Bread Riot

Emily's Green Kitchen

1. Sufferin' Succotash (Crustless) Quiche
   This was ohso easy to make, it just took twice as long as I planned to bake!
   

   

   
   Combine 1 c thawed baby lima beans, 1 c thawed corn kernels, 1 can drained diced tomatoes, 1 diced shallot, 3 diced cloves of fresh garlic. Mix well. Separately, combine 1 c egg beaters, 1/4 c soy milk, 2 T flour, 1/4 c tomato-basil feta, some spices (basil, oregano, dash of cumin and sage). Transfer veggie mix to greased pie dish. Pour egg mix over top and stir to evenly distribute.
   
   

   

   
   Top with a bit extra feta and bake 45 mins at 400, or until middle is set.
2. Two Things

   First, we got this in our Bread Riot basket three weeks ago. The lettuce is STILL extra crunchy and fresh (these photos were take on 2/3 and the baskets were 1/14...WOW!). I'm not sure if that is indicative of how fresh picked it was, or how it was kept. 

   
   

   

   
   

   Which was in this plastic container, my second point. It wasn't all "misted" by grocery store sprinkler systems, and it was in an airtight package. 

   
   

   

   
   

   Looks like a regular take out box, doesn't it? 

   
   

   

   
   

   Most household recycling programs don't allow number 7 plastics. Do you know what the numbers in the little recycle symbol mean? (via http://www.guvswd.org/symbols)

   
   

   #1 - Polyethylene Terephtlalate (PETE) or (PET). Polyester is its nickname. 
   Used for: soft drink and water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter and salad dressing containers, ovenable film, ovenable pre-prepared food trays.
   Recycled into: Polar fleece clothing, fiber, tote bags, bottles, clothing, furniture, carpet.

   #2 - High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
   Used for: milk, water and juice containers, trash and retail bags, liquid detergent bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners.
   Recycled into: liquid laundry detergent containers, drainage pipe, oil bottles, recycling bins, benches, pens, doghouses, vitamin bottles, floor tile, picnic tables, lumber, mailbox posts, fencing.

   #3 - Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC)
   Used for: Clear food packaging, shampoo bottles, medical tubing, wire and cable insulation. There has been increasing concern over the potential toxicity of PVC, watch the media for developments.

   #4 - Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
   Used for: Bread bags, frozen food bags, squeezable bottles (e.g. honey, mustard).

   #5 - Polypropylene (PP)
   Used for: Ketchup bottles, yogurt containers and margarine tubs, medicine bottles

   #6 - Polystyrene (PS)
   Used for: Compact disc jackets, food service applications, grocery store meat trays, egg cartons, aspirin bottles, cups, plates.

   #7 - Other: Use of this code indicates that the package in question is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or is made of more than one resin used in combination.

   
   

   Other, huh? Well good thing this box had more information describing itself. 

   
   

   

   
   

   "PLA stands for Poly Lactic Acid and is the chemical name of a plastic made from corn, an annually renewable resource. [The look and act just like regular take out boxes, but at the end of use,] PLA based products can be recycled or composted under commercial composting conditions 90% within 60 days and the balance within 90 days." (website cited above)

   
   

   I'm not sure how much regular clam shell containers cost food service professionals, but I found cases of 250 PLAstic clam shells for $65. That seems like a very reasonable cost to avoid petroleum based plastics that do not breakdown at all. 

    

3. (Is it really?) Winter Harvest Week
   It sure hasn't felt like January out there, and based on our baskets this week, you might not know it either! 

   

   
   

   Fresh produce from Barbee Farms, bread, and local honey are things I usually look forward to in the Spring when the Farmer's Market opens! 

   

   
   

   (Those pictures are from the Market last summer since I'm writing this in advance of getting my hot little hands on the actual goods!)

   

   
   

   Grated Beet Salad

   4 beets

   2-3 T lemon juice

   2 Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss wedges

   
   

   Wash beets, remove greens, trim tail. Boil 30-40 minutes under tender, remove from water to cool, and gently peel off skin. In a bowl, grate the beets, stir in lemon juice and creamy Swiss. Chill before serving. 

   
   

   

   
   

   Bok Choy & Carrot Saute

   
   

   2-3 Carrots, cut into matchsticks

   2-3 c bok choy, leaves & stems chopped (tough parts removed)

   3/4 c green onions, chopped

   1 T low sodium soy sauce

   1 T olive oil

   1 block of tofu cubed, sauted (optional)

   
   

   Mix all ingredients except tofu & oil and marinate 30 minutes. Heat oil in a large saute pan, add vegetable mix and cook about 8-10 minutes until just wilted and tender. Mix with tofu if desired and serve over rice or soba noodles. 

   
   

   Honey Avocado Butter

   1 avocado

   1 T honey

   
   

   Mash avocado into paste and mix in honey. Spread on toasted bread. 

   
   

   Here's a first for the blog: Honey is also a great beauty ingredient. Check out the National Honey Board's recipes for using honey rather than eating it!

   
   

   Foaming Vanilla Honey Bath

   1 cup sweet almond oil, light olive or sesame oil may be substituted

   1/2 cup honey

   1/2 cup liquid soap

   1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

   Measure the oil into a medium bowl, then carefully stir in remaining ingredients until mixture is fully blended. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a tight-fitting stopper or lid. Shake gently before using. Enough for four large luxurious baths. Swirl desired amount into the bathtub under running water - then step in and descend into a warm, silky escape.

   Tips on using and storing honey:

   -keep in a cool dark place

   -maintain tight seal

   -Honey may crystallize (become cloudy) but is still good! Simply heat the jar in a bowl of hot water (do not overheat or allow to boil)

   -will not spoil as long as it is not subjected to moisture

   -should not be fed to infants under 1 year old

   -may be substituted for up to half of called-for sugar in a recipe (or all with experimenting)

   -consider reducing oven temperature slightly to prevent browning

   
   

   
   
4. Pineapple-Avocado Salsa
   Another quick dinner, this time with a tropical topping!
   

   

   
   Baked tilapia (seasoned with Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime - salt free) topped with pineapple-avocado salsa. Sweet and tangy, one of my favorite combinations.
   
   Pineapple-Avocado Salsa
   1/2 c crushed pineapple (drained)
   1/2 c chopped tomato (vine ripened preferred)
   1 medium ripe avocado, chopped
   1-2 finely diced garlic cloves
   1 t garlic salt
   1 T dried cilantro (or fresh!)
   1 T lime juice
   
   Mix all ingredients well to combine. Serve chilled or room temperature.
5. Asian Tuna Salad
   

   
   This recipe took about 8 minutes to prepare and featured a bed of local lettuce! Ready, get set, combine: 2 cans chunk light (low sodium) tuna, 3/4 c matchstick carrots, 1 c chopped (steamed but still crunchy) snap pea pods, 1-2 T sweet & sour sauce, 1-2 T low sodium soy sauce, 1 t toasted sesame oil (optional). Mix well and top with crunched up sesame sticks.
   
   

   Done!