Walk Lightly...

Last week, we checked out the book "A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme" by J. Patrick Lewis from the library.   It is such a beautiful book... my kids were constantly asking questions and illustrations had them captivated.  Wow... this is sounding like a book review! ;)

There were SO many verses and rhymes that I loved... but this one stuck out to me (especially since we checked out the book on Earth Day.)

Walk Lightly

Make the Earth your companion.

       Walk lightly on it, as other creatures do.

Let the Sky paint her beauty--she is always 

       watching over you.

Learn from the Sea how to face harsh forces.

Let the River remind you that everything will pass.

Let the Lake instruct you in stillness.

Let the Mountain teach you grandeur.

Make the Woodland your house of peace.

Make the Rainforest your house of hope.

Meet the Wetland on twilight ground.

Save some small piece of Grassland for a red kite

       on a windy day.

Watch the Icecaps glisten with crystal majesty.

Hear the Desert whisper hush to eternity.

Let the Town bring you togetherness.

Make the Earth your companion.

        Walk lightly, as other creatures do. 

Library & Dinner

Today, we met a friend and her son at the library. It's the second week we've been...and before last week, it had been years since I had been to a library... college to be exact. Yes... for the past 10 years, I was a book store junkie. I was a sucker for the book store "experience." About 6 months ago, I decided that I was going to start going to the library... but didn't until now because I was nervous about taking my kids. All I could imagine was the librarian going "sshhhhhhhh" and then getting kicked out. Luckily, that isn't the case. As my son grabs book after book off the shelves and yells, "Mom! Look at this dinosaur book!!"... I never hear a word from the librarian and have been quickly reminded of how great libraries are... I'm amazed and impressed at the abounding variety of (shared) books and media. Last week, we checked out 3 books. Today, we checked out 8 books!! Of course, all free (for 3 weeks!). Libraries ROCK!!

SO... while we were at the library my friend and I were talking about me recipe testing for The Blissful Chef and what I eat... or rather what I don't eat. She asked, "You don't eat meat... what do you eat for dinner??" A valid question. Of course, I explained... but pictures are SO much better:

For dinner tonight, we ate Orange Seitan (yes, like the famed Orange Chicken from the mall!), Vegetable Lo Mein, and Asian Green Bean Stir-Fry (the green beans are a test recipe for The Blissful Chef... which by the way... were so darn yummy!).

Now I can't give you the recipe for the Asian Green Bean Stir-Fry... BUT... I can give you my recipe for Orange Seitan!!

Orange Seitan

1 lb cubed seitan

flour

2 tsp grated fresh ginger

1 tsp minced garlic

1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (if you like it hot add more)

1 TBSP rice wine vinegar

water, as needed

1 tsp sesame oil

grated orange zest

*Orange Sauce* (mix all ingredients and set aside)

1 1/2 TBSP soy sauce

1 1/2 TBSP orange juice

7 TBSP brown rice syrup or 5 TBSP brown sugar

5TBSP white vinegar (or rice wine vinegar)

1 1/2 tsp cornstarch

Directions:

Heat 1-2 TBSP oil in large skillet. Dust the seitan lightly with flour. Add seitan and cook until nicely browned on all sides. Push seitan to the sides add a drop of oil to center of pan and add ginger, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté until fragrant. Add rice wine and stir. Add *Orange Sauce* and bring to a simmer, stirring until well mixed. (Add water if sauce becomes too thick). Stir in sesame oil and add grated orange zest. Serve immediately :)