Winter squash with balsamic caramelized onions and brown sugar

This was such a yummy and (fairly) easy dish to make! It does take a while, however.
How to:
Google "How to cook acorn squash" and pick a recipe that includes brown sugar.
Google "How to carmelize onions" and be sure to add a dash of balsamic vinegar at the end.
Voila!

Ch-ch-ch-Chia!

Have you heard the buzz around CHIA being the new superfood? I've finally decided to try it. It has tons of protein, fiber, omega 3s, etc.

You can put chia seeds in or on lots of other foods, like on a salad. One of the more common ways is to drink it, first letting the seeds soak in your beverage of choice for a few minutes until they soak up some liquid and start to get gelatinous. You can wait longer til they are very gelatinous.

So far I have put it in orange juice, and other than a bit of tiny crunch I didn't really notice them. I used a teaspoon or 2 of the seeds.

My latest experiment is the following: 1 cup soy milk, 1 scoop of protein shake powder, some chia seeds, some peanut butter and some chocolate syrup. Blend and stick in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Results to come!

I look forward to seeing health results and potentially weight loss, if I can stick with it and consume chia in drinks rather than eating less healthy snacks.

Local urban farming organizations

I recently received an inquiry about "urban farming grass roots organizations" in San Francisco. I thought my blog readers would like to know who's out there, too!

My answer:
My friend runs an org called Feel the Earth that may be up your alley. I also like Hayes Valley Farm and Alemany Farm. My organization EcoJews has done events at Hayes and Alemany, and with Feel the Earth.

I will add that there is a new urban farm in Berkeley called Urban Adamah. The executive director is someone I've known for years as a leader in the Jewish environmental movement, and the project is very exciting!

I also encourage my readers to search online for other public/urban farms and community gardens in your area.

What really went into making that soy product?

I recently learned that hexane is used to process soy to make yummy, low fat veggie burgers and other "health" foods. Hexane is a toxic petroleum solvent and is not safe for humans or the environment. So why do soy food companies poison their workers, the environment and possibly their customers?

These companies know that their consumers want low fat foods. A hexane "bath" is used to separate fat from the protein, resulting in a low fat product. One somewhat positive aspect of this issue is that hexane processing is not allowed for organic soy. Organic soy is also non-GMO (genetically modified organisms). Non-organic products containing soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, or texturized vegetable protein are the ones to avoid.

A 2009 report by the Cornucopia Institute revealed this shocking information to the public. Pertinent details including a list of brands that use hexane can be found in this article: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2010/04/enjoying_that_v.php.

So far I haven't found any information stating that soy product companies have changed their chemical process since this report came out.

What can you do?
1. Buy organic
2. Make your own veggie burgers. I'm accepting submittals of recipes!
3. Write to Gardenburger, Trader Joes, Morningstar Farms and the other companies asking them to clean up their act.

EcoJews of the Bay

If you like me or what you read on this blog, please support my nonprofit EcoJews of the Bay. Thank you!

Green Crusader Introduction

Welcome to my blog! I enjoy writing, all things green (including my career) and creativity, so I decided to write a blog. I have worked in the environmental field for over ten years. I'll post hot tips and new developments in sustainability here. I also run a Jewish environmental organization, EcoJews of the Bay. http://www.ecojews.org/