Check out these recipes from COOKIE + kate.  I warmed up some leftover quinoa this morning and added a little Justin’s maple almond butter, some agave and cinnamon.  It was excellent and for those sensitive to grains like I am, it’s a a great alternative.

I spied this adorable Snuggle Hottie heating pad at Whole Foods while Thanksgiving shopping.  I thought it could be the perfect bribe for our three-year-old to stay in his bed at night.  He loves it!  See the details below…

Cuteness? Woof! Adorability? Woof woof! A hot, snuggleworthy new friend? You’ve got it.

Get yourself this new knitted hot water bottle alternative that everyone is talking about. This new character is the perfect companion for you when there’s a chill in the air. As the days grow cold and frosty, it’ll keep them snug, warm and smiling. This dog also has a plush fleecy back for extra huggability and the natural wheat insert is softly scented with calming lavender and chamomile for restful sleep.

Just 60 seconds in the microwave makes this dog ready for bedtime or around the house. So get ready to sit, stay… cuddle! Get yours now.

Product Info:

• Knit cover and fleece backing
• Insert filled with natural wheat grain and pure essential oils
• Dimensions: 7″ x 10.5″ x 2″

What a great find today at the library!  We randomly grabbed it, not knowing anything about this book.  I guess the super cool art is what caught our eye.  This mostly true story about the 1987 Garbage Barge filled with 3,000 tons of garbage from Islip, New York is thoroughly entertaining.  It will most definitely help young readers take recycling to heart and make them think twice before they throw something in the trash.

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 2—A fictionalized account of real events that occurred in 1987, this story will convince young readers to take their recycling efforts more seriously. When Islip, NY, has nowhere to put 3168 tons of garbage, the town officials decide that shipping them south is the right thing to do, so a tugboat towing a garbage-laden barge takes it to North Carolina. But North Carolina won’t allow the vessel to dock. It goes on to New Orleans, but again is denied harbor rights. Then it is on to Mexico, Belize, Texas, Florida, and back to New York. The garbage is ripening all along the way. Now even Islip refuses to take it back. Finally a judge orders Brooklyn to take it and incinerate it, 162 days after the barge started its journey. Islip is ordered to take the remains to their landfill. The illustrations are photographs of objects made from garbage. The people, full of personality and expression, were made from polymer clay, and wire, wood scraps, and leftover materials of all kinds were used for the tugboat and barge. The inside of the paper jacket explains how the art was done. This title should be a part of every elementary school ecology unit.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

There are also these really cool magnets that go on the front, which is what sold it for my boys.  The company is family-owned and located in Northern California.  To find out more, go to Planet Box.

Out of 741 samples of conventional celery, there were 3,821 residue detections and 54 different pesticides found.

USDA Pesticide Data 2008

Just passing along a blog that I’m loving about incorporating more raw vegan foods into the family diet.  Written by mom, Carissa Leventis-Cox, who eats a 50% raw diet, this blog is practical and inspiring.  Trying a recipe here and there is a lot more realistic than proclaiming that you’ve gone raw or vegan all at once.

Try the I Can’t Stop Eating This Kale Salad and read up on how to transition the family into eating more raw vegan foods and the top 12 kid-friendly raw superfoods.  You will be surprised at the simplicity of her suggestions.  Before school starts and daily lunchboxes must be packed, gather some new ideas from Mama in the Kitchen.

The boys absolutely love Arnold Lobel’s stories.  Frog and Toad, Owl At Home and Mouse Tales are a few of their favorites.  I thought it was cute when one of them asked if we could have Owl’s pea soup and buttered toast for dinner.

Owl’s Pea Soup & Buttered Toast
1/4 c. diced bacon (optional)
1 T. oil
3 T. flour
1 c. leeks sliced thinly
1 qt. stock
3 c. peas
1/4 c. heavy cream
salt & pepper
bread
butter

Cook bacon in a soup pot and discard or save for a garnish.  Add oil and flour to the same pot and cook 3 minutes.  Add leeks and cook for 3 min.  Add stock and bring to a boil.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Add peas and simmer 5 minutes more.  Puree in a blender or food processor.  Stir in cream, salt and pepper.  Toast bread and spread with butter.

“Owl was at home.  ‘How good it feels to be sitting by this fire,’ said Owl.  ‘It is so cold and snowy outside.’  Owl was eating buttered toast and hot pea soup for supper.  Owl heard a loud sound at the front door.  ‘Who is out there, banging and pounding at my door on a night like this?’ he said.  No one was there.  Only the snow and the wind.  Owl sat near the fire again.”

Owl At Home, by Arnold Lobel

]]> http://www.snugorganics.com/1509/owls-pea-soup-and-buttered-toast/feed/ 0 http://www.snugorganics.com/1491/caring-for-organic-cotton-sherpa/ http://www.snugorganics.com/1491/caring-for-organic-cotton-sherpa/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:55:20 +0000 SnugOrganics http://www.snugorganics.com/?p=1491 “As it happens, very little is pure or natural about cotton when it is raised conventionally. Fully 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals in the United States are used to produce cotton, grown on just one percent of all major agricultural land. Conventional cotton crops in California alone are dusted every year with 6.9 million pounds of chemicals. And research shows that extensive and intensive use of synthetic fertilizers, soil additives, defoliants and other substances wreak terrible havoc on soil, water, air and many, many living things.  There is, of course, an alternative: organic cotton. There are farmers who have been growing cotton without harmful chemicals for years. Their yield is high and the quality of the cotton they grow is equal to or better than conventionally grown cotton. Their methods support biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, improve the quality of soil and often use less water. Growing organically takes more time, requires more knowledge and skill, and, for now, costs more. But it’s worth it.”  -Patagonia

Each Snug Organics™ sherpa sleeper is made using top quality organic cotton fabrics for durability, longevity and comfort.  However, these garments need the proper care to maximize use and to maintain the original look and fit.  We recommend treating our sleepers as delicates, meaning machine washing on delicate or a cycle with low agitation in cold water and line dry. Conventional cotton apparel is generally treated with chemicals to reduce the shrinkage effects of heat.  Because organic cotton is not treated, high heat can cause it to shrink significantly.

Using an eco-friendly laundry detergent, with vinegar as a fabric softener, will further help to maintain the integrity of the garment.  Organic cotton will absorb chemicals in ordinary laundry detergents, undermining your investment and contributing to skin and respiratory conditions.  For stains, use an oxygen bleach such as Biokleen or OxyClean.