Eve's email to the group

When this project began, I thought it was just about recipes, but over the years I've come to realize how much it is also about community. Before this started I never imagined I would get to know someone in Nebraska or North Carolina or Texas, much less Argentina, Singapore or Ireland. I'm old enough to still marvel at the phenomenon called the Internet that has gathered us together from all those places and many more. I'm the lucky one who ended up in the middle of this, hearing from each of you at least once, getting to know you by name, feeling connected by our common interest in mindful cooking. Every time we add someone from a new state or country, I've been adding a sticker to my world map, and we all gaze at it during our potlucks in Portland.

Recently my talented son Evan showed me how to create a Google map of us. This allowed me to pinpoint not only the state or country but the town, available for all to see. Putting each of you on the map made me see that this is indeed a small planet--- and that we are among friends! I hope you will enjoy looking at the map, zooming out for the big picture, zooming in to see just where Skibbereen is or Marl or Port Chester or Eureka. As you look at all those red upside-down teardrops, remember that each one locates at least one person who may be trying your favorite recipe or reading the same email at this very moment. Would you like to know who it is? Would you be willing to have me post your name----either whole name or just first name----along with your town? The map will be on our website soon. Here we all are:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=z83MeVnxaQv8.kyuSjKc6_q1E

If I missed your town, please let me know and I'll be glad to add it. (I'm thinking particularly of Sandra, Kathleen and Manon-----I don't have a location for you and hope you'll let me know where you are!)

We had our Spring Potluck in Portland last Sunday, ten of us around the table, enjoying a real feast. We talked of what attracts us to these potlucks----several said they liked the chance to try a variety of dishes, Sarah noted that the conversation runs deep, Margaret saw it as a "coming together that we don't have in other places...a way of having 'communion' with each other." Steven spoke of this group as one of" multiple overlapping communities" and told of his work with the UU Animal Ministries, including a presentation by Melanie Joy, author of "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows." Linda spoke of food choices and relationships---meat-eating as an element in the bond with her spouse----hunting as practiced by Native American friends. Sigrid is taking on gluten-free baking as "a joy, a prayer, and a gesture of love" for her gluten-free kids. On a more mundane level, we had a funny conversation about chocolate cravings that started out as a serious effort to overcome this very common character flaw but ended with us imagining an all-chocolate potluck! (I wonder how many people would show up if we did ;-) We learned that mushrooms are good steamed--- that The Sudra is a great new vegan Indian restaurant in Portland----and Veggie Thai is also "fabulous". Finally, I told of my recent discovery of "Hilary's" incredibly healthy veggie burgers---free of gluten, soy, nuts, corn and yeast--- all non-GMO----all ingredients organic but the salt. They have minimal packaging and can be cooked in your toaster----and they are tasty! I keep them on hand for times when I need something quick and easy.

All this talk took place as we consumed much good food. Here is the first of the recipes, Margaret's soothing soup:
http://mindfulcooking.org/recipes/margarets-cream-asparagus-soup

I heard from Susan in Portland this week. She is just back from a trip to Italy, catching up on the last couple weeks of email:

I had forgotten about (or missed?) the prune delicacies, but they sound like just the things for our building open house next Sunday. I’m saving the thrive forward to read later. I must say, Christel seems to be one of our most enthusiastic participants. Someday it would be nice to meet her.

This lasagna looks wonderful. I will try it. Thanks for introducing the Yum Universe blog. She does a good job. I was also thrilled to hear from your Dutch correspondent that she and her family unabashedly eat peanut butter and banana! This combo has been one of my favorites forever, but I haven’t thought of it for breakfast—Why not???
Susan

Thanks to the Internet, Jana in The Netherlands is revolutionizing breakfast over here.... we are all connected.....lovely.
Happy cooking,
Eve