Fw: Compassionate Cooks Food for Thought - June 8, 2007

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-----Forwarded Message----- "info" Jun 8, 2007 7:33 AM ebbrewpunx Compassionate Cooks Food for Thought - June 8, 2007

 

 

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: COMPASSIONATE COOKS NEWSLETTERJune 8, 2007 Pre-Order The Joy of Vegan Baking!$5 off Cooking DVDFood Lore: Berries New Podcast Episode: Like Animals Sign up for June Cooking ClassNew Recipe Packet: Sensational Salads Vote for Compassionate Cooks This Goat I Know - In MemoriamCheck out our Fabulous Sponsor! Sponsor this Newsletter

 

 

 

 

PRE-ORDER COMPASSIONATE COOKS NEW COOKBOOK: THE JOY OF VEGAN BAKING: COMPASSIONATE COOKS' RECIPES FOR TRADITIONAL TREATS & SINFUL SWEETS

Our upcoming cookbook is already up on Amazon and can be pre-ordered now! It will be released in October 2007 and add 150 baking recipes to your repertoire! Here's just a snipped of what you will find in the 300-page book (along with 30 full-color photos):

Rise and Shine: Muffins, Biscuits, & Scones Cozy Comforts: Sweet & Savory Quick BreadsCause for Celebration: Cakes & Cupcakes Timeless Temptations: Pies & TartsFamiliar Favorites: Cookies, Brownies, & Bars Ancient Wonders: Yeast Breads & Rolls

....more next time!

 

 

 

 

$5 OFF VEGETARIAN COOKING DVD! We're still offering this special price, because it's more important to me that this resource be in your hand (or DVD player) rather than in my closet. Enjoy our fun, upbeat DVD to learn the basic skills and resources for eating healthful plant-based meals. There are 6 different dishes - everything from a simple stir-fry and a beautiful holiday centerpiece to two desserts: chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies.

PURCHASE DVD USING THIS SPECIAL LINK

 

 

 

 

 

FOOD LORE: BERRIESEveryone knows that berries contains LOTS of wonderful nutrients, including the oft-mentioned and very important "antioxidants," which protect our bodies against free radicals, the little buggers that contribute to cancer. Blueberries are especially healthful.

DID YOU KNOW? Botanically, the tomato is a berry and the strawberry is not. Other examples of botanical berries include the grape, date, avocado, persimmon, banana, eggplant, guava, and chile pepper. But for all intents and purposes. I do include strawberries (and not tomatoes) when I refer to the berry family.

EATING THEM: The easiest way to get these nutritious powerhouses into your body is by eating them as snacks! It's berry season now, so head out to the nearest farmer's market and stock up. What you don't eat, you can freeze (just wash them first - and cut the tops off the strawberries), and use them for your morning smoothie. You are making your daily smoothie, aren't you? I've found that if I ever have a bad day, I can trace it right back to the fact that I didn't have my smoothie. (I rarely have bad days, because I rarely skip my smoothie!)

WHEN TO BUY ORGANIC: Try to purchase local, organic produce as much as possible, but at least know which fruits are the most highly sprayed so you can make a more informed choice when forced to. Strawberries, raspberries, and grapes are highly sprayed with pesticides, whereas blueberries are not.

RECIPES WITH BERRIES: Chocolate Pudding Tart with Raspberry Sauce in Desserts I and No-Bake Strawberry Pie in Healthful Mediterranean II. (Psst, there's a slew of berry recipes in our new cookbook!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUR LATEST PODCAST EPISODEEach "podcast" addresses a different issue, question, and myth related to veganism/animal rights.Like Animals Perhaps the most offensive thing you can say about people - if you really want it to sting - is that they're "like animals." We use, abuse, exploit, denigrate animals and relegate them to the lowliest place in society and then blame them for being "animals." We compare them to humans and consider them lowly and forget that we're the ones writing that story. If we're the barometer against which we measure everyone else in the natural world, well surely they'll always fall short. But what if our criteria were different? What if value and worthiness were determined by how fast you could run. Or how high you could fly. Or on the ability to climb mountains without rope but only four hooves. How would humans fare then?

 

*If you'd like to receive email alerts when I post new podcasts, you can easily sign up for this service here.

 

 

 

 

JUNE 16th COOKING CLASS: SOUTHWESTERN & MEXICAN These are perfect dishes for the beautiful weather of late spring/early summer! They're delicious, simple, and so colorful. Join us in June!

SIGN UP AND WIN A FREE COOKING CLASS! Everyone who joins us in June will automatically be entered to win a gift certificate to any upcoming class. Winner chosen at the end of class.ON THE MENU: *Three-Bean Chili *Polenta & Pine Nut-Stuffed Red Peppers *Spicy Seitan Tostadas *Ensalada de Frijoles *Chile Cornbread Muffins

 

 

 

 

 

FEATURED RECIPES: SENSATIONAL SALADS

Despite the stereotype that vegans eat only salads, let me be the first to say that salads are damn good - and good for you! Growing up, I didn't know there was a world of options beyond iceberg lettuce, so I'm happy to say my horizons have expanded - and yours will be, too, with our collections of Sensational Salads for the approaching summer. SENSATIONAL SALDS II

*Creamy Caesar Salad — hearty & tangy *Indian-spiced Quinoa with Raisins — pine nuts, too! *Bulghur with Potatoes, Asparagus, & Pumpkin Seeds — yum!*Pasta with Green Beans & Peanut Sauce — delish*Ensalada de Frijoles — as a side, a dip, or a salad

FOR MCDOUGALLERS: There is a minimal amount of oil in the quinoa for toasting the seeds, and the bulghur calls for a small amount of optional oil. Everything else is oil-free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE: A JOYFUL CELEBRATION!!

I know it seems far away now, but Saturday, October 13th is really just around the corner, and it's when we will raucously celebrate the release of our long-awaited book. (Mostly long-awaited by me, who's been working on it for a year!) Whether you're coming from near or far, I promise it will be a night to remember, so mark your calendars now!

View more upcoming events

 

(Photo by Cheri Larsh of Conscious Creative)

 

 

THIS GOAT I KNOW: IN MEMORIAM

Anyone who doesn't believe animals have souls never met Neptune. A beautiful white goat rescued by a compassionate neighbor and brought to Farm Sanctuary over 11 years ago, Neptune's story prior to his rescue is a sad one, but I have no doubt that his life at the sanctuary healed his wounds. His powerful presence was apparent to everyone who saw him. He was filled with radiance and beauty and gentleness and love and wisdom, and I was often moved to tears just being in his presence. I kid you not. His presence was that powerful.

Everyone felt it.

I had the privilege of spending many quiet hours with Neptune. I adore all the animals at the farm, but I could just sit with the goats (and the donkeys) forever. I have many fond memories of watching the sunset with Neptune, something he was wont to do. He would put his face up and feel the breeze on his face and seem to meditate as he faced the setting sun. He calmed me.

During my recent visits to the farm, it was apparent Neptune wasn't doing very well. His arthritis was worsening rapidly, and the pain medication wasn't giving him the relief he needed. Last week, I received a call that his quality of life was compromised to the degree that he would be euthanized.

A few days later, I was in a familiar scene, sitting next to Neptune again, as we had done so many times before, facing West into the breeze. It was extremely painful for him to walk, let alone stand, and it broke my heart to see him suffer. Through it all, as he struggled to walk to the pasture, he maintained all the dignity that characterized this amazing being.

He arrived at Farm Sanctuary about 11 years ago after having endured a most hideous abuse. He was kept by a man who lived in a rural area and had several animals. A neighbor was concerned about the mistreatment of the animals, including that of Neptune and another goat, Neptune's female partner. This neighbor wanted to help the animals without raising ire in the animals' "owner," but it was often to no avail. The neighbor would put water and food out for the animals, but it never got better. In fact, it was only when it got worse that this neighbor intervened and called the authorities. Unfortunately, it was this turn of events that would be bittersweet for Neptune. Bitter in the worst way. The "owner" of the animals was angry at what the neighbor had done and retaliated in a cruel, hateful way. For reasons unknown, he decided to move and left some animals behind. Before he did, he cut the throat of Neptune's companion and left her hanging on a fence. Worse yet, he tethered Neptune to this fence with only 1 foot of rope. Neptune endured this for several days before the neighbor found him and brought him to Farm Sanctuary. (This is the "sweet" part.)

Despite having been mistreated by a particularly cruel human, Neptune never held it against the other humans he met. And he met thousands, all of whom will tell you how incredibly special this goat was.

As I grieve for the loss of his physical presence, my heart is filled with spirit, his grace, and his beauty, and my memory is filled with countless, priceless shared moments. For it is through memory that we keep our loved ones with us.

I left him at dusk, serenely lounging in his golden pasture; and as I drove away, I was filled with immense gratitude for having been among the lucky people who knew and loved this special being. Rest in peace, Neptune. You will never, ever be forgotten.

(See more gorgeous photos of Neptune.

 

 

 

(I have only a few framed photos in my livingroom, and one of them is of Neptune. You can see it in the background here. I don't think Simon and Schuster mind.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU TO TODAY'S SPONSOR!

VeganEssentials is a vegan-owned online store and retail shop located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Find everything from Companion Animal Supplies, Hair Care, and Cosmetics to Food & Sweets, Outdoor Wear, and Vitamins.

"Where compassionate meets convenience."

 

 

 

 

SPONSOR THE NEWSLETTER!

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Compassionate Cooks is dedicated to empowering people to make informed food choices and to debunking myths about vegetarianism through cooking classes, nutrition courses, podcasts, essays & articles, farmed animal sanctuary tours, lectures and workshops, and cooking DVDs.

 

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“The Earth is not dying - she is being killed. And those who are killing her have names and addresses.†— Utah Phillips