- 6 c. cooked white beans (such as cannellini)
- 1 large sweet onions
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
- zest and juice of 2 lemons
- 1/2 preserved lemon, interior only, chopped fine
- salt to taste
- 1 t. black pepper
- 1/4 c. packed sage leaves, cut into thin strips
- 1 T. minced rosemary leaves
- 1 jalapeno, minced
- 2 yellow bell peppers, diced small
- 1 handful flat leaf parsley, minced
- 1 handful chives, minced
- Cook the beans (or open a can), and drain thoroughly). Heat the beans to a very warm temperature so they absorb flavors.
- Slice the onions into thick circles and grill until fairly charred, then dice.
- Combine all of the ingredients thoroughly and check for seasoning.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. This will keep for a few days in the refrigerator and the flavor will continue to improve.
Buy everything you can buy organic, milk, veggies, fruits, etc. This includes any boxed, canned or frozen items you may purchase. Remember to go online and search for Organic coupons to help cut down on costs.
No one likes carcinogens, no matter how nice they smell! Use beeswax or soy candles. These are great alternatives to petroleum based candles.
Reuse glass jars by giving gifts in a jar. Gift ideas include homemade mixes, candies, cookies, pet treats, etc. But your gift doesn’t have to be food-related. Use a jar to hold anything you would normally place into a gift basket such as craft supplies, toys, first-aid supplies, beads, sewing or office-supplies kit, cosmetics, gumballs, bath salts, bath beads, manicure set, or anything else you can fit in a jar.
Go vegetarian – If you’ve been thinking about trying out a vegetarian diet, Thanksgiving is actually a great time to do it. You’ll be amazed at how many options there are – you won’t even miss the turkey. Livestock put a huge strain on the planet, and factory farms do abominable things to those poor little animals before they end up on your plate. Add more delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes and cut the meat! Check out vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes and meal ideas at VegWeb.com and The Veggie Table among many others!
Store paint cans upside down so the solvents--which separate and rise to the top--get trapped under the bottom of the can. Not only will paint last longer, but solvents won't be able to slowly seep out through the lid this way.
- 1 large bunch of fresh Swiss chard
- 1 small clove garlic, sliced
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp water
- Pinch of dried crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon butter
- Salt
1 Rinse out the Swiss chard leaves thoroughly. Remove the toughest third of the stalk, discard or save for another recipe. Roughly chop the leaves into inch-wide strips.
2 Heat a saucepan on a medium heat setting, add olive oil, a few small slices of garlic and the crushed red pepper. Saute for about a minute. Add the chopped Swiss chard leaves. Cover. Check after about 5 minutes. If it looks dry, add a couple tablespoons of water. Flip the leaves over in the pan, so that what was on the bottom, is now on the top. Cover again. Check to see if done after another 5 minutes. Add salt to taste, and a small amount of butter. Serve.
- 1 head cauliflower, stem trimmed and florets roughly chopped
- 1 cup vegetable stock or water
- 2 to 3 Tbsp of sour cream
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- Salt and pepper
1 Combine cauliflower and water or stock in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until cauliflower is very tender, about 10 minutes.
2 Transfer cauliflower to a blender using a slotted spoon. Add a few tablespoons of the cooking liquid and blend until smooth, about 15 to 20 seconds. Add sour cream and butter, and blend 5 to 10 seconds more. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.
Get some house plants next time you visit your local nursery. Here are some examples: palms, ferns, corn plant, dragon tree (dracaena), rubber plant, weeping fig (ficus), English ivy, peace lily, florist mum, gerber daisy, dumb cane (dieffenbachia), schefflera, orchid, spider plant, philodendron, arrowhead plant, pothos, dwarf banana and Chinese evergreen.
Why? Houseplants can help remove certain harmful volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from indoor air. Things nobody wants around their lungs, or their families.
In the late 1980s, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) conducted a study of 19 houseplants in an attempt to find ways to purify air for extended stays in orbiting space stations. The tests were conducted in sealed test chambers that contained pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene, commonly present in indoor air from paints, varnishes, insulation, particleboard, pressed wood, adhesives and other sources.
What they learned for outer space can be applied to your inner space as well. Many house plants are adapted to tropical climates and grow under dense canopies and low-light conditions. They have to be super efficient in capturing light as well as in processing the gases necessary for photosynthesis. Because of these traits, they have greater potential for capturing other gases, including harmful ones.
Carpool to reduce the number of cars on the road and your transportation expenses.
Check out zimride.com, goloco.org and nuride.com to find rides near you.
- 8 large potatoes, peeled, cut into large wedges (about 6-7 wedges per potato)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- olive oil to coat (approx. 1/4 cup -more if needed)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 lemon - juiced
- salt
- fresh coarse ground black pepper
- Preheat oven to 420°F
- Put all the ingredients into a greased baking pan large enough to hold them.
- The garlic will drop into the water/oil solution but its flavor will permeate the potatoes, and this way, it won't burn.
- Bake for 40 minutes. Stir.
- Add 1/2 cup more water if pan appears to be getting dry, and put back into oven to brown other side of potatoes.
- This will take about another 40 minutes.
- Do not be afraid of overcooking the potatoes- they will be delicious.
