From the category archives:

Living Green in the Kitchen

If you even remotely know me, you know that I am greatly identified by my love of animals and children.  While I suppose I’d fall under the classification “Tree Hugger,” I’d much rather be known as an “Animal Hugger” and “Human Hugger!” (Since everything that has a face depends upon trees, I’ll always answer to “Tree Hugger” though, and proudly so.)

What does that have to do with Dawn?  Well, plenty.

I’ve actually used Dawn since I first got married.  There are pictures of us in our first apartment, with Dawn proudly sitting by the sink!  I’ve always loved the smell of Dawn and the fact that it can stand up to anything I cook up in the kitchen.

Something else I love about Dawn is their concern for wildlife.  For over 30 years, Dawn has been doing its part to help save wildlife. Not only have they donated funds to important conservation projects,  they have donated Dawn dishwashing liquid to clean wildlife affected by oil spills.

Recently Dawn made it possible for all of us to get involved and make a difference. When you buy a bottle of Dawn and activate your donation online, one dollar will be donated towards the International Bird Rescue Research Center and the Marine Mammal Center.   After you contribute, you can connect with other animal lovers on the Everyday Wildlife Champions’ Facebook page and discover even more ways to celebrate and help wildlife.

On the back of each bottle of Dawn is a code of numbers – you simply enter the code at http://www.dawnsaveswildlife.com – it takes less than a minute!

The bottle shown above is actually the one I always get – I am somewhat obsessed with seals and polar bears.  And cats, wolves, and possums.  And raccoons, rabbits, and birds.  And sharks, dolphins, and whales.  And… okay, if  it has fur, feathers, or fins – I’ve got nothing but love for it…

EDIT:  I linked to Dawn’s Facebook Page.  I could have sworn I did in the first time around.  Geez.  See, boys and girls, this is what happens when you try to work in the morning after only 2 cups of coffee.  Sit and stare out the window until 4 cups, begin work with number 5 – I forgot my own rules.

This is one of the coolest, slickest, and funnest things I’ve come across in a while. The Goodbye Detergent Spaghetti Scrub is a spaghetti-like cleaning scrub that doesn’t even require detergent to clean! If you’ve gone all out (say, baked on barbecue sauce, meatloaf, or lasagna), it would require just a tiny amount. Can you imagine how much could be saved on detergent?

The Spaghetti Scrubs are completely natural – made from corn cobs and peach pits. They’re from Goodbye Detergent and can, best I can tell, only be purchased online. Fine by me, I love shopping online. My husband would say that I loved shopping, period. And I’d have to say that my husband knows his wife. Period.

From the Website:
Spaghetti Scrubs last for months and because of their unique shape, they’re pliable enough for trickier cleaning jobs and tight spots such as corners, whisks, and behind faucets. The best part is they dry quickly and completely so there’s never a stinky or moldy sponge in your sink. After you’re done cleaning, just rinse them, and hang on the faucet to dry.

  • Reusable scrubs last for months
  • Unique pliable shape
  • Great for peeling vegetables
  • Lack of mold and bacteria
  • No smell or rust
  • Save money and the environment by reducing the need for soaps

Click the following link to purchase one of these ingenious scrubs from Amazon – Goodbye Detergent Spaghetti Scrub.

As you know, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.   And if you’re anything like me, if it’s a special day, you HAVE to have great chocolate and plenty of it.  Actually, I have to have great chocolate every day, but I digress.

Chocolate doesn’t get any better than Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate – which is why I write about it so frequently here on Get Cooking:

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate Give Us Reason to Celebrate

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate: As Chocolate as Humanly Possible

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate is Still the Best Chocolate on Earth

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate Has Done it Again and I Love Them

Obviously, I’m hooked.  There’s one thing you’ve surely noticed about me by now and that’s that I am extremely Brand Loyal.  If I find a brand of chocolate (Green & Black’s), shredded and sliced cheese (Sargentos), Gourmet Cheese (Beemster’s), dishwashing liquid (Dawn), etc. that never lets me down – I never let it down. I stick with it and I praise it to the hilt.

Green & Black’s Organic chocolate most definitely fits this bill.  Take it from the world’s most addicted  chocoholic – this is top of the line, delicious, creamy chocolate.

We all know that chocolate is a necessity year round, but  Valentine’s Day is custom made for it.  Nothing says “You’re Special” better than the gift of premium organic chocolate.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Green & Black’s has introduced its first U.S. exclusive flavor to its family of premium organic chocolate bars. Green & Black’s new Peanut bar is a blend of premium 37% milk chocolate with a delectable combination of caramelized peanuts and a hint of sea salt.

How over-the-top incredible does that sound?!?!

Below is an outline of chocolate-y wonderful ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day the way it was intended to be celebrated.  These ideas are courtesy of Green & Black’s and I hope you’ll let them inspire you to go all out this Valentine’s Day.

Whether you’re single and celebrating with a group of friends or planning a romantic evening for two, Green & Black’s has enlisted Micah Carr-Hill, their Head of Taste, to create a romantic menu for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day!

Singles: Wine and Chocolate Pairing Party

This year, avoid the crowded restaurants and host an intimate wine and chocolate pairing party that your closest friends won’t soon forget.  Your guests will fall in love with the latest wine pairings just for Valentine’s Day including:

  • Green & Black’s Toffee and Zinfandel

Chocolate, toffee and wine…three of life’s great pleasures. It’s never truer than when pairing the rich, dark-fruit characters in the wine accentuate the chocolate’s buttery sweet toffee flavors.

  • Green & Black’s White and Chardonnay

This may just be the world’s perfect pairing. The silky smoothness, creamy texture and vanilla finish of Green & Black’s White is perfectly complemented by the tropical fruit and hint of oak in a classic Chardonnay.

  • Green & Black’s Dark 85% and Syrah

Intense! This is the only way to describe the pairing of Green & Black’s Dark 85% and a rich Syrah. The complexity and sturdy structure of the wine softens and enhances the dark, intense chocolate.

Couples: Romantic Chocolate Tasting for Two

There’s nothing better than chocolate to set the mood for a romantic evening for two.   Candles and rose petals are great, but nothing will show your special someone they’re the sweetest than a passionate chocolate tasting.  Take these tips for an at-home chocolate tasting from Green & Black’s:

  • Conduct the tasting like you would a wine tasting
  • Choose up to six of your favorite flavours  to taste
  • Start with the lightest variety (White) and finish with the darkest (Dark 85%)

Green & Black’s is a chocolate that makes no compromises. The great tasting chocolate made from the world’s finest organic ingredients also gives back to the environment.

In celebration of the launch of the new Peanut bar, Green & Black’s is offering a special $1 off coupon for customers.  Visit www.greenandblacks.com for a downloadable coupon which can be used at select retailers, including Target.

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Target is pretty much my home away from home, so it’s where I get all of my Green & Black’s chocolate candy.

I’ve been straight up addicted to Rice Dreams Vanilla Rice Drink for quite a while now. It sits deliciously on my list of Top 10 Favorite Healthy Foods and Drinks. Recently, I tried Full Circle’s Organic Original Ricemilk and was very pleasantly surprised. In fact, when my Top 10 list grows to a Top 20 list, you’ll find Full Circle ricemilk amongst the winners.

Full Circle Ricemilk is low in fat, with no soy protein and no cholesterol. Of course, none of that would mean jack if it weren’t good – which it most certainly is!

On the back of my most recent container was a great-sounding recipe for a Fruity frosty. I thought it sounded like something you might be interested in, so I thought I’d share.

STRAWBERRY BANANA FROSTY

Makes 3 Servings

3 Cups Full Circle Original or Vanilla Ricemilk, chilled

1 Ripe Banana

1 Cup Strawberries

Place all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.  Serve immediately or refrigerate.…. and call me when they’re ready!