A soup, a movie and a potluck

First, a warm welcome to Jan Nergard who is joining our circle and adding a new country for us----Norway! He learned of our project through my recent article in the Mindfulness Bell. He is new to plant-based cooking and hoping to find some "good and simple" ideas----a goal I know is shared by many of us. And---late-breaking news----a warm welcome also to Vinh Nguyen who is joining us from Saigon, Vietnam!

This week's new recipe ---with enticing photo----comes from Jana in the Netherlands:
In August, I was at the Dutch retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh in the European Institute of Applied Buddhism in Waldbröl (see http://eiab.eu/). It was my first retreat and very inspiring! And there were many wonderful people and lots of great food, all vegan! Although the food was prepared under relatively primitive conditions (a tiny kitchen and a party tent) for over 700 people (over 1000 in the preceding German retreat), it was delicious. Every afternoon and evening there was a variety of fragrant and colorful, tasty dishes. In this way thousands of people each year in the EIAB, Plum Village, and other centers, can get acquainted with vegan food and they can discover how good it can be. Compliments for the (predominantly Vietnamese) monks and nuns of Plum Village and EIAB!

When we arrived in Waldbröl it was raining and cold. In the pouring rain, I and many others put up our tents in the orchard. So it was wonderful that evening that we were treated to a warming soup with lots of lemongrass, ginger and coconut, shiitake and lime leaves. I have tried to make this soup at home, combining some recipes from the Internet, and this was the outcome:
Vietnamese Soup with Lemongrass and Shiitake
---Jana

Thanks, Jana----I can almost taste it already!

I recently heard a presentation by one of the directors of Cowspiracy and was very impressed. I was reminded again what an important movie this is and how much I hope everyone will see it. Luckily, an opportunity is coming up here in Portland. Our own Steven is one of the organizers:

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret
Screening of Cowspiracy Movie.
First Unitarian Church 1011 SW 12th Ave. at Salmon
Eliot Chapel Sunday, November 2nd at 1:00 pm. Free

This is the film that environmental organizations don't want you to see. "COWSPIRACY: The Sustainability Secret" is a groundbreaking feature-length environmental documentary following an intrepid filmmaker as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today – and investigates why the world's leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it.

Thanks, Steven!

More good news for Portland people-----Linda and John have offered to host our Fall Potluck. They live in SE Portland across from Laurelhurst Park:
Fall Potluck, Saturday, Nov. 8, 6PM
Linda and John's house
140 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd.
503-239-5016
[email protected]

Thanks, Linda and John! Now that we know where we will be, let's find out who will be there. It helps so much to know how many to expect. When you know your plans, please let me or Linda know. I'll send more details next time. Looking forward to it!

A tasty soup, an important movie, and a potluck gathering-----all good news.

Happy cooking,
Eve