Meatless Monday: Zucchini With Quinoa Stuffing

It’s Monday again!

Are you worried that giving up meat will mean less protein in your diet? Fear not! This week’s recipe includes the super grain of the future! Quinoa is one of the most protein rich foods out there; it is a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids.

Recipe and photo posted by Real Simple.

Zucchini With Quinoa Stuffing

Ingredients: 

1/2  cup  quinoa, rinsed

4  medium  zucchini

1  15-ounce  can cannellini beans, rinsed

1  cup  grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/2  cup  almonds, chopped (about 2 ounces)

2  cloves garlic, chopped

3/4  cup  grated Parmesan (3 ounces)

4  tablespoons  olive oil

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400° F.

2. In a large saucepan, combine the quinoa and 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Arrange in a large baking dish, cut-side up.

4. Fluff the quinoa and fold in the beans, tomatoes, almonds, garlic, ½ cup of the Parmesan, and 3 tablespoons of the oil.

5. Spoon the mixture into the zucchini. Top with the remaining tablespoon of oil and ¼ cup Parmesan.

6. Cover with foil and bake until the zucchini is tender, 25 to 30 minutes.

7. Remove the foil and bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

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Live Peace with Preserve

As part of our ongoing series of  posts highlighting groups and organizations making Good Happen, this week we bring you Preserve. For those of you who may be exploring more sustainable shopping choices, Preserve offers toothbrushes, kitchen items, and a recycling program that their items are eligible for!

The Preserve toothbrushes and other items can be found online at the Preserve website, or in store at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, and some Target locations. Find a location near you that carries the products in-store here.

Photo from the Preserve website.

Like the idea of “peace,” the idea of “sustainability” can have different meanings to different people. At Preserve, sustainability means “socially and environmentally responsible business practices.”

Here at Center for Living Peace, we celebrate different forms of both peace and sustainability. When it comes to peace, different people may have different ideas of what is peaceful to them, whether it is participating in a meditation class, reading a book, or watching a documentary film. Similarly, depending on the person, sustainability can include ideas like properly disposing of waste, recycling when possible, using alternative methods of transportation, or making different purchasing choices.

What does sustainability mean to you?

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Kindness is a Treasure

Photo shared by Action for Happiness.

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Meatless Monday: Butternut Squash Pizza

Happy Monday all!

Let’s talk about butternut squash. This squash is stuffed full of vitamin A and B complex. Vitamin A is an immunity booster and great for your vision, and vitamin B complex can lower stress, anxiety and depression! Put down that meat lover’s pizza; it’s time for some butternut squash topped pizza pies!

Recipe and photo posted by Real Simple.

Butternut Squash Pizza

Ingredients: 

1  butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled

1  small yellow onion, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rings

3  tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2  teaspoons kosher salt

1/4  teaspoon  black pepper

1  1-pound package refrigerated pizza dough

1  tablespoon cornmeal

1  tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

1/2  cup fresh ricotta

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400° F

2. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch-thick slices, then cut each slice into 1-inch chunks.

3. Place the squash and onion on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil, season with the salt and pepper, and toss.

4. Roast until tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

5. Increase oven temperature to 450° F.

6. Roll the dough out 1/4 inch thick. Clean the baking sheet and sprinkle it with the cornmeal. Place the dough on top.

7. Scatter the squash and onion mixture over the dough, sprinkle with the thyme, and add dollops of the ricotta.

8. Bake until golden, about 25 minutes. Slice into wedges.

This recipe serves 6!

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Live Peace with iSanctuary

Today is Saturday and you know what that means: highlighting an organization that is making Good Happen in our world.  Today we are Living Peace with iSanctuary, an organization that has been working to end human trafficking since 2007. Human trafficking is defined as the trade in humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery or forced labor. 

Image from iSanctuary.

iSanctuary rescues women of all ages from the world of human trafficking. They then have the chance to be brought to Orange County, California or Mumbai, India to learn and practice creating jewelry. The survivors are welcome to make mistakes, they are welcome to grow, and they are welcome to learn as they please. It is all about assisting the women in entering the professional world and giving them the confidence and the dignity they need. iSanctuary also helps to educate people about what human trafficking is and ways to help end it.

The beautiful hand-made jewelry is sold by iSanctuary  in select stores and online. iSanctuary is also having an online Mother’s Day sale!

If you are interested in helping end human trafficking, you are welcome to make a donation to iSanctuary. There are also other ways to get involved!

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Positive Affirmations

Children are the best teachers! Take a look at four year old Jessica and the power of positive affirmations.

The key to a positive attitude is positive thoughts! Affirmations are self talk; everything you tell yourself is part of your internal dialogue. Making affirmations positive can build self confidence, attitude and outlook on life. Little things like changing how you talk to yourself can have huge impacts!

Here are some positive affirmations you can integrate into your life:

I love myself for who I am.

I am proud of myself for even daring to try.

Today my own well-being is my top priority.

I know that my potential is unlimited.

Today I open my mind to the endless opportunities surrounding me.

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Meatless Monday: Cauliflower Power Tacos

Happy Monday lovely people!

Cutting back on meat can help the environment! Livestock such as cattle do more environmental damage than cars and produce 18% of all greenhouse gases. Go green with no meat! 

Recipe and picture posted by VegKitchen.

Cauliflower Power Tacos

Vegan and gluten-free!? This recipe is a hole in one!

Makes: 8 tacos, 4 generous servings of 2 per person, or 8 moderate servings.

Ingredients

Roasted Cauliflower

• 1 medium head cauliflower, separated into florets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Crispy Chick Peas

• 1 15-ounce can chick peas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground oregano

Cilantro-Pepita Pesto

• 2 cups fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/3 cup pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds)
• 1 very small clove garlic, cut in half
• 2 tablespoons chopped jalapeño chiles
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Tortillas

• 8 gluten-free white corn tortillas, heated as directed on package

Directions

Heat oven to 425° F

Cover cauliflower florets with 2 tablespoons of oil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and arrange on a large cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, rearrange, then bake for another 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix crispy chick peas ingredients. Spread on 15x10x1-inch pan. Bake for 15 minutes then stir. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until chick peas are slightly browned and crispy.

Meanwhile, in food processor, place all pesto ingredients except oil. Cover; process using quick on-and-off motions. With food processor running, slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup oil through feed tube, stopping halfway through to stir mixture with spatula. Remove pesto to small bowl.

Spoon about 1 tablespoon pesto on each tortilla; top with about 1/2 cup roasted cauliflower and 1 tablespoon crispy chick peas. Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve with remaining chickpeas.

Then you are done and ready to eat!

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Center for Living Peace Turns 3!

That’s right: we’re turning 3 this month! Join us as we celebrate being open for 3 wonderful years!

This year our birthday party will be bigger and better than ever. We’re celebrating with two full days of free classes, events, and cupcakes! Join us as we celebrate on Saturday, May 18th and Sunday, May 19th!

Wondering what all will be going on? You can check out the full schedule of the weekend online. No signups are necessary– just drop in and celebrate with us!

We’re so thankful for all of you who have joined us these past 3 years in making Good Happen! We wouldn’t be here if not for your love and support.

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Mindful Origami

It’s Thoughtful Thursday. A time to take a break, breathe and relax.

One way to do this is through activities that encourage mindful thoughts and behaviors. Origami is a great way to calm the mind and engage in a tranquil movement. Origami is the ancient and traditional Japanese art of paper folding popularized in the 17th century. The folding of paper into artistic designs is a form of active meditation; the concentration on the art and the letting go of bothersome thought allows for mindfulness.

Here is a design common in origami practice:

 The crane in Japanese culture is a national treasure and appears in literature, art and folk tales. It is also associated with good fortune and longevity because legend says that the crane lives up to a thousand years.

Mindfulness is a tool we can all use in every day life. Maybe this form of active meditation is the perfect mindfulness fit for you!

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Random Act Of Kindness

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

- Diana Spencer, Princess Of Wales

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