Let’s step this way and take a minute…
Here’s a cute picture of Mr Woofy, for the first ever edition of Food Bloggy Pets Of The Month, a new event over at Peanut Butter Étouffee. Make sure to head over to see the round-up of pets next week 
Right, now that I’ve lured you into reading this post with an adorable photo of Mr Woofy (and yes, his face is more sooky than usual as he’d just had a bath and he’s a water-hatin’ dog), let’s discuss something a bit more serious.
Being an avid (learner) cook, there are certain values and expectations that I have. Though I’ve been known to indulge in the occasional bit of take away or things such as ramen, if it is humanly possible then I’ll make sure to try and prepare my food from scratch, maintaining a relationship with the produce that I’m handling, something that I think is an essential part of understanding the relationship between our bodies and the food we fuel it with.
The thing that makes me sad about the increase in frozen/preprepared meals and take-away is that it takes away the connection and understanding of the produce that makes up our food. When you are grocery shopping, and you pick a perfect capsicum - big, heavy, firm, shiny unblemished skin that has a slight sweetness when you sniff its stem…well, it’s hard not to have even a brief thought to the process by which that capsicum reached you. And later, when you prepare it in the kitchen, as you dice/peel/slice, you’re watching it transform into the form which will eventually give you sustenance and/or pleasure
Not only is there this connection with the actual produce, but cooking makes you acknowledge your waste and think about ways to cut it down. Eggshells and vegetable scraps can be composted instead of taking up space in your garbage bin, and taking your own bags to the supermarket means you don’t bring home unnecessary plastic, fueling an industry of non-recyclable products that are taking their toll on our environment.
So, when I heard about Hazon, an organization who are committed to “educating people about our environment, the food we eat, and the ways in which our relationship to these essential aspects of our lives influences our spiritual well-being”, I knew that I wanted to help support their valuable efforts. Ari, from over at Baking & Books, is a part of this community and in an effort to try and help them continue the important work that they do, is holding a fantastic auction, with many fantastic cookbooks up as prizes! For just $5, you will receive a raffle ticket with a chance to win any of a range of 70 different books that are up for grabs!
So, I urge you to head over to Baking & Books to find out more and buy yourself a raffle ticket! You may win yourself a shiny new cookbook, but you’ll also be helping support an organization that is helping to educate and celebrate food and life!
Technorati Tags: fundraising, Hazon, community
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Comments
Ari (Baking and Books) Thank you for posting about the raffle Ellie! You are such a sweetie. Big hug!
mooncrazy Very interesting site, thanks for letting us know about it. As you know, the PBE women are quite interested in our community/environment so we are always happy to find new ways to help.
Ellie Truffle - It is indeed, I hope you can help support it
Ari - My pleasure 
Mooncrazy - No worries, the more people know then hopefully the more people to get behind it!
Belinda - If only he were as dignified as his name suggested 
steamy kitchen what a cutie pie! I bet Woofy is your personal vacuum under the dining table and in the kitchen!I really would love to get a dog, but husband thinks its wiser to wait until the kids get a little older and can learn to take care of a pet themselves. Until then, I’ll just enjoy pics of yours!
Ellie Jaden - he’s a vacuum cleaner and mop all in one, with the wet floor afterwards!! Pets are a great way for kids to learn responsibility, and I think they’re wonderful for teaching life skills as well
Very insightful post and sounds like a great cause.