Come Together
October 18, 2020
“You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone – any person or any force – dampen or diminish your light… Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won.”
~ John Lewis
Have you voted early in-person, filled out your ballot and mailed it or dropped it at an official drop box?
If you have yet to get that vote in, or if a friend, colleague or loved one still needs encouragement or assistance with voting, here are some online resources to help you vote early and track your ballot:
This voting guide put together by NBC News has state by state information on early in-person and mail-in voting. Scroll down to select your state and view deadlines, rules and procedures for voting. You can also check to see if your state allows you to track a vote-by-mail ballot after dropping off or mailing: Plan Your Vote
This Newsweek article is another resource for information on tracking your mailed or dropped-off ballot: States Where You Can Track Your Mail-In Vote
When We All Vote is another helpful site with voting information for all states plus links to each Secretary of State, where you can find early vote and ballot drop-off locations for your area:
When We All Vote – Vote by Mail info
When We All Vote – Know Your Rights as a Voter
Here are some resources for California voters:
You can find California Early Voting locations and ballot drop-off locations by clicking here.
Voter’s Edge is a wonderful non-partisan resource for information on candidates and ballot measures. This site gets better every year. Put in your zip code and a page comes up with where to vote and links for all the ballot info for your specific area. Under Candidates, click on “see list” and all the candidates for every office come up, including judges and other non-partisan races. For each candidate, you can click on topics like “education” or “community experience” to get a feel for their qualifications, world view and sometimes their political tendencies.
The Ballot Measures section is a huge help as well. Click on “see list” and then on each measure/proposition you would like to research. There are nice, very simple explanations of each measure as well as arguments for/against and names of who is supporting or opposing.
Click here for Voter’s Edge site
I’ll leave you with this very good advice from When We All Vote:
“Please Note: While some vote by mail request and return deadlines are close to Election Day, we recommend that you don’t wait. If you plan to vote by mail, request your ballot as soon as possible and return it early either by mail or in-person at a designated drop box or local elections office.”
So, whether you vote early in-person, by mail or by dropping off your ballot at an official location, get that vote in; make your voice heard and honor the right that many around the world have fought for, some have died for and some are still prevented from exercising.
“Our American heritage is threatened as much by our own indifference as it is by the most unscrupulous office or by the most powerful foreign threat. The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.”
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen are once again using the power of food to help communities, this time on early voting days and election day, to serve nourishing meals to folks who may have to vote on their lunch break or skip dinner or breakfast to wait in line at a polling place. Click here for more info and how to help: Chefs For the Polls
In honor of my favorite Spanish-American chef, here is my recipe for Baked Salmon with Honey and Pimentón – easy to make, delicious to eat and pleasing to serve.
Baked Salmon with Honey and Pimentón
Pimentón (Spanish Smoked Paprika) gives this dish its subtle but distinct flavor. You can find it in any well-stocked spice section or online. Be sure to buy Wild Alaskan Salmon (I prefer the Sockeye variety). Alaskan Salmon are certified sustainable and higher in omega-3 fatty acids.
1 lb. Alaskan wild-caught salmon, cut into four pieces
(I recommend Sockeye Salmon for this dish)
1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) extra virgin olive oil
1/8 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon pimentón (Spanish Smoked Paprika)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground pepper
Fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish
Preheat oven to 400°F
In a small dish, combine olive oil, lemon juice, honey, pimentón, salt, thyme and pepper.
Rinse the salmon and pat dry. Place the pieces skin side down on a foil-lined, low-rimmed baking pan/sheet. Baste salmon with 2/3 of the sauce.
Bake the salmon for 10 minutes. Check for doneness. Cook a few more minutes, if necessary.
Serve immediately, topped with the remaining sauce and garnished with fresh thyme sprigs.
Serves 2 (double recipe to serve 4)
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