I don't know if you're feeling like I am, but the economic meltdown and the continuing financial drama from banks to insurance companies to automakers has worn me out. It's tiring and stressful to hear about these big problems day in and day out, especially when the vast majority of us cannot control or change any of those macroeconomic issues. Most of us go about our day-to-day business while gauging the impact of these problems on our friends, families and communities. It's tiring and a bit disheartening, but from my perspective, there is some very good news out there. I've heard a lot of people talk about having a more sensible Christmas or holiday spending budget. The unbridled consumerism of the past decade or so is giving way to a bit of quiet reflection.
It seems a lot of people are scaling back, realizing that they don't need more stuff. That's not to say that no one's giving gifts this year, just that they don't need to go over the top. More importantly, I think this year people will think more about the gifts they give, and though they will give fewer gifts, they will be gifts that are useful to the recipient in some way.
So, my gifts this year will be focused on things that can be used - not stored in the closet for re-gifting or a visit to the Goodwill or Salvation Army during the next housecleaning. Gifts that don't add further clutter to our environment, things that green up our bodies, lives and wallets - those are the gifts that make sense this holiday season. Small specialty food gifts baskets, foods that people might not otherwise try, things that can expand the recipient's culinary horizons without breaking the budget.
This holiday season, my friends and family will be getting green gifts from me. Giving green gifts benefits my world - my friends, family, community and environment. If I can also save a bit of "green" this year, all the better.
Here's a link to shopOrganic's Green Gifts for the Holidays. Let the budget-conscious) shopping begin!
Read more!
11.28.2008
11.17.2008
Natural Sweeteners - Brown Rice Syrup
OK, last in our series of natural sweeteners. Brown rice syrup is made by cooking brown rice in pure filtered water. Then, most of the water is evaporated and the result is a naturally sweet, golden syrup. Brown rice syrup has a similar thickness as honey but it has flavor that is a bit nuttier than honey. Brown rice syrup is gluten free and whate free. You can substitute rice syrup in place of sugar, honey, corn syrup, maple syrup or molasses. To substitute sugar, use 1 1/4 cup rice syrup for one cup of sugar, using 1/4 cup less of another liquid needed in the recipe. Brown rice syrup is a great sweetener to keep in your pantry. Experiment with it, you'll enjoy the unique (but mild) flavor of brown rice syrup.
Of course, shopOrganic carries a delicious, organic, kosher brown rice syrup from our friends at Lundberg. Click here to head to shopOrganic for Lundberg brown rice syrup. Read more!
Of course, shopOrganic carries a delicious, organic, kosher brown rice syrup from our friends at Lundberg. Click here to head to shopOrganic for Lundberg brown rice syrup. Read more!
11.11.2008
Natural Sweeteners - Sucanat
Another installment of our quick review of sweeteners. This entry: sucanat. Sucanat is actually the shortening of the words sugar cane - natural (su-ca-nat). It is sugar cane in an unrefined form. Sucanat tastes like sugar, bakes like sugar and sweetens like sugar - the difference? Sucanat is whole cane sugar. Once the sugar cane is cut in the fields, the whole cane plants are crushed to extract the juice. The sugar cane juice is heated in a large vat until it reaches a deep, rich color and has the consistency of a thick syrup. The syrup is then hand paddled to cool and break up the syrup into dry granules. Nothing added, nothing removed.
Because Sucanat retains all the juice of the cane, it has characteristics similar to molasses. It's particularly well-suited to making barbeque sauce or anything with chocolate. If you want to add a level of flavor depth to anything you sweeten, try sucanat.
shopOrganic's sucanat is organic and fair trade from Costa Rica. Give it a try - here's the link to Wholesome Sweeteners Sucanat.
Next up...brown rice syrup.
Read more!
Because Sucanat retains all the juice of the cane, it has characteristics similar to molasses. It's particularly well-suited to making barbeque sauce or anything with chocolate. If you want to add a level of flavor depth to anything you sweeten, try sucanat.
shopOrganic's sucanat is organic and fair trade from Costa Rica. Give it a try - here's the link to Wholesome Sweeteners Sucanat.
Next up...brown rice syrup.
Read more!
11.07.2008
Affordable Organic and Green Gifts
I just read an article saying that Americans were planning on cutting back on gifts this year. In many ways, that's probably a good thing as we have tended in the past to overspend at the holidays (and I include myself in that "we"). It will be interesting to see how this pans out as we get closer to those winter holidays. Often people swear they're going to spend less but end up spending more than they anticipated or budgeted. This year, I'm guessing most folks will truly scale back - but I'm also thinking the kinds of gifts we give might shift.
In recent years, I've started giving gifts of food since it's not something someone stuffs in a back closet or tries to re-gift (though if it's the notorious fruitcake, it might be re-gifted several times, even across state lines)...
As a business consultant and business owner, I often give a small gift to clients as a token of my appreciation for our business relationship (which often turns into genuine friendship over the years). Food is a pretty safe gift for corporate gift giving especially because you don't have to worry about size, color, or more importantly, cost. Many companies have strict rules about employees receiving gift, especially from vendors, but those restrictions rarely apply to food gifts.
Of course, there's a reason I'm talking about all this. Cara has been hard at work putting together some really cool gift collections that fit every budget. For example, we've got an Organic Harvest hot sauce collection of three of the best, 100% organic hot sauces you'll ever taste for only $9.99. Here's another example - a set of four organic jams from Colorado Mountain Jam so packed with flavor you'll be tempted to eat it straight from the jar - for just $21.29. One more example - Cara put together an amazing gift (I'm hoping someone gives this to me this year...hint hint) with organic Rishi tea, Biscottea shortbread cookies (perfect with tea) and a really cool ceramic mug with removable tea strainer for just $35.99. I'm not a big fan of tea (I'm more of a hard core coffee drinker), but this Rishi tea is like nothing I've ever tasted before. It's got incredibly robust, complex flavors and as it cools, you can taste more and more nuances. I know, I know, it sounds a bit like some high brow wine review, but really, this tea is THAT good. The Biscottea use organic tea in the cookies. Cara worked with Rishi to create parings that really work nicely together and the ceramic mug is great for coffee or tea.
So, you see, you can give a wonderful gift that the recipient will be thrilled to receive, you can do all this on a tight budget and you can be sure that everyone you know gets a little something at the holidays that won't end up being re-gifted.
I spared you by not listing every single gift we have - suffice it to say Cara's had a really fun time creating these gifts and I don't think she's done yet - so check back often for affordable organic and green gifts you can give with a clean conscience this year!
shopOrganic Affordable Organic and Green Gifts
Read more!
In recent years, I've started giving gifts of food since it's not something someone stuffs in a back closet or tries to re-gift (though if it's the notorious fruitcake, it might be re-gifted several times, even across state lines)...
As a business consultant and business owner, I often give a small gift to clients as a token of my appreciation for our business relationship (which often turns into genuine friendship over the years). Food is a pretty safe gift for corporate gift giving especially because you don't have to worry about size, color, or more importantly, cost. Many companies have strict rules about employees receiving gift, especially from vendors, but those restrictions rarely apply to food gifts.
Of course, there's a reason I'm talking about all this. Cara has been hard at work putting together some really cool gift collections that fit every budget. For example, we've got an Organic Harvest hot sauce collection of three of the best, 100% organic hot sauces you'll ever taste for only $9.99. Here's another example - a set of four organic jams from Colorado Mountain Jam so packed with flavor you'll be tempted to eat it straight from the jar - for just $21.29. One more example - Cara put together an amazing gift (I'm hoping someone gives this to me this year...hint hint) with organic Rishi tea, Biscottea shortbread cookies (perfect with tea) and a really cool ceramic mug with removable tea strainer for just $35.99. I'm not a big fan of tea (I'm more of a hard core coffee drinker), but this Rishi tea is like nothing I've ever tasted before. It's got incredibly robust, complex flavors and as it cools, you can taste more and more nuances. I know, I know, it sounds a bit like some high brow wine review, but really, this tea is THAT good. The Biscottea use organic tea in the cookies. Cara worked with Rishi to create parings that really work nicely together and the ceramic mug is great for coffee or tea.
So, you see, you can give a wonderful gift that the recipient will be thrilled to receive, you can do all this on a tight budget and you can be sure that everyone you know gets a little something at the holidays that won't end up being re-gifted.
I spared you by not listing every single gift we have - suffice it to say Cara's had a really fun time creating these gifts and I don't think she's done yet - so check back often for affordable organic and green gifts you can give with a clean conscience this year!
shopOrganic Affordable Organic and Green Gifts
Read more!
10.31.2008
Voting Red, Blue or.....Green?
Whether you're voting "red" or "blue" this election, we can all be green. We know the elections have grabbed our attention as have the wild gyrations of the stock market, but this is a great time regardless of party affiliation to look at going green by recycling election materials.... We've all been wrapped up in focusing on the candidates, the issues, the piles of propositions on our ballets. Some of us have voted early, some of us will cast our ballots on Tuesday. But when it's all said and done, you've probably got a pile of last minute election mail just sitting around. Instead of tossing it in the trash, be sure to recycle it. Since it's always a good idea to remove your name and address from paper before you recycle it, I always find that it just starts piling up on a counter when I come home from a long day of work and check the mail - the last thing I want to do is deal with junk mail, flyers and miscellaneous no-longer-relevant mail.
So, I developed a new system that's working pretty well, it might work for you. I toss all my junk mail (or mail that's ready to be discarded) in a box in the corner and once a week, I pull it out and deal with it. I create three piles - shred, recycle and trash. Then, during an hour of TV one night, I go through all of it during commercial breaks and boom, it's done. (Make sure bills get put in a safe place and not in this pile or you might find yourself with late payments - better yet, sign up for e-statement and forgo the paper statement altogether...).
If you have kids, you can do this once per month and have a contest as to who can remove the most address parts of the mail. Remember there are address labels on the outside and on the inside of many catalogs these days. You can shred the address labels and in most towns, if you shred into clear plastic bags, you can also recycle the shredded paper (I know, it's a plastic bag, I haven't figured out a way around that one yet).
So, let's remember that while we all have our opinions about politics and elections, it's ultimately about how each of us participates in this world of ours. So, once the elections are over, take all those flyers, postcards, mailers and yard signs and recycle them. Read more!
So, I developed a new system that's working pretty well, it might work for you. I toss all my junk mail (or mail that's ready to be discarded) in a box in the corner and once a week, I pull it out and deal with it. I create three piles - shred, recycle and trash. Then, during an hour of TV one night, I go through all of it during commercial breaks and boom, it's done. (Make sure bills get put in a safe place and not in this pile or you might find yourself with late payments - better yet, sign up for e-statement and forgo the paper statement altogether...).
If you have kids, you can do this once per month and have a contest as to who can remove the most address parts of the mail. Remember there are address labels on the outside and on the inside of many catalogs these days. You can shred the address labels and in most towns, if you shred into clear plastic bags, you can also recycle the shredded paper (I know, it's a plastic bag, I haven't figured out a way around that one yet).
So, let's remember that while we all have our opinions about politics and elections, it's ultimately about how each of us participates in this world of ours. So, once the elections are over, take all those flyers, postcards, mailers and yard signs and recycle them. Read more!
10.28.2008
Food Fundamentals - Natural Sweeteners - Stevia
Stevia is an intensive sweetener made form the leaves of a South American plant commonly known as, well, stevia, or Stevia rebaudiana. It's been used for centuries in South America to sweeten mate tea. The active ingredient in stevia is stevioside.
Stevia has no calories and is considered safe for use by diabetics. It's a great substitute for artificial sweeteners and has similar properties. Intensive sweeteners like stevia (the other commonly known intensive sweetener is licorice root) are often imperfect replacements for table sugar.
Stevia can be used in both cooking and baking as well as for uncooked foods such as cold cereal or to sweetened hot or cold beverages. Stevia does not carmelize like sugar does, so you'll need to adjust your recipes that use sugar if you want to substitute stevia when baking.
Here's a link to the Sweet Leaf Stevia website with recipes using stevia.
Here's a link to Stevia Liquid and Stevia powder at shopOrganic.com.
Next up....Succanat. Read more!
Stevia has no calories and is considered safe for use by diabetics. It's a great substitute for artificial sweeteners and has similar properties. Intensive sweeteners like stevia (the other commonly known intensive sweetener is licorice root) are often imperfect replacements for table sugar.
Stevia can be used in both cooking and baking as well as for uncooked foods such as cold cereal or to sweetened hot or cold beverages. Stevia does not carmelize like sugar does, so you'll need to adjust your recipes that use sugar if you want to substitute stevia when baking.
Here's a link to the Sweet Leaf Stevia website with recipes using stevia.
Here's a link to Stevia Liquid and Stevia powder at shopOrganic.com.
Next up....Succanat. Read more!
Food Fundamentals - Natural Sweeteners - Blackstrap Molasses
My sister gave me this amazing book last year, it's called On Food and Cooking, The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee. It's food and cooking for geeks, really. It's one of the most fascinating books I own - I pick it up, open it to a random page and read interesting and sometimes arcane facts about food. At any rate, if you're a food lover, you might find this book interesting and since the holidays are quickly approaching, it might make a superlative, affordable gift for the foodie in your life (and you know who they are...you're most likely having Thanksgiving dinner with them or they're the ones who bring the absolutely best pies, cakes, cookies, entrees, or desserts - you get the idea).
At any rate, I use this book as a reference all the time and I thought today's post on molasses might be a good use of some of Mr. McGee's knowledge...
Cane sugar is made from crushing the whole stem of the cane plant, which includes substances such as proteins, complex carbohydrates, tannins and pigments. These days, most sugar cane is processed using two distinct phases. Since harvested sugar cane is highly perishable, the first phase of crystallizing the raw, unrefined sugar is done very close to the plantations where the cane is grown. The second phase occurs elsewhere and the crystallized sugar is refined.
Molasses is the syrup left over in cane sugar processing. The "first" molasses is the product of the first step in cane sugar processing and is the lightest molasses. The "second" molasses is darker in color and is more concentrated than the first. The "third" or final molasses is typically called blackstrap molasses for its dark color. It contains the least amount of sucrose of the three and is typically more bitter.
The darker the molasses, the more its sugars have been transformed by carmelization, so the less sweet and more bitter it is. The flavor of molasses is far more complex than simple cane sugar. It's popular in gingerbread, spice cookies, BBQ sauce and baked beans. Molasses, unlike other cane sugars, can also help retain moisture in baked goods.
So, thanks to Harold McGee for this world of knowledge about molasses, its origins and uses. If you're baking this upcoming holiday season, be sure to have molasses on hand for those deep, rich spice cookies. Here's my favorite molasses cookie recipe - there's a relatively long list of ingredients, but they're standard pantry items so don't be intimidated.
MOLASSES SPICE COOKIES
Ingredients:
1/3 cup (about 2.5 ounces) granulated sugar (plus more for dipping)
2 1/4 cups (11.25 ounces) unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon (tsp.) baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. allspice (for a variation, substitute 1/4 tsp. cardamom)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
1/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup (about 6 ounces) light or dark molasses
(P.S. If the spices in your cupboard have been in there since time began, do your recipes a favor and replace them before the holiday baking season is upon you. Fresh spices make your baked goods taste remarkable rather than simply ho-hum...)
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 1/2 cup of sugar for dipping cookies in an 8 inch or 9 inch cake pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, spices and salt in medium bowl and set aside.
3. In standing mixer with paddle attachment (or by hand), beat butter with brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes in the mixer).
4. Reduce speed to low, add egg yolk and vanilla. Increase speed to incorporate.
5. Add molasses, beat until incorporated. Scrape sides of bowl as needed.
6. Reduce speed to lowest setting, add flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Give dough final stir with spatula to ensure there are no unmixed pockets. Dough will be soft.
7. Using a tablespoon measure, scoop a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll between your palms into a ball then drop in sugar pan and roll around to coat with sugar.
8. Set on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
9. Bake on sheet at a time until cookies are browned, still puffy and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft. (cookies will look raw between the cracks and seem underdone - do not overbake!).
10. Cool in baking sheet 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack for cooling.
Recipe adapted from Cook's Illustrated Magazine, Jan/Feb 2002, p. 24.
Here's a link to Organic Blackstrap Molasses
Here's a link to Organic Dark Brown Sugar
And here's a link to Organic Cane Sugar
Finally, if you're interested in different kinds of natural sweeteners, here's a link to the whole sweetener & syrup category at shopOrganic.com.
Next up, the skinny on stevia.... Read more!
At any rate, I use this book as a reference all the time and I thought today's post on molasses might be a good use of some of Mr. McGee's knowledge...
Cane sugar is made from crushing the whole stem of the cane plant, which includes substances such as proteins, complex carbohydrates, tannins and pigments. These days, most sugar cane is processed using two distinct phases. Since harvested sugar cane is highly perishable, the first phase of crystallizing the raw, unrefined sugar is done very close to the plantations where the cane is grown. The second phase occurs elsewhere and the crystallized sugar is refined.
Molasses is the syrup left over in cane sugar processing. The "first" molasses is the product of the first step in cane sugar processing and is the lightest molasses. The "second" molasses is darker in color and is more concentrated than the first. The "third" or final molasses is typically called blackstrap molasses for its dark color. It contains the least amount of sucrose of the three and is typically more bitter.
The darker the molasses, the more its sugars have been transformed by carmelization, so the less sweet and more bitter it is. The flavor of molasses is far more complex than simple cane sugar. It's popular in gingerbread, spice cookies, BBQ sauce and baked beans. Molasses, unlike other cane sugars, can also help retain moisture in baked goods.
So, thanks to Harold McGee for this world of knowledge about molasses, its origins and uses. If you're baking this upcoming holiday season, be sure to have molasses on hand for those deep, rich spice cookies. Here's my favorite molasses cookie recipe - there's a relatively long list of ingredients, but they're standard pantry items so don't be intimidated.
MOLASSES SPICE COOKIES
Ingredients:
1/3 cup (about 2.5 ounces) granulated sugar (plus more for dipping)
2 1/4 cups (11.25 ounces) unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon (tsp.) baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. allspice (for a variation, substitute 1/4 tsp. cardamom)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
1/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup (about 6 ounces) light or dark molasses
(P.S. If the spices in your cupboard have been in there since time began, do your recipes a favor and replace them before the holiday baking season is upon you. Fresh spices make your baked goods taste remarkable rather than simply ho-hum...)
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place 1/2 cup of sugar for dipping cookies in an 8 inch or 9 inch cake pan.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, spices and salt in medium bowl and set aside.
3. In standing mixer with paddle attachment (or by hand), beat butter with brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes in the mixer).
4. Reduce speed to low, add egg yolk and vanilla. Increase speed to incorporate.
5. Add molasses, beat until incorporated. Scrape sides of bowl as needed.
6. Reduce speed to lowest setting, add flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Give dough final stir with spatula to ensure there are no unmixed pockets. Dough will be soft.
7. Using a tablespoon measure, scoop a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll between your palms into a ball then drop in sugar pan and roll around to coat with sugar.
8. Set on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
9. Bake on sheet at a time until cookies are browned, still puffy and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft. (cookies will look raw between the cracks and seem underdone - do not overbake!).
10. Cool in baking sheet 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack for cooling.
Recipe adapted from Cook's Illustrated Magazine, Jan/Feb 2002, p. 24.
Here's a link to Organic Blackstrap Molasses
Here's a link to Organic Dark Brown Sugar
And here's a link to Organic Cane Sugar
Finally, if you're interested in different kinds of natural sweeteners, here's a link to the whole sweetener & syrup category at shopOrganic.com.
Next up, the skinny on stevia.... Read more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
