INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, drained and sliced
1/4 cup black olives, sliced
2/3 cup chopped fresh basil
4 lbs tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 package rotini pasta
1 package crumbled goat feta (optional)
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, combine olive oil, sundried tomatoes, olives, basil, tomatoes, chives, black pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Marinate for 3 hours at room temperature.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until desired tenderness. Drain. Pour sauce over hot pasta and toss. Sprinkle with feta cheese, if desired.
Green Earth Organics Inc. is a home and office certified organic grocery and natural product delivery service. We have a wide selection of 100% Certified Organic fruit, vegetables, and other grocery products. We also carry a growing list of environmentally friendly products that make it easier for our customers to tread lighter on our planet. This blog offers exiting information on organic food and healthy eating habits.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Lemon Rice and Peas
Also a great way to use up leftover rice. I'll often cook about three extra cups of rice when having a stir-fry and use it a day or two later for this recipe.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups water
1 cups brown basmati rice
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin
6 green onions, finely chopped
2 cups shelled English peas
1 cup cashews
3 Tbsp tamari
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp turmeric
Cayenne pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the rice, cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the water is absorbed, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Heat the olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and cook, stirring, until the mustard seeds begin to pop, about 30 seconds. Add the cumin and green onions and cook until the onions have softened, about 1 minute. Add the cooked rice, peas, cashews, tamari, lemon juice, parsley, turmeric, and cayenne and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Excellent served with flour tortillas. Warm the tortillas and either wrap the mixture in them or serve with the tortillas on the side to scoop up the rice.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups water
1 cups brown basmati rice
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin
6 green onions, finely chopped
2 cups shelled English peas
1 cup cashews
3 Tbsp tamari
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp turmeric
Cayenne pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the rice, cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the water is absorbed, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Heat the olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and cook, stirring, until the mustard seeds begin to pop, about 30 seconds. Add the cumin and green onions and cook until the onions have softened, about 1 minute. Add the cooked rice, peas, cashews, tamari, lemon juice, parsley, turmeric, and cayenne and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Excellent served with flour tortillas. Warm the tortillas and either wrap the mixture in them or serve with the tortillas on the side to scoop up the rice.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
English Pea Salad
INGREDIENTS
1 lb fresh English peas, still in pods
1 bunch fresh mint, washed and dried
1/2 lb spring salad mix, washed and dried
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
100 g Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
Bring a pot of very salty water to boil. While waiting, remove the peas from their pods. Add the peas to the pot and boil for about 1 minute, just until the colour of the peas changes to bright green. Drain immediately and cool in ice water to stop the cooking and keep the peas bright.
In a bowl, combine the cooked peas with the mint and the spring salad mix. Add the lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Shave half of the Parmesan onto a cutting board and reserve. Grate remaining Parmesan quite fine, add to the salad and toss. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lemon juice or olive oil as desired.
Serve immediately, topped with reserved shaved Parmesan cheese.
1 lb fresh English peas, still in pods
1 bunch fresh mint, washed and dried
1/2 lb spring salad mix, washed and dried
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
100 g Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
Bring a pot of very salty water to boil. While waiting, remove the peas from their pods. Add the peas to the pot and boil for about 1 minute, just until the colour of the peas changes to bright green. Drain immediately and cool in ice water to stop the cooking and keep the peas bright.
In a bowl, combine the cooked peas with the mint and the spring salad mix. Add the lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Shave half of the Parmesan onto a cutting board and reserve. Grate remaining Parmesan quite fine, add to the salad and toss. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lemon juice or olive oil as desired.
Serve immediately, topped with reserved shaved Parmesan cheese.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Cornflake Bars
INGREDIENTS
1 cup demerara sugar
1 cup coconut oil, melted
1 whole egg
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups cornflakes, crushed
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup soy flour
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries or chocolate chips
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped almonds or other nuts
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Grease a 9" x 13" pan.
Beat the demerara sugar, coconut oil, whole egg, egg white, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl until fluffy. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine well.
Spread mixture evenly in the pan and press down lightly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until crisp around the edges. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
1 cup demerara sugar
1 cup coconut oil, melted
1 whole egg
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups cornflakes, crushed
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup soy flour
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries or chocolate chips
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped almonds or other nuts
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Grease a 9" x 13" pan.
Beat the demerara sugar, coconut oil, whole egg, egg white, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl until fluffy. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine well.
Spread mixture evenly in the pan and press down lightly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until crisp around the edges. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Apple Berry Smoothie
INGREDIENTS
1 red apple
1 green apple
1/2 cup fresh or frozen berries (your choice or a mix)
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 ice cubes (more if using fresh berries)
DIRECTIONS
Chop the apples into medium sized chunks and put them in the blender. Add the berries and blend for about 20 seconds. Add the apple juice, yogurt, and ice cubes and blend again until smooth. Add more juice or some water if too thick or add more yogurt if too thin.
For a more filling smoothie, add 1/4 cup of rolled oats to the apples and berries prior to blending.
Makes 2 servings.
1 red apple
1 green apple
1/2 cup fresh or frozen berries (your choice or a mix)
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 ice cubes (more if using fresh berries)
DIRECTIONS
Chop the apples into medium sized chunks and put them in the blender. Add the berries and blend for about 20 seconds. Add the apple juice, yogurt, and ice cubes and blend again until smooth. Add more juice or some water if too thick or add more yogurt if too thin.
For a more filling smoothie, add 1/4 cup of rolled oats to the apples and berries prior to blending.
Makes 2 servings.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Fresh Herb Availability
Our organic fruit and vegetable suppliers always have excellent selections of fresh herbs in 14 – 28 gram packages. We have been carrying some of them over the last couple of months, but we want to make sure we aren't skipping anyone's favourite herb.
To discover what our members want to buy in terms of fresh herbs, we have set up a poll on our blog: http://greenearthorganics.blogspot.com/ (right-hand side column). The poll will be available until noon on June 16th.
If there's another herb you are interested in, please let us know at 603-708-2345 or by email at info@greenearthorganics.com.
We would also love to know if you are interested in any of the specialty versions of mint. It turns out, mint is available in chocolate, pineapple, and mojito varieties!
We have left parsley and cilantro off the list because they are generally sold by the bunch and all of these herbs are in the small plastic packages. If you are interested in larger quantities of any of those on the list, please let us know!
To discover what our members want to buy in terms of fresh herbs, we have set up a poll on our blog: http://greenearthorganics.blogspot.com/ (right-hand side column). The poll will be available until noon on June 16th.
If there's another herb you are interested in, please let us know at 603-708-2345 or by email at info@greenearthorganics.com.
We would also love to know if you are interested in any of the specialty versions of mint. It turns out, mint is available in chocolate, pineapple, and mojito varieties!
We have left parsley and cilantro off the list because they are generally sold by the bunch and all of these herbs are in the small plastic packages. If you are interested in larger quantities of any of those on the list, please let us know!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Takeout Without
"You aren't really going to, are you?" my partner is looking at the pile of reusable plastic containers I've just pulled out of a bag in the back seat.
"They don't mind," I assure him as we enter Broadway Station Sushi, "I've done it here before."
He looks embarrassed, but I am not easily deterred. We place our takeout order at the counter and I hand over the pile of containers. The woman behind the cash register doesn't even give us a weird look as she passes them to the sushi chef along with our order.
"OK, that was alright," my partner concedes as we head back to the car with our containers of food neatly stacked in a fabric grocery bag.
Though we try to cook at home most of the time - my partner is a talented cook who doesn't wince when I announce we've got mushrooms, ginger, and tofu in the house; can't he make something of them - we are also busy and do sometimes grab food to go. More and more, we've noticed how quickly the garbage can mount up. We are helped by the fact that Vancouver now allows pizza boxes to be recycled, but that doesn't help with our sushi habit.
We started cutting back our waste by declining all extraneous items when picking up or having delivery: no chopsticks, napkins, soy sauce packets, etc. Now we've moved to bringing our own containers to use as doggy bags when eating out (Anton's on Hastings didn't flinch when we asked for our leftovers in our own containers) and when getting takeout. Most restaurants are pretty good about this; my favourite food stand in the market at Granville Island - Curry 2 U: Indian Comfort Food - will even sell you a reusable "tiffin" which you can get refilled at a discount. Bring a fork and cloth napkin, and you are ready for a waste-free lunch.
We're not the only ones thinking about this, obviously. The Takeout Without website describes their creed as: ReFuse Unnecessary Stuff, ReTake Your Own Reusables, and ReConsider Your Habits. I follow their Twitter stream (takeoutwout) for tips and encouragement.
I did notice that Takeout Without's restaurant "participating restaurants" page is still empty, but I plan to check back. What other Vancouver area restaurants keep the waste down, or at least make it easy for patrons to reduce their unnecessary garbage? If you know one, please tell us!
"They don't mind," I assure him as we enter Broadway Station Sushi, "I've done it here before."
He looks embarrassed, but I am not easily deterred. We place our takeout order at the counter and I hand over the pile of containers. The woman behind the cash register doesn't even give us a weird look as she passes them to the sushi chef along with our order.
"OK, that was alright," my partner concedes as we head back to the car with our containers of food neatly stacked in a fabric grocery bag.
Though we try to cook at home most of the time - my partner is a talented cook who doesn't wince when I announce we've got mushrooms, ginger, and tofu in the house; can't he make something of them - we are also busy and do sometimes grab food to go. More and more, we've noticed how quickly the garbage can mount up. We are helped by the fact that Vancouver now allows pizza boxes to be recycled, but that doesn't help with our sushi habit.
We started cutting back our waste by declining all extraneous items when picking up or having delivery: no chopsticks, napkins, soy sauce packets, etc. Now we've moved to bringing our own containers to use as doggy bags when eating out (Anton's on Hastings didn't flinch when we asked for our leftovers in our own containers) and when getting takeout. Most restaurants are pretty good about this; my favourite food stand in the market at Granville Island - Curry 2 U: Indian Comfort Food - will even sell you a reusable "tiffin" which you can get refilled at a discount. Bring a fork and cloth napkin, and you are ready for a waste-free lunch.
We're not the only ones thinking about this, obviously. The Takeout Without website describes their creed as: ReFuse Unnecessary Stuff, ReTake Your Own Reusables, and ReConsider Your Habits. I follow their Twitter stream (takeoutwout) for tips and encouragement.
I did notice that Takeout Without's restaurant "participating restaurants" page is still empty, but I plan to check back. What other Vancouver area restaurants keep the waste down, or at least make it easy for patrons to reduce their unnecessary garbage? If you know one, please tell us!
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