| Moscow Food Co-op Recipes | |
The Universe in a Block of Tofu:
A Peace of the Pie
by Rachel Clark Caudill, from the September 2006 newsletter
The sun crested the eastern horizon the morning of August 7, 1974, and Philippe Petit stood like an eagle about to take flight, perched atop the very pinnacle of the South Tower in New York City.
He dropped his toes onto the taught cable that he and his friends had strung between the Towers, and walked out into space; and right into my heart.
Philippe spent more than an hour balancing above New York City. Years earlier, as the Towers had slowly neared completion, the street performer had gazed up from those same streets, imagining. He just knew—gazing at those Towers—that he must act. And so there he found himself, with policemen and lawyers and Tower officials all crowded onto the sky-lit rims, pleading, yelling and demanding for Philippe to come down!
No Philippe, stay where you are! You are reminding me of the sweet, indescribable, lightness and joy of being human. You are one person who has been fed, clothed, sheltered and loved categorically … You know your own worth!! And watching you—up there like a baby bird tiptoeing out from your nest onto the slender branch so far from the steadfast earth—reminds me of my own worth, my own human potential, my own need for expression.
Stay there, Philippe. I am a mother. I want my children to know their own worth. You are giving me that example. Maybe my sons will write poetry, or bake bread, or change tires, or relish the joy of playing with their own children, or simply know when to rest. Maybe they will wake up and decide to change their own lives, or to keep them the same. But because of you, Philippe, and the shining souls like you, I will remember to value, and honor, and love my children, not for who I want them to be … but for who they are.
Stay there, Philippe. I am filled with awe. I awaken, seeing you. You are living your truth so fully, so wholeheartedly. Your example allows me to do the same. Live your purpose, live your truth. Because in doing so, you will usher us all into peaceful coexistence. When we awaken to our own worth, we will know the value of every other person on the planet. Then, no matter how ugly, evil, or heinous the act, we will knowthe heart of the human underneath. And we will work to alleviate the suffering that inevitably leads to all ugly acts.
And then, Philippe … oh, and then … your beautiful tightrope Towers will remain standing for us to gaze upon forever.
But Philippe, know this. Lest you come down to attend to your own changing needs—to warm yourself, to rest, to eat, to move in other directions, I have seen you! And in that seeing, I aspire to know my own and others’ worth, to live my truth and hear others’, and most important, to find ways to connect people’s hearts together—like a tightrope stretched and beckoning—between two magnificent Towers.
A New Peace of American Pie
If September brings a yearning in your soul to achieve peace in your lifetime,
I offer you the U.S. Department of Peace! A bill to create it is currently
before both Houses of Congress, with more co-sponsors signing on each month
(www.thepeacealliance.org/).
Until then, feast your soul on this succulent pie filled with nourishing, heart-healthy ingredients. Savor a piece, connect with your heart, and enjoy inner peace …
Tofu-Kale Peace Pie
2 tsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, thinly sliced into half moons
1 bunch kale, stems removed
1 block firm tofu
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. mustard
1/2 tsp. dry dill or 1 1/2 tsp. fresh dill
Salt to taste
1 whole-wheat pie crust
Heat the 2 tsp. oil in a large skillet. Sprinkle in the onion, a pinch of salt, and carrots; sauté until onion is translucent. Set aside. Wash kale and cut into thin strips. Add the kale to the onion mixture and sauté briefly. Set aside. Blend the tofu, lemon juice, 1 Tbsp. oil, mustard, and dill in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add a little water if needed.
Into the crust, layer half of the blended tofu mixture, then the veggies, and end with the rest of the tofu. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, until the pie turns beige at the edges (don't overcook, or it will be dry). Remove from the heat and let rest 10-20 minutes. Cut, serve and savor your peace ...
|
Copyright: Copyright on articles, recipes, and
images are jointly held by the Moscow Food Co-op
and the respective authors, except were otherwise noted. |
For additions or corrections to this page, please contact the Webmaster.
