A novel guacamole and a cure for the doldrums

.We have two new cooks joining our email circle----Mary Buckley here in Portland and Rita Holden in Honoka'a, Hawaii---a new state for us! You can see it on our map, out there in the middle of all that water. If you put your cursor on or near the teardrop and zoom in you will see just which of the Hawaiian Islands Rita gets to call home. If the islands disappear in the blue, just hold down the left part of the mouse and drag the map to right or left till you get back to land. Welcome, Mary and Rita! I hope you will let us know what goes on in your kitchen.

Margaret came to visit me recently and we had fun playing with the map, zooming in and out, seeing the towns where we all live and finding the ones with names attached. I'm pleased to report that we have three new names on the map this week: Margaret Kirschner. in Portland, Kerstin Eklof. in Stockholm, Sweden, and Catherine Morris in Kansas City, Missouri. Can you find them on the map? If you have a hunch where these places are, you can just roam the map for them. Otherwise, look at the list on the left. The towns with asterisks are places where one or more of us have agreed to tell our names. If you click on the name or the upside-down teardrop you will see a box with the names in it.

I hope you will have fun with the map. Margaret and I agreed that it makes our group seem more real---- having your name there is a way of waving to us all and saying "Hi, I'm here!" I hope more of us will want to chime in and say hello this way. (Remember---no one can contact you through this map. It's just a way to visualize our group.)

Last week I sent you Christel's sesame parmesan and Betsy's cream sauce. Both recipes are now on our home page under Newest Recipes (the cream sauce has been renamed Betsy's Spicy Cheese Sauce) --- http://mindfulcooking.org/

We have two new recipes this week. The first is also from Betsy in California, her colorful Tempeh Rice Salad:
Tempeh Rice Salad

The second comes from Kerstin in Sweden, her Fresh Broad Bean Guacamole. This was so interesting for me----I had never heard of broad beans and had to look them up. It turns out that they are called fava beans here, which I had heard of but never used. Thanks to Kerstin, now I know they are a lovely green color, just like the more familiar guacamole. Here's what Kerstin says:
Hello Eve! I´d like to contribute a recipe för a dish that is wonderful in itself and that can also substitute guacamole for those of us who live very far away from where avocados grow and want to eat more local products. Broad beans grow well here in Sweden and probably all of Europe and places with similar climate. They have a lovely taste and are rich in protein. Let´s call the dish "Fresh broad bean guacamole". ... Enjoy on bread, with Tacos etc or as a side dish. If you add fresh Basil you can turn it into a nutritious "Fresh Broad Bean Pesto". Fresh Broad Bean Guacamole

Last week I asked for suggestions for Alison in New Hampshire, who was in the doldrums, an "all time low" with cooking: "I get a strong feeling of irritation at the thought of shopping for and putting together a meal. I'd like to try and find a way of enjoying cooking though. Any ideas?"

I haven't heard from anyone else but have been pondering this myself. I think we all have days like that, especially if we're cooking for one. Here's an idea: invite someone over for dinner! I know I always try harder if someone else will be here. I don't necessarily make something fancy, but I cook with more attention and sense of purpose----and I am rewarded by the smiles and kind comments of my dining partners. And----I am likely to have leftovers so I don't have to cook again for a couple of days ;-)

Do you have ways of getting the joy back in cooking? Please let us know!

Remember----our Summer Potluck in Portland is coming up soon----scheduled for August 24 but, as I suggested last time, that can be changed if someone wants to host on another date. Susan sent some thoughts:
Loved the videos. Especially the fruits et legumes moches! But Jana’s pictures are inspiring! I think a picnic is a great idea. you can reserve tables in the city parks, I think. Washington Park is beautiful, and I know there are others. Another thought—does the potluck have to be on a weekend?

Does anyone else have thoughts about that?

Happy cooking,
Eve