Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

4 Herbs for Mental Focus

Try these herbs for mental focus to boost brain health safely and effectively.

Boost brain health with safe and effective herbal remedies. The four herbs covered in this video—chaste tree berry, saw palmetto, St. John’s wort and ginkgo—have stood the test of time and are proven to be reliable herbs for brain health. Chaste tree berry (for women) and saw palmetto (for men) are great herbs for naturally balancing hormones. To help raise your mood, take supplements of St. John’s wort, which is an herb best-known for helping treat symptoms related to mild and moderate depression. Finally, ginkgo is another great brain herb. Studies have shown that it is great for improving short-term memory loss, especially as we age. Be sure to talk with your health-care practitioner before incorporating any herbs into your health regimen.

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More on Herbs for Brain Health from Mother Earth Living

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Friday, December 13, 2019

Zucchini Lattice Lasagna

INGREDIENTS
2 c. ricotta
1 c. freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for sprinkling top
large eggs
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 c. marinara
large zucchini, cut into large strips using a Y peeler and drained on paper towels
3 c. shredded mozzarella

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, make ricotta mixture: Stir together ricotta, Parmesan and eggs and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Spread a thin layer of sauce in a baking dish and layer with two layers of zucchini noodles, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella.
  3. For the final layer, make a zucchini lattice. Layer zucchini noodles side by side at a diagonal in the baking dish. Lift the bottom half of every other noodle and lay another zucchini noodle across diagonally. Repeat until top layer is full.
  4. Sprinkle with more Parm and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Bake until totally melty and zucchini is cooked through, 30 minutes.
  6. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.


https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a48657/zucchini-lattice-lasagna-recipe/

Friday, December 6, 2019

Fruitcake ~ Love it

This yummy fruitcake is packed with colourful dried fruits and nuts. Wrap it up in festive cellophane for a wonderful holiday gift!
Jeweled Fruitcake                                

Ingredients:
1 pkg (510 g) Betty Crocker* SuperMoist French Vanilla, Golden or White Cake Mix
1/2 cup (125 mL) butter or margarine, softened
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) dried apricot, halved
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) pitted dates, chopped
1 cup (250 mL) nuts
1/4 cup (50 mL) each, red and green candied pineapple
1/4 cup (50 mL) each, red and green maraschino cherries, drained
Light corn syrup
Easy Glaze (optional)
1 cup (250 mL) Betty Crocker* Creamy Deluxe or Whipped Vanilla or White Frosting
1/4 -1 tsp (2-5 mL) almond extract or vanilla extract





Method:
  • Heat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line one 9x5-inch (2 L) loaf pan or two 8x4-inch (1.5 L) loaf pans with parchment paper. Allow paper to hang over edges slightly for easy pan removal after baking.
  • In large bowl, combine cake mix, softened butter and eggs; beat according to package directions. Using a wooden spoon, gently fold in apricots, pitted dates, nuts, candied pineapple and cherries until fruit is evenly coated with batter.
  • Spoon batter into prepared pan(s), distributing evenly. Bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes if using 9x5-inch (2 L) or 1 hour and 15 minutes if using two 8x4-inch (1.5 L) loaf pans, or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. If necessary, cover with foil during last 30 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.
  • Remove fruitcake from pan (with parchment paper) to cooling rack. For a glossy top, immediately brush with corn syrup. Allow to cool completely and to become firm before cutting (about 24 hours). Wrap tightly and store in refrigerator no longer than 2 months.
  • Easy Glaze: In small glass bowl or measuring cup, stir together frosting and extract. Microwave on medium power for 30 to 45 seconds or until it is a good consistency for drizzling. Using a spoon, drizzle evenly over the cooled fruitcake(s).

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Decoding Green Labels 101

A guide for consumers to navigate through all those ‘sustainable’ products
TORONTO, Ont. —From “natural” tea, to “green” cleaning supplies to “eco-friendly” clothing, there are endless products being marketed with claims that attempt to convince consumers that they are making the right decision when shopping.

“Canadians are concerned about the state of our environment and worker conditions, and are opting for more sustainable, conscientious products and services,” says Laurie Simmonds, President and CEO of Green Living Enterprises. “With companies using various ‘green’ claims and labels now more than ever, it can be difficult to distinguish between what looks and sounds ethical and sustainable, and what actually is.” 

Product certifications alleviate this challenge for consumers, as any certified product has undergone a rigorous third party evaluation; examining everything from environmental impact, ingredient procurement, worker conditions and compensation to name few.  Choosing products with the following labels will help you shop smarter and feel more confident about your buying power:  


·         While many may think it’s the most obvious, Fairtrade is often a confusing term. The Fairtrade mark means the ingredients in a product have been produced by small-scale farmer organizations or plantations that meet social, economic and environmental standards. Equifruit for example, is the Canadian market leader of Fairtrade-certified bananas, with a large number of retail partners in Quebec and Ontario.


·         B Certified is to a business what Fairtrade is to fruit or coffee. Launched in 2006, B Certified companies meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability. Dedicated to offering bee-derived superfoods, Beekeeper’s Naturals is a great example of a B Certified company that has undergone strict analysis and understands their overarching duty to the environment. It is one of 2,048 B Corporations in 50 countries around the world, all demonstrating a desire to make change and be part of something bigger.


·         Eating organic is one of the most popular ways to lead a healthier, more sustainable life. This can be made easy by purchasing products with the Canada Organic label and certification (define what it means – pesticides, antibiotics, etc..). Canada’s organic standards are among the most recognized in the world and Harmony Organic is a Canadian company that wears this label with pride. With 14 family farm producers, Harmony Organic is passionate about the quality of their dairy, their cows and the earth.


·         Sustainable food choices continue to be important to Canadians, changing the way they think about what’s on their plates. With overfishing being the biggest threat our oceans face today, consumers who choose to eat seafood can make a difference by choosing fish that is responsibly sourced or by visiting restaurants, like Hawthorne Food & Drink that use the Oceanwise symbol — an assurance against overfishing, harm to other aquatic creatures and protection of the marine ecosystem.


·         The Leaping Bunny logo is one to look out for when purchasing personal-care products and cosmetics. Companies like Skin Essence Organics that are certified through the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, make a voluntary pledge to eliminate animal testing from all stages of product development.

“We are all trying to make better choices for our health and wellbeing that will help build a better world, with a healthy environment and strong communities,” adds Laurie. “Learning about these various labels and certifications is a great step in that direction”.

This April, visit all of these people- and planet-friendly certified companies, plus 400  sustainable companies at the Green Living Show taking place April 7th to 9th, 2017, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Please RSVP if you would like to attend as media.

For more info on leading a healthier, greener lifestyle, please visit www.greenlivingshow.ca. ‘Like’ them on Facebook, or follow @GreenLivingPage.

About Green Living Enterprises 
Green Living Enterprises is Canada’s leading cause-marketing agency focused on social and environmental program development. Our team is led by award-winning industry experts in the fields of brand and program development; custom content; advertising, marketing and communications; and event management. Green Living Enterprises also includes Greenlivingonline.com and The Green Living Show, Canada’s largest consumer show, dedicated to simple solutions for leading a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Green Living Show
The Green Living Show is Canada’s largest consumer show dedicated to simple solutions for leading a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. This three-day event offers inspiration for all ages and features influential speakers; innovative products; eco home and garden design; local and organic food and wine tastings; health, wellness and yoga pavilions; eco fashion and green beauty makeovers; electric car test drives; nature exhibits and fun activities for the entire family.