How Green Is Your Kitchen

Earth Day is tomorrow and people all over the world will be evaluating what they can do to reduce their  carbon footprints. It's also time for home chefs to examine their kitchens and see if they need to make any "green" adjustments.

One of the most used resources in any kitchen is water. We need it to wash fruits and vegetables , along with our plates and utensils.It quenches our thirst  when we're thirsty and is often an ingredient in both savory and sweet recipes. Yet do we respect it? How many times do we just let it run as we seek the exact temperature? This is one of our worst habits. If you're hand washing dishes, use a small plastic basin like what you'd use for leftovers to wash the dishes. Then do a quick rinse to get the soap off. Don't let the water run. As for dealing with a parched throat, the best bet is put ice cubes in a glass before you fill it with tap water.  The ice will instantly chill it. and that way  you're not wasting water.As for cooking , get the exact measurements - not that you're throwing away any overage. washing fruits and vegetables are always a must however this also creates water waste. Use a large bowl for any kind of produce washing however scrimp on the water. Due to the pesticides used, you can't repurpose the water. It does have to be dumped down the drain.Another idea is using vinegar to clean skins and even rinds.Wipe down with a towel afterwards.

Paper and plastic are big components of a home kitchen. Our food comes in both. What to do with those boxes and containers afterwards? Any box should be put in the recycling paper bin or bags.This includes cereal and microwave foods boxes along with any cookie paper bags or pie boxes. Those paper bags from the grocery can be repurposed to hold the flattened boxes along with newspapers. Milk and ice cream cartons, made of wax coated paper do need to be thrown out with the regular trash. The plastics lids, however ,can be put into the plastics. As for plastics, whether they're bottles or cupcake holders, they all belong in the plastic recycling bins. You can repurpose  your water bottles by refilling them with tap water. Any straws can also be used for a second and even third time.. Just wash and dry them. What about those cracked plastic and glass containers? Do you just toss them or use them for a different purpose? Small ice cream bowls can hold dry snacks such as nuts pretzels or potato chips. The larger ones can be used as fruit bowls or even to hold rolls for dinner.The same principle goes for cracked glass , although this last does come with a caveat. If there are sharp edges, then you'll have to throw it out. A jagged edge can produce a nasty cut on the fingers.Just remember to toss the glass into the plastic bin. Many towns recycle the two together.

Is your kitchen as green as you want it? Use this Earth Day weekend to re-valuate your family's habits. Changing them may help save the planet in a small but very important way.

Cleaning Out Your Dietary Closet

I recently went through a rough week of gall and stomach problems. The reason for these problems I had created such a toxic diet  for myself. It took a week of throwing out and skipping all that junky food. Mine was not a healthy diet to begin with, with a overload of salty , sweet and fried. it was time to clean out.

One of the biggest taboos for anyone with gall problems is caffeinated drinks.That meant nixing the Pepsi along with hot cocoa out of my life. Luckily I am a big BAI fan and it was easy to change over to this tasty but all natural juice (also luckily their newest flavor is Kula Watermelon, a lovely light flavor that reminds one of hot summer nights eating chilled slices of melon).Grape and apple juice are also gallbladder diet must haves.Again, I love grape juice so this was a big plus to switch over (another good thing about grape juice - it freezes well so I will be making ice pops this summer with it) The herbal tea switchover takes some getting used to - herbal blends sometimes have a medicinal taste and aftertaste to them. Chamomile is the best  and can be tempered with  a small drop of dark honey. The diet also requires subbing in honey and agave for sugar. Water is a definite must. It helps to flush everything from the liver to the gallbladder. I will have to give up the usual glass of tap to spring water, which is always a plus.

Fried food and snacks are big cholesterol causers, Cholesterol is the main ingredient in gall stones and sludge, a kind of slimy grit that can clog up gall ducts . Potato chips are definitely off the table as are French fries. Surprisingly there is a substitiute. Green beans. Steam them first and then chill with a simple vinaigrette dressing (olive oil and vinegar are allowed, in fact the last is encouraged).Eat them with your fingers and it has that fun finger food feel. You can also just steam and pat dry with a paper towel. They then can be dipped into a homemade vinaigrette for less mess..If you want you can add some fruit  such as blueberry or pomegranate to the vinegar for  a delicate sweet flavor. Kale, along with Brussels sprouts will be turned into tasty chips if I want a fun snack. Garbanzo beans are another can eat.I have already made hummus, a lighter version of what 's sold in the stores. This recipe I found a few years ago on the internet and it is easy to make.I'ts mixing pureed cannelini and white beans with a tablespoon or two of olive oil and the juice of half a fresh lemon.

This is only the beginning of the new diet. Tomorrow I'll be highlighting the new meal plan I'll be following. It's another step to acquiring good gut health.

The Day After

Most fridges across America are still stuffed to the gills with yesterday's party food. It's always wonderful to have tables groaning with food and drink. It shows that we're good hosts who care for our guests. However what happens when those tables are still groaning afterwards when the party has ended. What do we do?

Luckily some dishes like chicken wings and ribs can be reheated and recycled with some potato salad for the next day's dinner. Ditto the cold cuts and extra rolls plus they can also be made into tasty lunches too. Any sour cream based dip will last for a few days as long as it's covered and stored in the fridge. You can even have it again with veggies as a fun alternative to a regular meal. Extra veggies themselves can be cut down and made into soup or salad ingredients

You can also get creative with some of the other leftovers. Take pretzel, tortilla or potato chips and crush them finely for a different kind of bread crumb. Using them makes for much more interesting fried chicken and tempura. Cold cuts can be sliced up for a nice Cobb salad. Guacamole can be used as a spread in sandwiches or even used for taco or tortilla filling (note : guacamole's shelf life is only a day or two, try to use it within this time frame). Leftover pita bread can be baked into chips or used as a base for homemade pizzas.

Party leftovers needn't be so scary. You can use them recycle them in a variety of ways that your family will still enjoy. Just be creative and you'll have an empty fridge!