Sneak a Peek!

2020 was a heck of a year! All of us felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Life went indoors and onto screens. During the pandemic, many of us began to spend more time in the kitchen. In fact, most of us have probably done more home cooking during the pandemic than ever before. Food preparation and enjoyment has a way of consoling us during times of stress and anxiety. Putting the focus on bringing lovely, aromatic, healthy ingredients together to create food that nurtures the body as well as the soul is what cooking at its best is all about. The cooking process can also revive long dormant but powerful memories of people and places.

In Subud Portland, all of the usual fundraising events for our annual Susila Dharma USA matching fund suddenly lost their legs. We needed a new idea that didn’t depend on in-person gatherings during the pandemic shut-down. A member of our team said: “What about a cookbook?” and the idea was born! We decided to create a cookbook made up of some of the most loved recipes of our Portland members and Menucha gathering attendees. We put out the call, and recipes began to “pour” in. We started receiving gems like My Mother’s Oyster Dressing, Pandemic Pizza and Mo’s Famous Pancakes.

The result has been remarkable – the unique cookbook called Quarantine Cuisine: A Virtual Cookbook. It is made up of the love and hope of our Subud members for a better post-Covid world as expressed through their love of cooking. Now we want to spread the love by gifting the virtual cookbook to all those who donate to our 2021 Matching Fund for Susila Dharma USA. It will help you to sneak a peek into the pandemic kitchens of your Subud sisters and brothers. Please do try these at home. We think you’re going to love them!

Despite the fundraising challenges of the past year, Subud Portland has been able to raise $5,000 to fund the Subud Portland/SD USA Matching Fund for 2021, and we are proud to announce that we will match any donations made to Susila Dharma USA up to $5,000 this summer. Your free virtual cookbook will be emailed to you before September. Donation checks (made out to Susila Dharma USA) can be mailed to Rifka Several, 1196 Holmes Court, Livermore, CA 94550, or made online at www.susiladharmausa.org/donate.

We hope the pandemic will be a memory rather than a reality soon. and next year, we just might gather recipes from around the US and create another virtual cookbook, Cuisine in the Time of Vaccine.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Love in Subud and Susila Dharma,
Friends of Susila Dharma and Subud Portland Center