Adapting Your New Year's Resolutions

Today one of my friends told me about her New Year's resolutions, and I told her about my "Green Resolutions".  I realized that they can easily be adapted to be one in the same.  Isn't it convenient that ways to help the environment can help you too?!  Here are examples of two common resolutions with ways to also make them eco-friendly below:

To save money:

• Eat seasonally (Food that is in season and local grown tends to be cheaper than food shipped from all over the country)
• Cook (By eating at restaurants less, you'll save lots of money.  By not buying processed foods, you'll also save money)
• Conserve water (Decreases water bill)
• The following require some initial investment, but you'll save money in the long run:
• Replace bulbs with CFL bulbs (Decreases electric bill)
• Gett a programable thermostat (Decreases natural gas bill)
• Improve insulation (Decreases natural gas bill)

To lose weight:

• Bike or walk instead of driving
• Eat local food (Which prevents you from buying highly processed foods or snack foods)
• Eat less meat (Which means eating more veggies and less fat)
• Watch less TV (Which means engaging in more active activities, or at least activities that require your brain so you are less likely to experience food cravings.  But since you'll be eating local food you won't have any Cheetos laying around the house anyway)
• Cook (By cooking your own food you know exactly what's in it, therefore ensuring that you are always eating healthy food)

Potato Corn Chowder

Potato Corn Chowder

1 tablespoon oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

5 cups chicken broth

4-5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes

2 cups frozen corn

Saute onion in oil until almost translucent then add red pepper flakes and garlic and saute until fragrant.  Add chicken broth and potatoes.   Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender.  Use a hand masher to mash the potatoes in the broth.  Add corn cook another 3 minutes then serve.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Garnish with pepper-jack cheese and chives.  (Penzey's spices sells freeze dried chives that are great when chives are out of season).

New Year's Day Hoppin' John

This recipe is said to give you good luck if you eat it on New Year's Day. Adding greens (like collard greens or kale) or serving it with cornbread is supposed to give you wealth in the New Year.  If you eat it as leftovers the next day you get even more good luck.  It's healthy enough that it certainly can't hurt to try it!   There are a lot of variations on this recipe, but here's the one I used:

Hoppin' John

Serves: 6 adults

2 cups dried black eyed peas, soaked in water the night before

1 medium onion, diced

Approx. 1 1/2 cups of leftover ham or 4 strips of bacon cut into pieces

1 bunch collard greens or kale cut into small pieces (optional)

2 cups rice

After the peas have soaked overnight cover with water in a pot, bring to a boil and simmer for 1-1 1/2 hours until tender.  About 15 minutes before the peas are done cook the rice in 4 cups of water.  When peas are done cooking drain them, reserving about a 1/2 cup of liquid.  If using bacon add bacon and onions and cook until bacon is crispy.  If using ham saute onions in about a tablespoon of oil until translucent, then add ham.  Next add collard greens (if using) and cook until wilted.  Add cooked peas and 1/2 cup liquid.  Bring to a boil then serve over rice.  Season with salt and pepper.  I also like to add hot sauce.

Green Resolutions

Each year Mark and I are trying to some extra things to help the environment by reducing our carbon footprint.  Here are some past resolutions we've made (and so far kept) along with this years.  By taking small steps to help the environment it becomes more manageable and less overwhelming.  Every little bit counts!

2009
Change all the light bulbs in the house to CFL bulbs
Improve the insulation in the attic
Insulate hot water pipes
Get a programable thermostat to reduce energy use when we're not home
Bring reusable bags for shopping

2010
Eat local as much as possible
Eat less meat
Use washable cloth napkins instead of paper
Use rags instead of paper towels
Start composting
Add low flow faucets and toilet during home rennovations

2011
Improve water conservation
Ride our bikes to run errands on weekends
Watch less TV/use computer less for entertainment.  Instead: play board games, cards, puzzles, cook
Bring small reusable bags for bulk foods

Make Your Own Bagels

Bagels

Makes 8 bagles

2 tsp dry teast

1 tablespoon sugar

1.25 cups warm water

1 cup whole wheat flour (or use white)

2.25 cups white flour

1 tsp salt

Oven temp: 425

Bake time: 20 minutes

• Mix 0.5 cup of the warm water and sugar then add yeast to dissolve for about 5 minutes.  In the mean time mix flour and salt in a large bowl.  Add yeast/sugar/water mix to flour.  Add remaining water until the dough is firm and moist, but not too wet. 
• Knead dough on a floured surface, until dough is smooth and elastic, at least 10 minutes.  Lightly oil a bowl then add the ball of dough to the bowl and cover with a towel.  Let rise for 1 hour until doubled in size, then punch down and let it rest for 10 minutes.  
• During this time fill a deep frying pan, or a large saucepot with about 2 inches of water.  Put it on the range to boil.  Preheat the oven to 425. 
• Cut the dough into eight pieces, then form each piece into a ball.  Use your finger to make a hole in the middle of the ball then spin the ball around your finger in order to increase the size of the hole.  The hole should be a third of the size of the bagel's diameter. 
• Place the bagels on a lightly oiled baking sheet and cover with damp cloth for about 10 minutes.  
• Add the bagels to the boiling water for a total of one minute.  Flip the bagles after 30 seconds of boiling.  Put boiled bagels back on the lightly oiled baking sheet.  
• Bake at 425 for 20 minutes, until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack.