Eating Vegan and Green in 2012!
With little (or no) extra effort you can start eating green AND vegan today!
1. If you are new to vegan eating, start by serving one non-meat, plant-based meal each week for dinner, preparing hardy favorites like veggie chili, vegetarian lasagna, or spaghetti with marinara sauce. Check out the "Jazzy Recipes" page for free recipes, to get you started.
2. Buy locally grown, vegetables and herbs whenever they are available. Or, as weather permits, try growing some of your own produce (especially herbs) in containers on your deck, or in a small garden patch. Small pots of herbs grown on a sunny windowsill in your kitchen provide pleasant aromas, while offering fresh cuttings to cook with. I grow fresh herbs on my deck from mid-May to early October.
3. Buy organic fruit whenever it is available and/or affordable. Try buying locally grown, seasonal varieties when they are obtainable in your area.
4. Use mashed bananas or whipped organic tofu to replace eggs in many baked goods recipes. This works especially well when making muffins, brownies, and many cake recipes. Check out my super delicious "Brownies" and "Upside-Down Apple Cake" recipes on my "Jazzy Recipes" page... a jazzylicious way to start!
5. Use vegan rice, soy, almond, cashew, coconut, or oat "milk" for topping cereals, or as a substitute for dairy milk in almost any recipe.
6. Buy vegan, fair trade, dark chocolate which is healthier for the planet, while helping to build equitable and sustainable trading partnerships by creating opportunities to alleviate poverty.
7. Serve whole grain pasta and whole grains (such as rice, quinoa, barley, teff and millet), available at many supermarkets. The organic varieties are very affordable these days.
8. Buy organic, whole grain breads, tortillas, and crackers. Sprouted "flourless" breads are a great alternative and available at many stores.
9. Buy or make natural, organic nut butters, made without trans fats and with no added sugar. A few varieties to try are: peanut, almond, hazelnut, and cashew butters. Pair them with natural jellys and jams that also have no sugar added.
10. Overall, buy locally whenever possible. Shop at your local farmers market when possible or consider joining a near-by organic or certified naturally grown farm cooperative.
Jazzy Vegetarian tips for Living Green: DAILY on Twitter!
________________________________________________
JAZZY GREEN CLEANING TIPS with Baking Soda!
Many of us are looking for time saving, economical, and earth friendly ways to keep our homes tidy and clean. For many years I have been cleaning with non-toxic products that are biodegradable, phosphate free, and earth friendly. Using these "greener" products may help to reduce the presence of un-wanted chemicals in your home, while helping to reduce your carbon footprint. Today, there are many wonderful commercial green cleaning solutions available in most supermarkets.
One of the stars of my “Green Clean Team” is Baking Soda! Baking Soda is an earth friendly product that has numerous uses around your home. Inexpensive and easy to use, it is my favorite, “all purpose” cleanser.
MY TOP TEN uses for BAKING SODA
1) Use Baking Soda to scrub your kitchen sink. (Baking Soda also helps to deodorize the drain.)
2) Use Baking Soda to clean your bathtub. Wet the surface, sprinkle liberally, let set for a few minutes, scrub clean and rinse thoroughly.
3) Use Baking Soda to scrub and deodorize the cat litter pan. (rinse thoroughly)
4) Use Baking Soda in your refrigerator and freezer to absorb un-pleasant odors, Open a small box, tear off the top and place in the back of a lower shelf. Replace box every few months.
5) Use Baking Soda as a cleanser for your pots and pans to remove stubborn stains and food particles.
6) Use Baking Soda to clean your oven. Sprinkle liberally with Baking Soda and wet with water (use spray bottle for best results) Let sit for 1/2 hour and wipe away debris and burnt on food. Repeat if needed. Rinse very well and dry thoroughly.
7) Use Baking Soda in the bottom of your garbage pail to deodorize and absorb un-pleasant odors.
8) Use Baking Soda to remove stains on the kitchen counter top. Wet the area slightly, sprinkle with baking soda, let sit for a few minutes and scrub clean.
9) Use Baking Soda along with distilled white vinegar to help unclog a slow running drain. Pour in 1/2-cup baking soda and then pour in 1 cup vinegar. It will fizzle up. Let stand for about 30 minutes. Pour in about two cups hot water. This will help to loosen dirt in your drain.
10) Use Baking Soda for baking! (it IS baking soda!)
Jazzy Vegetarian tips for Living Green: DAILY on Twitter!
