Green Chi Cafe » Lily

Favorite Farmers’ Market Meal

Lily — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:30:29 +0000

Yesterday, I was perusing my town’s farmers’ market, and was pleased to find local, organic versions of all the ingredients needed to make my absolute favorite summer meal. The meal? Pasta with roasted garlic, fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato. At the market, there were local farm stands piled high with fresh tomatoes and basil, and a dairy farm stand with every type of cheese imaginable – including fresh mozzarella! Yummm. This dish is fantastic – and a complete crowd pleaser. Every time I make it, it is to rave reviews and queries for the recipe. Lucky for you, I’m going to give it to you right here, and you can see for yourself:

Recipe (for two people)
Organic whole wheat rigatoni (1 cup)
Organic garlic (1 clove – unless you’re a garlic lover, in which case, add more!)
Organic, local tomato (1)
Organic, local basil (1-2 stalks)
Organic, local mozzarella (8 oz)
Organic balsamic vinegar (3-4 tbsp)
Olive oil (2 tbsp)
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring the water to a boil, then add in the rigatoni (along with a pinch of salt to keep it from sticking), turn the heat down to medium, and cook for 10 minutes, or until soft. Sliver the garlic and roast it in 2 tbsp of olive oil on medium heat until brown. Chop the tomato, basil, and mozzarella, and place it in a bowl. Pour in 3-4 tbsp of vinegar, and the roasted garlic in olive oil. Add salt and pepper. Allow the pasta to cool, then add it to the bowl, mix, and serve! The perfect cool, hearty, local, vegetarian dish!

Sandcastle Wonder

Lily — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:45:26 +0000

Someone sent me an email with all of these incredible photos from a sandcastle contest in Oregon — all I can say is WOW!! This was my personal favorite.

– Anonymous

Theo Jansen’s Sand Beast – Video

Lily — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:54:17 +0000

Theo Jansen is an engineer – but he’s also an artist: he’s a kinetic sculptor. The dutch genius (I use that word with complete faith in its accuracy – and you will, too, once you see this video) uses his love of engineering and art to create huge “beasts,” for lack of a better word. Using mainly old paper and plastic, he somehow creates these gigantic, wind-powered creatures that move entirely on their own without any mechanics. Wind, old paper, and old plastic? Seems like a good use of recycling and natural energy to me! Way to create such beauty in such an eco-way!!

– Lily

Stomp Out Loud! – Video

Lily — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:20:35 +0000

Rhythm using brooms, pots and pans, and basketballs…how wonderful!! Stomp Out Loud, directed by Luke Cresswell, is an amazing musical created with recycled materials and choreography. What do we need with expensive drumsets when this is possible? Did you ever think that your kitchen could be a whole percussion ensemble?

- Tune Spinner

Natural Home Scents, by Cait Johnson with Annie B. Bond

Lily — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:17:21 +0000

Natural Home Scents is an odiferous encyclopedia, making your senses teem as you read about the luxuriousness of natural scent. The recipes will have you wanting to try all of them at once – probably not the strongest choice (or, really, a very strong choice). Perhaps you can keep your excitement at bay enough to try one at a time. Either way, I am sure that your gung-ho attitude towards creating your own natural air fresheners will transform you, leaving you happily chemical-free and basking in the smell of your beautifully natural home.

To learn more about, or to own, Natural Home Scents, click here!

Excerpt from Natural Home Scents
For thousands upon thousands of years, people have used the scent to honor and celebrate the sacred, and to create specific atmospheres in their meeting places. Today, we can put the power of scent to work in so many beneficial ways. But rather than relying on aerosol sprays that could fill our environment with toxic chemicals, we can use pure aromatic herbs, spices, and essential oils to scent our homes naturally. It’s so easy!

Mists

Mists are an easy way to add wonderful, natural scent to your home and they are proven allies in the fight against germs. Mists are simple ways of providing aromatherapy with only essential oils, water and a spray bottle.
You can change the essential oil blend of any of the following formulas to suit your purpose. All this easy formula requires is a few drops of essential oil, water, and a spray bottle.

Basic Mist
Ingredients
* 4-8 drops essential oil
* 1 cup purified or distilled water
* Spray bottle

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle; shake to blend.

Try an essential oil that pleases your senses, such as lavender, or if you are concerned about flu’s consider using the essential oil of tea tree or rosemary.

To learn more about, or to own, Natural Home Scents, click here!

I’ve Got a Perfect Body! — Video

Lily — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:31:02 +0000

Let me just say that I am a huge fan of Regina Spektor. Her new album, “Far,” is incredible – but the song that really struck a chord with me is “Folding Chair.” There’s this incredible line in it, “I’ve got a perfect body, but sometimes I forget” … I’ve been kind of down on myself lately, but this song made me do a complete 180 on my view of myself. It’s such a nice way to look at yourself – and she’s right: whatever body type I have, I have the perfect body, but sometimes I forget. Below is a video of her singing “Folding Chair” live.

– Anonymous

Berry-Honey Lemonade

Lily — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:35:47 +0000

This lemonade is perfect for the summer heat. Delicious, honey-sweetened, and with extra antioxidants from the berries and tea, you can’t go wrong with this! Perfectly sweet and tart, it’s an instant favorite – and healthier than the original!

Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup honey
2 tea bags–black, green, or herbal (I love mint, personally!)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
3 cups water

Instructions
1. Heat the lemon juice and honey in a small sauce pan over low heat until the honey has dissolved. Add the tea bags, allow to steep for 5 minutes, then remove from the lemon-honey mixture. Remove the mixture from the heat.

2. In a blender, puree the lemon-honey-tea mixture with the frozen berries and water. Chill until cold.

3. Pour the berry-lemonade over crushed ice, and garnish with fresh mint leaves and berries, if so desired, then serve!

Serves 4

Hallelujah — Video

Lily — Sun, 09 May 2010 10:31:36 +0000

This song gives me chills every time I listen to it – it connects on a deeply soulful level. I love it so much that I painted the sheet music to it on my wall! Jeff Buckley’s voice is heart-wrenching.

– Lily

Tracy’s Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution — Video

Lily — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:27:31 +0000

Tracy Chapman, you are a goddess. The lyrics to her song “Revolution” are timeless, and yet always seem perfect. “Finally the tables are starting to turn, they’re talking about a revolution (and it sounds like a whisper).” I’m obsessed with this video – it is not only beautiful, but the lyrics are entirely truthful, and speak to the state of the world. Plus, it goes along quite well indeed with our mission: it’s time for an eco-revolution! Just a tidbit of fun knowledge: Tracy went to Tufts, which is where I go now — can I please follow in your footsteps, Tracy? Anyway, this isn’t Tracy’s only advocacy song that goes along with Green Chi Cafe’s mission — along with “Revolution,” you’ve got “Change” and “Rape of the World,” among others: she’s known for her political lyrics. You go, girl!

- Lily

Beach Sculpture

Lily — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:32:55 +0000

This is the way to do the eco-revolution: this is a beach sculpture of washed-up trash and debris from the ocean. Someone took the time to make something beautiful out of the waste – and saved the ocean creatures from being strangled or suffocated by people’s trash! It’s truly a beautiful thing.

- Lily