Cooking, kinship and a potluck

Our Creative Christel in Germany has come up with a simple way to fix tofu. She served it alongside sushi rolls but I can imagine it in a sandwich or alongside practically anything. Christel says: I was so happy about the taste and texture that I offered it to my husband, saying that now it tastes like the tofu in Asian restaurants...
Christel's Grilled Tofu

Last week I sent along Christel's recommendation of an online cooking class with Chad Sarno. I heard from Susan here in Portland who checked it out:
I followed the jump to the cooking course suggested by Christel. With brief, beautifully produced videos introducing the various subjects to be taken up in each lesson, the program looks outstanding and at the $50 introductory price would be a bargain. I, for one, was seriously tempted. When I went to sign up, though, there was no more room! All 500 spaces had been subscribed. Good news, I suppose, that there is an enthusiastic audience for plant-based-cooking instruction, but disappointing news for me. Apparently there will be more rounds scheduled in the future, and I’ve sent an e-mail asking whether the discounted price will be available for those as well. I’ll let you know what I hear. In the meantime, I recommend looking at the website if you have any interest in making the time you spend on food preparation more enjoyable.
https://plantrician.rouxbe.com/

I took Susan's advice and watched those introductory videos and now I'm on the list to hear about the next class, too. I think I could learn ways to simplify my efforts in the kitchen. To anyone else who may be interested--- if the next class fills as fast as this one, you may want to get on the notification list too.

Last week I mused about the implications of referring to plants and animals as "it" and got this response from Cindy in Portland:
I read the article from YES magazine, thanks for including it. I found it to be very interesting and gives one a contemplation point.I call it Our Mama Earth instead of saying our environment..(she is our home too).I spell woman or women..womyn simple because there is no man in womyn. I try and remember to always use the actual word(birds,cow,tree, water,cup)etc. what ever I am talking /referring to, instead of it.

Donna in Portland also picked up on our kinship with plants and animals and sent this lovely story:
The little girl asked her grandmother, “Grandma, what is life?”
Grandmother replied, “Life is a song, my love.”
“Oh,” said the little girl. “I want to learn that song.”
“Everyone has their own song, my dear,” replied grandmother. “I cannot teach you yours, you have to discover it yourself.”
“Oh Grandma, how can I find my song?” asked the little girl. Grandmother called her close and whispered in her ear, “You need to listen, my love – to the flowers and the trees, to the river and the rain, to the night and the stars and, more than all else, to your heart – and your song will come to you.”

Portland people, it's time to sing our group song again! Our summer potluck is coming up on Saturday, August 1st. Would someone like to host this one? Just let me know. I have extra chairs, plates, etc. to make it easy. I'm looking forward to gathering with all of you and finding out what you are cooking these days.

Happy cooking,
Eve