Decisive Action Workshop. You missed it? Too bad. So sad! lol

Written By: Chef Marian - May• 04•13
Our fearless leader!

Our fearless leader!

Today was the day for the Decisive Action Workshop. I couldn’t decide… should I go? Shouldn’t I go? lol And I will say that for the second time, Yorum wow’d us, with a day of understanding on many levels.

At his fingertips are what seems like an infinite number of exercises that will ‘reveal’ yourself to you.… but beyond that, Yoram took the time to let people share their part of each exercise and what that meant is many of the participants who took advantage of the opportunity, actually got Yoram’s personal feedback…. and he has a really good way of steering you into understanding that you can release the stress.  

As a good friend of mine always says: “Happiness is a choice. Suffering is optional” lol.

And as people became clear that it was more their ‘story’ and that story always allowed them to be the victim, we all came away from it understanding that we are way better of asking “How can we change this” instead of “How did this happen to me”.

I have had first hand experience in the last decade of learning to empower myself, no longer accepting a lifestyle or a situation that does not ‘serve’ me. I mean, if you health is failing due to the level of stress in your life, it’s time to make a change.

So, I want to say that The Decisive Action Workshop I attended today was worth the time and investment of actually ‘being in the moment’ and giving it my best shot!

We also learned about the 4 types of people in this world. And guess what? If you can recognize a ‘type’ you stand a much better chance of talking to them and really being heard. So that was pretty interesting to me.

I’m going to give you our leaders’ contact info (listed below). I believe there are 4 new classes coming up.

Please make sure you tell him Chef Marian sent you and you want the early bird rate!

I brought 3 people from my groups ‘with’ today and they all got something of great value from the experience.

Wake up! Shake up! And figure out how you’re going to make your mark in this world!

For me? It’s ending hunger in San Diego with my foundation “No-Face-Goes-Un-Fed” and ‘Echo Eden’, a community planting organic gardens on empty lots (and lots connected to the city) as well as partnering in Tijuana to feed people. Both require me to network with great chefs in San Diego, so…. if you are one, or if you know one and can give me a ‘warm introduction’ you too can make a difference and have impact on our fair city! We’ve got Deborah Scott from the Cohn Group on our team! That’s a good start!

Happy Eating,

Chef Marian

Be Decisive! 

Yoram Baltinester 
858.356.6751 
http://www.DecisiveActionWorkshops.com/ 
Decisive Action Workshops

 

 

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Organic too expensive? Not if it’s your own garden. Enter Echo Eden!

Written By: Chef Marian - May• 02•13
Kale (photo From Eating Well)

Kale (photo From Eating Well)

Organic too expensive? Not if it’s your own garden. And if you shop smart…. you could actually buy organic and save money!

What people don’t seem to realize is: if you buy only what you need… the way people do in Europe… you won’t be spending …. You’ll be saving! Count what you trash at the end of each week/month!

GOOD POINT CHEF MARIAN.

Yeah! How much do you throw out at the end of each month? It’s gets to be a nightmare. Right?

RIGHT CHEF MARIAN.

So, let’s buy only what we need.

And how about composting? If you’re not growing anything you certainly don’t need to be composting.

But here’s what you can be doing. Take every little bit you cut off your fruits and veggies, including skins and save them. At the end of the week, put them into a pot with some tomato juice and boil it down. That will give you a nutritious delicious drink you can have any time of the day. But watch out for the rinds. White equals bitter. So, you may want to shave the outside of a lemon into the mix, but careful about how long any of the ‘pith’ sits in your mixture.

I’ve recently hooked up with a group called Echo Eden whose motto is: ‘Grow a garden, cultivate a community’.

Years from now, there will be a food shortage. We all know it’s coming. And in times of crises we all band together. But the only way to protect yourself from that food shortage is by having your own garden.

BUT CHEF MARIAN, I DON’T HAVE ROOM FOR A GARDEN.

Have you ever heard of Echo Eden?

NO CHEF MARIAN. TELL US ABOUT IT.

Echo Eden is a group that talks about ‘Community fusion though Community Gardening’.

Is there an empty lot in your community? You know that if you call or better yet ‘friend’ Echo Eden on Facebook, you can suggest that plot for them to look at and if they’re successful, everyone in your community that wants to, will have a small plot they can grow and farm. That means you can feed yourself, feed your neighbors, create income because you can probably sell some of that produce at the Farmer’s Market…. And generally do good, for yourself, your family and your neighborhood.

And there will be gardens that won’t be just gardens. People will be growing trees that provide food. How about plums, avocados, figs, lemons, oranges, apples, strawberries and bananas?

THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME CHEF MARIAN.

Ok now. It’s time to go see Echo Eden on Facebook. Tell my friend Dawn you’re interested in participating and make a change, even if it’s just a small change, in your neighborhood.

And you know what you have to look forward to?

NO CHEF MARIAN! TELL US!

Echo Eden is having a festival in the fall. Keep reading ChefMarian.com and you’ll be invited for sure!

 

Happy Eating,

Chef Marian

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Stay Sane ~ Control your Brain!

Written By: Chef Marian - May• 01•13

SPeace and Quiettay Sane ~ Control your Brain! Did I say that? Yes. Yes I did. And Why? Because the only thing you actually can control is what goes on between your own two ears!

I spent years walking the serene grounds of The Golden Door in Escondido (<—–picture shot and cropped in Photoshop by Chef Marian), enjoying silence and really hearing the dialog that was going on in my own mind.

And I should stop and take this opportunity to thank Cristina Ferrare for introducing me to it on one of her shows and at the same time let you know how disappointed I was to have experienced Barbara Walters, who was there during one of my trips. She really does not care about who she offends… (that’s right from the horse’s mouth) …… so different than her image. Left me feeling sorry for her. Cause you know what comes around, goes around right?

AND HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO COOKING, CHEF MARIAN?

Just wait. I’ll get there.

I have always thought: The purpose of the brain is to add 2 and 2 and get 4. And there’s the ego…. the part of your brain (must be, cause it certainly isn’t your heart or soul messing with you), whose sole purpose is to protect you.

And that’s who is controlling or should I say what is controlling your running dialog. Do you hear it? It’s what someone said to you as a child, or what others may think, or what someone said yesterday, or what happened today and your part in it…. what you shoulda, woulda, coulda done better, etc. Right?

And sometimes these ‘stories’ we run, aren’t even accurate. The comments we think, aren’t even true. And yet they seem to play over and over again. And I’m here to tell you today, that as you catch yourself hearing that voice, you need to shut it down. I’ve been known to ‘meditate’, count my breath One (in) And (out), Two (in) And (out) etc. and if you find yourself counting 38 (and you were only supposed to go to 20)…. then you know your mind took over, and you really do have to start again! lol

Sometimes it takes relocating to a new space, turning on the TV, doing something fun or artistic….. or learning something new. But this running dialog if left unchecked can make you a lousy home chef.

AAAAH. I SEE. WE’RE FINALLY THERE, CHEF MARIAN.

Yes. We’re finally here.

How about the “I can’t do this” line? Well, ya know, no matter what you think, you’re right. If you think you can’t, you can’t.

Ever lose your keys? And instead of flipping out, stressing out…. pick the road less traveled? Tell yourself you know it’s here, release the stress factor and logically deduce step by step where they could be? And because you are sure you can find them, you do? In today’s world, we say we are ‘calling’ it to ourselves, to make it happen.

It’s the same thing in the kitchen. Once you’ve had time in a kitchen with me, you gain a sense of confidence maybe just in one area, for 2 or 3 dishes…. and you build on that confidence. You become sure of being ok to experiment and create healthier and more flavorful food, without a ‘fear’ factor. And when you’re ready to learn more, or maybe you and your friends are ready, you call me again. And that to me, is the best relationship we can have.

We stop that voice that says ‘I can’t”, and replace it with “How can I”? And if you don’t have those answers, you can bet I do!

Even before I come to your home you can start a list of everything you have ever wanted to know about shopping for food, picking the right fruits and vegetables (there’s actually a ‘science’ to it), substituting the right stuff into your pantry and fridge to make it healthier, questions about being gluten free, or sugar free, or soy free or dairy free, making food healthier and more flavorful, using machines you may have in your kitchen, wanting to know what else you might buy to make life easier, or even creative ideas you’ve had about putting things together and wondering if the ingredients would or would not work. You get it all answered during our time together.

Log onto San Diego Foodies and become a member. There’s no charge, but you get to RSVP to events I create, plus…. you get to email me your contact info, if you would like a Cooking Class in your kitchen. (You can also go on ‘about’ here, to find my email address as well).

I go thru this process because I don’t want the spammy spiders picking up my email here on a post. I’ve been told to watch it!

Happy Eating,

Chef Marian

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