What Organic Really Means

Headed to a Farmer's Market this weekend? Make sure to ask the vendors if their produce is Certified Organic.  They should be able to tell you if their farm is certified, in the process of becoming certified or if it is free of pesticides and other chemicals.  

Check out the infographic to find out what organic REALLY means.

Superbowl Treat: Cheesy Quinoa Cakes

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Apparently I have been on a quinoa kick lately. I finally figured out some delicious ways to prepare the touted grain and this one is really simple. I have since made this recipe twice and have even used left over quinoa which makes the process even faster. These cakes would be a delicious snack for your Superbowl party this weekend and are a yummy vegetarian alternative to crab cakes. 

Original Recipe Via: Spoon Fork Bacon

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked quinoa
2/3 cup grated fontina cheese
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (I used grapeseed oil)
salt to taste

Spicy Aioli:
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Sriracha hot sauce to taste

Directions:

1. For the cakes: Place all ingredients, except for the oil, into a mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. Season with salt and allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes.

2. Pour oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium heat.

3. Form ¼ cup (or larger) patties with the quinoa mixture and place in the heated sauté pan. 

4. Cook quinoa cakes for about 5 minutes on each side. Repeat with the remaining patties until all of the cakes have been cooked. Set aside.

5. For the aioli: Stir all ingredients together and season with salt and pepper. Pour into a small bowl and serve alongside the warm quinoa cakes.

Green Gift Guide: Valentines Under $50

Happy February! It's officially the month all about love. While I never make too big of a deal out of Valentine's Day, I think it is fun to give the ones you love a little something. These are a few of my favorite gifts to give or receive this Love Day.

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1. Dogeared Infinity Bracelet $46: Dogeared jewelry is made in CA and is the most dainty stuff. This recycled sterling silver bracelet is the perfect token to express your affection.

2. GraceGraphics Love Grows Card $3: I'm a sucker for this plantable paper embedded with flower seeds. Such a sweet card for your valentine.

3. DarlinglovesDapper Love Letters Votive Set $24: Planter pots turned votives, these little candle holders can help you keep the love around all year long.

4. honeydesignbooks Love What You Do Recycled Notebook $6.50: Know someone married to their job? This little notebook will remind them to love what they are doing every day.

5. Theo Chocolate Salted Caramels $8.80: These delicious organic and Fair Trade chocolates are my personal favorite!

6. iHeart_This Heart Parts Set of 10 $8.95: These biodegradable and reusable all-in-one eating tools  are perfect for those on the go. Part fork, part knife and part scoop, carry these little hearts with you and wash them at home and since there are 10 sets, you will never be without a clean utensil.

7. wildinkpress Letterpress Valentine Card $3.95: I love all things letterpress. The fact that this one is made on 100% recycled paper makes it even more perfect. 

Recipe of the Week: Spicy Mexican Quinoa Soup

Recipe Via Forgiving Martha

vegan, gluten-free

4 cups vegetable stock

1 (28 ounce) can  fire roasted crushed tomatoes

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 poblano pepper, chopped

1/4 cup roasted red pepper (I used a prepared version from a jar)

1 jalapeno, diced
1 tbsp paprika
½ teaspoon Mexican chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
dash ground cinnamon
1 avocado, halved and sliced

1 cup quinoa, cooked
cilantro, chopped for garnish

1. Cook quinoa per package instructions, set aside. (I like to use a rice cooker, 2 cups water per 1 cup or quinoa.)

2. Saute diced onions in a skillet over medium heat with a bit of olive oil and cook until onions are caramelized.  

3. In a large stock pot, add vegetable stock, fire roasted tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, chili powder and stir. 

4. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes.  Add caramelized onions and continue to cook uncovered for an additional 10 minutes.

5. To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with quinoa, sliced avocado and chopped cilantro and green onions. 

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Tar Sands: The World's Dirtiest Oil

Have you heard about the tar sands of Alberta, Canada? You probably associate it with the Keystone XL pipeline that, if approved, would carry 700,000 barrels of tar sands from Canada to the Gulf Coast each day. Presidential hopeful Rick Perry and other GOP front runners say the Keystone will reduce our dependence on foreign oil: “Every barrel of oil that comes out of those sands in Canada is a barrel of oil that we don’t have to buy from a foreign source." Republicans are also claiming that it would create over 20,000 jobs, most of which would be temporary construction jobs.

While reducing our dependence on foreign oil and creating jobs are excellent and necessary for the United States, the Tar Sands and Keystone pipeline are just a band-aid. I believe that money and time would be better spent on reducing our dependence on oil, period. If we have access to cheaper oil, what is the incentive to explore and develop renewables?

Not only is the mining and extraction of the tar sands the most energy intensive form of oil extraction, it also is extremely damaging to the local and global environment. Alberta is home to a Boreal forest which is  one of the largest carbon sinks in the world, the largest temperate rain forest in the world, and the largest fresh water delta in the world. All of these beautiful natural resources would be affected by the mining of Tar Sands. 

Check out this TEDx by conservation photographer, Garth Lenz, to learn more about the environmental and social issues related to the Alberta Tar Sands. 

And, if you feel so compelled, tell President Obama that you do not support the Keystone.