From The (Grocer’s) Freezer
Making your own veggie burgers is great, but let’s face it — sometimes you just want to open the freezer and make something fast. More and more brands and varieties of veggie burgers are gracing our grocer’s freezer, and it is an easy and healthy way to go meatless for a meal. Below are a few of our favorites.
Rhaya’s Picks
LocalFolks Foods Mushroom Patties
As I previously mentioned, this mushroom patties are DELICIOUS, and they get bonus points for being made from local mushrooms (if you live in Indiana). If you live in Indy, check this list to see where you can pick some up. (I get mine from Farm Fresh Delivery)
Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie Burger
I like to eat this burger more like one would eat a burrito. I wrap it in a tortilla, and top it with cheese, tomato, salsa and sour cream.
Trader Joe’s Vegetable Marsala Burger
This burger is unique take on the veggie burger, this one is made “with Authentic Indian Spices” and tastes great topped with Mango Chutney.
Gardenburger: The Original
For a good old-fashioned veggie burger, my pick is the Gardenburger Original. Unlike other brands, this patty is not meant to taste like a hamburger… is it meant to taste just like the veggie burger it is.
Liz’s Picks
LightLife Mushroom Burgers
I really like the texture and flavor of these patties which are predominately made up of brown rice, oats and shiitake mushrooms. I’ve even been know to bring these to cookouts of friends to have the grill master throw it on alongside the typical meat based patties.
Amy’s Kitchen California Veggie Burger
A wonderful hearty flavor coming from bulgur, chuncks of veggies and walnuts. Throw it on a whole grain bun, add some avocado and you’ve got a meal.
I Heart Chocagave
Ahh, love is in the air. With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching you can feel good about indulging in this little dessert topper. A chocolate lover’s delight, Chocagave, by Organic Nectars in Woodstock, NY, is a heart-healthy dessert syrup sans the sugar-spike, preservatives and chemicals.
It’s a fair-trade chocolate twist on the Agave Syrup I previously spoke of, full of antioxidants and flavor. It makes a great choice for anyone and any diet, as it’s low-fat, low-glycemic, vegan, and dairy and gluten free. Oh and it’s quite delicious too! The Organic Bold Roast Chocagave is fabulous drizzled over fruit and even more exciting over ice cream, but this tasty dessert syrup also comes in Raw Cacao, Vanillagave, Gojiagave flavors, which makes the dessert possibilities limitless. So skip the boring boxed chocolates and share this little treat with someone you love this Valentines day.
p.s. Check back tomorrow for a chance to win your own jar of Chocagave!
A New Twist on Cleaning
When it comes to cleaning the kitchen, I know that it is best to re-use washcloths and sponges. However, I have to admit that sometimes when I see them sitting there in all their eco-glory, that I feel like I am actually wiping MORE germs onto the counter or into that hand-wash-only wine glass. Not wanting to take the easy (and wasteful) route of paper towels, I have come up with a solution that is better for the environment than paper towels, but is less “gross” than the common kitchen washcloth or sponge. Enter the European Sponge Cloth by Twist.
This handy “sponge cloth” is designed to outlast 17 rolls of paper towels and is 100% biodegradable. Better yet it is dishwasher safe (because who wants to throw crusty washclothes in with your clothes?) or can be sterilized by boiling in water.
Want more “Twist”ed products? Check out their Naked Sponge (No dyes, 100% cellulose), Loofah Sponge or Euro Sponge (all of which are 100% biodegradable).
In addition to being better than paper towels, Twist also reuses 99.97% of all their production waste and the cellulose (tree fiber) they use is sourced from renewable tree farms. Last but not least, their site provides instructions on how to turn their recycled packaging into a bird feeder or mobile.
Get on Board
Considering that much of my time in the kitchen is spent slicing and dicing fruits and veggies, one might wonder why I have never owned a good cutting board. Until now, I have either used a plate (which isn’t good for the plate or the knife) or just cut the veggies by holding them in one hand and cutting them in the other (which isn’t so good for thumbs).
However, thanks to a present from my mom for Christmas, I am cutting board-less no more! I was excited to receive an Epicurean Cutting Board and equally as happy to know that it is made from environmentally friendly natural wood fiber (from trees harvested under the guidelines of the North American Sustainable Forestry Standards).
Moreover, I don’t have to worry about germs that are often linked to cutting boards because this nonporous board is backed by the National Sanitary Foundation and is dishwasher safe (unlike eco-friendly wood or bamboo).
As with any product, there are the typical pros and cons (Apparently, Epicurean Cutting Surfaces use paper that has been soaked in phenolic resin.) Check out this rundown of cutting board options, to see which one is right for you.
SmartWool
Depending on where you live, you may have no snow or you may be trekking around in more than a foot of the white stuff (as Liz can attest to in the past weeks.) Wool is a great way to keep warm, and is a renewable resource. However, not all wool is harvested in the most environmentally-friendly and/or humane way.
Thankfully, there are companies such as SmartWool, who (as a Zque Accredited company) “combines the superior comfort and performance attributes of New Zealand Merino fiber with an accreditation process to ensure environmental, social and economic sustainability, and animal welfare.”
So bundle up in the warmth of some SmartWool made from grass-grazing free-range sheep, and don’t forget that the minimal packaging is recycled and recyclable!
Essential Oils, Take Me Away!
I was one of the lucky winners of a weekly drawling over at The Daily Green, so I recently received this neat little travel pack of Essential Oil Products. EO is a family company that makes high quality, essential oil based natural and organic care products for head to toe. I hadn’t heard of them before so I did a little browsing on their website, which indicates that they are a certified Green Business and certified organic manufacturer. And, they don’t do any testing on animals or use any animal products other than beeswax and honey. Read more about their philosophy here.
What I really like about actually using these great little samples that I received, was the wonderful smell which comes from the pure essential oils rather than artificial colors, dyes and fragrances. You can see from the photo above each product is associated with some fabulous sounding aroma-therapeutic fragrance like “Rose Geranium & Sweet Orange” or “Lemon Verbena.” Everything I got to try was so light and clean feeling, too. I’m looking forward to trying a few more of their products, like their bath salts, and I may just do some “green” Christmas shopping right here!
Phthalate Free Fingernails
Everytime I polish my fingernails, our dog, Scarlet, curls up and rolls over and over covering her nose with her paws. Hmm, think it has something to do with that horrible smell? Maybe it’s the dibutyl phthalate or the toluene or the formaldehyde?
As I have mentioned already, I’m on a mission to find less toxic and more evironmentally friendly “beauty products,” that still do the job, so, for my dog’s sanity, and my peace of mind, I started searching for a healthier nail polish. Right now, I’m test driving No-Miss Nail Polish in “Singer Sienna.” It looks great, seems to stay on as long as my old favorites like O.P.I, and costs about the same. It still has a little bit of that trademark stink to it, but I do feel better knowing that my nails are not soaking up a bunch of toxic chemicals. Other polishes to try include DBP-free Sparitual and even a few drug store brands which get a lower hazard rating according to Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. Just in time for all those holiday parties!
Farm Fresh: Here & There
It’s been an exciting week for me regarding local and organic foods. Not only did we visit the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco (while we were out in California visiting family), but we also received our first order from Farm Fresh Delivery.
For the first week, we went with the default delivery which included cabbage, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, apples, pears and more. Next time, I will customize my order a little more to fit both my personal taste and also my cooking abilities. The produce is all organic, and even is labeled if it is local or not. They also include some recipes in the bin, and encourage you to leave your paper bags in the bin (when it is picked up) so that they can be reused.
As for the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, you can see the photos I took at the market, posted at our Flickr account. Coming from a land (and season) of corn, squash and pumpkins, I was envious of the stands full of avocados, pomegranates and persimmons. We picked up a whole lot of food and had a great local meal that night.
Go, Go, Gojis
Lycium barbarum anyone? That’s Latin for Goji Berries, or Wolf-berries as they are occasionally called. A powerhouse of antioxidants, the Goji has been used for thousands of years by herbalists in China and is a great source of complete protein, beta carotene and vitamin C. They make a great healthy snack on the go and or you can toss them into smoothies, salads, trail mix, or goji granola. But for a real treat, try these Raw Goji Cookies.
Raw Goji Cookies
These are quick, easy and there is no baking required. Substitute agave nectar for the honey to make them vegan.
1/2 cup goji berries
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 tbsp. honey
2-3 pitted dates
flaxseeds (optional)
almond butter (optional)
Pulse almonds in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the rest of the ingredients except dates and process until well mixed. Add 2 pitted dates and process until mixture starts to stick together (add another date or two if necessary). Make tablespoon size balls and flatten to a cookie shape on a plate. Chill for and hour or so and enjoy.
To get your supply of Goji Berries, try these or you can even try your hand at growing your own!
Keeping Produce Perky
I’m always so irked when I find something in my produce drawer that is starting to shrivel, and as I try to work more and more local foods into my diet, I seem to go overboard sometimes at the Farmer’s Market and buy a little more produce than is really needed for just my husband and I. So recently, I started using the Ever-Fresh Green Bags to help extend the life of my fruits and veggies and they really work!
I’m no scientist so I’ll tell you that Evert Fresh explains that the natural minerals within the bags minimize moisture and absorb the harmful gasses like ammonia and carbon dioxide before they start attacking the fruit or vegetable. This not only extends the flavor and texture of the produce but it extends the nutritional value by slowing down the ripening process. All you have to do is wash and thoroughly dry your produce and then place it in separate bags, folding over the top of the bag. Once you have finished the produce in the bag, you can rinse, dry, and re-use! Get a pack in one of three sizes here or here.
