MEAT FREE MONDAY

Want to do something small to save the environment, but not jump drastically into vegetarianism? Try Meat Free Monday. This initiative, started by Paul McCartney, uses the logic of environmentalism to help people see the benefits of being meat free. I appreciate it because not all people can be convinced to not eat animals, but many understand the importance of small steps towards environmentalism.

Here are some facts written by Paul McCartney but based of the 2006 U.N. report.

• The Livestock industry produces gases that are extremely dangerous for the future of our environment.
• The two main gases, methane and nitrous oxide, are considered to be more harmful than CO2 (methane is 21 times more powerful than CO2 and nitrous oxide is 310 times more powerful than CO2) so the data suggests that this is causing a highly dangerous situation for ourselves and, more importantly, for future generations.
• Methane also remains in the atmosphere for 9 to 15 years; nitrous oxide remains in the atmosphere for 114 years, on average, and is 296 times more potent than CO2 - the gases released today will continue to be active in degrading the climate decades from now.
• Livestock production is land intensive: a recent report by Greenpeace on land use in the largest meat producing state in Brazil found that livestock (cattle) production was responsible for vastly more deforestation than soya.
• A third of all cereal crops, and well over 90% of soya, goes into animal feed, not food for humans. Eating less meat will free up a lot of agricultural land which can revert to growing trees and other vegetation, which, in turn, will absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Livestock production is water intensive: it accounts for around 8% of global human water use. The estimated 634 gallons of fresh water required to produce one 5.2 ounce (150g) beef burger would be enough for a four-hour shower. For comparison, the same quantity of tofu requires 143 gallons of water to produce.
• Livestock production is the largest source of water pollutants, principally animal wastes, antibiotics, hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and pesticides used for feed crops, and sediments from eroded pastures.
• The meat industry is set to double its production by 2050 so even if they manage to lower emissions by 50%, as they have promised to, we will still be in the same position.
• from http://goop.com/newsletter/68/en/

Consider that each meal you consume is a vote. Why not vote for better environmental practice and fairer treatment of animals? Who knows, one day may turn into two days, and two into three. In the end, you can see the benefits of a meat free lifestyle!  So, this Monday, and future Mondays, cast your vote by not eating fish and/or meat.

Meat Free Monday Website: http://www.supportmfm.org/

Two Layer Bean Quesadilla

When I stopped eating meat at 12, my parents were very supportive. I had gone to England with the two of them, and no siblings. I remember sitting alone in my hotel room and watching a documentary about the meat industry. The movie shook my core, and I stopped eating meat right there. Because I was always a very healthy eater, my mom felt that I could manage the diet. She required me to read up on how to have a balanced diet vegetarian, which I did. But, my mother, who cooked for a family of five, met a dilemma: make an entirely separate meal for me or help me to find easy ways to supplement. Announcing she was not a short order cook, we worked together to come up with ways for me to eat with everyone. Sometimes, there were meals that I definitely couldn't eat, but to prepare my mom would make this dish, which I ate over several days. I have an odd sentimentality for this dish because it is the meal she made to help me attain my goal and it was the first hearty vegetarian thing I learned to make. 

Note: I usually double the recipe and make two at a time. Share one for dinner, and cut the other into fourths for lunches.


Two Layer Bean Quesadilla
Ingredients

• 3  whole wheat tortillas
• 1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 can or 1 cup of cooked fresh corn
• 1 red pepper chopped
• 1 yellow pepper chopped
• 1 white onion chopped
• 1 package of shredded Mexican cheese
• 1 tb of cayenne pepper
• 1 tb of olive oil

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375
2. On a baking sheet, lay out foil to protect the sheet.
3. Place one tortilla on the foil.
4. Sprinkle the next five ingredients (the veggies) on the tortilla, creating a consistent layer.

5. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese on top of the layer, and place a tortilla on top.
6. Repeat step 4.
7. Cover with a tortilla and sprinkle it with cayenne pepper, then drizzle olive oil on top.

8. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the tortilla is slightly crispy and the cheese melted. Divide each pie into fours.

The Face on YOUR Plate.

Sometimes you need a little motivation, and I am in desperate need of that right now. I have been moving back into my old pescetarian diet, but with the random consumption of chicken. I knew it was time to read The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food. This is a book I have been avoiding for awhile, because I knew that it would scare me from meat and fish, but I need that right now.

The book, written by a vegan, uses logic and facts to really examine eating meat. I like it because the author, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson is blunt about what meat consumption actually is, and what the industry is doing to us. He looks at the environment, health, and science, which reveals some scary truths, such as "It takes 13,000 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef." Yikes, that alone made me not want to eat another burger again, but the section on animal waste topped it off. He wisely aces through all of the counter-arguments for eating meat, and reveals that there is no excuse for killing. He has clearly done his research, and it shows throughout the book.

My only criticism is the introduction. I find that food writing has an obnoxious trap that I find myself falling into. It is self-indulgent. At times Masson comes across as self-righteous and oh-so-perfect. The reality is, that people aren't perfect and that pretending you are is alienating. More vegetarians and vegans need to understand that for some people conversion happens slowly, not everyone can be a born again. So, there I am, somewhere on the path towards vegetarianism, and the book helped remind me of why I am on the journey.

Kitchen Objects and Memory

About two months after my grandmother died, I stumbled upon a generous Williams-Sonoma gift certificate she and my grandfather gave us. It was a Christmas gift, which slid into a pile of papers, only to be discovered during a period of mourning. It was hard to digest. Here, I have the last gift from my grandmother, oh the pressure. AAM and I decided that we wanted to get something of heirloom quality, no oils and herbs with this gift certificate. We talked about a special plate or Le Crueset pan. I revisit the Williams-Sonoma website every few weeks searching for the cooking heirloom that would represent my grandmother. I look for something Italian, which would make her proud. I try to come up with the perfect gift that reminds me of her. I want to look at that object and think of her. However, perhaps because I am not ready for this gift and the finality of her passing, I close the computer and walk away. I won't even enter the brick and mortar store, because I know the trip would consist of hopeless wandering through kitchen trinkets. The entire thing is a seemingly trivial sentimentailty weighing on my shoulder.

When my grandmother passed, my aunts helped the grandchildren pick out a piece of her jewelry that reminded them of her. Although there were some wonderfully fancy pieces, my heart was set on a simple mother and child gold piece. I don't wear gold, but she wore that necklace so often that I can't picture my grandmother not wearing it. Now, I wear it when I am sad or think of her. I can touch it and be reminded of her heart. Because I couldn't wear it when I was getting my c-section, AAM wore it under his scrubs. It was my hope that she was there, and hopefully she could share the joy of the day. I also saved a necklace for little Serafina, a cross for her confirmation day.

It is this time of year that is so hard for us, August is the birthday month of all of my grandparents, but it is also when Serafina was diagnosed with lung cancer. Last year, the same month we learned about becoming pregnant, I learned of my grandmother's terminal diagnosis. We checked with the doctor, and hurried to Richmond. I wanted her to know so badly, but once we shared the news I could see her realization, that she would not meet the baby, and she started to cry. It was a painfully difficult moment in my life, to bring news of joy that could not be shared. To be so terribly excited, but also terrified about what the future months were going to bring, was torture.

So this trivial gift certificate, this piece of plastic, doesn't really mean anything but I make it symbolize everything. I have so much grief attached to it, that I am scared of transferring the grief to a trivial item. In fact, it might be in the disappointment of the loss where I can't find a silly kitchen object that represents her. I know whatever I purchase won't be of her, but it will be about her to me. In the end, I look at the card and know that objects mean nothing, but the experience is everything. The card was a perfect thought, and the chance to find something that represents her love would be wonderful, but it will never be as special as having Little Serafina meeting her great grandmother Serafina.

Zippy Green Beans

Try something different with your fresh summer green beans.....

Green Beans sauteed in Garlic, Cayenne Pepper Infused Olive Oil, and Almonds.

Dealing with a budget and food cravings.

This week I took a look at my spending habits, and realized that maternity leave had many hidden costs. Many of the ways to get out of the house, and I try and get out at every chance, involve spending money. From running errands to having lunch with friends, it just seems to be a huge financial drain. Instead of being busy making money, I was spending money to be busy. I became a thoughtless consumer, not good. As I said to a friend, how do I explain to Serafina that she had no college fund because mommy needed to go out to lunch with her friends?

So, I challenged myself to not spend any money this week. We have a full pantry and I have been getting free veggies in exchange for tending a friends garden plot while she is out of town. Instead of meeting people for coffee, I invited them over. I have also sought out free activities; my best friend and her daughter are meeting us at the zoo tomorrow.

A funny thing happens when you stop spending money,  you first realize how ridiculous some purchases are, and then you start having cravings for new ridiculous things. So although, I realize that my home-brewed coffee is actually better than Starbucks, today I really, really wished I had chips to go with my tuna sandwich. I didn't. So, instead of going grocery shopping, I chopped up a red potato and quickly roasted it in oil with salt and pepper (425 for 30 minutes). It hit the spot, and I didn't break my vow to not spend money. Satisfied, I looked back in our kitchen and realized we could go three weeks without grocery shopping, and that I could make it just as long without buying anything. Maybe we will be able to afford college after all?

Ethical Fish Purchasing, and a Recipe for Honey Mustard Salmon

A few years ago when we visited my favorite fish restaurant Hook, we received a pamphlet from the Blue Ocean Institute on "Ocean Friendly Seafood." The institute highlights which types of fish are environmentally safe, plentiful in bounty, and healthful options. They also explain why it is better to get a fish farmed or wild, and it depends on the species, as well as the location. The pocket guide can fit in your wallet, which allows you to take it to the grocery store or any restaurant (you can order a free one!).

We tend to be frugal when it comes to buying fish. About once a week, I go to the grocery store and purchase 1lb of whatever is on sale, usually amounting to $5. However, we don't sacrifice quality, which means we buy our fish at Harris Teeter (instead of the cheaper grocery stores) and I still follow the Blue Ocean Institute's guidelines. Some weeks, this means tilapia and other weeks I am lucky and it is wild Alaskan salmon. This was one of those lucky weeks...


Honey Mustard Salmon
Ingredients:

• 3 tb honey
• 2 tb dijon mustard
• 1 shallot chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• Juice from 1 whole lemon
• 1/4 tspn of Kosher salt
• Ground pepper
• 1 lb of salmon
• Foil **

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375

2. Combine honey, mustard, shallot, garlic, lemon, salt and pepper. Whisk together.

3. Lay to pieces of foil over a baking sheet, and place the salmon on top.

4. Pour the honey mustard mixture on the salmon, and fold the foil over and close.

5. Cook for 30 minutes, the salmon is done when it gently flakes.

** I tend to cook fish and veggies in foil often. It makes for super easy clean up and also locks the juices and flavor in the fish.

Pesto. It's What's for Dinner

Fresh Basil Pesto (garlic, basil, cheese) Farfalline with Fresh Tomatoes and Pinenuts.

The myth of protein.

Below is a great nugget of an article on protein and vegetarian eating. It discusses what all vegetarians know, you are not lacking in protein, or even iron for that matter, when becoming a vegetarian. Protein naturally occurs in many plants, and it just takes a little knowledge to understand what you are eating. For example, tonight we had black bean burritos with baby spinach, tomatoes, cheese, and onions. A healthy and protein filled meal!  Don't ever let anyone tell you that you MUST eat meat in order to have enough protein. I had coaches and doctors tell me so, and I ended up fortifying my meals with chicken. I felt awful, and it turns out to be entirely unnecessary. However, my present doctor even encouraged me to stay meat-free while pregnant, and she is the head of the obstetrics wing at Virginia Hospital Center. If only little Serafina had cooperated!

Refraining from animal protein can be natural and healthy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-kanner/meatless-monday-enough-al_b_655554.html

Thanks Charles for posting it on Facebook!

Grilled Cheese with a twist

So, this recipe was supposed to be an inventive way to cook grilled cheese, I just didn't know how inventive it was going to be. People raved about the grilled cheese at the party, and asked for the recipe. I was really shocked at the response, as it was the easiest item on the menu. The original recipe uses Kerrygold aged cheddar and has scallion and chive flavored butter. When AAM and I rehashed the menu last night, we realized that he thought the butter went inside the sandwich and he put pam spray on the outside and laid them on the panini press. No wonder it was a huge hit!! This minor miscommunication created the most addictive grilled cheese ever!

The recipe below is designed for a crowd, and meant to be cut into bite-size pieces.

AAM's Grilled Cheese Discovery
Ingredients

• 1 stick of butter softened (do not microwave, but just let it sit out)
• 1/3 cup of chopped scallions
• 1/3 cup of chopped chives
• 2 packages of Kerrygold Aged Cheddar
• 1 loaf of wheat bread.

Directions:

1. Thoroughly mix the butter, chives and scallions together.
2. Slice the cheddar cheese
3. Butter the inside of the bread and layer cheese on top.
4. Either cook them on a panini press (which means you can evenly cook two at a time) or in a pan on the stove.
5. Make the entire batch for a crowd, or save the butter for future enjoyment.
6. We sliced them into fours to make little mini-appetizers.