Time and time again, I hear people talk about being happy - as in "he makes me so happy" or "I just don't feel happy" or the ubiquitous "do whatever makes you happy." And then, of course, there is the infamous reference to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in the US Declaration of Independence.
Lately happiness has become a major topic of discussion around here - with some projects completed we have time to reflect on what might be next. As I work further into my adult years (indeed, the big 30 is just around the corner) I can see why people get worn down and start to lose touch with the joy in their lives. Being an adult is tough and sometimes I wonder if my generation is prepared for the realities of adulthood - the necessity of working, whether it be for financial gain or in relationships with those around us, and the realization that bad things often happen to good people.
In any case, here is a great podcast called "Just Say No to Happiness." It begins with an interview with the author of "The Happiness Project," which has been on best-seller lists since 2009, and concludes with great discussions about suffering, the psychology of morality, the necessity of faith and how ultimately, depth and meaning are more important than 'happiness.' So if you're wondering if you'll ever be happy, check this out. It may re-assure that there is much more to human existence than yellow smiley faces.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Saturday, September 03, 2011
What to do with two gigantic zucchinis
It's the most wonderful vegetable time of the year! Late August and September are when I revel in being a vegetarian - so much to eat, so little time. This year our garden hasn't been the greatest but I have been getting some local produce from George at Uphill Garden and also bought a decent supply of winter garlic from my friend RW. Delicious!!
My mom also gave me two gigantic zucchinis - so now everyday we are trying to eat it so it won't go to waste. Below are a couple of recipes I've been using. Maybe you are also faced with a glut of zucchini and don't know what to do with it. Enjoy and happy Labour Day weekend.
Zucchini Bruschetta
Make or buy a pizza dough.
If you make it from scratch (which I like to with 50% Speerville Red Fife Flour), pre-cook it about 15 minutes so it will crisp up better.
In the meantime, thinly slice 2 cups of zucchini and grill them in the oven to eliminate some of the water (big zucchinis are bad this way).
In a bowl, mix: fresh or dried basil, (1/4c fresh or 1 tbsp dry), 1 tsp. dried oregano, 2 tbsp. dried parsley, 1-3 cloves of garlic depending on your love of garlic, 1/4 cup diced onion, 1/2 cup chopped tomato, the zucchini from the oven, 2-3 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well so oil and spices coat toppings.
When the bread comes out of the oven (or if you bought the dough) cover with toppings and spread out evenly. Add feta or mozzerella cheese to taste. Bake in oven for 15-20 mins. @ 375 degrees. Cool and slice. Great as a group appetizer (makes enough for a 14-16" dough) or with a meal.
Zucchini Muffins - today's project
•2/3 cup vegetable oil
•2 large eggs
•2/3 cup granulated sugar (I will use less)
•1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•2 cups all-purpose flour (I will use 50% Red Fife)
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•1 1/2 cups finely shredded unpeeled zucchini
•1/2 cup finely shredded carrot
I will also add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Grease and flour 12 muffin cups. Heat oven to 375°.
In a mixing bowl, beat the oil with eggs, sugars, and vanilla extract.
Combine the flour, soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; add to the wet ingredients; stirring until blended. Fold in the shredded zucchini and carrots.
Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or granulated sugar, if desired. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12.
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If all else fails and my zucchini are still around on Monday, I will make a big veg lasagna and could freeze it for later. Enjoy!
My mom also gave me two gigantic zucchinis - so now everyday we are trying to eat it so it won't go to waste. Below are a couple of recipes I've been using. Maybe you are also faced with a glut of zucchini and don't know what to do with it. Enjoy and happy Labour Day weekend.
Zucchini Bruschetta
Make or buy a pizza dough.
If you make it from scratch (which I like to with 50% Speerville Red Fife Flour), pre-cook it about 15 minutes so it will crisp up better.
In the meantime, thinly slice 2 cups of zucchini and grill them in the oven to eliminate some of the water (big zucchinis are bad this way).
In a bowl, mix: fresh or dried basil, (1/4c fresh or 1 tbsp dry), 1 tsp. dried oregano, 2 tbsp. dried parsley, 1-3 cloves of garlic depending on your love of garlic, 1/4 cup diced onion, 1/2 cup chopped tomato, the zucchini from the oven, 2-3 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well so oil and spices coat toppings.
When the bread comes out of the oven (or if you bought the dough) cover with toppings and spread out evenly. Add feta or mozzerella cheese to taste. Bake in oven for 15-20 mins. @ 375 degrees. Cool and slice. Great as a group appetizer (makes enough for a 14-16" dough) or with a meal.
Zucchini Muffins - today's project
•2/3 cup vegetable oil
•2 large eggs
•2/3 cup granulated sugar (I will use less)
•1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•2 cups all-purpose flour (I will use 50% Red Fife)
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•1 1/2 cups finely shredded unpeeled zucchini
•1/2 cup finely shredded carrot
I will also add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Grease and flour 12 muffin cups. Heat oven to 375°.
In a mixing bowl, beat the oil with eggs, sugars, and vanilla extract.
Combine the flour, soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; add to the wet ingredients; stirring until blended. Fold in the shredded zucchini and carrots.
Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or granulated sugar, if desired. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12.
-------------
If all else fails and my zucchini are still around on Monday, I will make a big veg lasagna and could freeze it for later. Enjoy!
Friday, September 02, 2011
A Learning Farm
This interview on CBC's Shift tells the story of a 114-acre farm near Woodstock that will become a learning centre for marginalized people. Very exciting, especially considering all the problems I was reading about yesterday. Thank goodness for practical people who actually attempt to solve problems. What a debt we owe these guys.
Never forget that a farmer wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Never forget that a farmer wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Food, jobs, debt
Debt seems to be a topic-du-jour around here lately. Not only personal debt, mortgages and student loans, but also national debts ceilings and 'bailouts.' We watched "Inside Job" again, which you really need to see. It does a great job explaining how Wall Street bankers made a system 'too big to fail,' pushed it off a cliff, and then collected a huge payout from taxpayers. But I digress.
On the topic of debt, this afternoon on facebook, my friend Dru shared an interview with British activist David Graber entitled "Debt, Slavery and Our Idea of Freedom." In the article, Graeber talks about how we now use the same langugage to talk about debt and morality - for example, that we have a moral duty to be financially responsible and pay our bills, and if we don't, it's because we're 'bad' people. Now, I'm not calling you bad but if you've ever had a phone call from a collection agency, you know what I'm talking about.
Graeber also talks about how very wealthy people often write off each other's debts, and very poor people often give each other 'loans' that are actually gifts, but when the transaction is between a rich person and a poor person, then it becomes a question of 'moral obligations' for the repayment to be made. He also points out that "Sanskrit, Hebrew and Aramaic all use the same words for ‘debt’ as for ‘sin,’" which was interesting, but maybe not too surprising.
Knowing you are highly in debt - or "highly in sin" as Graeber might say, is mentally exhausting. It has a tremendous impact on your day-to-day life and stress levels. Many people are struggling to juggle bills and make ends meet, and when another person posted a link about how school breakfast/nutrition programs are not fixing the problems with child hunger and food insecurity in Canada, I was very disheartened.
The author says that movements towards local and organic have overwhelmed the discussion of policy changes needed to eliminate food insecurity in Canada - that we should also be focused on "housing, employment, childcare, and the protection of staples." She echoes what I have read elsewhere - that gainful employment is increasingly hard to find. Apparently many people who are food insecure are not welfare recipients, they are working poor. In her words:
There are some very important issues emerging now with our working poor, such as the precariousness of employment, the notion of employment protection and eligibility for employment insurance. This means the vast majority of those who are food insecure in Canada are those whose income is almost exclusively from earnings and salary, and not from income support.
It concerns me that we have a system that pays corrupt and morally bankrupt bankers, but working people cannot earn enough to keep an warm apartment and food in the fridge. These are not people laying around watching reality television all day, they are people serving coffee at drive-through windows and caring for the elderly. I couldn't help but think of those famous words from the King James version of the Lord's Prayer.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
As much as I love to trash facebook sometimes, the links people post really do make me think. Frank McKenna famously stated that in his opinion "the best social program is a job" but you've really gotta reconsider when that won't pay the rent and put food on the table. Methinks this song is due for a revival.
On the topic of debt, this afternoon on facebook, my friend Dru shared an interview with British activist David Graber entitled "Debt, Slavery and Our Idea of Freedom." In the article, Graeber talks about how we now use the same langugage to talk about debt and morality - for example, that we have a moral duty to be financially responsible and pay our bills, and if we don't, it's because we're 'bad' people. Now, I'm not calling you bad but if you've ever had a phone call from a collection agency, you know what I'm talking about.
Graeber also talks about how very wealthy people often write off each other's debts, and very poor people often give each other 'loans' that are actually gifts, but when the transaction is between a rich person and a poor person, then it becomes a question of 'moral obligations' for the repayment to be made. He also points out that "Sanskrit, Hebrew and Aramaic all use the same words for ‘debt’ as for ‘sin,’" which was interesting, but maybe not too surprising.
Knowing you are highly in debt - or "highly in sin" as Graeber might say, is mentally exhausting. It has a tremendous impact on your day-to-day life and stress levels. Many people are struggling to juggle bills and make ends meet, and when another person posted a link about how school breakfast/nutrition programs are not fixing the problems with child hunger and food insecurity in Canada, I was very disheartened.
The author says that movements towards local and organic have overwhelmed the discussion of policy changes needed to eliminate food insecurity in Canada - that we should also be focused on "housing, employment, childcare, and the protection of staples." She echoes what I have read elsewhere - that gainful employment is increasingly hard to find. Apparently many people who are food insecure are not welfare recipients, they are working poor. In her words:
There are some very important issues emerging now with our working poor, such as the precariousness of employment, the notion of employment protection and eligibility for employment insurance. This means the vast majority of those who are food insecure in Canada are those whose income is almost exclusively from earnings and salary, and not from income support.
It concerns me that we have a system that pays corrupt and morally bankrupt bankers, but working people cannot earn enough to keep an warm apartment and food in the fridge. These are not people laying around watching reality television all day, they are people serving coffee at drive-through windows and caring for the elderly. I couldn't help but think of those famous words from the King James version of the Lord's Prayer.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
As much as I love to trash facebook sometimes, the links people post really do make me think. Frank McKenna famously stated that in his opinion "the best social program is a job" but you've really gotta reconsider when that won't pay the rent and put food on the table. Methinks this song is due for a revival.
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