Vegan Manicotti

INGREDIENTS

1 package lasagne noodles
3 packages medium-firm tofu, drained, patted dry, and mashed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup soy milk
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
Sea salt and ground pepper to taste
2 tsp dried basil
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
1 jar of your favourite pasta sauce

DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the lasagne noodles and cook until tender, being careful not to overcook. Drain carefully and lay them out on a piece of waxed paper. Cut each noodle in half to make two shorter pieces.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Combine mashed tofu, garlic, soy milk, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, basil, and spinach in a large bowl.

Spread half of the pasta sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Divide the tofu filling evenly between the cut lasagne noodles, putting the mixture in a line at one end and then rolling up the noodle. Place each completed manicotti in the baking dish in a single layer.

Pour the remaining sauce over the stuffed noodles. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until the sauce bubbles.

California is Freezing (and so is the Broccoli)

All of our produce suppliers have sent us some important information that we want to share with you about weather conditions and their expected impact on fruits and veggies in the coming weeks.

Mexico and California, major sources of fresh produce during the winter, have both experienced very cold weather, including frosts. These very cold temperatures are slowing the growth of many items, resulting in lower stock and higher prices. Please note that this is not something isolated to just us or to just organic food: virtually all fruit and vegetables will be affected, except for local root vegetables.

We have been told to expect product shortages and price increases on almost everything, but the following items will be particularly challenging:

- Lettuce
- Baby greens
- Broccoli (the wholesale price tripled this week)
- Cauliflower
- Potatoes (except local ones, for as long as the stored BC potatoes last)
- Cooking greens
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Cucumbers

As of Thursday, January 10th, the cold weather has not endured long enough to impact citrus fruit, however, that may just be a matter of time. If the deep freezes forecast occur, Northern California's oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes could be slowed.

We will probably all find the next couple of weeks a bit challenging in terms of variety, but we will be working with our suppliers to get the best prices possible and keep our bins as abundant as we can. This might be an excellent time to break out your favourite root vegetable recipes, though - please email us if you have a great one, as we'd love to share it on our blog and in our newsletter.

To send us a recipe, or if you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 604-708-2345 (or 250-704-0660 in Victoria) or email info@greenearthorganics.com.

Fresh Apple Salad Dressing

Add a touch of sweetness to your salad without adding sugar or honey.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 apple (a sweet type like fuji, braeburn, spartan, jonagold, etc.)
1/8 onion
3 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Put the apple and onion in a food processor or blender for about 30 seconds, or until finely diced. Add the rice vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper and process again. Spoon over salad.

Delicious on its own over spring salad mix, or over a salad of regular lettuce with chopped apples, toasted nuts or seeds, and dried cranberries. Also goes well with smoked cheddar and feta, if you like cheese on your salad.

Random Acts of Kindness

Following tragedies such as the horrific school shooting in Newtown in December, many people struggle with a desire to do something, but having no idea what to do. One possible response has come via FaceBook and Twitter as tens of thousands of people across the country joining a social media movement called "26 Acts of Kindness", started in honour of the twenty children and six teachers and administrators.

To learn more about the acts of kindness memorial, check out this article.

Whether or not they are done in remembrance or in response to a tragedy, here are some ideas for some simple random acts of kindness you can do for strangers and your community:

- Pay for the order of the person behind you. This is especially easy to do anonymously at a drive-through, as the order has often already been rung up and you can pay the exact amount.

- Shovel someone's driveway or sidewalk.

- Pick up litter.

- Leave a good book or magazine in the waiting room of the doctor's or dentist's office.

- Carry dog treats, especially if you travel through areas where many homeless and their pets live. Remember to always ask the owner before giving a treat!

- Let someone go ahead of you in line.

- Offer to help a stranger carry their groceries or other heavy items.

- Leave a quarter on top of a payphone.

- Carry an extra pair of inexpensive gloves or an umbrella to give away to someone who needs it. (I actually had this done to me once; the weather was OK when I left for work, but I found myself standing at the bus stop in a jean jacket in the pouring rain after my shift. Someone hopped out of a car in the nearby parking lot, thrust an umbrella into my hand, and ran back away.)

- Seek out uplifting but less-known blogs and leave comments.

- Give your seat on the bus to someone who has a lot of bags or who looks like they've had a tough day (but don't tell them why in the latter case - no one likes to hear that they look tired!). Giving your seat to someone with a lot to carry is often also a gift to everyone around them; no one likes being bumped in the shins by someone's bag of canned goods.

- Send a compliment about your favourite waitress to a restaurant or post a positive review of your favourite locally owned business to a review website.

- Carry little packets of tissue to give away. If you've ever had a runny nose on the bus and haven't had a kleenex, you'll know what a relief that would be to receive.

You may never know what a difference a little act of kindness made to someone's day. Even a smile or a small compliment to a stranger may make their day a little brighter.

Mandarin & Cranberry Quinoa Salad

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup raw quinoa
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp lime juice
2 to 3 Tbsp orange juice
3 tsp dried parsley or 3 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries or fresh cranberries, sliced
2 to 3 mandarin oranges or tangerines, peeled and separated into segments
1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
1 Tbsp whole flaxseeds or toasted sesame seeds (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Prepare quinoa according to package directions. This step can be done the day ahead. Allow the quinoa to cool.

Combine oil, vinegar, lime juice, orange juice, parsley, and salt together in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to combine.

In a salad bowl, combine the quinoa, cranberries, and orange segments. Toss with the salad dressing and sprinkle the almond slivers and flax or sesame seeds (if using) on top.

This salad will keep well in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

Vegan Gingerbread Pancakes

INGREDIENTS

Dry:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground or grated nutmeg

Wet:
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup brewed coffee, cold or at room temperature
1/2 cup applesauce
1/8 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons blackstrap molasses


DIRECTIONS

Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine wet ingredients in separate bowl, then add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Heat a griddle on medium-high heat and lightly coat the pan with oil. Pour in batter in 1/3 cup dollops. Wait until bubbles form around the edges to flip, then cook another 45 seconds on the second side. Serve with your favourite holiday jam, poached pears, lemon curd, or maple syrup.

Pancakes can be kept warm in the oven while you cook the whole stack. Serves two, generously, but can be easily doubled for more. 

*To make these gluten-free simply substitute the flour for all-purpose gluten-free flour and reduce the water to a 1/2 cup. That's it! 

Streusal Baked Winter Squash

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs winter squash, cubed
Pinch of sea salt
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 cup Kashi Organic Bite Size Whole Wheat Cereal
3 Tbsp pecans, roughly chopped
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp Earth Balance Buttery Spread or butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cook the squash cubes in boiling water for about 30 minutes, until tender when pierced with a knife.

Oil an 8-inch square baking pan. Mix cooked squash, salt, and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar together in pan.

In a separate bowl, mix remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar with cereal, pecans, and cinnamon. Add margarine or butter; mix well. Sprinkle over squash mixture.

Bake for 15 minutes or until squash mixture is heated through and top is lightly browned.