Monday, August 31, 2009

Zucchini-Stuffed Tomatoes

Another CSA-inspired recipe based on the fact that I needed to get rid of some tomatoes and zucchini, stat. This recipe is definitely zucchini-hater friendly, but definitely not tomato-hater friendly!



Jalapeno Pepper*
Onion*
Tomatoes*
Zucchini*
Basil*
Edamame*
Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper
Mozzarella Cheese
Croutons

Saute onion. Grate zucchini and squeeze out extra water. Slice tomatoes in half and scoop out innards. Mix tomato innards with basil, edamame, jalapeno pepper, Parmesan cheese & salt and pepper (to taste). Spoon into tomato shells. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with crumbled croutons. Eat. Enjoy.

*Ingredients received through CSA.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

American Idle

Are you exhausted by car exhaust? Try not to let your car sit idle for more than 10 to 20 seconds, as it lowers emissions and gas efficiency. Though it may seem obvious, idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Even in winter, you should only let your car sit idle for about 30 seconds to warm it up.

So next time you're sitting in standstill traffic on the highway or waiting for your passenger to run into the store for munchies, simply turn off your engine.



The Westerville City Schools, the Ohio Department of Transportation and other public or government agencies have recently teamed with the Ohio Green Fleet initiative to implement anti-idling policies and emission reductions, saving precious taxpayer money.

Monday, August 17, 2009

I Vant to Suck Your Blood

Dracula might "mwahahaha" me for saying this, but the only thing that finally convinced me to try giving blood again was the "green factor." Giving of your own renewable resource is eco-friendly and just plain nice.



I did this on a whim when the Bloodmobile showed up at work, so my lack of drinking fluids and stocking up on protein and iron made me quite dizzy, and a little bit "off" for the rest of the day. Next time, I will be more prepared!

High Stakes

Vamps are all the rage right now, but even Edward Cullen would balk to know how much energy is drained from household electronics that suck vampire energy when not in use.



Once you get in the habit, it's easy to unplug your microwave, toaster, sewing machine, electric toothbrush, laptop & phone charger when your done with them. To make it easier, try plugging them into outlets that are easily reachable.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Spread the Word

Whether it's biking to work, buying a composter, installing a digital thermostat or volunteering for ComFest, I would never have done these things if others hadn't taken the time to enlighten me.

Help take the guesswork out of eco-friendly adventures and spread the green gospel. For every "you're crazy" look you get, you'll also find someone who is genuinely interested and happy to commiserate.

So at your next dinner party or family reunion, tell about the time you pulled twenty hairbands covered in cat fur out from under your fridge while cleaning the coils for energy efficiency. Don't assume that no one cares; you'd be surprised by who will stop to listen!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Squeaky Green

Bubbles & Squeak Recipe

Dribble of olive oil
3 tbsp water
1 large organic potato
1 link of Field Roast's Smoked Apple Sage Sausage
1 head organic cabbage
feta cheese (optional)
salt & pepper

Saute potato with olive oil and water until soft. (Be sure to keep the lid on the pan when sauteing to save energy.) Turn off burner. Add sausage and cabbage and cover until cabbage is slightly wilted. Top with cheese and salt and pepper. Devour.

Note: I found the sausage at Raisin Rack in the frozen foods section.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Up Close and Personal

Meet my new boyfriend, Tom. Tom's of Maine, that is. I've fallen in love with their natural conditioning shave cream, purchased at Whole Foods. It has succeeded in finally ending my on-again, off-again relationship with Skintimate for good.

Tom's mint shave cream comes in a toothpaste-like tube, and all you need is a small bead of shave cream to do the job. Though it doesn't produce quite as much lather as aerosol shave creams, it smells a lot better and is comparable in price. An added bonus is that my shower drain hasn't clogged once since I started using it!

Even though I haven't yet found an acceptable deodorant (the unscented smelled like fruit loops, but didn't last for more than a few hours), I think I'm going to try the toothpaste next.

Tom's has a wonderful mission, donating 10& of their profits to charitable organizations, and encouraging their employees to donate 5% of their paid time to charitable organizations. As an added bonus, none of their products contain artificial preservatives or colors.

Don't worry; Tom isn't monogamous, so why not give him a try?

Monday, July 13, 2009

Bee Green, Honey!

Though I've never picked up the small-town colloquialism of calling people "Hon", I have begun to appreciate the taste of honey. As the only food product that will never go bad, it is on my list of favorite ingredients to eat with a spoon when I'm too lazy to go grocery shopping.



So, when my sister, of Photo Kitchen Photography, asked if I'd like to assist with a photo shoot for a local beekeeper earlier this week, I jumped at the opportunity.



It seems that the honey industry, like most others, has not been able to resist the urge to use chemicals in the hopes of producing more while spending less.

But Isaac, from Honeyrun Farm, has a few tricks up his sleeve to keep the chemicals at bay. Honeyrun Farms produces chemical-free honey by regularly splitting hives, forcing the creation of new queen bees and keeping the hives free of mite infestation.



Interested in finding out more? Check out their blog . Or better yet, visit them at the North Market, where they sell their tasty wares on Saturdays.

(As an interesting side note, local honey is thought to help tame seasonal allergies, much like an vaccine helps to build up your immunity to viruses. Though there is only anecdotal evidence for this, it never hurts to add a little bit of honey sweetness to your oatmeal or cereal in the morning!)

Saturday, June 27, 2009

No Butts About It...

Cigarette filters are litter, and I spent much of last week's Comfest battling the butt.

So, this is an easy tip: If you do smoke, simply snuff out the filter, make sure that you're not going to set a trash can on fire with it, and drop it off in the nearest receptacle.

If you know you'll be far from such amenities, carry a resealable plastic bag with you so that you can easily dispose of the waste once you're safely back at home. Your local wildlife will thank you.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Beg, Borrow (but Don't Steal) for Your Library

What's greener than a library? Not much!

Libraries provide the community with an easy, convenient and essential way of sharing resources, including books, movies, music, puzzles, computers and more! It's the ultimate option for reducing your consumption!

Check out what's available at your local library today. To find the library closest to you, simply enter your zip code at Find-a-Library.



Already a library convert? Show your support for Ohio public libraries now! A proposed 50% cut in funding could greatly reduce your library's ability to help you go green! Find out more at SaveOhioLibraries.com.