24 SEPTEMBER 2022 Plant - based Wellness Owner of YouCare- SelfCare, a private wellness practice specializing in plant- based lifestyle and disease prevention. youcare-selfcare.com BY MIRIAM HAHN September 1 is National Tofu Day! Tofu gets a bad rap sometimes but there are so many delicious ways to make it and since it is so neutral, it soaks up the flavors it’s cooked in. There are also some misconceptions out there surrounding soy. Many years ago, the press claimed the phytoestrogens in soy were like human estrogen and people thought that soy could actually cause cancer. Research in the last 10 years shows exactly the opposite. The Physicians for Responsible Medicine say that soybeans are a wonder food. They are loaded with high quality protein – one cup of tofu contains 20 grams of protein – as well as magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, calcium, iron and B vitamins. Soy products are low in saturated fat and contain zero cholesterol. Here are two delicious tofu recipes and one salad for Labor Day! Labor Day recipes with minimal labor Air Fryer tofu stir fry Mexican street corn salad 1. Dry off tofu with a paper towel and cut into cubes. 2. Put the cubes in a large Ziploc bag and add the soy sauce and 1 tbsp. of the avocado oil. Toss to coat, then add 2 tbsp. of corn starch and shake again. 3. Put the tofu in the air fryer and cook for 20-25 minutes at 400F. 4. Heat up the remaining avocado oil in the same pan and add the veggies. Cook on medium high for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are just tender. 5. Mix sauce. 6. Add the tofu back into the pan and add the sauce. Toss to combine. 7. Top with scallions and sesame seeds. Serve with rice if desired. 1. Follow the package directions for cooking the corn. This will take about five minutes on the stove top. 2. Chop the cilantro, jalapeno and garlic. 3. Mix the Veganaise, lime juice and tajin. Drain the cooked corn and put in a medium bowl. 4. Add the cilantro, jalapeno, garlic and dairy-free feta. Add dressing and toss to combine. 5. Top with scallions and additional cilantro, lime and more feta if desired. Ingredients Ingredients Directions Directions • 1 16 oz. super firm pre-pressed tofu • 1 tbsp. soy sauce • 3 tbsp. avocado oil, divided • 2 tbsp. corn starch (or arrowroot powder) • ½ onion, chopped • 3 cloves garlic minced • 2 cups broccoli, cut into florets • 2 cups mushrooms, sliced • 1 red pepper, sliced • Sesame seeds and scallions for topping • Optional rice for serving Sauce • 3 tbsp. soy sauce • 2 tsp. sesame oil • 1 tbsp. each: miso paste, maple syrup • 2 tsp. corn starch • 1 tsp. grated ginger • 1 bag (16 oz.) frozen fire roasted corn • ¼ cup cilantro chopped + more for garnish • 1 jalapeno, seeds removed, diced • 1 garlic clove, minced • ¼ cup Veganaise • Juice from one lime + more lime for garnish • ¼ tsp. tajin seasoning • ¼ cup dairy-free feta cheese • 2 scallions for topping Serves: 4 Serves: 6 15-minute vegan breakfast tacos 1. Add the oil to a large sauté pan and heat to medium high. Add the onion, red pepper and mushrooms. Sauté for five minutes, stirring frequently. Add the black salt, cumin, salt, pepper and stir. 2. Open the package of tofu and wrap in a paper towel to dry off surface water. Then crumble with your hands into the sauté pan. Break down with a wooden spoon. 3. Add the nutritional yeast, black beans, olives and salsa. Stir to combine and cook for five minutes. 4. While cooking, warm up tortillas. 5. Stuff shells with tofu mixture and add toppings. Ingredients Directions • 1 tbsp. avocado oil • ½ cup red onion, diced, divided • 1 red pepper, diced • 1 cup mushrooms, diced • 1 tsp. each: black salt, cumin, pink salt • 16 oz. super firm pre-pressed tofu (House Foods, Nasoya, or Trader Joes make this type) • 2 tbsp. nutritional yeast • 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained • ¼ cup sliced black olives • ½ cup chunky salsa • 18 small flour tortillas, slider size or 12 hard taco shells • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped • ¼ cup grape tomatoes, quartered (or hot house tomato, chopped) • 1 lime • Optional for topping: red pepper flakes, hot sauce, avocado Serves: 6 Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology • Service Learning Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available HELP US WELCOME OUR NEW STAFF! 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8

25 SEPTEMBER 2022 By Jennifer Marshall Thanks to St. Thomas’s fourth-grade teacher Amanda Goossen and her family, hundreds of children returned to school this year wearing new shoes. For the past six years, the family has led The Good Soles Shoe Drive to help collect shoes for Child Crisis Arizona, an Arizona Foster Care organization. “To date, we’ve collected over 1,000 pairs of shoes and thousands of dollars to support this cause, allowing hundreds of children to go back to school with a new pair of shoes on their feet,” Goossen said. While back-to-school shopping in 2017, Goossen, a mother of two, became acutely aware of the emphasis placed on backpacks and other general school supplies, whether they were featured in- store sales ads or school drives. She kept hearing her grandfather’s words: “Everyone deserves a good pair of shoes.” Growing up, her grandfather was an orphan supported by the Catholic Church and its nuns. Goossen said that he became the inspiration and foundation for Good Soles. “He was the epitome of good,” she said. “He dedicated his life to the Catholic Church. I searched out foster care programs, and when Child Crisis mentioned that shoes were something their children lacked, I knew this was one way my family could help.” This year, Goossen and her family collected around 600 pairs, with local businesses donating about $7,500 to Child Crisis Arizona. “Along with our continued sponsor, Tito’s Vodka, and their program, ‘Love, Titos,’ we were able to purchase hundreds of shoes, which made it possible to buy every size that Child Crisis Arizona needed, plus many, many more,” Goossen said. New this year, The Good Soles established a student volunteer aspect. They selected four St. Thomas students in seventh and eighth grade to create a fundraising competition. “The students earned service hours, and the winner was named The Good Soles Shoe Drive Volunteer of the Summer,” Goossen said. “These four students ended up collecting 198 pairs of shoes together. It was incredible.” For the Goossen family, the drive is a family tradition they look forward to each June. “It allows us to devote some of our summer to something other than ourselves. I hope it has shown our children that giving back can be something you do year after year that can make a large impact without a large struggle,” Goossen said. “It’s easy to give to others, and I hope they always remember that.” childcrisisaz.org The family of good souls behind Good Soles Sophia, Amanda, Colin and Craig Goossen with Atasha Hill from Child Crisis Arizona. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMANDA GOOSSEN Giving back can be something you do year after year that can make a large impact without a large struggle.” Independent Living ■ Assisted Living ■ Memory Care Community 3233 E. Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85018 Information Center 2720 E. Camelback Road, Suite 280 Phoenix, AZ 85016 2720 E. Camelback Road, Suite 280 O F F I C E 480-573-3700 LIFE@ClarendaleArcadia.com ClarendaleArcadia.com - Set amid a backdrop of panoramic mountain views along the Camelback Corridor, Clarendale Arcadia Senior Residences place you at the center of it all. Expect five-star ambience, services and hospitality—including gourmet restaurant dining and entertaining social events around every turn. This innovative, unmatched community is opening soon! It’s where you want to be. Arrange your personal experience and ask membership when you join now. Exceptional Experiences