It's a new world out there; travel, back to the office, rising costs of living, and a horizon that seems to portend a harder future for balance with it all.
I post today with a "lag" time of over 30 days since my last recipe and sustainability spotlight. I've not stopped creating nor exploring new recipes and sustainability spotlights. Rather, my original frequency to communicate into the internet ether was predicated on a time / availability that I no longer have in my daily efforts. The time I had before was built on the opportunities that were granted by the global pandemic. Meaning, the pandemic caused the lack of ability to "go" places, which led to an effect on my time, and how I chose to wrap that effect into another one; the inception and maintenance of this blog. The pandemic required a limitation on the time constraints for my work, and on my family's obligations for time, which have now crept back into my world.
Sustainability Spotlight: Cause and effect is a very powerful dynamic. It essentially means that if one thing happens, another thing (that wouldn't have happened without the first thing), happens. BUT, there is a misconception that the cause will lead to only one effect. In fact, there are an infinite amount of possibilities that can come from a cause because effects are both short and long term, along with, cumulative and / or exponential in nature. So, if we believe any one cause has one direct effect, there is an intrinsic problem with this construct; especially for sustainability efforts.
We, as humans, consistently wish to seek out and control the cause and effect relationship. Think about your conversations recently, look at the media outlets, and review how we conduct political discord. It all comes down to identifying a cause and the specific, but manipulated, effect. Otherwise known as "the blame game."
Blaming the cause for the effect takes away the onus (responsibility) for actions, and consequences. You take away the personal nature that influences both the cause and the effect. Essentially, humans like to alleviate themselves of being a part of cause and effects. And here is where we come to the "trouble with sustainability."
The Blame Game in Action:
The cause of climate change are the corporations (run by humans, serving human needs or wants).
The cause of climate change are the older generations (past mistakes of humans).
The cause of climate change is just the global / natural cycle (investigated and manipulated in data analytics by humans).
Hey, look! All cause = humans. At least we can agree on that, right?
Humans can be the effect though too! Because of our consumer habits, the effect on climate change can be better (or continue to worsen). Because of our past mistakes in prior generations, we can educate and learn and effect climate change in a positive way (or continue to ignore those mistakes and repeat them). Because of the ability to study our world through science, we can stop the misinformation through data which manipulates how the global population sees climate change (in other words; sure, there are natural cycles, but we have influenced them greatly - don't forget, humans are in the hundreds of thousands of years old; the Earth is billions).
As a part of our world, we have significant influence over cause and effect, but the effect is where we really can focus our efforts to make strides in sustainability. Using vegan recipes (like this one) to change the effect of our food / eating habits is a stride we can multiply and duplicate across the globe. If we stop making (one of) the causes of climate change our overuse and overproduction of food using animal products, the effect can be that this world improves. Isn't that what we all want for current generations and new?
I like to think so...and because of that cause (my hope / my thoughts), the effect is that I made time for this post today. And it's as easy as that my friends - choosing how we influence the effects = things happen, and hopefully they are for the better!
Ingredients:
"Egg"
2 tbsp avocado oil
1 tbsp vegan butter
10-12 roasted garlic cloves
1/2 block tofu (not pressed, but drained)
3/4 cup JustEgg
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp herbed salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup oat milk
1 handful fresh basil
2 tbsp avocado oil
1/2 yellow onion (chopped)
1 cup brussels sprouts (quartered & trimmed)
1 small head of broccoli (cut into small florets)
1 roasted red bell pepper (chopped)
Salt & pepper (to taste)
1 tsp fresh thyme
Directions:
Combine all ingredients of "Egg" above in a high-speed blender and mix until thick and smooth. Set aside.
In a large cast iron skillet, add 2 tbsp avocado oil and heat over Medium-High heat. Add avocado oil and once it shimmers, add onion, brussels sprouts, broccoli and bell pepper. Add a pinch of salt and saute for ~5 minutes.
Add another pinch of salt and thyme and saute for another ~5 minutes (or until brussels start to look a bit browned, onion is turning golden, and broccoli has started to turn a vibrant green.
Turn oven on Broil - High (to preheat).
Now, add your "Egg" mixture to the skillet and stir to incorporate with your vegetables lighty. Cover frittata and cook for ~5 minutes on the stove top.
Uncover frittata, turn off heat and slide pan (carefully! it's hot) into the oven. Broil on high for ~7 minutes or until beginning to look a bit browned.
Remove from oven and let cool for ~5 minutes before cutting and serving
With love & hope for a better future for all of us - Jamie