Day of Action for Animals

Hello Friends and Family,

As some of you may realize, my 32nd birthday is coming up on this Sunday, June 12th. This year I was hoping you could help me out with a very special birthday present. I realize that some of you may not have realized that my birthday was coming up, let alone planning on getting me a gift, but I hope that you will read on.

A few months ago I was reading the book, 500 Ways to Change the World, by Global Ideas Bank. This book is a chronicle of some incredibly lovely ideas for changing the world in a positive way. One of the ideas that this book suggests is to transform your birthday into a day of action for a cause that is meaningful to you.

As you know, I am very passionate about the care and welfare of animals (among other things), and I was hoping that you could help me make June 12th a day of Action for Animals. Instead of giving me a gift or a card I was hoping that this Sunday you could do something of service to animals, in honor of my birthday. Even if you weren’t planning on getting me a present anyway, I encourage you to “pay it forward” for animals.

Of course you don’t have to participate in this “Day of Action for Animals” if you don’t want to, and please don’t send me an actual gift just because I reminded you of my birthday. I would love, however to hear about what you decide to do, if you do participate in this project. No pressure! Posted below is a list of 9 ideas to help out animals, if you need some inspiration.

With love,
Cathy

P.S. Please feel free to “steal” this idea for your own birthday if you like it!


9 Awesome Ideas to Help Animals
(Ranging from easy/free to ones that require more effort/money)

1. Click on these websites (or set one as your homepage!): The Animal Rescue Site, Care2's Race for Pets in Need, Freekibble and Freekibblekat. Each click is completely free. On Freekibble and Freekibblekat you get to answer a trivia question-and the cool part is-even if you miss it--you'll still help feed homeless pets just by clicking-plus you'll learn some interesting facts about doggies and kitties.

2. Use the search engine dogpile.com, and every time you do, you will help generate funds for the ASPCA and other organizations that help homeless pets. You can also make dogpile your home page if you like. The more you search, the more they rescue--and it won't cost you a penny.

3. Pick up a bag of trash at the beach or even in your neighborhood. Litter that finds it way into storm drains ends up in your local creeks, rivers, bays, and other waterways. Litter can be very hazardous to marine life when they mistakenly consume trash bits that resemble food.

4. Find out what's on your local shelter's wish list and donate some items. Needs may include: paper towels, newspaper, dog and cat toys, pet food, cleaning products, rubber tubs and collars/leashes. Another item that many shelters usually need are used/clean blankets and towels, so the pets won't have to sleep on a cold, cement floor.

5. Obtain a list of cruelty-free companies, and refer to it when you shop. If you have an iPhone you can download the FREE “Cruelty-Free” by Symbiotic Software LLC app and use it to find cruelty-free companies. You can also contact the following organizations for a free and comprehensive list of companies that do not test on animals (as well as a list of those that DO test): American Anti-Vivisection Society, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

6. Eat sustainable seafood. Search “Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch” online, and download the iPhone app or paper version of the Seafood Watch Card. Reference this card whenever you want to eat seafood, and support healthy fisheries, oceans, and waterways.

7. Go vegetarian (or vegan) for the day. Or longer??? Not only will you help animals, but you will also support a sustainable environment, as well as your own health!

8. Call and write companies that currently test products on animals. Let them know your values. Most companies have 800 numbers that you can call at no cost to you! Consumer pressure is why many cosmetics companies, such as Revlon, have switched to animal-free testing.

9. Write to your congressional representatives. Ask them to support any legislation that would discourage companies from using animals for safety tests or that calls for alternatives to animal testing. You can go to the Animal Welfare Institute’s website as well as the In Defense of Animal's website for a list of action alerts you can write to your representatives about. Animal Welfare Institute’s website: http://www.awionline.org click on “Act Now!” Click here for the In Defense of Animals Action Alerts site.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes

Little Michelle made these for a picnic that we went on recently. They are wonderful and healthy! The recipe comes from the Eating Bird Food blog.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes

This is a copycat recipe created with the HSH Quinoa Sweet Potato Cakes served in the prepared foods section at my local Whole Foods. I like these quinoa cakes served hot, at room temperature, or even leftover and cold straight out of the fridge. Make them into burger size patties or make smaller cakes and serve them as appetizers! This recipe makes a lot (2.5 lbs of quinoa cake “dough”) but the baked patties do freeze well!

* 1 lb. sweet potatoes (2 medium sized), peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
* 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and cooked according to package directions
* 1 cup lundburg wild rice blend, cooked according to package directions
* ½ cup green onions, sliced
* ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
* 1 tablespoon dried sage
* ½ tablespoon sea salt
* ½ teaspoon black pepper

Prep

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Steam sweet potato chunks for 20-25 minutes. Then puree sweet potatoes in stand mixer. You could also use a food processor or blender.
3. Combine mashed sweet potatoes, cooked quinoa, cooked rice, green onions, cranberries, sage, salt and pepper.
4. Form and flatten portions of the “dough” into patties.
5. Lay the patties onto parchment paper that has been sprayed with cooking spray (or stoneware) and bake for 15-20 minutes until they’re lightly brown and crisp on the outside.
6. Serve warm, at room temperature, or straight from the fridge.

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

I LOVE dyeing Easter Eggs, and I LOVE being an environmental domestic warrior! Here are some resources:

FoodBuzz

Crunchy Domestic Goddess

What's Cooking America

Country Living

About.com

Jamie Oliver Recipes

I'm a tad in love with this man...

Green Salad

Farro Salad with Roasted Veg

Greek Salad

Pesto

Party Squash Soup

Mexican Barbecued Corn on the Cobb

Spicy Parsnip Soup

The Best Pasta Salad

Stir Fried Vegetables

Yogurt Pops

PIEtisserie Pie Crust

PIEtisserie Pie Crust Recipe (for a double crust sweet or savory pie)

• 1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks)
• 3 cups flour (unsifted)
• approx 1 cup ice cold water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (?)

Measure three cups flour into a large mixing bowl. Do not pack the flour into the measuring cup, simply scoop and level with the back of knife. Add the salt, and mix.
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Grate the butter over the flour with a cheese grater or by scraping with the tines of a fork. The butter can also be cut in pieces over the flour. The butter should be very hard, straight out of the fridge. It also does not have to be an exact cup of butter, it’s ok if you add a little more, better to have a little more, than not enough.

Combine the flour, butter, and salt with a fork or pastry cutter. The mixture should look crumbly, sandy-looking and not uniform. There should be small clumps of butter, about the size of pebbles/gravel, and roughly no larger than nickels in diameter, throughout the mixture. Butter will clump on the fork, be sure to scrape it back down into the mixture.

Add the ice cold water by sprinkling it over the flour-butter mixture in increments of (approx) 3-4 tablespoons. Stir with a fork after each addition of water. Add enough water until the mixture sticks together when pressed between your fingertips and balls up into a dough ball. Avoid combining the butter-flour-water mixture with your hands, as the heat from your hands will warm the butter and water, when the butter and water should stay as cold as possible. There may be a section of your mixture that is drier than the rest, focus on adding water to that area.

Just like the butter, it’s better to add a little more water, better to have a little more, than not enough.

Once the butter-flour-water mixture form a large sticky lump in your mixing bowl, gently and quickly shape it roughly into a ball and store in a Ziploc bag or some other airtight container. If your ball of dough is not sticky to the touch (does not leave dough on your finger when touched), add a little more water.

Refrigerate your dough for 25 minutes, or longer. The colder the dough the better, as it will bake up lighter and flakier.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and cut in half. Store the other half in an airtight container. You may also place the container of dough back in the fridge. The first half of dough being rolled out is the bottom crust.

Roll out to 1/8 in. thickness.

Optional: Lightly brush the top of the upper crust with cream or a beaten egg for a crispier crust and glossy finish. Be sure to evenly coat the entire top.

Baking Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake the pie on a lower rack on a cookie sheet (to catch any dripping filling).

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 mins. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 25-30 mins.

Juice should run from the pie when it’s done.

Dutch Babies

This recipe is so easy, SO delicious, and SO fun! Since the batter recipe doesn't have any sugar I have ideas of treating them like crepes and making savory Dutch Babies. I also have thoughts of making "healthy" Dutch Babies with whole wheat/buckwheat flour and egg-whites. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Ingredients

* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
* 1 pinch ground nutmeg
* 1 or 2 pinches of cinnamon
* a splash of vanilla
* 1 pinch salt
* 2 tablespoons butter
* powdered sugar for dusting
* lemon/lemon zest for sprinkling on top.


Directions

1. Place a 10 inch cast iron skillet inside oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until light. Add milk and stir. Gradually whisk in flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and salt.
3. Remove skillet from oven and reduce oven heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt butter in hot skillet so that inside of skillet is completely coated with butter. Pour all the batter in the skillet and return skillet to oven.
4. Bake until puffed and lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Remove promptly and sprinkle with powdered sugar and lemon juice/zest.

Another awesome looking recipe that Michelle found for me here.

Apple Crisp

* Three lbs of tart apples
* Two tablespoons of lemon juice
* Half a cup of light brown sugar (pack it tightly)
* Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon
* Half a teaspoon of ground nutmeg
* One-third cup of all-purpose flour
* One-third cup of granulated sugar
* One-third cup of rolled oats
* Four tablespoons of cold butter (Half a stick)
* Half a cup of chopped walnuts or pecans

How to Prepare:

The first step is to chop the apples into slices. Remember to remove the peeling and core. Grab two bowls. In one bowl, add the apples and lemon juice. In the other bowl, combine the brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Now combine the bowls and mix together. Grab another bowl and mix the flour, sugar, and oats. Slice the butter into small pieces. Now use two forks to mix the the flour and butter until it looks crumbly. Add the chopped nuts. Grease a 9 in. square baking dish and spread the apple mixture on the bottom of the dish. Top it off with the flour mix. Cook for 30 - 45 minutes at 375°, or until the apples are soft and topping is browned slightly. It tastes best if you serve it warm, or at least at room temperature (I've also tried it cold and it's not too bad cold either!). I recommend serving it with a scoop of heavy cream or vanilla ice cream.

John's Recipe/Site

Amazingness All-Around

http://leftoversforlunch.com/2010/10/18/seven-layer-tortilla-pie/