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.

Local Schmocal

My brilliant idea of having a local Thanksgiving feast was more difficult to execute than I had previously thought.

After researching various CSAs in Fort Collins, I found one, Grant Family Farms, who was going to be selling produce at one last winter market. Last Saturday, Marc and I drove all the way to the south side of town (gasp!) to check out the market, taking place in a church gymnasium. Once I got Marc convinced to walk into the church, we quickly realized there wasn't much in the way of local Thanksgiving items to be had. Grant Family Farms had some squash, sweet potatoes (which I'm already getting from AuNaturale Organics, my parent's farm) and some beets. None of the items on my list.

There was also a wide assortment of honey and salsas, soy candles and handmade bags .... again, not on the list.

So, I resigned myself to hosting an ORGANIC Thanksgiving instead. I picked up the vast majority of my produce at King Soopers, which was a real coup in my book. Spent about $116 on pretty much everything I needed. Then, I stopped by Whole Foods to get the bulk items (nuts, spices, dried fruit) and dairy (gourmet cheese, Greek yogurt, etc.). After being chastised by the cheese girl for not knowing that Bigham Hill Dairy has been out of business for the past two years, I cashed out at WFM for a whopping $72.

I was able to procure two local items for the feast: Organic, Colorado-Grown Brussels Sprouts ($6.99 lb.) and Morning Fresh Heavy Whipping Cream ($3.29 pint). I feel comfortable enough telling you that I hesitated on the Sprouts. Fortunately for me, the cashier couldn't tell the different in local sprouts and he only charged me the price of conventional sprouts, $2.79 lb. Yes!

The Hunt Is On

Thanksgiving is just one week away and the Angelos are hosting the big family dinner. This year we are going to have both families here, which is really exciting! Marc's parents and brother are driving out from San Diego and my folks from Nebraska will here. And of course, Justin, Courtney and the girls will be making the trek from 5 blocks away.

All this traveling got me to thinking ... why not take on the 100 mile diet this Thanksgiving and offer our far-flung guests a Colorado-grown feast! So, I'm starting to research where I can buy all the stuff we're going to need. Fortunately, my parents operate a near industrial size organic garden, so they'll be providing farm-fresh sweet potatoes, Yukon gold taters and sweet corn.

From what I found on LocalHarvest.org, there are bunch of local farms still open that should be able to fill my cornucopia with Brussels sprouts, green beans, onions, salad greens and beets. One even has farm fresh eggs. Hazel Dell Mushrooms in Windsor is supposedly amazing, and even though I really can't handle the fungi, I'm considering making a dish just to utilize the local favorite.

As for appetizer, I'll stop by the Bingham Hill Cheese in Fort Collins for a delectable treat called the "Poudre Puff," a delicious creamy, fresh cheese that is really good with a bit of fig jam on a Nita Crisp cracker.

Nuts, flours and such will be harder to find "local" but I think if I shop at the Food Co-op, I can at least support my local retailer.

The bird is what poses the problem. I've only been able to find one local turkey purveyor and it's in Haxtun, Colorado ... far outside my 100 mile radius.

The hunt continues ...

Soy Good!

Last week I got a 30% off coupon from Lucy and seeing as I was about to become unemployed (November 2 was my last day at the disaster formerly known as Wild Oats Markets), I decided I needed some more "casual" clothes.

Because I'm trying to shop from only local stores these days, I justified buying from a national chain by purchasing a shirt made from the eco-friendly fabric, Soy. And soy am I happy! The soy fabric is soft and comfy, like cotton - only better. The website calls it "casually chic" ... which is exactly the look I'm going for to work from home.

I'm afraid I'm going to be wearing it everyday. BTW, that's not me in the picture.

NBC Makes It Easy To Go Green

Or, at least that's what they're trying to do this week during "Green Week."

Matt, Anne and Al from The Today Show spent yesterday at the "ends of the earth" telling stories of penguins, polar bears and melting ice caps. Nothing we haven't heard before, but I suppose the target audience was a bit different and it's always good to create awareness outside of the tree hugger set. Moms control their households and would be the ones to actually make a change for reducing carbon emissions.

NBC.com also changed the color palette on their site to green tones. Now that's eco!

NBC even turned The Biggest Loser "green" last night. I'll admit it, this is a guilty pleasure of mine and with Tivo on my side, I really enjoy the hour I spend with the TBL contestants and trainers while sitting on my couch. I even caught Marc getting interested one night.

Back to the "green" show .... Instead of the typical Top 5 Trainer Tips before commercial break, the trainers shared ways to be more eco-friendly: recycling cans and paper, unplugging computers and video games ... basic stuff, nothing out of the ordinary but that's good, too. There are a lot of beginners out there.

There was also a banner on the bottom of the screen with tips - although I only saw this one: "Eat Vegetarian Once a Week. It will save water and energy." Nice!

At dinner one night (on the show), Jillian (one of the trainers) gave her team a talkin' to about the importance of eating organically and choosing foods from local farmers markets. She was obviously passionate about the topic and hit all the right points about transportation issues, fuel costs and she even spoke to how organic food is better for your body (wow!) and the earth. Overall, it was so great to see her bringing that to everyone's attention.

Where I get a bug in my pants is that you hear Jillian saying, "see everyone, it's important that we live as eco-friendly as possible" and you see Jillian sitting at the dining table (at their house, mind you) with her team and everyone is eating with plastic forks and drinking from those red plastic keg cups.

This is a prime example of how hypocritical this whole mainstream "green" movement is. They focus on one thing - organic food and then eat it with disposable, petroleum-based products. It doesn't make any sense! Why would you think it's ok to eat with throw-away items at you're own house??

One more stupid thing NBC tried to pull: There was a promo for some thing the Heroes cast was doing to plant a tree and "save the world." They showed a person from the cast watering the newly planted tree with the water left in his PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE. When will people get it?