Better Tasting Through Food Science?

It's official: Food manufacturers will put HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) in ANYTHING!

Planning to make baked brie stuffed with brown sugar and dried cherries for a holiday gathering last weekend (thanks to Dell Rae for the recipe suggestion), I bought a box of "Pitted Tart Cherries" from the Sunflower Market bulk department. Much to my surprise, I noticed an ingredient list on the box when I got home that read as follows:

INGREDIENTS: red sour cherries, high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar, sunflower oil.

Why the hell are we adding sugar to cherries that are supposed to be TART! Does Garvey Nut and Candy (the makers of this product) actually think we can't handle the inherent tartness of a tart cherry? Isn't that the reason we buy tart cherries ... to get the tartness?

Never mind that these cherries were plump, chewy and displayed an almost juicy texture you never find in dried fruit ... or the fact that Marc and I consumed nearly the whole box last night with cereal (I didn't end up making the brie as my parent's dining table was already overflowing with 7-layer dip, pickle roll ups, Aunt Tish's famous dill dip and other classic holiday delacies).

4 Cans + 15 Minutes =

Best Soup Ever!

We're smack-dab in the middle of yet another Colorado snow storm today. It's been snowing steady since 5am this morning (or maybe before, that's just when I got up) and I figure nothing says lovin' like a pot of my new favorite soup on the stove when Marc gets home from his hellish commute from Cheyenne: Veggie Mexican Tortilla Soup.

The recipe is simple:

1. Saute some chopped red onion and garlic in a little bit of olive oil in your favorite big soup pot until it is soft.

2. Stir in a couple TB of tomato paste (this will give it extra rich tomato flavor, but if you don't have it, there's no need to call out for Chinese - leaving it out won't turn the soup into crap)

3. Now's the time to add any spices you might have on hand. Ground cumin is a fav of mine, but we're out (who thinks to buy spices on a weekly grocery run?) so I threw in a little chili powder and called it good.

4. Stir in a cup or so of frozen corn.

5. Here come the cans! Gently stir in the following:
One can black beans (drained and rinsed ... and organic of course!)
One can pinto beans (drained and rinsed ... and organic of course!)
One can vegetable broth (again, you can skip this and just add an empty bean can's worth of water)
One can (a big one) chopped tomatoes with green chiles (do not drain). I use a pint of the T&Cs grown and canned at AuNaturale Farms in Nebraska (the folks' place) but you can use any fine supermarket substitution.

6. Add more roasted green chiles to taste (these are typically found canned in a grocery store, or frozen at my house).

7. Set to simmer and get ready to chow down!

I like to have this with cornbread, too ... but since we have no butter and I'm not about to go out we'll be skipping it tonight.

Oh yes ... and I suppose you're wondering what about the "Tortilla" portion of the Veggie Mexican Tortilla Soup. Well, traditionally I think the soup has corn tortillas chopped up into it to thicken the broth ... or sometimes you see them fried up on the top for garnish. I do not do either of these things. Use your discretion.

My Paraben-Free Soapbox

Well, it's been a month since my last post and not because I've been short on topics to rant about. But that's probably why I've avoided posting lately.

In the madness of holiday marketing (now conveniently with a "green" twist), I've found myself getting flaming mad ... and that's not what my blog is supposed to be about. This isn't a ranting forum. I want to share my discoveries, challenges and triumphs of living a green lifestyle. I don't want to become the Angry Environmentalist (similar to the Angry Vegan in edgy temperment, but who eats much better).

And so, I have stayed off my soapbox this month ... oh and how it has been hard. That being said, here are a few of the highlights from this year's holiday season:

1. REI's "Give Green" Email campaign: http://www.rei.com/email/gearmail/gm112707.html
2. "It's the thought that counts! Belated Eco-Gifts" on The Today Show: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/22388703/
3. Green Gift Guide on iVillage: http://slideshow.ivillage.com/igo_green/green_gift_guide/ecofriendly_gifts_for_everyone.html
4. Allstate's Green Insurance: http://slideshow.ivillage.com/igo_green/green_gift_guide/ecofriendly_gifts_for_everyone.html

The Weather Outside Is ...

... Delightful?? In a scary, global warming sort of way.

It's 8:48am on December 4 and it is currently 61 degrees outside.

Guess I'll be taking a hike today instead of heading to the gym.