Elizabeth May, the Dalai Lama, & Stephen Harper?

lizlama I had a lot of fun chatting with Elizabeth May, Leader of the Federal Green Party.    One of my questions was about her experience with the Dalai Lama.

She said what struck her most was his ability to love his enemies in spite of what he’d gone through and the destruction he’d witnessed.

I asked Ms May if she loved Stephen Harper to which she replied ” I have love for Stephen Harper, I just don’t think he should be Prime Minister.”    It’s quotes like that which make my task easy!

In a reflective moment I asked why she chose to run against such a popular Conservative as Peter MacKay?  She said that he’d not run as strongly in the last election and that it was her home riding.    I have to give her credit for taking on such a popular encumbent and certainly could understand her wish to run where she lives.

She said that in the next election she most likely will not be running again in that riding though as the Party really needs to have their leader in The House of Commons.

I asked her about the challenge of creating the Brand of the Green Party and getting people to give their vote to her.   She explained that the misconceptions about the party and policies had been a challenge that they felt they were slowly winning; that the Green Party wasn’t all about “hugging trees” and that they weren’t a “one issue” political party.

More to come from the Elizabeth May interview, but in the meantime here are a couple more reciepes from Local Green Candidate David Rawnsley and his campaign manager Lorna Foreman.

Lorna likes to shop at the Farmer’s Market and eat as local as possible.  In these hot steamy days of summer her recipe for GAZPACHO sounds like a complete winner.

Gazpacho
2 cups chopped cucumbers (peeled)
1 onion, chopped
4 cups chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green peppers
1/2 cup chopped red peppers
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup olive oil
1 clove of garlic – minced (more if you really like garlic)
1/2 cup lemon or lime juice
tsp minced ginger
3 large ripe tomatoes put through a food processor to make the liquid.
If you like finer chopped vegetables, use the food processor but do it quickly – just enough to chop more finely.
Chill before serving.  Great soup during this hot summer.
David enriches our sweet tooth with his recipe for Fudge Brownies Evolved.    They remind me of a brownie recipe we used to make in the 70’s….Here is his recipe for “Brownies Evolved”.

As someone interested in change these brownies arrive by way of an error that took great brownies and made them better. Two batters are combined to deliver luscious gooey brownies.

Batter 1

4 oz All-purpose flour

½ tsp Baking powder

¼ tsp Salt

4 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate

1½ oz  Butter

2 Eggs

6 oz Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

1. Combine flour, baking powder and salt.

2. Melt chocolate with butter over hot water.

3. Beat eggs until foamy

– Gradually add sugar continuing to beat until thick (about 5 minutes)

– Add vanilla and chocolate mixture and mix well

– Add flour mixture and mix well.

4. Place batter 1 in greased and floured 8-inch square pan.

Batter 2

4 oz Cream Cheese

1 oz Butter

1 tsp Vanilla

2 oz Granulated Sugar

1 Egg

1. Beat cream cheese with butter, vanilla, sugar and egg until well blended

2. Spread batter 2 over the surface of batter 1 trying to provide an even covering

3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 minutes or until brownies pull away from the side of pan.

– Do not over cook

4.  Allow to cool and cut into squares. (makes about 24 brownies).

Please eat responsibly!

Enjoy!
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