Happy Holidays!!

Surprise Loved Ones with Living Routes Recipes and Gift Ideas

In this issue we are celebrating the upcoming holidays through recipes and gift ideas from our students, partner sites and Living Routes staff. If you do use one of the gift or recipe ideas from this issue, please think about making a contribution to our Student Scholarship Fund! Listening to the needs of our students, Living Routes built (and continues to build) a need-based scholarship fund. The fund is primarily generated through community contributions and peer-to-peer donations. From 2003 to 2011, the fund has supported over 200 students (about 30% of the participants). Many more students also seek grants and scholarships elsewhere in addition to the Student Scholarship fund! Living Routes' mission includes creating opportunities for our students, including taking a thoughtful approach, to the students' ability to pay for a program. The continuously increasing amount of financial aid that Living Routes has provided over the years is living proof of our commitment to our students. Even with continuous scholarship fund generation, the need is beyond our current capabilities. Please think about donating to the Student Scholarship Fund to provide the opportunity for one more student to create positive change!

Consider a gift to the Student Scholarship Fund.

Anagrams for Loved Ones

Ideas for the Holidays from Executive Director Daniel Greenberg

After taking some time to really think about a gift that surprised and delighted his wife, Monique Gauthier, Daniel decided to share his idea for a holiday treasure without having to leave your home! It takes a little time and thought, but if you like puzzles and want to surprise and excite your friends and family, this is the perfect gift idea for you.

"Create an anagram of your loved one's name," Daniel said, "I once made one for my wife that started, "Oh quiet geranium. Ham in quiet rouge..." And ended with, "Quieter human go I." Find out more about anagrams, and how to compose one, here!

Costa Rica: Que Dulce, Amazing Sweet Stuff!

Making Cajeta and Donus with Grace Goldberg and her Homestay family

If you want to impress your family with a fantastic foreign food gift, look no further than our own Grace Goldberg who captured these two amazing recipes while investigating the anthropological connections and importance of sugar in Costa Rica!

Check out the Que Dulce
Salivate to the Cajeta and Donus

Moe's Christmas Tree

Make One Out of a Magazine!

Our wonderful Admissions Manager, Moe, decided that what she wanted to contribute to this holiday issue was a delightful way to UP-cycle magazines with a project the whole family could do! Her Magazine Christmas Tree uses the thickest of the catalogues that you get in the mail, and by simply folding down the pages, will fill out to a colorful and delightful way to reuse and recycle. Find out how through her instructional pictures!

India Program: Abbey's Luxurious Lemon Rice

Capture a Light Note in Your Holiday Meals

If you would like a light, citrus note to lift the heavy holiday meals, look no further! Living Routes Integral Sustainability at Auroville Coordinator, Abbey, offered this recipe from her home in Auroville India. Full of spice and color, it brings an uplifting and fun side-dish to any holiday meal. Find the full recipe here!

Re-gifting and Sharing in a CSA

Ideas from a Living Routes community member

As the newsletter was being crafted, a friend of Living Routes was kind enough to stop by and share a few gift ideas that she likes to use around the holidays! The three gifting ideas that she presented are simple and community/charity oriented. The first is to give re-gifted bags stuffed with your favorite local products! It offers insight into your local favorites as well as helping the local economy. Second is to offer a share, or part of your share, in a CSA. It is a bigger gift, but again helps to keep things local. Finally she often gives the gift of a donation in her loved ones' names to Heifer International, African Wildlife Foundation, Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, or Living Routes!

Carrot Squash Soup

Davis' Favorite Fall Vegetable Soup

Our Administrative/Financial Director Davis, wanted to share a recipe that is as cheerful and upbeat as he! This easy, fresh recipe is rich in color and taste, and is sure to put a smile on anyone's face. Serve with a lovely locally baked roll or a side of rice!

Check it out the recipe here!

Song to the Oysters

Give Everyone at the Holiday Party a Good Laugh!

There is no shortage of music around the Living Routes office (an aspect I personally love!) and that includes an occasional tune from our amazing IT Director, Rob. The latest tune to liven the office is one that can also be bust out at holiday parties around the hors d'oeuvres to give everyone a giggle! From our own Rob, courtesy of Roy Blount Jr., is the Song to Oysters

SONG TO OYSTERS

I like to eat an uncooked oyster.
Nothing's slicker, nothing's moister.
Nothing's easier on your gorge
Or when the time comes, to dischorge.
But not to let it too long rest
Within your mouth is always best.
For if your mind dwells on an oyster...
Nothing's slicker. Nothing's moister.
I prefer my oyster fried.
Then I'm sure my oyster's died.

Ashley's Annual Crock-Pot Cook-off Winner

Creamy Potato Bacon & Leek Soup

Our wonderful Marketing Intern, Ashley, sifted back through 3 years of journals to bring you the Family Annual Crock-Pot Winner 2 years running! Hearty, perfect blend of full flavors and big enough to share will all your loved ones... it's a crock-pot masterpiece!

Check it out here!

Moe's Monthly Funny

Jacky's Recipe Corner

Jacky's Caramel Corn, Holiday Nuts & Upside Down Cake

As a holiday gift idea, consider our fantastic Admission's Manager, Jacky's, Easy-Peasy, Ramp-Up-the-Grandkids-with-Sugar-Before-They-Go-Back-To-Their-Parents-Caramel-Corn, This-Is-What-I-Think-of-the-Family-Holiday-Nuts, When-The-Holidays-Are-Over-I-Empathize-With-The-Upside-Down-Cake recipes! They make terrific holiday gifts wrapped up in tins, jars, or decorated bags…and we couldn't stop eating any of her samples here in the office!

Check out the recipe here!