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A Twist on Traditional Thanksgiving Sides

Thanksgiving comes with all kinds of delicious favorite side dishes. Since we are in the office on Friday after Thanksgiving, we at OMI like to have a potluck at lunch where we bring a side dish with a twist to the classic recipes (as well as evolving them into our own organic creations). Here are a few of our favorites…

       

I myself am a wine lover, so when I found a recipe that included a sangria flavor with the traditional cranberry sauce, I knew that I would love it. Such a tasty rendition if you love the classic but want it a little different this year.

Sangria Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

1. organic lemon

1. organic lime

1. organic orange

3 cups fresh organic cranberries

1. container (16-ounce) frozen organic strawberries

1. cup red wine

1 1/2. cup raw organic turbinado sugar

Directions

1. From lemon, grate 1 teaspoon peel and squeeze 3 tablespoons juice. From lime, grate 1 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. From orange, grate 1/2 teaspoon peel and squeeze 1/4 cup juice.

2. In 3-quart saucepan, combine lemon, lime, and orange peels, cranberries, strawberries, wine, and sugar; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, 15 minutes until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Stir in lemon, lime, and orange juices.

3. Spoon cranberry sauce into serving bowl; cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours.

 

Here’s a way to try something new with stuffing. Add a few veggies you have never used before, or like this fun recipe, add wild rice and wild mushroom

 

Herb Wild Mushroom and Wild Rice Stuffing

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) organic butter


2 cups sliced wild mushrooms
( options to try: morel, oyster, trumpet, shiitake, chanterelle or porcini, in any combination)

1 cup chopped organic celery


1 cup chopped organic white onion


1 tablespoon chopped fresh organic thyme

1/4 chopped fresh organic Italian parsley

1 teaspoon sage, rubbed

1/4 teaspoon salt


1/4 teaspoon coarse ground pepper

4 cups cooked organic wild rice


2 cups dry unseasoned bread cubes
(try gluten free bread)

1 ½  cup organic chicken broth

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add mushrooms, celery and onions; cook and stir 5 minutes. Stir in seasonings.

2. Mix rice and bread cubes in large bowl; stir in vegetable mixture. Add broth; toss gently until well mixed. Spoon into 13×9-inch baking dish; cover.

3. Bake 30 minutes.

This new take on sweet potatoes with a streusel topping instead of the usual marshmallows makes for a delicious, sweet side.

Sweet Potato Gratin with Pecan-Ginger Streusel

3 pounds (about 6) medium organic sweet potatoes

1/2 cup apple cider or juice

1/4 cup organic Grade B maple syrup

3 tablespoons organic unsalted butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Streusel Topping

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour (gluten free, coconut flour)

3 tablespoons packed organic light brown sugar

3 tablespoons cold organic unsalted butter, cut in small pieces

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

2 tablespoons chopped organic crystallized ginger

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Lightly butter a shallow 2-quart baking or casserole dish.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook until just barely tender when tested with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool. Pull off skin, then slice into 1-2″ thick rounds.

3. Arrange slices in prepared dish in concentric circles, overlapping slices slightly. In a liquid measuring cup, combine cider, syrup, butter and salt pour over potatoes. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make streusel topping:

1. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or combine mixture with your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs. Fold in pecans and ginger.

2. Remove potatoes from oven. Uncover and sprinkle with Streusel Topping. Bake, uncovered, until lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes.

3.  Refrigerate for up to 1 day. Reheat, covered, in a 375º F oven until heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.

 

Whatever choices you make for your meal, we hope you have a happy holiday and give thanks.

Pumpkin Fun!

With Halloween right around the corner, I’ve got pumpkins on the brain. We all know the tradition of carving pumpkins with scary faces, but what do you do with the goop on the inside?  And what do you do with the pumpkin after Halloween is done?

Here are some ideas for pumpkin fun:

1. Pick your pumpkins at a local organic farm to minimize transportation while helping support your local farmers. Picking a farm that is pesticide-free ensures that the pumpkin you pick won’t introduce armful chemicals to your family.

2. Be sure to save your pumpkin’s innards while you carve it. The innards and the seeds can be used to make many things, from pumpkin bread to pumpkin soup and even a healthy alternative to potato chips.  For recipes ideas, click HERE.

 Even if you are not that much of a cook, pumpkin seeds roasted in the oven and sprinkled with sea salt make a great fall snack as well as a healthy option for kids.

3. Carving your pumpkin allows for your creative side to come out! Allow your creative side to come out when carving pumpkins this year!  Print out a scene and trace it onto your pumpkin before cutting.  Whether you go traditional or modern, carving pumpkins helps you get into the spirit of the season, and makes great décor for your front porch. Here are a few of our favorites.

4. When it’s time to retire your carved pumpkin, don’t throw it in the garbage. Cut up your gourd and turn it into compost or feed it directly into your garden. If you’re without a yard, many cities offer programs that help you collect these materials, such as New York City Greenmarket . Or see if your local community garden can add it to their compost bin.

Have a Happy Halloween!

It’s Scary How Good This Recipe Is!

With Halloween right around the corner, many people are thinking of carving pumpkins for the their porches.  However I’m thinking about the delicious recipes that incorporate pumpkin, from soups to sauces.  The recipe that jumps into my mind is my favorite dessert, pumpkin cheesecake.  Here is the recipe for the best organic pumpkin cheesecake you will ever have the privilege to enjoy! 

Organic Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Makes: 12-16 Servings

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Bake Time: 60 – 75 Minutes

Ingredients

Crust

  • 2 cups organic graham cracker crumbs
  • 3 tablespoons organic brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground organic cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup Smart or Earth Balance butter spread

Filling

  • 3 (8-ounce) packages organic cream cheese
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pureed organic pumpkin
  • 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk {or egg substitute}
  • 1/4 cup organic sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups organic sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground organic cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground organic nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground organic cloves
  • 2 tablespoon organic whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon organic vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°

To make the crust

Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add the melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch spring form pan. Set it aside.

To make the filling

Beat cream cheese until smooth. {I do this in a stand mixer.} Add the pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar, and spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined and not lumpy. Pour into crust.

Spread out evenly and place in oven.  Bake for 1 hour or until the cheesecake is soft to the touch and does not jiggle when the pan is shaken.  Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. Yummy served with homemade vanilla ice cream, too!

How to Create an Eco-Friendly Halloween

Going green doesn’t mean you have to compromise the funny or yum factory of Halloween. Make your holiday fun, unique and an Eco-Friendly event.

  1. Participate in a Costume Swap

Gather a group of your children’s friends or parents from school and bring costumes to swap and trade. Your kids will be excited over having a “new” costume without having to purchase a whole new one and it will  eliminate waste.

  1. Give Out Healthy Candies and Treats

Pass out candy without harmful ingredients that still taste yummy and wont get your house egged.  See the Trick Or Treat OMI Blog from 2011.

UNREAL Candy offers chocolate treats that taste as good as major commercial brands but without the articial colors, dyes, sweeteners, preservatives, hydrogenated oils and GMOs.  Check out their goodies HERE.

Surf Sweets offers a variety of gluten-free, organic gummies, sour bears and jellybeans.   They even have treats in spooky spider shapes for Halloween!

  1. Use Reusable Bags for Trick-or-Treating!

Any bag can hold goodies, from baskets to bags to old purses and more.  Old pillowcases make great bags to collect candy and can be easily decorated or customized for your child.  A simple white pillowcase can be turned into a “ghost bag” by drawing, sewing or gluing on eyes and mouth.  Or simply add your child’s name.

  1. Decorate with Nature

Use natural items to decorate this year, such as hay bales, leaves, branches, gourds, pumpkins, mums and more.

  1. Light up the Night

If you string up lights to keep your walkway safe for trick-or-treaters, be sure to use LEDs or solar-powered lights.  LEDs use less energy than conventional holiday twinklers.

  1. Let Kiddos Decorate

Forget store-bought window sickers and skeletons. Help your kids cut out bats from recycled paper or make hand print spiders for walls and windows.  Carve or paint pumpkins for more decorations. White sheets can be hung as ghosts.  Get creative!

How will you keep your Halloween more Earth friendly?

10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

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Enjoy this Earth Day by choosing an activity that helps or honors this planet that we call home.

  1. Plant a Tree

Trees are not only beautiful but provide habitats for plants and animals as well. Your local nursery will be able to help decide what will work in your area.

  1. Go on a Nature Hike

Visit a local park, river or lake to see the beauty that is Mother Nature.  Take the kids along and give them a lesson on the plants and wildlife that are indigenous to your area.

  1. Clean Up a Park

Spend a few hours at a local park picking up litter so that the area is clean and useable for all.

  1. Prepare an Earth-Friendly Meal

Pick a new recipe and cook an entire meal made with locally grown vegetables and non-processed foods to share with friends and family.

  1. Evaluate your Recycling

Take the time to evaluate your recycling and see if there are ways to improve upon it or establish a system.  See our earlier blog  “How to Create a Recycling System that Fits Your Lifestyle” HERE.

  1. Get Unplugged

Many people do not realize that most household appliances use electricity even when not in in use.  Be sure that all your appliances are unplugged when not in use to eliminate waste.

  1. Plant a Garden

Don’t have the space to plant a tree?  Try planting a renewable vegetable or herb garden.  If you have a smaller yard, the vegetables and herbs can be planted in larger pots and placed on decking.

  1. Go Paperless

Switch all you paper bills to E-bills and pay bills online to eliminate excess and unnecessary paper.

  1. Give your TV And Cell Phone the Night Off

Spend the evening without technology and electronics.  Read a book, have a family game night or visit friends and family.

  1. Pay it Forward

Donate to your favorite charity or organization- time, energy or anything you can give.

Make an “Egg-cellent” Organic Easter Basket

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Easter is a great time to celebrate Mother Nature, so skip the plastic grass and artificially sweetened candy and opt for organic treats and eco-friendly gifts.

Pick a Basket that can be Reused

Chose a reusable container that can be used again and again. Sand pails and toy toolboxes make for fun toys that can be played with later.

Recycle a basket and give it a fresh look with new ribbon.

Ditch the Fake Grass Filler

 Stay away from the dreaded and irritating plastic grass that finds a way to stick to everything in your house.  Use shredded fabric from old clothes or blankets to add color and texture.  Or go with shredded newspaper, magazines or printer paper.

Fill your Basket with Organic Treats and Earth-Friendly Toys

There are many different organic treats that can be put into the Easter basket; here is a list of a few great options:

Vegan Organic Easter Bunnies and Assorted Chocolates

Sjaak’s makes an all-natural, sweet dark chocolate bunny and assorted chocolate boxes. It’s 100% organic, Fair Trade Certified and completely vegan. Visit the SJaak’s website HERE for more information.

Surf Sweets Natural Jelly Beans

Their complete line of all natural, organic gummy candy and jellybeans is completely free of additives, dyes and preservatives. Surf Sweets stands by their motto of “If it doesn’t exist in nature, you won’t find it in Surf Sweets.”  Visit the Surf Sweets website HERE for more information.

Yummy Earth Organic Candy

No chemicals, no artificial flavors, and no corn syrup. The line includes many different candies from lollipops to sour jellybeans in 21 delicious flavors with real fruit extracts and delicious taste! They have something for everyone!  Visit the Yummy Earth website HERE for more information.

Lifekind Certified Organic Cotton Bunny

A cute, cuddly and healthy bunny for Easter that is sure to delight children of all ages. The huggable, floppy-eared, handmade bunny is a Lifekind® original. Made with safe, certified organic materials, it’s covered in super-soft terry fleece, the body is stuffed with organic buckwheat hulls, and the head, arms, and legs are filled with organic cotton. Visit the Lifekind  website HERE for more information.

Made by Me Wood Toys

Made by Me toys are beautiful wooden toys that are designed and crafted in Vermont, USA. All their products are made from local sustainable hardwood.  These toys are great as they are not only fun to play with but you get to build and decorate them too.  These toys come in many different designs such as trucks, racecars, trains and more.  Visit the Little Cool Toys website HERE for more information.

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

 You do not need to use harsh and toxic chemicals to dye your Easter eggs.  Chose the safer and healthier option by using organic products that can be found in your kitchen.

Boil eggs with all natural ingredients, such as brown onion skins for orange, red cabbage for sky blue or carrot tops for green. Or experiment and see what colors nature can give you!

Soak hard-boiled eggs in grape juice for lavender, beet juice for pink or strong brewed coffee for brown.

Have fun with all the organic possibilities out there, and here’s wishing you a happy, healthy Easter!

Our Most Precious Resource

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Just because it’s raining outside doesn’t mean that we don’t need to be conscious of our consumption.  Here is an excellent video that will help you think about our impact on the world. It is produced by GE, but the information is excellent!

Make It A Guinness…Cupcake!

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Every St. Patrick’s Day we have a company potluck where we indulge in tasty Irish-themed feast and employees bring something themed to share.  From green deviled eggs, to the traditional corned beef and cabbage, we eat like Irish Kings and Queens.

This year, I decided to try out a new recipe: Guinness and Bailey’s Irish Cupcakes.

First thought when I saw the title: MMMmmmmmmmm…

The recipe was easy to follow, and the cupcakes turned out better (and fabulously more rich) than I expected. Delicate, moist and oh-so-tasty, this cupcake recipe is going in my “Keeper” file.

Enjoy!

Guinness and Bailey’s Irish Cupcakes

Servings: Over 8

Cook Time: 60-120 min

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup stout (Guinness)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp. baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp. salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2/3 cup sour cream

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners. Combine the stout and the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the eggs and sour cream to blend. Add the stout/butter mixture and beat just to combine. Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed just until incorporated.

Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 to 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Allow cooling in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Ingredients for the Bailey’s buttercream frosting:

  • 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, soft at room temperature
  • 3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 4-8 tbsp. Bailey’s Irish Cream

Directions:

Blend with mixer until smooth.  Refrigerate before frosting cupcakes.

Hip Hop Meets Organics

Check out these fun and entertaining videos by Stonyfield CEO CE-Yo Gary Hirshberg, the Stonyfield Moms, and Honest Tea CEO TeaEO Seth. Watch them rap out some information about the importance of eating organic.

For more information about the Just Eat Organic movement, visit www.justeatorganic.com.

Top Ten Ways to keep your Green Year’s Resolutions

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A lot of people resolve to be “more green” when the new year rolls around, but what exactly does that mean, and how can you implement the changes in your life without breaking the bank? We did a quick brainstorming session here at the OMI offices, and here’s what we came up with.  Without further ado, we present to you the Top Ten Ways to keep your Green Year’s Resolutions!

1. Recycle

Set up a recycling system or ensure your recycling is efficient and organized. This one seems like a no-brainer, and many towns and cities have made it even easier for you.  Call your local waste-collection company and find out what tools they have available to help you with your recycling.  Many cities offer free tubs for your use, will give you easy guides to tell you how to sort your recycling, and where you can take items that aren’t in your every day recycling (like e-waste and old appliances).

2. Stop buying water bottles.

Invest in reusable water bottles that you can carry with you and install a filter system for your home water. Not only is this a great way to help conserve the planet’s finite water supply, it will end up saving you tons of moolah in the end.  Get each member of your family a water bottle that matches their personality and encourage them to take it every where they go!

3. Swap first

Spend less on buying new items and try swapping or exchanging with neighbors and friends.  It’s a great way to get “new-to-you” stuff without having to spend the money on it, and no added burden to the planet.  You could even start a monthly swap in your neighborhood.  Some swapable ideas? Books, lawn equipment, shoes (yay!) kids’ clothing, exercise DVDs…. anything you have (or want).

4. Spend more time outdoors

From quality time with family to exercise… it is free and good for you and the environment. A day-trip to a local park can do wonders for your mental health, and you will feel even better knowing that pushing your kiddos in the swing isn’t taxing the environment.

5. Buy Local Produce

Find out in your community where you can buy locally grown and sustainable produce. Focus your meals around seasonal produce and you can save money, since out-of-season produce will be more expensive. Buying local not only helps sustain your local economy, it lessens the impact the shipping industry has on the environment. Plus, it’s really fun to be able to see where your food actually came from.

6. Plan meals

Thought meal planning went the way of the housewife wearing heels and pearls? Well, think again.  Planning meals for the entire week can help cut down the cost of your grocery bill and allow you to use leftovers in new meals, limiting excess and waste.  Added bonus: planned out menus mean fewer trips to the market, and who doesn’t love that?

7. Up the efficiency in your home

Unplug unused appliances, switch out old bulbs for longer lasting energy-efficient light bulbs, and install a new digital thermostat for more accuracy and to better regulate the temperature while using less energy (an easy task that even the most inexperienced DIYer can accomplish).  If your appliances need an upgrade, be sure to buy EnergyStar models that use less energy to run and lower your operating costs. If your old mattress is giving you problems, make sure you upgrade to a responsibly sourced and organic mattress (of course we suggest an OrganicPedic mattress by OMI).

 8. Compost

Put your food waste to work for you.  When you compost, not only do you cut down on the amount of garbage headed toward the landfills, you get some great soil out of it. A great tutorial on setting up your compost pile can be found here from John & Sherry at Young House Love.  Not sure what’s compostable? Click HERE for a list of 75 things you can compost, but thought you couldn’t.

9.  Use earth-friendly cleaners and household products

Back in the day, “earth-friendly cleaners” meant baking soda, vinegar, and a lot of good old-fashioned elbow grease.  We still love the ease of using items that are most likely already sitting in your cupboards, but we understand that isn’t an option for everyone.  When looking for household cleaners, be sure to pick brands that are environmentally friendly, preferably made with organic ingredients.  Our sister company, Lifekind, has a great line of Naturally Safer cleaning products, and earth-friendly products are popping up in retail stores across the country.  Just beware: not all companies have altruistic intent, and may try to trick you into purchasing their product with the implication of being “green” without actually offering an environmentally friendly product.

10. Go paperless

A lot of big companies are now offering incentives to customers who want to view their statements and pay their bills online.  If your local utility company doesn’t offer online bill pay, make sure you call and suggest it to them. Instead of sending printed cards, make use of online greeting cards and evites.   Just imagine how much paper and trees would be saved if everyone made this small change to their life.  If you absolutely must use paper (for your business, perhaps) be sure to buy paper from sustainably harvested trees.

 These ten ideas are just a the begining of  hundreds of different ways you can make your life more green.  What are your ideas and what has your family implemented to make your 2012 greener than your 2011? Let us know in the comments!

and a Happy Green Year to You!

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