Does your family have closets littered with cast-off ’80s sweaters? Through a process called "felting" you can transform those never-to-be-worn again garments into useful and decorative throw pillows. Read on to learn more about how you can do something good for the environment … and maybe even save a family member from committing a fashion faux pas.
When you explore the rest of Kiwi online, you'll find more articles about natural and organic living for the whole family.
Domenica Catelli, celebrity chef and Mom-a-licious author, explains why eating organic is just good common sense, both for you and the environment:
As a national spokesperson for organic foods, I am frequently asked why organic ingredients are so vital to us. Professionally, I am surrounded by overwhelming evidence and it is often hard to know where to begin. So I tend to respond simply as a mother: Taste, health, and environment.
As a chef, the quality and taste of organics is quite frankly, superior. I spoke at an event recently where I had the audience taste-test organic vs. conventional cherry tomatoes—the outstanding flavor of an organic tomato was obvious, and the difference was more than a bit surprising.
Of course, raising a teenage girl brings home the imperative that organic food is a significant way to help my child's body and mind develop in the healthiest way possible. I follow the research on harmful pesticides and their impact on children and do my part to avoid produce and animals that have been exposed to pesticides.
Finally, as a restaurant owner, I am supportive of farmers and companies who provide organic choices and I favor conscientious agriculture that makes positive impacts on our environment—‘going green’ can start in your own kitchen. Think of it this way: when we choose organic, we immediately decrease the harm to our environment and we enjoy the taste of food with fewer chemicals. This is common sense we all must embrace for the health of our lives, loved ones, and the world we inhabit.
Thanks to quinoa, this quick and tasty chicken dish from celebrity chef Domenica Catelli is packed with protein. Loaded with eight amino acids, quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a true superfood that the entire family will enjoy. The quinoa seed was a staple in the diet of ancient Incas, who considered it sacred.1 To give the taste of quinoa more depth, try roasting it in a dry pan, then rinsing.
Domenica Catelli, author of Mom-a-licious: Fresh, Fast, Family Food for the Hot Mama in You!, has positively influenced the way families eat and prepare food across the United States with her tasty, easy, and healthy approach to organic cooking.
1JustFoodNow.com | GoGeoMetry.com
Lemon Zucchini and Basil Quinoa Pilaf with Chicken
Serves 6
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups quinoa, dry toasted and rinsed
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
- Dash salt and pepper
- 2 zucchini, cut into ¼ inch pieces
- 1 cup basil leaves, torn up
- 2 lemons, juiced
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup slivered raw almonds
Process:
- Sauté the onions and garlic in extra virgin olive oil in a medium sized pot. Add quinoa, chicken, a pinch or salt, pepper, and broth.
- Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low.
- After 15 minutes remove lid and stir in zucchini, lemon juice, almonds, and ¾ of the basil.
- Turn heat off and replace lid for 2 minutes.
- Finish with the remaining basil and Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.
