Healthy Home Blog

Meatless Monday: Spiced Coconut Lentil Soup

2012-01-30T11:38:00.000-05:00

Ingredients

1/2 large red onion
1/2 red chili
Thumbsize piece of peeled ginger
1 clove garlic
1 cup red lentils
1 can coconut milk
3 cups filtered water
1 scant tsp vegan vegetable bouillon
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
Pink Himalayan salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lime
1 heaped tsp coconut oil

Directions
1. Finely chop the red onion.
2. Heat the coconut oil in a heavy based saucepan. Add the onion, season, cover and allow to soften for several minutes.
3. Meanwhile, mince the chili, garlic and ginger together. Add to pan, cover and cook for a few more minutes until the flavors begin to infuse – your kitchen should be full of wonderful aromas by now.
4. Rinse and sort the red lentils and add to pan along with the ground coriander, paprika and cumin. Mix thoroughly and then pour in the coconut milk and water. Sprinkle in the vegetable bouillon and lightly season with some pink Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper.
5. Cover, bring to the boil and then lower to a gentle simmer for forty minutes, ensuring to stir frequently.
6. Juice the lime and set aside.
7. When the lentils have softened and almost disintegrated to form a thick, creamy soup, take off the heat, pour in the lime juice, taste for seasoning and serve with a few fresh coriander leaves for garnish.

Source: marcussamuelsson.com

Top 3 Health Benefits of Vitamin D

2012-01-26T11:40:00.001-05:00

With Winter in full force, most of us are spending less time outdoors and are therefore receiving less natural vitamin D from the sun. And Winter is probably the season when we can benefit from vitamin D the most. During colder months, natural sunshine can be replaced with vitamin D supplements and/or eating foods rich in vitamin D. Here are just three of the many health benefits of vitamin D.

Immune Support
Vitamin D triggers and arms the body's T cells, the cells in the body that seek out and destroy any invading bacteria and viruses. An article on Care2 states:

Numerous immune compounds depend on vitamin D, including PCL-gamma1, a molecule that activates immune cells so they’re capable of fighting infections. In addition, lung cells are among those that secrete 1a-hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts inactive vitamin D to its active form, helping fight respiratory infections. The vitamin D then turns on genes involved in immunity and boosts levels of cathelicidin, a powerful germ-fighting compound.

Strengthens Bones and Muscles

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. Taking a calcium supplement alone is not enough for normal bone formation and strengthening. Vitamin D also plays a role in normal muscle production. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to weakened muscles, loss of range of motion and physical frailty. After analyzing 20 studies, which included more than 44,000 patients, Bischoff-Ferrari wrote in Osteoporosis International that 1,800 to 4,000 IU of vitamin D could greatly reduce the risk of falls in seniors.

Lower Risk of Cancer
Researchers from around the world have linked low vitamin D levels to to a higher risk of breast, ovarian, kidney, pancreatic and aggressive prostate cancer. Taking a vitamin D supplement, eating foods rich in vitamin D and/or spending time in the sunshine has been proven to lower your risk of developing these types of cancer. Research performed at the University of California determined that the incidence of colon cancer in the United States and Canada could be cut in half if people took 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily, and that women would reduce the incidence of breast cancer by half if they took 3,500 IU of vitamin D daily.

Source: care2.org

Meatless Monday: Refried Bean Burgers

2012-01-23T13:45:00.000-05:00

Ingredients

1 16 oz. can vegetarian refried beans
1 4 oz. can chopped green chiles
1 egg, beaten
½ cup plain bread crumbs
¼ cup onion, finely chopped
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Chili powder, garlic powder and cumin to taste

Directions

Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Wet hands and form batter into round patties, about ½ inch thick. A single batch should make about 5 patties. Place on cookie sheet. Broil until tops are browned. Flip and broil on other side until browned. Total cooking time should be about 20 minutes, depending on your oven.

Meatless Monday: Unbeef Stew

2012-01-17T11:25:00.000-05:00

Ingredients

1 pound extra firm regular tofu,
frozen and thawed
1 large onion, chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
5 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon tamari
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 large carrots
4 potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 tomato, seeded and diced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon basil
3 tablespoons margarine
5 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with water until not lumpy

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Drain the water from the tofu, and cut into slices and squeeze more water out.
2. Then cut the slices into chunks and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet while chopping the rest of the ingredients (check the tofu about every 10-15 minutes so that it doesn't get browned - it should just be dried out, not burned).
3. The tofu should be well dried out, like croutons. Place all of the prepared ingredients into a crockpot, stir well, and cook on high for at least 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally. The stew is ready when it is thick and brown. It makes a lot!

Serves: 8, Preparation time: 30-45 min. for preparing ingredients, then 8 hrs. to stew

Source: vegweb.com

6th Annual Health and Wellness Fair - Saturday, January 21 at South End!

2012-01-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

Studies have found that approximately 35% of New Year's resolutions fail before the end of January! Don't let his happen to you! We are here to help! Healthy Home Market will be holding our 6th annual Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, January 21 from 1pm - 4pm, at the South End location. This is always our biggest event of the year, so you don't want to miss out! We will hold our ever-popular gift basket drawings and one lucky customer will receive an iPad 2 courtesy of Garden Of Life! The floor, as well as, the Community Room will be filled with vendors, educators and practitioners, all here to help you bring your mind, body and spirit into a state of balance of well being!

Food/Wine Vendors - Free Samples
Twin Cakes Bakery, Thumann's All Natural Deli Meats, KW Collards, Roots Hummus, Pink Chocolate Cupcakes, Bushelle Seasonings, Coconut Bliss Ice Cream, Daisy Gales' Delights Brickle, Iron Brew Coffee, Wisdom Beverage, Fine Wine Trading Company and Dionysus Wine Distributors.

Vitamin Vendors - Free Demos and Samples
IonWays Alkaline Water, Nutraceutical, MegaFood, Country Life, Garden of Life, Nordic Naturals, Himalaya, Gaia Herbs, Cellfood, Jarrow, Ultra Lab, Barlean's, Michael's and Eclectic Institute.

Practitioners in the Community Room - Learn About and Participate in Various Alternative Healing Modalities
Reflexology with Theresa, Blood Pressure Checks with Judy, Iridology with Cyrilla, CranioSacral Therapy with Kelly, Scalar Wave Laser with Dr. Leang Eap, Nutritional Microscopy with Jason Fowler of ProHealth Dynamics, EPFX/SCIO with Joy Fanning, Ear Candling with Georgia Bush and Neuromuscular Therapy Massage with Jess Houston, both of MC3 Salon and Wellness Center, Amethyst Bio Mat with Susan, AllerCease Technique with Dr. Kristien, Migun Beds of Charlotte with Tom.

Practitioners on the Sales Floor - Learn About Various Alternative Healing Modalities
Dr. Brandan Lee of Family Healing Chiropractic, Vortex Magnetic Energizer with Susan, Medical Screening Services with Ray Fritsch, The Blood Guy, Acupuncture and Reiki with Mei Yin, Mike Love with Carolina CranioSacral Therapy Exchange, Quantum Body Work with John Winstead and Joseph with Hillard and Associated Soy Candles.

Meatless Monday: Marinara "Meatball" Sub

2012-01-09T11:39:00.000-05:00

Ingredients

10-12 ounces vegan meatless meatballs
8 ounces marinara or pizza sauce
2 long submarine sandwich or French rolls, sliced lengthwise
1 large handful fresh spinach
Handful fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or vegan alternative)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to broil. Cook meatballs on the stovetop according to package. In a large sauce pan, pour in marinara sauce then add in warm meat balls and stir to submerge them.
2. Cover and let simmer on medium-low for 10 minutes, stirring gently occasionally. Lay out both sides of cut roll on a cookie sheet.
3. Arrange spinach (and optional basil) on 1 side of each roll. Scoop finished balls with extra sauce on spinach side.
4. Top with cheese. Broil for about 3 minutes, or until bread is toasty and cheese is melted. The meatballs won't be very firm, but will be very delicious.
Source: vegweb.com

Liven Up Your Kids' Lunches!

2012-01-06T12:12:00.001-05:00

We are now in the latter half of the 2011/2012 school year and if you have been packing lunches everyday, you may be losing steam or running out of ideas. Or you may be hearing "I'm tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday..." So, to help you and your kid(s) get through the rest of the school year, we have put together a list of quick, healthy, kid-friendly ideas to liven things up a bit!

Try some new sandwiches!
How about Strawberries and Cream Cheese, Almond Butter with Dried Cranberries and Almond Slivers, Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato, Apple Butter and Apple Slices, Hummus with Sliced Peppers or an awesome sub sandwich? Or ditch the bread, try their favorite sandwiches on a pita, in a tortilla, on a bagel, in between soft pretzels or waffles!

Breakfast for Lunch!
Speaking of waffles...kids love breakfast. Wrap sausage in a pancake or send a breakfast burrito! Pack fresh fruit on the side!

Smoothies in a Thermos!
Create smoothies out of your child's favorite ingredients and put them in a thermos or stainless steel bottle. They will keep until lunch time, especially in an insulated lunch bag.

Make a Rainbow!
Try to include foods from as many different colors of the rainbow as possible! Natural colors from the Earth of course.

Include "Cool" Foods!
Older kids may feel embarrased by healthy lunches, especially when so many of their peers are eating Lunchables and Doritos. Try healthy junk food alternatives such as Stonyfield Farms YoKids Sqeezers, Fig Newmans or Annie's Cheddar Bunnies.

Surprise Them Once in a While!
Maybe on a Friday or when they're doing particularly well in school, surprise them with a special "kids meal." Chicken, fish nuggets or mini corn dogs (or vegetarian alternatives), tater tots or fries (available here in organic), sliced apples and an organic soda or soda alternative such as Izze. Include a prize. It doesn't have to be something new from the store, just surprise them with something they will like. It will give them something to strive for.

Meatless Monday: BBQ Black Eyed Peas and Collard Green Rolls

2012-01-02T12:01:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! Here in the south, there is a tradition of eating black eyed peas and collard greens on New Year's day to bring prosperity and luck in the new year. Hoppin' John is also a favorite and when eaten the day after New Year's day, it is called Skippin' Jenny. Here is a great recipe to finish up those black eyed peas and collard greens left over from yesterday. You can wrap the Skippin' Jenny in the leaves in place of the black eyed peas, if you have it left over.

Ingredients

1 bunch of collard greens, 12 of the leaves set
aside for rolling (pick out the biggest, nicest leaves of the bunch)
1 tablespoon oil
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced thinly (your choice)
4 cups chopped collards
1 15 ounces black-eyed peas or Hoppin' John
3 cups BBQ Sauce

Directions

1. Slice off the stems of 12 nice collard leaves (run a knife alongside either side of the stem and then cut it out of the leaf). Boil a large pot of water. Submerge the 12 collard leaves into the boiling water and cook for 6 minutes. When done, use tongs to transfer them to a strainer and let cool. Handle with care!
2. Preheat a large skillet over medium, and cook the mushrooms in the oil for 5 minutes. Add the chopped collards. Cook for 7-10 minutes until the moisture has cooked off. Add the peas and cook through. Pour on 2 cups of the BBQ sauce and cook until the wateriness is gone. (5-10 minutes). Let cool.
3. Place a collard on a flat work surface with the side that has not been sliced facing you. Place some of the black-eyed peas mixture in the lower third of the collard. (The recipe says to put 2 tablespoon in each roll, but you may be able to generously use 1/4 cup in each, with some of the black-eyed pea mix still left over. It'll all depend on the size of your leaves though.) Fold the bottom up over the mixture, then fold in the sides. Roll the collard up, gently but firmly.
4. Roll all the collards. When ready to serve, spoon extra BBQ sauce over the rolls.

Source: Veganomicon cookbook by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero

Tempeh Tuesday: Barbeque Tempeh Sandwiches

2011-12-27T11:53:00.000-05:00

Ingredients

1 cup barbecue sauce, your choice
1 (8 ounce) package tempeh, crumbled
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4 kaiser rolls, split and toasted

Directions

1.Pour the barbeque sauce into a medium bowl. Crumble the tempeh into the sauce, and let it marinate a little, about 10 minutes.
2.Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the red and green peppers, and the onion. Cook, stirring frequently until tender. Stir in the tempeh and barbeque sauce, and heat through.
3.Spoon the tempeh mixture onto kaiser rolls, and serve.

Source: allrecipes.com

Happy Holidays from Healthy Home Market!

2011-12-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

Healthy Home Market will be closing at 6pm on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day! We wish you all a safe, healthy, happy holiday!

Meatless Monday: Vegan Eggnog (Gluten-free too!)

2011-12-19T10:00:00.001-05:00

Ingredients

3 cups almonds
4 cups water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons agave nectar
2 tablespoons yacon syrup
2 teaspoons nutmeg, ground
¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ground
Pinch cloves, ground

Directions

1.Soak almonds overnight
2.Discard soaking water and rinse almonds in a deep bowl of water, repeat until water is clear
3.Place soaked almonds and 4 cups of water in a food processor
4.Blend on highest speed for 90 seconds
5.Strain milk through a fine mesh paint bag, discarding solids
6.Place almond milk in a half gallon mason jar
7.Add vanilla, agave, yacon, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves, then shake well
8.Refrigerate until cold and serve

Source: elanaspantry.com

DIY: Healthy Homemade Eggnog

2011-12-16T15:23:00.003-05:00

Ingredients

6 beaten egg yolks (free range, organic is best)
2 1/4 cups whole milk (organic is best)
1/3 cup unrefined sugar (like Sucanat, Coconut/Palm sugar, etc.)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup whipping cream (avoid ultra-pasteurized)
2 Tbsp unrefined sugar, or 1 Tbsp honey, or a few drops or 1/2 packet of Stevia (just enough to add a touch of sweetness)
Ground nutmeg

Directions

1) In a medium pot, mix the egg yolks, milk and the 1/3 cup sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture just coats a metal spoon. Remove from heat. Place pot in a sink or bowl of ice water and stir for 2 minutes to cool mixture off a little. Stir in vanilla. Cover and chill for 4-24 hours.
2) When you're ready to serve: Beat the whipping cream and 2 Tbsp of sugar (or sugar alternative) until soft peaks form.
3) Transfer the chilled egg/milk/sugar mixture to a punch bowl. Fold in the whipped cream. Serve immediately. Sprinkle each serving with nutmeg. If you find it a little too thick or too sweet, simply stir in a bit of milk to thin it out.

Source: keeperofthehome.org

Tofu Tuesday: Carmelized Tofu

2011-12-13T11:02:00.001-05:00

Ingredients

7 - 8 ounces extra-firm tofu cut into thin 1-inch segments
a couple pinches of fine-grain sea salt
a couple splashes of olive or peanut oil
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
3 tablespoons fine-grain natural cane sugar or brown sugar
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 lb. brussels sprouts, washed and cut into 1/8-inch wide ribbons

Directions

1. Cook the tofu strips in large hot skillet (or pot) with a bit of salt and a splash of oil. Saute until slightly golden, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and pecans, and cook for another minute. Stir in sugar. Cook for another couple of minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Scrape the tofu out onto a plate and set aside while you cook the brussels sprouts.
2. In the same pan (no need to wash), add a touch more oil, another pinch of salt, and dial the heat up to medium-high. When the pan is nice and hot stir in the shredded brussels sprouts. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring a couple times (but not too often) until you get some golden bits, and the rest of the sprouts are bright and delicious.
Serves 2 - 3 as a main, 4 as a side

Source: 101cookbooks.com

HHM Green Gift Guide - Updated for 2011

2011-12-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

Holiday shopping got you down? Don't fret! Healthy Home Market is here to lighten your load! We have put together a handy holiday shopping list for you. There is something for everyone on your list, not just the greenies in your life!

Food
Who doesn't like good food?

- KW Collards Slammin' Good Greens - delicious and local!
- York's Harvest Organic Acres - Mixed Nuts, Dried Fruit or Snack Mixes
- Gluten-Free Gift Basket - For Celiacs or those on a Gluten-Free Diet
- Chocolate - We have delectable chocolate bars, chocolate covered nuts, chocolate covered coffee beans, chocolate covered pretzels and much more!
- Coffee - Buy in bulk or pick up a bag, we have Holiday blends and Holiday Flavors galore! Pair with one of the mugs listed below!
- Tea - Also available in bulk or prepackaged. Pair loose teas with bulk Charlotte Ritter Apiaries honey or a bottle of Healthy Home Market Honey, a tea ball or mesh tea bags, stainless steel straw and a yerba mate gourd!
- New Crop Georgia Pecans - Fresh pecans are a favorite this time of year, place them in a Holiday tin for a treat!

Spirits
Pair any of these beers (or any of our many other selections) with one of our fun pint glasses. And for wine bottles, we offer wine tool sets and tree-free bags made from stone by Earth Balance!

- Left Hand Brewing Company - Three pack gift set with pint glass!
- Samual Smith - Three pack gift set with pint glass!

- Anchor Brewing Company - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Beer, available in 6 packs and the ever-popular magnum size (coming soon)!
- Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale - A Gold Medal winner!
- Create Your Own - Taylor a 6 pack just for them! Only $10.99!
- Dennis Vineyards - Wonderful local fruit wines including Holiday, Christmas and White Christmas!
- Woodmill Winery - NC fruit wines including Blue Christmas and Carolina Christmas flavors!
- Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais - 2011 is here! A classic!
- Gambino Wine - 2 Bottles in a lovely box!

Housewares
Practical and fun items for the home or on the go!

- 10" Bamboo Steamer - A must have for the health conscious person! And makes a unique dinner!
- Cooper's Pens and Things - Beautiful local, handcrafted, wooden pens!
- Barrier Eco Water Filter Pitcher - For your health and the health of the environment!
- Lunchopolis Lunch Boxes - lead-free, insulated and reusable! Contains four containers, plus a drink bottle!
- Rosetto EZ-SERV Cereal Dispenser - For the kitchen gadget collector!
- Stainless Steel Bottle - We carry far too many to list! Several sizes and awesome designs!

- Vessel Drinkware Porcelain Tumbler - Cool Designs! Pair with Coffee or Tea!
- Vessel Drinkware Glass Bottle - Cool Designs! Refillable with drinks hot or cold!
- Vessel Drinkware Acrylic Tumbler - When you purchase this reusable cup, you will receive a free smoothie! And the recipient will receive a smoothie for $1.00 off each time they bring in their cup to any HHM store!
- Larry's Beans Coffee Mug or Pint Glass - Pair with Larry's Beans fun, themed coffee!
- Handy Pantry Organic Wheatgrass Kit - Grow your own!
- Green Sprouts Baby Bottle - BPA and PVC free for baby's health!
- Reusable Shopping Bags - We carry a variety, including our HHM 100% cotton bags which zip up into a small pouch for easy storage and transportation!
- Healthy Chef 4in1 Super Appliance - It's a dehydrator, steamer, rice cooker and yogurt maker!

- Ancient Secrets Himalayan Salt Tea Light Holder - They are aesthetically pleasing and produce negative ions for clean air; it's a win-win gift! We carry one, two and three candle sizes!
- Candles - We have candles from local
Simple Purity, Crystal Journey (Reiki charged), Mrs. Meyers, Seed Candles by Soy Inspirations and more!
- Incense and Incense Holder - We have a fantastic selection of both!

Wearables
We have a several clothing options, purses, bags and pins to choose from, as well as...

- Trion:Z Necklace or Bracelet - Contains magnets for pain and negatives ions for protection!
- Andes Gifts - Hats, mittens, arm warmers, scarves and more! Cute animal hats and gloves for the kids! The sales benefit impoverished women and help them to support their families!
- Gypsy Rose Goods - Awesome hat/scarf combos, purses and clothing!
- SkyeTurtle Designs Earrings or Hair Pins - Beautiful, unique and local!

Health and Beauty Care
Everyone loves to be pampered! These gifts will make the special women or men in your life feel loved!

- Harmony Cone Ear Candles - Everyone loves clean ears! These would be a great stocking stuffer or addition to a spa gift basket!
- Earth Therapeutics Products - We offer many spa sets and individual items for indulgence!

- Zum Bath Products - We carry many products, including bulk Zum Jujucuzzi bath salts and holiday scented mists!
- Aura Cacia Bubble Baths - Amazing aromatherapy scents for women or men!
- Shea Natural - Sumptious whipped shea butters with delicious scents! Only $9.99!
- Natural Makeup - Help someone in your life say no to chemical makeup! We have mineral makeup, lipstick and gloss, foundation, powder, blush, eye shadow, mascara, you name it!

- Nail Polish - Formaldehyde, Toluene and cruelty free in classic and fun colors!
- Natural Oil Perfume - Lovely scents without all of the toxins!

Pets
For your beloved pets or the animal people in your life, we have an expanded selection of collars, leashes, treats, supplements and food!

Batteries
For all the toys and electronics this season, go green! We carry Perf GoGreen biodegradable alkaline batteries and Fuji EnviroMAX batteries!

HHM Gift Cards
These make great gifts or stocking stuffers! Purchase any increment you like starting at $5.00!

Gift Baskets
Our Galleria location has some beautiful vitamin/health and beauty/houseware gift baskets already made up, and any of our other locations would happy to create a basket to suit your needs!

Note: Our stores do not all carry the same products. Please call ahead to make sure that your preferred location carries the item or items that you are looking for. If not, please ask about having your item(s) transferred. Happy Shopping!

Meatless Monday: Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

2011-12-05T10:51:00.000-05:00

Ingredients

2 medium red, green or yellow bell peppers
1 medium onion
1 large zucchini (2 cups)
1 eggplant sliced
8 roma tomatoes sliced ¼ inch thick
¼ cup minced garlic
1 package (8 ounces) whole mushrooms, cut in half
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp ground white pepper
2 tsp chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
9 uncooked lasagna noodles
15 oz. ricotta cheese
1/2 cup chopped basil
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 cups shredded provolone cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425º. Oil bottom and sides of jelly roll pan
2. Place bell peppers, onion, zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes, oil, garlic, salt, pepper and basil in large bowl; toss to coat. Spread vegetables in pan. Bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until crisp-tender. Cool slightly.
3. Reduce oven temperature to 350º. Oil bottom and sides of rectangular baking dish. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package. Mix ricotta cheese and egg.
4. Place 3 noodles lengthwise in baking dish. Spread with half of the ricotta mixture. Top with 2 cups vegetables and 1 cup of the provolone cheese. Repeat layers, starting with noodles. Top with remaining 3 noodles and remaining vegetables. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake uncovered 40 to 50 minutes or until hot in center and top is golden brown. Let stand 5 minute before cutting. Cut into squares and serve

Not Your Grandma's Thanksgiving Recipes!

2011-11-22T13:16:00.000-05:00

Looking to try some new recipes for Thanksgiving this year? Here are some delicious and healthy recipes that break away from the traditional fare, but are sure to please!

Appetizers

Apricot Canapes
Spicy Field Roast-Stuffed Fillo Cups
Mango Pepper Bruscetta
Cheddar Cheese Straws

Main Courses

Vegetarian Tofu Turkey Loaf
Southwestern Roasted Turkey
Roasted Prime Rib with Horseradish Crust
Baked Ham with Simple Peach Mustard Glaze

Side Dishes

Maple Roasted Pumpkin Salad
Pear, Prosciutto and Hazelnut Stuffing

Root Vegetable Gratin
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
Pan-Browned Brussels Sprouts
Twice-Baked Potatoes with Goat Cheese & Chives
Fresh Herb and Lemon Bulgar Pilaf

Desserts

Roasted Pear Trifle
Citrus Ginger Cake with Spiced Orange Compote
Pumpkin Coconut Tart

Cocktails

Caramel Candy
Butterscotch Coffee
Ginger Slice

We still have plenty of turkeys, hams and prime rib available for pick-up, along with all of your other cooking needs! Healthy Home Market wishes you all a safe and...

Healthy Home Market Wants You to Have a Healthy and Affordable Thanksgiving!

2011-11-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Healthy Home Market has everything you need to make the big meal a success. Whether you are having a large gathering or an intimate dinner for one or two, we have you covered. If you are preferring to take the easy route this year, our deli has prepared fresh, delicious sides available for pick up. You can call our South End or Davidson store to place an order. We have also taken the work out the meat preparation and are offering turkeys, smoked in-house, and pre-cooked ham and prime rib. Click here for all holiday meat prices. For vegetarians, we have the Quorn Turk'y Roast (it's soy-free), on sale for only $6.89! If you prefer to spend time in the kitchen, we have lots of easy-to-prepare items on sale this month to help you save money and still make a homemade spread, including Imagine Foods Organic Broths, Organic Sweet Potatoes, Near East Rice Pilaf, Edward & Sons Organic Homestyle Mashed Potatoes, Dorot Crushed Garlic, Beth's Gluten-Free All Purpose Baking Flour, Horizon Horizon Organic Whipping Cream, Wholly Wholesome Pumpkin Pies, Truwhip 70% Organic Whipped Topping, Equal Exchange Organic Drip Coffee and you absolutely can't forget the KW Collards, on sale for only $8.99! Plus, we have some great bulk items on sale this month: New Crop Pecans, Organic Dried Cranberries, Pistachios Roasted & Salted, Golden Raisins, Turbinado Sugar and Rolled Oats. Click here to see the full list of this month's specials and prices. Stay tuned, next week we will offer many fantastic holiday recipes, including vegetarian and gluten-free options!

New Crop Pecans Have Arrived!

2011-11-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

Our new crop pecans have finally arrived, fresh from Georgia! We have halves and pieces for only $9.99 lb! 30 lb. cases are also available at a 10% discount. Pecans are great in many holiday recipes, sweet and savory. Also, leave them out for guests to munch on, just make sure you get enough because they're addictive! Pecans also make great gifts; stuff them in a stocking or in a decorative tin as a host/hostess gift. Not only are they really tasty, but also nutritionally abundant and cholesterol free. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that they may actually lower LDL cholesterol! Pecans are chock full of thiamine, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, manganese, potassium, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, selenium, fiber and healthy fats, as well as antioxidants. Antioxidants which can help protect against cell damage and help fight diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cancer. Plus, they're beneficial to your immune system, prostate health and weight loss. How can you go wrong!? Enjoy!

It's Time to Pre-Order Your All Natural Turkey, Ham and Prime Rib for the Holidays!

2011-11-11T10:26:00.000-05:00

Did You Miss Our Davidson Food Tasting? Have No Fear! We have Two More This Weekend!

2011-11-09T09:55:00.000-05:00

We hope many of you were able to make it out to our Annual Food Tasting at the Davidson location this past Saturday, we had a great turn out and everyone really enjoyed themselves! You can click here to view all of the pictures from the event. If you were not able to make it out or you are ready for more good times, we are having two more tastings this Saturday, November 12, at our South End and Independence Blvd. locations! Both tastings will be held from 1pm-4pm. These are our most festive events of the year and will feature our usual tastings and gift basket drawings, plus samplings of delicious holiday fare prepared fresh by our deli department, including in-house smoked all natural, free range turkey, ham, vegan "turkey" (Field Roast's soy-free Celebration Roast), raw options and sides galore!

Independence
Dr. Kyle Loveless of Nation's Family Chiropractic will be on-hand offering free spinal screenings. Against the Grain will be sampling out Gluten Free pizzas and baguettes. Wine and beer samples will be provided by Millennium Beverage, Kakheti Georgian Wines and 17th Street Distributing. Entertainment will provided by Sergio Agraz.

South End
We will have the following local vendors sampling out their goods: KW Collards, Roots Hummus, Villa Antonio, and Penny's Pimento Cheese. Wine and beer tasting will be provided by Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Grapevine of NC, Johnson Brothers, Dionysus, and Mutual. We will have product demonstrations and samples from Nordic Naturals, Amazing Grass, Barlean's and Garden of Life. Our certified Quantum Biofeedback technician, Joy Fanning will be offering QuickPeeks on our EPFX machine, Nutritional Microscopist, Jason Fowler of ProHealth Dynamics, will offering blood analyses and Dr. Brandan Lee of Family Healing Chiropractic will conduct free spinal screenings. Entertainment will be provided by Healthy Home Market's very own Haji Basim!

Meatless Monday: Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts and Mushrooms

2011-11-07T10:53:00.000-05:00

Ingredients

12 ounces whole-wheat fettuccine
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups sliced mixed mushrooms, such as cremini oyster, and/or shiitake
4 cups thinly sliced Brussels sprouts
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 cup dry sherry or 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 cups low-fat milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup finely shredded Asiago cheese, plus more for garnish

Directions

1.Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, return to the pot and set aside.
2.Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and Brussels sprouts and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms release their liquid, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add sherry (or vinegar), scraping up any brown bits; bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until almost evaporated, 10 seconds (if using vinegar) or about 1 minute (if using sherry).
3.Whisk milk and flour in a bowl; add to the skillet with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the sauce bubbles and thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in Asiago until melted. Add the sauce to the pasta; gently toss. Serve with more cheese, if desired.

Source: delish.com

Meatless Monday: Spider Web Pizza

2011-10-31T12:09:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!

Ingredients

Crust (homemade or pre-made)
Mozzarella Cheese
Pizza Sauce
Alfredo Sauce from a jar
Olives for a spider
Any toppings you desire

Directions

1. Place toppings mozzarella and toppings on top of crust.
2. Then put on your pizza sauce.
3. Place the alfredo sauce in a ziploc bag. Cut a small corner off the bag.
4. Squeeze alfredo sauce from the hole creating a spider web.
5. Create a spider out of olives, using two olives for the body and slicing another olive to create the legs.
6. Cook the pizza according to the directions that go with your crust. Enjoy!

Healthy Treats for a Killer Halloween Party

2011-10-27T13:00:00.000-04:00

Throwing a Halloween party? Here are a few healthy party food ideas, some are creepy and some are seasonal, but they're all delicious! For tips on throwing a green Halloween party, check out this blog post. We wish everyone a fun, safe Happy Halloween!

Drinks

Hot Apple Cider
All Eyez on Me
Blood Orange Margaritas

Snacks

Jack O' Lantern Sandwiches
Carrot Fingers and Ranch Dressing
Cheese Ball Goblin
Spiders Nest Dip
Coagulated Blood Dip

Sweet Treats

Pecan-Caramel Spiders
Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Caramel Apples

Come Celebrate the Grand Opening of our Galleria Location, This Saturday!

2011-10-25T16:37:00.000-04:00

Our 5th and newest location in the Galleria Shopping Center is officially open for business. And this Saturday, we will be celebrating! Bring your friends, family and neighbors to check out the new store and enjoy the festivities! The event will kick-off at 1pm and the first 50 customers through the door after 1pm will receive a gift bag full of goodies and discounts! Plus, we will have drawings for additional gift baskets and an Apple iPad 2 giveaway! You can also expect to see our favorite local food vendors sampling out delicious bites: Two Moms in the Raw, Sadie's Caribbean Fish Cakes, KW Collards, Roots Hummus, Iron Brew Coffee, Bushelle Seasonings, Twin Cakes, Villa Antonio, Penny's Pimiento Cheese, Inland Seafood, Pink Chocolate Cupcakes and more! Plus, product demonstrations and samples from Ionways Alkaline Water, Nordic Naturals, Country Life, Burried Treasure, IV Pure Pads, CARA B Naturally, Barlean's, Plant Fusion, Nutraceutical, Garden of Life and more! Customers of age will also enjoy beer and wine samples! Sergio Agraz will be providing the live entertainment! Also, be sure to take advantage of our our company wide specials, running this Saturday only!!!

Field Day Canned Beans - 4/$5
Virgil's Zero - $2.99
Raven's Brew Coffee - $6.99
Tropical Super Charged Mix-$4.99/lb
Just Desserts 6" Cakes - $8.99
HHM 1 Gallon Water - 69¢

And when you're all done shopping, tasting, registering, learning and being entertained, step outside and relax with a fresh-off-the-grill, all natural, grass-fed burger or veggie burger, a bag of all natural chips and an all natural, sugar-free Izze "soda" for only $4.99!
We know that you are going to love our newest addition as much as we do! See you all Saturday!

Meatless Monday: Butternut Squash Gnocchi

2011-10-24T13:00:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1 large butternut squash
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups of flour, more as needed
1 egg
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt

Directions

1. Remove the end of the squash with the stem and then divide the whole thing in two by cutting it near the bulbous base. Then halve both of those sections lengthwise.
2. Scoop out the seeds from the base and cut the squash into equal parts.
3. Place the pieces in a baking dish with a bit of water, about 1/8 inch. Cover the dish with tinfoil and roast at 425 degrees for about an hour, or until the flesh is tender.
4. Remove the baking dish from the stove and let the squash cool. Once cooled, scoop out the flesh into a large mixing bowl and mash well.
5. Add the flour, nutmeg, cheese, salt and the egg. If your squash has not cooled properly, the egg will begin to cook. You don't want that to happen.
6. Work the mixture with your hands, adding a bit more flour if needed. The dough will be sticky and a royal pain to work with. But the end result is worth it!
7. Let's test the mixture. Bring a small pot of water to a boil and drop in a bite-sized piece of the dough. The idea here is to proof your gnocchi, to make sure it holds instead of dissolving in the water. If it dissolves, work more flour into the mixture until that balance is achieved.
8. Lightly coat your work surface with flour and roll out a tube of the mixture. This part can be a bit frustrating as the dough sticks to everything. But after you do it a few times, you will have the hang of it or you will hate me for attempting this recipe in the first place.
9. Using a knife, cut the tubes of dough into bite-sized pieces.
10. Roll the pieces into balls and place them on floured parchment paper.
11. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, reduce it to a low simmer and carefully add the gnocchi. They are delicate, so do not treat them like store bought pasta.
12. When they are completely cooked, the gnocchi will begin to float to the top of the water. Carefully transfer them to a colander using a slotted spoon. Lightly rinse them with warm water.

Gnocchi is best served with a lightweight sauce. Treehugger blogger, Jerry James Stone recommends melting a stick of butter with some poppy seeds and a bit of salt. Sage is another good addition for your butter sauce. Lighly sprinkle with parmesan if desired.

Tempeh Tuesday: Orange-Balsamic Glazed Tempeh over Greens

2011-10-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

We are currently busy working hard to get our new store ready for business, so we apologize, it may be a little while before we are able to post again! In the mean time, enjoy this tempeh recipe! And stay tuned for details on the new store opening!

Ingredients

1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
2 cloves fresh garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh basil
1 teaspoon finely minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
24 ounces tempeh, cut into 4 (6-ounce) slices
2 bunches kale or collards, rinsed well, stems trimmed, left whole
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Combine orange juice concentrate, vinegar, oil, soy sauce, garlic, basil and parsley in a skillet over medium heat. When the mixture is hot, arrange tempeh slices in the mixture and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Turn and brown on the other side, about 4 minutes more.
2. While the tempeh braises, place about 1/2-inch water and a pinch of salt in the bottom of a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add greens and steam until they are just wilted and bright green, about 3 minutes. Drain well and slice into bite-size pieces. Arrange greens on a platter. Arrange tempeh slices on top of greens and sprinkle with lemon juice. Serve hot.

Source: epicurious.com

Meatless Monday: Dragonfly's Vegan Ribs

2011-10-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

2 cups vital wheat gluten
2 tablespoons vegan beef broth
1 tablespoon tomato flavored bouillon
1 7/8-2 cups water
2-3 tablespoons raw tahini
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (I use KAL)
Unbleached flour, for dusting
Vegan BBQ sauce, to serve

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, and grease a cookie sheet. Mix the gluten with the broth and bouillon. Using a fork, make a well in the center and add the water all at once. (Add more if you live in a dry area, less of you don't, hence the different amount.) Mix fast, rapidly encorporating all the gluten. Mix in nutritional yeast.
2. Dust a flat surface, dust your hands and lightly dust the gluten lump. Knead until rubbery and smooth. Use more flour if you need to. Flatten the gluten out with the tips of your fingers. Melt the tahini in the microwave or on the stove. You want it to be smooth, slightly warm and easy to spread. Using just your fingertips, poke the melted tahini into the surface of the gluten.
3. Turn over the gluten and repeat. It won't actually knead into the gluten, but will work in a bit and sit on the surface. Slice the gluten into strips. The thicker the strip, the chewier the rib, the thinner the crispier. Put the strips on prepared sheet and bake for about 10-15 minutes.
4. When the under side is golden, flip them over and bake some more. You want a crispy product. They should puff up at first and flatten as they are browning up. You can add sauce to each side as they are browned up, or add it at the end. We like a small amount of sauce, but you can drench yours, if you like.
Serves: 4-6, Preparation time: 1 hour

Source: vegweb.com

Celebrate World Vegetarian Day!

2011-09-29T14:53:00.000-04:00

World Vegetarian Day is Saturday, October ,1 kicking off Vegetarian Awareness Month, which culminates in World Vegan Day on November 1! For those not already vegetarian or vegan, Saturday would be a good day to give it a try! Even if you're not ready to make a lifetime or even month-long commitment, one day without meat is a great place to begin. If you start with the right recipes, you will never even miss the meat! You can start right here on this blog, we list Meatless Monday recipes every, you guessed it, Monday! Except that one time when we accidentally posted on Tuesday...Meatless Monday is a movement that has gained a lot of ground since its start in 2003 and is now practiced in 21 countries and growing. The idea is "cut out meat one day a week." If every person on the planet ate a vegetarian diet one day a week, it would be equivalent to taking 5.7 million cars off of the road each year or planting 4.5 billion trees. Every little bit really does make a difference, but imagine the impact if if it was more than once a week! Plus, in the process, you may discover all kinds of new and delicious foods that you have never had before. These days there are also a multitude of meat alternatives to try, far more than your traditional veggie burger. Healthy Home Market is a great resource for all things vegetarian! Get your friends, family and coworkers involved in Vegetarian Awareness Month...not only will it be easier and more fun to do together, not to mention, healthier for everyone involved and the planet, but participants can win $1000! Click here to take the pledge. Happy meatless eating everyone! Your body, the Earth and animals everywhere will thank you!

Meatless Monday: Vegan "Tuna" Casserole

2011-09-26T16:52:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

4 tablespoons vegan margarine, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
10 ounces baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/4 cup flour
2 cups veggie broth
1 1/2 cups unsweetened nondairy milk (I use soy)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
salt and pepper, to taste
paprika, to taste
1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and mashed
8 ounces fusilli pasta
1/2 cup crushed plain potato chips
1/2 cup French fried onions

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and prepare an 8x8" glass baking dish with a quick spray of cooking oil. Heat 1 tablespoon vegan margarine in a pan. Add onion, celery and mushrooms and saute for a few minutes. When mushrooms give off liquid, add soy sauce. Keep cooking until all vegetables are tender, turn off heat.
2. In a medium soup pot, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons vegan margarine over low heat. Stir in the flour and whisk for a few minutes. It will get thick. Start adding the broth bit by bit, whisking all the while and bring to a boil. Add the milk little by little and continue to stir and simmer.
3. Add the mushroom/celery/onion mixture and lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper and paprika. Add the mashed chickpeas a spoonful at a time to break it up evenly throughout the sauce.
4. Cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente, approximately 9 minutes. Drain and return it to the pot. Add the mushroom sauce to the pasta and stir gently to combine. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
5. Uncover the dish and sprinkle crushed chips and French fried onions on top and bake for another 5-6 minutes or so or until the top is browned and crispy.
Serves: 8, Preparation time: 20-30 minute

Source: vegweb.com

"I'm just one person. What can I do to help the environment?" Part II

2011-09-22T11:27:00.000-04:00

A few more of our daily favorites from eco-expert Danny Seo of "Do Just One Thing!"

Did you know that the average shower gel takes up to 200 to 300 years to biodegrade once the sudsy mess has gone down your shower's drain? Wash up in the shower with truly organic body washes, shampoos and soaps. "Natural" smelling soaps and cleansers are usually made with non-organic chemical formulations and synthetic fragrances. Fortunately, some truly green skin-care companies are offering products that work great and are affordably priced.

In the market for new sneakers? Be sure to recycle your old ones. Bring any old pair of sneakers to any Niketown store; they'll be recycled as part of their reuse-a-shoe program that grinds them down to be used in playing fields and playgrounds. Learn more at nikebiz.com

Because of the recent reports on the dangers of non-stick cooking pans, consider choosing a long-lasting alternative: cast iron. While the actual health risks associated with cooking with non-stick pans are still being debated, why take chances? Cast iron pans are easy to cook with, durable and can be used on the stove and inside the oven. Some cast iron pans even add iron to the food cooked in the pan. Flea markets and your mother's attic may turn up a treasure trove of vintage cast iron cookware.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and....Repair? This is the fourth "R" that many of us have long forgotten. When a TV, vacuum or kitchen appliance breaks, the normal reaction is to throw it away and buy a new one. But sometimes a simple repair will fix your broken appliance and make it almost as good as new. When something breaks, look in the phone book for local businesses that can repair it. Many chain stores also have repair centers to help you with everything from computers to lamps. Repairing will also save you money: On average, fixing a broken item costs significantly less than buying it brand new.

When buying office paper for your home or office printer, think 100% post-consumer recycled paper. It's easier than ever before to find recycled paper reams at major office supply stores. This paper is made from old paper that we've put out for recycling and recycled into new paper. And if you think recycled paper means it's dark and gray, think again: The new papers are treated to look almost just as white as virgin stock. the best part? Price. recycled paper is competitively priced and sometimes less than non-recycled.

Make a healthy treat that's good for you too. Popsicle molds are readily available in the kitchen supply section of most stores. Fill the molds with fresh juice or vitamin-fortified drinks; add liquid B-12 vitamin for an extra dose of energy. insert sticks and freeze. It's good for the environment since the popsicles aren't wrapped in plastic packaging and didn't have to be shipped frozen from the manufacturer to the store to the freezer. it's good for you because it's free of excess sugar and artificial color and flavorings.

While drinking tap water is the greenest, least wasteful alternative to bottled water, many people remain skeptical. And sometimes you have the right to be. To find out exactly what's in your tap water, request a free water report from your public utility. It'll list exactly what's in your water and outline the quality of your water. Call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791 to learn more.

Did you know that we're wasting 147 million gallons of gas because of improperly sealed gas caps? It is literally evaporating away. You can help put an end to this by making sure you seal your gas cap and hear a clicking sound at least three times. This will prevent gas from literally evaporating into thin air.

Use an old toothbrush to buff your scratchy CDs with toothpaste. Be sure to use creamy paste (not gel) and rub the scratches out by running the brush from the center out, not around the CD. Be sure to clean the CD well with warm water and dry witha lint-free dish towel. Works great on DVDs too.

"I'm just one person. What can I do to help the environment?" Part I

2011-09-21T16:40:00.000-04:00

For eco-expert Danny Seo, the answer is simple: "Do Just One Thing." This daily feature, which offers Danny's simple, convenient tips on eco-friendly living, reminds readers that caring for the environment doesn't have to be expensive or complicated.

We have chosen some our favorite daily tips to share with you! Enjoy!

No need to be too picky when donating clothes to charity. Only about 10% of donated clothes ever end up for resale in thrift shops; the rest are sold to textile recyclers. Ripped jeans, way too faded t-shirts and other worn out clothes are recycled into cleaning cloths and other industrial items by recyclers. They pay charitable organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army a fee for the old clothes, which adds up to a significant amount of money for their charitable works. So, clear your closets clean and give away!

Consider replacing your inefficient showerhead with a more water-saving (and sometimes more luxurious) one. Did you know that your daily shower accounts for 1/5 of all indoor water use in your home? An aerating showerhead, which adds air to the water so that pressure is just as good - can cut bathroom use by as much as 50 % and save you money in the long run. Any home improvement store will have the latest, most stylish water-saving devices for you to choose from, many offering spa-like features to turn your bathroom into the ultimate sanctuary.

Small marks, scratches and scuffs on your wooden table, chair or dresser can be covered up with a trip to your pantry. Simply rub a walnut into the scratch; the natural oils in the nut will conceal the scratch marks.

It pays to shop early for the holidays. When buying gifts online, elect for ground shipping instead of overnight/air shipping. Not only does ground shipping use less fuel, but it usually costs less too. Also, have the items shipped to where delivery trucks already go on a regular basis, like your office.

Bring your old eyeglasses to any Lenscrafters store. They will fix them up and give them to visually impaired people in Third World countries as part of their Gift of Sight program. Learn more at lenscrafters.com.

To balance out an uneven chair or table, turn to the junk drawer. Use a sharp knife to slice off a sliver from a wine cork. Glue to the shorter leg of the table or chair to balance it out. You can also make the bottoms of furniture scratchproof with cork too: Just slice four identical slivers of cork and glue them to the bottom of the legs of a sofa, armoire or bed. The cork is soft and will buffer the furniture from scratching the floor when moved around.

One of the greenest gifts is no real gift at all: gift cards! If you have difficulty choosing a gift for someone who is impossible to shop for, avoid choosing the wrong gift, which may go unused or eventually be thrown away, and let them choose. A gift card is a green choice since the recipient can pick and choose exactly what they need or want. Tip: Unused gift cards can also be traded online at Gift Card Buy Back for cash. Go to giftcardbuyback.com.

Car pool time. If you and your neighbors drop your kids off at the same school every day, why not try to set up a car pool schedule? The rule to avoid chaos? Keep it simple. Ask a neighbor to car pool first and split the schedule in half. If more parents want to join, add them one at a time to keep it manageable. Car pooling saves time and natural resources.

If you're shopping for a new computer, consider a refurbished model to save the environment and money too! Many major computer manufacturers often receive returns on computers due to minor technical glitches. Apple, for example, fixes these computers and puts them through a stringent process to restore them to as good as new. All glitches are fixed, all cords and cables are added, and the machines are cleaned, completely tested and come with a one-year warranty. Savings can be up to 50% off the retail price.

Meatless Monday: Vegan Tempeh Reubens

2011-09-19T11:43:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

Seasoned Tempeh
1/4 cup Bragg Liquid Aminos
1 small onion, quartered

2 cloves garlic, peeled

1 bay leaf
1 8-oz. pkg. tempeh, sliced

Thousand Island Dressing
1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
3 Tbs. relish
2 Tbs. ketchup

Sandwiches
16 slices rye bread
5 oz. vegan Monterey Jack cheese, sliced
2 cups sauerkraut

Directions

1. To prepare Seasoned Tempeh: Combine liquid aminos, onion, garlic, bay leaf and 2 cups water in saucepan over medium heat. Add tempeh slices, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 20 minutes. Cover, and let tempeh cool in broth.
2. To make Thousand Island Dressing: Stir together mayonnaise, relish and ketchup in small bowl.
3. To make Sandwiches: Toast 8 slices bread. Set aside. Drain tempeh, and discard liquid, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Place 3 slices tempeh on each slice of remaining bread. Top with cheese slices. Toast or broil 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
4. Top each sandwich with 1/4 cup sauerkraut. Spread toasted bread slices with Thousand Island Dressing. Place tops on sandwiches, and slice in half.

Source: vegetariantimes.com

Tofu Tuesday: Coconut-Crusted Tofu with Peach-Lemongrass Salsa

2011-09-13T11:37:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, we missed Meatless Monday this week, so we thought we would make up for it with Tofu Tuesday!

Ingredients

3 medium peaches, peeled, pitted and diced
1-2 jalapenos, preferably red, seeded and minced
1 2-inch piece fresh lemongrass, minced, or 1 teaspoon dried (see Note)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice-wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 14-ounce package extra-firm water-packed tofu, drained
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Set a wire rack on a large baking sheet.
2. Combine peaches, jalapenos, lemongrass, basil, brown sugar, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; toss to combine.
3. Mix coconut, flour and cornstarch in a shallow dish. Cut the block of tofu lengthwise into 8 thin steaks. Pat the tofu slices dry with a paper towel, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, then press both sides of each tofu steak into the coconut mixture.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 tofu steaks and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side, adjusting heat as necessary to prevent scorching. Transfer the tofu steaks to the rack-lined baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet over medium-high heat; cook the remaining tofu steaks until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Serve the tofu with the peach salsa.

Source: eatingwell.com

Meet the Docs and More at Maximized Living Day Tomorrow!

2011-09-09T10:53:00.000-04:00

Meatless Monday: Nasi Goreng

2011-09-06T11:31:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 eggs, beaten
1 zucchini, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
8 green onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 cups cooked rice
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon sweet chili sauce
2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped

Directions

1.Heat half of the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Swirl the beaten egg into the pan so that it coats the surface. Flip the egg after 30 seconds, and cook for an additional 20 seconds on the other side. Remove the egg from the pan and, when cool enough to handle, roll up on a cutting board. Slice the rolled egg to make thin strips and set aside.
2.Heat the remaining oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat. When hot, add the zucchini, carrot, and green onions. Stir fry for three minutes. Add the garlic, rice, soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce; stir thoroughly.
3.Serve immediately, topped with the egg strips and chopped chive.

Tasty Recipes for this Holiday Weekend

2011-09-02T17:36:00.000-04:00

Whether you are entertaining at home or headed to a cook out at a friend's house, we have you covered with some delicious and healthy recipes to try! We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend! We will be open regular hours on Monday.

Stuffed Celery Sticks

Roasted Garlic Cheese Dip

Fruit Meet Herbs

Grilled BBQ Bacon Shrimp

Papa's Vinegar Chicken

Asparagus with Mustard Vinaigrette

Vegan Lemon Dill Potato Salad

Poppy Seed Citrus Cake

Five Reasons to Try a Gluten-Free Diet

2011-08-31T16:40:00.000-04:00

Over the last several years, Healthy Home Market has really focused on building up our gluten-free selection. And we are proud at the quantity and variety of products that we are now able to offer our customers, with more products becoming available regularly. 1 in 133 people are now said to suffer from Celiac Disease, or gluten intolerance, though some 97% are said to be undiagnosed. Many people also rely on a gluten-free diet to help with Autism and ADHD. It was our interest in gluten-free diets that led us to our partnership with Parker Autism. But there are many reasons to try a gluten-free diet even if you don't suffer from any of these conditions (that you know of). Here are five good reasons to give a gluten-free diet a shot, even if just for a month.

1. Cure Fatigue - A diet free of gluten has been proven to relieve the symptoms associated with fatigue and give you more energy. Many alternative health practitioners believe that wheat can create an imbalance in the minerals of the body which can create a deficiency of magnesium that results in tiredness.

2. Increase Whole Foods Intake - By following a gluten-free diet, you will naturally cut down on processed foods, which often contain bleaches, preservatives, conditioners and additives. In place, there will be lots of room for fresh, whole foods in your daily diet. There is a higher concentration of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients found in whole foods.

3. Ease Depression - Depression can be triggered by wheat intolerance. Mark Hyman, MD of the UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, said this to Elle Magazine:

"The culprit and cure for most psychiatric disorders lies in the gut," Hyman says. "Allergies and toxins in food, the environment, and drugs damage it, causing it to become inflamed and to “leak,” allowing undigested food and bacteria to slip into our bloodstreams. This leads to autoimmune disorders, malnutrition, and brain damage."

4. Weight Loss - A diet without gluten is very low in carbohydrates. Some of the ingredients found in gluten-free foods have no refined carbs. That means that it is easier to lose weight, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, curb cravings and gain energy.

5. Eases Numerous Afflictions - Many diseases and conditions are helped by following a gluten-free diet. Celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, loss of balance, memory loss, and many other ailments can benefit from this diet.

Sources: thecravingscoach.com, planetgreen.com

Meatless Monday: Tex Mex Stuffed Potato Skins

2011-08-29T11:18:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

12 small potatoes, baked and halved, meat scooped out

1-2 tablespoon olive oil, divided

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
salt and pepper
15 ounces pinto beans
1/2 cup hot salsa or 1/2 cup mild salsa, your choice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
1 chipotle chile in adobo (optional)

1 cup shredded cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Sauté garlic, red peppers, and onions in 1 teaspoon olive oil 3 minutes.

3. Place potato skins in a bag with remaining oil, salt and pepper and lightly toss to coat with oil.

4. Puree salsa and beans in a blender with cumin and chipotle pepper.

5. Place skins on a parchment or silicone pad.

6. Fill with bean mixture, top with onion mixture, then with cheese.

7. Bake for 15-20 minutes till bubbly and browned.

South End Mural Ribbon Cutting, This Saturday!

2011-08-25T12:36:00.000-04:00

A month and a half ago, work began on a mural on the side of our South End location and now it is complete! We couldn't be happier with the result! A huge thank you goes out to the children from Parker Autism's Camp Dakota, St. Patrick's Boy Scout Troop 9 and all of the other children and adults from the community and employees who contributed to what has been named "Charlotte's Road to a Healthy Home." We are excited to officially cut the ribbon on the finished piece of art and we would like to invite everyone out this Saturday to celebrate the completion! As the theme behind the mural is eating and supporting local, we will have local vendors here offering free food samples, including KW Collards, Bushelle Seasonings, Sadie's Caribbean Fish Cakes, Villa Antonio, Roots Hummus, and Penny's Pimento Cheese. Plus, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery will be here conducting a free beer tasting and everyone will get a slice of local watermelon! Greenfield Farms has generously donated their local, grass-fed beef for us to grill out and we will be offering burger (veggies burgers will be available) plates with natural chips and natural sodas, for only $4.99. $2.49 of every plate sold will be donated to the Parker Autism Foundation. We will have face painting and free balloons for the kids! Plus, Charlotte Energy Solutions will be here with Segways and foldable bikes for everyone to try. And what celebration would be complete without live music? Chris Kollman will be here setting the mood. While you're here, enter our "Name That Pig" contest. The winner will receive a gift basket worth $200! See you all Saturday!

And Galleria Makes Five!

2011-08-22T11:43:00.000-04:00

Healthy Home Market is very proud to announce that we are currently hard at work preparing to open our fifth location! Our new store will be located in the Galleria Shopping Center off of Sardis Rd. N., next to Party City. This new location will carry on the tradition of our other stores in providing natural and organic products, supporting local companies and catering to special diets. There will be a focus on bulk products, including herbs and spices, supplements, health and beauty care and gluten free foods. The store will also feature a smoothie bar, with fresh coffee and tea, and carry grab-and-go salads, deli sides, sandwiches, raw food items, etc. Please "Like" our Galleria Facebook page to keep up to date on our progress and Grand Opening information. We hope you all are as excited as we are and we welcome any requests or suggestions!

Meatless Monday: Paneer Manchurian

2011-08-22T10:39:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

For the Manchurian base:

1 block of paneer (or tofu), cubed

1 diced chili pepper

1 diced spring onion

1 tsp Soy sauce

2 tsp tomato sauce

2 tsp chopped ginger

2 tsp chopped garlic

1/4 tsp chili sauce

1/4 tsp pepper powder

1 to 2 tsp cornflour
2 tsp oil

1 tbsp water

For the Paneer Marinade:

1 tsp ginger garlic paste or finely chopped ginger-garlic

1/4 tsp pepper powder
1/4 tsp crushed red chillies or red chili powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp cornflour

Directions

Method for the Manchurian base recipe:

In a pan or wok, heat oil. When the oil becomes hot add the onions. Stir fry the onions on medium to high heat taking care that they do not get burnt. If they heat is too much, then lower the heat and stir fry.

Stir fry for 2-3 mins. Now add the capsicum. Stir fry the capsicum also for 2-3 mins. Add the chopped ginger-garlic. Stir fry for a minute. Now add all the sauces and pepper powder.

For the Dry Paneer Manchurian Recipe:
If you want the paneer manchurian recipe to be to be dry, then do not add any water. Just add the sauces and pepper powder. Stir well. Add the fried paneer pieces. Mix the paneer pieces with the veggies and serve the dry paneer manchurian hot.

For the Paneer Manchurian Gravy Recipe:

For the gravy, you can use 1 tbsp water as I did not want much gravy. If you want more gravy, you could add 1 tbsp or more of water to the stir fried veggies.

Now, in a small bowl, make a paste of cornflour with little water. Add this cornflour paste to the veggies. Simmer for a 3-4 minutes as the cornflour has to cook. Add salt.
Now finally add the paneer pieces to the gravy. Garnish with chopped spring onions.
Serve with Chinese Veg Fried Rice. Paneer Manchurian also goes well with Indian Tandoor Rotis or Naans and even Homemade Indian Chapatis or Parathas. You could also have it with simple plain cooked rice.

Note:
Add the cornflour paste slowly and keep on stirring while adding it so that lumps are not formed.
If you like to have more gravy, you will obviously use more water. So in proportion you will have to increase the cornflour paste.
The cornflour is added to thicken the gravy. If the gravy becomes too thick, then you can thin it by adding little water.

Source: vegrecipesofindia.com

Meatless Monday: Tabouli

2011-08-15T12:46:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

2 large tomatoes or 2 Cups Diced tomatoes

1 cup chopped green onion

4 cups finely chopped parsley flat leaf

1 cup yellow onion chopped

5-8 leaves fresh mint

1 or 2 cloves of garlic minced

1/4 cup bulgar

1 tsp dry mint
1 tsp salt
1/2 Cup lemon juice
1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Rinse bulgar in a bowl and poor off excess water, let sit for 10 minutes.

2. Rinse and finely chop parsley and fresh mint leaves and place in a bowl. 3. Add chopped tomato, garlic, green onion, yellow onion, and soaked bulgar and combine with parsley.

4. In a separate small bowl combine salt, dry mint, lemon juice, olive oil and cayenne pepper then add to parsley mixture and let sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow bulgar to absorb some of the dressing.

Can be served in individual leaves of lettuce as an appetizer, as a side dish with pita bread, falafel, grape leaves, etc. or add in some additional ingredients to make it a meal!

Many people also enjoy cucumber in their tabouli. Be creative, try different summer veggies and experiment with adding in different types of grains. Add in chick peas or feta cheese for protein and you have a meal!

Adapted from dedemed.com

Meatless Monday: Raw Spaghetti with "Meatballs"

2011-08-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

Noodles

1 large zucchini

Sauce

•1 tomato (or 2 plum or 4 Campari)

•1/2 red bell pepper

•1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, soaked

•1 clove of garlic

•1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil
•1 teaspoon of dried oregano
•1 teaspoon of dried basil

•A dash of sea salt and pepper

"Meatballs"

•1/2 cup walnuts, soaked for 6 hours in water

•1 stalk celery, chopped

•1 slice onion, chopped

•1/4 red bell pepper, chopped

•1 clove of garlic, crushed

•1 tablespoon extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil

•Dash of oregano, basil, sea salt and pepper

•A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Directions

Noodles

If you have a spiral slicer, use it to turn your large zucchini into long strands of angel hair pasta. Otherwise, use a julienne slicer or a simple cheese grater to make your noodles. Shred the entire zucchini.

Sauce

Soak the sun dried tomatoes in water for about 30 minutes before making your sauce. Then add all ingredients to your blender or food processor and puree until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. Blend for a shorter period of time for a chunky sauce

Meatballs

1. Start by soaking 1/2 cup of walnuts for 6-8 hours before making your spaghetti. Soaking walnuts makes them softer and easier to work with. You can substitute pecans, but most other nuts do not work as well for meatballs. Try to stick with walnuts or pecans.

2. Blend mixture in a food processor briefly. Scrape any mixture from the sides of the food processor and continue to pulse it until everything is blended.

3. What you want is a chunky mix of walnuts and veggies that clump together easily and can be formed into balls. If it is too chunky, they may not stick and fall apart too easily. If you over-blend, you’ll end up with a pate or mush that won’t hold it’s meatball shape. Be sure to stop occasionally while processing to check the consistency and test to see if you can roll it into a ball in your hand.

Source: incrediblesmoothies.com

DIY: Kombucha Tea

2011-08-05T15:10:00.000-04:00

Kombucha is a fermented drink, that for centuries, has continuously helped keep the human body healthy and strong. The delicious and easy-to-make concoction is used as a detoxifying agent for the body and claims to increase energy, sharpen eyesight, aid in joint recovery, improve skin, aid in digestion, and even expedites cancer recovery.
If you’re looking for a fun and interesting way to improve your health for the summer season set aside some time to try a new do-it-yourself-project that will your friends thinking you are now a talented tea maker.

The Necessary Ingredients:

1 kombucha culture (this can bought online. The culture will restore itself with every batch you make, so it’s a one-time buy.)
2 litres of water
3 or 4 tea bags/teaspoons of loose tea (Black works best but green or white can be used)
160 grams of white sugar
2 tablespoons of cider vinegar

The Necessary Equipment:

1 three liter glass Pyrex bowl (or something close to 3 liters)
1 tea towel for covering the bowl (this can be found at a local tea shop or health food store)
1 rubber band to secure the tea towel
1 teapot
1 measuring cup
1 strainer
Some bottles for storing the finished drink (old glass bottles are fine)
PRE-STEP: Make sure everything is clean.
You’re dealing with a live culture of bacteria so you don’t want to mix it with any other substances that could be on your equipment from before.
STEP 1: Make your tea
Make a teapot of boiling water and leave the tea in for about 15-20 minutes. Take out the tea bags and add all the sugar, stirring until it dissolves. Add cold water to bring the tea up to 2 liters. Make sure you use cold water as hot water can kill the culture
STEP 2: Make your brew!
In the class bowl pour the 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar (you can also use 200 Ml of Kombucha.) Pour the cool tea into the bowl. Add the Kombucha culture. It will float or sink—this is not important. If one side is darker put that side facing down.
STEP 3: Fermenting time.
After the tea and culture are in the bowl, place the tea towel over the top and secure it with your rubber band. This keeps contamination and your drunken roommates who think it’s a bobbing for apples game from touching the mixture. Put the bowl in a warm place (70 degrees works best so if you have a radiator that’s perfect). Let it sit.
STEP 4: Taste Testing
The fermentation process typically takes 5-14 days depending on the temperature of the place in which you stored it. After 2-3 days you will notice a think layer of foam forming on the surface. This is the membrane of your new Kombucha culture (if you like science experiments, you’ll probably get a kick out of this). Start tasting the brew after 5 days. Just dip a spoon in and be careful not to disturb the culture too much. If you like it on sweet side, your batch will be ready typically in less then a week. If you like it sour it will take longer.
Step 5: Bottling
With clean hands lift the culture out and place it on a plate (you can immediately start making a second batch with this if you like). Strain your Kombucha into a jug and leave behind 200 Ml for your next batch. Fill your bottles and try it out. For best results, like brewing beer, it’s best to wait a month or so to let the sugar completely ferment. This will give the Kombucha a better taste and add more carbonation. The bottles of Kombucha will sometimes make little cultures within themselves. These are totally normal to drink and happen naturally. They tend to stay right at the top of the bottle so just take a spoon and remove them if you feel so inclined. Enjoy!

Source: Lauren Howland at planetgreen.com

Meatless Monday: Black Bean and Summer Veggie Enchiladas

2011-08-01T11:21:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1/4 teaspoon hot chili powder

1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup tomato paste

14 oz. vegetable stock

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons canola oil
3/4 cup red pepper, small dice

1 cup zucchini, small dice

2 cups grated pepper jack cheese
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

15 oz. black beans

3/4 cup corn kernels
3 scallions, thinly sliced
12 (6-inch)flour tortillas

Sour cream, for serving

Directions

1. To make the enchilada sauce, in a small saucepan, combine cumin, chili powder, flour, and tomato paste. Whisk to combine and cook for about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in stock, salt, and 3/4 cup water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 - 5 minutes or until the sauce is slightly thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Heat a saute pan to medium high heat and add the canola oil. Add the red pepper and zucchini and saute for about 3 - 5 minutes. Remove from heat and place in a large bowl. Cool slightly. Add 1 cup of the pepper jack cheese, the cheddar cheese, black beans, corn, and scallions and stir to combine.

3. To assemble enchiladas, spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Dip tortillas, one at a time, in the sauce. Place on a cutting board and fill with about 1/2 cup of the filling. Roll up tortilla and place seam side down in baking dish. Continue filling and rolling the remaining tortillas. Pour the sauce over the enchiladas and top with the remaining 1 cup of pepper jack cheese.

4. To bake, place uncovered dish in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the enchiladas are heated through. Remove from oven and serve with sour cream if desired.

Source: dinnerforayear.blogspot.com

Our Mural is Coming Along Thanks to the Kids from Parker Autism!

2011-07-29T11:15:00.000-04:00

The children from Parker Autism's Camp Dakota were here yesterday morning helping paint the mural! Everyone had a great time and the flowers on the mural are beautiful! Thanks kids! We also had visitors from WCNC, News 14 Carolinas and the Charlotte Observer! We plan to have other children from our community come out and paint also. Please visit http://www.southendmural.com/ for more information! To view the progress so far and all of the pictures from this event, please visit our South End Facebook page!

Meatless Monday: Spicy Gumbo with Greens

2011-07-25T12:33:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

2 pounds collard greens, stems removed and chopped

2 cups water

1/4 cup vegetable oil + 2 tbsp

1/4 cup flour

2 onions, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

4 stalks celery, chopped
3 or 4 tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup hot sauce
1 tsp file powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 cups chopped okra
1 16 ounce can kidney beans
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups rice, pre-cooked

Directions

1. In a large soup pot, boil the greens in two cups water for about ten minutes. Cover and allow to steam for 5 to 10 more minutes. Reserve the cooking water.
2. In a separate small pot, whisk together the 1/4 cup oil and flour over low heat to form a roux, stirring continuously for about 10 to 15 minutes. Once it turns a dark reddish brown, remove from the heat and set aside.
3. In a large soup or stock pot, sautee the onions, bell pepper, celery and tomatoes for a few minutes in the 2 tablespoons of oil, until just soft. Reduce the heat and add the hot sauce, file powder, cayenne, thyme, oregano, parsley and garlic and cook, stirring for one or two more minutes.
4. Add the four and oil roux and the vegetable broth and stir well to combine. Add the cooking water from the collard greens and the bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, and allow to cook for 15 minutes.

5. Add the collard greens, okra, kidney beans, and rice and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove bay leaves before serving.

2nd Annual Helping Families with Autism Day, This Saturday at South End

2011-07-21T14:59:00.000-04:00

Autism is affecting more and more children in America every year. At Healthy Home Market, we are committed to helping families and their children who have been affected. Please join us, in conjunction with the Parker Autism Foundation, for a day of free education on various topics pertaining to Autism. We will have experts, attorneys, physicians and financial planners, plus lots of gluten-free food samples and a Pirates of the Caribbean bounce house and games for the kids! The lecture schedule is as follows:

11:00 am - Introduction with HHM and Parker Autism

11:30am-12:00pm - Nancy Popkin of the Autism Society of NC

12:15pm-12:45pm - Dr. Christy Coury, Mitochondrial Specialist

Break for Lunch

1:45pm-2:15pm - Jason Fowler, Microscopist

2:30pm-3:00pm - Mitzi Kincaid and Ryan Platt, Special Needs Attorneys

For more information on treating Autism naturally and our relationship with Parker Autism Foundation please click here.

Meatless Monday: Vegan Lettuce Wraps

2011-07-18T12:59:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

Vegan Lettuce Wraps
8 shiitake mushrooms
1 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp dry sherry
2 tsp water
2 tsp soy sauce
Salt and pepper
2 cups vegetarian crumbles, thawed
5 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions, minced
2 small dried chilies, (optional)
8 oz can bamboo shoots, minced
8 oz can water chestnuts, minced
2 cups spinach, chopped
1/2 package thin rice noodles, prepared according to package
1 head lettuce, pulled apart into leaves

Lettuce Wrap Sauce
1 tbsp Hoisin sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp dry sherry
2 tbsp water
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp cornstarch

Directions

1. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce and set aside. Combine cornstarch, sherry, water, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Add in soy crumbles. Add 1 tsp of vegetable oil and allow it to marinate for 15 minutes.
2. Heat a wok or large skillet over medium high heat. Add 3 tbsp vegetable oil and vegetarian crumbles and stir fry for 3 minutes and set aside.
3. Add 2 tbsp vegetable oil to pan. Add in ginger, garlic, onion, and chilies; stir fry about a minute or so. Add mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and spinach; stir fry an additional 2 minutes. Return vegetarian crumbles to pan. Add mixed cooking sauce to pan. Cook until thickened and heated through.
4. Chop cooked cellophane noodles into small pieces, and cover the bottom of serving dish with them. Then pour soy mixture on top of noodles. Spoon into lettuce leaf and dig in.

South End is Getting All Dressed Up!

2011-07-12T15:50:00.000-04:00

We are excited to announce that work has begun on a beautiful mural located at our South End location. The mural will be on the left side of the building facing downtown...or is it uptown? The artist, Frank Haas, is an accomplished mural and sign painter. And in addition to Frank's work, we have invited local children from the Parker Autism Foundation Summer Camp to also contribute to our mural project! The children will be here on July 28, helping to paint flowers and animals! Stay tuned...we will continue to update the project progress and will soon have a website solely for that purpose! Here is what Frank has accomplished so far (and in 100° weather no less!):

Meatless Monday: Veggie Napoleons w/ Chive Oil

2011-07-11T12:50:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

For Stack
1 eggplant, sliced into ¼-inch slices
1 large red and 1 large yellow pepper, each cored and divided into four flat pieces
1 tomato, sliced into four ¼-inch slices
½ cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cups of your favorite cheese—goat, ricotta or mozzarella work well or Vegan substitute
4 rosemary skewers and 4 wood picks for garnish, approximately 5 inches each

For Chive Oil
1 bunch chives
1½ cups olive oil
¾ teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Brush all sliced vegetables with a generous amount of olive oil on both sides; sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. Place on cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick oil or rubbed with some additional olive oil. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, checking frequently, until vegetables are soft and cooked but still hold their shape well. Remove vegetables from the cookie sheet and let cool on a separate plate.
2. When cool, layer vegetables and then cheese, starting with eggplant and ending with the tomato on top. Skewer with wood picks and reheat at time of serving in 375º oven for about 5 minutes until just warm. Remove wood picks, insert rosemary skewers and drizzle with chive oil.
3. Place chives in blender, drizzle in olive oil and blend until emulsified and chives are fully incorporated and oil is bright green and smooth. Add salt and blend again—taste and adjust seasoning. Chive oil will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Use leftovers as a salad dressing, or drizzle over cooked vegetables, etc.

Source: ediblecolumbus.com

DIY: Watermelon Fruit Basket

2011-07-07T13:32:00.000-04:00

Tis the season for watermelon...and parties! What better summer treat than a watermelon fruit basket? These make great additions to parties, cookouts, picnics, showers and even outdoor weddings. Everyone will be very impressed with your handiwork! Best of all, we currently have large local watermelons on sale for only $3.99, plus local cantaloupes for only $2.99!

1. Buy a watermelon, its size depending on the number of people to be fed. Purchase an assortment of fruits, such as cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries and other berries, kiwi, citrus fruit, grapes, cherries, mango, peaches, starfruit, pineapple, bananas, etc. For garnish, lemons, limes, oranges, fresh mint, edible flowers, toothpicks, etc.
2. To begin, take a sharp knife and slice a small thin piece off the bottom of your melon. This will allow the finished basket to sit flat on a plate or table without rolling.
3. Next, take the tip of your knife or garnishing tool and score the watermelon in half, horizontally. Then mark a strip of about 1 1/2 - 2 inches wide that will form the handle of your basket. If you have trouble seeing the score lines, you may try using a pen to make your lines. Next, take your garnishing tool and start cutting around the melon on the lines. The garnishing tool naturally makes V shaped cuts, which makes doing a basket like this a breeze. If you do not have a garnishing tool, use a small knife and make the V cuts one side at a time. You could also forget the V and make straight cuts. To make separating the melon easier, and the finished product neater, turn your garnishing tool over, and go over the cuts in the opposite direction.

4. Carefully separate the cut sides from the body of the watermelon. If you used a marking pen and there are any residual marks left, a handy way to get rid of them is to use a new emory board and gently sand them off. Take a melon baller and hollow out the inside of the watermelon. After removing all the edible parts, take a large spoon and gently scrape out the sides of your "basket". Be care not to scrape too thinly on the handle, as you want it to have some stability, even though you will never try to carry it this way! Mix the watermelon balls (or pieces, if you don't have a melon baller) with other ripe fresh fruits.
5. Decorate the handle with garnish, such as thinly slice lemons, limes or oranges and use a toothpick to affix them, along with a grape, melon ball or cherry, to the watermelon. Also, attach some fresh mint spring or edible flowers with toothpicks! Tip: Use cookie cutters to cut soft fruits into various shapes.

Adapted from: fabulousfoods.com. Tip from a Fabulous Foods reader: "I just read your instructions for making a watermelon basket filled with fruit. I've made watermelon baskets and one of the problems I've encountered is liquid from the fruits collecting in the bottom of the "basket" which makes the fruit soggy. I corrected this problem with the last basket I made by putting "drainage" holes in the bottom of the watermelon after hollowing it out and before filling with the fruit. I then put the basket in a large oval roasting pan filled with ice cubes (to keep the fruit cold), and the water from the fruit drained into the pan along with the melting ice. This kept the fruit in the basket from getting soggy. Thought you might be able to use this idea."

Throw a Green BBQ this 4th of July!

2011-07-01T12:44:00.000-04:00

For most Americans, the 4th of July brings to mind grilling out with friends and family, cold beer and fireworks. Here at Healthy Home Market, we support these traditions and would like to share some ideas for making your 4th celebrations healthier for you and for the environment.

Tips for the Grill:

Choose Healthy Meats The best meats are grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and wild-caught or organically farmed seafood. Wild-Caught Alaskan Salmon is a good lean choice, which is high in Omega-3's (it just so happens to be on sale this month.) Lean meats are best as Heterocyclic amines (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), both know carcinogens, are primarily formed when fats are heated to high temperatures or fall into the flames and create smoke.

Practice Grill Safety

First off, always make sure your grill is clean before beginning. Not only will your food taste better, but this will lessen the amount of char that you consume. The charred parts of food can cause free radical formation in your body and since free radicals are linked with premature aging, disease, and tissue damage, it's best to reduce your exposure as much as possible. When grilling, use low to medium cooking temperatures. As stated above, cooking meats at high temperatures is dangerous. This will also help prevent char from forming because of flare-ups.

Marinate and season using a combination of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic has been shown to reduce the formation of cancer-causing agents by up to 99%! Marinating food in red wine or beer for six hours has also been shown to substantially reduce the formation of HCA's. In addition, Scientists at the Food Safety Consortium project at Kansas State University have discovered that basil, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano and sage will do the same. Use any of these methods or a combination of several for a healthier grilling experience.

Don't Forget the Veggies (or Fruit). Vegetables and fruit are delicious on the grill! Plus, they add lots of flavor, fiber and nutrients. Our favorites include pineapple, portabello mushrooms, asparagus, eggplant and peppers of all kinds. Another favorite is roasting garlic right on the grill with the skin on; the result is a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth treat that can be eaten as is, spread on bread or used in a sauce.

Drinking Eco-Responsibly

For those of you who don't know, we have an exceptional beer selection here at Healthy Home Market. Here is a list of several of our popular eco-friendly choices:

Sierra Nevada - they power almost their entire brewery with 10,000 solar panels and 4 co-generation fuel cells

New Belgium - these guys were the first brewery to utilize wind-power and they have created Team Wonderbike, comprised of consumers who have pledged to ride bikes instead of drive whenever possible, the team is currently 10,000 strong

Brooklyn Brewery - Wind turbines generate all of the electricity for both their headquarters and brewery, making them the first company in NYC to be powered entirely by wind power

Great Lakes Brewing Company - this company practices "closed loop" recycling, meaning everything that would be considered waste is put to use somewhere else in the factory. Their packaging is 100% recyclable and they also run their distribution trucks on vegetable oil

Please be sure to also check out our great selection of local craft beers: Mother Earth Brewing Co., Kind Beer, Highland Brewing Co., The Duck-Rabbit, Thomas Creek, Carolina Beer Co., Big Boss, Catawba Valley, Olde Mecklenburg and Craggie Brewing Co. The latter three are all available in growlers which are returned to be reused by the companies. Buying local reduces our carbon footprint and supports our local economy!

Coming Soon: Eco-friendly Fireworks

Scientist are busy at work perfecting fireworks which do not contain toxic metals and which will create less smoke. A Japanese firm has also formulated a biodegradable firework shell and Disney is already using compressed air rather than gunpowder to launch their fireworks. It may be a bit before we see these eco-friendly fireworks on the shelf due to the increased production cost, but it's good to know that they are on their way.
And one final tip, protect your skin this 4th of July by utilizing natural sun screens and natural insect repellent. If you don't have any on-hand, come see us, we have plenty to choose from. Happy 4th from Healthy Home Market! Enjoy and be safe!

Meatless Monday: Nest of Wilted Greens with Sunnyside-Up Eggs

2011-06-27T13:16:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

2 pounds chard, kale, dandelion, collards, mustard, spinach, or a combination
3 to 5 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced fine
2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced fine
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 cage-free eggs

Directions

1. Wash greens in several changes of water. If the stems are big, remove and dice them. If the leaves are big, roll them up and slice them into ribbons.
2. Heat half the oil in a large pan over medium heat and sauté the onion for about 3 minutes. Add garlic and chopped stems and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Add leaves to the pan, stir well, and cook covered over medium heat until they’re wilted, about 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste for tenderness and season with salt and pepper.
4. While greens are cooking, heat remaining oil in a large cast-iron frying pan. Break eggs into the pan, turn down the heat and cook until firm. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange eggs on top of the nest of wilted greens and serve hot.

Source: motherearthnews.com

Keep Cool! Tips for Saving Energy This Summer

2011-06-24T11:54:00.000-04:00

It’s easy to keep your house cool without air conditioning. Employing a few basic environmentally friendly principals will help keep you cool and will help you save money.

Hot Air Out, Cool Air In
The most basic thing you can do to keep your house cooler without air conditioning is to keep as much sunlight out as possible and let cooler air in at night. During the day, keep windows, drapes, blinds or shades closed, especially on the southern and western sides of your home. If you have a porch, you can put up large plastic or bamboo shades to cut down on sunlight.

Windows
Use white or light colored window dressings to reflect light. You can also apply reflective slicks to windows to further cut down on light. At night, leave cabinets open as well, as they will store heat.

Be a Fan of the Fan
Moving air is cooler air. At night, place fans in windows to bring more cool air in. Ceiling fans can also make a big difference. In terms of cooling, even a one-mile-per-hour breeze will make you feel three to four degrees cooler. In terms of energy savings, if you run a ceiling fan full-blast for 12 hours, you will only spend about $10 a month in electricity. Ceiling fans have two settings, one to pull air up (for winter use), and the other to push air down. Make sure your ceiling fan is blowing down.

Turn Your Fan into an Air Conditioner
Another easy way to cool your home without air conditioning is to place a bowl of ice or a frozen milk jug in front of one or more fans.

What’s hot in your home?
It’s one thing to keep hot air and sunlight out; it’s another to identify the appliances in your home that generate heat. If you aren’t at home during the day, it is easier to simply shut off as many electric appliances as possible. If you spend more of your day at home, try to use heat-generating appliances only during the coolest part of the day.
Keeping your electronics on a power strip provides a quick way to “power-down” before leaving for the day.

Light Bulbs
Change incandescent bulbs for cooler fluorescent bulbs. Turn off lights when not in use.

Humidity
Humidity makes a room hotter. Do laundry early or late in the day. Take showers or baths during the cooler times of day. If your bathroom, laundry room or kitchen has vents, use them. Invest in a dehumidifier if you live in a humid climate.

Insulate Your Attic
A well-insulated attic, especially when an attic ventilating fan is used, is one of the best ways to keep heat out of your home.

Landscaping
As you plan out landscaping for your home, be mindful of having deciduous trees, trellises and shrubbery on the southern and western portions of your home. Don’t place heat-absorbing rocks, cement or asphalt too close to the house.
With a small amount of planning, you are on your way to a cooler and more enjoyable summer.

Source: Chaya on hometalk.com

Meatless Monday: Coney Island Chili Dog

2011-06-20T11:12:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped (3/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
8 oz. soy or Quorn crumbles
1 cup tomato sauce
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
4 meatless hot dogs
4 whole-wheat hot dog buns

Directions

1.Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes, or until softened. Add soy crumbles, and cook 7 minutes more, or until browned. Stir in tomato sauce, chili powder, mustard, sugar, and cumin. Simmer 5 minutes, or until thickened.
2.Cook meatless hot dogs according to package directions.
3.Serve warm chili over hot dogs in buns.

Tip: Top with more chopped onion and/or chopped fresh jalepeno.

Popcorn, Beer and a Movie!

2011-06-15T16:50:00.000-04:00

Looking for something fun and free to do this Saturday? We've got you covered! HHM will have a free showing in the South End Community Room of "You Can Heal Your Life" starting at 1pm. Healthy snacks and drinks will be provided, including popcorn! When the movie is over, stick around for some meaningful conversation or head downstairs and join the beer tasting which will already be underway!

The beer tasting also begins at

1pm and will run until 4pm. This time, we will feature Avery Brewing Company's new line of canned beers! Same great ales, but now in a can, which protects the beer from light and oxygen damage. Canned beer is cool once again! We will be sampling Avery's Joe's Pilsner, White Rascal and Ellie's Brown Ale. We will also have various other food and beverage samples on hand. What a great way to spend the afternoon, with plenty of sunshine left in the day!

Meatless Monday: Mexicali Chop with Crunchy Tortilla Strips

2011-06-13T12:02:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

Tortilla Strips
1 1/2 tsp. canola oil
3 6-inch corn tortillas
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. maple crystals or sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/3 cup lime juice
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Pinch cayenne pepper
Salad
1 head romaine lettuce, sliced (8 cups)
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (2 cups)
1 avocado, diced (1 cup)
3 celery stalks, sliced (1 cup)
1 cucumber, seeded and diced (1 cup)
1 cup fresh or frozen, thawed corn kernels
3/4 cup cooked pinto beans
1/2 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers, rinsed, drained, and sliced
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion

Directions

1. To make Tortilla Strips: Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush oil on tortillas. Cut in half, then cut into 1/8-inch-wide strips. Spread on baking sheet. Combine chili powder, maple crystals, and salt in bowl. Sprinkle chili powder mixture over strips. Bake 15 minutes, or until crisp. Cool.
2. To make Dressing: heat oil, garlic, cumin, coriander, sugar, and salt in saucepan 2 to 3 minutes over low heat, or until garlic begins to sizzle.
3. Blend remaining Dressing ingredients with garlic oil in blender until smooth.
4. Toss together all Salad ingredients with Tortilla Strips and 1/4 cup Dressing.

Source: vegetariantimes.com

South End is Now Serving Paninis!

2011-06-10T14:04:00.000-04:00

We are very excited to announce that as of today, our South End location deli is serving pressed to order paninis featuring all natural and local ingredients! Below, you will find our new offerings. They are already flying out the door! Stop in, try one and let us know what you think!

Vegetarian

Caprese: Local Breadsmith Italian Bread, Olive Oil, Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Leaves...$5.29
Sun-Dried Tomato: Local Breadsmith Ciabatta Roll, Sun-dried Tomato Pesto, Spinach, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Leaves...$5.79
Grilled Veggie: Local Breadsmith Ciabatta Roll, Basil Pesto, Grilled Eggplant, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Roasted Red Peppers, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Leaves...$6.29

Non-Vegetarian

BLT Grilled Cheese: Local Breadsmith Italian Bread, Cheddar Cheese, Tomato, Spinach and All Natural Bacon...$5.29
Pesto Turkey: Local Breadsmith Italian Bread, Basil Pesto, All Natural Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Leaves...$5.79
Steak or Chicken: Local Breadsmith Ciabatta Roll, All Natural Steak or Chicken, Cheddar Cheese, Choice of Pepper (Red, Green and/or Yellow) and Red Onion...$6.29

5 Tips for Line Drying Your Clothes

2011-06-08T12:16:00.000-04:00

This blog post comes to us courtesy of Colleen Vanderlinden at Planet Green.

We haven't used our dryer in years. Literally, years. During the winter, we hang our clothes to dry on lines that run the length of our basement. During the spring, summer, and fall, our clothes are dried and freshened by Ma Nature.

We've loved the energy savings, the fact that we are lessening our impact on the environment, and the clean way our clothing smells -- no overpowering fabric softener smell here! But I have to admit that I, especially, love hanging clothes outdoors on the lines, feeling the warm sun and gentle breeze as I smooth and clip towels, t-shirts, and jeans onto the lines.

Your clothes will dry on the line. That's nature. But there are a few little tricks to line drying that will make the process run even more smoothly.

Tips for Line Drying Your Clothes

1. Use vinegar in your rinse cycle to avoid stiff clothing.
I often hear people complain that when they line dry their clothing (especially jeans and towels), it ends up stiff and scratchy. Using just a half to three-quarters of a cup of vinegar per load, added just before your rinse cycle starts, will keep your clothing soft. Don't worry about any vinegar odor -- it disappears as the clothing dries.

2. Hang your shirts by the hemline, rather than the shoulders.
This prevents weird bunching at the shoulders, which is a pain to get out after the shirt is dry. Use two clothespins at the hem instead, and you won't have to worry about bunchy shoulders.

3. Don't fold clothing over the line.
Use clothespins, and clip all of your clothes to the line. Folding results in longer drying times and fold lines in weird places once your clothes have dried.

4. Don't crowd your lines.
If you're like me, you just want to get the laundry done as quickly as possible, and you might, maybe, sometimes do larger loads than you have room to hang. Resist the temptation, and give your clothing room on the lines. Crowding results in wrinkles and longer drying times, as well as weighing down the line (which could make your clothes drag on the ground.)

5. Freshen between washings.
If you have an item that you've worn, but isn't exactly dirty, go ahead and hang it out on the line to let it air out. For even more freshening power, make an all natural linen spray, spritz the item, and let it dry. Double energy savings!
Line drying is easy, effective, and (dare I say it?) enjoyable. I hope these tips help make laundry day a little simpler.

¡Fiesta Organica! Join the Party!

2011-06-02T17:52:00.000-04:00

South End will host ¡Fiesta Organica! this Saturday from 12 pm - 4 pm. This promises to be a fun event with Radio Latina broadcasting live from the parking lot. We will have quite a few things going on, most notably we will be holding a drawing for two tickets to the Concacaf Gold Cup futbol (Soccer) game, Mexico vs. Cuba! We will also have gift basket drawings, live Latin guitar music. Local company Victor's Salsa Fresca will be hand with samples, as well as, L&A Juice Co., Alberts Organics with Grateful Harvest Lime Shots, Manna Organics Bread, Lundberg Rice Cakes, Lifeway Frozen Kefir, Talenti Gelato e Sorbetto, Saddie's Caribbean Fish Cakes and various other samples throughout the store! Dr. Brandon Lee of Family Healing Chiropractic will be in the house and we will have EPFX Biofeedback information and discounts! And perhaps most exciting (at least for those who like to eat as much as we do), we will have fresh organic Chicken Fajitas with Tortillas, Beans, Rice, Guacamole and Pico de Gallo and Carne Asada also with Tortillas, Beans, Rice, Guacamole and Pico de Gallo prepared on location. Both plates for only $4.99 each! Thirsty? We will have Corona's with lime for only $1.50 each!

And for our Spanish speaking friends:

South End acogerá Orgánica ¡Fiesta! este sábado desde las 12 pm - 4 pm. Este promete ser un evento divertido con Radio Latina de radiodifusión en directo desde el estacionamiento. Vamos a tener unas cuantas cosas en marcha, sobre todo vamos a celebrar un sorteo de dos entradas para la Copa Oro de CONCACAF Fútbol (fútbol) juego México vs Cuba! También tendremos la cesta del regalo dibujos, música en vivo la guitarra latina. La compañía local de Victor Salsa Fresca será la mano con las muestras, así como, L & A Co. Jugo, orgánicos Alberts con Agradecido cosecha cal tiros, Maná orgánicos Pan, Lundberg pasteles de arroz, Lifeway congelados kéfir, Talenti Gelato e Sorbetto, Pasteles Caribe Saddie de pescado y varias otras muestras en toda la tienda! El Dr. Brandon Lee, de la familia curación quiropráctica estará en la casa y vamos a tener información EPFX Biofeedback y descuentos! Y quizás lo más interesante (al menos para aquellos que les gusta comer todo lo que hacemos), tendremos frescos orgánicos fajitas de pollo con frijoles, arroz, guacamole y pico de gallo y Carne Asada también con frijoles, arroz, guacamole y pico de Gallo preparados en el lugar. Ambos platos por sólo $ 4.99 cada uno! ¿Tienes sed? Tendremos Corona con limón por sólo $ 1.50 cada uno!

In honor of this fiesta, enjoy this awesome video of Carrie, a Chilean dog, dancing the Meringue!

DIY: Refrigerator Pickles

2011-06-01T10:56:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

6 cups thinly sliced pickling cucumbers (about 2 pounds)

1 1/2 cups white vinegar

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/2 teaspoon celery seeds

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

Several fresh dill sprigs per jar

Add fresh jalepeno for an extra kick

Directions

1. Place sliced cucumbers in the jar.

2. Combine vinegar and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; stir well. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute. Pour over cucumber mixture; let cool. Screw on top and chill for at least four days, turning once a day to evenly distribute spices. Pickles may be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Note: We have local Pickling Cucumbers on sale right now for only $1.99 lb. and we carry Pickling Spice in our bulk spice section.

Meatless Monday: Zucchini Breakfast Casserole

2011-05-30T11:56:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

6-8 eggs
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups grated zucchini (from 2-3 fresh zucchinis)
1 1/2 cups chopped plum tomatoes (from 4-5 fresh tomatoes),
1/2 cup sliced fresh basil (from about 20 leaves)*
4 cups cubed day-old bread (from about 4 slices)
Olive Oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl beat the eggs. Add the ricotta and beat until smooth. Mix in the grated Parmesan cheese, hot sauce, salt and pepper.
2. Prepare the vegetables and bread. Once you chop the tomatoes, squeeze excess moisture out of them by pressing them in a sieve, or wrapping in paper towels and squeezing. Add the tomatoes, basil, and zucchini to the egg mixture. Moisten the bread cubes with a little water then squeeze out any excess moisture using paper towels. Mix the bread cubes into the egg mixture.
3. Coat the bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking dish generously with olive oil. Pour the egg vegetable mixture into the baking pan and even it out in the pan. Place in the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F. The casserole should puff up and brown lightly. If it hasn't after 30 minutes at 350, increase the heat to 425° and cook for 5-10 minutes further. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack for 10 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.

We have fresh local zucchinis on sale right now for only $1.99 lb.!

Source: Simplyrecipes.com

Meatless Monday: Grilled Pineapple

2011-05-16T15:02:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1 fresh pineapple - peeled, cored & cut into 1" rings
1/4 teaspoon honey
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 dash hot pepper sauce
salt to taste

Directions

1.Place pineapple in a large resealable plastic bag. Add honey, butter, hot pepper sauce, and salt. Seal bag, and shake to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or preferably overnight.
2.Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate.
3.Grill pineapple for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until heated through and grill marks appear.

*We have Organic Pineapples on sale this month for only $1.99!

Meatless Monday: Chilled Strawberry Soup

2011-05-09T14:33:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup strawberry (sliced)
2 tbsp orange juice (apple)
1 tbsp honey
Fresh Mint for garnish

Directions

1. Blend ingredients in a food processor or blender.
2. Garnish with sprigs of fresh mint
3. Serve chilled.

We currently have fresh local strawberries on sale for 2/$5! The weather is perfect for enjoying this seasonal, delicious treat on the porch or patio!

Green Glossary

2011-05-06T13:00:00.000-04:00

Cohousing: A type of collaborative housing in which residents help design and operate their own neighborhoods; usually comprised of separate, private homes with shared common facilities such as open spcae, courtyards and playgrounds. Cohousing is distinguished from simple cooperative living by its outright commitment to the idea of community; increasingly, many cohousing communities are organizing around green principles.

Gray Water: The water that flows down sink, shower and washing machine drains. (Toilet water not included.) Gray water makes a safe source of irrigation for backyard gardens, provided you take a few precautions. Learn more at greywaterguerrillas.com.

Biomass: Plants used to generate electricity or produce fuel, fibers, chemicals or heat. Good sources of biomass includes miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane and a variety of tree species. These renewable energy sources do release carbon dioxide when burned, but as biomass crops grow, they capture a roughly equivalent amount through photosynthesis, so they keep things in balance.

Electronic Waste or "E-Waste": Any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic devise, including discarded televisions, computer, monitors, printers and cell phones. E-Waste contains heavy toxic metals and known carcinogens, so it's important that it be recycled and/or disposed of safely. Unfortunately, current recycling practices leave something to be desired; E-Waste often winds up in countries with lower environmental standards and employment rates like China, India and Kenya. The problem is coming to light, thanks to international organizations like StEP (Solving the E-Waste Problem); learn more at step-initiative.org), and various U.S. states have passed their own laws regarding electronic waste management. What can you do? Think twice before upgrading that gadget and follow your local laws when disposing of electronic goods.

Bioplastics: Plastics derived from renewable biomass sources - vegetable oil, cornstarch or pea starch - instead of petroleum. Bioplastics are usually marked with a number 7 and labeled "biodegradable" or "compostable." Biodegradable bioplastics must be sent to a special composting facility, but compostable bioplastics will break down as fast as paper in your home compost pile.

Root Cellar: A place in your home or another spot on your property specially designed to keep vegetable and fruit fresh over long periods without refrigeration - an old-fashioned necessity that is enjoying a surge in popularity.

Vampire Load: Also known as phantom load, idle current, wall warts. Electric power sucked up by items that are plugged in, but not in use.

Bagasse: The crushed stalk left over from sugarcane processing. Pronounced "buh-gas." Once a waste product - one ton of refined sugar leaves two tons of bagasse behind-bagasse is now made into biodegradable disposable tableware such as plates, bowls, take-out containers and trays.

Fuel Cell: A technology that uses an electrochemical process to convert energy into electrical power. Often powered by natural gas, fuel cell power is cleaner than grid-connected power sources. In addition, hot water is produced as a by-product.

Green Design: A design, usually architectural, conforming to environmentally sound principles of building, material and energy use. A green building, for example, might make use of solar panels, skylights, and recycled building materials.

Source: Living Green calendar and lifegoggles.com

Healthy Cinco de Mayo Recipes

2011-05-04T13:00:00.000-04:00

Throwing a Cinco de Mayo party or planning a Mexican dinner to celebrate with friends and/or family? Try some of these delicious and healthy options!

Ranch Guacamole

Avocado Fruit Salad

Black Bean Soup

Baja Fish Tacos

Tortilla-Crusted Pork

Pome-ritas

Meatless Monday: Casados

2011-05-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

Casados means "married" in Spanish and this popular Costa Rican plate is just that, a marriage of several foods to make a complete meal! Casados always come with beans, rice and salad, many come with fried plantains and can be served with warm tortillas. Usually, a meat protein is added. If you would like to add a substitute, we have included a recipe using Quorn cutlets. ¡Esperamos que disfrute de este plato!

Ingredients

Rice

1 cup long grain brown or white rice
1 1/2 cup water

Beans
2 cups dried black beans
4 cloves garlic
2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (coriander leaves)
1 tsp. salt
12 cups cold water

Picadillo
1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
1 medium parsnip, peeled and diced
1/4 cup peeled and diced celery root
1 T olive oil
1 T vegetable stock
1 tsp. Oregano
Salt to taste

Plantains
2 plantains (can substitute bananas)
1 cup coconut oil

Salad
½ head of iceberg lettuce or mixed greens, shredded
½ cup grape tomatoes, diced

"Chicken"
4 Quorn Cutlets
1 cup milk or substitute
1 T ground roasted coriander
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp freshly ground sea salt
Cracked black pepper, to taste
1 T olive oil
1 lime, quartered

Directions

1.Sort and wash beans, discarding shrivelled or cracked ones; soak overnight in cold water. Drain beans discarding the water, rinse under running tap water and place in a soup pot with 12 cups water. Peel garlic cloves (do not chop) and coarsely chop the cilantro (stems too). Add salt, garlic, oregano and cilantro to beans and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 2 or more hours (preferably 3-4 hours). Remove garlic cloves.
2. Place cutlets in milk bath and refrigerate for an hour. Blend spices together in a small side bowl. Set aside. Once ready to cook chicken, place olive oil in pan over medium high heat. Remove one chicken breast and sprinkle both sides with spice blend. Cook on each side for 4 minutes or until cooked through.
3. Rinse rice two times. Then add 1 1/2 cup water and bring to slow boil. Once boiling, set to simmer and cover for 20 minutes or until cooked.
4. Steam the diced veggies for 5 minutes. Remove from water. Combine oregano, salt, vegetable stock and oil. Add to pan and turn heat onto medium high. Sauté veggies for 2 minutes.
5. Peel plantain and discard peel. Cut plantain into 1/4 inch chunks. Coat bottom of pan about 1 inch deep with oil. Heat oil over high heat but take care to not let it begin bubbling. Place plantain sections in oil and turn every 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Salad can be the final step for your casado to keep salad cool and ingredients in fridge until everything else has cooked.

Plating
Think of your plate by quadrant, when plating a casado: every ingredient gets its own home. Their will be one part of the plate dedicated to the beans, another to the rice, the plantains immediately next to the rice, then cutlets, picadillo and lastly salad. Serve with warm tortillas and/or fresh avocado if desired.

Adapted from lavieenroute.com and veg.ca

Kids' Perspectives on Being Green

2011-04-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

"We should recycle because if it gets too trashy, the world might die." - Sonia, age 6

"It is important to be green because if we don't the animals like the polar bear will become extinct because their homes are melting." - Olivia, age 7

" Being green means to care for your community and not litter, use less energy, and stop cutting down trees!!!" - Jeremy, age 8

"If you chop down trees we won't have air to breathe." - Dylan, age 6

"Throwing trash away - it kills the fish." - Nick, age 5

" If people don't be green, Earth's atmosphere will evaporate." - Ari, age 7

"It's important to be green because it makes the earth healthy and it's better for people too." - Morgan, age 8

"Being green means to recycle and don't use your car too much." - Hannah, age 7

"Being green means to not use your car when you need to go somewhere close to you and also shut off lights when you are done with them." - Taylor, age 7

"When you're being green, if you're close to a place, you can ride your bike instead of a car." - Lindsey, age 8

"It is important to be green because then we can stop global warming." - Paul, age 7

"It is important to be green so the earth can go on." - Jack, age 8

"Being green means you do stuff to help the environment. For example, recycle, don't waste paper, turn off lights." - Anjali, age 8

Help Us Collect Books for Children in Need!

2011-04-27T17:22:00.000-04:00

Healthy Home Market is proud to announce our participation in the "Books and Pages: Give Kids a Future" book drive. Promising Pages and Classroom Central have set a goal of collecting 200,000 books in the next few weeks and you can help! We have a collection bin at our South End location and will be accepting gently used or new books through May 22. There are tens of thousands of kids in our community growing up with few, if any, books at home. Studies performed by the United States Department of Education show that if a child enters school with out being exposed to books, he or she will be behind in cognitive abilities and self-esteem, and three to fours times more likely to drop out of high school! So, come on community, please help us to collect as many children's books as possible so that we can give these kids a fighting chance!

Meatless Monday: Portabello Mushroom Stroganoff

2011-04-25T11:19:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
3/4 pound portobello mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
3/4 to 1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. of vegetarian worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. soy sauce
1/2 cup red or white wine
8 ounces dried egg noodles

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles, and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, and set aside.
2. At the same time, melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring until softened. Turn the heat up to medium-high, and add sliced mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms are limp and browned. Remove to a bowl, and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, stir in vegetable broth, worcestershire, soy sauce and wine, being sure to stir in any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil, and cook until the mixture has reduced by 1/3. Reduce heat to low, and return the mushrooms, onion and garlic to the skillet.
4. Remove the pan from the heat, stir together the sour cream and flour; then blend into the mushrooms. Return the skillet to the burner, and continue cooking over low heat, just until the sauce thickens. Stir in the parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve over cooked egg noodles.

DIY: Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

2011-04-21T16:22:00.000-04:00

Dying Easter eggs is a beloved tradition in many families, but it can also be a toxic tradition. Artificial colors have been linked to allergic reactions, tumors, cancer and ADHD among other things. Luckily, nature has given us many beautiful colors that are perfectly safe to smell, touch and eat! And obviously a better choice for our environment. Here is a good method to follow for making colorful, natural eggs, followed by a handy dye chart from about.com.

1.Place the eggs in a single layer in a pan. Add water until the eggs are covered.
2.Add approximately one teaspoon of vinegar.
3.Add the natural dye. Use more dye material for more eggs or for a more intense color.
4.Bring water to a boil.
5.Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
6.If you are pleased with the color, remove the eggs from the liquid.
7.If you want more intensely colored eggs, temporarily remove the eggs from the liquid. Strain the dye through a coffee filter (unless you want speckled eggs). Cover the eggs with the filtered dye and let them remain in the refrigerator overnight.
8.Naturally-colored eggs will not be glossy, but if you want a shiny appearance you can rub a bit of cooking oil onto the eggs once they are dry.

Color	Ingredients
Lavender	Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice Red Zinger Tea
Violet Blue	Violet Blossoms Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled) Hibiscus Tea Red Wine
Blue	Canned Blueberries Red Cabbage Leaves (boiled) Purple Grape Juice
Green	Spinach Leaves (boiled) Liquid Chlorophyll
Greenish Yellow	Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled)
Yellow	Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled) Carrot Tops (boiled) Celery Seed (boiled) Ground Cumin (boiled) Ground Turmeric (boiled) Chamomile Tea Green Tea
Golden Brown	Dill Seeds
Brown	Strong Coffee Instant Coffee Black Walnut Shells (boiled) Black Tea
Orange	Yellow Onion Skins (boiled) Cooked Carrots Chili Powder Paprika
Pink	Beets Cranberries or Juice Raspberries Red Grape Juice Juice from Pickled Beets
Red	Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled) Canned Cherries with Juice Pomegranate Juice Raspberries

Earth Day, All Day! April 22, South End

2011-04-19T12:03:00.000-04:00

Although we believe that Earth Day should be everyday, we always try to do something special here at HHM to celebrate! The first Earth Day in 1969 was a large success with 20 million people participating across the United States. Today it is celebrated by over a billion people around the world with hundreds of thousands of schools, businesses and environmental groups involved. This year, South End will host a casual Earth Day celebration throughout the day on April 22 with product, food and vitamin samples throughout the store, plus KW Collards will be in the house! We will have demonstrations between 12 pm and 6 pm of Applied Kinesiology for Healing with John Winstead, Acudetox with Marini, The Avalon Effect with Carol Calvert, Tai Chi with Maeya Carr and Kung Fit with Sherman Tse. Charlotte Energy Solutions will be on hand with all kinds of energy saving products including Segways. Penelope from SkyeTurtle Designs jewelry will have a table set up with 10% off all proceeds being donated to environmental causes and Green Market Girl will be on hand with her sustainable, handmade wood Eco Cuffs. Plus, Barbara's Canine Catering will be giving away natural treats for our animal friends, NuttyBrown will have cloth diapers and there will be a special performance by Hipps BellyDance! And to top it all off, we will host an ongoing Organic Gardening Class in our Community Room. This promises to be a fun and educational event for the whole family! We look forward to celebrating with all of our beloved customers and our community!