Red and Yellow flower

Red and Yellow flower

Food labels

Food Labels can be deceiving.

Guide to some common eco-friendly food labels, and their meanings

Certified Humane Raised & Handled: The Certified Humane label means that the farms raising the animals met the Humane Farm Animal Care program’s standards that aim to improve humane living conditions and humane treatment during transportation and slaughter. Certified Humane standards also require prudent antibiotic use and prohibit artificial growth hormones and animal by-products in animal feed. The label does not mean that chickens and pigs went outdoors, or that beef cattle and dairy cows had continuous access to pasture for grazing

Animal Welfare Approved:  The AWA label is the only label that assures consumers that the animals were raised humanely on a family farm from birth to slaughter, with adequate and meaningful welfare protections and outdoor access. For poultry, it is one of the only animal welfare labels that requires access to pasture.

American Grass-fed:  The American Grass-fed label means that the animals were grass-fed throughout their entire lives (after weaning), with no grain ever. The animals had continuous access to pasture, and when weather conditions prevent them from grazing on pasture, they’re given a grass-based forage. The standards also prohibit antibiotics, growth hormones, and the use of certain parasitic ides.

USDA Organic: Food is grown and processed following strict federal standards designed to promote sustainability and minimize synthetic inputs in farming and production.

Food Alliance Certified: Food is produced on farms and processed in facilities that aim to meet standards addressing different areas of sustainable and responsible food production. The standards cover the following areas: reducing pesticide use through integrated pest management (rather than prohibiting all synthetic pesticides), soil and water conservation, animal welfare, wildlife and biodiversity conservation, and fair working conditions.

Non-GMO Project Verified: This seal means the product has been made without the intentional use of genetically engineered ingredients (GMOs), and that best practices were followed to prevent contamination with GMOs. Does not guarantee the product is “GMO-free.”

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certified: Guarantees that wild seafood was caught using methods that do not deplete the natural supply. It also guarantees that fishing companies do not cause serious harm to other life in the sea, from coral to dolphins.

Fair Trade Certified: Generally means products come from farmers and workers who are justly compensated. Often found on coffee beans packages.

Rainforest Alliance Certified: Means that the farm where the product was grown meets Sustainable Agriculture Network standards, including ecosystem conservation, wildlife protection, and water conservation; also includes fair treatment and good working conditions for workers. The standards also require or encourage certain basic animal welfare practices.

Bird Friendly: This label is found on coffee, and means that the farm where the coffee is grown is certified organic and maintains canopy for diverse bird habitat. (Coffee farms typically cut many trees to increase yields from coffee crops.)

Salmon-Safe: Means farm uses agricultural practices that promote healthy streams and wetlands. The label can be found on beef, dairy, fruit, vegetables, legumes, beverages etc.

BPI Compostable: Product has been certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) to meet rigorous standards for composting, i.e. it will break down into usable compost in a reasonable amount of time in the natural environment. Compostable products are biodegradable, but with the added benefit of introducing nutrients back into the soil.

Forest Stewardship Council: The FSC label ensures that the forest/paper products used are from responsibly harvested and verified sources.

Green Seal: Ensures that a product meets rigorous performance, health, and environmental criteria. Certification backs up manufacturer’s environmental claims, and helps consumers identify products that are safer for human health and the environment.

It hurts the worst when the person that made you feel so special yesterday, makes you feel so unwanted today...

It hurts the worst when the person that made you feel so special yesterday, makes you feel so unwanted today...

Recipe for Mango Chutney

Mango Chutney

Qty : 3 Pint Jars                         Shelf life : About one year

Active time : 2 hours                Macerating time : 8 hours to overnight

Ingredients:

7 1/2 lbs (3.50 kg) ripe mangoes, peeled, seeded and diced (5 cups)	1 cup (8oz, 225g) diced onions
2 Garlic cloves (peeled)	1/2 cup (4oz. 110 g) crystallized ginger
1/2 cup (4oz. 110 g) golden raisins	1/2 cup (4oz. 110 g) dried sour cherries
1 teaspoon mustard seeds	1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (8oz, 235 ml) cider vinegar	1 cup (7oz, 200g) light brown sugar
3 hot Thai bird chiles, pierced 2 times with a knife

Bell peppers, red green, yellow, makes the chutney colorful

1.  Combine all the ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl, stir and cover. Refrigerate it overnight (about 8 hours).

2.  Pour the mixture into the preserving pot and on medium heat bring to boil, all the time constantly stirring.

3.  Turn down the heat to low, slow simmer and cook, uncovered until the chutney is thick and semi solid (like a jam or jelly).

4.  Constantly stir but be gentle on the mango pieces (making sure then are intact) and that they do not burn nor stick to the bottom of the bowl.

Ladle or Sauce pan for transferring chutney to jars

5.  Transfer into warm jars, leaving 1/2 inches head space. Clean the rim of the jars with paper towel and place the lids tightly on the jars.

     

Mango Chutney

Some ideas to use the chutney:

·      Serve it on a side as a condiment to poultry

·      Pour some chutney of a wheel of brie cheese, wrap it in a puff pastry and bake it to 325°F oven for about 15 minutes.

·      Serve with crackers, Saltine biscuits, salted biscuits

·      Use it as a barbeque sauce

·      With soft scrambled eggs

·      With yogurt

                           

Bouquet of Roses

Bouquet of Roses

Nothing gives one person so much

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

Thomas Jefferson