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Sustenance for the long haul (raw cookie balls)

2017 February 2
by Rachel Turiel

I’ve been trying to explain to Col and Rose what’s been happening in the past week and a half of our new administration, you know, simple stuff like how climate science has been removed from the EPA website, or how the appointee to head the EPA has sued the very same organization 14 times, which, I don’t know, could be just the tiniest conflict of interest.

Former Mayor Michael Rendon, our keynote speaker at RESPOND, which was amazing; most classrooms were jam-packed, standing room only. Biggest event in Durango, ever! Man, SOMEONE’S taken all the fun out of boasting.

It’s all a little surreal, right? DAPL has been revived. Myron Ebell, head of the EPA transition team says (about our warming planet), “warm is good, as long as we have air conditioning.” (Wait – air conditioning is now public policy?) The president put out a statement on Friday in remembrance of the Holocaust. It failed to mention Jews. Sally Yates, our Attorney General (who was confirmed with 82 Senate votes and encouraged by Senator Jeff Sessions to resist unlawful orders) was just fired for um, resisting unlawful orders.

My goal from a mother/daughter new moon gathering. Can someone please take me out for a beer and make me have some fun.

All of which to say, times is crazy right now. And I honor what this is bringing out in Americans. Back, like a whole 14 days ago, my congressional representatives seemed surrounded by an air of impenetrability; now I like to call Senator Gardner before breakfast. I understand terms (green card, single payer, DACA, #Russianhackedelection) that I didn’t before. Dan and I have a meeting scheduled to discuss pledging monthly donations to a few organizations. As my mom says, “We all woke up on November 9th.”

I’m not interested in stirring up hatred, and I hope people feel empowered to stand up for their values without resorting to mockery or personal judgments, which simply throws more fuel on this American bonfire. If you have different values than me, I invite you to share. Seriously. Let’s meet in person. We might not change each others’ minds, but I believe we can develop respect and understanding for our differences.

In the meantime, feed yourself (emotionally, spiritually and calorically). It’s gonna be a long haul.

One way to feed yourself: books and animals. Who is letting Col select books from the teen section of the library?

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RAW COOKIE BALLS, Grain free and not.

Here are recipes for two raw cookie balls, one with grains and one without. We’ve been making these a lot, because, well, quick sustenance. I make the oatmeal cookies for the kids, and the grain-free ones for me, and everyone is very, very happy.

Oatmeal cookie balls

makes approx 20 cookie balls

Prep time: fifteen minutes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

3/4 cups peanut butter (or almond butter, sunbutter)

1/2 cups chocolate chips

1/2 cups raisins

2 TBSP melted/soft coconut oil

1 1/2 – 2 TBSP honey

salt to taste

Directions:

Put in a bowl and mix thoroughly with a spoon. Chill. Form into balls. Store in fridge or freezer. Even frozen you can bite right into them.

Here’s all the ingredients for the oatmeal cookie balls (minus the 10 gallon tub of coconut oil that we hoist around on a dolly):

Don’t let anyone run their fingers through the ingredients. That’s disgusting:

Ingredients mingled. Stir with a spoon:
Form into balls (if you refrigerate “dough” first, for at least 20 minutes, it’s less sticky and easier to work with: (the dough in this photo was not chilled)

Grain-free cookie balls

makes approximately 20 cookie balls

Prep time: fifteen minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup almond butter

3/4 cup cocoa nibs

3/4 cups raisins

2 TBSP soft coconut oil

4 dates (mashed) or 1 TBSP honey

salt to taste

Directions

Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly with a spoon. Chill “dough” if you have time for easier handling. Form into balls. Store in fridge or freezer. Even frozen you can bite right into them.


I love these so much.

Sustenance for the long haul:

FYI: If you missed my nonviolent communication class at RESPOND and want to check it out, I’ll be teaching it again at the UU Church, 419 San Juan Dr. Tuesday February 7th. 5:30 – 7pm. Free. Please RSVP to me.

Also, if you’re subscribed to 6512 and growing and haven’t been getting e-mail notification, my tech guru Marybeth says, “Add this email address to contacts or whitelist it.”

And, check out the line up of the moon, mars and venus in the western sky.

With love. Feed yourself well,

Rachel



6 Responses leave one →
  1. Tara Frazer permalink
    February 2, 2017

    Thanks Rachel for your (ongoing!) inspiration and recipe!

  2. February 2, 2017

    i’m going to make these. i’m with you. i read the text of his speech concerning black history month, which failed to mention slavery. wish i could grab you for a beer! definitely self care needs to go up a notch… which brings me back to: i’m going to make these. xoxo

  3. Julia permalink
    February 2, 2017

    Really yummy by the way! Thank you for leaving some for us Fishers
    Any chance for another NVC group in town?

  4. February 11, 2017

    I’m so with you. It feels like the time for quiet politeness is past, replaced with a firm resolve to maintain both compassion but also action to protect the vulnerable (including our beautiful earth)! I put Michael Moore’s reminder to do a little activism every day on my to do list and feel so hopeful to see this happening all over the planet. Reading your stories about those beautiful kids learning to live with such compassion and kindness does too. :)

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