Holiday Eco-Challenge: Gift Wrapping

This is my holiday eco-challenge to you and your families and friends:  wrap your gifts without using any virgin paper source.  Check back for a tip each day until the holiday wrapping frenzy is over. Or follow my Tweets @ WabiSabiVegan.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

1. Wrap with a scarf and tie closed or pin with a vintage or new brooch.  The scarf can be a delicate fashion accessory or a warm addition to a heavy winter coat.  You can even make it a fashion statement on its own.  And by the way, this works for men, women and children!  Have fun with it!
2.  Burlap is beautiful!  Last year I bought a dozen used coffee bean sacks.  To my delight, the company imprints are in a seasonal red and green. Who knew?  The uses seemed endless:  cut and fray for place mats, hang on the wall as art, replace roller shade canvas...but I digress.  Today's focus is gift wrap.  Cut the burlap to fit your box/package.  Remember, the challenge is to avoid the use of virgin paper.  That includes trim, so no paper curling ribbon, please! Tie the package with twine for a rustic look or grosgrain ribbon to dress it up a bit. And voila - a perfectly wrapped gift!
3. Elevate the lowly reusable shopping tote to an elegant reusable gift bag.  Many stores, such as Pier 1 Imports, offer pretty, seasonal shopping totes this time of year.  Presentation is everything with this idea - you don't want it to look like you didn't have time to wrap!  Place the gift inside an appropriately sized bag and tie closed with fabric ribbon, colorful yarns, twine, ric-rac, etc.  For added charm, dangle a sparkly or rustic ornament, whichever suits your gift!
4. Buy a comfy throw and use it to wrap a coordinating decorative pillow.  How fun to find the soft surprise inside!
5. Bandanas are festive!  If one isn't big enough, stitch or tape them together in a colorful patchwork.  Tie with coordinating fabric ribbon.  The brighter the better!
6. Use a fashion backpack for girls and a more rugged version for boys to wrap virtually anything that fits inside.  It would be fun to open and find a cozy sweater inside! 
7. A pretty cosmetics bag can hold more than just makeup - jewelry, accessories, fuzzy socks, gloves, candy, anything that fits!  Use your imagination and have fun!  Take it one step further and create a nesting gift by putting the filled cosmetics case inside a purse!
8. Gift tins meant for food are perfect for jewelry and other small trinkets, too!  Plus, they're reusable!
9. Wrap with a colorful tea towel or fabric napkin and tie closed with a bright grosgrain ribbon and bow!  Use seasonal colors or choose something more cotemporary like a floral or plaid!
10. No need to use paper trim!  Think fabric ribbon, yarn, ric-rac, tulle, fabric cut into strips - so many possibilities!  Cut with decorative-edge scissors or braid the yarn and crochet thin threads for added impact.  Wide strips of tulle simply knotted are especially lovely.  They "stick" to themselves when tied - easy and so pretty!
11. Use paper remnants creatively: cut into strips to use in place of ribbon and bows; shred to use as gift bag filler; weave strips or tape together as a patchwork to create a new wrap; cut into gift tags.  For added detail, layer coordinating colors and cut with decorative-edge scissors.  Let your imagination guide you!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Chocolate Pumpkin Yogurt

I love using canned pureed pumpkin in recipes.  It's so easy and it can be added to everything from soup to cake mix.  Try adding it to vanilla soy yogurt for a healthy sweet treat.

• 1 Cup vanilla soy yogurt
• 1/2 Cup pureed pumpkin
• 2 1/2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 packet zero-calorie sweetener

Mix and enjoy!

* For added depth of flavor, substitute dark chocolate cocoa powder for 1/2 Tbsp. cocoa powder.

Pizza Soup

I don't know about you, but I'm appalled by the amount of sodium in canned soups.  Even the organic, vegan varieties contain an inordinate amount of sodium!  This prompted me to develop my own quick version that my kids have dubbed "pizza soup."  All you need is a can of diced or petite cut tomatoes with NO SALT ADDED.  For a half cup serving, scoop 1/2 cup of the tomatoes with their juices into a microwave safe bowl.  Add freshly ground pepper, Italian seasoning, and vegan cheddar or mozzarella "cheese" shreds (I use Daiya) to taste.  For me, the spicier, the better!  Cover loosely with parchment paper or paper towel and microwave on high for 1 minute, 50 seconds.  Stir before eating, and you're done.  Simple as that.

Vegan Chocolate Ginger Snack Cake

I veganized this recipe last night, and it's addictively delicious!  The original recipe is from the 2010 Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies magazine.  This snack cake blends the irresistable holiday flavors of ginger and chocolate but tastes great any time.

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbs. vegan butter, melted ( I use Earth Balance.)
• 1/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 Cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 Cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 Cup unsulphured molasses (or maple syrup)
• 1 vegan egg alternative ( I dissolve 1 1/2 tsp. corn starch in 2 Tbs. warm water.)
• 1/4 Cup vegan sour cream ( I use Tofutti.)
• 1/2 Cup vegan semisweet chocolate chips  (I use the 365 brand from Whole Foods.)
• Organic confectioner's sugar for dusting (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare an 8-inch square pan with vegetable oil and dust with flour.  In  a large bowl, whisk the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, ginger, and pumpkin pie spice to combine. In a separate bowl, mix the melted butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg alternative, and sour cream.  Pour the mixed wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir just until combined.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Spread batter into prepared pan.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.  (Check this early to avoid overbaking.)  If you like, dust with confectioner's sugar when serving.

Tip:  The snack cake is also scrumptious when topped with this quick chocolate ganache:  Heat 3 Tbs. soy milk to boiling.  Immediately add 1/2 Cup vegan semisweet chocolate chips and stir until smooth.  Pour over cooled cake and enjoy!

Vegan Banana Bread

This vegan banana bread recipe turns out a delicious, moist loaf.  It's a great choice to take to potlucks or to share with non-vegan friends!

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups vegan sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• Vegan replacement for 3 eggs (1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tbs. water = 1 egg.)
• 1/3 cup soy buttermilk (Mix 1 tsp. white vinegar into 1/3 cup soy milk.)
•  1/2 cup nuts or other add-ins (OPTIONAL)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Mix the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Mix the bananas, oil and buttermilk in a separate bowl.
Add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
Next, add the egg replacement mixture to the bowl and stir thoroughly.
Last, add nuts, if using.

Pour the mixture into a greased 9 X 5 inch loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour, 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Feel free to experiment with your own add-ins for this recipe.  I hope you enjoy the banana bread as much as we do!

Please Don't Kill the Dandelions!

Have you driven by a field this spring and enjoyed the bright yellow dandelion carpet? Or watched a toddler gleefully blow the powder puff of seeds into the air?  When did the dandelion become a weed that needed to be eradicated from our lawns at all costs?  What if we still had that childlike perception of its natural beauty as a wildflower?  Maybe we could save ourselves the cost, both financially and ecologically, of toxic lawn chemicals.  At my house, we have done just that.  Nothing goes on our lawn unless it's organic.  At the moment, that means nothing goes on our lawn at all.  But many of our neighbors still spray chemicals, polluting the ground water supply and exposing children and pets to the toxins, not to mention the wildlife.  When they were younger, I had our children stay in our yard on the days the neighbors' lawns were sprayed.  We have often had a pet guinea pig who would have loved nothing better than to munch on fresh dandelion leaves.  But it was too risky.  Now you might be wondering if we are one of those families whose lawn brings down property values.  Actually, not at all.  We keep it mown so the spent dandelion stalks are kept in check, and we enjoy our bright yellow wildflowers when they bloom.  What do you think?  I'd love to hear your feedback.

Random Acts of "Green"

You've heard of random acts of kindness.  How about random acts of "green?"  I'll admit that most of my eco-friendly choices are planned.  Many are even researched.  But I think opportunities abound for spontaneous green decisions, too.  Say you're waiting to pick up your child at school and someone leaves an empty plastic water bottle on the ground.  You could leave it there for the janitor to throw away or you could be impulsively green and take it home with you to recycle. You can do the same thing when you're walking the dog or jogging through the neighborhood.  Paper seems to end up everywhere, and that's so easy to recycle!

You might need to change your mind set to take ownership of the eco-choice at hand.  Resist the urge to let someone else take care of it and actually do it yourself!  And if someone else sees you, all the better, because positive actions tend to be contagious.  The person who sees you picking up a pop can one day might do the same thing the next day, and hopefully, the chain continues.  This is especially true for children, and what a simple but effective way to model eco-conscious living for them!   Give it a try and share your experiences.  I'd love to hear your ideas!  

Two Steps Forward, No More Steps Back!

Here we are at another Earth Day.  We've all heard the saying "One step forward, two steps back."  When I look around at daily life in suburban USA, that's how I feel about our eco-progress.  Yes, I see reusable shopping bags at the grocery store, but they're still only a fraction of the paper and plastic.  Yes, I see reusable water containers, but oh sooo many more plastic water bottles.  And have we really reduced our gasoline consumption?  How do we change this dynamic?  Maybe by not becoming overwhelmed by the immensity of the problem.  Maybe by just staying conscious of the choices we make every single day.  To that end, I recommend "Do One Green Thing," by Mindy Pennybacker.  Maybe if we tackle this Earth-sized issue one green thing at a time we can take two steps forward and no more steps back!

Add Just 1 More Organic Product

What  if each of us added just 1 more organic product to our shopping carts each week for a year?  We could make a huge difference! So much less demand for pesticides and chemical fertilizers!  Every time I think I'm buying as many organic items as possible, I think of something new.  The possibilities seem endless!  So, I'm going to try it - 1 new organic purchase (in place of non-organic) each week for a year.  Join me on the journey!  Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Produce - fruit, veggies
2. Cereal
3. Canned goods - veggies, fruit, pumpkin
4. Jarred goods - pasta sauce, fruit, veggies, peanut butter
5. Pasta
6. Bread
7. Chips - tortilla, potato
8. Coffee
9. Tea
10. Baking Needs - flour, sugar, nuts, chocolate chips
11. Soy Dairy Alternative Products - soy milk, soy yogurt, soy cheese, soy butter, soy ice cream
12. Soy Meat Alternative Products
13. Cosmetics
14. Cotton products - clothing, bags, dog collars

I know there are so many more choices!  Share your ideas in the comments below.

Switch to Reusable Water Bottles Today!

Every day my two daughters each take a plastic water bottle with them to school.  My high schooler brings hers home for recycling. However, my middle schooler puts hers in the recycling bin at school.  The problem?  We recently found out that the school just throws them in the trash.  Heartbreaking and irreparable! So our family resolved to switch from single-use plastic water bottles to reusable drinking containers.  Now we needed to choose from the many available options, including BPA-free plastic, aluminum, and stainless steel.

After a little research, we decided on stainless steel.  Although BPA-free, the plastic bottles had higher recycling numbers (6,7, etc.), which might be hard to recycle in our area.  The aluminum bottles are generally lined with plastic to keep the aluminum from leaching into the drink, making those difficult to recycle too.  Thus, our choice of stainless steel.  Specifically, we chose the Klean Kanteen brand for their variety of size, color and cap styles, as well as for their commitment to the environment. But anything you do to reduce the number of plastic water bottles in our landfills is better than nothing.  So switch to the reusable water bottle of your choice! 

OMG! It's a Mouse!

OMG!  Is that a mouse?  The tell-tale droppings confirm the unmistakable truth.  A mouse, or as I later discover, three different mice, have taken up residence in the apparently mouse-cozy area surrounding our trash can and recycling center under the kitchen sink.  Now what?  I use a live trap.  It works for two of the mice, and I release them outside on our property.  But will they find their way back into our house?  Probably.  And what about the third mouse who has become wary of the "humane" trap?  The mouse is now boldly chewing the paper boxes in the recycling bin to use for nesting.  Despite my reservations, I am actually going to try an electronic repeller to see if, in fact, it makes the mouse uncomfortable enough to leave on its own.  Wishful thinking, right?  I'll let you know.

Am I wrong to be using the live trap?  Animal behaviorists point out that releasing a trapped mouse in a remote location, such as a field, subjects the mouse to stress and almost certain death anyway from predators like hawks or even other territorial mice already living there.  Many people think the instant kill snap traps are the most humane answer.  Maybe, but the instant kill part is not an option for me.  So, for now, I still have one mouse happily building its nest under the kitchen sink.  I need a solution fast, before it has babies!  Yikes!

Please let me know if you have a successful solution.  Clicking on "comments" below opens the comment box.

Update:  I have plugged in an electronic repeller and placed a different style live trap.  Wish me luck!

2nd Update:  Success and tragedy!  The third mouse entered the live trap but I didn't find it soon enough.  Even though I check the traps each morning, this mouse was nearly suffocated when I found it.  I took it outside, but the prognosis looked grim.  Humane trap?  Hardly.  The traps need air holes!

Who Is Your Eco-Hero?

Who is your eco-hero?  I have several. They are my mom friends doing little everyday things that really make a difference - like going to Target and taking the purchases home without using a bag.  I attended a swim meet where one mom put herself in charge of recycling all the empty Gatorade and plastic water bottles.  She actually collected them herself in a large box and took them home with her to rinse and recycle!  These examples show how easy it is to do something positive for the environment.  Here are a few more ideas:

1. Send your child to school with a reusable lunch box and stainless steel water bottle.
2. Shop with a reusable shopping bag every time.
3. If you are out and about, bring home your recyclable drink or food containers instead of throwing them in the trash.
4. Do the same with paper flyers.  If you receive paper items away from home, don't just throw them in the trash.  Take them home and recycle them.
5. Plan your errands to combine them into one efficient car trip.  Or, better yet, use a bicycle or walk whenever possible.
6. Use degradable plastic trash bags and sandwich/storage bags that are PVC and plasticizer-free.  One source is Natural Value, available at some Whole Foods stores and at http://www.letsgogreen.biz/.
7. Reduce your paper usage altogether and always use recycled paper products.  Refer to the "Be A Paper Frugalista" blog post on February 2nd for more ideas.
8. Lower your thermostat in winter and raise it in summer to reduce the demand for heat and air conditioning and benefit from lower utility bills, too.  Program your thermostat to use less energy when you are not home.
9. Reduce your plastic waste from daily use items like deodorant containers, razors and tooth brushes.  Buy the Tom's of Maine or Preserve brands, which you can recycle through Preserve's Gimme 5 program, or Dr. Du-More's Renew toothbrushes, made from plastic that, according to the packaging, "biodegrades without leaving any plastic residue in the soil."  Learn more at http://www.preserveproducts.com/ and at http://www.dumoreinc.com/.
10. Buy organic food products and organic cotton.
11. Unplug your appliances that glow and draw power even when turned off.  And just like your mama taught you, turn off the lights when you leave the room.
12. Is there anybody who hasn't switched out their incandescent light bulbs?  Compact fluorescents and halogens use a fraction of the energy.  So what are you waiting for?

You probably have your own fantastic ideas.  Click on the "comments" tab below to share them.

Vegan Pancakes

How about making pancakes for breakfast this morning?  It's easy to veganize your recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/4 Cups soy milk
• Replacement for 1 egg ( I dissolve 1 1/2 teaspoons corn starch in 2 Tablespoons water.)
• 3 Tablespoons vegan butter alternative, just melted

Directions:

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.   Prepare the egg replacement separately.  Add the milk, melted butter and egg replacement to the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.  Gently fold in any add-ins.  My kids like vegan chocolate chips, but choose what you like.

Use cooking spray or vegetable oil to lightly oil your skillet or griddle.  Pour the batter into the pan and cook until brown on one side.  Flip and brown the other side. 

Serve with maple syrup, fruit jam or other toppings of your choice.  Enjoy!

Why Buy Organic Cotton?

If any of you follow me on Twitter (WabiSabiVegan), you know that I was excited to find a dog collar made of organic cotton and vegetable dye.  In all of our efforts to buy organic food products, we might overlook the need to buy organic cotton.  Why is this so important?  According to information at http://www.earthday.net/, 10% of the world's pesticides and 25% of its insecticides are used in the production of cotton.  These are huge numbers! 

By contrast, organic cotton is grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, insecticides or genetically-modified (GMO) seeds.  As explained at http://ezinearticles.com/, growing cotton organically requires extensive efforts by the farmers.  Crop rotation ensures that insects don't automatically find their favorite host crop.  Green cover crops, such as clover or beans, enrich the soil without the need for chemical fertilizers once they are plowed under.  Non-genetically modified seeds are also necessary to keep the cotton natural.  And if you buy a "certified organic" cotton product, you can be sure that it has been certified by an independent agency.  You guessed it! You need to be prepared to pay more for organic cotton.  But isn't it worth it?

"Ice Cream" Sundae Snack

Last night I got home craving a sweet snack.  I grabbed the quart of organic So Delicious vegan, dairy-free "ice cream" alternative in Chocolate Velvet.  I topped it with pecan bits and vegan chocolate chips. Yum!  You could choose lots of different toppings to make your own sundae!

• Sliced bananas, strawberries, etc.
• Vegan chocolate syrup
• Soy based, vegan whipped cream
• Cookie crumbs

Or how about making a cookie ice cream sandwich?  Anything (vegan) goes!  Click the comment tab and share your ideas!

Bean Dip

Today was cold and snowy and I wanted a hearty lunch.  I turned to an old standby:  bean dip with organic tortilla chips!  Want to try it?  Here's what you'll need:

• 1 Cup canned refried beans (Make sure they're vegan.)
• 2 - 3 Tbsp. salsa
• Sliced jalapenos to taste
• 1/2 Cup vegan cheese alternative, shredded

Blend the refried beans, salsa and jalapenos in a microwave safe bowl.  Cover and microwave on high for 2 minutes, 30 seconds.  Mix in the "cheese" and heat an additional 30 seconds, or until the "cheese" is melted.  Enjoy with the chips while hot!

Hotels Going Green!

Last weekend, I stayed at a hotel that had taken some major steps toward eco-consciousness.  The first thing I noticed was that every light bulb was a compact fluorescent.  While this is incredibly encouraging, they do need to ensure that all those mercury-laden fluorescent light bulbs are disposed of properly.  The hotel also offered the option of not having towels and bed linens changed every day, saving thousands of gallons of water.  Despite these giant eco-steps forward, I also noticed some missed opportunities.  For example, there were no recycling receptacles for plastic water bottles or aluminum cans. Not to mention all those tiny plastic bottles of shampoo and conditioner!  Unless guests take their recyclable items home with them, that's a lot of unnecessary plastic and aluminum headed for landfills.  Which brings me to my next point.  We, as hotel guests, can do so many things on our own to make our stay as green as possible. Turn out all the lights when leaving the room or adjust the thermostat to reduce the demand for heat or air conditioning.  And, yes, take your recyclables home with you if the hotel doesn't give you a recycling bin.  Let me know if you have more ideas, and travel green! 

Real Men Carry Reusable Shopping Bags Too!

Last night I was in the parking lot of the local Whole Foods Market and I saw a man walking to his car with a reusable shopping bag full of groceries.  "So what?" you might ask.  The thing is, I was so struck that it was a man!  After the entire "'Paper or Plastic?' Neither." campaign, this should not be unusual!  But I believe it is. Even my own husband has never used a reusable bag.  This is completely unacceptable.  So what do we do to fix it?  How do we get men on board with reusable shopping bags?  Maybe availability is key.  I'm going to put a generously-sized one in my husband's car.  That way there's no excuse.  But that does nothing to change the situation in the world at large.  How about a whole new marketing campaign aimed specifically at men?  Ad people out there, this is your call to action!  If you have any more ideas, please post a comment below.

Tell the Polar Bears It's the Volcanoes' Fault!?

What would be your reaction if you heard someone say that active volcanoes are responsible for more pollution than anything man has ever done - AND that to think "we" are responsible for climate change is "boastful?"  Mine is to be dumbfounded!  How do you respond to that?  Literally, I could use your ideas. Maybe something along the lines of  "Tell the polar bears it's the volcanoes' fault?" The next day, the same person expressed frustration that local schools are now posting information on their websites instead of distributing paper flyers.  Just when I think we might be making some progress as a society toward eco-conscious living, comments like these bring me up short.

And speaking of disconcerting events, I recently found out that my daughter's middle school has been throwing away plastic water bottles that the kids had sorted for recycling on a daily basis - for the past two years!  Help!  That truly was heartbreaking to hear.  There is absolutely nothing that can undo the overwhelming waste of that decision.  And what about restoring the children's respect and trust in the adults at school?

All the more reason to never give up. Talk the talk AND walk the walk.  Reduce, reuse, recycle, any and every time, no matter where you are!




 

Vegan Valentine's Day Treats

Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine's Day can be vegan too! That's right, no need to sacrifice this sweet holiday.  There are so many vegan treats for the special day!

1. Chocolate candy is a Valentine's Day mainstay.  The http://www.naturalcandystore.com/ website has a great selection of vegan candy, including chocolate hearts.  But act fast, because shipping deadlines apply.
2. Make cookies, a cake or cupcakes for your sweetie or your family.  This blog has several cake and frosting recipes you can use.  For cupcake recipes, I like Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World  by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.  Or just "google" a vegan version of your favorite recipe online.
3. You can buy vegan cookies and candy at your local Whole Foods, Fruitful Yield, or similar store or in the natural foods section of your supermarket. 
4. Flowers?  Please buy organic!
5. Kids love to get in on the act!  Help them make something special for family members.  But please be green by using recycled materials whenever possible.

And please be a paper frugalista when buying cards and wrapping your gifts or goodies.  See the February 2nd post for eco-friendly gift-wrapping ideas, and buy cards made from recycled paper stock.  Feel free to share your own ideas.  Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!