It’s soup weather again. High protein, tasty lentils make an eco-friendly and satisfying meatless meal. Plenty of vegetables make this soup balanced. And lentils don’t take long to cook, so this can even work as a weeknight dinner. The lemon and spinach give this soup a bit of a Mediterranean flair. If you like, it’s nice garnished with a sprinkle of feta or other Greek cheese.

This recipe makes a pretty large batch of soup so you can take the leftovers to work the following day. If …

Tags: healthy , legume soups , low fat , organic foods , organic recipes , quick and easy cooking , recipes , vegan cooking , vegan recipes , vegetarian recipes , winter recipes

2 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Organic, textural and highly ornamental, cabbage is an ideal crop to plant in your garden during those fall and winter months when falling leaves can be the only color abundant in the garden.

Planting rows of the cabbage was a great solution for my own raised veggie bed (below), which is very challenging to maintain this time of year. I long for pumpkins but we never seem to get them going in time.

A garden designer friend suggested the purple, low-water use option of the Cruciferea family (from the same family as cauliflower, broccoli, …

Tags: Cabbage , decor , design , fall crops , gardening , growing , healthy , home , house , houseplants , organic , outdoor , plants , raised beds , seeds , slaws , soup , succulent , water , winter crops

Add Comment |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Arkansas Black, Honeycrisp, Gravenstein, Braeburn, Northern Spy, McIntosh, Gala, Empire, Winesap. It’s heaven for apple lovers this time of year.

The great thing about apples is that different varieties grow all over the country – from California to Kentucky. Mostly I just like to eat them, but they are great for desserts, too. Not up for baking a pie? Here’s an easy, healthful, baked apple dessert that’s special enough for company and perfect for Rosh Hashanah (next year anyway!):

Baked Apples Stuffed with Figs, Honey & Almonds

Serves 2

2 medium organic …

Tags: desserts , easy , fall desserts , healthy , low fat desserts

2 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Every time I go to the grocery store, I’m shocked to see how much the prices keep climbing. In a moment of penny-pinching madness, it’s tempting to live off 65-cent frozen burritos. That is, until you look at the nutrition information. So, I’ve done some research to find the healthiest foods that even the strictest recessionista budgets can afford – if you’ve got a dollar, you can get at least one serving (and often several) of the following foods.

Yogurt

Rich …

Tags: budget , cheap eco friendly groceries , cheap food , food , guide , healthy , saving money

6 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

When it comes to cooking, I like to start from scratch. And I mean from scratch. It’s really not so hard. Case in point: in a few simple steps, you can make your own flour, butter and mayonnaise minus the preservatives for a fraction of the cost you’d typically encounter at a grocery store.

Flour

Making flour is as simple as it gets. You know that container of rolled oats you always have on hand to make your morning serving of homemade oatmeal? Using a food processor, grind several cups down to …

Tags: diet , DIY , food , healthy , wellness

3 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

I’m not a parent”¦yet, but I am an aunt and at times I can still act like a kid, which is why I know the importance of snack time. No one in their right mind should ever consider messing with snack time.

A crucial part of any kid’s day, not to mention a necessary distraction so mom and dad can take a breath, snack time rules. I never outgrew my love for snacks and now there’s a fun, eco and safe way to share them with my niece and nephew….

Tags: Boon , food , healthy , parenting , safe , Snack Ball , storage

Add Comment |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Have you ever really thought about what chewing gum is made of? Maybe you don’t really want to know. Modern gum is mostly made up of petro-based polymers. Essentially, you’re chewing plastic. But the original chewing gum came from chicle, the latex of a tropical Central American tree. And the Consorcio Chicleros of south-eastern Mexico are taking chewing gum back to its original Mayan roots.

So gum-lovers, I’d like to present you with a better option: Chicza, an organic, biodegradable, agave-sweetened gum made completely from chicle tree …

Tags: biodegradable , compostable , forests , healthy , mexico , natural , organic , rainforest , rainforests , sustainable , tree

1 Comment |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

We’ve been talking about the health and environmental effects of our heavy reliance on soy in processed foods, in our diets, and for use in biofuels. But not all soy is bad. It has been enjoyed healthfully in moderation in Asian cuisines for a long time. Two weeks ago we provided a recipe for tofu lettuce wraps. Here’s another healthy take on soy – this time, miso.

Miso is a traditional soy product made by fermenting soybeans with a grain – usually rice or barley. It contains beneficial bacteria, making …

Tags: cheap , dressing , easy , fast , healthy , miso , organic , Recipe , salad , sesame

Add Comment |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark