Saturday Short Subjects: Saying “Thanks”

This Saturday Short began earlier this week with a Google Doodle. On May 27, Google honored environmentalist  Rachel Carson with a Doodle to commemorate what would have been her 107th birthday.

Trained as a marine biologist, Carson wrote pamphlets for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and became a well-respected, best-selling author of books about the sea during the 1940s and 1950s. With her book Silent Spring, published in 1962, she stirred up tremendous controversy by challenging the indiscriminate use of pesticides, particularly DDT, which killed not only insects, but also birds and other wildlife.  Linda Lear, Carson's biographer, wrote in the introduction to Silent Spring, “Rachel Carson’s alarm touched off a national debate on the use of chemical pesticides, the responsibility of science, and the limits of technological progress. When Carson died barely eighteen months later in the spring of 1964, at the age of fifty-six, she had set in motion a course of events that would result in a ban on the domestic production of DDT and the creation of a grass-roots movement demanding protection of the environment through sate and federal regulation.” The NRDC has an excellent summary on the importance of this work on their website.

Silent Spring was the book that started me on my “roadtogreenness.” I recalled the person who had introduced me to Silent Spring — the mysterious, rebellious, rumored to be son of Russian prince, junior high science teacher who deviated from the specified curriculum to make Silent Spring required reading. Over the course of the school year we would discuss far more than Silent Spring; I recall learning about the the African lungfish and being asked to consider it in an evolutionary context. We would be forced to challenge our thinking in ways many traditional parents and teachers were not ready to have us do; this was the early ’60s in a very conservative town. This out of the box teacher did not last long in the system and dropped off my radar.

I thought it would be nice to try to locate this teacher, to email a thank you if I found him. 

So, I googled Peter Ourusoff. Lots of hits. But no! Legacy. com was the most popular result. I should have done this sooner. 

I learned that Mr. Ourusoff [I guess I can call him “Peter” now.] had headed West in the late ’60s. He had become a naturalist and adventure tour guide, with northern California as a base. Those fortunate enough to have accompanied him on excursions to remote places recounted fond memories of their trips. But he had also shared his knowledge with those explorers who happened to arrive in his own backyard.

I think Peter would have smiled to learn that I remembered him and that I had seen the Año Nuevo seals with my family. Thanks, Peter, if you can hear me.

Today’s message? Be sure to thank those who have helped you on your way while you can.

“You don’t know what you’ve got till [sic] it’s gone.” 

Why Saturday Short Subjects? Some readers may recall  being dropped at the movie theater for the Saturday matinee — two action-packed feature films with a series of short subjects (cartoons or short movies, sometimes a serial cliffhanger) sandwiched in between. Often the short subjects were the most memorable, and enjoyable, part of the morning. That explains the name. The reason behind these particular posts is that we are all short on time. My Short Subject posts should not take me as long to write or you as long to read (or try).

Meatless Monday: A Berry Delicious Breakfast

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “A healthy, hot breakfast is a great way to start the day, in any season.”

This quick and easy baked oatmeal recipe from the Early Summer 2014 Penzeys catalog features mixed berries for sweetness and color. Fresh, local berries will soon be ripe for picking or purchase, but, in the meantime, frozen berries will do the trick; it will just add a few minutes to the cooking time.

Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

by loyal Penzey Customer Zelda

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup 2% milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt or unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 cups oatmeal (either quick or regular)
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 cups mixed berries, fresh or frozen

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease an 8x8 glass baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients EXCEPT the berries.
• Add 3/4 of the mixture to the baking dish.
• Even layer the berries on top of the oatmeal mixture.
• Layer the remaining oatmeal mixture atop the berries.
• Bake until top starts to brown and the oatmeal is bubbling (approx. 30 minutes).
• Serve in bowls with a bit of milk or some maple syrup if you have a sweet tooth. [Ripe bananas or some extra berries are nice, too.]

I have made this breakfast twice now — the first time with applesauce, the second with yogurt. Today we topped it with sliced bananas. We should be good for hours.

Leftovers reheat very well in a microwave.

I plan to try a vegan version soon, using applesauce, almond milk, and egg replacer. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Whatever variation you choose, I’m sure it will be berry, berry good.

Happy holiday Monday. Have a great week!

On Mondays I often blog on food, food issues, or gardening in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday’s goal is “to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.”

Freebie Friday 05.23.14

Yes, after too long an absence, Freebie Friday is back!

Today’s featured site is Khan Academy, “a not-for-profit [founded in 2006] with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.” The online learning site has an extensive library of resources from video lectures to interactive challenges and assessments.

TV shows are in re-run mode and academic year commitments are coming to a close. You may find yourself with a bit of spare time on your hands and a a hankering to learn something new. If you are like me, however, summer is probably not the best time to commit to the responsibilities of an online university course with required readings and problem sets.

Khan Academy may be your way to go.

Search for a particular interest, or browse the list of offerings here. Or take a tour to get an overview of the different ways to use Khan Academy. 

Math offerings range from early math through multivariable calculus and differential equations. You can prep for the SAT, GMAT, or MCAT. For FREE! You can study science, economics, computer science. There are even offerings on financial literacy and retirement planning.… Get the idea?

The Khan Academy team has many impressive credentials. Founder and Executive Director Salman “Sal” Khan managed a edge fund before quitting his job to run Khan Academy full-time. He holds three degrees from MIT and an MBA from Harvard. 

Khan Academy has a number of generous donors. You may recognize some of the corporations and individuals. 

Start learning now.

“Completely free, forever,” as the site says. You will be joining millions of Khan Academy students from all over the world.

Have fun.

Did I mention that you can earn badges?

Have a good weekend, and come back again soon. 

FYI Why a piñata? Just like a blog link, until you open it, you won’t know what’s inside.

Meatless Monday: Before you Dis the Dandelion…

#182167778 / gettyimages.com

Yes, everyone is familiar with the ubiquitous Dandelion (Leontodum taraxacum), also known as lions-tooth, blow-ball, cankerwort, or pissabed. Its bright yellow flowers first appear in early spring, rising on a hollow, leafless stalk from a basal rosette of long, dark, deeply lobed green leaves that is firmly anchored in the ground by a sturdy taproot. The many seeds that make up its fruiting head —nicknamed the “puff-ball” — are carried by the wind (often given a head start by the breath of children), and they germinate readily, under almost any condition. 

Dandelions grow tenaciously, often where we think they do not belong. Americans spend a small fortune each year trying to eradicate them from their manicured lawns.

But are you aware that the Dandelion is actually native to Asia, where it grows on cliffs and in open woodlands — a colonizer of bare ground and food for wildlife?  Unlike many other non-native plants that have arrived in our country accidentally, this herbaceous perennial was brought over intentionally, by some of the earliest English settlers. According to Peter del Tredici, in his book Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast, dandelions were listed in the 1672 volume New-England’s Rarities.

Each part of the plant has one or more uses. Wine can be made by fermenting the flowers; the roots can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute; tea made from the fresh root has diuretic properties and has a long history of use in treating ailments of the liver, kidney, and urinary system. 

Research in the EU with the Russian Dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) indicates that it may be feasible to produce high quality natural rubber from the plant’s milky sap. 

Dandelion greens are a standard component of many bagged green salad mixes. They are high in vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. 

#182722933 / gettyimages.com

While these greens are indeed tasty and nutritious, I do recommend that you grow your own in soil that you know is lead-free, or that you buy them in the produce aisle or at the farmer’s market. The inherent risk of foraging wild urban plants is that you don’t know what’s in the soil, and you are clueless about what wildlife may have used them to mark some territory.

Have you ever noticed that a new dandelion almost always pops up just where you thought you had gotten rid of one? A dandelion can sprout from a tiny bit of tap root left behind when you yank one out of the ground. If you decide to rid your corner of the world from this plant, you will have your work cut out for you. Maybe you can learn to love it, or at least appreciate its positive qualities? The dandelion is not your common weed.

I often blog on food, food issues, or topics related to growing things on Monday in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday’s goal is “to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.”

Saturday Shorts: 100 Years of Reaching Out

One hundred years ago, the nation’s land-grant colleges and universities — over 100 of them — were entrusted with a mission. That mission was “extension” or “reaching out,” extending their resources to aid the public through non-formal, non-credit programs. These programs are largely administered through the thousands of county and regional extension offices throughout the country.  

Congress created the Extension Service with passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914. The act required that the states provide a 100% match to the federal money from non-federal sources. In 1914 more than 50% of the US population lived in rural areas, and 30% of the nation’s workers were engaged in farming. Today fewer than 2% of Americans farm for a living, and only 17% reside in rural areas. 

Yet, even in 2014, the Cooperative Extension Service continues to play an important role.

4-H is an Extension Service program.

I became a Master Gardener through UConn Extension. Throughout the growing season, Master Gardeners and new interns staff the extension offices throughout the state, helping homeowners and farmers by diagnosing their problems, dispensing advice, or directing them to the proper authority when the problem is not one they can handle. Master Gardeners also serve as volunteers at educational events, in community gardens, in parks, in city greenhouses… you get the idea. This pdf will give you an idea of the impact of the Extension Service in just my small state.

The websites in each state also provide links to a wealth of materials on a wide variety of topics, both local and general. Check out this directory of fact sheets available through the University of Connecticut Extension site.

The University of Connecticut Extension also offers soil testing (including lead analysis) for a small fee. You can obtain a soil analysis through the mail even if you are not a Connecticut resident, as long as you do not live in an area where there are Fire Ants or Golden Nematodes.

Some states have wonderful gardening guides available for a modest price. If you live in California, you should definitely consider purchasing the California Master Gardener Handbook, a bargain at $30.00 ($24.00 if you buy it through the University of California site).

The Extension Service is funded cooperatively with resources from the state and national levels. Most services are free. And, quite likely, there is an office very near you. 

Happy Birthday, Cooperative Extension Service!  

Why Saturday Short Subjects? Some readers may recall  being dropped at the movie theater for the Saturday matinee — two action-packed feature films with a series of short subjects (cartoons or short movies, sometimes a serial cliffhanger) sandwiched in between. Often the short subjects were the most memorable, and enjoyable, part of the morning. That explains the name. The reason behind these particular posts is that we are all short on time. My Short Subject posts should not take me as long to write or you as long to read (or try).

Meatless Monday: A Hearty Plan-Ahead Breakfast

A hot and hearty breakfast is a great way to start the day, in any season.

One of the best breakfasts ever is Martha Rose Shulman’s “Rolled Oats with Amaranth Seeds, Maple Syrup and Apple” from the March 10, 2014 post in her health blog on the New York Times site.

We have been enjoying this breakfast for months now, ever since my friend Mary Ann shared it with me. 

This morning's breakfast.

Amaranth seeds are the add-in that transforms already nutritious oatmeal into an even better for you meal.

This recipe does require a bit of advance planning. It actually calls for you to mix together most of the ingredients in your cooking vessel (whether a microwaveable bowl or a pan) with boiling water and to leave everything soaking overnight. 

Simple enough.

Allow 5 minutes in the morning to cook on the stove (or less in the microwave) and another few seconds to grate the apple on top. 

A little milk of some kind poured over the top is nice, and you may find that's all the additional sweetness you need.

Take it from me, this delicious breakfast will easily sustain you until lunchtime, and even beyond if you happen to run late.

More on Amaranth

Amaranth, although often grouped with the “ancient grains,” is actually a “pseudo cereal.” Most grains, the “true cereals,” are members of the Poaceae family; amaranth is not. In fact, Amaranth is actually a family – Amaranthaceae — of over 60 seed bearing plants with broad green leaves and impressive plumes of flowers. Check out this link at Whole Grains 101 for photos of various amaranth plants in their brightly-colored glory. 

Amaranth, native to South America, has become an important food crop throughout much of the world, with people eating both its leaves and its seeds. It is particularly valuable in arid places since it requires very little water.

One variety, Red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus), is cultivated in the US for its edible seeds. Prince-of-Wales Feather (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) is known for its striking flowers. The black sheep in the family is the Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), a highly competitive weed wreaking havoc in cultivated fields. It yields up to one million seeds per plant and gets its name because pigs like its taste.

Amaranth is believed to have been domesticated 6-8 centuries ago. It was a major source of food for the Aztecs, and played an important role in many Aztec rituals, including ceremonies in which a deity’s image formed of honey and amaranth grains was venerated, broken into pieces, and then distributed to the worshippers. After the Spanish explorers arrived, they used many means to convert the Aztecs to Christianity, including banning what they considered to be “heathen” practices and any materials playing a role in such ceremonies, including the cultivation of amaranth. 

In recent decades researchers have been studying amaranth’s health and nutritional properties. They have learned that amaranth is about 13-14% protein, and that the protein found in amaranth contains lysine, an amino acid missing in many grains. Other studies tout its cancer-preventing properties and its potential as a cholesterol-lowering drug. In Mexico there is hope that the re-introduction of this crop into the national diet will help lower the nation's high obesity rate.

Amaranth is also gluten-free. 

There are so many reasons to give this pseudo-cereal a try, and preparing this recipe is a great way to start. You should be able to find amaranth seeds in the bulk section of any good health food store.

Happy Monday. Have a great week.

On Mondays I often blog on food, food issues, or gardening in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday’s goal is “to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.”

Meatless Monday: A Bit of Kitchen Magic

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I had so many plans for today’s post — but the day got away.

In the waning hours of this Meatless Monday, I will offer up a Green trick I recently learned. 

I had a recipe calling for brown sugar. 

I was dismayed to find mine a rock-hard brick. 

I really didn’t want to toss it out. 

The brown sugar was still inside its original bag in my glass jar.

I turned the bag over and found hints for storage.  “…If product does become hard, pour into a medium bowl and cover with a wet kitchen towel and leave overnight. Fluff the rejuvenated sugar with a fork and return to container or pouch.”

I gave it a try.

It worked! 

If only more problems could be solved this easily.

Have a great week! See you next Monday.

On Mondays I often blog on food, food issues, or gardening in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday’s goal is “to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.”

Saturday Shorts: Special Connecticut Edition

First up: The Tally for last Saturday’s 6th Annual Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride.

Despite less than stellar (or should I say, solar weather), over 650 bike riders completed the route from West Rock to East Rock in New Haven, in the rain. Check out some photos here. They raised over $152,000 for 26 environmental groups. Check out this article in the New Haven Independent for more details. 

Second: The Buy 10% CT Pledge

buyCTgrown has launched a campaign urging residents of Connecticut to spend 10% of their food and gardening dollars locally. Since the 10% campaign began, 217 people and 85 businesses have taken the pledge and have spent close to $132,000 locally. The buyCTgrown site has a search tool to help you locate products you wish to purchase. The Food + Goods section highlights local products, establishments, and farms. Currently featured are: Cowpots (biodegrable pots made from composted cow manure); Comstock, Ferre and Co. (one of the oldest seed businesses in CT); and Creative Living Community of Connecticut (a micro-green business that employs adults with special needs). Season Top 10 suggests outdoor activities and special events with an agricultural theme — a great source of ideas for family fun. buyCTgrown is a program of CitySeed in New Haven, in partnership with UConn Extension, CT Farm Bureau, CT NOFA, and the CT Department of Agriculture. Check it out.

Enjoy your weekend. It is still cool in Connecticut, but the sun is out today and everything is in bloom — finally!

Why Saturday Short Subjects? Some readers may recall  being dropped at the movie theater for the Saturday matinee — two action-packed feature films with a series of short subjects (cartoons or short movies, sometimes a serial cliffhanger) sandwiched in between. Often the short subjects were the most memorable, and enjoyable, part of the morning. That explains the name. The reason behind these particular posts is that we are all short on time. My Short Subject posts should not take me as long to write or you as long to read (or try).