Easy Fresh Pumpkin Orange Marmalade Recipe
Marmelade à la citrouille et à l’orange. Here’s a lovely recipe for a fresh pumpkin jam that’s earthy, bright and versatile. The flavor and color will win you over. So will the simplicity.
Sustainable, Local, Humane Food
From Kitchen
A Gourmet Vegetarian Holiday with Deborah Madison
Whatever you may have thought about vegetarian holiday fare, today, top chefs are creating delicious, festive and satisfying vegetarian holiday menus that may leave you wondering if turkey has been long overrated.
How to Make Homemade Eggnog: Recipe from Beets ‘n Bones
Here’s an easy recipe to make home made eggnog from scratch and avoid all the chemicals and weird ingredients in store bought eggnog.
Waste-Free Kitchen Holiday Tips
With the appropriate planning, you can save money this holiday season without throwing your food ethics out the window. Forget canned green beans, factory farmed turkey and pre-packaged stuffing. This year, serve your family a healthy, delicious holiday feast and avoid food waste. The winter holidays are all about abundance—being surrounded by friends and family,…
Holiday Leftovers: Vegan Cranberry Quickbread
Like many of us, Jenn Sebestyen, author of the Veggie Inspired Blog, found herself with plenty of holiday leftovers. So what do you do with your gorgeous home made cranberry sauce? How about transforming it into a treat you can enjoy for breakfast, with tea or as dessert. Jenn shares this whole food, vegan recipe…
How To Plan An Eco Friendly Holiday Feast
Our top six tips for a healthy, sustainable and locally sourced holiday dinner. Save money, avoid waste and enjoy a wholesome, humane feast.
Favorite Holiday Dinner Party Vegan and Vegetarian Cookbooks
Recipes for a gorgeous and festive holiday dinner party While there are many cookbooks out there that inspire you to cook healthy, simple every day vegan and vegetarian meals to get you through your workweek, here are some cookbooks that will help you plan and execute a holiday feast or festive dinner party. Even if you…
Traditional Pumpkin Bread Recipe
How to make classic pumpkin bread, and an adjusted recipe that you can give as a pantry gift. I’ve noticed a trend in bakery pumpkin bread. It seems to be getting sweeter, with more fat added, resembling a ginger cake more than a traditional pumpkin quick bread. Here is a recipe for classic pumpkin bread…
Vegan Vietnamese Cuisine
The light, fresh flavors of traditional Vietnamese cuisine make a perfect base for exciting vegan cooking. Van, a Vietnamese vegan cook shares her passion for simple, healthy and delicious food.
Red Thai Curry Recipe
Why order takeout when it’s so easy to cook at home? Try this easy Thai curry recipe at home for a simple, healthy and knockout delicious weeknight dinner.
Plastic Free Kitchen: Non Plastic Zip Bag Alternatives for Food Storage
Are silicone food storage bags a good plastic free alternative to zip lock style plastic bags? Read the pros and cons of switching to silicone.
Soy Anise Braised Oxtail With Preserved Plum
Here’s an easy and delicious recipe for braised oxtail, an often overlooked cut in the US. This recipe can also be made with bone in short ribs, but I hope you’ll take this opportunity to experience how tender and flavorful oxtail can be. Ingredients Oxtails (pasture raised and 100% grassfed beef); here I’m using almost…
Modern Organic Diwali Foods: Healthy & Sustainable 2020
This year on October 27, firecrackers will sound throughout the streets of India, as well as many other countries around the world, in celebration of Diwali—the festival of lights. But as modern lifestyles focus on health and sustainability, the traditional festival foods are changing as well.
Braised Goat Shoulder Recipe With Cinnamon and Blood Orange
Wondering how to cook goat? Here’s a braised goat recipe for a shoulder chop, or any cut suitable for braising. It’s a lovely meat that tastes much like beef, yet raising goats can take fewer resources than raising cattle.
Cardamom Scented Grassfed Lamb Stew With Prunes Recipe
What do you think of prunes? This amazing pairing of lamb and prunes is guaranteed to give you a new perspective on this humble ingredient. Many people in the US aren’t familiar with prunes as a gourmet ingredient. Prunes are something old people eat to stay regular, right? We can take a cue from the…
Indonesian Jamu: a Simple Recipe to Make Your Own Healing Turmeric Juice
Jamu is a traditional Indonesian tonic taken as medicine for all kinds of ailments. Make your own refreshing turmeric Jamu to rev up your digestion and immunity this Spring. Jamu has a history that goes back hundreds of years in Indonesia. There are many different recipes for various medical issues, and these recipes were handed…
Chicken Ginger Broth for Spring Colds
Many people come down with colds, flu and sinus infections when the seasons change. Here is a recipe for Chinese ginger chicken broth that, with a little bed rest, will have you feeling better in no time. Ingredients One organically raised, ethically sourced whole chicken (giblets removed). For guidelines on buying healthy, humane chicken, check…
Rose Petal And Indian Curry Heritage Breed Turkey Breast
Heritage breed turkeys taste richer, but can dry out when cooked. Here is an easy and delicious marinade that delivers a flavorful, moist turkey breast without a lot of fuss. I am excited to see BN Ranch heritage breed turkey at the market, a real seasonal treat. The BN stands for Bill Niman (of Niman…
How to Make Yogurt From Fresh Whole Raw Coconuts
Thick, creamy homemade coconut yogurt made from coconut flesh—without the fillers and thickeners found in store bought coconut yogurt. If you do this entirely from scratch, it takes time and labor. In my opinion, the result is unquestionably worth it. There are also some shortcuts that will let you make this yogurt quickly. Many people…
Green Clean: Kitchen Products Review
Eco-friendly kitchen cleaning products Full Circle Neat Nut Walnut Scour Pads Who knew that walnut shells could be so useful? These scour pads are tough enough to handle pots and pans without scratching. Sponges and scouring pads made from plant material take less energy to produce These pads are made from walnut shells, so they…
Raw Coconut Mango Smoothie
This smoothie tastes a bit like a mango lassie. It’s made with raw, whole food and includes no additional sweeteners, no dairy, nuts or soy. Sustainable Food | Clean Eating | Raw Whole Food Smoothie To make this raw food smoothie, you’ll need to get your hands on some raw young coconut meat. You can…
South Indian Lime Rice
This South Indian rice dish is easy to make and, besides being delicious, also has the added benefit of turmeric, a powerful anti-inflamatory. Ingredients 2 cups long grain rice, such as Basmati a few curry leaves 1/4 tsp turmeric powder 1/4 tsp asafoedita (hing) 1/4 tsp whole mustard seed 1/2 cup chana dal 1 tsp…
Drink Tulsi Tea and Ward Off the Flu
Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, is a remarkably delicious way to ease stress and boost your immune system this flu season. Many of you are familiar with the health benefits of echinacea and goldenseal, especially their ability to strengthen the immune system and ward off the flu. But if you’ve ever drunk them in…
How to Make High Quality Chicken Stock
A chicken stock recipe for serious eaters and serious cooks. Rich in flavor and high in nutrition, this stock will make everything you cook unmistakably better. This is the indispensable ingredient in so much good cooking. You’ll be amazed at how a truly well made stock will elevate all it touches, from rissotto to soup, braises…
Avoid Salmonella Contamination in the Kitchen
Some people mistakenly believe that buying organic or sustainably raised chicken or poultry means they don’t have to worry about Salmonella. Following proper kitchen protocol when handling poultry can help you reduce the risk of food poisoning. Every year, a million people in the US are sickened by Salmonella. Nineteen thousand of them end up…
Braised Escarole With Bacon and Mustard Recipe
This warm, easy and satisfying dish is perfect as lunch or a light dinner, or as a side dish. Braised escarole with bacon and mustard There are so many leafy greens to eat, and so little time! Don’t get stuck eating the same rounds of spinach, chard and kale. Perhaps you’ve never eaten escarole, or…
Cooking From Scratch: Cilantro Lime Sauce
A blender is a quick cook’s best friend and sauces can be made in a snap. Sometimes you just need a sprig or two of a herb, such as cilantro, and yet you have to buy it in a huge bunch. That’s one reason I grow nearly all my own kitchen herbs, but last…
Green Jamu Recipe: Healing Indonesian Turmeric Juice
The health benefits of turmeric juice are many, it really is a superfood, even if it looks like an orange mummy finger. If you’ve not tried it already, here is another jamu recipe that will also give you a solid helping of greens. Feel free to substitute other greens or herbs. It’s been unseasonably hot…
Roast a Whole Cauliflower
A delicious vegetable side dish that takes nearly zero prep time. Just throw it in whole. Here’s how: Buy an organic cauliflower, or better yet, grow one. Preheat your oven to 325 F Rinse, drain and pat dry your whole cauliflower. place head up on a baking sheet (with sides…if it’s a totally flat cookie…
How To Eat Citrus: Roasting Slices
Next time you’re roasting veg or meat in your oven, throw in a sliced lemon or two. You’ll be amazed at what heat and some good quality olive oil will produce. One way to enjoy citrus fruits is to roast them in olive oil, sprinkled with good sea salt. You can slice them very thinly,…
Amazing Pecan Banana Bread Recipe
Even though this recipe only uses a half stick of butter, the banana bread smells and tastes amazingly buttery. Chunks of high quality dark chocolate and whole pecan halves make this an indulgent treat with afternoon tea. This banana bread has a wonderful, tender texture and is not overly sweet. It’s better the day after…
Easy Pot Au Feu
Cooking Notes Start with cold water. Put all your ingredients in a pot, fill with cold water and then bring to a boil. Don’t boil the water first. I’m not a big fan of long-cooked vegetables. They make a tasty broth, but eating them? Nah. I throw out the veg once the pot au feu…
Non-toxic Kitchen: Lemon Vinegar Cleaner
Make this easy, natural, non-toxic multi-purpose kitchen cleaner with lemon peels and white vinegar. Sustainable Food | Reuse and Compost | Non Toxic Kitchen Keep a glass jar filled with white vinegar in your kitchen cupboard or on the counter, and throw your lemon peels in it. Make sure to keep the lid on tightly. …
Sous Vide Lamb Shoulder Chop
How to cook lamb chops sous vide without a sous vide cooker. You want a thick lamb shoulder chop that’s perfectly tender and medium rare all the way through, but you don’t have a sous vide cooker or any special equipment? I’ve found an easy way to cook sous vide on the stovetop with a…
The Best Grass-fed Lamb Burger Recipe
This easy to make spiced lamb burger recipe can be enjoyed in pita, on sesame buns or converted into small meat balls for small plate appetizers.
Non-Toxic Kitchen Remodel
by Dane O’Leary Whether due to personal health reasons or to be more conscious of our effects on the environment, some of us worry about the toxicity of health and beauty products, pesticides and preservatives in food and produce, and the leaching of chemicals. Buying organic has extended to most areas of our lives, so…
Death By Ratatouille: Are You Allergic To Nightshades?
Nightshade vegetables may be secretly making you sick Okay, Death may be a bit extreme here, but you would be surprised how many people have a sensitivity to common nightshade vegetables. You’ve heard of the Deadly Nightshade. Hikers and foragers learn to avoid the tasty looking, yet poisonous, berries on this wild growing plant. But…
What to Eat After Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
My housemate recently had one of his wisdom teeth removed. It wasn’t impacted, so the surgery was fast and clean. He needed to have soft, healing foods for the first two days. Here are some suggestions on what to eat after getting your wisdom teeth removed. Pumpkin potato soup Ingredients One small roasted pumpkin…
Crepes Make an Easy Fast Meal
Many people think of crepes as being French, but cultures all over the world enjoy their own style of crepes. Here are some crepe recipes to spark your imagination. Crepe recipes Classic Crepes Suzette Delicate Lacey Crepes Basic Crepe Recipe Chinese Jian Bing (with duck eggs) Chinese Scallion Crepes Vegan Everyday Veggie Crepe Recipe (vegan) Vegan…
Compost, Not Packaging
While it’s better to recycle than send rubbish to the landfill, it’s even better to start with whole foods. That way you make compost, not recycled packaging. I enjoyed a refreshing smoothie today and when I went to clean up, I realized a happy fact: all I had was compost.
How to Compost at Home: The Basics
Although there are a plethora of books written on how to compost, before you start at home it is important to understand how composting works and the different methods that you can employ. As a form of waste recycling, composting at home is a great way to decrease the amount of refuse entering our already…
DIY Non-toxic Natural Kitchen Cleaners
The household cleaning isle at your local grocery store will try to convince you that every thing in your house requires a specialized cleaning solution of its very own. There are specific cleaners for ovens, drains, tarnished silverware, and even a special wash to remove pesticides and wax from your fruits and vegetables. But why…
Eat Organic for Less: Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Here’s another example of how you can enjoy healthy organic food on a budget. When you think of eating organic, you probably don’t think of a meal for two for less than $5. Here is a real life example of what an inexpensive, nutritious and organic meal looks like.
Dehydrating Potatoes For The Pantry
I hope all of you are putting up emergency stores against power outages, extreme weather events and natural disasters. I’d never thought about dehydrating potatoes until recently, when I read Maggie’s blog post. I prefer to eat fresh foods, so wouldn’t normally bother with dehydrated potatoes. But for an emergency pantry, or if I found…
Real Food Kitchen: DIY Dried Fruit and Vegetables
Use an inexpensive dehydrator to make the most of a season’s harvest, and to make sure your pantry is stocked with high quality, real ingredients. It’s easy to dry your own fruit using an inexpensive dehydrator, and the taste and nutritive value are much better than store-bought dried fruits.
Local Grassfed Lamb Shank Recipe
Join me in my kitchen for an easy autumn favorite made from local, organic and homegrown ingredients. Today’s real food lunch is a braised grassfed lamb shank with mint and delicata squash. Unlike most people, my main meal is lunch rather than dinner. That can pose a problem, since lunch transects my workday, but luckily…
Ethical Food On A Budget: Make Your Own Sprouts
Sprouting is a great way to add nutrient and protein rich foods to your diet if you are cutting back on meat and animal products. Learn how sprouting can help you enjoy organically grown foods on a budget. Even urbanites with no outdoor space can grow their own crops for next to nothing.
Summer Is Basil Season: Try This Easy Vegan Pesto Recipe
It’s summer, which means basil season is in full swing. Either you are harvesting ample, fragrant basil from your herb garden, getting bunches of it in your CSA or buying it marvelously fresh at your local farmers market. Now is the time to make pesto, one of the most delicious and versatile sauces of the season.
Make Your Own Pesto
A hit of fresh pesto will liven up anything. It’s summertime now, which means it’s basil season. Here’s how to make an easy vegan basil pesto sauce in minutes. Do you make pesto? The best time to make pesto is when basil is in high season. One bunch of basil will make enough pesto to…
Eight Reasons To Make Your Own Coconut Almond Milk
Taking a break from dairy? With a high speed blender, you can make your own non-dairy coconut almond milk. In an effort to avoid processed foods and all the packaging, preservatives, additives and the poor quality they generally offer, I started making my own almond milk and coconut milk. But by far my favorite…