Another Recipe for the Winter

Thanks to now being a member of a farm share, I’m forced to get more creative with my recipes, meaning I have to try stuff I’ve never tried before. Honestly, as much as I love squash, I have not cooked much of it in my lifetime. In fact, this may have been the first time I actually cooked squash. Anyhow, I find the secret to creating a good new recipe is to start off with something you are familiar with. I am very familiar with orzo (one of my families traditional holiday dishes), so I took a modified version of my mother’s recipe and made it into a stuffed squash recipe. And here it is!

Vegetarian Orzo Stuffed Acorn Squash

1 medium acorn squash
1 medium onion, diced
1 small red pepper, diced
2 tbsp butter, divided
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups orzo
3 cups vegetable broth (I prefer Imagine’s No Chicken Broth)
1 tsp garlic salt
½ tsp salt
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Extra salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Poke the squash with a knife several times and then put it in the microwave for two minutes. Let stand for one minute. This should make the squash easier to cut. Cut completely in half, including the stems. Scoop out seeds.
3. Place squash halves open-side down into a Pyrex dish with a thin layer of water at the bottom. Bake squash for 35 minutes.
4. In a medium sized pot, saute the oil, butter, onions and peppers until onions are soft.
5. Add orzo and saute for about 2 minutes.
6. Stir in broth. Let simmer for about five minutes, stirring it every minute or so (more so if you are using stainless steel cookware.
7. Add butter and both salts and stir until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
8. Pull baked squash out of the oven and sprinkle salt and pepper. Let squash cool for about five minutes. Fill halves with orzo and then cover with Parmesan cheese. Place back in oven for about 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
9. Place halves in wide bowls and enjoy!

My First Weekly Cornucopia

Two weeks ago, I joined Arganica, a farm club that delivers local and organic produce right to my door. Last Saturday I received my first box, and it was chock-full of goodies, including some things I had never seen before. One of these new vegetables was kohlrabi, which I had heard of, but never seen before. I had to look it up myself. That is probably the first and only downside to this farm club (as opposed to a CSA), that being they don’t let you know what’s in the box, so it’s a bit of guessing game. Also, I didn’t know that kohlrabi had to be refrigerated, so it went bad before I could use it. Good thing Arganica also has a compost service. But with most produce delivery, there is always some trial and error. It’s a learning process.

The upside to this farm club (as opposed to a CSA) is that you can add on all sorts of different vegetables, grains, dairy products, etc., to your produce box. I ordered kale, milk and eggs on top of my produce box. Everything was fresh and top quality, and last night I used many of my vegetables to make what I like to call “Super Curry Stew.” It’s called “super” because many of the vegetables used are Super Foods. So here is the recipe:

Super Curry Stew

¼ cup Olive Oil
1 medium onion, chopped
10 mushrooms, sliced
3 leaves kale, stems removed and cut into strips
10 red potatoes, diced
1 medium sweet potato, diced
2 cans lite coconut milk
2 cans massaman curry paste (or other curry of your choosing)
½ tsp curry powder
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp graham marsala

1)  In a medium pot, sauté the oil, onions, mushrooms and kale until onions are soft and brown.
2)  Slowly add coconut milk and then the curry paste. Stir until the stew is an even brownish-red color.
3)  Add all potatoes and spices, stir and let simmer until potatoes are soft.
4)  Enjoy!

Vegetarian Curry Corn Chowder

I developed this recipe early in the summer. Although it was delicious, I decided it was more suitable for colder months since it is a very thick soup. However, the key to eco-friendly cooking is using ingredients that are local, and therefore in season. Since the corn season is over in October, I decided to post this delicious recipe now.

1 carton Imagine Light In Sodium Organic Creamy Harvest Corn Soup (it’s vegan!)

2 ears worth of corn kernels

2 medium potatoes, cut into cubes

3 celery stalks, sliced

1 tbsp garam marsala

1 tsp curry

2 tbsp light sour cream (vegan alternative: 2 tbsp Earth Balance)

1. Pour the carton of soup into a medium sized pot and bring to a boil over medium heat.
2. Add celery and let boil for five minutes.
3. Stir in potatoes and corn. Let boil for 15 minutes.
4. Stir in garam marsala and curry, let simmer for another five minutes, or until potatoes are soft.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream. Serve and enjoy!

Serves 2.

Keep it Clean, Keep it Green: A Simple Guide to Homemade Cleaners

One of the main tenets of living a green lifestyle is to rid one’s home of toxic substances. The most prevalent offenders of home toxicity are commercial cleaning products. Not only are these products harmful to us and the environment, they are a miraculous waste of money. Making homemade cleaners are cruelty-free, non-toxic, cheap, effective, and safe if made right. Below are some recipes for some common household cleaners. But first, it is best to put together a cleaning ingredients kit. Here is what you will need:

• 3-4 spray bottles, 1 for each type of job (you can rinse out commercial bottles, rip off the labels and use those) 
• 1 gallon of liquid castile soap. I recommend Dr. Bronner’s in any scent. You can get it at any natural foods store. I recommend Trader Joe’s for the best bargain. Also, many natural foods stores will let you refill the bottle if you bring it back so as to reduce waste. 
• 1 box baking soda 
• 1 box corn starch 
• 1 bottle lemon juice (or keep fresh lemons in your fridge and squeeze them when you need them) 
• 1 bottle white vinegar 
• 1 bottle hydrogen peroxide 
• 1 bottle rubbing alcohol
• 2-3 old toothbrushes 
• Sponges 
• Towels 

WARNING: Do not mix vinegar and baking soda together, unless you want this to happen.* Also, never ever mix bleach and ammonia together. The fumes are toxic.

Here are the recipes:

All-Purpose Cleaner:
2 tbsp castile soap
1 tbsp baking soda
2 cups warm water
Put it all in a spray bottle and shake it up. Use almost anywhere!

Disinfectant:
1 cup water
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1.5 tbps lemon juice
Put all in a spray bottle and shake it up. Test on small part of surface before using.

Window Cleaner:
2 tbsp castile soap
2 cups water
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tbsp lemon juice
Pour soap, water and vinegar into bottle and shake it up. Add lemon juice and then use on your windows!

Stain Remover:
Pour hydrogen peroxide on the stain (do not saturate) and work in with a toothbrush in a circular motion. For clothes, use hydrogen peroxide, water and cornstarch to make a paste and work the in the stain with a toothbrush. Promptly throw clothing in the washer.

Laundry:
For a medium to heavy load, use 1/4 cup castile soap and 1 tsp baking soda. Use less for side-loading or high efficiency washers.

Have a clogged drain? Try this recipe for unclogging drains.

For several recipe options for making your own automatic dishwasher detergent, click here.

For more homemade cleaner ideas, see this article on the Mother Nature Network.

BONUS: Castile soap can also be used as body wash and shampoo! It can mixed with essential oils to provide the scent/moisture that you like. If you have long hair, I highly recommend that you use conditioner after washing your hair.

*EDIT: The exception for this is the clogged drain recipe since the fizzy action is contained and helps remove the clog.

Saying Goodbye to Plastic and Paper...

If you're reading this blog, chances are you have no problem with environmental protection and conservation. It's not something you're actively involved in but, still, you're the sort that recycles beverage containers and only buys compact fluorescents to replace light bulbs. You would never willingly litter, buy styrofoam cups, or run out the door with all the lights on and the television running full blast. But beyond that? The task of saving the environment seems so monstrous, where would you even start?

Here. Start with making two simple lifestyle changes that can really make a difference for the environment. This entry is the first in a series that will walk you though, step-by-step, the process of eliminating disposable items from your life. For now we'll focus on store bags and paper towels. The best part about this series (Econduct's Moving Toward a Disposable-Free Lifestyle) is that anyone can do this! A couple months after you make a change you'll be surprised how easy it is to live without these so-called necessities. All you have to do is decide you'll start here and now.

First, a very brief overview on disposable bags. Plastic bags are made from oil. Only a fraction of them are actually recycled and so they take up space in landfills or pollute our ecosystem. Paper bags aren't much better; they require more energy to produce and are manufactured from trees. There are dozens of reasons why disposable bags are harmful to the environment, so I'll move on and cover how to go about avoiding them.

The BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) Guide

1. Invest in reusable bags. This step won't be difficult in this day and age. You can find reusable bags sold at major grocery chains for only $1 each. At that, these bags are designed specifically with groceries in mind and they can each carry the equivalent of 2-3 plastic grocery bags. You can also find canvas and tote bags sold in many retail stores or may find them given away as corporate freebies at fairs and events. If you still find you're need of reusable bags, here's a list of manufacturers to consider. (Look for companies based in the U.S. and who manufacture in the U.S.) A economical option would be to double-bag used grocery paper bags and use these until they fall apart. (Then recycle in a mixed paper bin.)

2. If driving is your mode of transport, designate a small area of your vehicle to store these bags. This might be the trunk or the backseat. I recommend finding a basket or container to keep your bags in order.

3. Designate a spot in your home to place bags after you've unloaded your groceries and goods. A logical location would be a coat closet near the front door. Or perhaps a shelf in the garage near the door. It should be a place that you'll notice when you are on your way to your vehicle, so you can easily grab them. This will help keep all your bags in your vehicle, not at left at home at times when you need them.

4. Remember to bring the bags with you to ALL stores! For most people, remembering the bags will be the biggest challenge with this lifestyle change. For the first month, make a conscious effort to equate walking into a store with bringing a reusable bag. You could write a reminder on your shopping list or leave a bag in the passenger seat to remind yourself. Soon enough, it will become habit and you won't need to think about it at all. If you are someone who is always on the go, you might consider taking one compact bag with you everywhere!

5. Inform your cashier you won't need a bag. Do this immediately after the greeting. Most cashiers are on auto-pilot and won't notice you have your own bags unless you tell them. It's very easy to forget this step and before you know it, half your groceries are in plastic bags.

One tiny bonus to bringing your own bags is that many grocery stores offer 5 cents per bag off your total purchase. It's not much, but it will certainly cover the cost of the reusable bag in the course of its lifetime. And the real benefit here is for the environment. If you need a little motivation, check out this slide show on the impact of plastic bags.

The second half of this post will cover how to get along without paper towels. The production of paper towels contributes to deforestation and the exacerbation of global warming. That's not to mention the pollution of air and water, energy use, and the increased pressure on landfills. Several major paper towel manufacturers design their product to try to be as strong and tough as towels, so why not use the real thing?!

About two years ago, I decided not to buy paper towels ever again. Since then I have developed a system using cloth rags and towels to keep my kitchen and home clean and sanitary. I will gladly share my system so that Econduct readers need not go through any trial and error process! And please feel free to modify this so that it fits your needs.

The LWPT (Living Without Paper Towels) Guide

1. Invest in cloth dishrags, towels, and napkins. You'll need different sizes and textures for different purposes (see step two for more info). Before running out to the store and buying cheap dishrags imported from China, there might be eco alternatives. A worn bath towel can easily be cut into smaller pieces to make dish rags. See if you can find some at thrift stores or yard sales that are in sturdy condition.

2. Designate particular types of towels with specific functions. This is to avoid situations like using cleaning products on a towel and then later accidentally using the same towel to dry your hands. One reason paper towels are popular is the concern of cross-contamination, but this system is designate with that in mind. Over time, you might collect cloth towels for the following purposes:

-Hand drying: Chose one the size of a bathroom hand towel. This should be in the range of 16x27". Texture and thickness can entirely based on preference. Have them available close to the kitchen sink. Toss in the wash basket if food accidentally gets smeared or them. (1-3 in quantity)
-Counter/surface wiping: These dishrags will be the smallest in your collection, about the size of a washcloth or smaller. Mine are 10x10". I recommend low to medium thickness. The thicker the cloth, the longer it takes for them to dry, thus the higher the likeliness they will grow mildew. At the slightest hint of smell, dry and discard in the wash basket. (4-6)
-Counter/surface drying: Choose towels/rags for maximum absorption, thicker and with looped fabrics such as terry cloth or herringbone. Find towels/rags approximately 15x15" in size. (8-10)
-Drying clean dishes: Designate one towel for the sole purpose of drying clean dishes. Select this towel based the the qualities listed above for surface drying.
-General purpose: Have low-lint towels/rags on hand for purposes such as dusting or cleaning mirrors; this will minimize fabric particles left behind during these chores. You might use cloth napkins when they get older and stained. Variable sizes. (8-10)
-Big spills and miscellaneous: If you have any old worn bath towels, instead of tossing, keep these around to use in case someone knocks over a beverage onto the floor. They can also be great for drying if you're mopping the kitchen floor or washing your car. You'll want these to be big in size. (1-3)
(Numbers in parenthesis refer to recommended quantities, given for every 2 individuals in a household, with a laundry cycle of every 2.5-3 weeks.)

3. Find a place for all these rags. I store all my kitchen rags in one drawer. When in use, I keep my wiping dishrag on the kitchen sink (thoroughly ring after each use!), the hand towel hanging right below the sink, the dish drying towel on the oven rack, and my surface drying towels (usually I have 1-2 out at any time) out of the way hanging from a cabinet handle. Each kitchen is different so find placements that work for you and your household. Another tip, when I clean the bathroom, I use the drying rags that I had been using for the kitchen and replace fresh ones for the kitchen.

4. Use a small basket container to store dirty rags. I have a small trash bin that I keep under my kitchen sink. Make sure the rags are DRY when you toss them in. If they are sopping wet, they can develop an unpleasant smell because of mildew growth.

5. When you do your laundry, add these rags to your whites load. For efficiency only run when you have a full load. I recommend using hot water and adding a small amount of bleach to disinfect. For best results do not add fabric softener into this wash load. It will reduce the absorption power of your towels (until they are washed again).

6. Use the rags until they develop holes and begin to fall apart. And even then, you can use them once for a particularly tough grease or dirt mess, and then just toss them after that.

If the above towel system sounds complicated, let me assure you it's actually very simple and easy to stick to. And get creative with this and modify it to work for you. Econduct creater Heather has her own ingenious color system, developed based on the colors of rags she already had:

1. White is for water (drying dishes and surfaces)
2. Green is for gross (cleaning up biospills)
3. Clay is for cleaning (using cleaning sprays)
4. Blue is for you (hand drying)

The savings are surprising significant; you may save $50 or more per year by not buying paper towels. Now, if you are clean up bio-hazardous messes, like pet accidents, you might feel more comfortable dealing with these situations with paper towels. One roll should suffice for several years if you limit your use. Also, consider using newspaper for such clean-ups.

Good luck! And please feel free to leave comments here if you have any tips we might have overlooked.

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

One thing I missed when I first went vegetarian was comfort foods. Meatloaf, chicken noodle soup, beef stew, chili; all of these I had though were long gone from my menu....til I started experimenting. Here's an old fashioned recipe that will always satisfy.

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

1 pkg sloppy joe mix (I prefer Simply Organic)
1 small onion, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 package mock meat crumbles (I prefer Quorn Grounds, vegan alternative: Boca Ground Crumbles)
2 celery stalks, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
1/2 cup fresh peas
5 medium potatoes, cubed with skin
1 can tomato paste
1/2 stick butter (vegan alternative: 1/2 cup Earth Balance)
1/2 milk (vegan alternative: 1/2 cup almond milk)
1 tsp Hungarian paprika
1 tbsp garlic salt
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups warm water

1. Preheat oven at 400 degrees.
2. In a deep saute pan, over medium heat, combine crumbles, onions and olive oil and saute til crumbles are brown and onions are soft. This may take 5-7 minutes depending on your stove.
3. In a separate bowl, mix warm water, package mix and tomato paste. Stir into crumble/onion mixture. Let simmer for ten minutes.
4. Stir in celery, carrots, peas, and salt and let simmer for another ten minutes.
5. Stir in paprika and garlic salt and let simmer another ten minutes. Then turn off heat and set pot aside.
6. In a separate pot, immerse the peeled potatoes in water and a dash of salt for 20 minutes, or until potatoes can be easily punctured by a fork.
7. Drain potatoes and then mash them with a potato masher.
8. Add butter and milk to the potatoes, and then continue mashing.
9. Pour meat mixture into a 9x13 Pyrex pan and then cover with mashed potatoes. Stick in oven for 20 minutes, or until edges are slightly brown.

Serves 4-5.

Get to Know Your H2O (Inside Edition)

Water, water everywhere, but don't use before you think. Water is a precious commodity. Whenever I turn on the faucet, I like to imagine pennies flowing out of it and into the drain. Here are a few tips on how you can easily conserve your water usage inside the house:


 

1. Take a cool shower at least twice a week using the Navy shower method. This method will not only conserve water, but also reduce your heat energy usage.
2. Brush your teeth and wash your face in the shower while you are scrubbing the rest of your body.
3. Make sure you are using a water efficient shower head. Talk to an associate at your local hardware store for brand recommendations.
4. If you insist on brushing your teeth over the sink, don't let the water run. Same goes for hand-washing and shaving.
5. Fix every appliance and fixture so that they do not leak.
6. Try using the "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down," mantra when it comes to toilets at home.
7. If you absolutely need hot water from a faucet, use a container to collect the cold water that comes out of the tap with a bowl or bucket. Use this water for watering houseplants or put it in the fridge and use it later for drinking water.
8. Don't use running water to wash fruits and vegetables. Wash them in a small tub of water instead.
9. If you find that you just can't finish that glass of water, use the rest to water houseplants.
10. When using the clothes washer or dishwasher, make sure they are filled to capacity.
11. If your dishwasher was produced in the past five years, don't bother with pre-rinsing. These models can take care of most caked on stuff.

Did you know going green can help save you green? Many local governments offer rebates on water-efficient appliances and fixtures. Go to your county's website for more information.

For many more tips, check out this link: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php