Found Exhortation
Similar Posts
Sculptures Around Town (and Overdoing the Quest for Youth)
Every time I walk past this sculpture, I wonder whose idea it was to repaint it. For a long time it the gilding was chipped and faded. For me it had much more charm showing its age.
So too, I think, with humans. It is great to feel and look youthful naturally because of proper care of health, and quite another to disfigure ourselves and our looks with surgery and treatment seeking always to look like we have not fully lived out some life.
By all means, seek to remain vibrant and supple, but do please also honor the signs of experience.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Occupy DC–The Morning After
When I was on my way to do volunteer work this morning, I rode the bus past the dregs of Occupy DC-McPherson Square. The police presence was thick. I wasn’t sure why the heavy construction equipment was necessary. It is hard to know what will happen to the movement when it loses its physical location. It is clear that the idea of “occupy” has already entered popular culture, and the idea of the 99% will be part of this year’s Federal elections.
As things are created and dissolved, it is always hard to know what will stay and what will disappear from the fabric of our lives. Part of it depends on the strength of the ideas. Part depends on the commitment of those involved to transform and evolve to keep what is good moving forward even when beset with challenge and upheaval. As for the last photograph, which was taken just down the street (the cop cars were clearly related to those in the Square)–I couldn’t tell you what god or whose country; could you?
Vegan Lace Cookies (for the Holiday Party I’m Attending Tonight)
1. Melt 1/2 cup organic vegetable shortening.2. Stir in 1 cup sucanat (evaporated cane syrup).
3. Then stir in equivalent of one egg of prepared egg replacer (potato starch-based) and one tsp vanilla.
4. Combine 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour, dash salt, one tsp baking powder, and 1/4 cup flax seed meal; stir into shortening/sugar mixture.
5. Mix in 1/2 cup dried, shredded coconut.
6. Stir in 1/2 cup vegan, fair trade chocolate chips or chopped dried fruit. (I have not tried it with fruit, but I am sure it would work. Chopped nuts also would be good, but with all the allergies around, I’ve pretty much stopped bringing nutty things to parties unless I have made non-nut things also.)
7. Chill dough for about 1/2 hour.
8. Put slightly rounded teaspoonfuls of dough with lots of space in between (these spread out a lot) onto very well greased baking sheet. Bake at 350-375 (depending on how hot is your oven and whether it is convection) for 12-15 minutes until bubbling and almost caramelized.
9. After removing from oven, allow to set briefly (3-4 minutes, but not longer or they will stick to pan; if they do stick, put back in heated oven for a couple of minutes). Use a metal, rather than plastic spatula to remove cookies from sheet to help prevent breakage. Finish cooling on wire racks.
These are super crunchy and delicious (due to their high fat and sugar content–just because something is vegan doesn’t mean it is “healthy”), but a little bit more fragile than completely desirable. If anyone has suggestions on how to make less fragile, but still keep the lace quality and be vegan, your sharing would be welcome by all, I am sure. Switching from egg replacer to egg if you are not vegan would likely be the easiest fix. One of these days, when I have the time and inclination, I will try another version and change the quantities to see what happens.
