
- 8:30-10:00am Breakfast Plant-Based Cooking Experience
- 10:00am-noon Sedona Vortex Hike
- Noon-3:00pm Drive from Sedona to Phoenix for flights
ADD-ON TO RETREAT: ANTELOPE CANYON EXCURSION
Monday, September 16, 2019
- 6:00-7:00am Early Breakfast at Retreat House
- 7:00-8:00am Drive to Flagstaff
- 8:30-5:00pm Drive and Tour Antelope Canyon
- 5:30-7:30pm Dinner in Flagstaff
- 7:30pm+ Hotel in Flagstaff
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
- 8:00am-1:00pm Drive to Phoenix
To learn more about the retreat and to chat with retreat host, Melanie Albert, please fill out the form, or give me a call at 602.615.2486 or e-mail: Mel@MelanieAlbert.com
I look forward to connecting for both of us to get to know each other and to answer any questions about the retreat. — Melanie
ABOUT OUR LIGHT HOUSE Retreat House
Eco-Home. We are thrilled to hold our retreat at the Light House in Sedona, a truly eco-home with a collection of indoor and outdoor spaces created with a complimentary merging of Indonesian, Japanese, Moroccan and East Indian cultures. The Light House offers a full natural sensory environment with comforting courtyards, peaceful meditation gardens, hanging lounges, tranquil pools, and restful waterfalls.
Sedona Eco-Home Retreat House
Feng Shui. The Light House incorporates the principles of Feng Shui to create an environment that is energetically aligned promoting harmony, serenity, creativity, and vitality. An impressive cleansing crystal is strategically placed in the center of the house to ensure a healthy environment and numerous Feng Shui essentials are found throughout this landmark home. The Light House is the perfect environment to relax, reduce stress, and rejuvenate.
Welcome to our Retreat House
Salt-water Pool. Light House features a beautiful salt-water pool and Jacuzzi to unwind.
Retreat House Beautiful Salt Water Pool
Sedona Beauty. The natural outdoor beauty of Sedona is just out the back door with the beautiful Oak Creek and a glimpse of Cathedral Rock.
Our Retreat Home View of Cathedral Rock
Our Retreat Bedrooms
The Light House Retreat features 6 unique bedrooms, with a variety of beds and accommodates couples or singles. We welcome a group of friends or couples to attend the retreat
- ONE: Downstairs Master with King and sitting room. Unique custom ‘pebble’ master bathtub and large glass steam shower.
- TWO: Downstairs Off-Master with Queen. Private bedroom off Master. Shares master bathroom with ‘pebble’ bathtub and large glass steam shower.
- THREE: Downstairs Asia Room with King. Outdoor hallway to room with lounging sofa, desk and glass window views.
- FOUR: Downstairs Bali Room with 2 Queens. Screen door access to outside lounging and garden areas.
FIVE: Upstairs Private King. Private outdoor patio with view of pool and Cathedral Rock. Shares bathroom with Sunrise Room.
- SIX: Sunrise Room Upstairs Loft with Queen and Double. Fun loft. Shares bathroom with Private King.
ABOUT SEDONA
Beautiful, magical Sedona is a true oasis, a paradise in the middle of the northern Arizona desert. In Sedona, enjoy canyons, green forest, azure skies, and the dramatic red rock formations that glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. Sedona offers adventures including red rock jeep tours, hiking, Slide Rock, and Oak Creek Canyon, as well spiritual healing, psychic readings, and energy vortexes. Sedona will have your senses buzzing for days! Sedona offers a unique, one-of-a- kind culture and is an experience of a lifetime.
To learn more about the retreat and to chat with retreat host, Melanie Albert, please fill out the form, or give me a call at 602.615.2486 or e-mail: Mel@MelanieAlbert.com
I look forward to connecting for both of us to get to know each other and to answer any questions about the retreat. — Melanie
Top 11 Reasons to Go on a Plant-Based Cooking Retreat
During our Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Fall 2019 Retreat, you’ll experience several days of hands-on, simple plant-based cooking, mindfulness in the kitchen and eating. We’ll enjoy a farm-to-table cooking experience at a local urban farm. You’ll experience self-care with hiking and yoga in the beauty of Sedona.
In the memorable life-changing retreat, our intention is for you to enjoy the cooking and self-care experiences during the retreat and then most importantly take home the experiences and plant-based cooking learning from the retreat to make positive lifestyle changes in your lives.
LEARN TO COOK SIMPLE, BEAUTIFUL PLANT-BASED MEALS
Have fun with hands-on interactive cooking with Plant-Based Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. With hands-on interactive cooking you’ll learn culinary techniques to prepare a variety of plant-based breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
ONE: Learn How to Prepare Simple Delicious Healthy Breakfasts
Learn the basic culinary techniques to prepare plant-based breakfast options and when you return home intuitively create your own breakfasts with your favorite whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruit.
- Whole Grains (gluten-free)
- Quick, easy, and tasty nut and seed milk
- Superfood Smoothies
- Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
TWO: Learn to Cook a Variety of Plant-Based Lunches
For lunch, our focus is preparing beautiful, tasty raw salads, raw taco, and cold soup.
- Raw Massaged Kale Salad with fruit, berries, nuts, and seeds. 3-ingredient salad dressing.
- Avocado Tartare with fresh veggies
- Raw Almond Walnut Taco with Quick Pickled Veggies
- Cold Veggie Soup
- Raw Dehydrated Crackers
THREE: Learn how to prepare tasty, healthy plant-based Appetizers, Meals, and Dessert for Plant-Based Dinners
For dinner, we’ll cook complete plant-based meals with delicious Mediterranean appetizers, Veggie Main Dishes, and beautiful, tasty desserts.
- Mediterranean Appetizers
- Hummus, Hempseed Tabouli, Olive Tapenade
- Meals
- Veggie Sautés (Roots & Greens)
- Roasted Veggie Flatbread
- Turmeric Lentil Soup
- Veggie Brown Rice Pilaf
- Raw Deconstructed Lasagna
Deconstructed Lasagna
- Desserts
- Raw Superfood Pie
- Raw Cacao Berry Pie
- Aromatic Apple Crisp
Raw Cacao Berry Pie
FOUR: Farm-to-Table Plant-Based Cooking Class at an Arizona Organic Farm
Enjoy a true farm-to-table experience. Tour a local organic farm with an Arizona urban farmer. Have fun cooking your dinner right at the farm with just-harvested produce from the farm and local farmers markets. Enjoy your culinary creations in the beauty of the farm.
FIVE: Enjoy an afternoon Snack at a Local Sedona Plant-Based Restaurant
After hiking in Sedona, we’ll stop by a popular organic vegetarian Sedona restaurant to enjoy their delicious plant-based creations and chocolate treats.
MINDFUL COOKING & EATING
SIX: Practice Mindfulness while Cooking, Plating, and Eating
During the retreat, we’ll focus on mindfulness and being present throughout the cooking process. We’ll practice mindfulness while cooking our meals, beautifully plating our food, and enjoying our meals together.
Mindful Cooking. During the retreat, we will focus on mindfulness and being present while cooking, as part of the cooking process and a form of self-care. We will:
- Mindfully choose the ingredients (beautiful veggies) and herbs and spices for our dishes.
- Mindfully chop our food. (Learn basic knife skills).
- Enjoy the beauty, the colors, the textures, the shapes, and the aromatherapy of our food.
- Mindfully set up our mise en place. That is, get all of our ingredients in place before we start cooking for mindfulness and organization.
Learn to plate your foods beautifully. Since we eat with our eyes first, you will learn skills to plate foods beautifully. You’ll learn fundamental principles in the art of plating. You’ll have the opportunity to practice plating skills every time we cook and begin to develop your own plating style. We’ll use edible garnishes, herbs, and flowers in our plating to elevate the eye-appeal of our meals.
Mindful Eating. We’ll mindfully enjoy our meals in the beautiful Sedona environment with our retreat community. We’ll enjoy meals in the beauty of the retreat house and in the beauty of the Sedona Red Rocks. We’ll pause, slow down, and really enjoy the beauty and flavors of the food we prepare.
SELF CARE IN THE MAGIC OF SEDONA
SEVEN: Take time for your own self-care, relaxing in the beauty of the retreat house. Get away from day-to-day life. Retreats are the perfect place to really take time for you. Away from work, responsibilities, and technology. During your Sedona retreat, unplug and allow yourself to settle into quiet, to relax, recharge and reflect.
Relax at our Retreat House
EIGHT: Enjoy hiking and nature in beautiful, magical Sedona, Arizona. In Sedona, we can immerse ourselves in nature by hiking with the grounding red rock and expansive big sky environment which provides the perfect place to exercise and unwind. In Sedona, we’ll hike in the Vortex energy, breath in the fresh air, and enjoy the magnificent sunsets.
Cathedral Rock: Melanie Albert’s very favorite spot in Sedona.
Hike at the Sedona Airport Vortex
NINE: Practice yoga on the Sedona Rocks and our private yoga studio at the retreat house. Participate in a yoga class or practice on your own for self-care, quiet, and meditation during the retreat.
Retreat House Private Yoga Studio
Enjoy One-of-A Kind Sedona Experiences
TEN: Enjoy Memorable One-of-A-Kind Sedona Experiences. Only in Sedona experiences. During the retreat, you’ll experience the Sedona magic with Spiritual Reading, and a private Kiva Ceremony.
ELEVEN: Visit Magnificent Antelope Canyon. As a special add-on to the retreat, visit one of the most magnificent spots in Arizona on our adventure day to the Antelope Canyon, one of the most beautiful, mesmerizing, photographic locations in the world. A photographer’s dream, the canyon is known for its wave-like structure and the light beams that shine directly down into the openings of the canyon, creating a supernatural appearance.
Two questions:
1. Do you provide easy yoga classes?
2. Can you stay longer than four days?
Hi Sharon, Thanks for your questions about the Sedona Plant-Based Cooking and Self Care Retreats. Yes, the yoga is ‘easy’…we hold the yoga out on the red rocks in Sedona, so the experience is about the beauty of the nature and the yoga. Plus, everyone can yoga at their own pace. In our 2022 retreats we are actually looking at longer length retreats, as people are asking for them. Warmly, Melanie