Magic 5 Snack Bites

From http://www.yumuniverse.com

With all of the processed snacks on the market, people don’t often take the time to create snacks from scratch. I made this recipe to show people just how easy it is to make a snack that is healthy, delicious, and one that the kids all love. Made with 5 ingredients in 5 minutes, my Magic Five Snack Bites are the perfect snack to cure any snack craving—the healthy way. This recipe has been a huge hit among my friends, family, and followers and I thought it would be a great addition to your cookbook!

Servings: 16 bites
Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup raw organic almonds
1 cup fresh dates (about 10 dates), pitted (depending on how fresh your dates are, you may need to add more to create more “stickiness”)
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
Dash of sea salt

Steps:
Place all ingredients into a  food processor, and process until mixture is loose, small crumbles—about 1 minute.

Use a tablespoon to take a spoon full from blender —pack it in between your hands, by forming a fist—then, roll into a ball. (Please note: if you notice that your crumbles are not packing together, just add another date, or a few dates to make the mixture more sticky.)

Stores well in an airtight container for up to 5 days (if they last that long!)

Top 10 recommended vegan good blogs in 2013
by theveganwoman.com

1.   http://www.thisrawsomeveganlife.com

2.   http://www.maplespice.com

3.   http://www.ohsheglows.com

4.  kblog.lunchboxbunch.com

5.   http://www.blog.fatfreevegan.com

6.   http://www.theppk.com

7.   http://www.theveganchickpea.com

8.   http://www.veganricha.com

9.   http://www.yumuniverse.com

10  http://www.veganyackattack.com

 

One Can Attain Enlightenment Anywhere – part 5

Now, when we practice this so-called Quan Yin Method, we will understand many things of the universe, many things of this world that we never dream of understanding before. There are things we can express to our neighbors, but there are many things, numerous things, that we can never talk about, because the world of the Buddha is extraordinary and exceptional. There is nothing in this world we can compare it to or make an example of.

Much of our wisdom remains unused. But after we become enlightened and become more and more enlightened, a portion of it will be incorporated into our daily life to make us more loving, more intelligent, more selfless and more able to serve the world. And whatever we do, will be better quality. Of course, we have a long way to go to become a Buddha, but compared to before enlightenment, we have much, much greater intelligence and capability. Therefore enlightenment is not only for monks, not only for the renunciate in the Himalayas or the people in the mountain caves, it is for everyone of this world.

Why do I say much of our wisdom remains unused? It is because some of our knowledge is for preparation for the Buddha Land, and only some of it can be used in this world. The limitations of this world, lack of material, lack of different information  make us unable to use most of the wisdom. For example, when we achieve a little bit higher level of practice, we are able to see the land of the Buddha. That is not the highest level. To be able to see the Buddha Land, to see the Buddha is not the highest level. It is high but not the highest. Now, I just cited an example, you are able to see inside of the Buddha Land, or the Buddha. I think you can say, it is at the middle level of practice.

When you see the Buddha Land you are in the middle level. We can say approximately like that. There is much more to go, but when we can see the Buddha Land we are already much wiser. We would have learned a great deal during our meditation, during our daily practice, during our sleep.

After the initiation, even when we are asleep, we go to the higher land and learn many things. Otherwise two and half hours of practice every day is not enough. We use any rest period to learn also. Any activities become in-built with Buddha’s wisdom. Then when we see the Buddha Land, we learn many things and we know how to build houses in a different manner. We know how to build many things, for example, UFO’s. We know that houses in the Buddha Land are build in crystals, with diamonds, with gold instead of brick and cement, because we have been there and have seen that. We have seen many other extraordinary machines being built. This is just an example. It is a true example.

And then when you come back to this world, out of your meditation, out of the trip to the Buddha Land, and you, for example, want to construct such a house, such machinery in order to help human beings, you cannot find such beautiful crystals in this world. You cannot find such a wonderful method in this world to build this kind of house, to build this kind of machinery. Therefore, your wisdom, your knowledge remains unused. That is why I said much of our wisdom remains unused in this world, except when all human beings are enlightened.

We hope that day will come, then we will all enjoy Nirvana here. The atmosphere will change and all the disasters will disappear. All the sicknesses and sorrow will be no more. Then there is no need even for UFO. But until that day, we have to practice ourselves, and be satisfied with this world.

After leaving this world a practitioner of the Quan Yin Method will not have to be reborn again in this world, unless that person wants to come back as Buddha, a Bodhisattva to help the suffering of humankind, because there are many more beautiful, extraordinary, magnificent worlds for the practitioners of the Quan Yin Method to go. He has no need of this suffering world. His wisdom, his vibration, after practicing the Quan Yin Method has risen to the level of sainthood and enables him to be fit to live in the glory of Kingdom of God or Nirvana. Otherwise to the ordinary person, the Light, the glory of Heaven is terrible, is unbearable for them. They will not be able to bear it. This is just like the beggar not used to the palace of the king. He will feel very uncomfortable and humiliated. In which case, even the servant, the lowest kind of servant will look better and more confident than him.

Therefore we have to be prepared for the Buddha Land or for Heaven. We have to change our internal wisdom, we have to change our vibration, the frequency of our internal being. I just wanted to give you an example to understand. Even in this world, we have people with different frequencies.

That is the reason when we see someone we feel very comfortable or when we see someone else we feel very disturbed and we do not understand why. That is the reason why many people like to come to see the monks, to see the religious leaders, to see the yogis, or to see the practitioners of some kind. That is the reason why people loved to see the Buddha or Jesus Christ when they were alive, which caused a lot of envy and jealousy amongst the contemporary so-called practitioners. It is because when people see such persons, their vibration, their holy frequency, their very enlightened, comfortable, healing energy will make people around feel so comfortable, so blissful and so enlightened. Therefore now you remember and understand that the different vibrations, the different frequencies truly do exist.

So after we practice Quan Yin Method for some time, we will feel ourselves, the different vibrations between different people, we will be able to sense it, and we will be able to know ourselves. We will be able to know what kind of level we are in. When we reach the level of “non-level,” the “non-discriminating level,” then we can say that is Buddha hood.

Of course, you are all welcome and are invited to join this circle, free of charge, no string attached, free of any condition. Of course, you ask me where do I get all this money from. You can be sure that it is not forced from you, from your pocket. God gives me all the money I need, and much more that I ever needed so that I can donate to the poor and the needy of this world. God also gives me the spiritual wealth, more than I ever need, so that I can share it with all the people of the world. The money does not rain from the Heaven. God gives me many talents so I am able to earn money through these. Now if you have any questions and issues that are not clear to you, I am honored to answer.

Thank you for your attention.

One Can Attain Enlightenment Anywhere – part 4

The ultimate way to reach the Buddha hood is mentioned in the Surangama Sutra, and in many other scriptures of the world religions. After practicing the Quan Yin Method you will understand exactly what I said, without anyone having to teach you so. In the Surangama Sutra, it is said that the ultimate way, the last road is the Quan Yin Method. Quan Yin Method is to listen to your own inner Nature.

There is a kind of Energy, a kind of vibration that can be heard without the ears. These silent Words of God, of Buddha are the source of all wisdom. If whatever I said appeals to you and seems a little wise to you, it is due to the Quan Yin Method that I have practiced, that I have learned directly from the source of all creation. Of course, these are the things that I can express by words. There are many more things that only I can understand and cannot be explained in human languages. But there are some things that you could know without explanation.

For example, at the time of initiation, at the time that you want to learn the method which is called Quan Yin in Surangama Sutra, you will immediately attain what we call enlightenment and have many kinds, or some kinds, or one kind of experience, which is stated in the above mentioned scriptures of the world religions. And you will continue to have this enlightenment, you will develop the enlightenment, and the enlightenment will even get greater, because we are in direct contact with our Buddha Nature or the Kingdom of God. My disciples can testify to my words.

You are always welcomed to write and ask any of them. You can write to American disciples. You can write to English disciples. You can write to European disciples. You can write to Chinese disciples, Vietnamese disciples, disciples in Philippines, disciples in Singapore, disciples in Thailand. Just pick any name and ask them whether what I have said is true. That is how we know whether the Quan Yin Method is truly in accordance with the great religions of the world. At least I mean the five great religions.

Now religion is not merely recitation of the words of the past Masters, like Buddha, like Jesus Christ…but it is the incorporation of their wisdom into our daily lives. It is the sincere upkeep of their precepts, their commandments. And it is the polishing of wisdom daily within a very wise method. If all of this is combined together, we can call it a religion.

A true Buddhist must be able to contact the Buddha inside, knowing what the Buddha is. A true Christian should be able to contact Christ or God, otherwise how do we know if God exists. If Buddha is real, a true Buddhist should be able, at least to have a glimpse of something from the Buddha Land, or some glimpse of the great Light of the Buddha, or be able to hear  Buddha’s teaching directly. This is what Quan Yin Method enables you to do.

The Buddha does not teach with the ordinary English or with ordinary Korean language. But the Buddha’s teaching is with a quiet voice, in the universal language, which is very much like a beautiful melody. That is why in the Buddhist scriptures, it is stated that the Buddha speaks only in one kind of language, but all beings are able to understand in their own languages. It is the true scripture, the true teaching of the Buddha. That is why the more we listen to this inner Sound the wiser we become. The more we see the inner Light of God, of Buddha, the wiser we will be. This is how we become the true followers of Buddha or of Christ.

This is not expressed in the Bible or in the Buddhist Scriptures. It only mentions the Quan Yin Method. It only mentions the experiences of the practitioners of the Quan Yin Method. It does not mention how to practice it. Even it does mention, but without the Power of a realized Master, it is not real.  Because the way of the Buddha cannot be taught by language, or by action. It can only be transmitted from inner wisdom to our own wisdom. It is our wisdom that receives the initiation, the awakening, not our brain or our mind. Therefore, there is a necessity of a so-called “initiation,” to bring down the Buddha’s Power from Nirvana to awaken our own Buddha’s Power.

When I say Nirvana you should also understand it means the Kingdom of God in Christianity. I am also like the Korean people,  I do not discriminate amongst any religion. I think we have the same kind of understanding. That is why I feel so good in Korea, even at the first meeting with the Korean people.

So it is not explained in the Scriptures how to do it, because it has to be transmitted internally. But, because there were so many experiences, the results of the practice have been written in the Scriptures. Therefore, if we now have the same kinds of experiences, we know that we practicing the right method.

Actually, the method is not as important as the transmission of the Power of the wisdom. It is just because in our society we have to offer some kind of a concrete project, otherwise people do not accept. Therefore, we have to say I have a method for you. Therefore, you will understand, yes there is something to learn, something to know, something to develop. Otherwise, even if there is such a method, or even if it is written down in black and white, you have no benefit when reading it, because the Master’s power, the transmission lineage is missing.

Therefore, from ancient times you do not find such a method was written down. That is why most people understood the practicing of the Buddha hood to be a kind of mystery, very difficult to understand, very difficult to obtain. Yes, it is, but no, it is not. Yes, if we do not find someone who knows it, but if we find someone who has already known it, it’s very easy. And we can get immediate enlightenment, provided that we are sincere and the master accepts us.

That is how I learned. So that is how you can learn also. Even though there is nothing material to obtain, but there is something that we will know very well, when we are enlightened.

Are you tired already? (Applause) Should I continue? (Loud applause) Thank you. I appreciate your sincerity. That is what makes Korea become a great country, because of the spirituality that Korean people are after. Even though they are very capable of building a nation.

One Can Attain Enlightenment Anywhere – part 3

There were many other Saints, who were sent down from time to time to help to enlighten the people of this world. But then the Buddha had forgotten for almost thirty years, until he saw with his own eyes the suffering of the people of India at that time.

Therefore we do not know whether we are also Buddha, until we get enlightened, by chance or by the grace of any enlightened Master. Of course, you are invited to know yourself, to know whether you are a Buddha or not a Buddha.  Then you will know what the Buddha said is true Everyone is a Buddha. Everyone has the Buddha Nature inside waiting to be discovered.

But of course the ability to discover ourselves varies from one person to another. Therefore the levels of enlightenment are different. But if two persons have the same level of consciousness, their experiences are much the same. That is why the way of practice is called the “Tao,” which means the Path, the Road. Since it is a “road,” each one who travels this “road” will see practically the same things. The things which they see difference only by the length of the road that they have discovered. But if two persons have discovered the same distance, they should have experienced the same scenery.

If the Tao is different, how come all the Buddhas reached the same Buddha hood and did not reach anything else. If there are many roads, then the experiences of the people must be different from each other. But according to the Buddhist Sutras and other Holy books of different religions, the experiences of different people, who practice the Holy way are the same, or more or less the same.

There are of course, many, many wonderful experiences, when you become realized inside. But I’ll just cite some practical examples. Such as, in all kinds of religions, it mentioned the great Light of God, the great Light of the Buddha or scenes from the Buddha Land. I have studied various Scriptures of different religions, and whatever is mentioned is very similar to other scriptures. It is difficult to discern this matter before enlightenment, but after enlightenment, or even with a small degree of enlightenment, we will be able to see this very clearly. That is why I have mentioned earlier that the great people of Korea are very elevated, very high level of consciousness.

It is the same people of India, because they have understood the basic similarities of many religions. Some people think that the people of India worship many Gods. It is not that a multitude of hierarchies of Gods exists in India. It is just that they symbolically respect all the leaders, all the masters of different religions past and present.

In Korea we have many temples, so many churches and so many other practicing centers. It is much similar in spirit. But I think the Korean people are blessed with the more practical aspect of life. Therefore they understand both, the spirit and they take care of their material comfort. I have stated that it is very rare.

Now let us come back to what I just have said before. We do not have to lose all this attainment in the material world in order to gain enlightenment. We can sit in our house, enjoy all the comforts, fulfill our duties, and become great enlightened Saints at the same time. Provided that, we sincerely want enlightenment in order to understand more about life, death and the universe, about any other matters that we could not understand previously in order to serve the world in a better way, in a wiser way and to be of use to ourselves and the whole universe.

We have to think like the Buddha. We have to live the way of the Buddha. We do not just worship the Buddha. The Buddha said that we are the future Buddhas. He said it two thousand six hundred  years ago. We are in that future now, so there is no more time to wait. We could become a Buddha now; at least we learn the way of the Buddha or how to become a Buddha.

The way of the Buddha is laid out in all the Scriptures, but how to become a Buddha is not explained. Therefore, we have worshipped the Buddha for many thousands of years but we have not dreamed of becoming a Buddha. Because how to become a Buddha is not to be done by spoken languages. It is the Power that is inherent inside us, and we have to do it, to discover it ourselves. If you could do it alone, it is fine and good. If we could not reveal our own greatness, then we have to seek someone to show us how to do it.

Similarly, if we could not speak English and we could not learn it ourselves, then we must find a very good English teacher. It is very simple and similar to any kind of science. As I have said the way is the same. There may be many sideways before the highway, but ultimately there is only one way.

One Can Attain Enlightenment Anywhere – part 2

It is very comfortable to stay in the Himalayas or to stay in some remote, quiet place to enjoy the bliss of the meditational fruit. But it is a greater joy to share this bliss and practice, the fruit of our practice, with the multitude of the people, and practice. It took me a long time to realize this. It was also difficult to forsake Nirvana. It is difficult to realize, after you have attained peace and happiness inside, to remember that in the world there are many people still suffering. It is not very difficult, but it just happens to be not so easy to convince yourself to go out into the world again. Because, when we are in a blissful state of mind, we think differently. We feel differently. We feel everyone is a Buddha. We see the world is in perfect order. It is because of the different state of mind. That is why Lao Tzu in Tao Te Ching said; There is nothing to do under the Heaven.

But in fact, there is something to do, because when we remember our previous ignorance before enlightenment, we were also in a kind of spiritual suffering. Then somebody came and asked me to come out and teach them, to help them, and it is difficult to say no. But it is good for someone to come and ask for enlightenment or for help spiritually. Otherwise, I think no Master ever thinks of going out into the world to share the knowledge and the bliss, that person or Master has attained.

As I have stated earlier, it is not the selfishness of the Master. It is just that the realized person thinks differently and feels different. That is why someone had to force Lao Tzu to write the great book, Tao Te Ching. He was forced to write it. He was forced to reveal along with the book, the invisible written secret, which was revealed only to a few. It is not the book that is important. It is the mystery, the unwritten words that Lao Tzu has revealed to these chosen few, which was important.

Buddha, when He was enlightened, did not want to go out into the world to teach anyone, because he thought he should enjoy Nirvana. In case some of you do not understand “Nirvana,” it is a word in Sanskrit to indicate a very high state of consciousness, blissful, tranquil, desire less state of mind. But then the God Brahma appeared to him and appealed to him to go out to teach the eager people. Probably at that time, he was hiding somewhere and no one was near him to come to appeal to him for enlightenment. So the God Brahma had to do it.

Now we would wonder why Brahma had to make this request like this. It was because many people prayed to Brahma for blessings, enlightenment and deliverance. Brahma is the God of the Third Heaven. According to Hinduism, Brahma is the creator of our world, of this universe….

…..

So we answered the question why Brahma requested Buddha to spread enlightenment doctrine to the world at that time. It is because Brahma being one of the Gods, not of the highest rank in the hierarchy of the Universal Government, could see and hear the suffering of the world, whereby the Buddha at that time, in his highest realization could not. So someone like Brahma had to remind Him.

We often think that the Buddha, the Almighty God will listen to our prayers. But according to my knowledge, it is not so, because according to the highest power, the world is already in order, and all the sufferings in the world are lessons for us to go through in order to grow and mature.  God, the Almighty God, the highest Buddha, does not worry much. It is some other kind of God or lower Bodhisattva who understands and sympathizes with our suffering.

Just like the highest authority of the educational system gives orders for a team to think up the questions in the examination. He does not worry about whether the students can answer them or not and the sufferings of the students who cannot answer. So some of the teachers have to take care and help the students to overcome all these obstacles.

I think I am getting into trouble now – talking about something so abstract. Are you all right? Can you still follow? (Applause) All right. Then I shall continue.

When Buddha reached the highest realization, he reached back to his original Self again, and this original great Self is always in bliss and eternally peaceful. Therefore, he could not understand much of the suffering of the ignorant people, who have not reached the state of enlightenment like he did.

Brahma was the one who looked after the welfare of this world, seeing who is doing good, who is doing bad, so he knows better. Just like the president or the king of a nation has to rely on his ministers, his subordinates of lower ranks like congressman, the ministers, etc… to report to him the wishes of his people.

So now, when we the people suffer enough from the cloud, the prison of our ignorance, we will pray to the Almighty or the greatest Buddha to help to deliver us. And then when it is reported to the Almighty, someone will be sent here to lead these people out of their mind of suffering. The Buddha was one of those who was sent down; so was Jesus.

One Can Attain Enlightenment Anywhere – part 1

Spoken by Master Ching Hai
Korea, March 22, 1992

To the good and intelligent people of great Korea, I have long admired your country. One of the cars that was recommended to me is the Sien-tai (Hyundai). Correct? It is from Korea? And it is a very good car. (Applause) It is not the car that makes me admire your country. It is the spirit of your people that impresses me and impresses the world.

When I was in America and some other different countries, before I took over this “business,” I have often met many Korean monks and lay people and gone to their temples. And whenever I pass by Korea, I always remember to buy some ginseng and kim chi. Therefore I think I have a lot of affinity with Korean people even before we have official meeting like today.

I am very, very honored to have this occasion, this opportunity to address the great people of this country. (Applause) I have felt much affection, good spirit and good will from this place, the moment I stepped down from the airplane in Seoul airport. The overwhelming love of your people makes me feel somehow a little bit shy. But I guess it is because your people have so much love inside, that they have to express it to the world outside.

Since I arrived in this town, numerous people have been coming to welcome me, and to see me in my small room. The warm feeling is still kind of overwhelming in my heart. I wish I could serve your country in whatever way I can. But since I am originally a Buddhist renunciate, I can only serve you in the teaching of the Buddha; especially now that your country is well developed and there is not much need of material support.

Your country has risen up rapidly and the people have risen in consciousness, as well as in a responsible attitude; this creates much respect and admiration from the whole world. And since I have been in close contact with some of your people yesterday and today, I understand why it has happened so.

I understand that God or who you call “Buddha” has blessed your country abundantly. I have seen so many temples, so many monks around the city and in the capital also. I have seen so many Christian churches also growing together with other religious centers. Then I understand that your country, your people are very highly elevated spiritually.

It is only when people are highly elevated spiritually that their hearts can be so open and their mind so tolerant, so large. This enables us to understand that all good religions, all main basic religions are good and are meant for well-being of humankind. This is what I call civilization. Civilization is not measured in wealth or in mechanical development only, but it is measured in the way people are developed spiritually.

We have often heard people say that spiritual practice does not go with the worldly achievement. We have often heard that in order to reach Buddha hood or the Kingdom of God, we have to forsake the whole world, be in a secluded place, and just practice alone or with a group of people. There is some truth in that. But it would be better if we develop spiritually and also look after the material world, so that we can live our lives in this world productively, feeling well and comfortable, and at the same time develop our wisdom.

The great people of Korea somehow manage to do both. This is a balance rarely seen in this world. I humbly congratulate you. (Applause) And in this strength, your country will continue to develop spiritually and materially to bring peace, happiness and prosperity to your great nation.

I think we humans have frail bodies, and our minds are also sometimes weak. If we have a very uncomfortable life, lacking in material comfort, then this will affect our health and our mental equilibrium. Then it is difficult for us to concentrate, to be calmed internally. It does not matter whether we are in the Himalayas or in the market, we can’t achieve the highest meditation experiences that we wish to obtain. Most of us have family, have national affairs, have international trades and businesses to attend to, so we can’t run away into the mountains or hideaway in the caves and just take care of our spiritual practice. Therefore it is very practical to take care of our family, our national affairs and to find a way to practice wherever we are.

Germany Spends Millions on Animal-only bridges

Germany is living up to its environmentally-friendly image by spending millions of euro’s on building bridges just for animals. Humans caught crossing them face a €35 fine. More than a hundred wildlife bridges are to be built in the next decade.

Gerhard Klesen, a forester employed by the Ruhr Regional Association, spent a decade campaigning for an animal-only bridge to be built over a motorway in the town of Schermbeck in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Man-made barriers such as roads and canals restrict animals’ natural movement, he said. That limits genetic diversity, which in turn leads to an increase in disease and shortened lifespan. The ‘Green Bridges’ are designed to counteract this effect.

“The area of land east of the motorway at Schermbeck is much smaller than that on the western side,” Klesen told The Local. That’s led to a decrease in species diversity on the eastern side, prompting Klesen to launch his ten-year campaign, which culminated in the opening of the “green bridge” – Germany’s 35th – exactly a year ago.

But it was not always an easy sell. “Bridges cost a lot of money,” Klesen said. However the determined forester persisted in his campaign, which got a financial boost from the Netherlands in 2005, where such bridges are relatively commonplace. “They’re way ahead of us there,” Klesen told The Local.

Both federal and EU funding followed and in September 2012, the €4.5 million, 2,700 square-meter bridge opened to animals.

“It usually takes a year before an animal dares to cross the green bridge,” Klesen said. But the animals of Schermbeck are a plucky bunch. “One red stag traversed the bridge just three days after it was opened,” Klesen said. Others followed suit and within a few days, boars were making the journey too.

Cameras set up along the bridge have captured a variety of creatures, including rabbits, foxes and bats, making their way across the specially-designed terrain.

“There are strips of sand just for insects, as well as grass, shrubs and other vegetation providing food and shelter to some of the smaller creatures,” said Klesen.

Some animals, like mice, take to life in transit so much that they set up their permanent homes on the bridge. Others travel back and forth. Stags in particular often make the journey in search of a mate.

Although it will take decades to assess whether the bridge is managing to promote genetic diversity and health among bigger animals, the effects on smaller animals with shorter lifespan could be studied soon.

from http://www.thelocal.de

Meatless Mondays: Eating to Save the World

by Ellen Kanner

October 1 – World Vegetarian Day, kicking off a whole month of meatless joy and awareness. Just in time, too, because honey, people need some of both. As a lead-up to World Vegetarian Day, I spoke to two different groups about my favorite subject — eating to save the world.

That sounds like a tall order. Can what we eat end sickness, war, global hunger or environmental catastrophe, basically your Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? I believe it’s possible. As I say in my book, “Feeding the Hungry Ghost,” change your diet, then change your life, then change the world. Any move towards a greener diet results in a stronger, healthier you and a stronger, healthier planet.

A diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans, nuts and seeds results in longer, healthier lives, according to a June JAMA study. Stanford University finds a produce-driven diet helps the planet live better, too. Growing produce generates less carbon emissions and uses less water than raising livestock and takes less of an environmental toll. Livestock production is also one of our greatest causes of deforestation, which is making for a hotter, less sustainable planet. And a new University of Minnesota study finds if we switch farmland dedicated to livestock production and livestock feed to food for us, we’d have a recipe to end global hunger.

The possibilities are so amazing, I get revved when I do these presentations — and I’m not a big talker by nature. I am, however, a very, very good listener. The best part for me comes after my presentation, when I can hear what’s going on with people in the audience. What they tell me is they’re overwhelmed — food allergies, environmental concerns, a kid who only eats chicken nuggets, no time. I try to offer people some real concrete takeaway, including my number one multitasking tool — eat less processed, more produce. I show how to add greens to your favorite foods, the ones you already turn to for comfort. I provide plant-based incentive by make something vegan to sample — free eats that taste good and do both you and the planet great good, too.

We often feel helpless in our daily lives — God know I do. Superhero? Not so much. No obvious superhero power or even fab superhero gear. And yet, we all have the power to save the world with something we do every day — by choosing what we eat.

Like I said, we could use some joy and awareness, and now’s the time. Yesterday Meatless Monday, today is World Vegetarian Day, October is Vegetarian Awareness Month. Let’s observe, honor and celebrate it by remembering eating is an essential, life-sustaining act sustaining act, for you — and if you do it right, for the planet, too.

Black Beans and Kale Save the World

Using canned beans saves you time, making dried beans from scratch will be cheaper — and results in more tender beans. You deserve tenderness but it’s your call.

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 sweet red pepper, chopped
1 hot pepper, like a jalapeño, chopped
12 ounces dried black beans cooked with 2 garlic cloves and 2 bay leaves
OR 2 15-ounce cans prepared black beans with their bean broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar OR 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 head kale or Swiss chard, sliced into skinny ribbons*
sea salt to taste

In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until they start to sweat, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and both the sweet and hot pepper.

Stir to combine and reduce heat to medium. Cook the vegetables, stirring occasionally, for another 15 minutes, until they’re softened and aromatic.

Add the black beans. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium, set the pot lid on halfway, leaving a little steam vent.

Cook the beans for an hour, longer if you’ve got the time. Add a quarter cup of water if necessary. The beans should be thick but not over-dry. The goal is a divine beanly sludge.

Stir in the tomato paste, smoked paprika and sherry or cider vinegar. Remove from heat.

Add the chiffonade of kale or chard by the handful. Stir gently, letting the greens wilt into the beans.

Season with sea salt to taste.

Serves 6 to 8.

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