What is spelt?
Spelt is one of the oldest cereal grains known to man. It is estimated to be over 9,000 years old; approximately 2,000 years older than the oldest bread baking wheat.
Why is it called "spelt"?
The unusual name is derived from it's Latin name which is Tritcum Spelta. The Latin name for bread is Tritcum aestivum.
What does it taste like?
Spelt has a mild, nutty flavour which makes it a favourite in whole grain breads. The bread of Tuscany province in Italie are made from spelt which the Italians call farro (from where we get the word "farina").
How is it different from wheat?
Physiologically speaking, many people with wheat allergies have found spelt to be a viable alternative. In a kernel for kernel comparison, the most distinct difference is that spelt forms a heavy, protective husk around the kernel necessitating an additional step in the manufacturing prior to milling.
SPELT BAKERY PRODUCTS
We've just started carrying some products from The Spelt Bakery in Vancouver. They have other goodies too; please let us know if there are other items you would like us to carry!
Breakfast Cookie: Grab & go; sustainable energy to start your day or as a mid-day pick-me-up. A sweet and nutty cookie that doesn’t contain sulfites and has only 1 teaspoon of organic cane sugar per cookie. Individually wrapped. 110 g. $2.75 each.
Spelt Baking Powder Biscuit Mix: Next to a bowl of hot soup in the winter or with a crunchy salad in the summer. 500 g. $6.00.
Spelt Pizza Dough Mix: Delivery has nothing on fresh-baked pizza out of your own oven. Add some pizza sauce, some mozzarella and/or feta, and your favourite veggies, and you’ve got a gourmet treat. 400 g. $5.50.
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.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Baked Apple Rings
INGREDIENTS
4 apples, peeled and cored
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp unbleached white flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
Dash of freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
1/3 cup apple cider
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
Extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup maple syrup, divided
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit.
Slice apples crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Set aside 8 largest slices; reserve remaining apple for another use.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, granulated sugar, salt, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Stir in cider and egg whites (batter will be thick).
Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with a small amount of olive oil over medium-high heat. Dip 4 apple slices in batter; place in pan. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Arrange apple slices on a baking sheet coated with olive oil. Repeat procedure with remaining apple slices.
Bake apple slices for 10 minutes or until edges are crisp. Drizzle each of 4 plates with 1 tablespoon maple syrup; top with 2 apple slices. Serve immediately.
4 apples, peeled and cored
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp unbleached white flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
Dash of freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
1/3 cup apple cider
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
Extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup maple syrup, divided
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit.
Slice apples crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Set aside 8 largest slices; reserve remaining apple for another use.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, granulated sugar, salt, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Stir in cider and egg whites (batter will be thick).
Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with a small amount of olive oil over medium-high heat. Dip 4 apple slices in batter; place in pan. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Arrange apple slices on a baking sheet coated with olive oil. Repeat procedure with remaining apple slices.
Bake apple slices for 10 minutes or until edges are crisp. Drizzle each of 4 plates with 1 tablespoon maple syrup; top with 2 apple slices. Serve immediately.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Roasted Apple and Acorn Squash Soup
INGREDIENTS
2 apples, unpeeled, cored, cut in half
1 medium acorn squash, cut in half
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
4 cups vegetable broth
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Parsley, optional
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400° F. Place apples and squash upside down in a shallow pan with 1/4 inch of water. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove apples and set aside. Flip squash over. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with a bit of salt. Broil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. When cool enough to handle, peel the squash.
In saucepan, heat remaining olive oil. Add onions and sautee for 5 minutes. Add garlic and sautee for 1 minute. Add vegetable broth, apples, and peeled squash. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Puree in blender to desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve topped with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
Serves 6.
2 apples, unpeeled, cored, cut in half
1 medium acorn squash, cut in half
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
4 cups vegetable broth
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Parsley, optional
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400° F. Place apples and squash upside down in a shallow pan with 1/4 inch of water. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove apples and set aside. Flip squash over. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with a bit of salt. Broil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. When cool enough to handle, peel the squash.
In saucepan, heat remaining olive oil. Add onions and sautee for 5 minutes. Add garlic and sautee for 1 minute. Add vegetable broth, apples, and peeled squash. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Puree in blender to desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve topped with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
Serves 6.
Friday, December 11, 2009
From Our Newsletter : Meet the Harkers: Harkers Fruit Ranch in Cawston
Chances are you’ve been enjoying delicious our delicious organic apples from Bruce and Kathy Harker.The Harkers and a handful of neighbouring organic farms were some of the first in the area Similkameen Valley to turn to organics. And the Similkameen Valley is now the Organic Capital of Canada with about 80 certified organic orchardists, ground-croppers and vineyards.
The Similkameen Valley parallels the US border, a few miles to the south, in the heart of the high mountains of the Cascades. Higher than most other growing areas in Cascadia, the area is a true desert, with over 20 types of cactus, and one of the lowest precipitation values in Canada at between 5 and 8 inches a year. It is farmable solely because of abundant groundwater. In fact the majority of farmers operate in a growing area just a mile or two wide and less than 20 miles long.
Bruce and Kathy Harker are conservation partners with The Land Conservancy. They are involved in restoring native vegetation and protecting their part of this incredible valley. Their farm and their legacy is a testimonial to the benefits and success of sustainable agriculture, and the power of community.
High school sweethearts at 16, and married at 22, Bruce and Kathy studied and worked in Vancouver, until they moved to Cawston to work the land that Bruce's father and grandfather had worked.
From Our Newsletter : Will Canada Kill Climate Change Action in Copenhagen?
Just one eco-alert this issue, but it’s a big one.
We all like to think of BC as "Green" and "Eco-conscious"?
But in order to live up to our slogans, Canadians must address the oil sands and their negative impact on the ecosystem. And we need to hold our leaders to task when they try to sabotage effective climate change reforms.
As reported in Alternet by George Monbiot, Canadian briefing documents obtained in June this year show that the Canadian government has been scheming to divide the Europeans and attempt to scuttle any meaningful international climate change treaty. To quote from the article: "During the meeting in Bangkok in October, almost the entire developing world bloc walked out when the Canadian delegate was speaking, as they were so revolted by his bullying. Last week the Commonwealth heads of government battled for hours (and eventually won) against Canada’s obstructions. A concerted campaign has now begun to expel Canada from the Commonwealth."
In Copenhagen this week and next, it has been predicted that Canada will do everything in its power to wreck the talks. All this to protect an energy technology that would be a top contender if "The Planet’s Most Polluting: were a reality show.
It's just sand, right?
"Oil Sands". It sounds so nice and benign, conjuring up an image of pristine white sands alive with magical energy waiting to be tapped.
But the reality is somewhat different. The tar sands are actually a toxic mixture of bitumen, sand, heavy metals and poisonous organic chemicals. Most of the Tar Sands occur in Alberta, and they are now being extracted by the biggest opencast mining operation on earth. An area the size of England, with pristine BC forests, marshes and aquifers is slated to be strip mined and destroyed.
This is why environmental activists worldwide are calling for a transition from polluting energy sources such as the oil sands, to clean energy including wind and solar power. Do a bit of research and it’s easy to see that the strip-miners are creating a vast black wasteland that threatens vital watersheds while emitting huge amounts of CO2.
To extract oil from the tar sands, it must be heated and washed. It takes three barrels of water to process one barrel of oil. The result is contaminated water that is held in vast "tailing ponds". They are completely toxic, and most are unlined. So organic poisons, arsenic and mercury leak into BC rivers, contaminating valuable water supplies. These are believed to be linked to exotic cancers and autoimmune diseases that now afflict the First Nations people living downstream.
Refining tar sands oil requires two to three times as much energy as crude oil. In fact, our tar sands operation is now the world’s biggest single industrial source of carbon emissions.
To read the rest of Monbiot’s article, click here.
We all like to think of BC as "Green" and "Eco-conscious"?
But in order to live up to our slogans, Canadians must address the oil sands and their negative impact on the ecosystem. And we need to hold our leaders to task when they try to sabotage effective climate change reforms.
As reported in Alternet by George Monbiot, Canadian briefing documents obtained in June this year show that the Canadian government has been scheming to divide the Europeans and attempt to scuttle any meaningful international climate change treaty. To quote from the article: "During the meeting in Bangkok in October, almost the entire developing world bloc walked out when the Canadian delegate was speaking, as they were so revolted by his bullying. Last week the Commonwealth heads of government battled for hours (and eventually won) against Canada’s obstructions. A concerted campaign has now begun to expel Canada from the Commonwealth."
In Copenhagen this week and next, it has been predicted that Canada will do everything in its power to wreck the talks. All this to protect an energy technology that would be a top contender if "The Planet’s Most Polluting: were a reality show.
It's just sand, right?
"Oil Sands". It sounds so nice and benign, conjuring up an image of pristine white sands alive with magical energy waiting to be tapped.
But the reality is somewhat different. The tar sands are actually a toxic mixture of bitumen, sand, heavy metals and poisonous organic chemicals. Most of the Tar Sands occur in Alberta, and they are now being extracted by the biggest opencast mining operation on earth. An area the size of England, with pristine BC forests, marshes and aquifers is slated to be strip mined and destroyed.
This is why environmental activists worldwide are calling for a transition from polluting energy sources such as the oil sands, to clean energy including wind and solar power. Do a bit of research and it’s easy to see that the strip-miners are creating a vast black wasteland that threatens vital watersheds while emitting huge amounts of CO2.
To extract oil from the tar sands, it must be heated and washed. It takes three barrels of water to process one barrel of oil. The result is contaminated water that is held in vast "tailing ponds". They are completely toxic, and most are unlined. So organic poisons, arsenic and mercury leak into BC rivers, contaminating valuable water supplies. These are believed to be linked to exotic cancers and autoimmune diseases that now afflict the First Nations people living downstream.
Refining tar sands oil requires two to three times as much energy as crude oil. In fact, our tar sands operation is now the world’s biggest single industrial source of carbon emissions.
To read the rest of Monbiot’s article, click here.
From Our Newsletter: Join the Movement to Keep Our Coast From Getting "Tanked"
For 37 years the coastal waters of northern British Columbia have been protected from oil tanker traffic. This ban is now under threat. And this latest fight is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to eco-controversy over the Oil Sands.
As published in The Vancouver Sun, the tanker controversy centers over a 1,170-kilometre multi-billion-dollar pipeline that by 2015, would link the oil sands near Fort McMurray to a port in Kitimat on B.C.'s north coast.
Oil would flow west, while condensate - used in oil sands production - would flow east to Alberta in a second, twinned pipeline. These pipelines would wend their way through pristine, rugged terrain.
Environmentalists and community activists are mobilizing to oppose the project and oil tanker traffic that would threaten our sensitive ecosystem, and the movement is growing.
One must only Google "Exxon Valdez" to see the devastation a spill can wreak. When it comes to environmental responsibility, the overall track record of the petrochemical industry in environmental responsibility is weak. From damaged watersheds to toxins not cleaned up, this has been documented in case after case, throughout the world.
The stakes are high: vessels ranging from cruise ship size to supertankers would need to wend their way through narrow waterways full of navigational hazards; the same treacherous channels where the Queen of the North ferry sank. At risk would be the Mackenzie, Fraser and Skeena watersheds, the Great Bear Rainforest, and BC’s wildlife population.
Oil producers are concerned that climate change regulations introduced in the US might reduce profits that now come from the US being the biggest customer for oil sands oil. This makes the increasingly oil-hungry Asian market more attractive. And a pipeline carrying oil to the Pacific for transit via tanker to Asia could thwart environmental activists seeking to stop the extraction of the oil sands, which is among the most polluting forms of energy extraction. To read the full article in the Vancouver Sun, click here.
As published in The Vancouver Sun, the tanker controversy centers over a 1,170-kilometre multi-billion-dollar pipeline that by 2015, would link the oil sands near Fort McMurray to a port in Kitimat on B.C.'s north coast.
Oil would flow west, while condensate - used in oil sands production - would flow east to Alberta in a second, twinned pipeline. These pipelines would wend their way through pristine, rugged terrain.
Environmentalists and community activists are mobilizing to oppose the project and oil tanker traffic that would threaten our sensitive ecosystem, and the movement is growing.
One must only Google "Exxon Valdez" to see the devastation a spill can wreak. When it comes to environmental responsibility, the overall track record of the petrochemical industry in environmental responsibility is weak. From damaged watersheds to toxins not cleaned up, this has been documented in case after case, throughout the world.
The stakes are high: vessels ranging from cruise ship size to supertankers would need to wend their way through narrow waterways full of navigational hazards; the same treacherous channels where the Queen of the North ferry sank. At risk would be the Mackenzie, Fraser and Skeena watersheds, the Great Bear Rainforest, and BC’s wildlife population.
Oil producers are concerned that climate change regulations introduced in the US might reduce profits that now come from the US being the biggest customer for oil sands oil. This makes the increasingly oil-hungry Asian market more attractive. And a pipeline carrying oil to the Pacific for transit via tanker to Asia could thwart environmental activists seeking to stop the extraction of the oil sands, which is among the most polluting forms of energy extraction. To read the full article in the Vancouver Sun, click here.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Mushroom and Olive Pate
INGREDIENTS
1/2 oz butter or buttery spread
3 oz mushrooms, finely chopped
2 Tbsp red wine
3 oz medium-firm tofu
2 oz breadcrumbs
1 tsp stoneground mustard
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 oz green olives, pitted and chopped
DIRECTIONS
Heat the butter in a small saucepan. Add the mushrooms and fry gently for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add one tablespoon of the red wine and cook together for a further 3 minutes uncovered. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Place the mushroom mixture in a food processor along with the other ingredients, except the olives. Blend together but do not liquidize. Season to taste and add the rest of the red wine if the paté is too dry.
Stir the chopped olives into the paté by hand. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Serve with thinly sliced and toasted baguette and a bit of salsa.
1/2 oz butter or buttery spread
3 oz mushrooms, finely chopped
2 Tbsp red wine
3 oz medium-firm tofu
2 oz breadcrumbs
1 tsp stoneground mustard
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 oz green olives, pitted and chopped
DIRECTIONS
Heat the butter in a small saucepan. Add the mushrooms and fry gently for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add one tablespoon of the red wine and cook together for a further 3 minutes uncovered. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Place the mushroom mixture in a food processor along with the other ingredients, except the olives. Blend together but do not liquidize. Season to taste and add the rest of the red wine if the paté is too dry.
Stir the chopped olives into the paté by hand. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Serve with thinly sliced and toasted baguette and a bit of salsa.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Caribbean Ginger Beer
I like to make this whenever I'm hosting anything because it makes the whole house smell divine.
INGREDIENTS
1.5 lbs fresh ginger
2 cinnamon sticks
4 Tbsp whole cloves
1/8 to 1/4 cup sugar
Angosura bitters (found in the mixer section of major grocery stores)
DIRECTIONS
Roughly chop ginger into 1 to 2 inch pieces to expose the inner flesh. Drop cut ginger into large bowl of cold water to rinse off any dirt or clay. Place ginger into a 4 litre pot and fill with fresh water, leaving 1 to 2 inches for boiling room. Add cinnamon sticks and cloves. Cover and simmer for 2 hours. Top up again with water and let sit overnight.
The next day, simmer for another hour. When done, mixture should be a colour somewhere between ice tea and cola; if sipped, it should leave a warm burn in the back of your throat.
Allow to cool, then pour mixture through a cheesecloth or wire sieve into a large bowl to strain out ginger and spices. Add sugar and 8 dashes (more or less) of bitters. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour into a 2 litre jug or bottle and refrigerate.
To serve: In a glass, mix about 1 part ginger beer to 3 parts lemon-lime soda or carbonated water. Adjust mixture to taste.
INGREDIENTS
1.5 lbs fresh ginger
2 cinnamon sticks
4 Tbsp whole cloves
1/8 to 1/4 cup sugar
Angosura bitters (found in the mixer section of major grocery stores)
DIRECTIONS
Roughly chop ginger into 1 to 2 inch pieces to expose the inner flesh. Drop cut ginger into large bowl of cold water to rinse off any dirt or clay. Place ginger into a 4 litre pot and fill with fresh water, leaving 1 to 2 inches for boiling room. Add cinnamon sticks and cloves. Cover and simmer for 2 hours. Top up again with water and let sit overnight.
The next day, simmer for another hour. When done, mixture should be a colour somewhere between ice tea and cola; if sipped, it should leave a warm burn in the back of your throat.
Allow to cool, then pour mixture through a cheesecloth or wire sieve into a large bowl to strain out ginger and spices. Add sugar and 8 dashes (more or less) of bitters. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour into a 2 litre jug or bottle and refrigerate.
To serve: In a glass, mix about 1 part ginger beer to 3 parts lemon-lime soda or carbonated water. Adjust mixture to taste.
Holiday Schedule Notes
You can tell by the early morning frost: December is here! And that means Christmas and holidays and New Year's...
Green Earth Organics will be staying open for the entire holiday season this year, with just a few minor adjustments to the delivery schedule:
Thursday deliveries on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve will be done during the day and early evening, so our drivers can get off the busy roads and back to their families as early as possible.
Friday deliveries on Christmas Day will be canceled. We will not be changing the delivery schedule, just skipping that day's deliveries. If you are a bi-weekly member expecting a delivery on December 11th and December 25th, you will receive a bin on December 11th and then on January 8th, unless you tell us otherwise. If you are a bi-weekly member expecting a delivery on December 18th and January 1st, your delivery weeks will not be affected at all.
Friday deliveries on January 1st will be done on Thursday, December 31st. The deliveries will be during the day. Your deadline for all changes to your bin, including skipping your delivery, will be noon on December 30th. The website will let you make changes after that time, but we cannot guarantee that any changes made after noon will be taken into account.
If you have any questions or concerns about these changes or anything else related to your Green Earth Organics service, please call the office between 8 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Thursday, or from 8 AM to noon on Friday, at 604-708-2345. We can also be reached by email at info@greenearthorganics.com.
Happy holidays!
Green Earth Organics will be staying open for the entire holiday season this year, with just a few minor adjustments to the delivery schedule:
Thursday deliveries on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve will be done during the day and early evening, so our drivers can get off the busy roads and back to their families as early as possible.
Friday deliveries on Christmas Day will be canceled. We will not be changing the delivery schedule, just skipping that day's deliveries. If you are a bi-weekly member expecting a delivery on December 11th and December 25th, you will receive a bin on December 11th and then on January 8th, unless you tell us otherwise. If you are a bi-weekly member expecting a delivery on December 18th and January 1st, your delivery weeks will not be affected at all.
Friday deliveries on January 1st will be done on Thursday, December 31st. The deliveries will be during the day. Your deadline for all changes to your bin, including skipping your delivery, will be noon on December 30th. The website will let you make changes after that time, but we cannot guarantee that any changes made after noon will be taken into account.
If you have any questions or concerns about these changes or anything else related to your Green Earth Organics service, please call the office between 8 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Thursday, or from 8 AM to noon on Friday, at 604-708-2345. We can also be reached by email at info@greenearthorganics.com.
Happy holidays!
Green Earth Organics Thinks Outside the Box During the Holidays
There is a tremendous need in the private sector to step-up to the plate when it comes to corporate social responsibility. By considering the impact of their way of conducting business, organizations like Green Earth Organics are able to give back to communities by consciously selecting the activities they undertake.
During the month of December, Green Earth Organics is thinking outside the box as they facilitate a toy drive for child patients who are unable to be home for the holidays. To help put smiles back where they belong, gifts collected from Green Earth members will be donated to the B.C. Children’s Hospital.
To find out more information about this year's wish list, please see below. Please note, due to infection control policies, stuffed animals are not on the wish list this year. To learn more about the B.C. Children's Hospital check out www.bcchildrens.ca.
2009 CHRISTMAS WISH LIST:
Infants and Toddlers
During the month of December, Green Earth Organics is thinking outside the box as they facilitate a toy drive for child patients who are unable to be home for the holidays. To help put smiles back where they belong, gifts collected from Green Earth members will be donated to the B.C. Children’s Hospital.
To find out more information about this year's wish list, please see below. Please note, due to infection control policies, stuffed animals are not on the wish list this year. To learn more about the B.C. Children's Hospital check out www.bcchildrens.ca.
2009 CHRISTMAS WISH LIST:
Infants and Toddlers
- Infant toys
- Baby crib "aquariums", small baby rattles, infant musical wind-up toys, washable mobiles, especially with wind-up, not battery operated, music boxes
- Baby board books with photos of real babies
- Crib-mounted mural books - washable
- Lava lamp or lamp with movement and lights
- CD's - pop, rock, country, relaxation music, compilation albums - Top 40
- Paintable items like picture frames, T-shirts, terra cotta pots and boxes, canvases
- Magazine subscriptions (Teen People, Snowboarding, Tony Hawke, fashion, health & fitness)
- Beauty Products - nail polish, hair accessories, bath products, travel size shampoo, conditioner and creams etc...
- Supplies to make bath products (soap making kits, lip gloss kits)
- Board games - Risk, Cranium, and mind games... etc.
- Beading supplies including hemp, clasps, crimp beads, stretch plastic lacing and tools
- Books on CD
- Big craft projects that take time to build
- Unimited qualities of beads and plastic lace (lots!) Craft kits, wooden/ceramic paintable craft items - ie. Small simple bead or paint kits, wooden/ceramic paintable craft items, wooden picture frames, artist's quality watercolour or sketching paper, charcoal, and real sketching pencils; Mr Sketch smelly markers, and Crayola markers for the younger children
- Big foam stickers
- Children drip-proof paint pots with lids and paint brushes
- Small craft kits with all supplies needed included in the package
- Children drip-proof paint pots with lids and paint brushes
- Small craft kits with all supplies needed included in the package
- Children's scissors (both straight & patterned edges)
- Crayons, felts, pencil crayons, feathers, pompoms, sequins...
- Glue-able or peel-&-stick shapes, letters, holiday-themed shapes
- Glitter glue
- Glue sticks
- Card stock
- Stamps/patterned hole punches
- Scrapbooking supplies
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