Greenista Girl Brianne used to can with her mom when she was little. Aw ... the '80s.
Visiting Author
To preserve the taste of summer year-round, head to your local farmer’s market. Plums and tomatoes are bountiful during this season and perfect for canning and preserving. With a basic canning set and a block of weekend time, you can whip up tasty jams or comforting pasta sauces to enjoy during the chilly winter months.
Greenista Girl Sasha purchased a canning set from Ball for under $100 – complete with a cooling rack, jars, and lids – and a Pretty Pantry Gifts labeling set to decorate her Christmas gifts. To save money at the farmer’s market, she uses insider lingo and asks for “seconds,” which are slightly bruised product that aren’t put out on display but come with a cheaper price tag, so you can fill up on pounds of fresh goodies for your homemade concoctions. For recipes, check out Ready Made and the latest issue of Whole Living. So get in the kitchen and start mixing!
Written by Greenista Girl Sasha
Photo by SweetPreservation.com
With your newfound homesteading skills, you’ll support local farmers, save money, and keep nasty food preservatives out of your body by making everything from scratch.
Greenista Girl Shubhra loves that she can use her sturdy metal spatulas without banging up and scratching the Scanpan frypan.
Shubhra
Stuck on using non-stick cookware but worried about its safety? Problem solved – the Scanpan line of non-stick cookware is safe, durable, and eco-friendly. It is the first PFOA-free and PTFE-free nonstick cookware (which means no Teflon), and is made of recycled aluminum with a ceramic titanium finish that’s 10 times harder than steel. So you can use metal utensils and stick it in the dishwasher without damaging it. What’s even better is that the thick bases are designed to cook with less energy as you braise, sear, deglaze, or cook in the oven (up to 500 °F). So no need to walk … er, cook on eggshells anymore … fry up and enjoy that egg in the morning on a Scanpan non-stick pan with no worries!
Written by Greenista Girl Shubhra
Photos by Crate and Barrel
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a carcinogen in animals, is used in the production of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). PTFE is also known by the brand name Teflon and is used as a non-stick coating for pans and other cookware. PTFE begins to deteriorate after the temperature of cookware reaches about 500 °F, so it is better to cook with pans that do not have PTFE in them.
Some stores even give you a discount for bringing your own bags. Just ask!
Shubhra
Next time the bagger at the grocery store asks “paper or plastic?”, say neither and pop out your reusable grocery totes. Heads may turn, but you’re not the one who has to feel guilty about deforestation or adding another plastic bag to the landfill. You can pick up reusable totes at almost any grocery store these days … so there really is no excuse. We love the reusable totes that have a wide base perfect for easily fitting milk cartons and the ones with wide straps that are super comfy on your shoulder. Plus, reusable totes are often more sturdy than paper or plastic. That means they hold more and you have less bags to carry! We also use the bags to fill with goodies to take on picnics, and to lug cardboard and heavy papers to the recycling center. So don’t rag on the bag lady … be one instead!
Written by Greenista Girl Shubhra
Photos by Corbis Image
Plastic bags often end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans and are a huge hazard to marine life. The bags can be swallowed or wrapped around the necks or fins of animals. They also poison the waters around them as they leach chemicals into the water.
Unlike traditional lights, solar lanterns give off a more soothing glow for a more romantic atmosphere.
Shubhra
Do you know what time it is? Lights out. And by out, we mean outside in your garden. Outdoor solar lights and lanterns are a great way to light up your backyard and have a festive atmosphere every evening. Just pick a spot to light up, stick the solar light in the dirt, and let the sun do its job and power the light. Seriously … it couldn’t be easier. No wires, cords, electricity, timers, or switches. When the sun goes down, the lights come on. Easy peasy. And best of all, no bills. Greenista Girl Shubhra likes to stick the solar lights in her balcony garden, but you can also use them to line your driveway and all around your front or back yard. We love how it works great for outdoor nighttime parties and also keeps areas safely lit without dangerous flames. And the lights turn off themselves when the sun comes up, so no energy is wasted. Now we can all sleep better.
Written by Greenista Girl Shubhra
Photo by Target
Solar power has tons of benefits. It’s eco-friendly since its uses no carbon fuels. It’s a free, natural and renewable energy source, and for every solar light you use in place of a traditional bulb, you will see a drop in your electric bill.
Try using white pepper to avoid those little black bits.
Shubhra
Wannabe healthy but need your snack to taste good too? “Stop right now” and make this spicy fruit salad from Greenista Girl Shubhra’s Indian cookbook, Entice with Spice: Easy Indian recipes for Busy People – it gives a tangy twist to sweet, sugary fruits. You can use any combination of organic fruits you prefer, or whatever is growing in your garden … Greenista Girl Shubhra uses the guavas from her own guava tree! We love that we can easily make this salad before a party and serve this delicious fruit salad as an appetizer.
Spiced Fruit Salad
Serves 6 to 8
- 1 guava, chopped into bite-size cubes (peel on)
- 1 red apple, chopped into bite-size cubes (peel on)
- 1 pear, chopped into bite-size cubes (peel on)
- 1 peach, chopped into bite-size cubes (peel on)
- 1 cup green grapes
- 1 banana
- 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Juice of 1 lime
Place the guava, apple, pear, peach and grapes in a large serving bowl. Cut the banana into 1/4-inch slices and place in the bowl. Add the red pepper, salt, black pepper, and lime juice. Mix well and enjoy!
Written by Greenista Girl Shubhra
Photos by Entice with Spice
Cayenne gets its heat from the natural chemical compound called capsaicin which has many medicinal properties. Capsaicin is used to treat poor circulation, weak digestion, heart disease, chronic pain, sore throats, headaches, and toothache.
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