as tainted tomatoes show, local food is best

People all across the country have been sickened by bad tomatoes. Despite much effort to discover the answer, we have yet to learn the original source of the contaminated fruit. Could any news story be crying out "eat local" more than this one?

Source of Tainted Tomatoes Still Unknown

When you buy your food from local sources, you know who grew it. You know where they grew it and you can ask how they grew it. If you have concerns about a practice, you can talk it over with the people who have control over the ways your food is produced.

When you buy your food from a massive industrial food chain, you can become sickened (just the way people all across the nation have) and have no way of knowing who made you sick or how. And you certainly aren't going to get anyone to speak with you about your concerns.

Go out and meet the people growing and producing food in your community. See what they have to offer. This is the prime time of year to develop such relationships. Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), farmers markets and local farms and ranches are in operation everywhere. Look for options in your area on the Local Harvest website.

Technorati Tags: policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee.

easy, healthy summer recipes

Fresh produce, mild flavors and minimal prep work are the key to satisfying summertime meals. These recipes are fun and full of flavor, but won’t keep you tied up in the kitchen.

Greek Salad
from Epicurious.com

I can enjoy a greek salad anytime, but something about the garden fresh tomatoes and cucumbers this time of year calls out for this kind of recipe. The fresh flat leaf parsley flourishing in my garden made it imperative that I add this to my summer meal planning routine.

3/4 pound tomatoes, seeded, diced (about 2 cups)
2 cups diced seeded peeled cucumber (from about 1 large)
1 cup diced red bell pepper (from about 1 large)
1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives or other brine-cured black olives, halved
1/4 cup diced red onion
3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 2 ounces)

Toss first 9 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Gently mix in cheese. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

Serve with Mediterranean Grilled Chicken.


Southwestern Turkey Club
from Everyday Food

Sandwiches are a great option in the summer when you want to avoid heating up your kitchen and grab something light when you’re on the go.

8 slices bacon (8 ounces), fully cooked
4 turkey cutlets (4 ounces each)
coarse salt and ground pepper
1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 to 2 Tbsp. chopped pickled jalapeno chiles
12 slices whole-wheat sandwich bread, lightly toasted
1 tomato, thinly sliced
:
Season turkey generously with salt and pepper. Cook on outdoor grill over medium heat until cooked through, approximately 10 minutes, turning once.

In a small bowl, mash avocado, lime juice, and chiles with a fork; season with salt and pepper.

Spread avocado mixture on one side of each slice of toast. Layer turkey, bacon, tomato, and toast to form four triple-decker sandwiches. To serve, skewer with toothpicks; slice in half with a serrated knife.

Serve with blue corn tortilla chips and fresh salsa.


Caesar-Chicken Pasta Salad
from Cooking Light

Pasta salad is a summer staple, but this twist on the classic, which incorporates the flavors of a Caesar salad, is a less predictable choice.

3 cups (about 12 ounces) skinned, shredded roasted chicken breast
3 cups hot cooked penne (about 6 ounces uncooked tubular-shaped pasta)
2 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup fat-free Caesar dressing
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 (4-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese
1 garlic clove, minced

Combine all ingredents in a large bowl; toss well to coat.

Serve with crudite and fresh, seasonal fruit.


Grilled Vegetables with Basil Aioli
from iVlllage

This recipe is sure to become a modern classic for the vegetarians in your crowd. And it combines fresh produce with the grill, making it perfect for summer living.

Basil Aioli
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup torn basil leaves
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 large red peppers, quartered, core and seeds removed
1 eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
1 orange sweet potato, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
3 zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 red onions, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1/3 cup olive oil
1 loaf Turkish bread, split and cut into 4 equal pieces (I used flat pita bread instead.)

To make the basil aioli, put the garlic, basil and egg yolk in a food processor and blend until smooth. With the motor running, gradually add the oil in a thin stream until the mixture thickens. Stir in the lemon juice and season to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Preheat a barbecue grill to medium. Put the pepper, skin side down, around the cool edge of the grill and cook it for 8-10 minutes or until the skin has softened and is blistering.

Meanwhile, brush the eggplant, sweet potato, zucchini and onion slices on both sides with olive oil and season them lightly. Cook the vegetables in batches on the middle of the grill for 5-8 minutes or until they are cooked through but still firm. As the vegetable pieces cook, put them on a tray in a single layer to prevent them from steaming, then grill the Turkish (or pita) bread on both sides until it is lightly marked and toasted.

Spread both cut sides of the bread with 1 tablespoon of basil aioli and pile some of the grilled vegetables on top. Top with the remaining toast and serve immediately.


Broiled Garlic Turkey Burgers

Turkey burgers can be bland and boring. But this version adds a few punches of flavor and gives you a delicious, healthy alternative to ground beef burgers.

1 lb. lean ground turkey
1/2 cup refrigerated shredded hashbrown potatoes (or frozen, thawed hash browns)
2 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. seasoned salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Shape into 4 evenly-sized patties.

Cook on outdoor grill over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until no longer pink in center and thoroughly cooked, turning once.

Serve with seasoned, grilled New Potatoes and cole slaw.


Technorati Tags: policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee.

climate change bill dies in Senate

Days after the start of debate on a cap-and-trade bill to control greenhouse gas emissions, the bill was defeated in the Senate Friday. Republicans blocked continued debate due to other partisan disagreements.

Climate Bill Stalls in Senate

As the first stand-alone climate change bill to ever reach the Senate floor, the bill still holds great importance and signifies a shift in perspective regarding the seriousness of global warming and emissions.

The bill was not expected to pass, as it was criticized by conversatives concerned about already exorbanant gas prices and by environmentalists as too limited.

Technorati Tags: policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee.

Tyson forced to remove antibiotic-free label

The US Department of Agriculture has ordered Tyson to remove the "antibiotic-free" label from its poultry products by June 18.

Tyson Ordered to Pull Antibiotic-Free Label by June 18

Despite the labeling to the contrary, Tyson regularly uses antibiotics in its hatcheries.

Technorati Tags: policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee.

'MythBuster' tackles the future of energy

Check out this Q&A from Mother Jones magazine with Jamie Hyneman, a co-host of the Discovery Channel's MythBusters. He breaks down some kookie alternate energy options, everything from algae to cow manure, and explains why they are or are not remotely viable.

Power Q&A: Jamie Hyneman

On the Discovery Channel's MythBusters Jamie Hyneman slays urban legends with the greatest of ease. Since he's also a weird-energy enthusiast (he once powered a small rocket with a salami), we asked him to help us separate the big ideas from the duds on the energy frontier.

Technorati Tags: policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee

Planet Green, first green network, to debut tonight

Television's first all-green channel, Planet Green, will debut this evening.

Planet Green

This latest project of the Discovery Channel will feature eco-oriented programming, most of which has been aired already on it's existing networks. I've seen some of these programs, such as Wasted and Living with Ed, and I enjoyed them and learned from them.

I'm especially excited to see Greensburg, a program about the rebuilding of the small Kansas town that was destroyed by a horrible tornado on May 4 last year. The town has made it a goal to rebuild according to LEED Platinum standards. I admire their desire to make a positive thing out of such a sad event. Another cool fact: the show's executive producer is Leonardo DiCaprio.

This channel will be an excellent way to provide people all across the country with accessible information on greening their lives. Head over and check out the website when you have a chance. There is lots of good online content and opportunities for interacting with others who share your passion for green living.

Technorati Tags: media, planet green, living with ed, wasted, greensburg, policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee.

NASA global warming studies 'mischaracterized'

The NASA inspector general revealed in a report released on Monday that political appointees to the NASA press office marginalized and mischaracterized the agency's studies on global warming between 2004 and 2006.

NASA Watchdog Says Press Office Distorted Climate Studies


You can download the entire 42 page report at this link:

NASA Office of Inspector General Report, June 2, 2008

Technorati Tags: policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee.

US Senate begins debate on cap & trade global warming bill

The New York Times reports that the U.S. Senate began debate yesterday on a bill to control climate climate change.

Senate Opens Debate on Politically Risky Bill Addressing Global Warming

The proposed legislation would cap production of greenhouse gases and force polluters to buy permits to account for their emissions.

The basic cap-and-trade policy underlying the bill is supported by all three remaining presidential candidates, but would increase energy prices at a time when Americans are paying more than ever for fuel.

According to the Times:

The measure would reduce American production of climate-altering gases by nearly 70 percent from current levels by 2050. It would provide billions of dollars in subsidies for energy conservation and environmentally clean technologies, creating millions of jobs, proponents say.

The sale of the permits would raise more than $5 trillion for the government in the coming decades, money that the bill proposes to distribute to affected industries, consumers and local governments in one of the biggest programs of redistribution of American wealth in history. The bill’s proponents say the money would help pay for a technological leap that would create millions of new jobs while cleaning the atmosphere.

Debate of the bill could last the rest of the week. Most experts would be surprised to see any action taken on the bill at this time, however. Proponents of this type of change and opponents of this bill alike have expressed concerns about whether this is the right time to enact such far reaching legislation.

Technorati Tags: policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee.

women's rights & the environment

In an interview last week, NPR Talk of the Nation discussed "More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want," a new book about the connection between women's rights and the environment with its author, Robert Engelman. Engleman says the availability of contraceptives holds implications for climate change.

Women's Rights, Healthy Planet

The interview is a good listen and sounds like the book will be a good read.

Technorati Tags: policy, ecology, environment, medication, health

Content by Diana E. Lee.