DAILY DANNY

Bird Bath Cooler

TGIF!

If you're planning to throw a party this weekend (and if not, think about it!), here's a resourceful way to keep drinks cool and chilled for your guests.    Use a bird bath! 

Just fill your backyard birdbath with ice and stock it with wine, champagne, beer, soda and water.   When the party is over, just leave the ice in the bird bath and let it melt.  Then our feathered friends have cool water to drink.   Just be sure to remove any stray corks, labels or any stray items out of the bird bath and in the trash.

Cheers!

Fourth of July Tips

I love the week of 4th of July.  It just feels like, well, summer to me.

I'm off to California to speak at the "greenest fair on Earth" at the Marin County Fair right outside of San Francisco.  It's one of those fun old fashioned county fairs with farm booths, pie-eating contests, ferris wheels and cotton candy.  I'll take lots of photos.   If you're in Marin County, come see me on Wednesday, July 2nd at 6PM.   I'm giving away a free Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo mattress!

Anyway, here are some fun eco-entertaining tips from my book "Simply Green Parties" that you can use for your own summer parties this week.   First up: lemon scented hand towels.  

Just grab some small towels and soak them in ice water with a squeezed lemon.  Ring them up, roll them up and serve with a lemon slice on top.   They'll refresh and disinfect at the same time.

For corn on the cob, just grab some twigs from the yard and sharpen them up in a pencil sharpener.  Jab, grill, enjoy!

It's easy to make your own healthy popsicles.   You find these molds in the kitchen supply aisle.  Just fill it up with a fruity sports drink, insert popsicle sticks and freeze.   Full of vitamins and much healthier than regular sugar pops.

Etching Glass

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been buying mismatched pieces of recycled glass tumblers, cups and even a beer mug at stores around the country.  I'm a little obsessed with finding the right recycled glass and thought it would be fun to have a mismatched collection to use at home.

When I got the flooring installed in my house, I got to know the people at Bella Flooring in Pipersville, PA very well.     One of the folks at Bella, named Kathy, had a small side business sand-blasting images into everything from ceramics to metal to glass.   So I knew who to go to when I wanted to customize these recycled glass cups. 

Here are some image printouts that I emailed prior that I wanted on the glasses.   I chose images from nature: bees, deer, birds, acorns, etc.

And here they are transferred to a special film just for sandblasting...

Once the film is put into place, each glass has to be meticulously wrapped completely.   She saves old office paper just for this purpose.   Etching takes lots of prep work!

Here's the glass being blasted.   You stick your hands through industrial rubber gloves and it's all done in a self-contained box.   The more you blast it with sand, the deeper the image.  She insisted I blast a glass myself... and I must say it was quite fun.  But it was a tad bit scary knowing things could shatter or fall apart if done improperly.

And the finished product.   I added a terra cotta charger plate into the mix and put an etched bee in the center.     What fun...   The above acorns glases are some of my favorite...followed by the birds on branches.... Customizing some of your own belongings really makes them your own. 

What patterns would you etch into a glassware set?

Summer Salad

Oh yum.    The fresh taste of summer!   I had a bounty of greens, watermelon, strawberries, cranberry jelly and brie cheese for lunch today.   Oh yum.     It's official: I am hooked on salads for now.

This whole tomato scare this week---McDonald's, Subway and Taco Bell pulling fresh cut tomatoes due to food-borne illness---got me thinking: try local. 

My local farm stands have a bounty of amazing fresh, organic and locally grown greens, fruits and veggies...all perfect for salads.  My favorite thing to do is to buy sweet corn, run a knife along the side and slightly sautee it in olive oil with fresh sage.    I'll toss it with baby greens, dill, and a big dollop of ricotta cheese as a light summer salad.  

Or I'll buy local eggs---the have the blue-tinted ones here---and I'll crack them in an ovensafe dish, dollop butter on top and sprinkle fresh herbs.  Bake in the oven until cooked and crispy...and sprinkle some fresh cheese on top.

go summer!

PB Green

I am so on the fence about this: Pottery Barn's reusable water bottles.

First the positive:   They are well aesthetically designed, a fair price point, and it's great that a store like Pottery Barn is doing something green.

Now the negative: The totally knocked off Sigg, the original makers of the reusable water bottle.

What do we think?   Here's another shot of another design that I think is a bit more less effective:

 

Eco Bar

I was having some fun wrapping bottles of wine using materials from around the house.   During some down time in between shoots for my new HGTV show "Red Hot & Green," I would keep myself busy by doing crafts.   Yes, I admit it.

The martini shaker is gift wrapped with shiny black tape from inside an old VHS tape.  I bought the VHS tape at Goodwill for about a quarter.   To get the tape out, I just stood on top of the tape and stomped my feet.   Out came a spool of black ribbon equaling about 30 yards of black, shiny tape!   To get the curls, just run a sharp scissors across the tape and it curls right up.

One wine bottle is wrapped in two layers of newspaper.   This is a project from my book "Simply Green Giving."  Using scissors, I cut strips of newspaper down to the top of the bottle and curled them up with scissors. I used some of the VHS tape to tie a bow around the neck of the bottle.

And the other bottles are just fabric wrapped using the sleeves from old shirts.  How cozy!

Global Organic Fruit Basket

This is one of my favorite photos from my book "Simply Green Giving."    And the idea is so simple, yet so perfect to give all year round.

Take an old tabletop globe (the kind that spins and is made from cardboard) and find the equator.   Use a blunt knife (like a butter knife) and pry the globe apart at its seams.   You'll end up with two halves of the globe that can be used as the bowl for this project.

Fill the globe halves with organic fruits from around the world---kiwi, oranges, passion fruit, apples, oranges, etc---and use shredded paper or natural fill fiber to cushion them inside.    Wrap with cellophane and tie with ribbon and give.

Quiz Week: Fridge Running?

How old is your refrigerator in your apartment?

A:    It’s brand new and Energy Star rated.

B:    5 Years Old

C:    A Relic!   It’s as old as the building is.

ANSWER:   Since a refrigerator is on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it is one of the biggest energy hogs in a home.    If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, replace it: it’s likely to be using twice as much energy today as the first day you plugged it in.  Most home improvement stores will recycle your old fridge properly when you buy a new one, so you need not worry about it going to a landfill.   

If your fridge is just a few years old, be sure to pull it a few inches away from the wall to allow for air to circulate, so it doesn’t work harder to keep cool.  Also, keep the freezer as full as possible, which helps it stay cooler with less energy.

And when you do look for a new fridge, look for the Energy Star logo, which identifies the most energy efficient appliances in their category and will be up to 40% more efficient, saving you money, too.

Quiz Week: Dishwashing

Is washing dishes by hand or being lazy and using a dishwasher better for the environment?

A:     Always by hand, because it saves water.

B:     In the dishwasher, because I don’t have time.

C:     I only use disposable plates.

ANSWER:  Clearly, disposable is not the greenest choice.    But believe it or not, using a dishwasher is actually the lazier and greener choice!    Washing dishes by hand can use up to 50 percent more water than a water-efficient, Energy Star rated dishwasher.    New models of diswashers today--- from companies like Bosch---use only 4 gallons of water and up to 41% less energy.       The best eco-solution is to fill up a dishwasher and run it when it’s full.

Quiz Week: Which is Greener?

Which is greener?  Paper or Plastic Bags?

A:     Paper: Because trees are a renewable resource.

B:     Plastic:  Because trees are not cut down to make them.

ANSWER:    Surprisingly, plastic is the greener choice, but by a very slim margin.  It takes less energy to produce plastic bags and they are technically recyclable.  Unfortunately, the recycling rate for plastic bags is very low and they are responsible for a myriad of environmental problems around the world.

More than 14 million trees per year are approximately cut down to make paper bags, but they are easily recyclable in most curbside recycling programs.    And they are not a petroleum based source, which gives them some bonus green points.

The real winner here is a reusable bag.   If you use a reusable bag just 11 times, it will already begin to have a lower environmental impact.  The more you use that reusable bag, the more you are saving.

Sweet Idea

Happy Valentine's Day!   Hope you're enjoying this day of love....

When you're done eating all the sweet treats your sweetie gave you, why not save the fancy chocolate box and use it for something just as sweet, too?

Here's an idea from my gift giving book Simply Green Giving: Fill it with jewelry as an organizer or to give someone else.

Collect vintage rings, charms, pins, bracelets and other sparkly treats.  Wrap them up with tissue or tie up small packages and place into each compartment.   Place the lid on top and tie with ribbon.

Bamboo Smores

I gotta admit: I have a soft spot for S'mores.

Here's a more grown-up and sophisticated way to enjoy oozy, goozy chocolate marshmallow goodness...

Fill a large bamboo bowl with all the fixings: marshmallows, graham crackers, Green and Blacks organic chocolate and skewers to toast them up.

Look for homemade gourmet marshmallows (usually at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's), quality graham crackers or even organic sugar cookies, and great chocolate.    Toast up a marshmallow and add a drop of real peppermint essential oil on top for a minty kick to the finished s'mores.

Look in the yard for real twigs, sharpen up the ends, and eat away....

(Photo taken from the JCPenney Simply Green press preview)

Vintage Cookware

Here's a box of vintage Corning cookware that was left behind in the house.  It was so much fun going through the box of casseroles, frying pans and serving pieces.   Everything was in immaculate condition, so I boxed it up and brought it to my local Goodwill (along with the original owner's guide!) to donate.  I thought about using FreeCycle to find someone who could use these items, but with all the craziness going on with the new house and all my other projects, I just couldn't find the time to meet someone to give them their box of vintage cookware.  That said....

BUT... I did keep a few things.

This white casserole dish is so classic in design and function.   How could I give this up?  I could envision making everything from cheese enchiladas to a yummy basked macaroni and cheese in this.

And this measuring cup.  Isn't it cool?   I am so going to covet this in my new kitchen (whenever it gets done!)

Forgot your reusable bag?

You're probably just like me: you have a bunch of great reusable shopping bags, but you forget to bring them to the store with you....lots..of..times.

And it's easy to see why: You bring them to the grocery store, fill them up, and carry them into the house.  You empty the bags and stash away the bags somewhere at home.   When you need to run to the store again, you're either A: already out and about running errands and don't have the totes or B: just plain forget when you leave home.

When I was visiting Washington, DC a few weeks ago, I stopped by the local Trader Joe's store to pick-up their crazy-good corn salsa.  I bought 10 bottles of the stuff and used my gym bag as a tote bag (I emptied my sneakers and clothes into the backseat of my car).   

As I stood in line, I noticed EVERYBODY had brought reusable tote bags with them.   I never see that.  I usually spot one other person, we look at each other, and then we nod as if we're saying, "cool...you remembered, too!".    But today, it was weird to see nearly every single person have a stash of bags in their carts.

When I checked out my stash of salsa, the clerk handed me a slip of paper.   Turns out, if you bring your own reusable bags to this Trader Joe's store, you could enter to win a cart full of free groceries at the store.  They gave it away every single month and it was only eligible to those who brought their own totes.

Don't you think if every store did this, everyone would remember AND WANT to bring their own bags?  It's sad that it's not good enough to do the right thing for the planet, but hey...I would like free groceries, too! 

Giveaway! Sigg Anniversary Bottle

The lovely eco people at SIGG sent me their limited edition Anniversary Sigg reusable water bottle.   But the funny thing about already having a Sigg bottle at home is that I don't need this free one to use!   So, I decided to give it away to a lucky reader of this blog.

The winner will be chosen who I think gives the best eco-recycling idea.     So, here's the question:

What's the best way to recycle an empty candle container?   

To avoid spammers, I'm going to ask people email me at dannyblog@aol.com with your answer, and feel free to post your ideas in the comments section, too.  I'll choose the winner and will contact them from that account and ship you the Sigg bottle!

Contest closes Sunday, January 20th.

update!  Contest is now closed.  Thank you for all your entries.   Winner will be posted later this week.

Mimosa Kit

I recycled a Clementine box today into a mimosa kit.   In the box, I wrapped organic oranges in square sheets of newspaper, so they are all nestled inside like little citrus-y jewels.

Right on top, I anchored a big orange box of Veuve Cliquot champagne.  I don't like the fact you can't just buy the bottle anymore; everywhere I look it's packaged in this very glossy, shiny box.  Oh well...maybe I'll add that to my "to do" list for 2008: call Veuve Cliquot and complain about an orange box. 

Then I tied it all up with some vintage ribbon around the edge of the box.   I haven't decided who'll get this gift yet, but I'm sure it'll be enjoyed by the recipient.  They can squeeze fresh oranges, top it off with some champers, and have a fresh mimosa.  Cheers!

And the leftover oranges and some Clementine's are now sitting on the dining room table on a vintage hotel silver plater.  How festive!

Fabric Wine Bottle

The holiday season is a time for giving, so this is something that can help solve a big problem most of us face: how to wrap a wine bottle.

Sure, you can buy one of those wine gift bag at the store, but it's rather wasteful both for environmental and economical reasons.     It's usually made from coated paper that can't be recycled (not to mention the fact it's usually not very pretty anyway) and it costs extra money.    After all, isn't the wine what really counts?

But you can't just show up with a bottle of wine in your hands, so when you need to wrap it, raid your closet.

Here I took an old work shirt and cut off the sleeve.  Then I just wrapped it around the bottle and pinned the bottom of the sleeve closed.   Tie a ribbon around the neck and voila!   Wrapped bottle.

Used Coffee Grinds...so many uses...

Okay, a compost bin isn't just great for the environment, it can help you keep track of your healthy---er, or in this case---not so healthy eating habits.      This morning, all I had in my compost pail were one coffee filter after another full of coffee grinds.   Hmm...where are the leafy green tops and vegetable peels?   Note to self: eat more veggies.

Anyway, I have been using coffee grinds for a myriad of uses for a while now.   Some of my favorite ideas:

1.  Exfolient.    Grab a spoonful of coffee grinds and some liquid soap and furiously rub the mixture all over our hands.   It scrubs off the dead skin and the residual caffeine plumps the skin (in theory at least...).    My hands feel really soft after I do this.

2.  Bar Soap.   Melt olive oil glycerin soap in the microwave and stir in fresh coffee grinds.    Pour into molds and slice.    Scrubby soap!

3.  Deodorizer.    I don't know why, but a bowl of coffee grinds in the fridge is a great way to deodorize the fridge.   Any idea why?

Shell Salt and Pepper Holders

Happy Thursday!    Well, we're just a bit away from Thanksgiving, so I thought I'd share a quick and easy entertaining tip with you.

On a trip to Orlando, FL a few months back, I picked up a bag of really old shells at a fossil store on my way to the airport.   For a while, they hung in my bathroom as artwork after I decided against turning them into tea light candles.

Today, they are holding salt and freshly ground pepper on my dining room table.   If I had tiny little spoons (you know, the kind for caviar or something fancy like that), I'd stick them into each shell.  But like most normal people, I don't have caviar spoons.   So my guests can just use their fingers to pinch salt and pepper onto their meal.

Recycled Glass Jugs

 

I had a photo shoot at my house this weekend.    One "DIY" project I came up with one the spot was one I had to share with all of you right away!

These jugs are really vases---I think---made from 100% post-consumer recycled glass.   Post-consumer means it's the glass you and I put out for our curbside recycling.  So that old spaghetti sauce jar is melted down and made into something new!

I decided these jugs were better off as pitchers instead.  So I made a white wine and red wine sangria and filled one with water and lemon slices (for those who don't drink).    But because they didn't come with stoppers on top, I just used the leftover fruit from the kitchen to sit on top of each jug.    Lime in the white wine sangria, lemon in the water and apple in the red white sangria.

Scrubby Brushes

Okay, I LOVE Brillo brand sponges.    I love the scrubby side, because it really does clean-up pots and pans well and can scrub away grime in sinks, the tile floor, etc.   I know there are many of you out there with an unhealthy obsession with Brillo sponges.  ha ha...

Anyway, here are some regular cellulose sponges (sans the scrubby side) that I've made into scrubby sponges.    I had some of those produce fruit and veggie mesh bags that bulk size quantities of lemons and tomatoes come in.    I just wrapped the sponges with the mes, tied a knot at each end, and use them to scrub around the house.   

Not sure how durable they are or how long they'll last, but I'll give 'em a try and let you know.  Give it a try, too and leave a comment if it's a nay or yeah!

Green Pan Update

Just a few days ago, I blogged about the new Thermolon coated non-stick frying pans I've been testing out.

Today's test: a sunny side up egg.

I fried it up without butter or oil---which is really the ultimate test---and here are the results.   A fried egg that didn't stick to the pan.

Now, it may have cooked up the egg without any grease, but the egg tasted dry and bland.   So, I tried it again with a pea-size dollop of butter and it fried up beautifully and tasted great.    In the past, I would have to use a good 2 heaping tablespoons of butter to fry up some eggs in the cast iron pan (and even then it wouldn't be really all-too non-stick).

So, more bonus points for this pan!   

PS-Some of you asked where you can buy these.    While they aren't available in stores yet, check out hsn.com for "green pan" and you'll find some with the Thermolon coating.   The quality of the pans at HSN aren't fantastic, but they pretty good for the price.

Green NonStick Pans

I recently met the lead innovator behind the latest in eco-friendly and healthy non-stick cooking technology called Thermolon. 

Lots of us are worried about Teflon non-stick coating; the PTFE chemical is used to help spread the Teflon chemical all over traditional non-stick pans.     It's a harmful chemical that has been found even in the bloodstream of polar bears and newborn babies.  Scary stuff.     So, by the year 2015, companies who make non-stick cookware are required to find a non PTFE chemical-free alternative.      In my opinion, why use Teflon at all.

Well, non-stick is nice.  Non-stick makes cooking easier.     And this new Thermolon ceramic-based non-stick cookware from GreenPan might be the eco-solution. 

It's PTFE free, can be heated up to 800 degrees and doesn't chip or fade.   

The CEO Of Thermolon brought me these pans all the way from Hong Kong.  I can't tell you how excited I was to have these pans and to give them a try.   

ULTIMATE TEST:  I cooked an egg in it.  No oil or butter or grease.

It fried up perfectly and didn't stick.

Everything I cooked in it didn't stick and fried up perfectly.

I'll let you know when you can stock up on these pans.   I am telling you:  they are amazing.

Last Hurrah to Summer

The sun seems to be setting sooner.   There's a brisk chill in the air.    And you find yourself pulling out the extra blanket for the bedroom.    Sigh.   Summer is over...

But it's still warm enough to dine al fresco, so why not?    Here's a picture from my book Simply Green Parties; it's an outdoor set-up in the woods.   I remember the day we shot this photo; it was drizzly, cold and wet.   Everything was wet.     But the end result looks charming, doesn't it?

Grab that little used painter's tarp in the garage and stretch high up in the trees using rope.   Give the canvas some slack to make it look billowy and not taught and totally stretched out. 

Bring some indoor chairs outdoors and dress them up with pillows and blankets.   Poke some solar powered outdoor lights in the ground for accent lighting.   Grab a homemade pie or cake, some salad and sandwiches and bring a big bottle of wine.       Say goodbye to summer and hello to Fall!

Pure Water 2 Go

 

Well, I blogged a bit back about ordering a refillable plastic water bottle that came with a screw-in filter.   You basically fill it up with tap water, screw on the filter/lid and squeeze out fresh tasting water.   A great idea for those on-the-go and especially handy at the gym.

I got my two bottles today and wanted to share how the process works.   First, you take the black filter and snap it into the cap, like this:

Then you up the bottle with tap water and squeeze out the water into the sink.  This flushes everything out to get it ready for personal use.    Fill it up with cold water and go.  It really is this simple.

The bottle says it's good for 200 refills, which saves me about $200 from buying bottled water at the gym.   And you can order filter refills through their website, so the bottle itself is reusable.   And recyclable if that day should ever come.

I keep one bottle filled and chilled in the fridge at all time.    Really, I couldn't be happier with this product.

I drink Bottled Water...

 

And it's green!

Lately, I've been having problems using my reusable Sigg water bottle at the gym.   When you're running, the last thing you want to do is stop, unscrew the cap, drink, screw the cap back on and then go back running.

So I found these portable water bottles with a built in feature.  It's from a company called Pure Water 2 Go.   For $12.95, you get a reusable plastic bottle with a carbon filter that screws right in.   Here's a bit of info from their website about the filter:

Used in the Sport Bottles, this carbon composite filter removes 90% of the chlorine & aids in the removal of Lead, Mercury, and Copper at a flow rate of 10ml/sec. It treats up to 80 gallons of water, approximately 3 months of use under normal conditions. There is no sport bottle filter available to the consumer that out-performs this filter. 

So, this one bottle replaces approximately 1000 plastic water bottles.   And, you can either A: replace the filter and reuse the bottle or B: put it out for recycling.       I bought two of these so I always have one filled and chilling in the fridge.   

Cake Stand Reuse

Okay, get used to seeing this cake stand.

There was a small arts and crafts festival down the street from my house last weekend, so I decided to stop by and see what was there.     There was a small white elephant sale---sorta like a lone flea market booth---mixed with booths of local artisans selling everything from homemade honey to glazed bowls to intricate oil paintings.

In the white elephant booth, I found this cake stand.  It was $5, so I figured, why not.

But here's the thing: I don't bake cakes.    But I'm intrigued by the shape and idea of these cake stands.  We all have them (or can find them) so what else could you use it for?

I'll start with the easiest: fruit bowl.    I picked up a basket of peaches from my local farm stand.  Just stack, display and eat!   More ideas in the coming weeks....

Go Local: eggs

I know most of you foodies will nod in agreement with this one: if you're going to buy just ONE THING local and organic, make it eggs.   They just taste better.

I buy my eggs from a local green grocer in New Jersey.  The eggs are collected from a local, small farm and the cardboard container is handwritten with the farm's name, address and date of collection.   They are organic, fertile eggs, too.    And what I love most?  They come in natural-hues of browns, greens and blues....as if they were dyed for Easter.   

But the real reason to get them is the taste: they taste absolutely fresh, rich, and delicious.    There's none of the weird after taste from supermarket eggs.        Sure, it costs more (a dozen here is $4.25), but I think it's really worth the investment.    It also supports local farms which is something I am all for, too.

Butcher Paper

I was watching an episode of The Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network and was inspired by a piece of pink butcher paper.  Yep, butcher paper.    There was something about the color, texture and look of the paper that I thought felt authentic and real and I thought of a million ways to use it around the house.   So, my hunt for butcher paper began.

So, I went online and googled "butcher paper" and found a wholesale website that sells it and ordered a roll.  I ordered "ground shipping" for it because it was A: the cheapest and B: the greenest option.   Choosing overnight or 2-day shipping may get you your order faster, but it uses much more fuel to fly whatever yo bought to you.   Ground shipping is a greener choice because it uses more fuel-efficient trucks.  And with all this news of UPS figuring out the most fuel efficient route for their trucks to take (no left turns for example), you know it's a better choice.    But anyway...

Here, I'm working on a variety of recycling projects and decided to pull out some paper to protect my recycled glass countertops in the kitchen.     While some newspaper might be a more recycled choice, it's not a practical one for this project.   This is a messy project involving a lot of white craft glue and the transfer of ink from the newspaper to the projects would not be a good thing.   But whenever I'm working on something that isn't messy, newspaper it is.

But what I thought this butcher paper could be great for is to wrap presents.    It's uncoated, heavy paper that can not only do a great job, but is easily recyclable, too.    And without all the harmful inks and coatings found in most gift wrap, it makes a greener choice, too.

Glass Storage Containers

There's been a lot of talk lately about the safety of those plastic food storage containers.    In particular, concerns have come up that chemicals and toxins from plastic and "cling" wrap could leach into foods when microwaved at high temperatures.   A bit of research has shown that the WRONG plastic could actually be cancer-causing when heated up and used improperly and it's important for consumers to find the RIGHT plastic for food storage purposes.

Okay, I say why use plastic at all?    And why should I feel like I'm taking a risk when all I want to do is heat up last night's pasta primavera in the microwave for a quick snack?

The solution it seem is to go with glass storage containers that are microwave safe.    Ikea (where else?) has a wide variety of food storage containers made out of hard-working glass, complete with matching lids that are airtight, ovenproof and microwave-safe.    Ikea also means lower prices, so you're able to stock up on a variety of containers in different sizes for different needs.

What I like best (beside the glass part) is that you can see right into each container without having to open up the container.   So, when I'm cooking lunch or dinner, I'll actually now make extra portions with the idea that I'll have something healthy to snack on later if I'm hungry.  (Ignore the cupcakes in the top container...)  Also, I love the fact that the glass doesn't stain from saucy foods; it cleans up and looks good as new after each washing.

Fast Organic Baking

I've recently decided to put my culinary skills to the test.   The other day, I was craving a cupcake and decided that I would whip up a batch.

But instead of making them from scratch, I decided to test out the organic boxed mixes and packaged foods that you can commonly find in most supermarkets.   The base of the cupcake was Dr. Oetker's organic vanilla cake mix.     Add some organic eggs, a cup of Silk soy milk and some safflower oil, and you have the batter mix.

For fun, I picked up a Green & Blacks organic chocolate bar that had bits of orange rind embedded into it.   Into each cupcake went a piece of chocolate; the idea is that as the cupcakes bake, the chocolate would melt and cretae an ooey gooey center.

As the cupcakes baked, I whipped up a cream cheese frosting: one box of cream choose, a stick of Horizon organic unsalted butter, some real vanilla extract, a squeeze of lemon and about 3 cups of powdered sugar.    I used regular powdered sugar because I could find an organic variety in the store (and figured driving 20 mintues JUST to buy sugar was not so green), and I stuck with the good 'ol Philadelphia brand cream cheese because all of the organic varieties---from previous experience---just weren't, well, creamy.

I love my GE convection oven; everything always comes out evenly cooked.    Waited till they cooled and spread the cream cheese frosting on top.    Grabbed the vegetable peeler and the leftover chocolate and shredded some chocolate on top.

Dessert's done!     Now here's a green tip.  I just heated up the oven to 325 degrees and figured the residual heat would be enough to cook up a dinner.   So I sliced up some firm tofu, spread some miso paste on top and drizzled it with sesame seed oil.   Tossed it in the oven (at this point, the oven is off) and came back 30 minutes later to find perfectly crispy, savory tofu for dinner.

How far will you go?

Quick post today, I'm in LA for work but took a shot of my briefcase.

Whenever I'm traveling and I need a quick refreshment (and I'm without my reusable bottles), I always look for beverages packaged in aluminum or glass.    I avoid plastic bottles as much as I can because glass and metal are A: easily recyclable B: desirable recycles and C: can be recycled infinitely into new bottles and cans forever and ever.

But my question is this:  how far will you go to make sure something gets recycled?    I've been hauling these two recyclables all day now... surely, there has to be a recycling bin somewhere!

Eco-Disposable?

Hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing Memorial Day weekend.   

This 3-day weekend had me thinking about all the people grilling in their backyards and throwing outdoor parties.   Big parties usually means lots of disposable plates, cups and utensils.   Lots of disposables means one, big bag of trash brought to the curb.    Multiply that by a few million, and well, you know what the results are.

The greenest choice is reusable plates, cups and utensils, but that isn't always the most practical.    So, I pose this question: is the phrase "eco-disposable" an oxymoron?

I spied these disposable plates at the supermarket recently.   (Yes, I take my digital camera grocery shopping...).    They are made by Chinet, come in a variety of colors like this sagey green and a light blue, cost about $3 for this pack of 44 and---get this--they are made from recycled fibers INCLUDING a high-percentage of post-consumer recycled fiber.    (Post-consumer, in case you're wondering, means it's made from paper we put out for recycling... like at the office or curbside at home).

So, this product is helping to "complete the loop" by using recycled materials.  And it does help busy people who can't wash tons of plates.  But is it encouraging the use of disposables still?

Do you think it's better to go green and make the effort to use reusables or is it OK to cheat a bit and still be green-ish by using these "eco-disposable" plates?

Outdoor Bamboo Bar

It's ALMOST summer entertaining time, so I decided to set-up an outdoor bar.   

Now, I'm not much a drinker, but I was totally inspired by watching the Meryl Streep classic "Out of Africa" recently.    Man oh man... they sure do drink a lot in that movie.    But anyway, I digress.

I recently had some guests over and asked them what their favorite cocktail was that wasn't beer or wine.   So I headed out and picked up a few bottles of spirits and began stocking the bar.

First, the bar: it's a bamboo bar that I got on clearance at---of all places!---Pottery Barn.  $40.   Total steal.

Then I added the bottles of liquor, a stack of cocktail glasses, some bottles of mineral water (for the non-drinkers)  and used the empty slots fo keep the tealight candle holders organized (the dark green ones on the left side; they are actually old glass soda bottles cut in half). 

When I'm serving wine or---one special occassions---champagne, we bring that out in a galvinized bucket full of ice and rest it on the tray as well.

There's something about mixing up a drink outside on a warm, balmy night.  I don't know what it is... but maybe Meryl was onto something here.

Cheers!

Yum! Organic cakes...

What can I say: these organic cakes at Miette Patisserie in San Francisco are just... amazing.

If you visit SF, go...stop... visit... and forget whatever diet you might be on.  Indulge.   

Flower Appetizers

I've been digging through some old photos in my files and came across this one.   This was a candid shot from the book launch party for my Simply Green Parties book.  It was held at the Stella McCartney shop in New York City.

What I didn't notice at the party (frankly, I was so crazed that night I didn't realize there was even food at the party) was this lovely idea of using fresh pansies as a base for appetizers.     For your at-home party, why not pluck different colorful flowers from the garden and place appetizers on top.   Not only will it help keep your tray spotless, but it adds a punch of color and organic texture, too!

Charcoal Fridge

Hands down: Whenever someone comes to my house and opens the fridge, the first question is, "What is this, Danny?"

I keep a bowl of charcoal in my fridge.  And since that's the last place you expect to see charcoal, I guess people are perplexed what the black mass of charred wood is...and what it's doing in the fridge.

You see, if you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that charcoal is a natural deodorizer.   It absorbs odors...and where else dof you have odors than in a fridge?

So, grab a stash of charcoal from the grill, place it in a pretty bowl, and stash it in the bag of the fridge.  And be prepared for questions from your nosy friends.

Recycled Glass Bowls

I've been buying green products ever since I was 12-years-old and it's been interesting to see the evolution of products.   In the past, you could only ever find one or two vendors making what you needed.   Case in point: recycled glass dishes and bowls.

Today, it's easier than ever before and you can visit stores like Crate and Barrel, Ikea and Pier 1 and find a myriad of things.     But one company I fell in love with and still cherish today is Fire and Light.

They're based in California and they use recycled glass from broken car windshields to make pressed glass bowls, cups, and plates.    These citrine colored bowls are heavy, durable and shine like gemstones in the light.     They certainly never looked "granola" to me... but they sure are great to eat homemade granola from!   

They make a whole variety of products in a whole spectrum of colors.  Check 'em out!

Festive Paint Chip ID Tag

As the clock hits midnight tonight, make sure your guests know which glass is there glass.   Simply hook paint chip tags (these were cut out into circle) to the stem of the glass.    Have the guests write their names on each ID tag and know they'll know.   A simple and easy way to personalize your night of fun and recycle those old paint chips!

Composting 101

Do you compost?    About 6 months ago, I bought this inexpensive compost bin at my local nursery and set it up right outside the kitchen window.

Composting is rather simple: you need a layer of green matter followed by brown matter followed by green, then brown, then green, and so on.   Green matter is stuff like lettuce, vegetable peels, cuttings from the flower bed, grass clippings and other leafy things you would've normally chucked into the trash.  Brown matter (at least for me) are dead leaves I've raked up from around the house.

The idea is that the organic matter will decompose and become a nutrient rich material that you can add to the garden to make it rich, fluffy and healthy.

I'll keep you posted on my composting experiment over the days.   So far, I'm starting to think corn on the cob and egg shells really don't break down (they are supposed to).     Any composting tips? 

Heres a peek at what's inside right now:

Pumpkin Patch: Now What?

Now that Halloween is over, the question remains: what on Earth do you do with all those pumpkins?

Okay, I COULD make a pumpkin pie...or roast pumpkin...or make spicy pumpkin seeds...but honestly, I have a lot of pumpkins.

I took them off the porch (they were resting so beautifully on an iron Smith & Hawken bench) and stuck them in the woods.  Now that all the leaves have fallen from the trees, I thought there was something cozy about lots of pumpkins resting on a cushion of leaves.

The racoons have done a fabulous job at eating all the corn stalks that I tacked onto the front porch (and once in a while, I still hear them coming back looking for more), so I'm hoping they'll devour the pumpkins. 

But before I turn this pumpkin patch into a buffet for wildlife, I thought you guys might some thoughts on what I could do.   Hmm..maybe I could make pumpkin enzyme creamy stuff for the face?   Or maybe not...

Bad Eco Habits: Bottled Water

When I do media interviews, I talk often about people have bad eco habits without even knowing it.  For example, many of us leave our cell phone chargers in the wall thinking it stops charging our phones when we disconnect it from the phone.   But in reality, it just keeps on charging, wasting energy.   

For me, as green as I try to live, the one bad habit I've had lately is bottled water.   I've been justifying my bottled water purchases as my one eco-sin; something that I know is bad, but I can't be perfect.   When I go to the gym, it just seemed easier to bring a chilled bottle of water and drink from it instead of the germ-infested water fountain.  It IS cold and flu season, after all, I would remind myself.  Well, I've decided that isn't an excuse at all, and I'm giving it all up.   

After I made a stink at my gym that they should have a recycling bin for all these bottles, I found myself standing in front of the overflowing blue bin staring at a pile of plastic bottles.  Sure, I thought, they'd get "recycled," but really, would they truly get recycled into something else?  Is there a market for plastic recyclables?    At the end of the day though, it's a petroleum based product that just truly sucks for the planet.

So, today I'm online shopping for a reusable water bottle and I think I found something that is going to become my new best friend.   

Okay, on second thought, maybe this isn't the right bottle for me, but it's so cool!  It glows in the dark!    But I guess staring a skull while I'm running on the treadmill will only remind me how much I hate running and it feels like I'm dying from exhaustion...

Maybe these designs will be the winner:

Lots of pretty designs here:

http://www.sigg.ch/

I feel better already breaking my habit.     Thank God for organic, shade-grown coffee.  Because, folks, my morning coffee is one habit I refuse to break.

Do you drink bottled water?  What do you think?   Is bottled water the new SUV?    Should we be  shameful when sipping water from a plastic, throwaway bottle?

Sweet and Herby

I said this in my book SIMPLY GREEN PARTIES:  there are things in life that are like cilantro....you either love it or hate it, there's no in between.       Seriously, cilantro is one of those herbs that people LOVE LOVE LOVE or HATE TO HATE.   Ever notice that?

But if you LOVE cilantro like I do, give this a try: fresh peaches, cilantro, ollive oil, onions and a little salt.    So simple, and so good.   Such an unusual taste that, well, works!    If you don't like cilantro, I guess mint could be good too....

Teri Hatcher's Trailer Park?

At an organic farm, this little guy sits still and let's me snap a picture.      But I digress... what on Earth is Desperate Housewife Teri Hatcher doing a trailer park?

Okay, not exactly.     At an undisclosed farm in an undisclosed location, at this solar powered trailer on an organic farm, Ms. Hatcher was able to find some R&R as her choice for a vacation.    And trust me:  this place was in the middle of nowhere....far far away from glamorous Hollywood!

And ta-da...here's the trailer:

I think it's cool she finds heaven on an organic farm and adores simple accomodations like this...makes me like her even more now.

Raw Olive Oil

The things you learn when you just ask.

"Aren't all olive oils the same," your Simply Green guy naively asks the olive farmer.

"Well, ever wonder why some olive oils cost a few bucks...and others cost a ton?"   

In an 11 minute interview on my weekly Sirius satellite radio show, I found out a few interesting tidbits about olive oil.   The most interesting fact?   Not all olive oils are, well, actually olive oil.   The cheap varieties use olives picked from trees and the ground.     The even cheaper olive oils are cut down with vegetable oils blended with olive oils!     Ever hear of "light" olive oil?   Yep...it's lighter in quantity of real olive oil! 

Anyway, PASOLIVO is one of the only American olive oil makers out there.  They specialize in high-end oils that are fruity, tasty, cold-pressed and raw.   Never cooked...and you can really taste it when you try.   Some pics from the visit:

"OLIVE" the dog:

The large tanks holding gallons and gallons of fresh pressed olive oil:

And finally?  The product.   I ordered a case of this stuff and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival here at home:

Of Course I would...

On a scouting trip to an artisanal cheese farm recently, I was learning all about the farm's handmade and old-fashioned way they made delicious sheep's milk cheeses.    From feeding the flock of sheep to milking them to turning it into cheese, it definitely was an eye-opening experience.    I spoke to the owner on my Sirius Satellite Radio show, too.  You can learn more if you have Sirius; SIMPLY GREEN WITH DANNY SEO airs every Friday at 9AM and 9PM  (EST) on Sirius Satellite Channel #114.

But anyway, the title of this post is "Of Course I Would..."    Why?     Because, at a dairy farm, where they make cheese, and raise their own sheep for gorgeous, hand-crafted cheeses.....I would be intrigued by tomatoes of all things.

All you need are two screens (another reason to save those old screens for windows) and places sliced tomatoes in between the screens.   Place in sun.... and voila!  Sun-dried tomatoes.

I am sure if you're a foodie reading this, the eyes must be rolling.... but I was in a world of "golly gee...is it really that easy?"     Er, those organic tomatoes sold by the bushel near my house are going to be put to good use next year!

Abalone Farm?

Out in Central California, I spent a late afternoon at an abalone farm.    If you're like me, you too probably blurted out, "a what farm?"

Okay, I'm no marine biologist here, but from what I can tell, abalone is mollusk that slowly grows in the ocean.  It's considered a delicacy in seafood and for years, wild abalone was collected by hand and divers.    Over the years, pollution threatened the abalone population (as did overfishing) and now conservationists are protecting the abalone by farming them sustainably in California.

On this trip, I was amazed to see the process how a baby abalone is spawned and grows over a few years into a large healthy abalone.   Here's dozens of baby abalone gripping tightly to a cut plastic pipe:

Flash forward five years, and here's whatcha got:

After the abalone is shucked from the shells, they leave behind a beautiful, pearly shell.   Very gorgeous...with holes along the edge.  How perfect would a few dozen of these be hung on a Christmas tree?

Wine Compost?

In always sunny Central California, I just returned from a 2-day learning trip about organic wine, cheeses, heirloom tomatoes and even lavender farms.      One stop was the Wild Horse Vineyards and Wines (pictured above).

Wine tours are pretty much the same stuff:  pretty grapes growing in a row...ripened grapes crushed for juice....juice aging in pretty wood barrels or drums.    But this time, something caught my eye: a big, pile of sweet-smelling, rotting grape skins and seeds:

After the grapes are pressed, out comes the seeds and waste.  When I picked it up with my hands, I expected it to be wet and slimy, but the mixtures was bone dry.  Not a drop of grape juice was wasted.   So I asked, "what on Earth do you do with this mixture then?"   Answer?  COMPOST.

Below is a photo of the grape compost.    After a few months, it breaks down into an amazing, fertile, nutrient-rich material that amends the vineyards.   I'm tempted to bring a pickup truck and haul it back home.  I've been told the finished product is so rich, you can pile it on top of concrete and just grow vegetables in the compost mixture alone.  Hmmm...  Fine Wine Compost, anyone?

Pear Booze

In the lovely town of Garrison, NY, we shot a segment with gardening guru Katherine Whiteside.  On her organic pear trees, she had bottles handing all around.    When the pears were teeny, tiny..she inserted a glass bottle around them and then the pears grew inside.   So, that's how you get a pear