Veggie Wednesday: Earthbound Farms Cookbook

I recently received a copy of The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook, Food to Live By, by Myra Goodman with Linda Holland and Pamela McKinstry, from Lillian Margolin, an intern at Earthbound Farms. As soon as I had pulled the book from it's box, I started reading and couldn't stop. I even found myself reading it by candlelight that evening so I wouldn't disturb my infant daughter sleeping nearby.

I was captivated by the story of the young couple, Drew and Myra Goodman, living on a farm in exchange for property improvements, and selling raspberries to help pay the bills. Captivated because it's exactly the sort of thing I would do myself.

It's hard to believe that Earthbound Farms came from such meager beginnings considering just how large they are now. I think one of the most fun facts about them is that they were the first to introduce and sell pre-washed bagged salads. I don't know of anyone who hasn't purchased bagged salad, and it was neat to read that Earthbound Farms is where that idea was born.

This cookbook has quickly become one of my favorites, and I can see myself turning to it often. The recipes are fabulous--there is no ingredient so foreign that it can't be found--or at least a suitable replacement--nearby. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow and each recipe has a little history or fact written about it. That's something I truly appreciate, since the recipes in my own family cookbook all have a little something written about them. That extra makes the book very personal and also tells the reader that each recipe has actually been made, and loved, by the author, Myra Goodman.

The photos are beautiful and story-telling. This book is not just packed with over 260 delicious recipes, it's full of helpful tips and interesting facts; Myra's 'Four Food Choices I Live By' is something everyone should read, and heed. I also love that it's not just a cookbook, the story it begins with could easily stand on it's own.

A short time ago an acquaintance suggested I use 'X-Product' on my tomatoes, and I just nodded politely, all the while thinking, "WHY would I put a chemical on, in or near my food and then feed it to my family?" No thanks--garlic and marigolds planted near my tomatoes have provided all the protection I need. Reading this book has made me feel completely vindicated in my own gardening practices, which I didn't really see as organic until now.

This is one of the many, many wonderful recipes from Foods to Live By. I made this granola (which can also be purchased at the Earthbound Farms website) just before my oldest daughter took off on a camping trip. She and her friends loved it, as did the rest of my family. So we've eaten it straight up, as a cereal with cold milk, and as a hot cereal one morning. The only thing I did differently was to use chopped, dried apricots in place of the raisins; I love raisins, but I have a few 'raisin-haters' here.

Earthbound Farm's Famous Maple Almond Granola
Makes about 8 cups

4 1/2 cups (18 ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
3/4 cup (3 oz) shelled, raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
1 1/2 cups slivered or coarsely chopped raw almonds
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups pure maple syrup, preferably Grade A Dark Amber
1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup raisins

1. position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 325° F.
2. Place the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds and cinnamon in a large bowl and stir to combine. Add the maple syrup and oil and stir until all the dry ingredients are moistened.
3. Spread the granola on a roughly 12 by 17-inch rimmed baking sheet. Bake the granola until it begins to brown, about 25 minutes, then stir it with a flat spatula. Let the granola continue to bake until it is light golden brown, dry and fragrant, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Stir the granola at least once more as it bakes and watch it carefully during the final minutes because it can burn quickly.
4. Place the baking sheet on a cooling rack, add the raisins, and stir to combine. Let the granola cool completely. Transfer the granola to an airtight container. It can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month or frozen for up to 6 months. You can serve the granola straight from the freezer. It doesn't get hard and it thaws almost instantly--just pour on some milk.

You can purchase your own copy of Foods to Live By from the Earthbound Farms website or at Amazon.com. If you love vegetables, if you're striving for a healthier body and earth, please pick up a copy of this cookbook, you'll come to appreciate and love it as much as I do!

Pumpkin Granola Muffins

Pumpkin Granola Muffins 

Maple sugar and I have a love-hate relationship. For the most part, I love it, but in certain applications, I just can't do it. Flashback to childhood when an adult would approach with a box full of chocolates and offer one. We all know, thanks to Forrest Gump, "...you never know what you're gonna get". Now, some companies have markers for their chocolates, either in the form of a swirl or lines added to the top of the coated candy to clue you in as to what's in them, or they have a "map" on the inside of the box that corresponds to the layout of the chocolates.

I don't recall knowing either of those tricks as a child, so I would take what looked pretty or good and then be completely shocked, often times pleasantly so, but sometimes not so pleasantly. It was that way with the maple flavored candies. One bite and I was struggling to find a place to spit out the candy and dump the uneaten half (we all eat them in two bites ... admit it).

That is one instance in which I decidedly do not like maple sugar. Add maple syrup to pancakes, waffles, French toast, bacon, sausage etc. and I'm in heaven. Breakfast is not the same without it and I know most people feel exactly the same.

My other favorite is in granola, but I always felt as thought I were adding an inferior sugar without much nutritional value when I topped or added it to foods. Imagine my surprise when I found that is not the case. Maple sugar is very full of trace minerals, antioxidants and very good things. Look at this information from the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association.

Maple Syrup Nutritional Information

Fact Sheet

• Maple syrup contains an abundant amount of naturally occurring minerals such as calcium, manganese, potassium, riboflavin and magnesium.
  
• Maple syrup is a natural source of beneficial antioxidants, which have been shown to help prevent cancer, support the immune system, lower blood pressure and slow the effects of aging.
  
• It’s more nutritious than all other common sweeteners, contains one of the lowest calorie levels, and has been shown to have healthy glycemic qualities.
  
• Researchers have found that pure maple syrup contains numerous phenolic compounds, which according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment.
  
• Phenolic compounds are also commonly found in plants and in agricultural products known as “super foods,” such as blueberries, tea, red wine and flax-seed.
  
• During a recent study at the University of Rhode Island, 34 new beneficial compounds were discovered in pure maple syrup.
  
• Additional research is being conducted to synthesize some of these compounds into medications that could fight fatal diseases, including diabetes.
  
• For more information, please visit http://vermontmaple.org 

Good stuff, yeah? On to the recipe for Pumpkin Granola Muffins using one of my favorite granolas Earthbound Farm's Famous Maple Almond Granola, which incorporates maple syrup. Yum. 

Pumpkin Granola Muffins
Printable Recipe
Makes 24 standard sized muffins or 12 large

Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 c white sugar
1 c brown sugar
l can pumpkin (15 oz.- about 2 cups)
3/4 c vegetable oil like canola
3/4 c olive oil
1 t vanilla
3 c flour
2 t baking soda
2 t baking powder
l t ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
l t salt
2 cups granola - divided (Earthbound Farms Famous Maple Almond Granola is perfect here) 

Directions: 

1. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oils until smooth.

2. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt-add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Fold in 1 1/2 cups of granola. 

3. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full and top with a sprinkling of the remaining 1/2 cup of granola. 


4. Bake at 400 degrees F for 16 to 20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Veggie Wednesday: Earthbound Farm Launches Videos

It's no secret that I love Earthbound Farm. Myra Goodman's Food to Live By has quickly become one of my most treasured cookbooks and I don't think there's any better baby spinach available on the market. As if that wasn't enough, they've now launched videos featuring Myra Goodman herself.

You can access the videos HERE and see what Myra has to say about baby greens and watch the making of her famous (and delicious!) Maple Almond Granola. I've made this and it's so good, you don't want to miss this video.

In conjunction with the release of these wonderful videos, I also have a copy of Food to Live By to give away! Don't miss your chance to enter this giveaway - this cookbook is so wonderful, it's one you'll want to have in your collection.

Leave a comment for me here WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (U.S. Residents only) and I will announce a winner on December 12th. Good Luck!

Blueberry Corn Muffins

Blueberry Corn Muffins

This recipe is adapted from the Raspberry Corn Muffins in the Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook, Food to Live By. Please purchase the book to see that and other wonderful recipes by Myra Goodman.

This makes a moist muffin that is not quite as moist the second day. Either way, they are delicious!

Blueberry Corn Muffins
Makes 18 regular size muffins or 9 larger
Printable Recipe

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal - I like regular grind for texture
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 large eggs
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup sour milk (1 Tablespoon lemon juice and enough milk to make 1 cup)
1 pint fresh blueberries - washed and dried

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and place cupcake liners in 18 muffin cups.
Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and brown sugar. Blend well. Make a well in the center and add eggs, oil and milk. Stir until there are no more lumps. Add blueberries and fold in. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tops of muffins spring back when touched.

Earth-Friendly Choices

Today marks the 38th anniversary of Earth Day. Bet you didn't know it was going on that long, did you? I know I wasn't fully aware of Earth Day until my 20's. I'm hoping that nobody else is that far behind, though, because this World could surely use a little attention, and not just on Earth Day.

Here are a few things I've come across this year that I think are right on when it comes to being Earth-Friendly.

360 Vodka - Alcohol!? Well, yeah. I don't usually drink, I mean I think I could count on two hands the drinks I've had since I got married, and I'm hypoglycemic so it's not exactly a smart choice for me, but I really enjoy cooking with wine and spirits. I like the flavor that alcohol imparts to certain foods and I'm not above a very weak mixed drink if the atmosphere is right.

360 Eco Luxury Vodka is totally earth-friendly. I was sent a bottle to check out and so I made a single cocktail to share with my mother-in-law when she came for lunch on Sunday and later, a recipe of penne with vodka sauce. The first thing I noticed was the envelope attached to the bottle with twine. When I opened it up it reminded me of the envelopes that come with printer ink cartridges; you know, the ones you recycle your old cartridge in. It's for the bottle top! It's called the "Close the Loop" program. You release it from the bottle when it's empty and pop it into the envelope and send it back. It's then reused to lid other bottles of 360.


All the labeling is recycled material, the bottle itself is 70% post-consumer glass and the distilling process they use saves tons of resources. Check it all out, including great recipes, HERE and I'll wait 'til you get back... Now, that's responsible drinking - in more ways than one.

Once that bottle was open, I made a pitcher of 360 Breezes - grapefruit juice, cranberry juice and 360 vodka. They were really good and light. I was surprised at how smooth it was, honestly. Vodka can be very strong to me, so this drink was perfect. After that I made a recipe of Lidia Bastianich's Penne Alla Vodka from Epicurious. Delicious!



Next up is Working Mother Magazine's 2008 Best Green Companies for Children. I am proud to say that The Walt Disney Company is on this year's list! They share billing with such companies as Hanna Andersson, Nike, Kohl's, Stonyfield Farm, UPS and Hewlett Packard to name a few.

Don't forget about Earthbound Farm. They were true pioneers in organic farming and shaped so much of what we now purchase as organic produce today. Myra Goodman's cookbook, Food to Live By, is a must-read, as well.

One last little thing (I could go on and on about what we all can do for our environment!) check out reusable grocery bags at GreenSak. One small step for man and all that.


Whatever you do today, make sure to do at least ONE THING to help our earth to help sustain us!

Earth Bound Farm Cookbook Winner!

We have our winner for the Earthbound Farm Food to Live By cookbook - reader growingupartists will be receiving a copy of this fantastic book. Congrats to you and thanks to everyone who entered!