April 15, 2020
Running out of at-home lunch or dinner recipe ideas? Bahamas-born restaurateur Julian Sawyer brings the islands home with a recipe that’s as effortless as it is flavorful. Share this post on social media for a change to win a $150 gift certificate to support Sawyer's Restaurant.
"These tacos get your Zen right!" - Chef JulianFISH TACOS
Yield: 4 tacos
Taco Ingredients
4 six inch round soft tortillas
1 lb white fish (sub portobello mushrooms if you are vegetarian)
2 cups butter lettuce
1 diced avocado
Pico de Gallo Ingredients
1 lime juiced
1 diced jalapeno
2 tomatoes, diced
1 tbsp minced scallions
2 tbsp cilantroSalt and pepper to taste
parsley for garnish top
Chipotle Mayo Ingredients
1/2 cup chipotle peppers, minced (or canned peppers)
1 cup mayonnaise
tsp fresh lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
Method
Combine all ingredients for Pico de Gallo, set side. Pro tip: make the day before so flavors can marinate.
Puree chipotle, lime, mayo, and salt and pepper. Place in the fridge.
Wash and salt and pepper the fish, then pan sear on both sides for 5 minutes per side.
Warm soft tortilla shells for one minute per side over medium heat.
Layer lettuce, fish, avocado, Pico de Gallo, a squeeze of Chipotle Mayo, garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy!
March 23, 2020
Chef KC Ward is a non-stop Chef and Restaurateur who uses his creativity to build his farm to table menus and restaurant concepts. His newest flora restaurant in West Hartford, CT has an inspired plant-based menu and juice bar providing a unique opportunity for food choices in a balanced healthy living diet. Omnivores are welcome to this vegan focused dining experience with choices of local, 'viable fauna'.
KC is providing some amazing, easy-to-make pancake, soup and pudding recipes for new ideas for healthy and tasty meals at home. "The pudding and the pancake recipes are great because they're vegan AND nut/soy/gluten free AND they make good use of lightly browned bananas or avocados (that always seem to go from rock hard to mushy in the blink of an eye). The peanut stew is a hearty and nutritious meal and freezes nicely," KC shared.
Bon Appétit!
"Breakfast for breakfast, or breakfast for dinner! We’re kicking things off with a short-stack of gluten-free, vegan banana pancakes with brûlée banana, facon and our vegan butter."
BANANA PANCAKES
Yield: 10 large pancakes
Good for 2 days
Pancake Ingredients:
4 cups of rolled oats
2.5 cups rice milk
4 bananas
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
.25 cup cider vinegar
.5 cup maple syrup (+ more to garnish)
Method
Preheat non-stick electric griddle to 350˚F. Add all ingredients to blender with liquids and bananas on the bottom and puree smooth. Spray griddle with canola oil and add 3 ounce scoop. Cook until you see tiny bubbles throughout top side, then flip over and continue cooking for another 1.5 minutes. Garnish with Earthbalance 'butter' and maple syrup
"Our riff on a traditional African delicacy, peanut stew! Peanut, sweet potato, kale, tomato and more stewed down and served with a little rice. Spicy, savory, vegan and, most importantly, incredibly comforting and delicious!"
PEANUT STEW
Yields 1 gallon or 16 each 8 ounce servings
Good for 6 days in fridge or 1 month in freezer
Soup Ingredients
3 quarts water
1 each Spanish onion peeled & diced
.25 cup minced, peeled garlic
.25 cup minced, peeled ginger
.5 cup vegetable oil
2 large sweet potatoes peeled & diced
4 ribs celery sliced
4 ounces tomato paste
3 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flake
2 tablespoons kosher salt
6 tablespoons smooth peanut butter (add at the end)
Garnish Ingredients
2 cups cooked white rice
1 cup roasted, salted and crushed peanuts
1 bunch of cilantro
Method
Simmer vegetables, add water and all but peanut butter and simmer 1 hour. Add peanut butter and stir in well. Lightly pulse with emersion blender
Garnish each 8 ounce portion with 2 tablespoons of cooked white rice, 2 sprigs cilantro torn from stems and 1 tablespoon crushed peanuts
"Chocolate pudding is a perfectly acceptable lunch when it’s made out of one of nature’s great superfoods, avocado! "
CHOCOLATE AVOCADO PUDDING
Yield: 6 servings
Good for 4 days
Pudding Ingredients
2 avocado, flesh
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt
.25 cup agave nectar
.25 cup maple syrup
.5 cup orange juice
.75 cup cocoa powder
Method
Puree everything in food processor or blender, garnish with brulee banana slices and chocolate nibs.
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To support your local restaurants, flora is on Grubhub for takeout, and running a special on gift certificates for an extra $10 for every $50 spent.
Photography: flora
With her no-quit approach to adversity and a generous spirit when it comes to lifting others, we’re proud to feature Jessica Melore. Jessica is an award-winning international motivational speaker, writer, patient expert and public health advocate. After surviving a near-fatal heart attack and leg amputation at age 16, she became a heart transplant recipient, and three-time cancer survivor.
Named one of Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 College Women of 2002, Jessica received Princeton University’s award at graduation for representing Princeton’s motto “Princeton in the nation’s service and in the service of humanity.” She has worked in the non-profit/healthcare field for many years and is an advocate and ambassador on behalf of numerous causes. If that’s not enough, Jessica is board member and founding member of Harboring Hearts, a non-profit dedicated to provide emotional and financial well-being to heart patients and their families.
Thank you for joining us as an Able Made Go-Getter, Jessica!
"I made a decision to live my life with as much joy and purpose as I could."
I’ve always gone after my dreams, but I didn’t realize what I was really capable of until survived a near fatal heart attack at 16, a heart transplant, leg amputation, and three bouts of cancer. I survived against all odds, and after seeing how fleeting life could be, I made a decision to live my life with as much joy and purpose as I could, help others do it too. I saw how sharing my story as a motivational speaker and writer could help others, no matter what they’d been through in life. I’ve also been an advocate and ambassador for many non-profits and worked in the health field throughout my career.
What inspires me is the spirit of patients and caregivers I’ve met along the way. People who hang on every day as they wait for an organ transplants – a second chance at life that might never come. Cancer warriors who keep up the fight. People with disabilities who defy society’s expectations every day. Caregivers like my parents, who slept every night in my hospital room. So many people who continue to hope, and fight the daily battles that could easily bring them down. I’ve been there, and I could never turn my back on them or the support they need.
What keeps your passion moving forward?
Seeing the difference one person can make. In a world of billions, and especially living in a city like New York, it can be easy to feel insignificant. But we’re all capable of making an impact, even at the smallest level. Smiling, holding the door, giving a stranger a compliment can turn someone’s day around, and maybe inspire them to pass it on.
One person can save or enhance the lives up to 50 people through organ and tissue donation. One person can get 5 friends to help a grassroots movement spread. The challenges I’ve faced have forced me to be creative and unconventional in pursuing my goals, and that has opened my eyes to opportunities I never knew were possible.
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Jessica chose to rock our Able Made Haute Step diamond socks during our shoot, and to wear as she takes her bold steps forward.
Photography: Anastasiya Sergienya | Hair/Make Up: Justine Sierakowski
We're proud to feature Peter Thum, founder of not just one but several companies and not-for-profit organizations. The first two brands are Ethos Water (acquired by Starbucks) and Giving Water which funds programs providing water, adequate sanitation and hygiene education for children in need in Kenya. There’s also Liberty United, an organization that partners with American communities and law enforcement to create jewelry and accessories out of illegal guns and bullet shell casings released from evidence. Proceeds help fund programs to reduce gun violence.
We caught up with Peter in his NYC headquarters taking bold steps in our socks.
"I think that every child deserves an equal opportunity to pursue happiness."
I do things that I believe in and I enjoy work and accomplishing the things that I set out to do.
When I meet the kids in the programs we support I think of my daughter. Children are the same everywhere I’ve worked: Kenya, DR Congo, Chicago, New York, Philly. They smile easily, they have dreams of what they want to do and be in life. I think that every child deserves an equal opportunity to pursue happiness.
I know that the work that we do has saved the lives of people who I’ll never get to meet.
You have founded several companies and not for profit organizations. Do you have a favorite?
I suppose that some parents have a favorite child, I don’t.
Ethos Water was my first experience as an entrepreneur. The beginning was pretty isolating, because when I first came up with the idea for Ethos, there were very few people who had created anything like it — Paul Newman, Anita Roddick, Ben & Jerry — so people had very few examples of hybrid models and most didn't really understand it or think it could work. The ecosystem to support social entrepreneurship didn’t really exist the way that it does today. Ethos was the first social purpose brand to connect product consumption to a directly-related social issue — water for water — so shepherding that idea that started out on a cocktail napkin in my pocket come to life was pretty cool. The acquisition by Starbucks was an amazing and I believe singular growth path for Ethos Water. Personally, it was a remarkable growth experience that I feel fortunate to have been able to have.
People who are cut out for entrepreneurship should go for it. That said, It is really important to interrogate your self knowledge and ask if you have what it takes and the commitment to solving a big problem that is necessary to go through the start up phase. This includes thinking about every aspect of your life. The founder / entrepreneur experience is romanticized by the stories of success that dominate the media, but most businesses don’t succeed and most entrepreneurs have 10 hardship stories for every victory story. Are you really ready for that?
A deep personal connection to an issue is a good grounding for social entrepreneurs. Without it you’ll probably struggle.
Pursue a social enterprise if you feel that there is a solid argument why the social issue that you are trying to address really needs the social enterprise idea and strategy that you are considering. If not, find a different way to address the issue.
Photography: Jake Horgan | Hair/Make Up: Justine Sierakowski
With a deep love of nature and valuing the role of small businesses in community life, Judy Wicks has used her passion to build communities. Over her career, Judy co-founded the Free People's Store, Fair Food, written award-winning book Good Morning Beautiful Business: the Unexpected Journey of an Activist Entrepreneur and Local Economy Pioneer, and so much more.
"I started small, rather than with a big idea, so that I could learn along the way."
A passion for life. And parents who gave me lots of freedom.
Protecting what I love. I love this beautiful planet Earth and the other animals who share it with us. I am also passionate about justice and democracy and building a more equitable, compassionate and green economy that serves the needs of all, while working in harmony with natural systems.
Now that I'm retired from business, I'm finding ways to contribute my skills and knowledge to help young entrepreneurs who share my values build sustainable businesses in our local economy. I'm also passionate about addressing climate change by doing what I can to lower the burning of carbons in my own life and fighting the building of pipelines by oil and gas companies, when we should instead be building a renewable energy infrastructure as fast as possible.
The biggest challenges to opening the White Dog Cafe back in 1983 were finding capital and developing a dedicated team of people. I started small, rather than with a big idea, so that I could learn along the way and find capital from family and friends, the bank, and local government as I grew and proved my business acumen and concept. I worked closely with employees to build a workplace community that provided a sense of belonging, pride and happiness that strengthened commitment to the company and our work together.
Who/What is inspiring you today?
I'm inspired by rising feminine energy that will some day bring an end to patriarchy. I am inspired by indigenous people and their allies who are standing up to the power of fossil fuel and mining industries to defend the land they see as sacred.
Humankind must find our place in the web of life, no longer as exploiters, but as lovers of life, living with respect for other species, each other and future generations. To do otherwise, will bring the end of this civilization.
Photography: Kriston Jae Bethel | Hair/Make Up: Keri McBride
Whether she’s preparing for a film or series, working on her lifestyle brand Basic Terrain or working as an Ambassador for Oxfam, Joy's life is filled with go. As an Actor/Designer/Writer/Oxfam Ambassador, she is a hyphenate of getting it done, and we’re proud to highlight some of her take-no-prisoners steps in our bold socks.
"I'm inspired by the desire to help people".
The realization that life is too damn short.
The desire to help people. People helped me. I wouldn't be where I am or who I am without that help.
The pursuit of happiness.
Joy, a self-proclaimed “lover of camouflage,” steps into the light in our our Able Made Haute Step Camo socks as well as our JA Stripes socks, benefiting the next generation of Go-Getters via The Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation.
Photography: Jennifer Rocholl | Hair/Make Up: Danielle Rotella
]]>A Renaissance woman in social activism, Carmen Perez has dedicated herself to many important civil rights issues for the past 20 years and counting. Through her work promoting peace, civil rights, juvenile justice, confronting police violence, and more, Carmen has become a much needed voice of reform. Carmen’s most recent role is as the National Co-Chair of the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, a movement that drew over 5 million people across the globe to march in resistance of hatred and bigotry, affirming women of all identities’ rights as human beings. She is currently Executive Director at Gathering for Justice.
We are incredibly proud she accepted our invitation to be an Able Made Go-Getter.
“The impact that I make, whether small or large scale, must have an entry point for others who may not have the same access that I have.”
The sacrifices that I and my family have made. I've experienced a lot of loss. Given the opportunities and access I've been blessed with, it's my responsibility to open doors for others! I don't have the option of doing nothing - my humanity doesn't allow me to be a bystander.
My interactions with people from various walks of life and the different opportunities I've had.In a time when so much injustice is happening around us, I feel it's important for me, given my life experiences, it's only right to be intentional, inclusive, and impactful. The impact that I make, whether small or large scale, must have an entry point for others who may not havethe same access that I have.
Life! Simply that. We only have one to life - we have to make it worthwhile.
Carmen is rocking sock from our Able Made Haute Step Collection, benefiting the next generating of Go-Getters via Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation.
Photography: Jennifer Rocholl | Hair/Make Up: Danielle Rotella
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