News
Monsanto Modified Corn Losing Bug Resistance
Iowa State University entomologist Aaron Gassmann's discovery that western corn rootworms in four northeast Iowa fields have evolved to resist the natural pesticide made by Monsanto's corn plant could encourage some farmers to switch to insect-proof seeds sold by competitors of the St. Louis crop biotechnology giant, and to return to spraying harsher synthetic insecticides on their fields.
Hurricane Irene adds to US Farm Woes
One big question is the storm's impact on the dairy industry in Vermont and New York, where problems can affect national prices of a US kitchen-table staple: milk. The region was especially hard hit by raging floodwaters that tore apart roads and bridges and isolated entire communities. "This is a unique situation we are facing," Dean Norton, a Genesee County, New York, dairy farmer, tells the Messenger Post newspaper in Canandaigua. Mr. Norton adds that regional food prices, including for milk, could rise because of the storm's impact on farms.
War's Forgotten: Tripoli Zoo animals suffer, lacking food, water
During the CNN visit, the zookeeper arrived and explained that for seven days amid the turmoil of conflict in Tripoli, the animals got nothing. Now 10 of the 200-person staff have returned and are trying to feed all the animals.
Military suicides linked to low Omega-3 levels
In a finding suggesting powerful psychiatric benefits for a component of fish oil, a study published Wednesday has linked military suicides to low levels of docosahexaenoic acid and found that service personnel with higher levels of DHA in their blood were less likely to take their own lives.
Bending the Rules on Bacteria
Like meat stocks, all moist cooked foods are susceptible to being recolonized by survivalist bacteria. (Baked goods are generally too dry for bacteria; they're spoiled by molds.) That's why we should avoid leaving cooked foods out at room temperature for long when we're preparing for a party or holiday feast (or enjoying their lazy follow-ups), or having a picnic, or packing lunch boxes for young children, who along with the elderly and ill are more vulnerable. It's best to keep moist lunch items either cold or hot, surrounded by cold packs or in a thermos.
Astronauts to Grow Garden on Mission to Mars
Supplying food for the ambitious NASA manned-Mission to mars set in 2030 will take a lot of planning, and require a variety of horticultural experts and chefs, according to Dr. Maya Cooper, of NASA's Space Food System Laboratory.
" More than 7,000 pounds of food would be required for the 5-year flight to the red planet," she said, the Mail Online reported.
Experts believe that one solution would be for the astronauts to grow their own high tech " kitchen garden," including 10 "prime candidates": lettuce, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, spring onions, radishes, peppers, strawberries, herbs and cabbage.
Chipotle Creates Sustainable Food Foundation, Film
Chipotle Mexican Grill has created a foundation to support sustainable food. The Denver-based fast casual restaurant chain is also debuting a film that shows the path to more sustainable farming.
Chipotle will show the two-minute film nationally beginning in September. It will appear on nearly 5,700 movie theater screens in advance of feature films. The goal is to educate consumers about Chipotle's favored farming methods, and demonstrate the differences between industrial farming and more sustainable methods. The film can also be viewed online at Chipotle.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ chipotle.
Home & Garden
Heat and Cool Dishware to Match the Food
Saving Pennies or Dollars? Dishwasher Detergent
A breakdown of cost effectiveness of store-bought vs. homemade.
Household Tips: The Many Uses for Beer
Slow Home Space Planning & Organization: The Kitchen
This is another part of a series on the "slow-home", lots of good ideas here!
Facials at home save your skin and your money
Use an Orange Peel to Cook an Egg over a Campfire
Knot your extension cords like a carpenter to avoid unwanted unplugging
This is totally a trick I use, but I picked it up from being a stagehand;)
How To Clean Dried Paint Brushes With Vinegar
Sweeten your soil with recycled wood ash
Add used tea bags to the bottom of planters to feed plants
Fall planting tip: Cool your soil before you sow salad greens
Recipes
So my neighbor knocks on my door the other day and holds up a plastic container of a red substance. "Get a spoon and try this and tell me what you think it's made of!" He says excitedly. Now, he knows I love cooking and wanted to see if I could figure it out. I tried a small taste of what had the consistency of a jam and was very much the color of raspberry. But I noticed right away there were no seeds and the chunks of fruit were not indicative of berries; more like chopped bell pepper or. . .a HA! Tomatoes! But it definitely had a strong raspberry taste and was very very sweet. Turns out it was this:
Surprise Raspberry Jam
Seems like a great way to use up lots of excess tomatoes if you are tiring of savory relishes and salsas. I might adjust the amount of sugar though, as it was a bit on the too sweet side for me;)
Summer Vegetable Terrine
Tomato Cobbler
Grilled Radicchio with Balsamic Vinegar
Italian-style grilled corn
Zucchini Fritters
Dilly Beans, a great alternative to making pickles
Mafaldine with roasted tomatoes, robiola and crushed fennel seeds
Campanelle with Eggplant Caviar
Roasted carrot and ricotta gnocchi with herbed butter
Brown risotto with summer squash, favas and mint
Hatch chile apple cobbler
Oooh, apple cobbler with a kick!
Marbled lemon cheesecake
Apricot and mint gin cocktail
Love the sound of this, although I am not a gin fan so I might use vodka instead;) |
