Chunky Mushroom Chowder

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: (8)

Serve this low fat, hearty Italian style soup with a green salad and crusty whole wheat roll for a quick comforting meal. Vary the amount of red pepper flakes according to taste preference.




Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 lb sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cups chopped chives or leeks
(white part only, about 1 large)
1 large potato, peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1⁄4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups water
2 cups frozen corn kernels (or canned)
1 (796 ml) can diced tomatoes
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
1⁄3 cup chopped parsley (optional)

Directions:

1. In large saucepan heat oil over medium heat; add mushrooms, chives/leeks, potato, garlic, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes; sauté about 5 minutes. Add water and corn; bring to boil and cover. Lower heat and simmer about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in tomatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to boil; lower heat to simmer for about 10 minutes or until hot. Stir in parsley if desired.

Optional: Garnish with grated mozzarella or parmesan cheese.

Should Animals Have Rights?

Should animals have rights?

Well, the obvious and simple answer to that question is, "Yes"! Animals surely deserve to live their lives free from suffering and exploitation.

Duhaime.org, legally defines a Sentient Being as: "A creature that can suffer and feel pain, mostly animals and humans. Generally, in law, a sentient being is one with the faculty of sensation and the power to perceive, reason and think."

"Sentient animals are beings that have a physical and psychological sensibility, which allows them - in the same way as humans - to experience pain and pleasure. And it is certain that they naturally seek, by all means available to them, to avoid painful experiences."

Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive, or experience subjectively. Eighteenth-century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think (reason) from the ability to feel (sentience). In modern Western philosophy, sentience is the ability to experience sensations (known in philosophy of mind as "qualia"). In Eastern philosophy, sentience is a metaphysical quality of all things that requires respect and care. The concept is central to the philosophy of animal rights, because sentience is necessary for the ability to suffer, and thus is held to confer certain rights.

Animals have the ability to experience varying emotions such as depression, as well as compassion for another animals and humans.

It happens everyday, dogs are given up and their hearts are broken. Some are adopted out and many out there are put to sleep, or just left on the streets to fend for themselves. They feel the pain and anguish of abandonment.

That's what happened to this poor baby, who was devastated when her owners surrendered her at the  pound recently. She wouldn't raise her head, terrified at where she was she sat in the corner. Another gentle soul, who was also an 'owner surrender', had a big enough heart to try to cheer up her new friend; by trying to play with her and to get her to lift her head.

Animals simply do not like being tortured, as described in the case of this mother bear and her cub, known as bile or battery bears, being held captive for harvesting of their bile. In 2011, Chinese media reported that a captive bear on a Chinese bear farm killed her son and then herself after she heard him cry out in pain when a catheter was jammed into his abdomen so that bile could be extracted from his gallbladder for human medicinal purposes.

Around 14,000 bears are kept in horrific conditions and routinely tortured on bear farms. In this case "a mother bear reportedly broke free after hearing her cub's cry, causing bear 'farmers' to run away in fear. She then ran to the cub's side and immediately smothered it, then ran headlong into a wall and killing herself instantly."

Captive bears spend upwards of 30 years in tiny cages where they can barely move their head and neck to feed and drink water. As they get larger the bears are crushed in their cage so that more bile can be squeezed out.

These bears suffer extreme psychological and physical damage, including severe depression, gnawing off paws, rubbing the skin off their face and nose on the bars of their cage, chewing on the bars and losing teeth, and banging their head into the sides of their cage. Liver cancer is quite common as well. The bile that is extracted is used for a variety of ailments in the name of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but there are more than 100 synthetics and herbs that are actually better and cheaper and experts agree that bile is no longer needed. Surely, it's time for a change.

Moon Bear Rescue Centre outside of Chengdu, China, founded and run by Animals Asia, to date have rescued 361 bears and have a very active campaign specifically designed to end bear farming. While there is unimaginable suffering, there also some awesome individuals such as the Animals Asia team. Consider Jasper, who, after spending 15 years of torture in a tiny crush cage, has become an ambassador for forgiveness generosity, peace, trust, and hope.

Jasper welcomes new bears into the rescue center, breaks up fights, and plays with others who were lucky enough to be rescued. While tears flow for many other captive and rescued bears, individuals like Jasper bring smiles to our face and give us hope for the future. Clearly, it's time to end bear farming now.

On a more positive note, changes are moving to a higher stage.

The French Parliament has overturned 200 years of law to elevate animals to the status of sentient beings. Although it was already obvious to most of us, this recognition in law is an important milestone for animals. As the law begins to acknowledge the sentience of animals, recognition will grow that animals have needs and desires of their own. And one day they will gain the rights that they have so long been denied. As well, New Zealand is set to acknowledge sentience in its own animal welfare legislation later this year.

Ending an era for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' fabled elephant acts, the parent company, Feld Entertainment, announced Thursday that it will phase out the performances by 2018, over growing public concern about the animals, calling the decision "unprecedented". Members of the public have voiced concerns about how elephants and other animals are treated in circus acts.

The 13 elephants that are now part of the Ringling Bros. shows will be sent to the circus' Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida by 2018, joining more than 40 others.

These few stories barely touch the surface of the enormity of animal cruelty that is prevalent on the planet today, in it's various forms. We can each do our part to help … research, sign petitions, share information with others. The animals need our voice.

Love doesn't see animals versus humans, Love just sees, feels, and knows the vibration of God, beneath the false costumes of animals, or humans. Just love all beings, feel the vibrations, stop seeing through the eyes of the ego and see through the eyes of Christ. All for one, one for all.

Sources:

http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/S/SentientBeing.aspx

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/201108/bear-kills-son-and-herself-chinese-bear-farm

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Homemade Condiments (Vegan)

You may be aware that most of the products out there on the shelves aren’t made organically or naturally and contain a lot of toxic chemicals and sugar. Making things yourself not only saves you money, but lets you know where your products are coming from and exactly what’s in it.

Whenever you can, use organic foods and ingredients in recipes. Use sea salt instead of table salt. Use healthy oils like coconut oil. Use raw cane sugar or honey as sweetener instead of refined white sugar. Choosing the cleanest ingredients is the best choice for your mind and body.

Benefits: GMO Free, Refined Sugar Free, Corn Free, High in Anti-Oxidants, High in Vitamin C, Vegan, and Gluten Free

KETCHUP


Total Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: (4.5 cups)



Ingredients:

4 cans/jars (6 oz each – 3 cups) of Organic Tomato Paste (or make your own)
1 cup of water
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
4 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (or 1 teaspoon stevia powder)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt (sea salt)
A pinch of each of the following to taste: Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves
2 teaspoons chia seeds (for thickness)

Directions:

1. Put the ingredients in a blender and blend well.
2. Pour into a glass or container and store in the fridge. Let flavors mesh together overnight for great flavor.

VEGAN MAYO


Total Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: (1.5 cups)









Ingredients:

1/2 cup soy milk
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground mustard
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons agave
1 cup organic canola oil

Directions:

Place soy milk, sea salt, ground mustard, garlic powder, vinegar and agave in a blender. Place the lid on the blender and turn to slow.

Take the middle part of the blender’s lid out while the blender is still running and slowly pour in the canola oil.
Place the lid back on and blend until the mayo is thick and creamy.




Notes:
This recipe is awesome as is or you can use it as a base and add whatever flavor you like. More garlic (maybe minced and sautéed in a little canola oil before you add it), chives, dill, sun dried tomato, let your imagine run wild and have fun.

You can double this recipe for a bigger batch if need be.

MUSTARD WITH HERBS


Total Prep Time: 5 mins
Serves: 1.5 cups





Ingredients:

2/3 cup (120gr) yellow mustard seeds
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup water
2 Tbsp fresh thyme
1.5 Tbsp fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp chili flakes (depending on how hot you want the mustard you can use mild chili flakes or hot ones)
1/3 tsp sea salt
1 tsp raw honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup water at room temperature

Directions:

1. Mix apple cider vinegar with water and add mustard seeds. Leave to soak for 2 to 3 days. The mustard seeds will absorb almost all the liquid and will start to smell like you’re about to make the best mustard on the planet.
2. Add mustard mix to a blender, together with the rest of the ingredients, and blitz until you get a smooth consistency. If you think it’s too thick, add 2 Tbsp of water at a time and continue to blend until you get it smooth.
3. Spoon into jars, leaving no air bubbles if you can, and keep covered in the fridge.

Note: Mustard should keep well in the fridge, for up to few months. Though it’s best to consume it as fresh as possible. Start making those delicious honey & mustard salad dressings!

Serenity Through a Course in Miracles

Serenity Through a Course in Miracles

"Reading verses from a A Course In Miracles, the loving narration of Leigh Taylor-Young
is interwoven with the penetrating music of the Miracles album by Rob Whitesides-Woo.
Selected verses are presented in a meditative style, interwoven with the music of harp,
strings, and winds, moving the listener to peace of mind."

Spicy Cashew Falafel

Nutrition information per serving: 400 calories; 220 calories from fat (55 per cent of total calories); 25 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 5 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbohydrate; 8 g fiber; 7 g sugar; 17 g protein; 1,080 mg sodium.

Falafel pan-fried patties made from chickpeas, onions and a bunch of delicious seasonings are healthy and versatile. They can be served as-is with a yogurt or sour cream dipping sauce; or stuffed into a pita pocket with onions and tomatoes.

They also adapt well to whatever flavors you prefer. Though I like the classic combination of cilantro and cumin, which you could ditch for Italian or Indian seasonings. Cooking method can vary, too. Tradition calls for deep-frying, but I never do that. I prefer to fry them in just a bit of oil in a skillet. You also could lose the frying entirely and bake them in the oven.

This recipe mixes things up just a bit, adding lightly chopped cashews for a creamy flavor and delicate crunch. It also adds a bit of smoked paprika for depth and just a dash of hot sauce.

Prefer to do these in the oven? Arrange the patties on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake at 425 F for 10 to 12 minutes. And if you’re not into spicy, feel free to leave out the hot sauce.

Preparation: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 3 tablespoons tahini

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 4 scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)

• 4 large plum tomatoes, finely chopped

• Sea salt and ground black pepper

• 1 medium red onion, quartered

• 4 cloves garlic

• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro

• 1/2 cup fresh parsley

• 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained

• 1/2 cup cashews

• 1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce, to taste

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

• Zest of 1/2 lemon

• 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil

In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, tahini and lemon juice until smooth. Mix in the tomatoes and scallions, then season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

To make the falafel, in a food processor combine the onion, garlic, cilantro and parsley. Pulse until the onion and herbs are finely chopped, but not pulverized. Add the chickpeas, cashews, hot sauce, 1 teaspoon of salt, the cumin, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper and lemon zest. Pulse about 7 to 8 times, or until the chickpeas and cashews are finely chopped, but not ground.

Divide the mixture into 12 walnut-sized balls, then use your hands to form each into a tightly packed 2-inch patty.

In a large nonstick skillet over medium, heat the oil. Add the patties, working in batches if needed, and fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until browned and crisp. If working in batches, keep the finished falafel warm in a 200 F oven. Serve the falafel with the yogurt-tahini sauce spooned over them.

Home Upgrades – Worth the Investment

It's that time of year and many of you will be considering upgrades to your home and surrounding property. Any changes you make on your house now should increase your home value later. Hiring a reputable contractor to do the work is best. People know that renovating can be a nightmare, and you will appreciate that they did the dirty work for you. But which projects will yield the most bang for your buck? Take a look at this list, starting with the upgrades most likely to recoup your investment, down the road.

Painting - Paint provides dramatic results with little investment. A fresh coat of paint or a new, interesting  wallpaper pattern instantly rejuvenates walls. Can’t decide on a color? Experts say that pale yellow homes tend to sell faster and for more money: yellow is optimistic and inspirational; gives people a sense of joy and the sense that brighter times are ahead.

Adding Siding - According to a study conducted by Remodeling magazine, fiber-cement siding (which is made of sand, cement, and cellulose fibers), while vinyl can crack, split, and warp and aluminum tends to dent and fade, easy-care fiber cement holds up well against the elements and is resistant to fire, rotting, and termites.

Building a Deck - A deck will provide you with more than a place to flip burgers and soak up the sun. People see a deck as a seamless transition from inside to out. Experts suggest using natural, rustic wood. Wooden decks (as opposed to concrete or composite ones) add impressive value to your home.

Updating the Kitchen - You really can’t go wrong with remodeling your kitchen. Stick with high-quality fixtures, like stainless-steel appliances and granite counters. A word of caution: If your house is a tiny two-bedroom bungalow, don’t bother splurging on, say, a high-end stove; you will never get your money back by installing fancy appliances in a smaller home. And if an appliance overhaul isn’t in the cards, you can easily make cosmetic updates on a kitchen that’s in decent shape. For example, if your existing appliances are in good working order, coat them with electrostatic paint to give them a metallic or enamel-type finish.

Replacing the Windows - If you’re experiencing cool and blustery weather … in your living room, it’s time to buy new panes, pronto. Not only are you losing precious heat but your utility bill could also be skyrocketing. Energy-efficient windows eliminate drafts, so your home feels warmer.

Modifying a Bathroom - Bathroom upgrades, like updated countertops and new fixtures, prove to be a solid investment. Ornate moulding and panelling, is a stylish way to update a contemporary bathroom. Avoid anything too trendy, choose classic features that will appeal to people with both traditional and contemporary tastes, should you decide to sell. There’s no need to splurge on fancy fixtures, either. A tub is a tub ... a Jacuzzi will never make or break a sale. Opt for a floating vanity, which will create the illusion of space in a small bathroom. Switch to a low-litres-per-flush toilet that, over the course of a year, can save thousands of litres of water in your household. Or, for quick touch-ups on existing sinks, toilets, and tubs, consider hiring a surface-restoration company that recoats ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass fixtures with a chemical bonding agent that looks like shiny new porcelain.

Fixing up the Basement - There’s nothing worse than that unmistakable damp-basement smell. A dry basement is far more important than worrying about the right lighting or furnishings. If your basement is prone to flooding, leaks, or excess moisture, call in a pro. If you do want to finish your basement by adding drywall, insulation, laminate flooring, or even a bathroom, be sure it’s proportional in quality to other areas of your home. Basement remodels can also add great value to your home, depending on the quality of the materials.

Landscaping - The front of your house is the first thing people see, so it makes sense that any improvements―from planting petunias to surrounding your home with a hedge―will be worth your while. Don’t be afraid to spend money on perennials, which come back year after year. As for big-ticket investments, like trees, they aren’t just nice to look at; they also stave off erosion, block storm-water runoff, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and filter groundwater pollutants. They might make your home sell for more money, too. Properties with well-established trees are even more attractive to potential home buyers down the road. When determining which areas of your yard to attend to first, try approaching the house from the curb to the front door. Buyers make their decisions in approximately the first eight seconds. After that, they’ve either fallen in love or are just honoring an appointment.

D. Allen Contracting - Halifax Regional Municipality

Men: Necessity of Self-Love

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”

Self-love gives one the impression of a narcissistic or egotistic personality, which is not the case, but in actuality a portrayal of the false-self and nothing to do with true self-love.

Self-love starts from within one's self; thus giving one the ability to accept love and extend it to others. In order to give love to another, one must first feel worthy and deserving of love themselves. We cannot give something that we do not ourselves possess.

Over the past decade or so, I have been aware of the abundant articles promoting self-love for women and girls through magazines, television, social media and the internet. However, it is a rarity to see anything on this topic towards men and boys.

Most men I have known grew up devoid of any affection at all, and are actually discouraged from being affectionate through gender stereotyping. The picture of "masculinity" has been defined by society, as in many of our other roles or status. Men that are sincerely affectionate with women are often goaded and taunted, being told they are on a short leash or told they need to be a man or grow some balls.

"Society" has been a pinnacle in defining our roles. It takes great strength and character to step outside that box and redefine ourselves, otherwise we are stuck in the same cycle of a "cookie cutter" definition of who we are told to be.

We were a family of six; my father, mother, three brothers, and myself. Being in the military, my father headed the family with a likeness to a 'drill sergeant' rather than a father figure. He was cold and aloof, and spoke with harsh, unloving words. It seemed as though he didn't have the capacity to be loving and gentle. It was the 60s and early 70s, things were different then; he just didn't know how. However, as a young impressionable child, my subjective perception showed me a picture of his feelings to be a hatred towards me—I took it personally. This would set the stage for living a life of my own self-hatred and an unconscious attraction towards men, in my later life, that would mirror my father's image, only further perpetuating the cycle.

My father lacked any paternal or maternal affection as a young boy. He lost his mother to tuberculosis when he was six years old. His own father was neither a very loving or an affectionate man. It is no doubt, the experience of losing his wife and having to care for two young children in the mid 30s played a significant role in his demeanor.

Self-love can show men how to be affectionate to the rest of the world, creating a positive reflection of self-esteem, self-forgiveness, emotional communication, generosity and affection back to you.

For anyone, self-love initiates a positive modeling of affection. For instance, if your best friend was down and out, you might say things like: You did the best you could; Don’t beat yourself up about it; Don’t worry about it; or It’s gonna be okay, and so on. Why wouldn’t you say these things to yourself?

Since love and friendship go hand in hand, you must first form a friendship with your self. If you are constantly doubting, criticizing, or lying to your friends, they wouldn't stick around very long—who would! The same goes with the ability to form a meaningful relationship with yourself.  For some men, they either struggle with feelings of inferiority, anger, frustration and self-righteousness, or they tear themselves down without knowing it. If you form a genuine, lasting friendship with yourself, you wouldn't do it anymore, because a good friend would never treat you that way.

It's not just lack of love that affects men's self-esteem, but a trend in body image and the pressure to be perfect, has been on the rise. Today, it’s not only women who feel pressure to live up to Hollywood standards of what is attractive. You see it on the covers of men's health magazines, the actors in the movies, or sexy models in fragrance ads with muscular physiques and strong jawlines. When men feel they don’t measure up to the ideal—with washboard abs and a full head of hair—they may become insecure about how they look, further depleting their self-esteem.

Self-esteem relates to how much you like yourself, recognize and appreciate your individual character, qualities, skills, and accomplishments. Like body image, self-esteem can also be based on how you think other people look at you as a person.

I have heard men say they want a 'real' woman, not high maintenance eye candy. They want someone with whom they can have meaningful conversations, someone who will treat them with respect. Personally, I think women want a man that is going to treat them right; they want a 'real' man. They're not looking for a perfect physique to match some magazine cover or someone who doesn't like himself and is full of disdain for everyone around him. A real man has a genuine smile, a big heart, and gentle words and is comfortable with who he is. 

You may be losing some hair, or you've gained a few pounds—so what! If someone wants the package to look perfect or for you to have a large bank account, etc., rather than what's on the inside; you are undoubtedly with the wrong person!

So do yourselves a favor and stop defining yourself by society's standards, or anyone else's standards. Be your best friend first. Go love yourself.

You can't expect anyone else to give you what you can't give yourself.