Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 38

I Pivoted My Business During Covid For The Betterment Of Mama Earth

It all happened organically. I never intended to become the owner of a gardening company.

My name is Raúl. Before March 2020, I was a successful commercial director. Along with millions of other people, my career came to a screeching halt when Covid shutdown orders came in. I went from having multiple jobs going on at the same time to literally none.

I’m the kind of person that loves to be busy and has to be “creating” something at all times. And so it happened. Among other house projects, my wife, mother to our two young boys and an avid gardener, asked me to build her two elevated planter boxes to replace the large raised bed we had before, I wasted no time and got them built that day. I just so happened to show my men’s soccer league WhatsApp group and one of my friends asked if I could build him some planter boxes just like them for his house. Then someone suggested I put a post up on NextDoor offering to build them for my neighbors. On a whim, I went for it. 

It was Spring, and people were newly quarantining. There was also a desire to grow your own food instead of going to the grocery store as much. Again, I didn’t plan it. But within a few days, I was completely overwhelmed with orders. I was building away as fast as I could in my front patio and delivering planters to dozens of people in my neighborhood. It was truly an awesome experience to have these brief but profound interactions with people when dropping off their boxes. We were all in the same boat in this unknown sea of Covid, but I could see the joy and hope that people were feeling with the possibility of not only growing their own vegetables but also reconnecting with the earth and their own space. 

It only took a few weeks to outgrow the “workshop” on my patio. First, I hired a neighbor to cut all the wood for me in my driveway while I did all the assembly. A little while later, I partnered with my good friend Colin and we moved the operation to his much larger driveway. With this move we were able to offer people soil and then start building the business in terms of other offerings. We taught ourselves the best irrigation systems and how to best keep critters from eating folks’ vegetables. We decided early on to only use FSC certified cedar and responsibly farmed redwood to keep our company eco-friendly and sustainable.

With demand spiking and more people developing a passion for gardening, we hired other out-of-work film industry types to help build and deliver the planters. We had 6-8 people working on any given day, spread across this long driveway. These were grips, actors, production designers, camera operators, and producers. We had all worked together on set before, so we fell back into our natural family dynamic, and were able to pivot our teamwork skills quite easily.

Long story short, it didn’t take long for us to have to move again. And then again. Expanding and expanding. We have now provided planter boxes and gardening products to hundreds and hundreds of customers all over Los Angeles. Many people who, more often than not, had never tried edible gardening. We did everything we could to take the fear out of the process, introduce everyone to the many possibilities afforded by Mother Earth, and guarantee a bountiful harvest! We couldn’t believe the reactions we got from people. Many seniors told us that there would be no other way for them to garden if our service didn’t exist. I’m truly proud of the work we’ve done in allowing (enabling) people to grow their own natural food. So many families are now spending time together taking care of their gardens. I constantly get updates from customers when they harvest their vegetables and the sheer pride they have is so inspiring. 

Will I go back to directing? Of course, I still love it. But Victory Garden LA isn’t going anywhere. With hundreds of customers and orders coming in daily, we couldn’t stop this train if we tried. 

Love,
Raúl + Colin

Visit Victory Garden LA here or on Instagram

 

Manifesting For The New Year With Gabby Bernstein

As we approach a new year, we are looking for a change. After the year we’ve had, making resolutions may feel like the last thing you want to do. And if I’m honest, resolutions rarely stick. 

But there’s a secret that many people don’t know… and I’m going to let you in on it. You can manifest anything you want. Yes, I mean anything. 

Maybe you’ve heard of manifesting before and wanted to add it to your life … but you’re not sure exactly what it is or if you’re doing it right? You’re not alone.

We tend to think that we have to make things happen and try to force an outcome. I mean, every other day I come across some Instagram post that says something like, “Make sh*t happen.” But this idea is totally backwards!

Sometimes we just have to learn things the hard way … and I’m definitely no exception to this. I’ve been trying to control the sh%t out of something I really wanted to attract. I set an intention. I had the perfect plan in place—right down to the timeline that it would all come together. But, my plan kept getting messed up. I had to keep updating it to fit into what I thought was my timeline. 

The problem was I was consciously trying to control something that was completely out of my control. I wasn’t living my life, I was chasing a dream. Sound familiar?

This is what I call Manic Manifesting! It happens when we try to control our manifestations. It leaves us feeling frantic and burnt out. In this low-vibe state we block our manifestations.

What I needed to do was stop forcing the outcome—and surrender instead. That doesn’t mean we give up—it means we give over our desire to the Universe. 

The lesson here is when we try to control the outcome, we block what the Universe can do for us.

So to help you surrender and let the Universe do its thing, here are three ways to effortlessly manifest.

The 3 Steps To Effortless Manifesting

Step 1: Decide What You Want

What is it that you want? And be unapologetic about it. Own it. Believe it. Trust that it can be yours. 

Now, right it down:

I want to be seen in the world in this way. 

I want to attract my romantic partner. 

I want to attract more abundance into my life.

I want … 

When you’re in alignment with what you want and you feel it, then you begin to effortlessly manifest it into your life. 

Step 2: Cultivate the Feeling

It was only after a conversation with a dear friend that it became crystal clear that I was manic manifesting. I broke down and outed my ego. This opened me up and allowed me to see that my plan had been getting in the way of the Universe’s plan.

I immediately spent time in meditation and prayer. Instead of praying for what I wanted, I prayed for the highest good for all.

I surrendered to the universe  

So how do you cultivate the feeling you want? Try to meditate on the feeling. Sit for 5 or 10 minutes and visualize what you want. Feel the greatness of it. It’s safe to feel good. It’s good to feel good! When you lean into the feeling of that manifestation, you allow it to effortlessly come into form.

You may even want to say your desire out loud and let those words cultivate the energy and awareness of what it feels like to be in that manifestation.

Trust that if you’re in the feeling of the manifestation, then you are already living out your desire, even if it has not come into form…yet.

Step 3: Let Go of Control

As humans, we love to set goals and make plans.

But when we fixate too much on achieving our goals and sticking to our plans, we get in our own way. We become convinced that we know what’s best. We relentlessly pursue the path of our ego. And in doing so, we cut off our communication with the Universe.

So we need to let go of control (I know, easier said than done—but it doesn’t have to be!).

The first step is to gently witness that you’re controlling. Honor the feelings behind it. Trying to control is merely a way to resist difficult emotions.

I want to emphasize that it’s important to be very compassionate with yourself. Remember that we all try to control in different ways. What matters is your willingness to change.

In order to allow the presence of love to shine upon every area of our life, we must remember to surrender.

Surrendering isn’t something that comes naturally to us—it must be a daily practice. The need to control is sneaky. The ego thinks it knows the way, and it does everything it can to keep us in a headlock.

If you’re in need of surrender, begin each day with these words:

Today I surrender my goals and plans to the care of the Universe. I offer up my agenda and accept spiritual guidance. I trust that there is a plan far greater than mine. I know that where there once was lack and limitation there are spiritual solutions and creative ideas. I step back and let love lead the way. Thy will be done.

Manifest A Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams 

It can seem like nothing worth having comes without struggle. Like we have to make things happen. Feeling good becomes an afterthought. Or maybe you’ve been taught to think you must suffer and struggle to be worthy of happiness—and if you let yourself be happy, it will be taken away from you.

Well, I’m happy to tell you that’s wrong. 

When you embark on a spiritual path everything changes. You begin to see the world through the lens of love. You seek solutions rather than problems. And, you become a magnet for what you desire.

In my book, Super Attractor, I lay out essential methods for manifesting a life beyond your wildest dreams. This book is a manifesto for confidently claiming your desires and can further help you on this journey.

Remember, it’s good to feel good. When you learn how to take spiritually aligned action, backed by inspiration and service, you’ll naturally attract good things.

Gabby Bernstein is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back and Super Attractor, a world-renowned speaker and thought leader. 

Adventures In Love: Staying Open & Holding Space For Miracles

My darling and daring David and I are celebrating 2 years of being together. Some wouldn’t count the first 3 months, because we didn’t physically meet until 3 months after we first met on the telephone (he called my Inspiration phone Line 415- 546- 3742) May 21, 2018.

I count it all as a miracle because after my former fiancé John died in 2016, I was pretty positive that my time with romance or the possibility of a great new love in my life was OVER. I believed this way because I couldn’t SEE any ways that it could be different. Then, I kept multiplying my non-seeing so what I saw matched it. I am so SNEAKY when I create- sneaky in the sense that I can create anything – including WHAT I DON’T WANT.

And I frequently repeated the common phrases:

“All the good ones are taken”
“I’m too old”
“I’m too controlling” (basically “too” anything)
“I’m not willing to settle”

On and on and on, including;
“You already had one great love- don’t be greedy.”

Thankfully as I kept creating what I didn’t want, my quantum sight abilities were also being created! My quantum sight was so much larger and more fascinating than the prior program I was listening to. I wanted a love affair with life. A full hearted passionate affair of huge dimensions. A consciousness of curiosity. A caravan of wonderment.

I then made the statement:

I am truly willing and available for love, so show me the way!

First I wrote a love letter that stated:

I Am Dating the World.

And I did! I began really truly romancing the world, in my own unique ways, and lived with the passion- back and forth- that I said I wanted in a person. And most importantly, I began seeing it that way.

And in just one day after that, David POPPED UP into my world.

SARK and David, Photo by Andrea Scher

And I “saw” him with my quantum sight, and allowed him IN. To my heart, to my life, to my home. And we made a new kind of quantum home together– as we were both dating the world that way before we met! Now 2 years later, we are more deeply in love with each other and the world than ever.

Celebrate our love and your love with life and loves, with us in the comments– let’s flow more love forward using our quantum sight abilities. What kinds of love are you seeing? Let me know!

We realized right away that to have a creative, magnificent and full hearted love relationship, that we would each need to fill ourselves up and share with each other from the overflow, rather than coming to each other half empty, trying to get filled up.

So we vowed:

To tend to our own alignment first. (Meaning, that we do our own inner work consistently so that we’re not projecting onto or blaming the other person for ANYthing.) Does it all-ways work? YES. When we practice keeping our commitment to doing it. And when we can decipher who’s not doing it:-) Do we still experience problems, issues, conflicts, disturbances, upsets? OF COURSE! We just don’t stay there too long. And when we do, we have an excellent therapist who helps us.

Here’s to everyone further developing their QUANTUM SIGHT abilities, to trans-form whatever is un or less wanted, into what is wanted.

And then we can each be loving ourselves, each other and the world EVEN MORE.

Love,

SARK

SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) is a bestselling author, artist, inspirationalist and acclaimed teacher and mentor. Her purpose in life is to be an uplifter, transformer and laser beam of love- she offers that with love through her art, words and spirit.

Cover photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

What You Need To Know About The Tiger Cub-Petting Business

No one should breed tigers for the public to pet and play with, no one should keep tigers as pets, and tigers don’t belong in substandard roadside zoos. Those should have been the takeaway messages from the Netflix series “Tiger King.” Instead the show focused on a few of the bizarre characters who exploit these magnificent animals while completely failing to reveal the terrible truth of the suffering endured by the majority of captive tigers.

Across the country, roadside and traveling zoos charge often-exorbitant fees to people who are eager to pet, feed, pose with and play with baby wild animals—very often tiger cubs. The cruelty begins when the babies are literally torn away from their mothers at birth, which is standard operating procedure for cubs who will be used for public handling.

Then, at three or four months of age, when they are too big to be easily handled – and can no longer make money for their owners – the cubs are discarded. Some end up warehoused and isolated at these poorly run roadside zoos, some are shipped off to other roadside zoos or to pseudo-sanctuaries or private menageries, and some are passed off into the pet trade where they wind up in backyards or garages. Others are simply killed. Tiger cubs must be continually produced to replace the ones who “age out” of cub petting.

We conducted undercover investigations at three roadside zoos that bred tigers and used the cubs for public handling. At each one, making money by offering tiger cubs for human interactions always came before the welfare of the animals and the safety of the public – often families with young children.

The cubs’ lives revolved around public handling schedules. Instead of nursing and bonding with their moms, playing with littermates and sleeping, the babies had their sleep constantly interrupted and were fed irregularly with food that lacked proper nutrition.

One of the facilities even intentionally kept cubs hungry until photo sessions began – and then gave them formula from a bottle with a slow-flow nipple. This was an attempt to make the cubs easier to handle when they were with the public. It did not matter if the cubs were exhausted or had an illness that could be transferred to human beings; they were passed around, often screaming in distress, to a parade of paying customers, all day long.

As they got older, they scratched and bit as they struggled to get away from being handled, and were physically disciplined by being punched, dragged and choked. Once they were too large for photo ops, the cubs were relegated to small cages.

Our investigation revealed that a tiger cub named Maximus was denied sufficient nutrition, which alarmed the facility’s veterinarian who expressed grave concerns about the cub’s bone development and even patrons commented on his skeletal appearance. An exhausted 3-week-old tiger named Sarabi was handled by 27 people the same day she arrived at a roadside zoo after her 19-hour car ride to the facility and despite the fact she had infectious ringworm. Tiger cubs named Daxx and Deja were infested with parasites and suffering from diarrhea. Our investigator never observed them being seen by a veterinarian.

Sadly, Daxx and Deja were shuffled off to another roadside zoo and Sarabi and Maximus died before they were two years old. Sarabi was found dead in her cage after suffering for weeks.

Of course, this is all behind-the-scenes, and not what enthusiastic paying customers ever see. But we saw it firsthand and it was devastating.

It is so important for the public to be aware that these exhibitors try to legitimize their operations by claiming that these activities promote awareness and conservation of endangered species. In fact, studies confirm that seeing humans interact with endangered animals has a negative impact on public attitudes towards conservation because it leads people to falsely believe that these animals are not threatened or endangered in the wild.

In addition, no big cat born in captivity and handled by people can ever be released in the wild because they are denied the chance to learn necessary survival skills. They are also exposed to diseases in captivity that, if the animals were released, could threaten wild populations.

We have much more work to do to educate the public about this issue. If more people come to understand that the fleeting moment of a tiger cub selfie for a social media post means a lifetime of misery for the cub – and an endless cycle of cruelty – the appeal of such an experience will be much less attractive — and much easier to resist.

How You Can Help

1. Please don’t patronize facilities that allow the public to pet, play with or otherwise interact with tiger cubs – or any other wild animals. That is the very best way to stop the breeding, the trafficking and the cruelty.

2. Contact your members of Congress to encourage their support for the Big Cat Public Safety Act, to prohibit public contact with big cats and ban the private possession of big cats such as tigers and lions as pets.

3. Embrace opportunities to see and celebrate wild animals in their natural environments as part of outdoor pursuits such as hiking, birdwatching, whale watching, cycling, canoeing, kayaking and the like, or visit and volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center, an accredited sanctuary or animal shelter.

Kitty Block is the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States

Photo by Max van den Oetelaar on Unsplash

4 Ways To Eat For The Environment

Your diet can be the most significant impact you make on the environment over your lifetime, so follow these 4 ways to eat for the environment.

It’s not just about eating for your own personal wellness, today it’s about eating for a healthier planet. Fifty-nine percent of consumers say it’s important to them that the foods they purchase and consume be produced sustainably, up from 50% the previous year. And they’re right, as what you put on your plate makes an enormous impact on planetary health—making it one of the single most significant things you can do in your own lifetime to reduce your environmental footprint.

The Food System and the Environment

Ever since the first farmer struck his shovel into the dirt, the health of the environment at the hands of agriculture has been on a slow decline. In the last fifty years, a much more dramatic effect has occurred due to the growing industrialization of the food system. As farms got larger, more intensive and vertical, and less diverse, there has been a substantial increase in production, but with consequences, including pollution, contaminants, like nitrogen and pesticides, and depletion of natural resources, such as soil and water (IOM, 2015), as well as contribution to climate change (Behrens, et al., 2017).

“There are many ways that our food system impacts the environment,” says Christian Peters, Associate Professor at Freidman School of Nutrition at Tufts University, in the Agriculture, Food and Environment division. While there are numerous ways in which our diets impact the planet, including soil health, soil erosion, biodiversity, water quality, and agricultural inputs flowing into our waterways, Peters lists the top four concerns as follows:

Energy Use. “A great deal of energy is used in our food system, which accounts for about 15-17% of our total energy use. There is so much mechanization in our food supply, from farms, food processing, transportation, and retail stores,” says Peters. This energy is largely in the form of fossil fuels, which increases greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Change. On top of energy use, other issues, such as deforestation to make way for more farms, fertilizer production, and methane and nitrous oxide emissions contribute to global warming. (Sustainable Table, n.d.) No wonder that agriculture is responsible for up to 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. (Aleksandrowicz, et al., 2016)
Land Use. “Over 50% of the land in the lower 48 states is used for some sort of agriculture,” says Peters. This intensity of agriculture exacerbates climate change, drives biodiversity loss, degrades soils, and threatens water resources. (Aleksandrowicz, et al., 2016)
Water Use. It’s the same scenario for water, according to Peters, who reports that 70% of the world’s water withdrawals go for agriculture, which endangers supplies of water needed for human health, as well as a beautifully, bio-diverse planet. (Aleksandrowicz, et al., 2016)




What You Eat Matters: Shift to Plants

An increasing body of evidence suggests your eating style is quite impactful on the environment. “Livestock account for the largest share of the carbon footprint of the diet, because livestock are fed crops,” says Peters, who adds that ruminants (i.e., cows, sheep, goats) have a larger impact, because they also emit methane from burping, and produce manure—both serious green house gas contributors.

It’s quite clear that shifting to a more plant-based diet lowers your carbon footprint, says Peters, adding, “Plant-based diets require less land and water, too.” Indeed, research over the past decade consistently supports that plant-based diets are more sustainable than Western-style, high-animal food diets. A systematic literature review of research studies on sustainable diets identified 113 studies that assessed the environmental impacts of diet, many of which identified benefits of more plant-based eating styles (Jones, et al., 2016). Studies also link plant-based foods with lower carbon and water footprint. (Meier, & Christen, 2013)

4 Ways to Eat for the Environment

If you’re concerned about your impact on the planet, you can do something about it.

1. Eat More Plants, Fewer Animals. This is the most important step you can make, according to Peters. Vegetarians and vegans have the lowest carbon footprint, but even semi-vegetarians and pescatarians have lower impact than carnivores. (Sabate, & Soret, 2014) Make a few of your meals meatless, and use meat as a seasoning (not the main event) in your favorite dishes, such as stews, casseroles, and stir-fries.

2. Power Up on Legumes. Peters suggests including more of these healthful foods, such as beans, lentils, and peas because they can replace meat on your plate, are more drought tolerant, and provide natural fertilizer to the soil because they fix nitrogen in the air.

3. Trim Food Waste. About 30-40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted, which has multiple impacts on the planet. All of the land, water, energy, and synthetic inputs (fertilizer, pesticides) used to produce the food—and all of those impacts—go towards generating food that will never be consumed. And foods that go to the landfill create green house gas emissions.

4. Eat More Whole Foods. Peters notes that highly processed foods require greater energy due to multiple processing steps, packaging, and transportation. You’re better off eating whole, minimally processed foods—whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits—most of the time.

Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN, is The Plant-Powered Dietitian, a registered dietitian nutritionist with more than 18 years of experience in the field of plant-based nutrition and sustainability. Sharon also holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Food Systems. She’s the author of 2 books, The Plant-Powered Diet: The Lifelong Eating Plan for Achieving Optimal Health, Beginning Today and Plant-Powered for Life: Eat Your Way to Lasting Health with 52 Simple Steps & 125 Delicious Recipes.

 

References:

Aleksandrowicz, L., et al. (2016, November 30. The Impacts of Dietary Change on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Land Use, Water, Use, and Health: A Systematic Review. PLOS One. Retrieved from: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165797.

Behrens, P., Kiefte-de Jong, J. C., Bosker, T., Rodrigues, F. D., de Koning, A., & Tukker, A. (2017, December 4). Evaluating the environmental impacts of dietary recommendations. PNAS. Retrieved from: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/11/28/1711889114.

Committee on a Framework for Assessing the Health, Environmental, and Social Effects of the Food System; Food and Nutrition Board; Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Institute of Medicine; National Research Council. A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press; 2015.

IFIC. (2017). Food & Health Survey. Retrieved from: http://www.foodinsight.org/sites/default/files/2017-ExSum-FoodValues_0.pdf

Jones, A. D., Hoey, L., Blesh, J., Miller, L., Green, A., & Shapiro, L. F. (2016, July 11). A Systematic Review of the Measurement of Sustainable Diets. Advances in Nutrition. 4: 641-664. Retrieved from: https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/7/4/641/4568677.

Meier, T., & Christen, O. (2013, January 15). Environmental impacts of dietary recommendations and dietary styles. Environ Sci Technol. 47:877-88. Retrieved from: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es302152v.

Sabate, J., & Soret, S. (2014, June 4). Sustainability of plant-based diets: back to the future. Am J Clin Nutr. 100:476S-482S. Retrieved from: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/100/Supplement_1/476S.full.

Sustainable Table. (n.d.). Agriculture, Energy, & Climate Change. Retrieved from: http://www.sustainabletable.org/982/agriculture-energy-climate-change.

Photo by Devi Puspita Amartha Yahya on Unsplash

 

My Favorite Winter Coats: Fur and Feather Free!

As the weather cools down (well, just a little here in LA!) I thought I would share some really cozy winter coat options with you. I know lot’s of you live in areas that are already snow-covered, and you need some warmth STAT! It’s not always been easy to find fur and feather free coats, but now the kind options abound. If only young vegan Alicia had seen how many vegan coat brands there are now – she wouldn’t have believed her eyes. All these coats (below) pass my fashionable and comfortable test.

I recommend checking consignment places like The RealReal which is also for great deals on gently used, designer jackets! There’s no need to buy new when The RealReal always has the cutest faux fur brands majorly discounted.

The first of my new coat picks for 2020 is this really fun faux fur coat from Apparis. They have tons of cruelty free and faux fur options. This one is in my closet, and I love the leopard print! This one is really cute over jeans and tees when I’m running around with Bear and want to feel chic.

Lana – Leopard, $375 @apparis.com

Second is this cute puffer from Save The Duck. It was life saving while in Montana while filming- it’s super warm! It is made of 100% nylon and is completely feather free. I wish it were eco – I’d love to see some recycled/eco friendly materials used for these.

Puffer Jacket, $298 @savetheduckusa.com

Too Cool For Fur makes some really fun faux fur styles (just make sure they aren’t made from wool!) This one is made from 100% polyester.

Sarah, $463 @toocoolforfur.com

Alessandra, $490 @toocoolforfur.com

Save The Duck also makes these really cute warm packable vests. I love these for walking the dogs, and they stuff easily into a small bag for travel. Great for that extra layer!

Women’s Giga Vest, $158 @savetheduckusa.com

Vegan footwear brand Matt & Nat has some cute and warm outerwear options like this one, made of recycled polyester!

Giada, $262 @mattandnat.com

This Matt & Nat vegan “wool” option has clean lines and a lining made from recycled bottles.

Evie Coat, $262 @mattandnat.com

Stay warm!

Love,

Alicia

Vegan UnRibs

Miyoko Schinner is known as the Queen of vegan cheese, but today she’s sharing her recipe for vegan ribs with us!

Here’s a recipe that hearkens back to the days when I produced commercial meat substitutes. On the days we made UnRibs, you’d walk into the factory and get hit by the smoky smells of garlic, spice, tomatoes, and chiles wafting in the air. It would permeate my clothes, and I’d go home smelling like one giant rib. I’d grab several packages on my way out, and my kids would chomp on them right out of the bag. Ah, those were the days.

Recently, I found the old recipe. It starts out calling for 250 pounds of vital wheat gluten. Well, a few adjustments had to be made, of course. But over the years, I’ve had people ask me if I was ever going to include the UnRib recipe in a book . . . so here it is (almost). These are quite addictive, and I have to hide them from myself so I don’t keep eating them. They really improve in flavor from sitting for a day or two, so make them ahead if you can. Then just keep them around for noshing.

To make it easier for folks, I’ve changed the technique slightly, giving you the option of making them low-fat or not. When I think of ribs, the words smoky, chewy, and savory certainly come to mind, but the word that tops it all is greasy. That flavorful grease dripping down your chin is one of the highlights, don’t you think? Maybe not . . . so there’s a version for you, too! Both versions are tasty, and I enjoy them both. Make a bunch, freeze them, and you can thaw, slice, and cook them whenever you want.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon white, chickpea, or red miso

4 or 5 cloves garlic

11/4 cups water

21/2 to 3 cups vital wheat gluten

Oil, for cooking (optional)

SAUCE

31/2 to 4 cups Zippy Barbecue Sauce (recipe below) or your favorite store-bought variety

2 cups water

In a food processor or blender, combine the soy sauce, nutritional yeast, peanut butter, tomato paste, miso, garlic, and water and process until a smooth and creamy slurry is created. If you are using a food processor, just keep everything in there; if using a blender, pour it out into a large mixing bowl. Add 21⁄2 cups of the gluten
to the slurry and mix well, either using the food processor or by hand in the bowl. If you’re using a food processor, keep pulsing to knead the dough, adding a little more gluten flour as necessary to form a stiff dough (the more gluten you add, the chewier your ribs will be, so you can control how tender or chewy you want them). It may form one ball in the center or break up into little beads; if the latter happens, all you have to do is push it together with your hands. If you’re mixing it by hand, knead it in the bowl for several minutes until it becomes smooth.

Roll the dough into a log about 6 inches long. Slice the log lengthwise into four “steaks” about 3⁄4 inch thick. Now here’s one of the places where you get to decide whether or not to use oil, and how much. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat—if you’re going for oil-free, make sure that it is nonstick. If you’re using oil, add a couple of tablespoons to the skillet and let it get hot. Add the steaks and cook until browned on both sides. They will rise and puff a little.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. If your skillet is ovenproof, you can just leave the steaks in the pan. If not, transfer them to a baking dish. Mix 11⁄2 cups of the barbecue sauce with the water. Pour the diluted sauce over the steaks in the pan and cover with a lid or aluminum foil. Bake the ribs for 75 to 90 minutes, until the sauce has reduced and just barely coats them and the steaks are chewy and cooked through. They will be relatively tender while hot but will deflate slightly and become chewier as they cool, so fear not if they seem too soft right out of the oven.

Let them cool until they can be handled without burning your fingers. Then slice each steak lengthwise into “ribs” about 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 inch thick. Heat the skillet over medium-low heat. You’re going to sauté the individual ribs once more to brown or even blacken them on both sides. Once again, you can choose to oil or not to oil. If you like your ribs on the greasy side, you’ll want to use a good 4 to 6 tablespoons of oil to sauté them. Or you can just use a dry nonstick skillet. Cook them all until nicely dark on both sides (I like them almost black). Then toss them with the remaining 2 to 21⁄2 cups barbecue sauce. Now you can dig in. Or wait until the next day, when they will have deepened in flavor and become even chewier. To reheat, just throw them in the oven or on the grill, or eat them cold with some potato salad—yum! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

MAKES 8 TO 10 SERVINGS

Zippy barbecue sauce

This is a well-balanced barbecue sauce for UnRibs, tofu, tempeh, or anything else where you want to capture that Fourth of July flavor. It’s got just the right amount of sweetness balanced by acidity, heat, and spice. If you prefer your sauce on the sweeter side, feel free to increase the sweetener.

2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
1/2 cup maple syrup or organic sugar, or 3/4 cup coconut sugar, or more as desired
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons molasses
1/2 to 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (canned), minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 cup water

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together well or mix in a blender or food processor. Store this in a jar in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 months.

MAKES ABOUT 31⁄2 CUPS

Miyoko Schinner is the founder of Miyoko’s Creamery, which manufactures non-dairy, vegan cheeses. Born in Japan, Schinner lives in Nicasio, California with her husband, Michael and a variety of rescued animals. Schinner is the author of five cookbooks including the bestselling Artisan Vegan Cheese and The Homemade Vegan Pantry: The Art of Making Your Own Staples.

Vegan Eggnog

Move over dairy Eggnog, Vegan Eggnog is easy to make, better for you, and DELISH!

Original eggnog, or milk punch as it was called, is a very rich and thick dairy-based, rather highly sweetened beverage.  It’s made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites, and egg yolks and is often topped with a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg. Eggnog is traditional during the Christmas season. It is often served cold from a punch bowl. Less frequently, it is served warm– think thick milky mulled wine.

Eggnog is not a beverage I’d tasted as a kid, but as a young adult, I noticed it being served in glass mugs from big cutglass punchbowls at Christmas and New Years Day parties. It was love at first sip for me. Creamy, thick, sweet, and boozy (rum, brandy, and whiskey are common additions), this was a drink that went down all too easily.

The original recipe reads to me like a glass of heart attack with a side of fatty liver disease, along with the danger of salmonella from consuming raw eggs. Egg yolks are whipped with sugar before the addition of heavy cream and spices. Egg whites are beaten with sugar are folded into the yolk mixture after it has cooked and cooled. This is not for me or the people I cherish, nope.

For at least a couple of years now, creamy and spiced right vegan versions are right there in the dairy case of your local market. Some taste better than others, and what tastes best is personal,  but all the commercially prepared vegan eggnogs are ready for the addition of rum or bourbon if desired. I find it easy and fun to make my own, personalized to my taste, and think you will too. And vegan Eggnog is cholesterol-free too.

Today, I am sharing two luscious versions of Vegan Eggnog. Both make relatively small quantities–remember, I am living solo and none of us are going to be with crowds– right?!

The recipes scale up with no changes, and the beverages stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, so go ahead and make more if you like.

The first recipe is a protein-packed Vegan Eggnog, made with pea protein powder and soaked pitted dates.

The second version has a base of cashews. (they are nutrient-strong too.)  With its lighter color, this resembles a more traditional Eggnog. Although I like both, I have a preference. I’d really like to know yours.

Once refrigerated both of these Eggnogs thicken, in the case of the cashew-based nog, significantly. You are the decider here, but if the chilled Nogs are more custard-like than is your preference, just whisk in some plant milk before serving, or adding the spirits.

Spice to taste but do NOT substitute powdered nutmeg for the freshly grated. Trust me, your Eggnog will not be good.

I’d thought about getting fancy and adding a topping of aquafaba meringue, but I find both versions are rich-tasting enough. If you choose to add the meringue, please share your photos. There is a third and very delicious cashew-based, date-sweetened Eggnog by chef and Rouxbe Online Culinary School, co-founder Dawn Thomas, in the Essential Vegan Desserts Course.

Pea Protein Vegan Eggnog

Pea protein powder is a high-quality, generally easily digested protein source made from yellow peas. It’s rich in iron, arginine, and branched-chain amino acids and is said to offer benefits like improved muscle growth, feelings of fullness, and heart health.

When I posted tests of eggnog photos on my Instagram, a few people commented that they can’t digest pea protein. So if this is new to you, proceed with caution. I used pea protein from Bob’s Red Mill. Theirs is on pause now so if you can’t find it, try this one.

I’ve made a lot of Vegan Eggnog in the last few days, and I am pretty sure some of the Nog will become Eggnog pudding, ice cream, or French toast.

I’m sending my best wishes to each one of you for a healthy and happy Christmas season. I hope next year we can raise a glass in the company of our friends and family. Take care and do let me know if you make either, or both of these Eggnogs.

Pea Protein Vegan Eggnog

Yields 1 cup

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups / 295ml cold water
¼ cup /28g pea protein
3 oz /105g dates pitted, soaked until very soft
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg more for sprinkling
1/8 – to ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
3/8 tsp guar gum for the traditional creamy consistency.
Optional: 1 tablespoon sunflower oil or other neutral oil Adds smoothness
Optional Spirits rum, bourbon, brandy, whiskey to taste

Instructions

Add everything to a blender container except the oil. Blend, starting on low, then advancing the speed to high, until the liquid is creamy, and no pieces of dates are visible. Taste and add more spice.


Refrigerate until cold. Shake before serving,


For alcoholic eggnog Add your spirit of choice, to taste, before serving

Recipe Notes

I’m not going to tell you how much of the spirits to add if you are going there. I went nuts for rum during my very enjoyable tests.

Vegan Cashew Cream Eggnog

This recipe will look much more like traditional eggnog. Isn’t it wonderful to have so much choice!

Cashew Cream Vegan Eggnog

Ingredients

2.5 ounces /71g raw cashews rinsed and soaked
1/2 cup /120ml full-fat coconut milk
3 tbsp /40g vegan cane sugar
¾ tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp almond extract
3/8 tsp nutmeg more for sprinkling
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

Instructions

Drain the cashews very well.


Add everything to a blender container, preferably a high-speed blender like a Vitamix.


Start blending on low and then increase the speed to high. Blend 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust spicing and sweetness.


Chill before serving.

Pastry professional, culinary educator and bestselling author of cookbooks including Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy Free Desserts, Fran Costigan’s luscious creations have it all — except dairy, eggs, white sugar and cholesterol, to satisfy vegans and omnivores alike. Classically trained, Fran is the Director of Vegan Pastry at the Rouxbe Online Culinary School and leads the Essential Vegan Desserts Course.

Photo by Oscar Nord on Unsplash

Finding Cozy Connection During The Holidays

December doesn’t have to be stressful, no matter what holiday you celebrate. The increasing dark of the Northern hemisphere can be a signal to turn inward to your family, to create more warmth, light and peace in your home. It can be a time for cozy connection and deep joy, whatever your personal beliefs.

The key is deciding what kind of experience you want to create – and meshing your expectations with your family’s.

Imagine it’s next January 1. Won’t it be terrific if you find yourself rested, refreshed, and contented with your life?

Imagine being able to:

Use this holiday to have some wonderful, deep time with each member of your immediate family. Your whole family will start the year feeling energized and connected.
Give presents that delight the receiver, and therefore delight you. You don’t go over budget, and most of the time your present is something you make or do for the recipient, with your child, easily and joyfully.
Feel healthy and maintain a steady weight. Instead of overeating, you feed your hungry heart with connection to others, and with giving to others. You spend time outdoors. You nourish yourself and your family by cooking healthy food. In short, you nurture your own body and soul, as well as your children’s.
Find meaning this year in brightening the season for others. Through your example, your kids begin to discover the spirit of the season and feel the gift of being angels to others.
Feel clarity, going into the new year, about the ways you want to make your life different in the future. You even make a plan that will be easy to stick to, that will help you change ONE important habit.


DECIDE WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU AND JUST SAY NO TO EVERYTHING ELSE.

We all have full lives the other eleven months of the year. Adding an elaborate agenda to accomplish during December can only send your household into a tailspin and your blood pressure through the roof. The guaranteed result is tantrums from the kids and tears for you.

What do you need to do so it feels like Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanza, or the Winter Solstice, to you? Maybe you always decorate the house with greenery, or bake cookies. Maybe you’d like to make presents, or start a new tradition about kindness or gratitude. Maybe advent calendars or latkes or religious services are essential.

Just say no to holiday events that don’t hold meaning for you, including most work events. If you must spend time at work-related holiday events, be sure to acknowledge them as work time that’s cutting into the family time you want to prioritize this season. Take other time off to make up for it. For instance, you might leave work early to pick your child up after school for a special afternoon together doing something meaningful and holiday related.

If your kids are old enough that they want to spend time with their friends rather than just family, that’s terrific. Plan now to include their friends in the events where it feels appropriate – baking pies for the local soup kitchen, or gathering greenery to decorate the house. Your kids will probably jump at the chance for a small party, even if it’s a party to make holiday decorations.

This family meeting about the holidays is a great time to express what YOU most want this holiday – special time to connect with each member of your family.

PRIORITIZE CONNECTING WITH YOUR FAMILY.

Now you have a sense of what you’re actually going to do this December. Your first rule is not to do holiday tasks alone, unless you feel nurtured by them. If you like nothing better than to put on music and fill the house with good smells, then I wish you happy baking. But don’t set yourself up to feel like a martyr at midnight, when you find yourself bleary-eyed and facing a sink full of dirty dishes. Always find a partner for these holiday tasks. It’s a great opportunity for fun with family members, and the kids love the one-on-one time with mom or dad. And if you can’t recruit anyone, consider that maybe you don’t actually need to do more baking or decorating or whatever, if it isn’t important to anyone else. Who are you trying to impress, after all?

If your kids are too young to help, then it becomes even more important to limit what you do. What they want this holiday season is connection with their parents, not perfect decorations, or lots of events, or even, ultimately, presents. Your kids need you to be in a good mood, ready to make merry and make meaning. Keep it simple. Don’t try to create some glossy magazine vision of the holiday. Remember that your mood matters more to your kids than anything else.

Hopefully, you already have family traditions that give you special time alone with each family member, such as a father-daughter brunch once a month at a favorite diner. You can make your holidays more meaningful, though, with this golden opportunity for one-on-one time. Make a plan with each family member to do something delicious just with them.

Some ideas for “dates” with your kids:

Work together to make a present for another family member.
Bake cookies for her class party.
Work out together – it’s a great antidote to holiday calories and stress.
Go for walks together in a part of town where you can admire the holiday decorations, or out in the country to gather greenery.
Take advantage of the early dark to bundle up and stargaze together.


REJECT COMMERCIALISM.

None of the holidays we observe in December are designed to include purchasing things from stores. Each is an opportunity to celebrate – the birth of the Savior, the return of the light with the Solstice, the Seven Principles of Kwanza, and the miracle of faith symbolized by the Hanukkah lights.

The pressures of commercialization do a disservice to these sacred days, to our wallets, and to our children. Our children have been trained to think of the winter holidays as a time for loot, beginning when we put them on a bearded stranger’s lap and have them recite a list of possessions they covet. Kids who watch TV have an especially difficult time, as the seasonal ads whip them into a frenzy of desire that can only crash and burn. The first question they hear upon returning to school is usually “What’ja get?”

After having spent years buying too many presents – originally one for each night of Hanukkah – our family settled into making each of the eight nights meaningful in it’s own way. One night is the big present night, where the kids each get one “store bought” gift. One night is “Homemade presents” night. One night we throw a Hanukkah party with latkes, another night we go to celebrate with family or friends. One night is Tzedaka night, when we discuss good causes and donate money to them. Each night is special in its own way, and presents take a back seat. We work hard to de-commercialize what can so easily become a feast of more, more, more, rather than a feast of lights and miracles.

De-commercializing Christmas can be even more challenging, but it’s certainly possible. I know families who give four presents to their child for Christmas: “something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read.” Others give a present from the parents and a present from Santa. Add a stocking, time to play with your child, and a few annual traditions, and it’s plenty. The gifts you do give will be treasured.

Set a budget for each gift, add them up to be sure you can handle the total, and really stick to it. You might try online shopping, so you can do it at night without the kids around, avoid the exhaustion and crowds, and diminish the importance of holiday shopping in your family life. You’re also more likely to stick to your budget.

Some families de-commercialize the holidays by making presents. It isn’t free – you have to buy supplies – and it takes time, but it can be cheaper, more fun, and more meaningful than a “bought” gift.

If you choose to make presents, sit down with your list of giftees and decide what you’re making and how long each present will take. Your goal is to delight your giftees with a token of your affection, not to garner status points or exhaust yourself. One strategy is to make big batches of something that most folks will enjoy — fudge, or bath salts — so that most of your gifts can be made on one day, with the help of your child.

If your whole family is making presents – and what kid doesn’t like to make presents? – try scheduling some weekend afternoons when everyone is working on presents. You can count on having to help the younger members of the family, but it’s worth it. If you make this a family tradition, you’ll find that they get more independent each year in making ever more lovely presents. Click here for presents you can make easily with your kids.

CREATE TRADITIONS THAT MAKE MERRY, MAKE MEANING, AND BRING YOUR FAMILY CLOSER.

Children love tradition and ritual. Repetition, the comfort of belonging, the sense of wonder, magic, and celebration — traditions nurture kids and parents alike, and create a sense of shared meaning. They connect families.

Kids need the security of repeated traditions, and they’ll want you to repeat this year anything you’ve “always done” in the past. Honor those requests and savor those moments.

But if you’re feeling like the things you do every year don’t reflect your values, why not re-evaluate your traditions? Don’t make this about more work; keep it simple. Just try altering your current tradition a bit, or try something new, and if you like it, repeat it. Then begin to talk about it and look forward to it with the whole family. Eventually, that tradition will take on a life of its own and will become a sustaining part of your family culture.

Holiday traditions that will have meaning for your family are plentiful; your job is to find the ones that feel best to everyone and are easiest to pull off.

LIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON BY GIVING TO OTHERS.

It’s hard for kids not to get greedy at the holidays, especially if they’re encouraged to make long lists of their desired presents. One answer, of course, is to limit kids to one store-bought gift (although often a grandparent will add another.) But what we really want for our kids is not for them to feel deprived, but to find their own holiday spirit and discover the joy of giving to others. Did you know that the experience of giving actually activates an area of the brain that gives us physical pleasure?

But generosity doesn’t come from guilt. Children begin to feel generous from the feeling of having plenty — emotionally, even more than materially — and develops as they have the experience of making others happy by giving to them. Our job as parents is to help our kids to have those experiences.

Eventually, if your child is lucky, she’ll learn from experience that making someone else happy by giving to them really is more rewarding than receiving a gift herself. But that wisdom is something that usually develops only after one has had plenty of experiences of giving to others and seeing their delight.

TAKE TIME AS A FAMILY FOR REFLECTION.

Beyond the obvious traditions of spiritual reflection and embodying the spirit of giving, the time we have together at the holidays gives a golden opportunity for families to reflect, examine, and appreciate their lives together. It’s traditional at Kwanzaa to rededicate oneself to living a principled life. The rest of us usually rely on the New Year’s tradition of making a resolution, which is generally less than effective because one resolution is not enough to change a habit (that takes at least 30 days of sustained effort!) Start with discussions at dinner about what you love about your family, your lives, and yourselves, and one thing you would change if you could. Here are a couple of ideas for family reflection rituals to extend this practice:

Start a “Count Your Blessings” scroll. Take a roll of adding machine tape and let everyone write on it something they’re grateful for. The scroll can be taped in lengths around your house as a blessing, like a Tibetan prayer flag.
Ask each family member to write down one thing they want to leave behind in the old year, and throw it into the fire (or set it on fire in a firesafe iron pan). At the same time, they can write down one thing they want to create more of in their lives, and put that in a safe, special place. It’s even more effective if you help them write a simple plan to create what they want more of, and review their plan daily for 30 days as they create a new habit.


CULTIVATE ENOUGH-NESS BY NURTURING YOURSELF.

We approach the holidays each year with the secret hope that our life will be transformed. Somehow, our home will become picture perfect, professionally decorated and worthy of a magazine spread. Our homemade gifts will be the envy of the neighborhood. Our children, perfect angels, will be baking for the soup kitchen, starring in the holiday pageant, and certainly never bickering or ungrateful.  It helps to make these fantasies conscious, so we can let go of them without guilt. I find I have to remind myself repeatedly throughout the holiday season that my happy mood and time with my kids are much more important than my vision of all I could “give” them – even the educational, values-laden experiences.

Media images of the “perfect” holidays can be discouraging, since real life never looks like that. Reducing TV time during the holidays can reduce that pressure, and give you more time for family games and connecting.

So let go of perfection, and find ways to nurture yourself so you have the energy to be fully present. Go for long walks outdoors, take hot baths, work out at the gym, do yoga, trade massages with your partner or a friend, cook good wholesome food. The more full you feel inside, body and soul, the less you’ll need to pursue the holiday frenzy.

And the more you and your family will find yourselves making meaning, as well as making merry.

Dr. Laura Markham is founder of AhaParenting.com and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings and her latest book, the Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook. This article was originally published here.

Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

Why You Shouldn’t Buy A Christmas Puppy

Sure, a puppy in a box is as absolutely precious and adorable as anything could ever possibly be. But what about when said puppy chews the legs off your couch, nips your son, or has a big ole dia in the middle of your persian rug? Dogs are the greatest gift to humankind that ever was, but they are indeed family members that shouldn’t be bought (ever) and shouldn’t even be adopted if the gift giver themselves isn’t ready to accept the full responsibility of caring for a new member of their family.

I volunteer for an animal rescue group that regularly gets inquires as to our adoption fees. I always flinch when we get that question knowing that if the nominal adoption fee is an issue, what will the plan be when (gd forbid!) the pup gets cancer, breaks a leg, or has lifelong severe allergies. Veterinarians, holistic remedies, and good quality pet foods are not cheap. A puppy or dog can be human-child level expensive, depending on their needs. We have to keep that in mind when considering the bliss that comes along with the heavenly sweetness of being a dog Mama or Papa.

Dogs are not presents to just last one fun day, only to be passed off to on another family when things gets real. I bet you’re thinking “I know that!”… but not everyone does. For example – a few weeks after Christmas, many Christmas puppies end up in shelters, country-wide. So what can we do to stop that? Discourage gifting puppies for the holidays.

There is, however, a caveat to that general rule: IF you’ve been discussing this as a family for a long time, and are ready for the fiscal and physical and emotional obligations of another family member – then BY ALL MEANS – DO adopt yourself a Christmas puppy! Happiness is a mutt on its butt!

Here’s some hard talk from someone who knows a little too much about what happens on the inside of the animal rescue world.  Please do not consider buying a dog when over 800 dogs per day, per state are euthanized because people buy instead of adopting. These are not vicious, horrible dogs – 99% of them are fully adoptable and are euthanized simply because there’s no space in the shelter.  Other reasons dogs are euthanized in shelters: they have an easily treatable condition like heartworm, mange, or allergies but the shelter cannot afford the meds, the shelter doesn’t have the foster/ volunteers needed to take an overflow of dogs (when there are no more available kennels) home, or some dogs may just have been waiting too long and have overstayed their welcome. How you can help is adopting, fostering, and donating to shelters (both financially and with supplies – shelters and rescues almost always need things you already have in your homes like towels, sheets, old rugs, crockery, heaters, baby gates, baby playpens, all cleaning supplies, etc).

All breeds of dogs are available to adopt – simply sign up for alerts on petfinder.com or adoptapet.com with your zipcode and breed and age preferences – you’ll get a daily email and find your baby. Other ways to adopt: follow all your local rescue groups on social media (you get to see who is coming in first that way!), head over to your local shelter, or attend an outdoor adoption event.

Apprehensive? One way to take it slow in terms of adoption is by fostering. Fostering is such a wonderful way to jailbreak a doggo, and give a sweet mutt a little time to unwind from the stressful situation of being in a shelter.  You can test run being a furry Mama, and if it doesn’t work out or it isn’t a perfect match – no biggie, you gave a pup some wonderful couch and yard time! If it does – wonderful!

I’m here to answer ANY of your adoption or fostering questions in the comments below, anytime!  Being a dog parent is one of the highlights of my life – please consider adoption.

Chloé Jo Davis is the Director of Digital Content at The Kind Life, a Mom of 3 human little boys, and 4 rescued pets in Connecticut.

Photo by Rhaúl V. Alva on Unsplash