Serving up veggies in all of our products!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Go Beyond the Compost with Us!

Here at Peas, we often brainstorm about even more ways to reduce our personal environmental footprint. We ride bikes to work (at least on days when its not raining), recycle and compost, and bring reusable bags to the market, but we know there are countless other ways to further decrease our impact.

We're collecting ideas and starting to see things come together into a holistic movement. Its beyond recycling and compost; it starts before leaving for the grocery store and ends at the dish rack. It's about creative solutions for getting closer to zero waste at home.

We know we're on to something here but need your help in naming it. Thoughts? Ideas?
























(Photo from Zero Waste New Zealand Trust)

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Homemade Crackers for Pennies on the Dollar

Here is a great reci-pea that you can make with your kids, customize to your tastebuds, and feel good about the snacks they are eating because you made them!

This highly versatile recipe comes together from just four essential ingredients. To customize: add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese to make cheese crackers. Mix rosemary into the dough and sprinkle coarse salt on top for a gourmet snack. Add sesame seeds to the dough for added nutrients. The possibilities are endless for crackers healthier and tastier than any boxed brand!



Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour, more as needed

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup water

Optional additions for inside or on top of the dough:

herbs like rosemary and thyme, coarse salt, cracked pepper, sesame or poppy seeds, minced garlic or onion, parmesan, cheddar or other cheese, etc. We love adding a tablespoon of wheat germ for its nutty flavor and nutritious crunch!

For added richness, an equal amount of milk, half and half or cream can be used in place of the water. Butter can be used in place of the olive oil.


1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or dust lightly with flour.

2. Combine flour and salt in the workbowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Add oil all at once and then do a few quick pulses until oily clumps form. Do not over-process. Add about 1/4 cup of water and process with several longer pulses. Continue to add liquid a teaspoon at a time until mixture holds together but is not sticky. The dough should have streaks of oily parts of dough and wet parts dough which will make tender, flaky layers in the crackers.

3. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until 1/4-inch thick or even thinner, adding flour as needed. Transfer sheet of dough to prepared baking sheet (drape it over rolling pin to make it easier). Score lightly with a sharp knife, pizza cutter or a pastry wheel so you can break crackers into squares or rectangles later on. Sprinkle with salt or other topping if you like.

4. Bake until lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Cool on a rack; serve warm or at room temperature or store in an air-tight container for a few days.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Natural Cures for Summertime Bug Bites and Sunburns


When we think of summer it's hard not to picture: cook-outs, swimming pools, ice-cold lemonade, camp fires, and sleep-outs under the stars! Don't let bug bites and sunshine interfere with your family fun! Here are a few of our favorite home remedies to prevent & cure those itchy bites and painful sunburns.
tea tree

Insect Bites

Prevention
  • Natural repellents
    • Citronella (candles).
    • Calendula, cedar, eucalyptus, and/or tea tree [pictured, right] oil in a candle, oil diffuser, spray, ointment or lotion.
  • Edible prevention: eat foods rich in Thiamin (Vitamin B1) like fish, brown rice, molasses and wheat germ before spending time outside to avoid mosquito bites.
  • Avoid
    • Eating refined sugar (which makes skin give off a sweet smell that attracts mosquitos).
    • Perfume, hairspray and other scented cosmetics

Treatment
  • For ant, mosquito or mite bites, wash the area with soap and water. Next, apply a paste made of baking soda and water. If the bite is on a limb, elevate the limb to minimize swelling.
  • Rub a cut onion on an insect bite for a powerful antioxidant treatment.


Sunburn

Prevention
  • Wear sunblock (at least SPF 15) and minimize sun exposure during peak hours (10am - 3pm).

Treatment
  • Aloe vera gel. Choose a brand without any mineral oil, waxes, alcohol or coloring.
  • Calendula salve
  • Herbal bath to minimize stinging and pain of a sunburn.
    • Add 6 cups of chamomile tea or 6 drops of chamomile oil to a lukewarm tubful of water. Soak in the bath for about 30 minutes.
    • Lavender oil can be used in place of camomile in this treatment.
  • For more immediate relief, use a cool compress. Alternatively, dissolve one pound of baking soda in a tubful of water and soak in the bath for about 30 minutes.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to rehydrate
  • Edible treatment
    • Eat high-protein foods for tissue repair
    • Eat raw fruits and vegetables to supply vitamins and minerals for healing


[Camomile Flowers]

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Fruit Remix on the Original Candy Necklace

We love all things edible here at Peas HQ! This is a fun crafty project you can do with your kids on a rainy afternoon or whenever their friends come over. Here is our healthy version of those edible Sweet Tart necklaces & bracelets. Instead of those sugar rounds why not string snacks you would rather your kids eat?!

Supplies:
* elastic craft string
* plastic craft needle
* stringable foods:
  • cheerios
  • dried fruits like
    • mangoes, cut into 1/2 inch peices
    • apples, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
    • raisins
    • cherries
  • licorice, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • mini marshmallows
  • popcorn

For the younger kids you may want to make bracelets instead of necklaces for safety reasons.
Start with about an 8 inch length of elastic craft string for a bracelet and 14 inches for a necklace.

Thread one item on the string and double-knot the string to it.

Let your children continue threading the ingredients you have gathered onto the string.

When they've filled it, knot the ends together. Now they have a necklace to wear and a snack to nibble!


For more kids' food crafts, check out this site.