A Sweet Future for Energy

 

A team at Virginia Tech University in the USA has developed a battery that runs off of, you guessed it, sugar! The battery safely (and non-toxically) breaks down sugar and harnesses the released energy to power the attached electronics. Producing ten times as much energy as a regular ion battery; these new sugar batteries have been proposed for use in smart phones, tablets, and even electric cars. To recharge, just add more sugar! Sweet!

Pasta with Lemon, Garlic,and Thyme Mushrooms

Adapted from Nigella's

Ingredients

225 grams mushrooms
80 ml extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Maldon salt (or 1½ tsps table salt)
1 small clove garlic (crushed)
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tsps dried thyme
500 grams pasta
1 bunch fresh parsley (chopped)
2 - 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
freshly ground black pepper
 

DIRECTIONS

Mix in a large pan the oil, salt, crushed garlic, lemon juice and zest, and marvelously scented thyme.

While that simmers, Slice the mushrooms finely, then add the mushrooms to the pan.

Cook the pasta according to packet instructions and drain loosely, retaining some water. Remove the pan from the heat and quickly put the drained pasta into the bowl with the mushroom mixture.

Toss everything together well, portion everything out onto plates, then add the chopped parsley, grated cheese and pepper to taste.

Rain, Rain, Collect and Save

Every year the average household delegates 50-70% of its water usage to landscaping, irrigation, and other outdoor activities. That can be quite a chunk of the local water supply, not to mention your monthly water bill. There is also a fairly large amount of wasted rain water that hits driveways, roads, and other non-organic surfaces traveling straight into the oceans as run-off. By replacing the water from your hose with rainwater, you can not only reduce your water bill, but also decrease demand on your local water supply and re-use an often ignored resource.

Rain water is one of the purest forms of water available. It has not come into contact with the ground, so it hasn’t picked up minerals or salts from soil or rocks or come in contact with surface pollutants. If using rainwater to wash clothing, you will never need to add water softeners since the amount of calcium is minimal and there is very little soap scum build up. Rain water also has a higher nitrogen content that other water, since it picks up the gas from the air as it falls. This makes rain water perfect for plants that prefer a nitrogen rich diet to thrive.

The easiest way to collect rain water for reuse is in a rain barrel, which will fit right underneath your rain spouts. Rain barrels usually hold around 50 gallons of water and come with a filter kit to collect and remove debris as it pours from the spout. They have a hose attachment near the base for easy use in the garden. There are also free standing barrels that sit in an out of the way section of the garden or patio without a lid. On sunny days, just replace the lid to prevent evaporation.

For those living in apartment buildings, it is just as easy to collect rain water. How many of us have dozen of useless empty containers that we swear we’re going to reuse, but end up just getting stored forever in a cupboard? Pull them out of the cupboard, label them with a sharpie for rain water storage, and get them outside collecting water. As they fill up, just pop the lids back on to keep the water clean and store them in a corner until needed. The nice thing about containers? They stack on top of each other for neat and easy storage.

The third type of recommended rain water collection is called a Rain Garden. These gardens are placed in the path of typical runoff routes and are dug about six inches down from normal lawn level. Rain water collects in the depression for the plants to use, usually perennials and native shrubs, but any type of high water requirement plants are perfect for this sort of garden. By creating a Rain Garden, your lawn will suffer less soil runoff and you'll have a unique stand-a-lone garden to admire.

For those already planning the best way to start their rain water collection, I do recommend taking a quick look at local laws and news regarding the subject. During my research, I discovered that quite a few locations in the United States have laws to prevent home owners from collecting rain water on their own property. Considering their current drought problems in the southwest United States, I hope they ease up on those laws soon.

Tropical Solutions for Winter Skin

Are you prone to dry skin during winter? Check your hands! If they’re dry, flaking, or cracked try adding more omega3 rich foods or a supplement to your diet. Omega3’s prevent dehydration of skin cells. To fix any damage done, gently massage coconut oil into the affected areas. When absorbed into skin, it helps tighten skin cells to prevent moisture loss and even reduces fine lines and wrinkles!

Cheese Stuffed Yam Croquettes

Adapted from Recipe Archive

Ingredients: 

250g Yams chopped coarsely (Sweet Potatoes & Potatoes can be substituted)
25g Butter
½ Egg beaten
1 Spring Onion chopped
25g Mozzarella or Edam Cheese cut into 5 cubes
35g Fine Dry Breadcrumbs
Oil for deep frying
Salt and Pepper
Pinch Thyme
Optional Garnish:
6 Pimento Stuffed Olives

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil yams until soft, drain well and put through the ricer add the egg and the butter mix to a smooth puree and mix in the spring onion and thyme.
2. Shape the mix into required size.
3. Push a cube of cheese into the centre of each ball and re-shape the yam mix around them.
4. Roll the balls in beaten egg and then breadcrumbs until coated.
5. Deep fry until golden brown drain on kitchen paper.
6. Place on a warm plate and garnish.

Prolonging Your Produce

How many times have we set something on a shelf in the fridge or placed it inside the crisper, only to come back not even two days later to find it has gone bad? Thankfully, prolonging the life of your organic produce is not as hard as you’d think. It all starts from the moment it enters your home.

The cleaner your produce is before it enters your fridge, the longer it will last. As a side note, the cleaner your fridge is, the longer your food will last as well. Gently wash and dry all produce before storing it, even those with protective skins on them like oranges and bananas.

 I recommend using a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar, the vinegar works as an anti-bacterial and keeps the produce from breaking down as quickly. For an even more complete clean, try adding a tablespoon of baking soda and a squeeze or two of lemon juice.

The baking soda and vinegar will react together, helping to actively clean the produce by forming bubbles of hydrogen dioxide. The lemon acts as an astringent, helping to close the pores of the exposed plant tissue and prevent access to invading bacteria.

Once washed, spread your produce on a flat surface and separate all your leafy greens from everything else. Interesting fact, if you put spinach or kale in the same bin as apples or peaches, the greens will become yellow and limp within a day or two.

The reason for this is differences in production and reactions to Ethylene gas. By keeping your leafy vegetables separate, you are actually prolonging their life in your fridge.

On to storage! Keep the locations that you store you produce dry. Some people prefer to wrap each leafy vegetable in paper towels until they are ready to be used. This is a good method and helps to absorb the water, keep the leaves cooler, while still letting them breathe.

Another greener alternative is to invest in some new produce dedicated dishtowels. Wash the dishtowels in the same vinegar/baking soda/lemon solution as I mentioned earlier, rinse well and let them air dry.

Line the bottom of each bin with a dish towel and then, once the greens have been placed in the bin, place another dry dishtowel on top. You can layer additional towels as needed. By using dishtowels, you can easily switch out a damp towel for a dry one and lower your paper usage footprint.

If you are interested in finding out the optimum temperatures and storage for a specific type of produce or knowing more about which types of produce are sensitive to Ethylene (like Avocados and Carrots), please check out this produce storage table.

Natural and Eco-Friendly Air Filters!

Bring the “outdoors” inside and also improve the air quality in your home at the same time. Winter seems to trap most people inside, which makes it easier for us to get sick and gives rooms that “constantly lived in feeling” that you don’t get when you can leave the windows wide open for those warm summer breezes. Luckily, we don’t have to put up with that same old indoor air all winter.

NASA found that “houseplants can purify and revitalize air in our homes and offices, protecting us from the negative effects of such common toxins as ammonia, formaldehyde, and benzene."

Having plants in the home in high dust areas also helps reduce incidences of asthma and allergies. They do this by acting as natural filters; their leaves absorb the toxins in the air and produce a healthier quality of air for us in exchange.

It is recommended to have your plants located in rooms where there is the highest amount of potential contaminants in the air. Rooms with a high number of electronics, such as TV rooms, and rooms where lots of chemicals are used, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and art workshops grant the highest benefit from having plants.

The best plants for air filtering have large leaves. Here’s a quick “Top 10” list.

1. The Feston Rose Plant
2. Devil's Ivy
3. Phalaenopsis
4. English ivy
5. Parlor Ivy
6. African Violets
7. Christmas Cactus
8. Yellow Goddess
9. Garlic Vine
10. Peace Lily

For a more complete list, as well as information on whether the plants are edible or poisonous for ourselves or our pets, please check out this List of Air Filtering Plants

Offices are also great locations for plants, especially those with little or no natural light. Remember to store any plants in an out of the way location to prevent water and dirt spills on sensitive electronics or paperwork.


For offices, bathrooms, or places with no natural lighting, Snake plants are a hearty and durable choice. They adapt quickly, with a wide range of temperature, and are happy to grow in the dark where most plants might wither.


The aforementioned NASA study also recommends a 6 inch plant for every 100 sq feet of interior. The better maintained the plant; the more effectively it will work. So make sure to research your plant’s requirements before purchasing.

One method I’ve found useful is to type out a care schedule for each plant, like how often to water, as well as when to re-pot or add extra nutrients, and use clear tape to fix this to the pot. Make sure to cover the entire note with tape so that any water spillage won’t ruin the writing. That way, you never need to look up the information again and everything you need is right with the plant itself.

Nicolas Fried Apples

Adapted from VegWeb



Ingredients

1 large apple
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons white flour
oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

Place oil in a small pan on about medium heat.

While that's heating place the brown sugar, sugar, and flour in a small plastic bag and shake it to mix it up.

Slice your apple into small wedges.

Place one slice of apple at a time in the plastic bag and shake until the apple is coated.

Turn the stove to low heat and place the coated apple in the pan and evenly fry both sides for about 20 seconds per side. Easy as that!

Preparation Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 2

Bring Some "Pep" to Your Step

Peppermint is a great herb for anxiety, stress, upset stomach, and headaches. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or have a stomachache or headache, take a moment to steep some peppermint tea. Breathe the vapor as it steeps to help sooth tired and stressed muscles. The tea itself also aids digestion, so try drinking it after or during meals.

We're Famous!

Or at least, we’ve had the honour of being mentioned in a book that was recently published. That is close enough to famous, right? The author, Jennifer Browne, was kind enough to send us a copy for us to read, so I thought I would do my best at writing an amateur book review for her.

“Healthy, Happy, Gut” has been an interesting and thought provoking read on the impact of our dietary choices on the human body. The number of people in my life, myself included, who suffer from various digestive problems, is quite large and I imagine that number will only grow as time passes. Browne herself was inspired to share her own journey towards healthier eating as a way of managing her own digestive difficulties.

The book begins by informing us of the problems with food production and consumption. Most you may be familiar with: pesticides, growth hormones, factory farming, etc…

The most surprising, at least for me, was concerning the consumption of dairy. It honestly never occurred to me that drinking the milk of a cow, which is meant to fatten up and grow a calf into a 1200lb to 1500lb behemoth, may not be what nature intended for our much smaller sized bodies.

Food irradiation to kill bacteria was also something I had never heard of before, which greatly concerns me. How many people do you know that can recognize an irradiated product by its tiny symbol on a label in our grocery stores?

Browne continues her book by giving her solution to getting rid of the side effects of eating poorly and improving your life and health with just a change to one’s diet. I loved her “Dirty Dozen” list of those produce items that should always be purchased organic. She has also added quite a few examples of preparation for various food items to allow you the most benefit from them.

All in all, the book brings up a great number of concepts the average consumer wouldn’t have even begun to consider about what and why they eat. I definitely recommend the book to anyone who is currently suffering from or in remission from a digestive condition. Even if you prefer not to follow her “plant based” diet recommendations completely, there are quite a few tips and tricks throughout that can be applied regardless.

As always, everyone is different and requires different nutrients in their diet based on their normal activities and past eating habits. So to make sure you know what your body needs please see a professional nutritionist before making any major dietary lifestyle changes.

Jennifer Browne's Blog

P.S. For anyone interested, we’re on pages 154-155, chapter 10.

Mandarin Orange Vinaigrette

Adapted from Homecooking

Serve warm or cold
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: about 3 cups


Ingredients:

- 3/4 cup cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup Mandarin orange juice (6 to 8 Mandarin oranges)
- 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar or good quality balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

Place cider vinegar, Mandarin orange juice, red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, shallots, and kosher salt in a blender.

Pulse to combine.

While blender is running, very slowly add olive oil in a steady stream through the top opening of the blender.

This vinaigrette may be served cold or warm over salad greens. It is especially good with spinach salads. Refrigerate any leftovers up to 1 week.

Step by Little Step

Kids love to be involved in everything. So get them involved in organics too! When cooking, give them age-appropriate “helper” tasks to encourage interest in the food they eat.

It can be incredibly fun for kids to see their hard work (from peeling potatoes to removing the stems of green beans) on everyone’s plate for dinner

An Apple A Day!

An apple a day really does keep the doctor away! 

Scientists have found that eating one apple every day 

reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by 12%. 

Now that’s a prescription I’m happy to take.

The Daily Mail.co.uk

The Real Cost of Organic Meat

Meat has long been one of the most expensive items in organic food, often double in price! Why is Organic Meat more expensive and what difference does it have to the less-expensive non-organic meat that you find in the grocery store?

The typical reply for this question is, of course, that non-organic raised animals are given growth hormones, antibiotics, and other medications to prevent diseases caused by poor feeding and living conditions. Growth hormones have received a great deal of attention in the media lately as a potential cause of growth problems in young children. Antibiotics are a concern due to overexposure creating super-bugs that require stronger and stronger measures to combat them. Living conditions are cramped with animals often living in their own filth and fed only that which is least expensive, not necessarily what is best for the animal or the human later consuming them.

Photo Credit: Wendy Nuttall

In contrast, organic raised animals are allowed to roam free as soon as they are weaned. Their food consists mostly of what they would find in the wild, grasses and insects, supplemented by all organic feed imbued with naturally occurring minerals to make up for any deficiencies in local plants based on soil and weather conditions. When housed inside shelters, they are provided a space where they can move around that is cleaned regularly to help minimize disease without the use of medications and chemicals that later get passed on through the meat.

The benefits to the environment and local growers are numerous, but the biggest benefit that everyone can enjoy is the quality of the meat itself. One of the most expensive meats in the world is a type Serrano ham called “jamón ibérico.” It is produced only in Spain and in order to qualify, the pigs must only eat a very specific diet of naturally grown grass, herbs, acorns, and roots until they are old enough. Then they are switched to a diet of pure acorns and olives. This specific diet is so pronounced in the flavor of meat that it is renowned the world over as some the best cured ham in the world.

If the taste itself does not convince you, one experiment I have tried is to purchase a boneless organic chicken breast and a non-organic one. We cooked them up in separate pans on the stove, just something simple in a small amount of olive oil with a bit of salt and pepper. Same heat, same size pan. The non-organic chicken breast started out larger, but as it cooked down there was more and more liquid in the pan until it was the same size as the organic chicken breast in the next pan. The organic chicken breast had very little liquid in the pan in comparison. The technique is called “plumping,” injecting saltwater, chicken stock, or seaweed extract into the frozen chicken to make it appear bigger and make it heavier. That can mean that 15-30% of the chicken you paid for is actually water, up to an additional $1.70 per package!

Meat may seem like a costly alternative when purchasing organic, but once you add up every cost, to the environment, your health, and to your wallet, it isn’t that big an investment after all.