Archive for November, 2010

Warning: These Foods Could Be Hazardous To Your Health

November 28, 2010

lenny naar

 

Recently, cigarette companies began placing graphic warnings on their packages, including photographs of rotten teeth, throat cancer, and a corpse with a toe tag.

This practice sparked yet another wave of debate, in the ongoing saga of our constitutional rights to harm ourselves, vs. the government’s role in protecting us.

jessica walsh

The New York Times engaged artists to imagine what it might look like, if food producers were required to post warnings about the effects of their products on our lives. Would this change how you view unhealthy foods?

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Unrecipe of the Week: Thanksgiving Edition

November 23, 2010

Here is a savory muffin that is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. This recipe is based on one from Gourmet magazine.

Cheddar Corn Muffins with Jalapeño Butter

For the muffins:
Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Brush muffin cups with melted butter.

Whisk together 2 cups cornmeal, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. baking powder and ½ tsp. baking soda in a bowl.

In another bowl, whisk together ¾ cup corn, 1 ¼ cups buttermilk, 1 egg, and 5 tablespoons of melted butter.

Stir dry mixture into wet mixture. Add 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.

Pour mixture into muffin tins, and sprinkle with ¼ cup of cheese.

Bake about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed,

Serve with Jalapeño Butter.

Jalapeño Butter:

Mix one stick of softened butter, 1 finely chopped jalapeño pepper and ¼ teaspoon salt.

Serve with Cheddar Corn Muffins and ENJOY!!!

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Unrecipe of the Week / Thanksgiving Edition

November 22, 2010

Here is a delicious paste of roasted garlic and fresh rosemary to rub under the skin of the turkey or added to the gravy for a rich, vibrant flavor.

Trim the ends off of 6 full heads of garlic and drizzle them with olive oil. Roast in a 350 degree oven in a glass dish covered with foil for about 1 ½ hours, or until the garlic is soft but not yet brown.
Cool, and squeeze the cloves to remove the garlic from the peel.

Place them in the food processor and add ½ stick of butter, 2 tablespoons of fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard, and a liberal amount of salt and pepper. Process until it becomes a semi-smooth paste. Cover and chill until ready to use.

I tuck a little under the skin of the turkey, and rub some all over the bird before roasting. I also reserve some for the gravy. Yum!

Enjoy!!!

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Can It

November 16, 2010

BPA (Bisphenol-A), a chemical present in plastic bottles and cans is a known health risk to humans. It mimics the hormone estrogen, and can disturb the working of certain genes. We previously discussed the hazards of BPA, including early puberty, infertility and cancer risk in our previous post “ Eliminate A Plastic Bottle A Day To Keep The Doctor Away. “ (January 18, 2010)

Recently, despite the claim by the World Health Organization that it is unnecessary, Canada has banned BPA from all food products. The Federal Drug Administration in the U.S. suggests “limited exposure’ to the product, pending further testing.

In this country, an estimated 92% of all canned goods contain BPAs.  Although there is no law requiring manufacturers to label their products as containing BPA, the following is a list of the brands that do not use BPA in their canned goods, as reported by Treehugger:

Eden Organic

Some products by Trader Joe’s

Vital Choice

Oregon’s Choice

Wild Planet

Eco Fish

Native Forest

Native Factor

Other options include items in glass bottles and paper tetrapcks, such as Pomi tomato products.
Kudos to these manufacturers for making the effort to keep our food safe and healthy.

Photo: Glasshouse Images

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Four Loko

November 12, 2010

Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink, is being banned at colleges across the country, and in the entire state of Michigan.

The drink contains 12% alcohol, roughly the equivalent of 6 beers, and as much caffeine as 2 cups of coffee. (Lest I digress, it also packs 66o calories per serving, and few stop at just one!) The combination is literally lethal, sending 23 students at a Washington area university to the hospital with alcohol poisoning, and a 19-year-old student suffered cardiac arrest as a result of ingesting the drink.

Dubbed “black out in a can” and “liquid crack” by its users, the drink allows for both quick inebriation and the increased energy to party the night away.

Colleges have issued warnings on the beverages, as well as a few which have banned the product on campuses completely.

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Unrecipe of the Week

November 10, 2010

 

This salad is delicious and beautiful to look at.  It is a great accompaniment to a holiday meal!

Chopped Endive Salad with Avocado and Gruyere

Thinly slice 3 endives

Chop 1 green apple

Dice about 1/3 cup of Gruyere cheese and 1 avocado

Add corn kernals.

Toss with the juice of 1 lemon and a drizzle of good quality olive oil.

Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper.

Top with pomegranate seeds.

Enjoy!

Note: The lemon juice keeps the avocado and the apple from turning brown. Be sure to mix it immediately!

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The New Green Machines

November 7, 2010



I have often wondered why health clubs don’t harness the energy produced on its cardio equipment to power the gym.

Enter Green Revolution, a company that has created the technology to convert this energy to clean electricity, without increasing our greenhouse gas levels.

According to the company, the amount of energy produced during an average group cycling class, depending on the intensity and speed of the cyclers, can produce about 3 kilowatts of energy. With only 20 bikes and 4 classes a day, they can produce enough energy to light a home for 6 months!

The energy created is connected to the electrical grid with a grid-tied inverter, which places the energy back on the grid to be used in lieu of fossil fuels.

Currently, the Green Revolution technology is only available for stationary bikes. However, it has been successfully tested on other cardio equipment, and will be made available soon for elliptical, recumbent bikes and stair stepping machines.

Want to know how else your spinning class can change the world? Log onto cycleforsurvival.org and become a supporter of Shari’s Spinners.

photo: glasshouse images

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Knitty City

November 2, 2010

Knitty City, the Upper West Side yarn emporium’s Wednesday evening knitting circle seems like any other. Needles clack, and idle conversation ebbs and flows.  All quite commonplace, until you realize that all of the participants are men.

According to a marketing consultant in the yarn industry, knitting is making a comeback, fueled by young men breaking into the world of fashion, and progressive schools, such as the Waldorf School, who have incorporated it into their curriculum.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal chronicles the male knitting phenomenon and the men who enjoy it.

The men cite positive effects on neurological development, and the meditative state brought on by the repetitiveness of the craft as the reasons they like to knit.  The social aspect of the Wednesday evening knitting circle, is also a draw, and the satisfaction of creating something practical and wearable is an added benefit.

Knitty City offers a wide range of yarns and needles, as well as classes for beginners and children in addition to their men’s night. Check out their site for more details.

photo: Glasshouse Images

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