Our Little Canary The Pickerel Frog

Pickerel frog image courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and A.B. Sheldon.

If you are still using Roundup, you may rethink that decision considering the studies piling up against it. This is a video I made for a class a couple of years ago. At that time there were already studies showing negative effects of the chemical glyphosate, a.k.a Roundup.

I’ve written about BPA for years. Not only am I not a fan of BPA, but I have worked to rid our kitchen of it. I have also made blogs to inform people about some of the suspected health issues that could be associated with exposure to the chemical found in plastic. There are three big areas where people come into contact with BPA:

1) Aluminum and tin can linings, which includes soda cans

2) The #7 polycarbonate plastics, the hard clear kind

3) Smooth and slippery thermal receipts

The newest convert to the BPA-free bandwagon is Amy’s. Here’s what Amy’s website says about BPA:

Natural red velvet cupcakes © 2013 Tiffany Coggins

I decided to repost this December blog for Valentine’s Day. If you’re planning on baking a special sweet for your sweetie, this is perfect. It is only a little more time and a couple more steps to show your Valentine how much you love them. I hope you try it. Please, post photos of your finished cupcake on my Facebook page.

I love red velvet. I think it’s a beautiful cake and cupcake, but I feel guilty eating it, or making it for my family. Why? Because it is loaded with red food coloring, which has a nasty reputation of causing behavioral problems in people, usually children, sensitive to the chemical. I have also tried to reduce the chemical exposure for myself and my family over the last 10 years.

I decided I needed to find a red velvet recipe made with beets as the natural food color. I spent some time online hunting down recipes to try. I came across this blog for All Natural Red Velvet Cupcakes by Sophistimom. She has a red velvet cake and a red velvet cupcake recipe. I decided on the cupcakes because I was taking them to share with some classmates.

Sophistimom is obviously a great baker and does not shy away from experimentation. I am grateful to her for her persistence. I am a so-so baker, but by no means am I an avid one, nor am I up for baking experiments.

I followed Sophistimom’s directions very carefully. I have to say I had a very successful first try at her dye-free red velvet cupcakes. Now, mine do not look as pretty as hers, but they are tasty. I did not pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes, I’m just too lazy. My cupcakes are also a bit small, because I needed to stretch the recipe.

I did use organic ingredients, except the buttermilk. I usually get organic buttermilk, but my store was out of it at the time.

I had looked at recipes that used raw beets to keep the red brighter and more vibrant, but I decided I really wanted my beets to be cooked. I had very small beets, so I needed about five of them.

I highly recommend Sophistimom’s recipe. I plan on following her blog to see what other yummy and natural recipes she comes up with. Please check her site out.

I’m posting pictures I took of the process. Sorry if they leave you needing a red velvet fix.

This is a great informative graphic that Education Database Online shared with me. Our Plastic Nightmare shows why plastic is so damaging.

Please Include Attribution to OnlineEducation.net With This Graphic “>

Fall farmers market photo by Tiffany Coggins

Happy New Year! Did you make any resolutions? A lot of people resolve to save more, lose weight or be kinder. If you resolved to live a more sustainable life, you could do all that and more.

By living more sustainably you can save money because you won’t be buying so much stuff, especially new stuff. I love the reduce, reuse and recycle slogan. Do I buy new stuff, yes, but I do try to find a second-hand version first. The downside of buying second-hand is that it can take a considerable amount of time. Then you may have to go and get it new after spending your valuable time looking for something and not finding it. But, the hunt can certainly be fun and addictive.

The resolution to lose weight is a popular one. Did you make that resolution? How’s it going? We’re two weeks into the new year and I think people are already losing motivation. One way to be healthier and lose weight is to eat in a more sustainable manner. Think local, seasonal and clean. Try and reduce or delete processed foods. Look to bulk and organic. Make a big batch of something and freeze half. There is mounting evidence on the health detriments coming from all the chemicals and additives in out diet. There are studies linking obesity to processed food, food additive chemicals, fast food and portion size that we as a society are addicted to.

Buying in bulk helps to save money and also cuts out a lot of waste. If you really want to reduce waste, buy reusable mesh bags to replace the disposable plastic ones for your bulk items. Buying in bulk helps us eat better and cheaper. Invest in a good cook book, especially one that takes into account seasonality of foods. Make use of the online resources to help with seasonal cooking. Freeze and can your own food. Even if you don’t have a gigantic garden, take advantage of the farmers market.

If you do some of these things to save money and lose weight, then you’ll be well on your way to being kinder. Anytime you reduce your consumption and waste, you are being kinder to the planet and all those that inhabit it.

Good luck in the new year and in your resolution to be a better you.

Homemade evaporated milk

I was just making one of my favorite Christmas treats and realized I didn’t have any evaporated milk. I didn’t want to run out at that moment and buy some. So, I did an online search for evaporated milk substitutes. I found this recipe.  It is such an easy and inexpensive way to make evaporated milk; you can skip the expensive little cans of it. I always have whole milk and half and half in my fridge. Not only is this easy and inexpensive, but you can make organic evaporated milk. There is also a recipe where you cook the milk down yourself, which is how evaporated milk is made.

Happy cooking!

Natural Red Velvet

I love red velvet. I think it’s a beautiful cake and cupcake, but I feel guilty eating it, or making it for my family. Why? Because it is loaded with red food coloring, which has a nasty reputation of causing behavioral problems in people, usually children, sensitive to the chemical. I have also tried to reduce the chemical exposure for myself and my family over the last 10 years.

I decided I needed to find a red velvet recipe made with beets as the natural food color. I spent some time online hunting down recipes to try. I came across this blog for All Natural Red Velvet Cupcakes by Sophistimom. She has a red velvet cake and a red velvet cupcake recipe. I decided on the cupcakes because I was taking them to share with some classmates.

Sophistimom is obviously a great baker and does not shy away from experimentation. I am grateful to her for her persistence. I am a so-so baker, but by no means am I an avid one, nor am I up for baking experiments.

I followed Sophistimom’s directions very carefully. I have to say I had a very successful first try at her dye-free red velvet cupcakes. Now, mine do not look as pretty as hers, but they are tasty. I did not pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes, I’m just too lazy. My cupcakes are also a bit small, because I needed to stretch the recipe.

I did use organic ingredients, except the buttermilk. I usually get organic buttermilk, but my store was out of it at the time.

I had looked at recipes that used raw beets to keep the red brighter and more vibrant, but I decided I really wanted my beets to be cooked. I had very small beets, so I needed about five of them.

I highly recommend Sophistimom’s recipe. I plan on following her blog to see what other yummy and natural recipes she comes up with. Please check her site out.

I’m posting pictures I took of the process. Sorry if they leave you needing a red velvet fix.

Roast Beets

Beet Puree

Baked Cupcakes

Cream Cheese Frosting

I know many times I push organic, and I truly do believe that organically grown food is better for us and the environment, but I also know in this economy that organic is not always possible for people’s budget. If organic is beyond your means, then aim for local.

Most cities and towns now have a farmers market. The farmers market is a wonderful resource for local and often organic fresh produce. Many times the local farmers market veggies are less expensive than grocery store produce shipped across the country. The farmers market and a great local co-op are where I got almost all my ingredients, including a locally raised, free range fresh turkey.

I’m thankful I can shop local and repay that blessing by sharing what I can. I hope you’ll do the same.

Image Public Domain

Remember, you are fortunate to have a Constitutional right to vote in the United States. Do not take it for granted. Vote for yourself, vote for your kids or vote for the planet. Just vote!

Image courtesy of NOAA.gov

I’m keeping those affected by Sandy in my thoughts. I hope everyone is safe and sound. This was meant to be a blog about Halloween, but Sandy has changed that a bit. I know many kids will not get their Halloween, and even worse some of those children may be without a home.

For those that still get to celebrate the fun, kid-focused holiday, be grateful. Consider sending donations to The Red Cross, AmeriCares, or Feeding America. Maybe a local organization is collecting needed supplies to send to victims.

If you do get to celebrate, think of ways to be green. Give out Fair Trade  and organic chocolate and candy. Offer organic apples, they’re tasty and seasonal. Avoid plastic in decorations. If you don’t have a costume yet, hit those second-hand stores to create one that is unique and eco-friendly.

Take care and be safe, no matter where you live.