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Monday, March 11, 2013

Farm Share Fair Meetup


Spring is almost here, which means its time to think about partaking in a CSA for the summer and fall! We are lucky there are so many small farms across New England to choose from. It can be hard to pick a CSA that best suits your needs, which is why The Boston Sustainable Food Meetup Group is hosting Farm Share Fair this Thursday:

What: Farm Share Fair
When: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: Cambridge College, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
Why: To meet 40 New England CSA vendors/farmers

The event is free and open to the public. It is a great way to learn more about farm share programs if you've never done one before, or are looking for a change this spring.

Friday, March 8, 2013

GMOs v. Global Hunger

Genetically modified to be enriched with beta-carotene, golden rice grains (left) are a deep yellow. At right, white rice grains.

What if genetically modified foods could solve world hunger? Would it be worth it to feed millions of hungry people with products that may not be safe in the long run? This was the debate recently tackled on NPR with a story about the potential of "golden rice." Golden rice is genetically modified to contain beta-carotene, a nutrient that many around the world are lacking. I am not sure how I feel about this - I plan to do more research into the pros and cons of GMOs. In the meanwhile, I encourage you to listen to the story of golden rice.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Vegetarian Recipe Roundup: Brussels Sprouts!

Parmesan Brussels Crustini
parmesan brussels sprout crostini
image & recipe courtesy of www.howsweeteats.com

YIELD:  25-30 PIECES
TIME: 30 MINUTES IF GARLIC IS ALREADY ROASTED

INGREDIENTS:
4 bulbs roasted garlic
1 large baguette
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound brussels sprouts, sliced or shredded
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
pinch of nutmeg
2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
shaved parmesan cheese for topping

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. If needed, you can roast garlic ahead of time! A day or two is fine. After roasted, let the garlic cool then squeeze the cloves out, making sure to remove any of the paper. Use a fork and mash the garlic well until it is creamy and spreadable.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice baguette into 1/2-inch rounds and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Bake for 8-12 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through.
3. While the bread is toasting, heat a large skillet oven medium heat. Add remaining olive oil, then toss in brussels sprouts, salt, pepper and nutmeg, tossing well to coat. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until warm, wilted, slightly crispy and even a little golden. Stir in grated parmesan cheese, mixing well to coat and turn off heat.
4. Spread a bit of mashed roasted garlic onto each piece of crostini. To serve, top crostini with a spoonful of sprouts, then add a shaving of fresh parmesan cheese and some cracked black pepper.

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Balsamic-roasted brussels sprouts
image & recipe courtesy of blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound of Brussels sprouts
1/8 cup pine nuts, finely diced
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Parmesan cheese


INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Trim and peel away the outer leaves of each Brussels sprout and then half them.

2. Slide the Brussels sprout halves onto the skewers, about six to eight halves per skewer.
3. Line a baking dish with parchment paper and places the skewers halved-side up.



4. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over each skewer, trying to “fill up” the Brussels sprouts.
5. Bake the skewers at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes until they are cooked and crispy.
6. Plate the skewers on a serving tray and cover them with shaved Parmesan and the pine nuts.

Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprouts
Lemon Garlic Brussel Sprouts
image & recipe courtesy of whatsgabycooking.com

INGREDIENTS:
2 lb Brussel Sprouts
4 tbsp olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, juiced and zested
3 tbsp gruyere, grated
sea salt
pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Clean the brussels sprouts by trimming off the ends and peeling the outer layer of the sprout off. Cut each one in half.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
3. Once heated, add the halved brussel sprouts to the pan and saute for about 7-8 minutes on each side until the outer part is a caramelized brown and the inside is soft and fully cooked.
4. Add the garlic half way through the cooking.
5. Reduce the heat to low and add the lemon zest, juice, salt and pepper.
6. Stir to combine and taste. Adjust seasoning if needed. Add the cheese on top and serve.



Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Green Living Achievements

image courtesy of thethrivingsmallbusiness.com

On this blog, I often ramble on about my "green goals," but I rarely take a moment to recognize when I've accomplished them! I'm sure some of you are the same way; so take a few minutes today to give yourself a pat on the back for all the ways you've become a better/healthier/greener person over the past year! Feel free to share your accomplishments by commenting on this post.

I am happy to say, I've completed the following goals:

1. I've completely unplugged my workout

2. I walk to my destination if its over 40 degrees (and the trip is 2 miles or under)

3. I carry a reusable shopping bag with me

4. I've tried new vegetarian recipes

5. I've reduced my electric bill from last year

6. I wear sunscreen every day

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

North Country Sustainability Center - Ashburnham, MA


The rural towns of Massachusetts are also taking great strides towards sustainability. In 2010,a discussion at an Agricultural Commission in Ashburnham, MA lead to the development of the North Country Sustainability Center. Now, this small town (just northwest of Fitchburg,) is working to bring environmental awareness to the rural communities of Massachusetts. The center has struggled to gain support, funding, and even an office, but their newsletters are optimistic and I hope to see great things from them in the future.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Bike-A-Thon Registration Starts Today with Bikes Not Bombs


The youth team (photo by Allie Hunter)

Bikes Not Bombs' biggest event of the year, The Bike-A-Thon, is now open for registration! This year's Bike-a-Thon will take place on June 2, 2013. The event is for bicyclists of all ages and experience to ride at their own pace while supporting Bikes Not Bombs. Their goal is to have at least 500 participants this year (last year there were 435, and the event raised over $116,000!!!). So come help make the Bike-A-Thon a success by signing up now.

Road assistance during the event (photo by Wayne Chinnock)

Bikes Not Bombs is a wonderful non profit based in Jamaica Plain that aims to prevent youth violence through bicycles by building co-ops that provide skill development, jobs, and sustainable transportation. The organization was founded in 1984 when the first co-op was built in Nicaragua. Now, Bikes Not Bombs is running 6 international programs. The co-op in Boston also holds a Earn-A-Bike program where at-risk youth come to learn safe cycling skills, and how to build/repair bikes. The participants then get to keep one of the bikes at the completion of the program. It is a great organization and I hope to see you all in June!