Scratch Cooking November 4th

Last night I went to the first night of the Second Annual Great Bliss festival featuring the Honorable Lama Marut. It was just what I needed to get some perspective after a mighty stressful day of work. There is nothing like listening to a Buddhist teacher to remind you of what matters and what doesn't.

Through my communications company, I am working on a TV show on Planet Green called Wa$ted, getting all their eco-friendly products for them this season. It's fun but tv production time lines are CRAZY! So yesterday was lots of scrambling around to get stuff for 2 episodes that start filming next week and one that starts on Friday.

I stayed in my pajamas and never left the house until I realized at 6 pm that a) I wanted soup for dinner and b) I really needed to go be around the positivity and peacefulness of a Buddhist gathering.

Let's start with the soup. I made Carmelized Onion with Spinach and Mushroom soup. I chopped an onion and cooked itin a few tablespoons of butter until it was brown. Then I threw in some more butter, about a tablespoon, and about 12 chopped mushrooms. I sauteed that until the mushrooms were starting to brown and then tossed in about 1/2 cup cherry juice (you could use wine), a teaspoon of dry sage (I could have used fresh, but read on to find out why I didn't) and some salt and pepper. I cooked it until the juice was absorbed and then added about 2 cups of spinach leaves. Once those wilted, I added around 6 cups of the broth from the sauce for the Shepherd's pie and cooked for 20 minutes. While it was cooking, I took a shower and got dressed!

It was quite delish and will be enjoyed again tonight before I go to the second night of the Second Annual Great Bliss Festival to find out more about how to find happiness. I will let you in on a little secret. Here's the answer on how to find happiness - make other people happy. That's it, don't worry about a better job, a better car, a better husband, a better body. The only way to happiness is to make other people happy. So why is that so darn challenging?

The big joke is that I SCREAMED at my daughter just before going to the Second Annual Great Bliss Festival because she didn't want to go outside and get me fresh sage leaves. And I am pretty sure that according to the Buddhists, that screaming would result in some pretty negative karma. I did apologize, but still, the goal would be to not scream in the first place.

Thursday night they have their silent auction and Second Annual Great Bliss Festival Party. Guess what I am donating...I will give you a hint - ________ of the month.

In Buddhist tradition, you dedicate the positive karma of going to a teaching to others. So tonight, I dedicate it to all of you. May the positive karma flower for you in this lifetime. And if it does, we can call it the GG bump!