Meatless Monday - Muffuletta Panini

For my birthday last year I got a panini press from my parents - I LOVE IT!  If you have one, or some kind of small grill, great - if not, you can just press in a skillet on either side.  These are yummy!

1/2 cup black or kalamata olives

1/4 cup artichokes (drained)

1/4 cup roasted red pepper

1 Tbsp. red onion

Chop these up finely together:

To the above, add:
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp chopped garlic

Mix well.  You will need bread of your choosing, and if you'd like, sliced cheese of your preference.

Pile the cheese and toppings on bread, and grill!

Headlines

I subscribe to Above the Fold, a collection all all the environmental news from all over the world.  Lately, I'm becoming more and more disheartened at the realization that our environment is riddled with countless synthetic chemicals that my family and I are exposed to on a constant basis, and there is very little that I can do about it.  All I can do is read and learn and eat as much fresh and as little processed food as possible, choosing organic whenever possible, and avoid bringing new chemicals into my home (via paints, furniture, the list goes on and on), and hope it makes a difference.

A Chemical Laden Life

Children exposed to flame retardants in pregnancy/infancy have lower IQs and attention problems.  Unfortunately, your house is likely full of these chemicals.

Black children with high levels of chemicals (such as phthalates) from personal-care products in their systems are more likely to be obese.

Mothers who breathe polluted air are much more likely to have low birthweight babies.  Just like the severe pollution problem in Beijing is expected to cause lifelong problems to babies born into it.  The results were also corroborated in this multi-national study.

Breast cancer likely a result of environmental factors.

Another example of mutant amphibians due to contaminants in the environment.


What the #&!@ is in My Food?

Companies are now using nanoparticles to increase texture and brighten the colors in foods you eat, and these substances have been found in the bloodstream.

Because apparently apples are so ginormous you can't possibly eat one all at once, a genetically engineered apple has been created so that now you can sit it down and come back to it later, and won't be browned on the inside.  Sheesh.

Would you like some antibiotics with your meat?

You trust the companies that make your food?  Think again...


The State of our Environment

As the demand for whale meat plummets in Japan, the industry is subsidized by tax dollars to keep it afloat.

I LOVE this idea, of burning trash to create energy!  Of course, there's the NIMBY issue (not in my back yard...)


Some Good News

It is easy to get more vitamin D - I take a daily supplement, as does my daughter.  It is thought that low levels may be linked to autism, which has risen at an alarming rate.

U.S. carbon emissions are at their lowest in a decade.  If you're partly to thank for this - keep up the good work!  And if not - think about pitching in!

Meatless Monday - Tomato-Herb Frittata

A yummy brunch, or breakfast for supper casserole!

12 eggs
1 cup half and half
1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives (or green onions)
1 Tbsp. parsley
1 tsp oregano
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
6 ounces cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 450.  Mix first four ingredients.  Lightly grease a 13x9 baking dish.  Layer tomatoes, 1 cup cheese and herbs, then pour egg mixture over.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes.

Valentine's Craft

Our neighbor's gave us this last year, and I thought it was so cute!

They are super easy to put together and make cute Valentine's!

All you need are:

thin wire
Hershey's kisses
green floral tape
red saran wrap (or you could use clear if you had red foil-wrapped kisses)

1) Put two kisses end to end, sandwiching the bent end of a piece of wire between them

2) Wrap saran wrap around the kisses and twist around the wire

3) Wrap the floral tape around the base of the "flower bud" and down the "stem"

4) And, you're done!  Give Valentine roses to all your friends!