Eggplant and Polenta make a delicious combination, and here's my new, quick recipe for you!
Ingredients:  18 oz pre-cooked polenta, 1 large eggplant (thinly sliced), sun dried tomatoes in olive oil, soy meatballs, 1 jar spaghetti sauce, 1 chopped onion.
Instructions: In an 8 X 8 inch baking dish, place the polenta on the bottom, add the sliced eggplant, add the chopped onion, add the sun dried tomatoes in olive oil, add the soy meatballs, add the 1 jar of spaghetti sauce. (add vegan cheese optional)  Bake for 45 minutes at 375 degrees.

Fast Company's Jan. 13, 2009 article: Ten Best Green Jobs for the Next Decade featured Farmers. America has only two million farmers, and their average age is 55. Since sustainable agriculture requires small-scale, local, organic methods rather than petroleum-based machines and fertilizers, there is a huge need for more farmers -- up to tens of millions of them, according to food guru Michael Pollan. Schools recommended include: University of Vermont: Center for Sustainable Agriculture; Stone Barns Center For Food & Agriculture in New York State; University of Oklahoma: Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture; Evergreen State College: degree in Sustainable Agriculture.  Related careers include urban gardener, farmers market and CSA coordinator, and other food producers. The full article can be found here.

'Nightlife' at the California Academy of Sciences is a weekly, Thursday  mashup of science, music, cocktails and more starting on February 12! This ongoing event is for adults, ages 18 and up. A party will be setup in a different part of the museum each time. Most exhibits will be open, however, the penguins go to bed at 8:00 and the rainforest closes then as well.  The planetarium may not be available every week. Guest speakers and opportunities to meet Academy scientists will be available. More information can be found on their website.

Indulge in almost a pound (13 oz.) of 100% vegan chocolate this holiday! This gift has 25 pieces of pure sweetness. Topped with a Farm Sanctuary mini-button- it's easy to say that compassion's never looked or tasted so good. Order here.

Celebrate the Year of the Ox at the Conservatory of Flowers. The Conservatory’s Potted Plants Gallery will be filled with the blossoms, colors and fragrances that bring good fortune and prosperity for the coming year. Blooming branches of quince and peach blossom, as well as potted kumquat, mandarin orange and pomelo, boost all visitors’ chances for good fortune and wealth in 2009.

Farm Sanctuary's Cultivating Compassion program makes it even easier for caring teachers to bring compassion to their classrooms. In an increasingly violent world in which making profits often takes precedence over seeking peace, Farm Sanctuary's Cultivating Compassion program offers materials designed to encourage respect and kindness toward all living beings and the environment. Farm Sanctuary is pleased to provide these resources FREE to teachers.

Grey2KUSA's hand-dipped, 4 oz. candy is made of sweet chocolate and measures 4 inches tall by 5 inches wide. Best yet, they are Kosher, cruelty-free (vegan) and 100% delicious. Size: 4 x 5". Price: $15.00 plus s/h. Every donation made will support Grey2KUSA's efforts to end dog racing nationwide.

The Center for Biological Diversity offers you free endangered species ringtones and phone wallpapers -- a collection of high-quality, authentic sounds and images of some of the world’s most threatened birds, owls, frogs, toads and marine mammals. Download your free ringtone here.

Some Gratitude Gourmet readers have asked that other cities be featured on the Gratitude Gourmet Restaurants Page.  Good News! You can change the City, State, and/or Search Item, then press the 'return/enter' key on your keyboard. Please let me know if this page works for you! I would also like to thank Yelp for providing the content.

Come meet Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur when he presents and reads excerpts from his best-selling book, Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food. Books will be available for sale and signing. Time: Thursday, January 29 - 7 p.m.
Location: Books Inc., Town & Country Village  855 El Camino Real # 74, Palo Alto CA     For more information, visit: www.genebaur.org  or e-mail rtaylor@farmsanctuary.org.   (Photo: Farm Sanctuary)