Warm eyes welcome. Gleeful smiles compliment expansive delight. And the Forest is abundant with beauty. Happy twenty-ten!

A sweat lodge ceremony aligned with the blue moon of New Year’s Eve. Quite the dignified full lunar spectacular spectacular, second of December and thirteenth of 2009. Morning rain clouds fortunately meandered elsewhere, allowing the detoxing refreshment ritual to proceed. Participants radiated enthusiasm, slurped soup, and moseyed to bed.

Wave two of celebration rolled in with the chomp of dindin. Echoing countdown ignited tallest flames as time ticktocked 2010. Drumming, fire spinning, hooping, and hootin’ hollering surrounded.

Clear skies expose bluest blue hues and star clusters. Days in the forties; nights in the twenties. Brrr! Mugs of cocoa, jars of tea, and flasks of coffee; hot liquid yum that thaws fingertips. Tending fires, inside and out. Frosty zzzs and sweet dreams beneath the waning moon and layers of blankets.

Whether reaching out towards dairy alternatives due to cold/flu season, a vegan approach, or simply to try some different tastiness; nooch cheese & soy milk recipes are dictated below for reference.

NOOOTCH CHEESE!

1/2c nutritional yeast flakes 1/4c cornmeal 1/4c flour 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp garlic powder 2c water 1 tsp wet mustard 1/2c coconut oil

Mix dry ingredients in saucepan. Add water. Medium heat. Whisk until thickened and bubbling. Cook for apx 30s. Remove from burner. Add up to 1c water as needed to smooth sauce. The result, ooie gooie ‘cheese’! (Recipe adapted from The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook.)

SOY MILK!

Overnight soak of 2 1/2c dried soybeans and 5c water; 8-10hrs. Drain and rinse. While bringing 14c water to a boil, food processor batches of 2 parts soybeans and 1 part water. Add slurry to simmering. As soon as boiling, reduce temp. Take care; soy milk is quick to bubble over. Low boil for 20 minutes. Strain slurry water through a cloth/pillowcase, capturing liquid in a vessel. Pour 2c near boiling water over the pulp and squeeze out any remaining. Really wring out the milkiness. Refrigerate, share, and enjoy!

Many thanks for an impromptu herbal first aid wisdom discussion, ripe bananas, salad leafiness, a soap berry tree, burdock roots, sweat rocks, granola bars, and tales of adventure!

May the Forest Be With You

The Hostel Staff