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Kitchen Hint: Chopping Nuts

Sunday, April 7th, 2013
Whole walnut kernel

Whole walnut kernel

by Catherine Haug, April 7, 2013

Thanks to Jean H. for this kitchen hint.

(Walnut photo, right, from Wikipedia; knife photo, below, from Amazon)

How do you chop nuts?

If you use a food processor, you know that they can quickly be reduced to a paste, as the processor extracts oil from the nuts.

Most chefs use a Chef’s Knife in a rocking motion over the nuts on a cutting board or counter. But this requires holding your fingers on the nuts as you chop – risking bits of finger in the nuts….

If you use a knife on a board or counter, you know that they tend to scatter all over the counter as you chop. To minimize scattering, use a bread knife – the kind that has a scalloped serrated cutting edge, as in photo, below.

Wusthof Bread Knife

Wusthof Bread Knife

For more ideas on chopping nuts by hand, see:

Posted in Food-Nutrition-Health, Kitchen Hints | 2 Comments »

GMO Alfalfa in the Flathead?

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013
Alfalfa

Alfalfa

by Catherine Haug, April 3, 2013

(photo, right, from Wikipedia)

Two years ago, on January 27, 2011, the USDA approved Roundup-Ready GMO alfalfa for planting. You can view this history and read pertinent documents on the USDA’s Roundup-Ready Alfalfa website.

Originally, USDA Chief Vilsak had assured Organic growers that there would be restrictions on how close this new crop could be planted to Organic alfalfa fields, but he did not follow through with that promise; instead, he gave a green light to unrestricted planting of this crop. See Grist: In a stunning reversal, USDA chief Vilsack greenlights Monsanto’s alfalfa from Jan 2011.

What does this mean for Flathead farmers and ranchers? What does this mean for those who raise a dairy cow or goat for the family milk? (more…)

Posted in GMO, Home & Ranch, Livestock, Organics | Comments Closed

Update on Honeybees and Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013

Honeybeeby Catherine Haug, April 2, 2013

(Photo of honeybee, right, from Bug Guide)

It is becoming more and more clear that pesticides are largely responsible for the decimation of honeybees by colony collapse disorder, and that Big Ag is to blame. (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Ecology | Comments Closed

Kitchen Hint: Storing Produce to Last

Monday, April 1st, 2013

by Catherine Haug, March 28, 2013

Soon we will be planting our gardens and before you know it, we’ll be harvesting our bounty, or receiving our live CSA dividends. But then what do you do with all that produce? How do you store it for use in the near future, or to last through the winter?

Experts say the average American wastes $2000 worth of food during the year, simply by not storing it properly or not using it before it needs to be added to compost. (more…)

Posted in Food-Nutrition-Health, Home & Ranch, Kitchen Hints | Comments Closed

“Trashed” – 20 minute documentary about trash

Sunday, March 24th, 2013

by Catherine Haug, March 24, 2013

Dedicate 20 minutes of your valuable time to watch this documentary with your family. I know I’m ‘preaching to the choir,’ as our ESP community is very aware of the problems of our throw-away society. But this short film really brings it home, and I urge you to share this with others who are not as aware.

You can view it here >> Snag Films: Trashed.

Or scroll down to the embedded video player.

NOTE: the film takes 2 short breaks for a Pillsbury ad…

Next month – April 22- is Earthday; this year’s theme is the Face of Climate Change. Our overwhelming burden of trash has a lot to do with climate change, as a major portion of our everyday trash is plastic, and the manufacture of plastic is a major contributor to atmospheric pollution that fuels the greenhouse effect.

Is recycling the solution?

(more…)

Posted in Ecology, Home & Ranch, Recycle, Repurpose, Simplify | Comments Closed

The Plight of the Bumblebee

Monday, March 18th, 2013
Bumblebee with loaded pollen baskets

Bumblebee with loaded pollen baskets

by Catherine Haug, March 18, 2013

(photo, right, from Wikipedia)

The same chemical factors that are harming honeybees (colony collapse disorder) may also be having a negative impact on ground-dwelling bumblebees.

But that’s not the only thing endangering our native bumblebees. And as we lose honeybees, our native pollinators like bumblebees and mason bees will become increasingly important. We need to do all we can to ensure their survival and increase, or we will have serious problems in our food supply.

According to a short article in April/May issue of National Wildlife Magazine: Bumblebees seek biodiverse blooms, there are two things each of us can do to help bumblebees. Two things that have nothing to do with pesticides and other chemicals: (more…)

Posted in Ecology, Gardening, Home & Ranch, Landscaping | Comments Closed

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