The world’s most amazing necklace is here! Repeat, world’s most amazing necklace!

Coming to you straight from eco-catalog pioneer VivaTerra, this tiered necklace is made from vintage silk scraps covering wood beads.

Fully adjustable to wear long or short, this piece gives maybe too much interest to plain t-shirts and little black dresses. (Wait until you see how many people stop and ask you where you got it).

Comes in an on-trend for spring turquoise blue, or a rich raspberry.

Inspired by their dedication to living in harmony with nature now and for future generations, VivaTerra has sourced this show stopper in accordance with their desire to provide “the finest goods that uniquely fuse exceptional quality and design with eco sensitivities.”

This writer agrees that they’ve done just that.

Leave a comment below to win the necklace. (For complete giveaway info, go here. And for FTC compliance info, here.)

Pomegranate Guacamole
Ingredients

• 2 large ripe avocados
• 1/2 large onion, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 fresh chilies, serranos, seeded
• 2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves
• 1 freshly squeezed lime
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pomegranate juice
• 3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds

Finely chop the onion, garlic, chilies serranos, and coriander leaves. Place in bowl and add lime juiceand salt, set aside. Peel and pit the avocados and place in a bowl. Mash with fork slowly adding the tablespoon of pomegranate juice. Add onion and garlic mixture and fold together to make a course pulp. Gently fold in pomegranate seeds. Serve with warm tortillas, tostadas, or corn chips.

Spinach Pomegranate Salad
Ingredients

• 1 (10 ounce) bag baby spinach leaves, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 red onion, sliced very thin
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta
• 1/4 cup alfalfa sprouts (optional)
• 1 pomegranate, peeled and seeds separated
• 4 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette

Directions
Place spinach in a salad bowl. Top with red onion, walnuts, feta, and sprouts. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds over the top, and drizzle with vinaigrette.

Grilled Eggplant with Pomegranate Sauce
Ingredients

• 1 large eggplant
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup pomegranate syrup
• Salt
• Minced parsley
for garnish
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

Cut eggplant into 1/4 inch slices and place on paper towels. Sprinkle slices with salt, weight them down with heavy plates or a board for 30 minutes, then pat them dry with paper towels.

Lightly brush with olive oil and place eggplant slices on grill. Grill them for 3 minutes on each side, or until they are lightly browned on both sides. Remove from grill and arrange the eggplant overlapping on a serving dish.

In a mortar, crush garlic cloves with 2 teaspoons salt to a paste. In a non-metallic bowl, combine the garlic paste and pomegranate syrup. Spread a little of the mixture on each eggplant slice. Sprinkle the slices with minced parsley and pomegranate seeds for garnish and chill covered. Serves 6.

Cucumber and Pomegranate Salad
Ingredients

• 1/2 cup chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint or 1 tablespoon dried mint
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon angelica powder
• 1 long seedless cucumber, peeled and diced
• Seeds of 2 pomegranates
• 1 fresh lime, peeled and sliced, with inner skin removed

In serving bowl, combine ingredients and mix thoroughly. Season to taste with salt. Serves 6.

Pomegranate, Orange, Papaya, and Kiwi
Green Salad
Ingredients

• 1-1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1-1/2 quarts mixed greens
• 2 oranges, peeled and sliced
• 2 medium papayas, peeled and sliced
• 4 kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 1 medium pomegranate, seeded (about 3/4 cup)

To make dressing, combine vinegar and next three ingredients; whisk in oil. Toss greens with 2-1/2 tablespoons dressing; arrange on a serving platter. Alternate orange, papaya, and kiwi slices over greens. Drizzle with remaining dressing. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. Serves 6.

Image: lepiaf.geo

There’s no denying that the cannabis sativa plant has played a huge role in the music industry for decades, but this newest usage might be the most surprising: hemp speakers. And in the case of Tone Tubby, using hemp as one of the main materials isn’t just a gimmicky nod to the love affair between weed and rock n’ roll – it’s all about the sound.

Take apart a speaker and you’ll find that one of the most essential elements to sound quality is just a cone made out of paper. But what if that paper cone were to be made with a material that retained many of the same qualities, but was stronger and more durable? John Harrison, maker of Tone Tubby speakers, claims that hemp cones give music more tone and make it sound fuller and more polished.

Harrison isn’t the only one who hears a little something extra in these speakers: he counts music industry greats like Carlos Santana, Neil Young, Metallica and Tom Waits among his best customers.

But you hardly have to be an axe slinger to appreciate these babies. You can “hemp your ride” with Hemp Hop speakers, which bear the slogan “Nothing hits like hemp!”

Or, if you’re not keen on the implicit connection with illegal activities, perhaps you’d prefer the same line of speakers under the name “Green Thunder”, marketed toward adults rather than the teen-to-twenties set.

So how did Harrison even come up with the idea for Tone Tubby? “There might have been some hemp involved,” he joked to Wired.

Image: Tone Tubby

Midway through an episode of Italian cooking show La Prova del Cuoco, celebrity chef Beppe Bigazzi began waxing lyrical about the joys of a nice big bowl of casseroled cat. Describing the dish as “quite tender” he gave tips on preparation (soak in springwater for 3 days) before predicting “now we’ll get letters from nature lovers”.

No kidding. One white-hot telephone switchboard later, Bigazzi has been indefinitely suspended from the show (despite claiming it was all a prank), and Italy’s Deputy Health Minister is calling for a criminal investigation. Is Bigazzi suitably contrite? Well, not so much. “In the 1930s and 1940s, when I was a boy, people certainly did eat cat in the countryside around Arezzo,” he explains.

Fighting a churning stomach and a rising sense of outrage? Me, too – but there’s an interesting, and valid, question here. In the blossoming world culture of the 21st Century, where will food taboos fit in?

Take cats. Our horror at popping puss in a pot is because for us, cats have crossed that invisible cultural line between wild animals and domestic companions. They’re part of our lives in a way that lifts them out of our food chain. Consequently, while it’s often technically legal to consume cat meat, doing so breaches a number of animal cruelty laws and lands the chef in prison (the challenge facing Bigazzi right now). And that’s mild compared to the public reaction to stories like this.

It’s clearly, obviously wrong to eat cats, right? But a Hindu would say exactly the same thing about beef, as they regard the cow as a sacred animal. The Somali (recently famous for their piracy) don’t eat fish. Even staunchly meat-eating England, Australia and the U.S. have a mild taboo against eating offal. How about escargot, anyone? Wherever you look, we flinch at different things.

Across the world as a whole, “wrong” is anything but obvious. And this allows shock-jock TV chefs to go in search of dishes that will thrill their audiences with ratings-winning revulsion.

Sometimes food taboos make perfect sense, and sometimes they’re no-nos laced with hypocrisy. We’re inconsistent. That’s often the way we roll. But when the world needs feeding, should we be trying to put a lid on our indignation – or is it about time we turned up the heat on the culinary wrongdoers?

Image: avlxyz

]]> http://www.ecosalon.com/its-a-what-casserole/feed/ 2 http://www.ecosalon.com/eyelash-growth-treatments-can-work-but-are-they-safe/ http://www.ecosalon.com/eyelash-growth-treatments-can-work-but-are-they-safe/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:33:36 +0000 Susan Chaityn Lebovits http://www.ecosalon.com/?p=34835

Brooke Shields is probably better known these days for her new eyelashes than The Blue Lagoon, or her two-year marriage to tennis icon Andre Aggasi. While the average woman many not be able to have her high cheekbones, long, thick eyelashes seem to be available to almost anyone. Numerous brands, such as Latisse, Revitalash and Lumigan, are now on the market. But are they really safe?

Latisse is FDA-approved for growing lashes, Lumigan is FDA-approved for glaucoma but not cosmetic use and Revitalash is not FDA-approved. Latisse and Lumigan contain bimatoprost, a drug used to lower intraocular pressure, and used for patients who have glaucoma. When patients using the drug began to develop long, dark eyelashes, marketing took a turn to the cosmetic industry.

The Lumigan patient information sheet states that between 3 and 4 percent of users experience itching, irritation, or redness or darkening of the skin where used. It also states:

• LUMIGAN® ophthalmic solution has been reported to cause changes to pigmented tissues. These reports include increased pigmentation and growth of eyelashes and increased pigmentation of the iris and periorbital tissue (eyelid). These changes may be permanent.
• LUMIGAN® may gradually change eye color, increasing the amount of brown pigment by increasing the number of melanosomes (pigment granules) in melanocytes. The long-term effects on the melanocytes and the consequences of potential injury to the melanocytes and/or deposition ol pigment granules to other areas of the eye are currently unknown.

Well that’s comforting. In addition, hair growth can occur in unwanted areas.

Dr. Shawn Allen, a Boulder, Colorado Dermatologist, commented that “…because it was designed to lower the pressure in the eye, certain patients may experience complications so it is important that you use the medication as directed.”

On the other hand, many people have been very happy with the results of products such as Latisse and have had no complications or complaints. Brooke Shields will even show you in her time-lapsed infomercial.

In this world of breast, chin, cheek, and tush implants, a little brush across your eyelashes seems pretty benign. But is it?

Image: Laenulfean

Google Maps released a feature that gives turn-by-turn biking directions in 150 American cities this week, as it has previously for driving, public transportation and walking routes.

According to the company’s own blog, bike directions were the most requested feature by Google Maps users. Pro-bicyclist, and environmentalist groups like Austin’s GoogleMapsBikeThere.org had created petitions and lobbied Google to develop this tool as early as 2007. Their petition scored more than 51,000 signatures.

Others, like RideTheCity in New York, worked to develop their own bike route mapping tools online, with specific, insider knowledge of each metro area.

The new Google feature delivers information about bike trails that have no motor vehicles, and the streets and routes recommended for cyclists, avoiding motor vehicle traffic, and steep hills. So far, the green and bike loving blogosphere has reacted with mixed reviews, deeming Google Maps for Bikes a good start, but not quite there yet.

We hope that Google’s Bike Maps feature will encourage car commuters to go green and get fit. Biking where you might have driven before can prevent tons of carbon emissions each year, while burning hundreds of calories an hour.

Basic Reading:

“Motor vehicle emissions represent 31 percent of total carbon dioxide, 81 percent of carbon monoxide, and 49 percent of nitrogen oxides released in the U.S. A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.” – Top environmental reasons to bike not drive from BikeLeague.org

“Google worked with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, which advocates for the creation of biking and walking paths throughout the United States, to gather trail-map data. ‘The demand for trail maps and information has never been higher, especially as more people recognize biking as a viable, inexpensive and healthy alternative to driving,’ Rails-to-Trails President Keith Laughlin said in a statement.” – A news item ‘Google Maps Your Way to the Bicycle Path,’ via Silicon Valley Mercury News

“Avid bicyclists, who have long demanded they be treated as equals on the city’s streets, suddenly felt the pain of every driver who has taken a wrong turn after getting glitchy Google Maps directions… Some [cyclists] said the site wanted them to backpedal away from official city bike routes, often adding 10 or 15 minutes to their usual commutes. One regular rider said Google was trying to kill her – directing her to get on Interstate 5.” – A mixed review for Google’s Bike Maps feature by Portland, Oregon cyclists via Oregon Live

“My guess: Google’s bike maps feature will be mostly neglected until they are vastly improved. One suggestion, Google needs a better system to accept crowdsourced input. If cyclists get behind the project, however, Google’s bike maps could become really helpful.” A tough review of Google Bike Maps, by David Coursey for PC World

Further Resources:

“I burn about 66 carolies per mile on my bicycle. My car emits .932 pounds of CO2 per mile…” – A by-the-numbers post at CarFree blog

Wired’s Autopia blog seeks readers’ opinion for a “crowdsourced” review of Google Maps new bike feature

A post by Jason St. Amand about the most affordable and best bikes via WalletPop

The website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which tracks safety issues around driving, mostly, with some cycling and walking studies too

This is the latest installment of EcoMeme, a column featuring eco news, tech and business highlights by columnist Lora Kolodny.

Image: Pixel Addict

From the hardworking white button down shirt in the closet to a few spare potatoes in the pantry, some things that aren’t necessarily “green” are the greenest of all simply by virtue of how versatile, useful and long-lasting they are. We’ve compiled a list of must-have multitasking basics – from clothes to foods to tools – that get amazing mileage.

VERSATILE FASHION

1. The Little Black Dress

The little eco black dress is the updated version of the ultimate wardrobe staple and statement that is always in style. Opt for a little stretchy (give or take five pounds) with understated lines (your energy should be the wow factor) and the dress you slip on year-round can be dressed up or down with the right accessories. No wonder Audrey’s number from Breakfast at Tiffany fetched more than a million at auction!

2. A Pair of Distressed Jeans

“I would just wear it with a pair of jeans!” salespeople like to say. Denim does double duty from a basic under a cover-that-paunch tunic, tank top or biker jacket to nighttime gallery hopping with a sleek blazer. Distressed can be $200 of intentionally torn or the most broken-in pair in the closet. Slightly skinny or very minimal flair will be the longest lasting pair.

3. White Button Down Shirt

An organic cotton or hemp basic button down for day or night can take you to a business meeting or formal dinner, depending on the other layers you choose (classic navy or black jacket, Michelle Obama cardigan, recycled fur vest). Of course, his big shirt is great to throw on for eating Chinese in bed. Soy sauce stain? No worries. (See natural toothpaste, below).

VERSATILE CLEANING

1. Toothpaste

For a toxin-free smile you brush with an eco alternative, but you also can use toothpaste for a myriad of other minty tasks, like scrubbing the rubber clean on your sneakers, cleaning your keys, brightening jewelry, removing watermarks from furniture and stains from clothing, nixing zits and cleaning your silver.

2. Baby Shampoo

Not just for washing sensitive little heads of hair without dyes and surfactants, organic baby shampoo is great for bathing pets and for hand washing dedicates, such as lingerie or that favorite hand knit sweater.

VERSATILE GRUB

1. Brown Rice

Brown is the new white when it comes to starches. Brown rice is a high fiber, healthy side dish for steamed veggies, an ideal grain for homemade soups, a main dish as a curry, a favorite low impact choice for a detox cleanse, a winner for puddings and a healthy carb for that veggie risotto.

2. A Dozen Lemons

Lemon has the peel, the zeal, the juice and the vits. No wonder it is such a versatile squeeze, from that glass of hot water and juice to cleanse upon waking to the favorite back porch summer tonic. It replaces mayo in salads, enhances protein and offers a natural diuretic boost to water. Lemon brightens cocktails, adds flavor to sauces and is a must in many baked goods. Lemon can also be used for many cleaning tasks. Buy ones that are firm and smooth with no green spots. Stored in the fridge, they can last two to three weeks (room temperature, up to two weeks). Lemon juice can be frozen for six months.

VERSATILE TOOLS

1. A Roll of Painter’s Tape

Painters like this masking tape because it sticks temporarily without damaging surfaces. This also makes it is so useful around the house from hanging memos or light art on your painted walls to sealing those boxes of granola (a clothes pin can also do in a pinch). Tear off a strip to remove lint from your black tee or brown cotton quilt. I have a roll that is used constantly until the very last half inch of tape.

2. A Black Sharpie Pen

Write notes, label everything from clothing to reusable lunch containers and backpacks. Do some art while you are watching Project Runway. Address that folder or box before shipping. Those who want to make their mark boldly are simply lost without it.

VERSATILE STORAGE

1. Accordion Folder

There’s a reason teachers highly recommend these expanding cardboard file folders with sections: They are so great for keeping order, and can be reused for various projects (event planning, recipes, bill filing). They are thin enough to fit into a backpack or satchel and are pretty indestructible. Let’s face it, we haven’t abolished paper just yet, so until we can live without filing, this style is more versatile than most.

2. Armoires

Craigslist usually has mega lists of this venerable classic. The armoire looks good and holds everything, from electronics to clothing, books and photographs. They can travel from room to room, be stripped and repainted and passed down to the next generation of people in need of extra storage.

3. Moleskin notebook

Classics never go out of style, and the strong yet slim and comfortable moleskin works for everything from notes to sketches to to do lists and beyond.

VERSATILE TRAVEL GEAR

1. An Indian Tunic

Tory Burch swears by them because they are so chic and versatile for throwing over leggings or jeans, using as a bathing suit cover up or nightgown, and hanging on an armoire knob to give your room a touch of BoHo flair. Longer lengths (just above the knee) are the best and embroidery is a huge plus.

2. A Fleece Jacket

Day or night, arctic or tropical, day hike or beach stroll; the fleece jacket makes a good basic for covering up. Who needs a robe when you can throw on your fleece? Some of us literally live in our fleece zip-ons, because they’re so inviting. Reversible styles with wind breaking fabrics on one side are a great way to go, as well, for lightweight warmth. Many fleeces are now made from recycled materials, so check the label.

3. A Train Case

We all remember the vintage Samsonite, which you can still find used at eBay or new for under $100 at other sites. Even Etsy has them upcycled with cool decals from its GetReadySetGo section, as shown above. This small hard-case traveler has made a big comeback because you can carry it on board for precious non cosmetic items (jewelry, small electronics) to check it through with all your toiletries, make-up, hair care, etc. Most have a mirror that can be used and an upper tray that can be removed and used in a hotel drawer or on a counter, or even as a stand for those champagne glasses while bathing.

4. A Soft Duffel Bag

Bring an extra on every trip for packing for home (dirty laundry, gifts generously purchased for friends and family, traveling materials such as maps and journals). They can be handy for day trips or for lugging to the ski mountain or gym for extra gear after showering or hitting the slopes. Great when for train travel or easy-to-get-to items from the main suitcase.

5. A Good Pillow

I never leave home without my own healthy pillow. Why versatile? In the suitcase it can protect breakables, or as a carry on can aid your REM sleep. Most hotels do not invest in good pure pillows and using one of those feedbag cheap pillows can really interrupt a proper night’s sleep. When packing up, use the pillowcase for dirty laundry or excess cargo. These are a must on car trips, too for passenger comfort. A good, organic pillow will last you years, so it’s worth spending the money.

VERSATILE JEWELRY

1. Strand of Pearls

Julia Child, Michelle Obama and Carrie Bradshaw prove classic strands go with just about everything from the classic shifts to Oxford blouses. They evoke Chanel and bridge club preppy as well as clean and modern when chunky and paired with punk pieces. If you have to have one investment, string these along.

2. Small Hoop Earrings

The one style that literally works with almost anything in your wardrobe: Biker jacket and jeans to A-line skirt and platforms. Shoot for hoops in silver or gold or just about any finish.

Images: DeaPeaJay, Vincent Boiteau, CoCreatr, Jason Gulledge, pnoeric, Etsy, Little Eyes

This train is bound for a greener planet. The brainchild of Bob Wolf of We Are the World Radio Simulcast fame, the Green Train will depart from Portland in April and pass through various parts of the country during a six-week whistle stop tour featuring musicians, actors, writers and artists. The final stop is Washington D.C. where it will spread the message: Drop your political and religious differences and “dig in” by volunteering for Mother Earth.

“The Green Train is an old fashioned way to deliver a new and simple message,” says Wolf, who personally phoned radio stations and TV networks across the globe to ask that they play We Are the World. “This will be a world’s fair themed train carrying exhibits and simple solutions to living green in a modern world.”

The train’s 20-plus cars and two flatbed acoustical stages will make its way across the map powered by biodiesel and solar energy during the 28-state tour through the West Coast, the Midwest and South before winding up in the East. A European trek is planned for 2011.

We re told all the names of performers will be released soon, but we already know Merle Haggard is on board.

Can they make green inroads by taking their art on the road? Organizers banding the talent together argue if only two percent of the population of the world got involved, there would be more than 130 million simultaneous positive acts and environmental projects for improving our world. This would show our children how people can have a positive impact on the planet.

“It’s not rocket science, just re-educating ourselves and finally realizing there is a major problem and it’s time to fix it,” they say.

Want to get on board by hopping on the train and riding or helping behind the scenes? Go to the site and learn more about the mission.

Images: Green Train Global

I have a theory that the more often one cooks, the easier it is for one to cook more often. I know from experience that this is true for me. Back when I worked at night in the restaurant business, I loved to cook at home on my nights off. Being a busy student and worker, my refrigerator was always bare so I’d pore over cookbooks, decide what to make, then head to the store (or stores) for the ingredients. Every time I cooked, I’d have to start from scratch with just the right spices, herbs, grains, cheeses, etc. Then I’d spend the entire afternoon cooking…and about 20 minutes eating. I enjoyed it, but this was no way to actually feed myself on a regular basis.

Now I have a different approach to cooking. I cook more seasonally, inspired by the market, rather than a cookbook, and I cook regularly. This means I always have food to eat or the remnants of a meal on which I can build a new meal. It’s so much more pleasurable to be able to feed myself (and sometimes unexpected guests) with healthy whole foods without any fuss.

Many of us end up in front of the prepared foods counter at the grocery store more often than we’d like, but we also know that if we only cooked more we’d save money, we’d know exactly what’s in our food, and we’d probably consume fewer unhealthy calories and more healthier ones. The challenge is fitting cooking into our busy modern lives, but it’s a worthy challenge. When I can feed myself, even on the busiest of days, I feel a sense of triumph in the midst of the chaos that sometimes overtakes my life.

A few weeks ago, we talked about how to actually shop the farmers’ market. Since we can’t live on fresh vegetables alone, today we’re going to talk Pantry, Paraphernalia, and Planning. You’ll see how a wide variety of foods on hand, the proper kitchen tools, and a little advance thought can turn your kitchen into the most important room in your home.

Pantry Basics

Your personal pantry will depend on taste, dietary needs and cooking habits, but here’s a good start for developing a pantry full of real food.

Basic Oils:

1 refined oil for high heat cooking like stir-frying: peanut, avocado, or safflower are good choices
1 good quality extra virgin olive oil
1 unrefined oil for general use in dressings and low heat cooking: safflower or sunflower are good choices

Optional:
1 nut oil for special salads: walnut or hazelnut oils are good options (must be refrigerated after opening as they go rancid quickly)
Toasted sesame oil for cooking with Asian flavors

Basic Vinegars:
Good red wine vinegar
Cider vinegar
Rice wine vinegar

Condiments:
Dijon mustard
Soy sauce
Fish sauce
Ketchup
Chili paste

Spices:
One gourmet salt
Everyday salt for cooking, like kosher or iodized sea salt
Whole and ground cumin
Whole black pepper
Oregano
Thyme
Rosemary
Cayenne
Pepper flakes
Cinnamon
Bay leaves

Canned Goods:
Canned wild salmon, sardines, herring, and anchovies
Canned beans and chickpeas
Canned whole and diced tomatoes
Coconut milk
Chicken or vegetable broth

Dry Goods:
3 types of pasta: one regular, one buckwheat or whole wheat, one rice noodle
Cornmeal
All-purpose unbleached flour
Whole-wheat flour
Lentils
2 types of dried beans – one white and one black or brown
Oats
One white long-grain rice
One brown rice
One interesting rice, like red or black
1 to 2 types of quick cooking grains like quinoa
1 to 2 types of longer cooking grains like wheat berries, faro, kamut
Dried mushrooms
Dried chilies
Sea vegetables
Nut butters
Honey
Maple syrup
Agave and/or sugar

Refrigerator Pantry:
Capers
Anchovies
Eggs
Tortillas
Butter
Basic cheeses: one feta, one hard grating, and one everyday like cheddar or Jack
Plain yogurt
Pickles
Sauerkraut

Freezer Pantry:
Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds
Frozen berries and stone fruit for smoothies and healthy desserts
Sliced bread

Other:
Lemons
Garlic
Onions
Shallots
Potatoes

Paraphernalia

The right tools can mean the difference between fun and frustration. Here are a few basic things that every cook needs. Feel free to embellish.

Utensils:
Good quality chef knife that is kept sharpened
Paring knife
Sharp serrated knife for use on bread and tomatoes
Tongs: restaurant quality, locking tongs; 1 long; 1 medium
Sturdy whisk: 1 small; 1 medium
Metal spatula
Rubber spatulas: 2 or 3 different sizes
Vegetable peeler
Wooden spoons: several in different sizes
Large metal spoon
Slotted spoon
Ladles: 1 large; 1 small
Potato Masher
Microplane for grating hard cheeses and lemon zest

Tools:
Strainer
Colander
Small hand juicer
Mortar and pestle for spices and garlic paste
Measuring spoons and cups
Box grater
Salad spinner
Nesting mixing bowls: metal or glass
Cutting boards: 1 for meat and seafood, one for vegetables and aromatics like garlic, and one for fruit
Blender or food processor
Hand-held mixer

Cookware:
1 small saucepan
1 medium saucepan
Large pot for boiling pasta and making soup
1 10-inch cast-iron skillet – great for non-stick uses as well!
Steamer or vegetable steamer basket
Baking sheets (at least 2)
A selection of glass or ceramic baking dishes: casseroles of different sizes and pie plates

A Crockpot or slow cooker will make cooking ahead easier.

Planning

Spend a few hours cooking on the weekend, add simply cooked fresh vegetables you’ve purchased at the farmers’ market, or received in your CSA, and feed yourself all week.

Depending on the size of your household, make:
One big pot of stew, soup, or pot of beans – use a crockpot if you want
One batch of grains – rice cookers are great for this task
A batch of roasted vegetables
A quick, basic vinaigrette
Meat eaters can roast or simmer a whole chicken or pop a meat roast in the oven.
Time allowing: another project like jam, pickles, salsa, or a pesto, red pepper puree, or other condiment.

All of the foods above lend themselves well to repurposing and quick meals. This is a good way to cook ahead for families who don’t enjoy eating leftovers. One pot of beans can become tacos, enchiladas, salads, soups, pasta dishes, dips, sandwich spreads, and more. A batch of cooked grains like brown rice or wheat berries can be used throughout the week in one-dish grain bowl meals with seasonal cooked greens, roasted squash or sweet potatoes. Cooked grains can also be added to salads or soups or used in stir-fries.

If you’ve cooked meat, use the meat in tacos, salads, sandwiches, pasta and grain dishes throughout the week. It really is all about cooking main meal components ahead of time.

Casserole type foods like lasagna take a bit longer to prepare but can also be frozen in portions or eaten all week with an array of quickly prepared, seasonal, vegetable accompaniments.

So there you have it: Want to cook more and eat out less? Just cook. These are just some ways to get started. You will surely develop your own repertoire over time.

This is the latest installment in Vanessa Barrington’s weekly column, The Green Plate, on the environmental, social and political issues related to what and how we eat.

Images: Valentin.Ottone, ernestch, Jeppestown, ernestch

Chasing every trend that comes along is hardly an eco pursuit, which is why we prefer the idea of scooping up reinvented and reinterpreted classics that will freshen your look while keeping you in the green. These pieces will stand the test of time and provide a little eco retail therapy, too.

Here are my 10 personal picks for a fashionably sustainable spring:

Frei’s Breakaway Blazer

Is this the best spring suit ever? Versatile with a crisp clean top or a rockin’ graphic t-shirt, this blazer – with its pin-striped lining – is equestrian gone bad ass.
(For spring, just about anything by Frei is amazing.)

Olsen Haus

Blonde cork mixed with any color faux suede you want? Says sexy in an “in your face” eco way.

D.S. & Durga Grapefruit Perfume

I’ve written about this line before and can’t say enough about it. Grapefruit with Jamaican Pirate Seeds should be your go-to scent for day and night. Yum.

Popomomo graphic tee

It’s always great to have a fun t-shirt as part of your wardrobe, and this one from Popomomo is one of my new favorites with the geometric paint graphic.

Nixxi Wrap dress

Wrap dresses look good on everyone, they say, and I’m here to tell you, it’s true. This ruffled number by Nixxi is perfect, hitting just above the knee. It comes in other colors, too, including a rich plum. A year-round dress.

She Bible necklace

Architecturally satisfying and just downright fun to wear, this crocheted bib necklace by She Bible is the designer’s first attempt at making jewelry. Not too shabby, and definitely chic. Looks great laying on top of a simple t-shirt or with a dress that hangs low around the décolletage.

Doucette Duvall’s Lauren Dress

I’m a huge fan of Doucette Duvall and recently met with them in their NYC studio. The Lauren is made from rescued material and comes in a bevvy of solid colors as well as color blocks. I just bought one in a dusty rose and it’s magnificent. (The skirt is very similar minus the strapless top.)

Taxi CDC Trench

Do you have one? You probably should, and this one is the perfect trench – and made from recycled fabrics.

Prairie Underground Denim Street Girdle

I love these so much, not only for the fact that they’re jeggings (jeans and leggings) but that they go high enough to keep your belly (if you have a little one) in. Can be worn covered or featuring the hot gold zipper. Very flattering in black.

Rebe

What’s spring without at least one light piece that can transition into summer? Love this one by Rebe with its beautiful shade of blue and sweet solid top. This dress can also be bought floor length.