Thanksgiving

The holidays are a time of family and friends. They are a celebration of our common journey. A celebration of our own little community.

As we enter our season of Thanksgiving, we honor the role food and family plays in our life, and our sustainability of that life.

Thanksgiving was always the one time of year our full family would get together. Sometimes we all ventured to my grandma's house on other holidays, but we could guarantee that the family would be together on Thanksgiving. It fitting that a holiday for giving thanks is mandated to include family and food.

Those things are really what sustains all life. Without them, we cannot live.

As I've gotten older, I have realized the importance of this idea. And that family isn't limited to close blood relations. Family can be seen as anyone in our close social circle. We consider our best friends "like a brother/sister." And we all agree the cat or dog is a family member.

But family is more than this. In God, we are all a family. A human family. A family of all sentient beings.

We give thanks to be a part of this family.

So when we have a meal of symbolic thanks, we must also be mindful and thankful of our full family.

Having a vegan Thanksgiving meal is not as hard as it may seem. Things like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes  green beans casseroles, stuffing, etc can be made vegan with only a few easy substitutions (Earth Balance for butter, or Almond Milk for milk, for instance). If you want a big main dish, Field Roast makes a tasty meat alternative. Tofurkey does as well (though I think the Field Roast is more flavorful). Or you can make stuffed squash, marinated Portobello mushroom caps, lasagna ... it's limitless really.

Here's a great resource for recipes:
http://www.vegkitchen.com/tips/vegetarian-thanksgiving/

I think I will be making in addition to my White House Sweet Potatoes  and Field Roast, a mac n cheeze with lentils (inspired by Ms Julie's Kitchen). It's delicious and no more difficult than any other big holiday meal.

And for dessert, my favorite:

Tofu Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

    1 can (16 ounces) pureed pumpkin
    3/4 cup sugar or sucanat (or 1/2 cup maple syrup)
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
    1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
    1 teaspoon ground allspice, optional
    1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
    2-3 tablespoons cornstarch to firm up the pie filling
    1 package (10-12 ounces) silken/soft tofu
    1 9-in unbaked vegan pie shell

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 F.  Blend the pumpkin and sugar. Add salt, spices, cornstarch and tofu, mix thoroughly.  Pour mixture into pie shell and bake for 15 minutes. Lower heat to 350 F and bake for another 60 minutes.  Chill and serve.  Dont use the low fat tofu, then the pie tastes like it was made with tofu. This pie is soooo yummy, it will fool almost anyone. I made it last Thanksgiving for my whole family, I am the only one, and everyone asked for seconds.  They begged me to make another one for Christmas dinner. Top with non dairy topping and it will fool any pumpkin pie lover.

Serves: 8

Preparation time: about 1 hour + chilling time

And you're honoring and giving thanks to the lives of your full family.

Namaste.

  

Some of My Favorite Music

I found Caetano Veloso a decade ago whilst rummaging through a record shop while on tour. There was a little sticker on the CD that mentioned David Byrne, and being a huge David Byrne fan, I bought the CD, and he has been one of my favorite singers since.

Enjoy this large collection of songs. I particularly enjoy the Live record, Noites Do Norte.

Caetano Veloso – Zii e Zie

What music are you getting into?

Namaste.

Here's how we end factory farming #makeitpossible

Here's how we end factory farming #makeitpossible

We have a duty to reduce suffering and add kindness and compassion to the world. This is a great campaign. We need to support it and we need to grow it here in the States.

Peace Week

Ok. So, I have been absent from blogging this week. Right after I promised to blog more. The best of intentions can often fall short.

This week has been amazing, and honestly it's going to take several posts and maybe a week to expound upon it all and to take it in to a point I can discuss it all.

We began Peace Week this year with the hope of working with groups and organizations around Akron to bring about events to help cultivate nonviolence in ourselves and our community.

Peace really does begin within each of us. This week has made that even more clear to me. I was deeply moved by the events this year, by the presenters, speakers, attendees, bike riders, so many people. Everyday we can gain such insight and awareness if we open ourselves to it.

The week began with Bigfoot and is ending with a walking meditation. In between, we've meditated, practiced yoga, learned How to Start a Revolution and 198 methods of nonviolent action, learned about cooking healthy delicious fall foods (like an eggplant burger and butternut squash soup), hiked through the woods, worked together to solved problems, supported a great farmers market, played music, encouraged an art walk, gave free hugs, engaged youth through the Akron Peacemakers, drummed, danced, and rode bicycles 20 miles and a Peace Train 20 miles.

The community inside and out is being cultivated, supported and encouraged.

These are uplifting and inspirational times!

Regulatons

Here's an article for anyone who thinks we've got good regulations for the Oil and Gas industry.

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/09/report-states-not-enforcing-their-own-oil-and-gas-rules

The distinct feeling I had in reading this was deja vu ...

Over the Weekend

The last four-five days have been flying by. And of course I forgot my laptop.

Wednesday and Thursday I journeyed out to Philadelphia. The mountains were dressed in the autumnal best, and the sun was grinning the whole way. I found myself in Philly because of the Shale Gas Outrage. They had asked me to be a part of their event and protest. Bill McKibben, Josh Fox, Doug Shields and more took the stage inspiring the crowd of 1,000 plus people. A few of my fellow Tour de Frackers made their way out also. It's always an inspiring time to be around folks motivated to stand up for justice and what is right. 

I just saw a study today that said nearly half of all folks that leased their lands for fracking regretted doing it.

Then the crowd and I sang I Want a Future Too and we marched through the streets of Philly. The rally was a little surreal, as we were set up in front of the Convention Center where the Oil and Gas industry was conspiring - i mean, meeting. Occasionally some of their folks would come to windows and look down on the crowd. 

After the march, there was a beautiful interfaith blessing of the waters service, followed by the after party, where I performed along with the great Freebo. For lunch I managed to get a yummy vegan chikin broccoli dish at an all veggie Asian restaurant in Chinatown. The folks that I met give me great hope that we can fight and win this battle. 

We just need the rest of us to wake up, stand up, and speak up!

Square fest.

The big highlight for me (aside from seeing many great friends and having a cinnamon roll from Ms Julies) was getting rained off the main stage and relocated into Annabell's upstairs. Though I've played the downstairs before, I'd not yet done the upstairs. Charlie and I had a blast doing the duo set. We don't get to do that as often as we used to. We met some awesome new fans from Canton and New Philly - who came all the up to the fest just to hear us! Plus, several folks danced through the aisle with me, and that always makes my day!

Pearl and the Beard

I've loved this band since I first heard them a few years back.

Here's a cool song and video for your day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiaDWzdhgEI&feature=share&list=PLEFE89B8B792CAF5C

And another:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atA_sw9Q3IQ&feature=related

and wow, this is the most amazing cover I've heard in a very long time (not Pearl and the Beard, but you need to watch this!!):
http://youtu.be/PB3RbO7updc

Enjoy!

Namaste.
Zach