Organic Food Savings: COUPONS, COUPONS, COUPONS!

Sample Coupons Only: Please visit sites for actual coupons

I know this may look like a lot of coupons, but browse through and pick the products you like or those you'd like to try for the first time. This will save you some time; no sense in printing them all out. Remember, while we are always about saving money, we are also about saving paper and trees. Don't forget your reusable shopping bags when you hit the store.

Organic Valley Dairy Products

Sun Organic : Online sales at great prices for dry goods, canned goods, staples, non-food items, wines, pet food, coffee and tea, etc.

Grocery Coupon Guide : 6 pages of organic coupons in many different categories

Frugal Living : Barbara's, Cascadian Farm, Earthbound Farm, Earth's Best, Eden Foods, Hain, Horizon Organics, Imagine Foods, Kiss My Face, Knudsen Juice, Mrs. Meyer's Muir Glen, Seventh Generation, Stonyfield Farms, and more.

Organic Coupons.org

Coupon Moms Nature's Oasis

Store Coupons Now: Fill in zip code and locate coupons of interest to print

Flat Earth Get a free bag of Flat Earth Chips

Annie's Homegrown Coupons - Sign up for Annie's e-newsletter to receive coupons for their most popular products

Mambo Sprouts - Click, print and save on your favorite organic and natural products. Starting this year Mambo Sprouts will have monthly giveaways on tons of natural & organic products along with some great contests. So be sure to check them out.

Vegan Coupons - A variety of coupons or vegan and vegetarian food, juicers and eco health and beauty.

Nature Made Vitamins Coupons - Become a member and get $5 in printable coupons

Organic Valley Coupons - Sign up for Organic Valley's Farm Friends and get a free kit with coupons for their most popular products.

Seventh Generation Coupons - Sign up for $10 worth of Seventh Generation coupons.

Knudsen Juices - Save $1 off any Recharge, $.75 off juice

Santa Cruz Organic Juice - Save $.75 off any product

Coleman Natural Beef - Save $5 off any hot dog, bacon or ham product

Earth's Best Baby Food - Coupons for Earth's Best Organic Baby Food

Feline Pine Cat Litter Coupon - Get your first bag for cat litter for free

Stonyfield Farm Coupons - Save on your favorite Stonyfield Farms yogurts, smoothies and products

Natures One Baby Formula - Rebate on Nature's One Baby Formula

AllOrganicLinks.com : This website has thousands of links to organic companies. Once you find a company you are interested in, visit their website to request coupons.

Alex's Coupons : This is a great web site that lists a nice variety of organic food stores as well as personal care stores that all have coupons.

Organicconsumers.org web site is selling coupon books that focus on fair trade products, organic products and environmentally responsible corporations in North America.

Grocerycouponguide.com 1 : Tons of coupons here!

Grocerycouponguide.com 2 : And here...

Grocerycouponguide.com 3 : and more here...

Grocerycouponguide.com 4 : and finally, here.

And if that list doesn't cover all the bases for you, check out these suggestions. Do a search of your favorite organic food manufacturer's web site to find organic food coupons. Look for the coupon and promotion sections to find on-line printable coupons. If you find the manufacturer does not have any coupons listed on their web site, be sure to contact them directly to request that coupons be mailed to you. If you send a polite e-mail with your address, you may be pleasantly surprised. You can also call the toll-free phone numbers listed on the sites to request coupons.

Individual health food stores also have printable coupons for many natural products. For example shopnaturesoasis.com has a great coupon section listed on their web site and all of their coupons are for national brands, so you can use them at any store that carries these products. Be sure to check your local health food store's web site for coupons!

One last thing: Remember to enjoy the journey. Take in the sights and smells at the grocer. You'll enjoy the food that much more.

Junk Mail Got You Overwhelmed?

These catalogs came to my home in just 3 days. Do the math. How much is that in a year's time? The landfills are bursting as it is. I've been using catalogs and newspaper to line my gardens underneath the mulch. This slows down the weeds and helps use up a lot, but no way will it eradicate the problem. I also compost a bunch of them. That's still not the answer, as you can only compost so much paper with your food scraps. So, what can you do to stop the catalogs from bombarding you?

First, a few facts, and then I'll tell you what tools I have found that promise to cut your junk mail significantly. These facts came from a Good Morning America (ABC) show that aired October 18, 2007. The numbers are likely larger now.

• The average family gets 26 pieces of junk mail per week (an admittedly low estimate)
• This adds up to about 100 million trees
• It weighs about 4.5 million tons, costing a fortune in gasoline to transport to all of our mailboxes.
• There are about 19 million catalogs printed for use in the U.S. each year, which adds up to about 53 million trees, just in catalogs.
• It takes about 38 trillion BTU's to create this material, which is enough to power about 1.2 million homes.

So what can you do to cut back on all this wasted paper, gasoline and power? A little research, and I found out that there is quite a bit you can do. You may not have time to use all of these methods, but pick one or two and try them. I'll do the same. I'd love to hear how your results pan out.

An organization called Green Dimes, started in 2006 byPankaj Shah, claims to help you reduce your junk mail by up to 90%, in about 90 days. They have received a lot of coverage in the news media, including Ellen, Oprah, The New York Times, Business Week, and more. For $20, Green Dimes will send you a kit to help you contact all the organizations that sell your name and address to junk mail advertisers. Could be $20 well spent. In addition to their assistance, they will plant trees (5 per customer?) when you sign up.

The Direct Marketing Association is aware of the problem, and offers assistance on their site for limiting who sends you mail. Their assistance is in helping you stay off of new customer lists, and costs $1.

Stop the Junk Mail is an organization that helps small businesses with up to 25 employees tame their daily advertising mail, for $20-$90. A 2007 article Business Week said they currently had 6000 members.

Free services that I found include Ecocycle, which includes a recycling resource similar to Earth 911, and Obviously Junk Mail, a home-grown version of instructions for limiting the junk. The latter helps consumers with list brokers that are not members of the Direct Marketing Association. Catalog Choice helps you make choices about paper catalogs that you no longer wish to receive.

Enough about catalogs. Let's talk about paper that actually has a great purpose: COUPONS!!! Tomorrow's post will be packed with organic food coupons. Warm up your printer and join me for some savings.

Pomegranates: Now They are Easy to Open

I've been eating a few organic pomegranates lately, as they have been in season over the holidays. This delicious fruit is beautiful, sweet, full of antioxidants and Vitamin C, and.... very frustrating to open. Until now. I found this great little brochure, which I am sharing partially with you here.



But first, let me take care of business. I cannot take any credit for these beautiful illustrations. They belong to the American Heart Association and POM Wonderful LLC. I trust they won't mind if I advertise for them here:

Oops! My software is telling me I'll have to continue these graphics in the next post. This is sort of like an episode of LOST; you don't know what happens until next week. Nah! I'll do the next post right now and you can scroll down and keep reading. This is a first for me; a TO BE CONTINUED: But it's worth it to find out how to finish opening this wonderful fruit. Check it out below.

POM Wonderful--Finally Opened

You are half way there. Here are the last 3 steps:




Finally, here are a few ideas for using pomegranates, also supplied by this cute little brochure:

• Sprinkle them over your main dish for a lively, appetizing garnish.
• Use them to brighten up a green salad.
• Sprinkle on yogurt or stir them into dry cereal or oatmeal.

How do I eat pomegranates? In a bowl with a spoon. Yum!

More Questions from Green Kids: Earth Friendly Cleaning and Products

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

A number of the authors of Our Class is Going Green, have sent me comments and questions about Earth friendly cleaning and products. This information is especially for AJ, JoHanna, Baylee, Myla, Desaray, Ariel, Trey G., and Ethan. Thanks for your questions and ideas. Here are some of mine:

• Families are just like teams. We need to work together to find the best ways to clean our homes and take care of the Earth. I use mostly all-natural, biodegradable cleaners. This means that the cleaner will not remain forever in the soil. It will break down and disappear. Good cleaners can be made from things around your home like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and other items. You can find books at the library about making these cleaners. Also, there is lots of information on the Internet about natural cleaners.
  
• If you do not want to make your own cleaners, there are a lot of good ones you can buy. My favorite general cleaners are BioKleen All Purpose Cleaner and Dr. Bronner's All-Natural Liquid Soaps. I like the clean smell of BioKleen. Seventh Generation makes a good dish soap. These are sold at many health-food stores like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's. Many smaller, health-food stores have these cleaners also.
  
• How do I find Earth friendly products? What I do not find in local, all-natural shops, I find on the Internet. I look for sales, coupons and discounts. Google is a great way to look things up. Have some fun on the computer with your family next Saturday.
  
• Thank you, Ariel, for asking how I learned all of this. Every day I use natural cleaners. I also read EVERY DAY. Reading is very important. You and your friends will be good keepers of the Earth if you read every day. You will learn how to take care of the Earth. Also, reading every day will make you a very good student.

I'll be back next Thursday to comment on some more of your questions and ideas. Thanks again for writing to me.

Woofing Wednesday Says See Spot Recycle

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

No. I didn't come up with that title on my own. Someone named Mel from Plenty Magazine wrote an article that I tuned me in to this new product. The way Tanner goes through pool toys, I'm definitely going to be watching out for this.

Plastic chew toys are a personal favorite of my Golden Retriever, Tanner, including the floating ones he fetches from the pool. He takes his daily Fetch game very serious. So serious that he destroys the toys--about one a month.

One pet toy manufacturer knows all too well the impact on the environment that this can have. West Paw Design, a Montana-based pet toy company, has been using recycled plastics in their toys, and is now planning a bigger fix. They have developed a rubber-like material called Zogoflex that is designed to be recyclable. Broken remainders of damaged toys can be returned to West Paw, where they will be remade into new toys. My first thought at this was, "Great! Not so many destroyed dog toys going to the landfill." But it turns out that there is more to it.

West Paw is offering to replace (once) your damaged toy with another, or a cash refund, free of charge, except shipping! Tanner and I are in! We'll order a couple of these toys and see what we think. Can Zogoflex out-perform Kong? Tanner was able to eat a Kong without any problem, even as a puppy. I'll report back later.

Save Money on Organic Produce: Buy in Season

Image borrowed from Produce for Better Health Foundation website

I hear your cry. Organic produce costs more. So what can you do to bring the goodness of organics to your table? Today, I'll just touch on one primary tactic: Plan your menus and eating around produce that is in season. If you live in the northern hemisphere, we're talking about Winter produce. According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation, here are the fruits and vegetables that are in season for December through February:

Apples
Belgian Endive
Bok Choy
Brussels Sprouts
Cherimoya
Chestnuts
Coconuts
Dates
Grapefruit
Kale
Kiwifruit
Leeks
Mushrooms
Oranges
Parsnips
Pear
Persimmons
Pummelo
Radicchio
Red Currents
Rutabagas
Sweet Potatoes
Tangerines
Turnips
Winter Squash

The website I got this list from is a wealth of information. I included the link above because you'll find lots of great information there. They've included topics like storage, nutrients in fruits and vegetables, recipes, reading a label, a recipe sharing section, a kids section, and more. There is also a free newsletter you can sign up for. Check it out.

When you visit your local organic market, you are likely to find many of these fruits and veggies available, simply because they are in season. Better yet, they'll cost less now than during the summer, when, if available, they will be flown in from the southern hemisphere--often Chile. That long flight adds to the cost and the quality. The produce has to be picked early, because it will ripen during shipping. That adds up to lost flavor. Buying produce that is vine ripened will always net you the best flavor, but that means choosing to buy the produce during it's in season.

The bottom line is, buy in season for the best price and the best flavor. Happy shopping!

My Blogging Schedule: Back on Track for 2009

© image copyright Carrie Boyko

Happy New Year to you all and welcome again to Organic Journey Online. Although the holidays are a joyful time, I am ready to have my life calm down again and get more structure in my days. Likewise, my blogging schedule fell by the wayside during the holidays, while I turned my thoughts to organic holiday cooking and green gifting. That was fun while it lasted, but 2009 is here and I'm happy to be back on track with my schedule. Here's how a typical week will look:

Miscellaneous Mondays: Miscellaneous green and organic topics

Tuesday Tips: Organic food tips, ranging from shopping and sourcing to cooking and eating.

Woofing Wednesday: I'll share a photo of one or more of my dogs and then a new website find that will be a resource for you on some area of green or organic information, products or services.

Thursday's Green Tip Toe: The name says it all. Thursday's posts will be tips on living more green, generally designed to take 10 to 15 minutes or so to implement.

Food Fridays: Yup! You guessed it. Fridays I will write about organic and all-natural foods--sources, shopping, food genres, menus, recipes, cooking--and let's not forget the most important part--eating it!

One very important part of the blog, however, is not the post, but your comments. Ideas from readers will help to fuel a dialogue which would be a lot of fun for me to respond to, and create a more dynamic atmosphere here.

For other news on upcoming posts, scroll to the bottom and you'll see what some of my upcoming post topics will be. I'm going to have some fun this month, jumping all over the map with topics.

In addition to my own blog, I also am a guest writer on two others, as well as a Yahoo group. These are Blake Bakes, Busy Mom's Recipes, and the Busy Mom's Tips Group at Yaho. These are all good resources for more cooking info. heck them out when you're cruising on the Internet.

I hope you'll join in the fun tomorrow, when I talk just a little about Winter fruits and vegetables. See you then.

Mayo Clinic Says Grandma's Recipe for Colds and Flu was Right on Target

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

A recent study released by the Mayo Clinic found that good old soup and hot tea are, in fact, better for curing the common cold or flu, than the usual over the counter medications. Researchers studied the difference in severity and length of each of the illnesses, comparing use of decongestants and antihistamines versus Grandma's recipe--chicken soup and hot tea. You guessed it! Soup and tea was the winner.

The researchers found that decongestants affect sleep and often are not taken according to directions--with plenty of water. Without this important step, they really are not effective. Similarly, antihistamines tend to dry out the sinus drainage of many patients, which slows the course of the virus. As it turns out, runny sinuses may have a purpose--allowing the virus to run its course and get out of the system more quickly.

So, here it is, the prescription for a less severe cold or flu and a more speedy recovery. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably decaffeinated ones. Include hot tea throughout the day to moisten the sinuses and open them up to drain. The same goes for soup. Hot soup for lunch, snack and dinner will also help those sinuses drain, easing the congestion and allowing the illness to run its course.

Finally, avoid rich and fatty foods, which may upset the stomach or thicken sinus drainage. Dairy products are particularly known for the latter reaction.

You may be asking what's the cure for having only 1 can of soup in your pantry and no energy to go to the store. Make the soup now and freeze it. It will be there for that unwanted Winter visitor, a cold or the flu. Here are a few recipes to get you started. Chicken soup or Turkey with Rice--your choice:

• Organic Turkey with Rice Soup
  
• Organic Chicken Broth
  
• Hearty Organic Chicken and Vegetable Soup

With the holidays over, I'm finally back on track with my normal schedule. Monday I will review my post schedule, just in case you're watching for something in particular. Meanwhile, I have updated my upcoming posts at the bottom of the page. Check it out and see what's coming your way in January. Have a great weekend.

Green Kids Have Lots of Questions

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Today is Thursday, and it is time for my Thursday Green Tip Toe. I had some help from a class of first graders this week. After I wrote my post, Kids Going Green!, I was thrilled to hear from these young authors of Our Class is Going Green, whose book about saving the planet was published by Scholastic. These delightful children sent me questions, ideas and comments. Today I will answer a couple of their questions. Next week I'll be back with more, and so on until I get to all of them.

Before I start, I'd like to say that the future of planet Earth is in very good hands, if these children are to be the leaders of the future. They are wonderful examples of how our kids often take on responsibilities naturally, that we, as adults, cannot figure out. You can read my post about their book and click the COMMENT link to read their comments. These are some very dedicated children. They won a nationwide contest to get their book published. I know their teachers and parents are very proud of them. I certainly am.

One of the authors, Chaz, sent a comment asking how I save gas, and Robby, another writer, asked how I use my car so that it is Earth friendly. Here are some things I do:

• I get regular auto maintenance like oil changes. This helps to make sure my car is running clean. It helps with pollution.


• I also try to drive as little as possible. One way is by walking to nearby places--friends' houses and nearby shops.
  
• I group my errands by location. This helps me to do less driving.
  
• Sometimes my kids run errands for me when they will be near a place I need to go. This saves gas also.


• I have 3 dogs that love to walk, and so do I. We walk to the Post Office, nearby restaurants, and a few shops where dogs are welcome. All this walking is very good for both me and the dogs. That is us in the picture at the top of this post. Their names are Xena (black), Tanner (large blonde), and Oliver (the small one).


• Here is an idea that will keep you busy. When you buy products that were made nearby, or in your own state, it takes less gas to bring the product to the store. Shopping for products that were made nearby will save lots of gas. Think about that when you shop with your family. Read the packages together, and learn where the product was made. It has been fun for me to learn where my products are made. You could even try tracking them on a map. That could be a fun classroom project.

What do you and your families do to save gas and be more Earth friendly? Do you like to walk with your dogs?

Happy Green New Year

Ahhh! It's New Year's Eve and I'm celebrating. Not in the way you might think, though. We finally got around to teaching Tanner to catch a Frisbee. Notice his great vertical form. We should call him Air Tanner!

Tomorrow starts a new year and I've got a list of far too many resolutions. I'm having trouble deciding which to put off until next year. Perhaps I'll pare them down by making each goal a bit less lofty. Yes; I think that strategy has promise. Instead of trying to live 100% green by next month, I'll work at baby steps each week. Rather than eating 21 meals a week that are totally organic, I'll shoot for eating 90% organic when I eat at home.

Okay, now I'm on a roll. I'd like to continually improve each of my goals, but stress is an issue I can't ignore. It plays heavily into my health. I need to consider this when I think about bigger goals. There is always a trade off.

I once wrote a post about diluted organics. The short version is that I coined a term, diluted organics, to mean roughly the same as all-natural foods--those which aren't grown organically, but do not contain the synthetic additives I loathe. Many such foods and personal care products are available when I cannot find true organics to take their places. I'll be keeping a sharper eye out for these possibilities this New Year, as I ease my standards, while still looking for healthier options. Diluted organics are better than traditionally grown foods by a long shot.

I feel better now that I've let go of some of my mandatory organics goals. I guess sometimes we just need to be a little less anal about our goals, in order to give ourselves a chance to be successful with less-difficult-to-achieve ones. Like Tanner, I need to kick up my heels and have some fun. Now there's a good goal.

Recycle Your Holiday Packaging & Cards

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Have you got a mound of wrapping paper and other materials like mine? Here's a few ways you can reuse or recycle that mountain, instead of sending it to the landfill:

• Place acceptable recyclable paper in your recycle bin for pickup.
  
• Compost your paper and paperboard boxes that do not have glossy print on them.
  
• Place bows and ribbons in one box to reuse for future packages. Store this with your wrapping supplies so you'll remember that you have them.
  
• Save, and nest for storage, all reusable boxes and gift bags.
  
• Fold and reuse tissue paper that isn't crumpled beyond use.
  
• Save Christmas cards to use for gift tags next year; you probably won't need to buy any more ever again, if you use this idea each year. Here's what I do. Find a suitable box or basket to hold all your supplies. Place inside all your holiday cards, a hole puncher, some string or leftover ribbon pieces, tape and scissors. Keep this near your TV viewing area. Whenever you are watching your favorite programs (Lost, anyone?) you can clip and tie your labels for next year. Check out some samples above.
  
• Save all bubble wrap, foam peanuts or popcorn and other protective wrapping that can be reused for mailing or packaging breakables.
  
• If you have too much leftover foam peanuts or popcorn, check with nearby pack-n-ship stores. They often will take bags of it for reuse.
  
• Place your Christmas tree out at curbside for pickup in time to become post-Christmas mulch.
  
• If you strung popcorn, this can be composted also. Pat yourself on the back. This is a very eco-friendly decoration.
  
• I've saved a large stack of boxes to be used in place of a counter top compost container. With all these boxes, why buy a $70 container that cannot be composted along with the food inside? When I fill each box, I just drop it into the compost pile. The box serves as brown matter, so my balance is maintained. I hate to admit it, but from Christmas alone, I probably have enough boxes to last me a couple of months. Wow!
  
• One last idea that kind of a sidebar: Check your envelopes and packages from overseas for foreign postage stamps. Children often love to save these. You can easily remove them with a razor knife and glue them into an album. Don't forget to date them and label them with the country they came from. It also might be fun to include the card on the same album page.

Got more ideas? I'd love to hear them. Drop me a COMMENT below at the link. See you tomorrow to talk about your green New Year's goals. Got those resolutions written yet?

Helping Those Less Fortunate

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

One of the holiday activities of years past that most affected our children was taking them to feed the homeless during Christmas week. It was cold and damp. The floor where the homeless people had to sleep was cold and hard, even with the thin mats to insulate them. There did not appear to be any heat.


When we arrived, the line of people waiting to get in for a meal was around the whole building. There was security to watch us go in, yet I soon learned it seemed unnecessary. What we saw there surprised us all. A group of 400 plus men and women, all waiting in line quietly, and then taking their plates with joy. Not just for their own full stomachs. They were wishing US a Happy New Year. Their pleasure in receiving a warm meal and a safe place to sleep was just as joyous as ours would have been to stay at the Ritz Carlton. To them, their needs were met for this one night, and that was their goal.


Yesterday I wrote a bit about goals, actually New Year's Resolutions, which are basically goals in with a fancy name. That doesn't often give them more priority, though. Thinking about my Resolutions and about the times we have gone to feed the homeless, I realized how different their goals would be, if written on paper. I can envision:


The Short Term Goal List:


Find the energy to look for daily work

Get a warm coat from Salvation Army

Save enough of daily laboring income to take the bus back to the homeless center to sleep and eat.

The Long Term List:


Get a job, any regular job

Find a place to live that is within walking distance of a bus stop


Do you see a Wii, Hollister jeans or Gucci handbags on this list? No, you don't even see health insurance or dental care there, because most homeless Americans cannot even dream of having these luxuries. If you do, count yourself among the lucky. Count your blessings and do something--anything--to help.

Before You Hit the Sales...

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

...make your New Year's Resolutions. I have found in the last couple of years, that the deep discounts on the day after Christmas brought a crazy person out of me--one who wanted to snag too many good buys. Sure, I saved money. But I ended up with some things that did not necessarily fit into my goals for the New Year. Especially last year, when I was just beginning to move toward living a bit greener. I was wet behind the ears, and hadn't yet had the lesson on simplifying my life and minimizing my purchases. I wasn't composting my trash or working harder at Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

This year, I'm already drafting that New Year's Resolution list. It is getting a bit long, though. I'll have to prioritize and limit the list to things that are more do-able. Reducing pressure is part of my health management plan, so I can justify limiting the things on my Resolutions list. I encourage you to do the same; think before you shop.

Live and Let Live

© photo copyright Save the Children, copied from wrapping paper

I have to admit that I really hate politics. Is there a genuine politician out there anywhere? Probably, but I am not sure how to recognize one, so that complicates things. I am glad that the Presidential election is over, and hopeful that our new President will be able to begin to move us toward prosperity again.

So, why am I writing today? Christmas Day, such a significant holiday for much of the world, is supposed to be all about peace and harmony. Politics is all about conflict, and I suppose that is why I hate it. I am a live and let live sort of person. I respect your beliefs, values and opinions, and in turn hope that you will respect mine. I'll admit I may not always be right (ask my kids!), but my heart is in the right place.

We are all different. Watch any Jerry Springer show, or one of the TV judge shows and you'll quickly see how different we all are. Yet if you look deep into almost anyone's soul, there is always something redeeming lingering there. Give everyone a chance to earn your respect, if only for one small part of who they are. That's enough to start. We all need to give each other a chance to live and let live. Respect--this will bring harmony to the world. Merry Christmas to you and your families.

Operation Christmas Turkey Roast

It's Woofing Wednesday, and as usual I'm including a pup photo. This is my day to share the antics of my furry family, and along with it a website that offers lot of info on something useful to those of us who are trying to live more green or cook and eat organic. Today's photo is not one of my own, but another yellow lab. The photo is appropriately captioned for Christmas Eve, so I couldn't resist using it.

It's Christmas Eve and I'm busy making last minute preparations for the big day. Below I'll include some links from my Thanksgiving Turkey preparation, as well as another great website for you to get answers to any remaining turkey questions. This other website doesn't necessarily focus on organic, but certainly has a lot of information on various cooking methods, etc. If you're looking for details, this is this place.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I am taking the time to write an essay for Christmas Day. If you get a chance, pop in and read it. Comments are welcome, as always. I hope to see you after Christmas for a brief discussion on New Year's Resolutions. Have a great holiday.

Let's Roast a Turkey

Planning a Stress Free Thanksgiving

Holiday Dinner Recipes to Make Ahead

Last Minute Shopping for Christmas Dinner

As you may already know, I'm all about getting the preparation done before the company arrives. I like to have time to talk and catch up with everyone. It is hard to do that if they all have to follow me into the kitchen. And then there's the other little problem. When I get talking and cooking at the same time, I get ADD, and make a mistake. Oops! I can't afford to do that when I'm cooking for 12 or more.

Tomorrow I will bring you some Turkey preparation links, but for today, I'm following through with a full supply of side dishes you can prepare in advance. I'm also including the tart recipe, although I don't recommend that you make that ahead. My suggestion is put the pies/tarts in the oven just before you start prepping the turkey. You want that crust to be nice and crispy, not soft, when you serve it later.

Thanksgiving Menu Planning: Sounds like a typo, huh? I'm just throwing this in to get your grocery list started. Everyone loved the Caledonian Golden Promise Organic Beer. It was a big hit. Our most popular wine choice was the Sustainable Red, a California wine from 2005. You can check them out at Sustainable Red. Our understanding from the wine clerk was that this is winery is basically organic, but without the official certification. He highly recommended it, so we tried it. Everyone loved it.

As for other wines, we tried Sterling Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay. It wasn't stellar, but definitely enjoyable. We're still exploring the organic wines and would love to hear from you if you have a favorite. Please drop me a COMMENT at the end of the post, by clicking the COMMENT link. Thanks for your input.

Green Dinnerware: If you're short on dishes, these are some options that are eco-friendly.

Carrie's Favorite Cranberry Gelatin Mold

Organic Mashed Potatoes Go Garlic

Organic Banana Bread/Muffin recipe posted on Blake Bakes

Organic Apple and Pumpkin Tarts: I'm changing it up a bit for Christmas and making Cherry Tarts. No problem. Just make the fruit the way you would for any other cherry pie, and spoon it into the mini tart crusts. It's as easy as pie...and some canned organic cherries.

Does Christmas feel like a race to you? After that meal is made, I'm taking a vacation from my job as a food writer--too much pressure! I'm looking forward to getting back to my old routine in January. I miss my living green topics, and have quite a slate of new things to talk about. I look forward to sharing some of my newest tips, so be sure to find time to stop in during January. Better yet, get me delivered by free subscription. Just put in your e-mail address in the box at the top right and my headlines will come to your e-mail box. It's that easy. As Nike says: Just do it.

Holiday Organic Pineapple and Orange Sweet Potatoes

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

As is often the case with my recipes for special occasions, this one is meant to be prepared in advance. Allowing it to sit in the refrigerator for a couple of days before baking will give the flavors time to mingle well. When you read the ingredients, you'll probably think they will taste like you're at a Hawaian feast, but the flavors complement one another well and it is simply delicious.

Holiday Organic Pineapple and Orange Sweet Potatoes (serves 8)

• 4 Large Organic Sweet Potatoes
• 1 Large Can Organic Crushed Pineapple, undrained
• 2 Large Organic Oranges
• 1/2 Cup Organic Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Organic Brown Sugar

Instructions:

1. Bake sweet potatoes at 400 degrees for 1-1/4 hours, until soft when squeezed.
2. While baking, wash and grate oranges finely. Blend to make more fine.
   Combine pineapple, juice, oranges and sugar, and stir well. Set aside.
3. When potatoes are done, slice in quarters lengthwise, allowing to cool for about 10 minutes.
4. Peel potatoes when cool enough to handle, and mash while warm, in a large bowl.
5. When well mashed, add fruit mixture and stir well or blend together with a mixer.
6. Spoon the mixture into a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
7. Cover and refrigerate, at least overnight, but best a couple of days.
8. Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before baking. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.
9. Take out and sprinkle with brown sugar.
10. Continue to bake for a total of 1 hour.
    

Tomorrow I'll be bringing you the links for all the basic turkey fixings from Thanksgiving. You can pick and choose which items you'd like to have on Christmas. Every family has their own traditions, but at my house we always have turkey. If you are more about the Leg of Lamb or some other specialty, more power to you. Would you like to share a recipe with us for next year? I'd love to hear from you. Just click the COMMENT link below and drop me a note.

Carrie's Organic Bruschetta

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Carrie's Organic Bruschetta ( serves 6-8)

• 1 Medium loaf of Organic French Bread or Organic Baguette, sliced thin
• 2-3 Ounces Organic Olive Oil
• 2 Heads Organic Garlic, minced
• 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Organic Pepper
• 2 Large Organic Tomatoes, diced
• 1 Cup Fresh Organic Basil, finely sliced finely
• 1 Cup Grated Organic Cheese; I use mozzarella or parmesan or a combination of the two

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.At least 24 hours ahead of time, place minced garlic in a glass container and cover with olive oil. Refrigerate.



2. Remove oil and garlic mixture from the refrigerator at least 15 minutes before preparation is to begin, to allow it to soften.



3. Strain 3 Tablespoons of this oil into a Ziploc bag.



4. Add salt and pepper. Mix well.



5. Add about half a loaf of the bread at a time; seal and toss the bread around in the oil mixture, coating all pieces of bread as evenly as possible.



6. Lay coated bread slices on a cookie sheet. Bake 5-8 minutes.



7. You can either continue with the recipe here or cool and store for later use.



8. Strain the minced garlic out of the oil and distribute the garlic on the pieces of bread. Use some or all, depending on your taste. (I use it all!)



9. Top each piece of bread with sliced Basil and diced tomatoes.



10. Sprinkle cheese over the top.



11. If desired, drizzle a small amount of the leftover oil over the bread.



12. Bake at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes, just until cheese is melting.



13. Serve immediately.

The garlic-infused oil in this recipe creation of mine makes all the difference in the flavor of the bruschetta. This is a perfect appetizer for your New Year's Eve party, Christmas Day, or even game day.

To balance the types of food you offer at a party, include at least two other offerings--one sweet, like my Pecan Crescent cookies, and one fresh and fruity. Fresh fruit kabobs would be perfect and quite festive. Enjoy.

New Christmas Decorations on the Cheap

Happy Birthday, Alan!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

_______________________________________________________________

Getting tired of your same old decorations year after year? Sometimes I feel that way. This past year I've developed a list of a few ideas for revamping things without spending much. Perhaps one or more of these ideas will work for you. Check it out:

Thanks to Darrel and Pam for providing the first Christmas card of the season. I used it to make these 3 paper ornaments, joined by 2 of my Christmas tree creations. I had a lot of help with these from the squirrel. I'll tell you about that below.

• Have a Christmas Decoration Exchange party. You know the drill. Everyone comes with one or more decorations that they are willing to part with. All decorations are displayed while everyone enjoys some holiday refreshments. When everyone leaves, they may take one decoration with them for each one they brought. No fighting, ladies!
  
• Catch a sale on some brightly printed Christmas cotton fabric. Cut it into strips and tie bows all over your tree, instead of using your ornaments. These are also great to decorate table-top trees that require smaller decorations.
  
• This list wouldn't be complete without the old favorite--popcorn strings. They look great on a Christmas tree.
  
• Children love to make paper chains, and this could be their opportunity to get involved in your decoration makeover. You can use gift wrap or construction paper--whatever you have available in the colors of your choice. Cut strips and give the kids a glue stick. In no time, they'll have that tree wrapped in chains, and they'll be so proud to have done it.
  
• I once visited a friend whose annual tree decor was quite simple. They attached gold cord (any ribbon or cord will do) to the top left and right of each Christmas card received. These actually made quite lovely and unique tree decorations. One modification of this idea might be to cut out the photo or picture on the front of the card, making each ornament a different shape.
  
• Remember those Christmas trees we made out of phone books when we were kids? Allow me to refresh your memory, as they haven't made an appearance in a few years. Take last year's phone book and fold every (yup, no getting around this!) page in it so that the top lines up with the spine. When done, you'll have a 3-dimensional tree-shaped phone book. Tape the cover pages together to hold it open. Now you can spray paint it and add glitter or sequins--whatever you can attach. These trees make a nice table decoration. Top with an origami star, if you like.
  
• Are your squirrels busy preparing for Winter? Mine drop the cores of the pine cones they have eaten, and they look just like little Christmas trees. I spray paint them and then add glitter or fabric paint "lights", tying a loop on top. They make wonderful Christmas tree ornaments and package decorations.

This ought to get you started. Got some ideas you are willing to share. Hit that COMMENT button and give me a shout.

Tomorrow I'll be cooking up my version of Bruschetta for a holiday appetizer. Join me for my recipe as I get cooking for the holidays. Next week will be food, food, and more food.

Cheap Stuff for Stockings

Does Santa need some help filling those stockings with treasures that don't break the bank? Here's a few ideas to get you going:

1. Check out your local Dollar Store, Dollar Tree, etc. They always have some fun little things in multipacks that delight youngsters.
   
2. The other favorite stores for such small items are craft shops (Michael's, JoAnn's, etc.) and party stores, where favors are sold in multi-packs.
   
3. Check out some of the non-food ideas from Green Halloween's website. I know; it seems strange going to a Halloween website for stocking stuffer ideas, but there are a few gems in there that would work equally well for a Christmas stocking.
   

Some things to watch for are:

• stickers
• holiday pencils
• finger puppets
• holiday themed organic and all-natural candy
• Santa hats (I found mine at Dollar Tree)
• marbles, skipping rocks, gemstones, bouncy balls
• mini puzzles
• small word game books
• hair ribbons, clips an scrunchies
• foreign coins
• coin purses
• pet toys to share with Rover and Fluffy
• small storybooks
• small 3D puzzles
• craft items to make over the holidays
• crayons and colored pencils
• natural lip gloss
• holiday themed bandages
• sun catchers or dream catchers to hang
• pipe cleaners to make creations out of
• organic or all natural granola bars
• whistles
• harmonicas
• post cards to send to friends and cousins
• mini photo album of a favorite pet(s)
• coupon for a magazine subscription
• bicycle decorations (beads, streamers, striping, etc.)
• kazoos
• vinyl window stickers--holiday themed
• alphabet stamps
• a diary or journal
• mini wind chimes
• activity books
• silly putty
• modeling clay
• bubbles

By now your stockings should be overflowing, with a bit of green still in your wallet. I hope this was helpful. I'd love to hear some of your ideas. Please COMMENT below! Tomorrow I will be exploring a few ideas for jazzing up your Christmas tree and decorations in green style. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Hope you can join me.

Kids Going Green!

© photo courtesy of Scholastic Inc.

Moving toward living more green in my daily life at first seemed like a daunting task. The most helpful thing I have done to create the right mind set is to read, read and read some more. The more I read the more I learn of ways to leave a smaller carbon footprint, that fits easily into my lifestyle. I suppose like my blog's name, this is a journey. Each step lays the ground work for the next.

Kids' actions are less habitual and more pliable than we adults. I'd like to share with you a book that shows how even young children really can take the lead, if we just let them. OUR CLASS IS GOING GREEN, written and illustrated by kindergarten students of the Oak Park Elementary School in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and published by Scholastic, is a great example of how children are able to take an idea and run with it. The effort and attitudes of these young kids plays out in the pages, adorably illustrated using things from their recycling bins. This book is a charming introduction to living green, suitable for even the youngest children. It is the 2008 winner of Scholastic's Kids Are Authors Competition.

Like all good authors, these kids have stayed focused on their audience, while dropping in some information for the parents as well. Here are a few facts I learned about paper from the inside covers of their book:

• More than 900 million trees are cut down each year to provide material for paper mills.
• Paper products make up almost half of all our trash.
• People in the United States use more than 65 million tons of paper every year.
• One tree can filter about 60 pounds of pollutants from the air in a year.
• Every day, businesses in the United States use enough paper to go around the Earth 20 times.

I recently began adding a note to the end of my e-mails that reads, "Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail." You may have seen this on other e-mails. By reading Our Class is Going Green, I was reminded of just how important it is to think about each piece of paper I thoughtlessly use, throw away or don't recycle.

If you have a young child on your gift list, I hope you will consider this fun and educational book. It is a wonderful thing to support the work of such conscientious youngsters. Thanks much to the children and staff at Oak Park Elementary School for their efforts. I hope to hear from them, and if I do, I will share some of their questions and comments with you in January.

Some of my other posts about saving paper and recycling include:

Treehuggers Unite: Let's Save Paper!

Woofing Wednesday Goes to Earth 911

Let's Plant Trees

Woofing Wednesday Brings You Another Great Website

Thank You Notes in the Electronic Age

You can also check out some great Green Reads from Green Living Online. I'm looking forward to hearing your comments and suggestions on other good green books for both the young and the young-at-heart. Please COMMENT below by clicking the purple COMMENT link. If you have any trouble with that, you can write to me at CarrieLeaJohnson@gmail.com. I hope to hear from you soon.

Holiday Breakfast Made Easy, and Organic

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Every night at dinner, I hear the same question from my husband, "So, is this organic, too?"

"Yup," I reply. It sure is.

And today's recipe for Pam's Overnight Organic French Toast is also. This tasty version of our old favorite is a handy way to serve up a wonderful, warm breakfast to a house full of hungry company. Pair it with Aunt Sarah's Organic Sausage and Egg Casserole and you'll have yourself a feast fit for...well, for company.

Pam's Overnight Organic French Toast

• 1/2 Cup Organic Butter, melted
• 1 Cup Organic Brown Sugar
• 1 Large Loaf Organic French Bread, cut into 1-inch slices (I use my bread machine for this)
• 6 Organic Eggs
• 1-1/2 Cups Organic Milk
• 1 Teaspoon Organic Vanilla
• Dash of Organic Cinnamon
• Organic Powdered Sugar

Instructions:

1. Mix butter and brown sugar together.
2. Spread sugar mixture in bottom of a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
3. Place bread slices on top of sugar mixture.
4. Combine eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour over bread slices.
5. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

I hope you enjoy this breakfast menu over the holidays. It is especially nice to have recipes that you can simply pop in the oven while visiting with your guests. No fuss. Bake and serve. Enjoy!