Anna Going Green

Sunshine Muffins

These muffins are packed with fruits and veggies and use whole grains and no refined sugar.  They are lightly sweet and make a great snack or breakfast on-the-go - they freeze well, too.

Mix together:

1 c. grated carrots
1 c. grated zucchini
1 med apple (granny smith) grated

1/2 c. raisins (or other dried fruit)
2 mashed bananas
2 eggs
1/2 c. canola oil
1/2 c. honey
1 tsp. vanilla

 

Add in:

2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 c. wheat germ
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
dash nutmeg

 

Optional add-ins:

 

1/2 c. flaked unsweetened coconut

1/2 c. chopped walnuts or sunflower seeds

 

 

Pour into greased or lined muffin tins. 

 

Bake 20-25 minutes at 350. 

 

Makes 2 dozen muffins.

Anna Banana Bread

Mix:

• 3 c mashed ripe banana (about 6-7 bananas)
• 1 c agave nectar or honey
• 1/2 c cauliflower puree (or other veggie puree or banana)
• 1/2 c canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 t vanilla extract

Add in and mix well:

• 2 c whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 c wheat germ
• 1/4 c ground flax seed
• 1 t baking soda
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1 c chopped walnuts

Pour into 2 lightly oiled loaf pans.  Bake 1 hour at 325.

Natalie’s Playgroup Granola Bars

Preheat oven to 350.

Oil a 9×13 baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix:

• 2 c oats
• 1 c whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 c wheat germ
• 1/2 c raisins
• 3/4 t cinnamon
• 1/2 t salt

Make a well in center and add:

• 1/2 c canola oil
• 1/2 c honey or agave nectar
• 1 egg
• 1 t vanilla extract

Mix well. Pat mixture into pan (lightly oil hand or put plastic bag over hand to keep mixture from sticking).

Bake for about 30 minutes, until bars are golden at edges.

Cool for 5 minutes, then cut bars (3 wide by 8 tall) while still warm to allow for easier removal from pan.  Store in airtight container.

Back to School Supplies

I was SO determined to “be green” this year in my back to school supply shopping and I have to say I was truly disappointed in the lack of selection in the big box retailers (where most people will buy their stuff).  Still, with a little persistence, I was able to purchase almost all eco-friendly items.  I had to drive around a little and I also shipped a few items - I know this is not so green, but I guess I wanted to my purchases to signal to the market to make more of these products, rather than accept what was easy to find.

First I took my boys’ lists and compared them to what we already had.  I pulled out their color pocket folders from last year and assessed which could be used again (and many of them could with a little erasing and wiping - don’t think I’m crazy).  We will also be reusing scissors, some pencils, and the pink pearl erasers from last year.  With the revised list, I set out to the following stores:

Here is what I found and please keep in mind that what I mention below are in regards to items on my second graders’ lists.  So this shouldn’t be viewed as a comprehensive list of the eco-items in each store, but just what I was looking for and was able to find or happened to notice.

Earth Good Home Store (13th South and 9th East):

Overall the best local selection in earth friendly school supplies

Purchased:

• Paper mate earth write pencils
• Samsill recycled plastic, vue style binders, 1/2 inch size
• Pocket notebooks (recycled) in natural and red.  They also had blue and maybe one other color (yellow?), but none with prongs and no purple or orange, which we needed.

They had LOTS of other office supplies, not on our list, like college ruled paper pads/notebooks, highlighters, pens, file folders, scissors, loose leaf paper, etc.  However, no markers, crayons, or colored pencils.

Staples (4th South/7th East):

Overall, VERY disappointing, could not find a single eco-friendly pencil, but I did notice:

• PVC-free (non-recycled) 3 ring vue binders
• Sugar Cane composition and spiral notebooks (all college ruled)

Office Max (4th South/9th East):

Probably the best eco selection from a big retailer.

Purchased:

• Ecolorgy Washable Markers (uses recycled plastic and packaging)
• Jumbo sized Office Max brand glue sticks.  Nothing eco-friendly about this, but the boys needed 6 each and they seemed to have the best price on this ($1 each). 

Also noticed:

• ECOvue recycled plastic, white clear vue binders in various sizes (but not 1/2 inch size that is needed for second grade)
• ECO- binders (kraft style)
• PVC-free 3 ring binders in many sizes
• various recycled paper notebooks (but all with college/narrow ruled paper)
• Kleen Earth recycled scissors (but not in the smaller kids size)
• E+Co pencils and other recycled plastic pens
• Faber Castell brand colored pencils
• pencil cases made out of recycled drink pouches
• recycled clipboards and office organizers

Walmart (13th South/3rd West):

Could not find a single recycled paper product, eco pencil, nor could I find any paper pocket folders (recycled or not) as they were all PLASTIC.

Office Depot (Gateway)

Did not buy anything, but I noticed:

• New Leaf brand composition books and spiral notebooks and notepads - all college/narrow ruled (VERY cute designs - so bummed I could not buy these!)  I also noticed a great selection of this brand at the downtown Whole Foods.
• recycled scissors

Target (Ft. Union):

Finally found and purchased: 

• Spiral subject Ampad notebooks using WIDE-RULED recycled paper (yeah!)

I also noticed (but resisted!) some cute recycled paper journal type books and patterned 3 ring binders.

I will be purchasing Prang soy crayons, O’Bon recycled colored pencils, and a few other items at greenearthofficesupply.com  (note there is a $40 minimum here).

Other brands to check out:

Earthwise composition books

Our bulk foods project

As a way to further reduce our usage of disposable packaging, this month I undertook the project of trying to convert as many of our food purchases as possible to bulk purchases using the bulk food bins at our local Whole Foods.  All items that we purchase in the bulk food bins can go into our reusable produce/grain bags for purchase and then into reusable storage containers for storage at home, thereby eliminating the disposable packaging, most of which is plastic, for those items.

The first thing I did was make a trip to our Whole Foods bulk section to figure out which of the items we use are available in bulk.  Then I tried to estimate how much of each of those items I would like to have on hand at home.  I came up with the following list:

• rice (brown in 6 c, aborio in 4 c)
• sugar (6 c)
• granola (8 c)
• salt (4 c)
• nuts (almond, pean, walnut, each in 4 c, pine in 2 c)
• dried fruit (raisins in 4 c, apricots, berries, each in 2 c)
• seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, each in 2 c)
• quinoa (red, white combined in a 6 c)
• coffee (4 c)
• chocolate chips (4 c)
• flour (white whole wheat, whole wheat pastry, each in 16 c)
• oatmeal (16 c)

The next step was figuring out containers for home storage.  I had the produce/grain bags figured out, but was in need of home storage containers.  After reviewing many options, I settled on these glass stackable storage jars from Anchor Hocking for items stored in small to medium quantities:

I chose these for the following reasons:

• Many sizes available (1/2 qt/2 c, 1 qt/4 c, 1 1/2 qt/6 c, 2 qt/8 c, 2 1/2 qt/10 c sizes)
• Stackable
• Made of glass rather than plastic
• Square shape (versus round) makes them easier arrange in my pantry

For the items I like to stock larger amounts of (like flour and oatmeal), I chose these glass storage jars, also from Anchor Hocking:

I like the large opening which allows direct dipping of a one cup measuring cup.  They are available in 1/2 gallon/8 c, 3 qt/12 c, 1 gallon/16 c, 2 gallon/32 c sizes.

I have found both types of jars available locally at Sur la Table, Roberts Crafts, Fred Smiths, and Target (with Target being the best price).

Tips:

• Carry a 1 cup measuring scoop into the store with you.  Use the bulk bin scoop to place items into your measuring cup before placing in your produce/grain bag.  This way you can measure out the bulk food items to ensure you buy enough for whatever your recipe calls for and don’t buy more than your home container will hold.
• Whole Foods requires you to label a twist tie with the bulk food item number to identify the item for check out.  I have been labeling the twist tie with the item number AND ITEM NAME, and then saving the twist tie.  This way I don’t have to re-label each time.  I keep all the twist ties together with my 1 c. scoop, reusable grocery and produce bags in the back of my car to bring into the store together. 

So far this system has been working really well and as I’m using the bulk food bins more, I’m seeing other items I can convert (such as peanut butter, olive oil, spices, honey, etc).  That will be another day’s project!

Napkin rings found!

The conversion to cloth napkins and towels is now complete.  I found these cute glass napkin rings on sale, each for 99 cents, at the summer sale at Sur la Table.  Each one is a different color and the colors seem to blend well with my Mimi the Sardine tablecloth.  The idea is that each person has a different color and this way we can tell which napkin belongs to whom.  The kids have picked their colors, and changed them, and changed them again!

Using the library

So I’ve found that using the local library is a great way to be green.  When the boys were younger, we went to the library on a weekly basis for story hour, but as they have gotten older and busier, it seems our youngest has missed out on this ritual.  This summer, we have been making more of an effort to get to the library.  Our local branch is within walking distance.  With the boys burning through books like they have, and the accumulation of every Magic Tree House paperback ever published (there are 40 of them!), it doesn’t really make sense for us to keep puchasing their books.  Up until now, I would just go online and have a new supply of reading material shipped.  An ultra convenient feature of our library system, is that you can search for book titles online and then reserve them using your library card.  If a copy is not available at your local branch, they will send it to your local branch and then email you when it has arrived.  How cool is that!

Salt Lake Public Library

Granola recipe

Here is the granola recipe I have been playing with for the last few weeks.  It is made entirely from the bulk food bins (more about this project to come) at the grocery store.  We eat a lot of granola in our home and this is a yummy, healthy version, that uses no packaging.

Preheat oven to 350.

Spread

• 5 cups of oats

in a 9 x 13 jelly roll pan and heat in oven until lightly brown for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine in a bowl:

• 1/3 c canola oil
• 1/3 c honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 c shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 c chopped nuts (I like almonds or cashews)
• 1/2 c wheat germ
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Mix into oatmeal pan and bake until brown, about 20 minutes, stirring a few times to ensure even browning.

After mixture cools, add:

• 1 1/2 c dried fruit (raisins, berries, etc)
• 1/2 c pumpkin (or sunflower seeds)

Keep refridgerated in an airtight container.

Makes about 8 cups.

Bubble and Bee

Thanks to Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma (which I am making my way through, albeit at snail’s pace, hope to post more about this later, but what an eye opener!), I have recently become more committed to seeking out and purchasing locally made products, even over organic (which are sometimes shipped from far away places).  What a treat it is to find quality locally made AND organic products, such as Bubble and Bee.  Love, love the lip balm, which the kids are also using, along with the lotion stick (which I like because, as a stick, it is harder to waste and nearly impossible to make a mess with).  I’ve been using the shower gel and really enjoying the orange scent.  The pit putty (deoderant) is also a great find.  It takes some getting used to, but DOES work.  I find it to be a little crumbly (I dropped it and a big chunk broke off) and you definitely don’t want to use it with your little black dress, but for everyday wear, it is a great solution.  Check them out - they are now in Whole Foods.

Friday - homemade pizza night

So after a few weeks of tinkering with various whole wheat pizza dough recipes, I’ve landed on one we (meaning the kids, as Reed and I enjoyed all versions) really like. 

• 1 envelope of yeast (about 2 tsp.)
• 1 cup of warm (not hot) water
• 3 cups King Arthur 100% Organic White Whole Wheat Flour (not whole wheat pastry flour)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 T. olive oil
• 2 T. honey
• herbs to taste (I like to use 1/2 tsp. each of crushed thyme and rosemary)

Add yeast into warm water and stir well, then let sit for a few minutes while you mix flour, salt, and herbs in a bowl.  Make a well in center and add yeast liquid, olive oil, and honey.  Mix until sticks together, then knead with hands for a few minutes.  Divide dough in half and shape into two balls.  Place in large covered, oiled glass casserole bowls and let sit in a warm place for about 2 hours to rise.  Place dough in fridge overnight or until about 2 hours before you want to use it.  Punch down each dough ball, divide each in half, shape into a ball and return to bowls and let rise again for about 2 hours at room temperature.  Take dough and shape and stretch into a pie.  I like to use a rolling pin and roll it right onto the baking sheet I will cook it on.  Top with sauce, cheese, and toppings, and bake at 450 for about 10 minutes.  The kids have fun spooning the sauce and adding cheese.  YUM.  Makes 4 pizzas.

It helps if you can start it the night before-usually I try to make the dough while I am preparing dinner the night before and let it sit and rise during dinner and then divide it and put it in the fridge after I clean up dinner.  Then I pull it out at about 4 pm the day we want to use it.

For a veggie boost, I puree 1/2 a zuchinni, about 5 baby carrots, and/or a handful of chopped eggplant with about 1 cup of tomato sauce in the blender.  I have also tried finely dicing and shredding the veggies, but my youngest made a mess picking them out of the finished pizza, so I have resorted to pureeing.