September 2010
38 posts
Corn Refiners Seek to Rename High Fructose Corn...
We grow tons of corn in this country. Drive through the Mid West and you’ll discover corn for as far as the eye can see! So, what do we do with all this corn? Well, either we have a tortilla fetish or it’s ending up as high fructose corn syrup. \READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/5Qjzc
Dirty Restaurant Dish Cloths May Sicken Us
If you’re planning to dine out, this story is about to ruin your day. British researchers have found that more than half of the cleaning cloths used in restaurants and takeout kitchens contained alarming levels of bacteria—sure signs of poor hygiene and cross-contamination. These cloths must be frequently changed or disinfected to halt bacterial growth that could cause food poisoning, according to...
5 Colorful Plants for Winter Gardening
If the gardening bug has bitten you hard, it can be difficult to let your garden go fallow over the winter. Plus, in colder climates, it can be difficult to motivate yourself into heading out into the frosty air. But as it happens, there are a ton of low-maintenance shrubs that become particularly beautiful in the winter. With the right plants, your garden can be colorful year-round. \READ THE...
Organic Watermelon Dippers
Locally grown organic watermelons are on the way out. We’re fast approaching the tail end of peak season. While melons may be available year-round, know what you’re buying. The U.S. peak season runs from May to September. If you purchase a watermelon between October and April, odds are you’re buying an imported fruit that has traveled a long way to reach your table. This reduces freshness and...
Seattle Bars Start Serving Gourmet Hamburgers
What is good bar food? Easy! Buffalo wings slathered in suspicious smelling blue cheese, over-fried mozzarella sticks, and stale peanuts, popcorn, pretzels, or - if the bar is really classy, moist Cheez Doodles. The word “gourmet” has no business in a place with sticky floors and a condom dispenser in the unisex bathroom. \READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/5Jxsd
MADE: A Refreshingly Delicious Green Tea Juice...
With the gluttony of over processed foods and drinks on the market (that frankly aren’t fit for human consumption in my book), I’m always on the lookout for delicious new products in the organic market place that make my life and yours, just that much easier. I’ve found one, and it is delicious! \READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/5Hf8J
3 Chicken Mysteries Solved
Cook enough chicken, and you’ll become an expert in safe handling of raw poultry and proper cooking times and temperatures. But how much do you know about chicken colors—from bones, to skin, to cooked meat? In today’s post, we unravel three common mysteries. http://dlvr.it/5HLmd
Natural Hair Color, Does It Exist?
When it comes to transforming your natural – albeit drab – locks into unnatural – albeit gorgeous – shades of rich flowing color, be wary of companies that advertise “natural” on their boxes, for the process is anything but. \READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/5FNc6
Mind Your Food: Eating as Meditation
We all do it – well, most of us. We’re checking our email, texting so and so, the TV’s humming along in the background and we’ve got a mental checklist of all the things we need to do running through our minds, all the people we need to call, bills we need to pay. We look down at our plates only to find the food has vanished without any recollection of having eaten it. We exist...
Burger King Says No to Palm Oil
In the United States, we’ll deep-fry anything. Go to any state fair, and you’ll see all sorts of fried monstrosities, from deep-fried Oreos and Snickers to French fries fried in lard or fatback. Ugh, I can feel my chest tightening. And we love French fries, especially with fast food, even though until recently many French fries were cooked up in trans-fat - not exactly healthy. But...
American Consumers Practice Inconsistent...
If you’re like me, you pay close attention to reports of foodborne illnesses, including salmonella, listeria and E. coli outbreaks. You also check your refrigerator and pantry for recalled foods. But according to a recent survey, American consumers continue to make basic food-safety errors at home. We’re doing either too much or too little, say researchers from Ann Arbor, MI-based NSF...
Katherine Schwarzenegger Talks About Body Image in...
Katherine Schwarzenegger felt something was terribly wrong last summer, when she overheard her young cousins chatting about their bodies. “They’re 8 years old and were talking about how they don’t want to be fat and how they want to be ‘sexy,’” says the 20-year-old daughter of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and journalist Maria Shriver. It wasn’t the first time Katherine had heard the girls...
Asiadog Delivers Organic Hot Dogs in NYC
Like lemonade, hot dogs are a summer tradition. But reading the ingredient label on a mainstream frankfurter is enough to dissuade anyone from taking that first bite. Vegetarian and organic hot dogs are the way to go, and high-caliber chefs like Todd English have upped the ante with gourmet versions. Since 2008, New York City-based Asiadog has sold organic beef hot dogs with internationally...
Spiced Lemonade
A glass of freshly squeezed lemonade is one of summer’s culinary hallmarks. Unfortunately, ordering said glass at a restaurant can send you into a sugar coma. Most lemonades are sickeningly sweet, masking the true star of the classic beverage: tart lemons. As summer comes to a close, pick up some organic lemons at your local farmers’ market or natural/organic food store, and start squeezing. Cut...
Milk Recalled on East Coast
Menands, NY-based Midland Farms is voluntarily recalling certain milk products because they may have been improperly pasteurized. Pasteurization heats milk to eliminate pathogenic bacteria like listeria and salmonella. The recalled products are sold in plastic containers and are marketed under the brand names Midland Farms, Corrado’s Market, Jersey Dairy Farms and Trade Fair Premium. Each has the...
FDA Says Yes to Genetically Engineered Salmon
Wow, Vincent Price would be proud. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is all set to approve genetically engineered salmon; giving this salmon from the black lagoon a thumbs up for human consumption. When reached for comment, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein said, “Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a seven and a half foot long, fifty-four inch wide gorilla?” \READ THE REST…...
Top 5 Organic Food Myths
Did you know the average supermarket stocks more than 40,000 items on their shelves? It’s mind-boggling. Labels are confusing enough before you get to the side panel to read the ingredients and nutrition profile. If you’re new to buying organic, you may find yourself even more confused. Organic food has come a long way from wheat germ and alfalfa sprouts. You can find an organic...
We Loofah It!
Though the common misconception is that loofahs come from the sea - otherwise spelled luffas, loufas or loofas - in actuality, your much-favored, fibrous bath sponge comes from a cucumber-like gourd that can be grown and harvested in your very own backyard, producing some seriously glowing skin. \READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/4z5r4
How to Store Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
You’ve just returned from the farmer’s market with two canvas bags full of gorgeous fresh fruits and veggies. You sit down at the kitchen table to plan out the delicious dishes you’ll cook up for the week. But after one look at your calendar, you know deep in your heart you can’t possibly eat and cook all of this produce in one week. And sadly there’s a high...
Coffee Prices Jump 41% Since June
You’re not imagining it: Prices for your favorite coffee—whether purchased at a coffee shop, restaurant, natural/organic food store or mainstream supermarket—are on the rise. The reason? A critical international coffee shortage, in which demand is steadily outpacing supply, according to the London-based International Coffee Organization. http://dlvr.it/4y4qy
Good Breakfast Calms Back-to-School Jitters
School days usher in that familiar school daze. Reduce anxiety and improve performance with a quality breakfast that includes protein and whole-grain carbohydrates, advises registered dietitian Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. A bowl of oatmeal with milk “can give you some energy to the brain,” she says. “That milk begins to work on brain...
12 of the Best Plant Nurseries in the U.S.
Labor Day 2010 has come and gone, marking the end of summer of many people. But for the home gardener, there is still plenty of planting and circulating to be done, whether it’s starting your first winter squashes or rotating out one herb for another. To help you find supplies, native plants and plenty of advice, here are 12 of the best plant nurseries in cities across the US – and by...
How To Make Your Own Natural Dog Food
_Geez, Mom, this again?_ That’s the look my dogs give me if I’ve fed them kibble for several days in a row, and I don’t blame them. If you’ve selected the right dog food, your pup will benefit from high-quality ingredients… but they are certainly far from fresh. And imagine if you were forced to eat the same meal day after day – do you really think you’d be fulfilling all your nutritional...
Maine Food Find: The Gelato Fiasco
Twentysomethings Bruno Tropeano and Joshua Davis hated the poorly made, mass-produced gelato they regularly sampled. The Maine residents decided to open their own artisanal gelateria in 2007, featuring the state’s best local, natural ingredients. Some 500 flavors later, The Gelato Fiasco is a regional fixture that consistently makes the list of Maine’s top ice cream shops. Thirty flavors of gelato...
How Much Caffeine is Safe During Pregnancy
When it comes to consuming caffeine during pregnancy, I succumb to the proverb: it is indeed better to be safe than sorry. Unfortunately, studies have proven controversial and conflicting on the matter - leading to no real consensus about how much caffeine is safe (if at all) - but a general understanding that erring on the side of safety when it comes to the health of your baby is obviously your...
The Gluten-Free Diet: Is It Right for You?
Everyone’s talking about it, you see signs for it everywhere, but you don’t really know what the heck it means to be gluten-free. Well, you kinda get it - you know that bread has gluten in it and that certain people are unable to eat it due to allergies…or something like that. A few of your friends have given it up and are raving about how good they feel, and you have to admit they are...
Turn Organic Wine into an Elegant Sauce
Drinking organic wine: a pleasurable way to help protect your heart. Cooking with organic wine: a quick way to add sophistication to any dish. One of the easiest, but underutilized, ways to glaze meat, fish and seafood, salads and veggies, and desserts is to make a wine reduction sauce. As the name implies, you’re simmering wine over a low heat until it reduces by half and becomes syrupy:...
Brew a Great Cup of Organic Coffee or Tea
Making time to brew a satisfying cup of organic tea or coffee before rushing out the door each morning is back in vogue, as many of us bid adieu to high-priced cafes and coffee shops. The right appliances can help you master the art of making smooth-tasting, flavorful hot beverages. http://dlvr.it/4m0DH
Grilled Spicy Watermelon
Planning a Labor Day barbecue? Transform sweet organic watermelon into a savory side dish with a Thai-inspired sauce. Grill watermelon wedges until they’re caramelized, drizzle them with the tangy sauce, and garnish with fresh organic cilantro. The recipe can accompany ribs, chicken or shrimp. All of the ingredients should be available at a well-stocked natural and organic food store. Enjoy!...
Mushrooms May Help Prevent Breast Cancer
Mushrooms are known for their nutritional value and culinary versatility. Now, there’s a new reason to buy these fabulous fungi: They may help prevent breast cancer. Shiuan Chen, PhD, a professor of tumor cell biology at the City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., was among the first scientists to study how white button mushrooms offer protective benefits. “Diet is a key consideration for prevention...
Oysters Are Loaded with Herpes, Global Warming to...
You better stop picking up oysters at last call at that shady bar in the bad side of town, because they’re filthy dirty. Global warming may be to blame for a new rash of the herpes virus wiping out Pacific oysters. \READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/4cwKX
5 Steps to Mold Prevention and Eradication
Mold is a gross and frustrating household problem. It can be hazardous to your health and cause damage to your home. When you head to the store, there’s a barrage of products offering you a solution. Unfortunately, that “solution” often contains chemicals that are harsh, toxic, and even carcinogenic. Instead, try these step-by-step guide to being green while cleaning mold! \READ THE REST…...
Morningland Dairy Recalls Raw-Milk Cheese Sold in...
Mountain View, MO-based Morningland Dairy is recalling 68,957 pounds of raw-milk cheese (made with cows’ milk and goats’ milk) because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes_ _(Lm_)_ and/or Staphylococcus aureus_.__ _ The company’s products are sold in the lower 48 states via retail stores, mail order, crop-sharing associations and direct delivery. Cheeses are sold in vacuum-sealed...
Rough Day? Soak Away Your Sorrows with 3 Bath...
The day has had her way with you: the seemingly endless parade of rubbernecking, power tripping, inconsiderate and needy people to have crossed your path has left you feeling cold, stiff, negative and wound up like a toy soldier. Well, I’ve done the research personally, as have many before me, and nothing soothes the soul like a warm, nurturing bath. Pampering yourself with one of these...
Party Food: Organic Eggplant Rollatini
Some home cooks cringe at the thought of hosting a crowd because they don’t know how to plan the menu. Entertaining needn’t be stressful. Focus on filling guests’ bellies, and remember that you can’t please everyone all the time. An organic vegetarian entree solves multiple problems. If you don’t have a go-to dish, I’d recommend a classic eggplant rollatini. It’s a perfect entree, especially if...
12 Veggies, Herbs, Lettuce & Fruit to Grow Indoors
For those of us without outdoor space, it might seem like having your own garden is an impossible notion. But while it’s true that most vegetable plants can only thrive outside, there are actually a number of veggies that are perfectly happy growing inside – and some of them are pretty surprising. \READ THE REST… http://dlvr.it/4YQPg
7 Benefits to Starting Your Own Chicken Coop
In light of the latest major egg recall, many people are considering getting their own flock of chickens. Farmers have been raising backyard fowl for over 3,000 years but in the last five years, it’s become accessible for even the beginner farmer like you and me. With 380 million eggs recalled, raising chickens at home never sounded so reassuring. You’ll be able to raise them organically, free of...
Decoding The Glycemic Index: How Low Can You Go?
Admit it - you love carbohydrates. The intoxicating smell is impossible to resist: crusty bread rolls, toasted bagels, sugary donuts - mmmmmm. The only thing stopping you from slipping on your shoes and heading out to the bakeshop right now is knowing that those foods will go straight to your thighs and hips as soon as they pass your lips. However, not all carbs are created equally - each works...
