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A Passion for Organics

Bulk organic herbs, spices and essential oils. Sin

Friday, October 28, 2011

How to Make Full Use of Halloween Pumpkins

Don't waste the Halloween pumpkins while having fun trick-or-treating.

Nosaj and Einnob went to a playdate with their First Lego League (FLL) team members last night, and came back with two big orange Halloween Pumpkins from the host.

Nosaj decided to get up early this morning to carve his pumpkin, and he DID it, for his first carved pumpkin ever.

We pan fried the pumpkin carvedout and microwave roasted the pumpkin seeds, and we made full use of the Halloween pumpkin!

We are going to bake pumpkin rice cake sometime later. Hopefully I can find time to type the recipe.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Chobani Greek Yogurt - Nothing but Good

Last week when I shopped Meijer's for its organic milk ($6.29, price increased recently following Kroger),  I saw somthing new on sale in the yogurt shevles - Greek Yogurt! Wow, something from the faraway land Greece! I thought of giving it a try so I bought four cups of this Chobani 0% Greek Yogurt. $1 each cup. Four different flavors: strawberry, blueberry, peach, and pomegranate.

Today we finally tasted the Greek Yogurt, which is thick and creamy, a bit sour and sweet. We also got a chance to look carefully of the label. Chobani is its brand, Greek Yogurt but made in New York, all natural but not organic, fruit on the bottom, pomegranate seeds present in the cup but not grounded, double amount of protein (28% per cup, 14 grams) compared to regular yogurt, no rBST (what is this? - my guess is either growth hormone or antibiotics), etc.

So, what’s Greek about Chobani Greek Yogurt?
Many people including me think that “Greek yogurt” refers to WHERE Chobani makes their yogurt; however, it’s actually describing HOW Chobani makes it.

Unlike some Greek Yogurt companies that add ingredients to their yogurts for texture, you won’t find any thickeners, gelatins or stabilizers in Chobani yogurt. Instead Chobani uses a centuries-old straining technique to remove excess liquid. This is why Chobani is so ridiculously thick, creamy and packed with two times more protein than regular yogurts. Hail to the Greeks…Greek Yogurt that is!

Mustafa Dogan is Chobani’s Master Yogurt Maker. He’s an artisan armed with years of yogurt-making experience and is responsible for crafting the rich, deliciousness that is Chobani.

Mustafa custom blends special yogurt cultures just for Chobani. These special cultures are added to the milk which is then strained with care to create yogurt that's outrageously creamy, and ridiculously high in protein.

This unique straining process is what makes Chobani Greek Yogurt “Greek” and full of flavor and health benefits:

· Only natural ingredients. Free of preservatives and artificial flavors.
· Free of synthetic growth hormones. (Milk from cows not treated with rBST)
· Includes 5 live & active cultures, including 3 probiotics.
· Made with real fruit.
· Twice the protein of regular yogurts.
· A good source of bone-building calcium.
· Gluten-Free and Kosher-Certified.
· Safe for people with corn, nut and soy allergies.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Resources for Green Business

Here are some online resources for green business - you either want to start a green business of your own or look for a green job or simply are curious of some going green tips or green products.

1. GreenBiz.com: News on green businesses and sustainable business practices.

2. Green Dream Jobs: The leading green job service for renewable and clean energy (solar, wind) jobs, green building jobs, organic jobs, and all environmental and sustainable jobs.

3. Greenopia: A guide to doing everything you do - greener.

4. GreenPeople.org - Eco-friendly products and services.