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Reflections

  • Finding Peace at the Bahá’í Temple

    I first learned about the Bahá’í faith through a book called Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution. The actor, Rainn Wilson, referred to it throughout the story as the religion he grew up with. After doing some research I was fascinated about how this religion was able to unite major religions. I also found out the one house of worship in North America was located only an hour and half away.

    I visited the temple on one of the prettiest spring days. I began by wondering through the gardens and taking a closer look at the intricate designs and quotes on the temple. I found the quotes to be inspirational and the interconnectedness of the symbols for major religions to be beautiful.

    After enjoying the outside, I headed inside. When I first went in, there was no one there, so I went to sit as close to the center under the dome as I could. I took a moment to look around and see the words of the Bahá’í faith. My favorite was, “The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof.” I noticed many themes of light and unity as I started to learn more.

    Something I was very excited to try was meditation in the house of worship. I am turning meditation into a daily practice, and I thought this would really be a special place to take things in and listen. I struggled at first, to let go and be vulnerable. As I was meditating, people came in and out and I felt very self-conscious. This was a good challenge for me to try to overcome. By the end, I was feeling very at peace and clear-minded.

    After the meditation, I found myself not wanting to leave. My body felt like a weighted blanket had urged me to stay in this comfort. As I was sitting, the wind whirled around the building and even opened one of the “locked” doors. It was as if something was let inside. I found it very interesting to take things in and observe. I also took this opportunity to pray as this is another skill I’m working on.

    After my time in the house of worship, I visited the welcome center to learn more. I truly appreciate this religion’s beliefs on equality for men and women, social justice, service, education, and morals. Essentially, religious icons such as Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Abraham, Mohammad, etc., are all messengers from God. Bahá’u’lláh is the most recent messenger and was here to share the word of God.

    As I continue my spiritual journey, I can get behind the ideals of this religion. At this time, I don’t feel the need to join this faith, but I do plan on becoming better versed on the world’s religions so I can encompass the beliefs into my own virtues.

    It does seem my soul needs some saving because I was attacked by a red-wing blackbird while visiting this sacred ground…I’m going to work on that.

    To learn more about the house of worship and beliefs, visit this website.

  • Doable Vegan: Family Menu Board

    I am the only plant-based eater in my home. For the past year, I’ve been making two to three dishes for dinner each night. Unfortunately, I typically put the most energy and thought into my own dishes, and then just heat something up for the guys. Usually it is something highly processed and not good for anyone.

    I want to make a change and help them find all of the flavors and variety I have come to love. I also want them to experience the same health benefits that I have.

    I’ve been racking my brain on how to start this process. I cannot plan on making one dish and just expecting everyone to be on board. After some thought and seeing how the Esselstyns often prepare meals, I’m thinking buffet style is my best bet. At first this seems a bit daunting, preparing so many things each night, but I think if I plan smart, I can make this a more simple transition. I’m reminding myself that I don’t have to make the grains every night. I don’t have to make the sauces every night. I can plan out our meals and batch cook so some items can simply be warmed up.

    To help me map out meals and make sure there is balance in what I am making, I have created a family menu board. This is a very rough draft and will evolve as this process gets underway, but it is a place to start. I will begin by selecting a type of cuisine that sounds good for the night. Then I will select my grain that will serve as a base. Veggies will be picked to support the style selected as well as a protein (meat option for my guys), sauce, and any extra accents to enhance the meal. At the bottom I put symbols for salt, fat, acid, and heat to remind me that these elements are important to consider to make a meal that is rich in flavor and fulfilling. Now, what the guys end up putting on their plate is their choice, but I’m hoping the access to these items will encourage them to try new things and maybe be surprised. A year ago, I could not imagine liking tofu, but now I love it. Same for cauliflower, eggplant, and so many other new foods to me. I’m also hoping to prevent food waste since I will be happy to eat these items as leftovers.

    I’ve kind of worked backwards as I’ve made this board since I first considered some of my favorite dishes and thought about what made them. Here is an example of how this board can be used:

    • Style: Thai
    • Grain: Brown Rice Noodles
    • Veggies: Edamame, Roasted Broccolo, Leafy Greens
    • Protein: Sesame Tofu
    • Sauces: Peanut Sauce
    • Accents: Sesame Seeds, Green Onion, Cilantro

    I will share out more as I keep working on this. Fingers crossed my guys don’t starve…

  • Doable Vegan: Tofu Pancetta Carbonara

    Carbonara is such a comfort food. The ingredients are fairly simple, but the traditional dish is definitely not vegan. The flavors in this dish can easily be replicated with plant-based ingredients.

    Cutting the tofu into small chunks is key in this recipe. First, it mimics the true shape and size of pancetta, and second, it helps you get a more crispy outside with a chewy inside.

    Make this dish a meal to remember by pairing it with a fresh salad, crusty bread, and a drink with some acidity. I chose a nice key-lime kombucha.


    I had all of the ingredients for this recipe in my pantry which made it a simple dish to put together. To make it less fatty, you could use soy milk instead.

    Ingredients

      Sauce
    • 3/4 cup Coconut Milk
    • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
    • 2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
    • 1 tbsp Chickpea Flour
    • 1/2 tsp Kala Namak (for eggy flavor)
    • 1 Garlic Clove
      • Tofu Marinade
    • 14 oz Extra Firm Tofu
    • 1/4 cup Low Sodium Tamari
    • 1/4 cup Tomato Paste
    • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
    • 1 tbsp Liquid Smoke
    • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
      • Noodles
    • 12 oz Spaghetti
    • 1 tbsp Salt

    Directions

    1. For the tofu, press for at least 30 minutes and drain. Cut into 1/4 inch cubes. Combine marinade ingredients in sealable dish and add tofu. Shake and let sit for at least 15 minutes. Once it is marinated, cook in an air fryer for 18 minutes at 390 degrees. Be sure to flip halfway through. If you don’t have an air fryer, bake at 375 for 35 minutes.
    2. Start the spaghetti and cook until al dente.
    3. Blend the sauce ingredients. Add to a large pan. Once the pasta is done, warm up the sauce for a minute, then add a half ladle of pasta water. Stir. Add the noodles and stir.
    4. To plate the dish, begin with a bottom layer of noodles and add the tofu pancetta on top. Add cracked black pepper and basil if you wish. Enjoy!

    Nutrition


    Per Serving: 386 calories; 25 g fat; 25 g carbohydrates;
    16 g protein; 0 mg cholesterol; 605 mg sodium.

    [/recipe]

    I love taking favorite dishes and converting them to a healthier, more ethical option. I’m excited to spend some time this summer bringing more dishes to you that I hope will win your heart.

  • Summer Adventures

    Summer Melissa is almost here. Starting Friday, I will have 73 days off from work (minus summer checkouts, coursework, and my summer work days). I often find that summer is not the time of growth that I would think it would be. Most of my big, life-changing decisions I’ve made for the better have not happened when I have the most time. I’d like to work on that. Yes, I’ve had amazing experiences over the years during the summer, but I don’t typically feel that is when I work on becoming a better person.

    So, just like any other thing I tackle, I decided to make a plan. It starts with my Summer Adventure list seen above. Essentially, it is a bucket list to help guide the time I have to make sure I accomplish my goals. There are many other things I plan on doing, but these are the things I want to do for myself.

    To help solidify some of my goals, I’m going to break down the “how” in this post. I’m excited about the opportunity to have the time to do the work to reach these new levels of growth.

    Develop a Meditation Practice

    I love when I do meditation, but I have failed to make it a habit. I’m hoping to take the time I have this summer to build a routine that is fail-proof when life gets busy. I am going to challenge myself to 70 days in a row of meditation. The rules? I have to meditate for a minimum of 5 minutes each day. I’d like to make it closer to 20 minutes and the morning would be ideal, but I think putting limiters on this practice is what causes me to skip it. By requiring I do a minimum of 5 minutes a day makes it absolutely possible. If I don’t require a specific time of day, I can do it anytime and anywhere. I’d like to journal after the meditation when possible to track progress, but once again, it won’t be required. Thanks, Atomic Habits for giving me some guiding principles to help me get this going.

    Practice Yoga

    I started out so well this year with yoga, but then I hurt my back and I stepped away from it. Yoga is hard for me. It is kind of embarrassing to say that, but I get dizzy easily, I feel blood rush to my head, my wrists hurt for downward poses, and I don’t typically feel great. I am going to research different types of yoga and find one that feels good to start and then build the rigor as time goes on. I also want to pick a pose that is a goal I can work towards. In the end doing something is better than nothing and it starts with making it attractive.

    Recipe Toolbox

    When I was in Paris back in 2013, I took a cooking class that was just so amazing. We met together in the 18th arrondissement and toured various markets, boulangeries, and other specialty shops. The chef selected the freshest foods and designed a menu based on what we collected. There was no meal planning or fixed recipes. We took our finds back to the kitchen and made dishes I never would have expected to enjoy. This summer, I want to go to markets and find the freshest foods. It is my goal to get good enough with cooking and have a recipe toolbox in my mind that allows me to curate a menu from scratch. To reach this goal I will continue to practice new recipes and learn the essence of what makes a recipe work.

    Improve Presence

    My mind is almost always in the future. Something I need to get done, something else I want to do, somewhere else I’d rather be. This is not a path to happiness. I’m trying so hard to improve this, but have not been successful yet. I’m hoping by doing some habit stacking that I can tackle this flaw. Each morning I read meditations by Stoics, by adding meditation and journaling, I’m hoping I will be better at being here. One thing I definitely need to do is limit screen time. It is such an unconscious decision I make to grab for my phone during a down minute. I’ve started removing notifications, but I need to do more. I feel like I need to limit my scrolling to 10 minutes a day. This is one I need to map out a bit more, but I know that if I take that time I’m wasting on social media, I could use it to make myself better as well as increase my ability to be here.

    Doing better has become my life’s goal and I’m excited to continue working on myself.

  • It all Started with a Seed

    It’s that time of year :). Spring is on the horizon and it is time to prepare for the garden. This is the year I want to try to grow everything from seed. I attempted a few years ago, but was discouraged when I had my plants ready to go, but failed to harden them to the outdoors properly. The result, was deadly.

    This year, I’m at it again. I’ve selected some of the seeds I want, but still need to finish up my shopping. I utilized Chat GPT to help me make a spreadsheet with growing information. I’m also trying to approach this in a somewhat sustainable matter by upcycling paper tubes, tofu containers, and mushroom containers for my seedlings.

    I did cave in and buy a hydroponic system. I’m hoping to use this for some seed starting as well as for indoor gardening. It does my soul good to see life appear right before my eyes.

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