Our recent October gathering included a shared meal with old and new friends. The wide variety of fabulous food included Apple Chili, vegetable barley soup, Hawaiian Chickpea Teriyaki, baked rotini, oatmeal raisin bars, cornbread, rice pudding, quinoa chili, grapes, oranges, pita with tabbouleh, and pumpkin soup (the recipe for which is shared below!).
I taught a Food for Life class on cancer-fighting compounds and weight control during the second half of our event. I showed how to prepare Zippy Yams and Collards and everyone enjoyed samples of the dish. Dr. Barnard says yams are packed with beta-carotene, a powerful cancer-fighting compound. Collards are rich in absorbable calcium and naturally free of saturated fat—unlike cow’s milk. Both yams and collards are also high in fiber, which helps eliminate toxins from our bodies and keeps us feeling full.
Our monthly gatherings give us a wonderful opportunity to learn from one another. For instance, Andrea and Mark talked about their recent visit to a farm sanctuary in the Hudson Valley, and Mark shared the profound impact it had on his commitment to a plant-based lifestyle. What personal experiences or insights could you share that might benefit our group?
As a Food for Life instructor I continue to learn from every class I prepare and teach. After the event, Anne said she might make the Zippy Yams and Collards part of her Thanksgiving dinner! Speaking of Thanksgiving, our next potluck will be a Friendsgiving celebration, so I hope you will join us. Register via the Eventbrite link below.
Shared experiences allow us to learn, grow, and make the world a better place. I recently listened to an interview with Philip Wollen, founder of Winsome Constance Kindness Trust, hosted by A Million Vegan Grandmothers. He came face-to-face with the harsh reality of slaughterhouses through his international travel and corporate work as a venture capitalist. Today, he uses his venture capitalist background not to generate profit, but to save lives. I encourage you to check out the interview or visit his website to see the meaningful work he is doing.
What is the gift inside you waiting to be born?
"In the final accounting, only three things truly matter: how deeply you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things that were never meant for you." — Philip Wollen
Let’s keep cooking, composting, and choosing compassion! Until next month.
