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.

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Celebrate Earth Day!

Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd!

It is a day to celebrate the planet we live on as remember to take good care of it. Looking for a way to celebrate? Kick off Earth Day weekend with us, Center for Unconventional Security Affairs (CUSA), and the UCI eARTh Studio!

On Saturday, April 20th from 11am-12pm, eARTh Studio will present an interactive lecture for all ages! Learn about the important relationship between art and sustainability. Participants will receive 2 free tickets to the Human Security Award ceremony recognizing the work of artist Chris Jordan.

Plus in the afternoon from 12pm-3:30pm, stop by for a drop-in art workshop!

We are looking forward to a great Earth Day weekend! How are you planning to celebrate Earth Day?

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Live Peace with Chef Jeff and the Whole Planet Foundation

We’re excited to announce a great event with Chef Jeff this Friday, March 29th! Join Chef Jeff Venier for an intimate evening of food and wine tasting, while giving back to those in need. Participants of this dinner will enjoy wines paired with a three-course meal.

All proceeds from this evening will go to benefit the Whole Planet Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Whole Foods Market. Learn more about the Whole Planet Foundation in the video below!

Hilary Maler, a representative from Whole Planet Foundation, will be speaking about the organization’s mission to alleviate poverty through microcredit in communities worldwide that supply Whole Foods Market stores with products.

What a great way to have a delicious evening and make Good Happen for the world!

Edit: This event is now full! But make sure to join Chef Jeff next month at The Art of Cocktails!

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Meatless Monday in Honor of Chef Jeff: Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges, Pecans & Scallions

Happy Monday! We are excited to say that another one of our monthly Chef Jeff classes is happening this Saturday, February 9. Join Chef Jeff and other aspiring, young chefs for Junior Chef Workshop (Ages 8-18)!

In honor of the upcoming Chef Jeff class, this Monday we bring you a vegetarian recipe for Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges, Pecans & Scallions.

Recipe courtesy of Chef Jeff!

Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges, Pecans and Scallions

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. mixed beets (red, yellow, Chioggia/striped)
• 3 oranges such as Valencia
• Bunch of scallions
• ½ cup pecans, chopped roughly
• 1    Tablespoon minced ginger
• 1    large clove of garlic, minced
• 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
• ¼ Cup Balsamic or Sherry vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. If possible use a combination of beets (red, yellow, Chioggia/striped)
2. Remove their tops, leaving about ½ of the stems, wash and put into a baking dish (lined with aluminum foil for easier clean up) with a splash of water.
3. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes to an hour until they can easily be pierced with a fork.
4. Uncover and allow to cool.
5. Cut the tops and tails off the beets and peel them.
6. Cut them into quarters then crosswise.
7. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
8. In a frying pan heat a tablespoon of olive oil and add the pecans and the diced beets and cook stirring often until the beets start to brown and the nuts are fragrant.
9. Add the ginger and garlic; cook 1 minute.
10. Remove from the heat and add vinegar, maple syrup and the remaining olive oil to the pan and stir to combine.
11. Peel and dice the oranges.
12. Wash and chop the scallions using up to the pale green part.
13. Add the oranges and scallions to beet mixture.
14. Serve cool or at room temperature.

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Live Peace with The Ecology Center

We love The Ecology Center! One of our partners since early on, The Ecology Center is an environmental education center and non-profit located in sunny San Juan Capistrano. At their location, they offer workshops ranging from Fruit Tree Care to Rainwater Harvesting!

Photo ©Scott Sporleder from The Ecology Center’s Flickr.

Their wonderful instructors also offer monthly classes at our location with a different subject each month. Next Saturday, March 2nd, we are excited to host the Garden Design workshop for all ages! In the workshop, participants will learn how to optimize their patio or garden space for an abundant garden. Sign up for a space today!

Learn more about the work of The Ecology Center and how you can get involved!

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Happiness

This TEDxOrangeCoastWomen video is of Suza Scalora, bestselling author and co-founder of Love 365. In the video, Suza discusses happiness and the important relationship you have with your self.

Did her words resonate with you? The next Love 365 classes at Center for Living Peace are coming up this weekend on February 22nd and 23rd!

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Meatless Monday in Honor of Chef Jeff: Sweet Rice Salad with Eggplant, Tomatoes & Pecorino

Happy Monday!

This Thursday, February 21, Chef Jeff will present The Art of Appreciating Food & Wine – A Valentine’s Gift (For Adults)! So why not bring your special someone and enjoy an evening of food and wine tasting?

In honor of our new Chef Jeff class series, this Monday we bring you a delicious vegetarian recipe for Sweet Rice Salad with Eggplant, Tomatoes & Pecorino.

Sweet Rice Salad with Eggplant, Tomatoes & Pecorino

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups sweet rice (also known as Glutinous Rice)
• 1 large clove of garlic, minced
• 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
• ¼ Cup Balsamic or Sherry vinegar
• Pint of cherry tomatoes, mixed red and yellow
• 1 large or 3 small eggplants
• 1½ Oz. of Pecorino

Directions:

1. Soak the rice in plenty of cold water for 4 hours or overnight.
2. Drain and put rice in a large saucepan with 3½ Cups of water and a pinch of salt.
3. Bring to a boil, then cover, and turn heat down to a simmer.
4. Cook for 35-40 minutes until the rice is tender but not mushy.
5. Drain the rice and run cold water through it to stop the cooking.
6. Combine the minced garlic with a pinch of salt, add to a small bowl and add the vinegar and maple syrup.
7. Stir to combine then stir into the cooled rice.
8. Dice both the tomatoes and eggplant into a very fine dice.
9. Add to the rice mixture.
10. Shave the cheese over the salad and serve.

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

THANK YOU for joining our Holiday Drive!

This December, we had our first Human Options Holiday Drive.  All items supported the work of Human Options, a shelter helping to break the cycle of domestic violence. Plus, by donating an item, donors received free admission to attend a selected class!

We are thrilled with the results! We received so many generous donations of items like:

• Movie tickets
• Canned foods & soups
• Jewelry
• Blankets, knitted items & sheets
• Lotions
• Baby & female hygiene products
• Nail polish
• Make-up bags
• Candles
• Soap
• Games & Toys

If you have items like these, find a shelter near you to donate! A quick online search will likely yield some great results.

We send a great big thank you to all who joined us in making good happen for the residents of Human Options.

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

#GivingTuesday Recap

We are so excited to have joined the #GivingTuesday movement November 27th! We partnered with Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) to match all donations to support CTAOP that day.

And now we are thrilled to announce that we have donated $10,000 to support the fantastic work of CTAOP in honor of #GivingTuesday!

But #GivingTuesday isn’t just about a single day– it’s a movement. We hope that it will be just the beginning of a whole lot of giving! What will you give?

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Happy Holidays!

Seasons Greetings from all of us at Center for Living Peace!

Picture by Soza Designs

The center will be closed December 23rd to January 1st. We will reopen with our regular schedule on January 2nd. Click here to check out our calendar of events for the New Year!

We wish you a wonderful holiday break and cannot wait to see you in 2013!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!