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Vegetarian White Chili--Make it good and fill it with love.


I want to simply share a yummy fall recipe with you today, but I'm not sure I can just do that.


I am going to share a recipe, which I highly recommend. I've actually had a great week of new recipes. This Vegetarian White Chili plus a delicious Vegetarian No-Beef Stew and a hearty Pasta with Ground Beef and a Thai-Peanut Chickpea Slaw and a Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry. BUT, I'm feeling so raw and emotional lately, that I feel the need to do a little emoting here, too.


Is it wrong to mix food and emotions? If so, I ain't right lately. Because Lord knows I've been stress eating like a boss this last week and I'm having trouble shifting gears back to healthy-girl. So, bear with me...


The political and emotional climate in our country right now is so upsetting to me. I'm feeling a bit like a kid in tiny boat out in stormy waters. Genuinely, this all makes me feel very kid-like...naive and like my hopes for the world I want to live in are being dashed. This feels like a tragedy so I'm trying to follow the wisdom of Fred Rogers and look for the Helpers. I'm searching out stories of good and love and peace and, after a high-anxiety-filled week, I'm pulling out of the stream of hate that's oozing out of all the media and social media outlets.

I feel like, in my lifetime, I've never experienced such a divided America as what I've seen these last two years. Maybe it's been like this and I didn't notice it, but I don't think so. Because before the internet and social media and the 24-hour news cycle, I don't think it was possible. I long for us to use these tools for good, rather than evil, but right now so many are using them to spew hatred and divisiveness. What happened to empathy and tolerance and love thy neighbor and we're more alike than we are different? When did fury and hatred and rudeness become the norm? Why are people so self-righteous and entitled?
When did we stop caring about the tragedies of our fellow men and women? When did others' pain stop impacting us? When did it no longer make us want to help them? When did money and power become more important than humanity? When did being right and getting what we want become a "by any means necessary" kind of thing? What happened to working together? To compromise?


Like a child, I just don't understand. It hurts my heart. It makes my stomach clench and incites my anxiety. It makes me so sad.


But I'm pulling myself out of that and focusing on being the light. Maybe not for THE world, but for MY world. A smile for each person I pass at the store. A kind word for the stranger at Panera. Mom-understanding for the woman next to me at the dance studio. Hugs for my kids. Kisses for my husband. Anything I can think of...spread love and joy, send the energy of peace out into the world.


I don't know if this has any real impact on anyone or anything else, but it has an impact on me.


And I will cook delicious food for my family, bake bread and cookies, and share them.


Love and peace through food? Maybe...


Love Your Neighbor Vegetarian White Chili

1 tbsp olive oil
1 c. chopped bell pepper
1 c. chopped onion
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 - 1 diced jalapeño pepper (how much depends on the size of the pepper and how hot you like it)
4-5 c. vegetable broth
2 c. diced potatoes
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 tbsp chili powder
1 1/2 tbsp cumin
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp sea salt
2, 15 oz. cans of white beans, drained and rinsed (I like great northern beans)
1 c. frozen corn

Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeño and cook for about 5 minutes. Add broth, potatoes, cream cheese, and all seasonings. Bring to a boil and let cook for about 10 minutes, until cream cheese has melted smooth and potatoes are cooked through. Add beans and corn and let cook for another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly. Serve topped with shredded cheddar and warm bread or soft tortillas. (You could also add some chopped avocado.)

Until next time, happy cooking...and show thy neighbor some love...possibly with food.

Make it good and fill it with love. :-)

Namaste.


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