Go Green: DIYs, How-tos and Recipes - Editorial Staff Picks - SustainLane

Recipe for Vegan Butternut Squash & Pear Soup

2009-10-29T20:11:34Z

A delicious fall soup that is nutritious, comforting and so easy to make that the WHOLE family will LOVE!!

Active Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 45 mins

VEGAN Butternut Squash and Pear Soup
Serves 4-6

1 medium-sized butternut squash
1/2 cup sliced leeks
1 bartlett pear, peeled, seeded, and cubed
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp powdered ginger or fresh ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 good turns on the black pepper mill
sea salt to taste
2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup almond milk
optional pomegranate seeds for garnish

1. Quarter and seed the squash and rub with coconut oil, salt and pepper then roast at 400 degrees until soft, about 30-40 minutes. Let cool and scoop out the flesh. (You can do this up to 3 days ahead of time.)

2. Saute the leeks and pear until very soft, about 5 minutes. Add the curry, cinnamon, and ginger and let them toast for a minute, then add the squash. Saute for another 5 minutes. Now, Add the vegetable broth and let it all simmer for another 20 minutes.

3. Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in a blender (but be careful to do it in small batches...splattering liquids are HOT!) Add the almond milk and stir.

4. Feel free to garnish with pomegranate seeds and a little more almond milk.

5 Ways to Reduce Food Waste

2009-10-27T04:46:33Z

Try these easy tips to reduce food waste, and save money and resources

Food waste is not a benign substance, but it is something you can totally prevent. Try the following tips to help you reduce food waste and save money.

Shop what is on your list
Create a menu for your meals for a week. Check what you have in the refrigerator and pantry first, then make a list for your grocery shopping. Don’t be tempted by discounts and sales. Don’t go shopping when you are hungry. Stick to your list, stay with what you need ONLY!

Regular check on your fridge
Make sure your fridge is set to right temperature for maximum freshness and longevity. You can even use some baking soda to control the odor and keep it clean.

Buy in Bulk
If you are a fan of wholesale stores, share the cost and food with your friends or neighbors can save you big bulks.

Perfect food for your garden
Fruit and vegetable peelings can be perfect nutrients sources for your garden. Store the peelings in a compost bin, you will have valuable compost for your garden after few month.

Do some tricks in your refrigerator
In order to reduce food waste in your fridge, simply remove couple shelves. However, make sure you will have enough space for certain amount food. By doing this, you will save money by buying less, eat fresher and stopping throwing things away.

Source From Exchange For Green

October's Stupid Plastic Crap

2009-10-23T22:59:43Z

Vibrating mascara joins the ranks of useless plastic products that will still be around long after the consumers who bought them are gone.

This month’s stupid plastic crap is vibrating mascara. Yes - it vibrates. Not only is the mascara tube made of plastic, but it has a battery that is guaranteed to last 130 applications. Then what? It will be in a landfill for centuries. Lancome has one for $34.00 and Maybelline has one for $15.00. I think both are pricey.. It vibrates 7,000 times per minute and is advertised as the ultimate beauty tool.

I have nothing against mascara. I have some myself. The issue is not just that this is a completely wasteful product. It is also that cosmetics like mascara are the most unregulated products in our lives. We put personal care products on every inch of our bodies. Cosmetic manufacturers may use any ingredient without approval from the FDA. Many of the ingredients that are in these products are suspect in contributing to asthma, early onset of puberty in girls, feminization of boys, cancer, as well as other problems. Cosmetic companies maintain that none of their ingredients are health risks because of the small amount that is used in each product. They may be right – we just do not know for sure. Keep in mind that we put these products on our skin, in our eyes, in our vaginas, on our lips. This is what makes them personal! We use many of these products everyday. How do the chemicals in multiple products interact? That issue is a big unknown.

If you want to know how your mascara is rated, go to Skin Deep, a website by the Environmental Working Group, that scientifically tests personal care products and rates their safety. I looked up the mascara with the best rating which is 2 out of 10, 100% Pure Ultra Lengthening Fruit Pigmented Mascara. (Ten is the worst.) I have Ecco Bella Botanicals which is rated 3 out of 10. The big four chemicals that you have to avoid in cosmetics are fragrances, phthalates, parabens, and Triclosan.

Check your brand out on Skin Deep. After all, you put it very close to your eyes. It can be risky. Buy beauty products that have little or no plastic packaging. Be good to yourself and the earth.