Adventures in The Secret…

Apparently, there’s been a buzz lately about the DVD/book “The Secret”. I hadn’t heard anything about it until it was on Oprah yesterday. From what I gathered, it’s all about this NEWLY DISCOVERED, amazing secret to living a satisfying life. As I watched though, all I could think was “Hey – that’s not newly discovered! It’s plagiarism!” Some examples:

1) You should forgive people that have hurt you. Hmmm, where have I heard that before? Oh, yes, the Bible. (Luke 11:4)

2) You should be grateful for all the circumstances in your life. Hmmm, where have I heard that before? Oh, yes, the Bible. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

3) You should project ‘good energy’ (ie be cheerful). Hmmm, where have I heard that before? Oh, yes, the Bible. (Proverbs 17:22)

Now, I certainly agree with all the things above. I have no objections to encouraging people to be thankful, forgiving and cheerful. I do object to the makers of ‘The Secret’ stealing the bullet points from the plan God created for us; instead of giving credit where credit is due, casting God aside in favour or “the Universe”, “a higher power” and “a [random, unnamed]spiritual force”.

It’s like having a conversation like this:

Joe: “Hey, a strong wind in a funnel shape destroyed my house.”
Sam: “Really? A tornado destroyed your house?”
Joe: “No, no, not a tornado. It was a big funnel cloud and a strong strong wind.”
Sam: “Joe, that’s a tornado.”
Joe: “It couldn’t have been. I KNOW it wasn’t a tornado, but it was just like in the Wizard of Oz.”
Sam: “Joe, you’re a moron.”

Adventures in the Best Salad Ever…

Yes, it’s true – not only are you getting 2 posts in one day, you’re also getting a delicious and nutritious recipe. It’s been on page 112 of my favourite cookbook for years, but I’ve always passed it by because it looked ‘boring’ and ‘dull’. However, I had some cabbage to use up, and had most of these ingredients on hand. My mouth was so pleasantly surprised. Without further ado, here it is……..

Vietnamese Chicken Salad (from Extending the Table: A World Community Cookbook)

Cook and debone:
1 lb. chicken pieces (extra nice if cooked with some Anise seeds)
Place in a serving bowl:
3-4 cups cabbage, chopped in thin slices
Add:
1 tsp salt
Rub salt in cabbage and let stand a few minutes.
Add:
1 1/2 T. vinegar
1 T. sugar
3 green onions, chopped
3 sprigs of cilantro or parsley, finely chopped
chicken meat, chopped
1/2 cup peanuts, coarsely chopped
black and red ground pepper to taste.
Mix and serve

I’ve also made it with some sauteed shitake mushrooms or diced red peppers.

Adventures in the Up-Side of Global Warming…

While I fully understand that climate change is a serious challenge, I still find it difficult to complain about such wonderful weather. As I check the weather reports from home (Moncton -17, Ottawa -17, Regina -27) I’m glad I chose to stay in Korea this winter (Daegu +17). These pictures were taken this afternoon during an impromptu BBQ down at the duck pond. The weather has been glorious for the past week, and even though we’ve all been having a good time and spending as much time outdoors as possible, there’s still a lingering uneasiness about such warmth in February. It’s similar to the feeling you get when you’re staring at that huge slice of French Chocolate Silk Pie on your plate: you’re going to enjoy it 100%, even though you know it can’t be good for you and you’re surely going to pay for it later.