[From Nov. 24, 2011] Well ahead of the pack, Veseys takes first new seed catalog of the year. They’re a pretty marketing-oriented company, they get their stuff out early—this actually arrived a while ago, but I only got my hands on it now! Which is fine by me. I haven’t been this, well, EXCITED with that new-catalog feeling in a couple of years. That’s good. There is a lot of proper, well-ahead-of-time planning to do, expectations for 2012 run high! Whatever the weather!!

First seed catalog of the year!

Another in my series of possibly-not-so-appetizing photos of oh-so-delicious food. Local food. Ingredients either grown by me or gotten from those who did. I still find knowing where your food comes from endlessly satisfying, it doesn’t get old. Anyhow, without further ado, on to the one-pot, no-culinary-skills-required Beef and Eggplant Stew.

Here are the ingredients and the method, all in one. Tossed in whole a piece of tough-unless-slow-cooked grass-fed beef (this cut was medallion), added onions, carrots, garlic, a Yukon Gold potato cut up small so it would dissolve and thicken, plus well-water and a little imported salt and fresh-ground pepper. Simmered covered for quite a while, maybe two hours—on the wood stove would’ve been fun, and efficient, but it wasn’t lit—then added the secret ingredient: EGGPLANT. This was purely an experiment, a few baby eggplant had been in the fridge for a while and needed to move along, so why not? I cut ‘em up, skin and all, and in they went. Another fairly long simmer, covered, until the beef was shreddable with a fork, then it was, time to eat.

As you can see from the photo below, then above, the eggplant eventually vanished, but the added texture and subtle flavor I find impossible to adequately describe. It was good. If you try this with supermarket veggies, the taste might not be there, and you might not like eggplant with your beef, any which way. Well, this is not a recipe! For me, though, I have been convinced that eggplant was DESIGNED for simple beef stew! :)

 

Beef and eggplant stew!

Windows are a whole lot more than just something to look through. They bring in that endorphin-inducing natural light, those simple combinations of glass and wood act as portals to the outside world, and when pulled open, windows can filter refreshing breezes into a stuffy house.

Windows create the perfect semi-transparant separation between you and the outside world. You know you savor that delicious feeling on a dreary day of watching raindrops slide down a window's glass while you snuggle up all warm inside. They create an inviting, cozy home.

Keep those fuzzy feelings around all the time by incorporating (even more!) windows into your home’s décor. Check out these five extremely un-pane-ful ideas to window-ize your decorating.

\READ THE REST...

The newest version of a proposed Congressional spending bill will classify pizza and French fries served as part of school lunches as vegetables, reports the Associated Press.

East Coast natives have a fairly skewed perception of the Midwest, one that is filled almost entirely with tumbleweeds and acres of farmland. While the former may represent reality, it doesn’t always parallel the overall community-oriented impression of the Midwest. Most of that farmland is owned by corporations, not families, and their operations are anything but locally focused.

Chef Matt Molloy from the Beacon Hill Bistro on Boston’s historic Charles Street can speak from experience. We caught up with him to get his culinary insights. 

\READ THE REST...

Food focused author and journalist Michael Pollan is known for his simple approach to nutrition ("Eat Food. Mostly Plants. Not too Much.") in books including The Omnivore's Dilemma, Food Rules and In Defense of Food, but his pared down approach doesn't end there. In a new video released by the educational initiative campaign, Nourish, Pollan reflects on the value of voting with our dollars, and voting with votes, offering an appealing approach to making changes to America's Farm Bill through the political process.

Just five ingredients are all it takes to create this beautifully festive holiday dessert: Cranberry Pear Pie. (Technically, the pie crust is a sixth ingredient, but once you’ve mastered our Olive Oil Crust, you’ve got that in the bag). Prepared without a traditional lattice topping, this open-faced—and vegan—fruit pie dazzles a crowd with its stunning winter hues and shimmery glazed look. Enjoy with regular or non-dairy whipped cream, a sifter of brandy, and fine holiday company.

\READ THE REST...

The surge in bacon as a flavoring in everything from chocolates and soaps to ice cream and soda also brings a return in considering the many reasons to avoid it, from the excess fat and sodium content to the ethical issues in raising and slaughtering pigs. But there's another reason for caution found in the often-overlooked fine print on the label: Nitrites.

\READ THE REST...

How many times have you made a quick stop by the grocery store for a couple of simple items like milk and bread, only to wander out in a daze almost an hour later with an entire basketful of random items, junk food and 2-for-1 deals?

Perhaps you walked in with a mission and a list, only to be dazzled and delighted by the delicious smells in the bakery, shiny towers of fruits and vegetables, free samples of tasty dishes and the incredible deals – well, at least they looked like deals. But supermarkets are employing a wide variety of psychological tricks to encourage you to buy more than you need, which not even the most astute shopper can resist. 

\READ THE REST...

It’s the same story year after year. The holidays are approaching and visions of holiday stress are dancing in our heads. This was going to be the year we were going to keep it simple, keep it healthy, and spend more time with the ones we love.

Don’t distress...de-stress! Organic.org has done some of the footwork to help with that. In addition to our 2011 Top Picks for organic, sustainable, and unique holiday gifts, as well as 2011 unique recipes, we have put together a collection of links – handy resources for you to search for holiday recipes, entertaining ideas, and holiday gifts. Have a cup of chamomile tea, light a lavender candle, sit back, and enjoy.



Our top 5 picks for 2011 from some creative and artistic companies with unique products, and a commitment to sustainability and a healthy planet.

INSULATOR PENDANT LIGHT from HIPCYCLE. Upcycling at its finest! This ultra-cool hanging pendant light uses old glass insulators that, until the 1970s, were used with telegraph lines, telephone lines and electric power lines.

JUST SOAPS CERTIFIED ORGANIC SOAP, handcrafted by a one-of-a-kind bicycle-powered soap blender!

ORGANIC COTTON CLOTHING from UNITED BY BLUE. But there’s more! For every product purchased UBB removes 1 pound of trash from our world’s oceans and waterways. It’s a dual purpose gift.

RECYLED BABY/TODDLER CLOTHING from PLUM (called the Netflix for baby clothes!) Monthly subscription for re-used, boutique, organic clothing. Genius idea!

From ARTICLE 22, PEACE BOMB BRACELETS are made with repurposed Vietnam War scrap metal by Lao artisans. For every bracelet sold, three square meters of land is cleared of unexploded bombs– “saving lives and limbs in the process.”


Our collection of links to other unique, gift ideas

• Treehuggers 2011 Gift Guides provide unique ideas for a variety of interests from the animal lover to the foodie to the design junkie.
• Greentoys uses recycled milk jugs as the main ingredient in creating their toys.
• Etsy is an artisan site for truly unique, one-of-a-kind gifts.
• Uncommon Goods offers unique and unusual gifts; handmade, recycled, creatively designed.
• Local Harvest helps you search for CSAs in your area, by ZIP code. Provide the fresh, organic produce lover with a CSA membership.
• Earthlust creates beautiful stainless steel water bottles, no BPA, with several designs of limited-edition art.
  
  

SIMPLE, UNIQUE ENTERTAINING IDEAS AND RECIPES

Keep your holiday meals simple by focusing on one part of the meal. If a turkey is the end-all for your family, buy an organic turkey, brine it for tenderness (or buy it already brined) and roast it to perfection. The rest of the meal can be simple: oven-roasted potatoes with fresh rosemary, an organic field greens salad, and a simple dessert that can be made ahead of time.

One way to add a special touch, especially if you decide to have your holiday meal catered, is to spend time on beautiful garnishes. Frosted grapes around your turkey or whole cranberries with some fresh rosemary and sage make it look and feel homemade! Whatever you use for garnish can also be used for decoration–large vases full of cranberries, fruit, or herbs can add color and aroma. Figs are another beautiful garnish. Try putting a few cranberries onto a fresh rosemary spear and add to a vodka cranberry for a simple and festive holiday cocktail.

Our top picks for some unique holiday recipes are below, along with a collection of links for recipes, entertaining and decorating ideas. Remember to keep it SIMPLE. You can have a fabulous yet simple holiday, and in the process have less stress. And more time to spend with your family.



ITALIAN CHARD STUFFING This recipe, from Myrecipes.com and Sunset magazine is just the ticket for an easy holiday meal. If you are trying to cut down on the amount of dishes you make, this one will fill the bill for several categories–a stuffing with chard, Italian sausage, and lots of herbs is three dishes in one! Try it without the sausage if you have vegetarians on your guest list. And use organic ingredients when possible to make it extra tasty and healthy!

SLOW ROASTED PLUMS Watch this video that walks you through a quick and easy dessert recipe for sugar roasted plums.

SLOW COOKED BALSAMIC ROOT VEGETABLES Get out your slow cooker for this one. Saves room in the oven and produces a fabulous and unique vegetable dish. Make sure you buy organic vegetables for this dish!

SCALLOPED SWEET POTATO STACKS This may require a little more time, but your guests will be delighted by this scrumptious and unusual take on the sweet potato! Using organic dairy products in addition to sweet potatoes will produce an unforgettable taste.

STUFFED ROASTED HENS WITH PESTO OIL DRIZZLE Williams-Sonomas recipe brings you something different and delightful for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years...you name it!


Our collection of links for other recipes and entertaining ideas

• Tastespotting.com brings together a collection of unique and delicious recipes with beautiful photos.
  
• Eatingwell.com is a great resource for a wealth of healthy holiday recipes.
• Find classic, delectable gourmet recipes and holiday tips from Epicurious.com, a tried and true go-to site.
• To keep it real simple check out Real Simples holiday tips, gift suggestions, recipes, and more.
• The handy recipe finder at Readyseteat.com lets you look for a recipe based on your main ingredient and filter by “healthier recipes.” Provides prep time, total time, nutritionals, and—get this—you can enter your ZIP code and it will show you where the recipe ingredients are on sale in your area! Now that’s stress-free meal planning!
• Organic Valley has a handy searchable gourmet database, along with downloadable coupons! Includes lots of gluten-free recipes.

Happy stress-free holidays from Organic.org!