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6 Green Products To Amp Up Your Caffeine

January 4, 2013 3

Did you give up caffeine for the new year? Me either – I enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning and a hot cup of tea at night. If your vice is a little caffeine each day, like me – here are 6 green products that will amp it up a little more!

1. VivaTerra Buddah Bowls $42
2. BYO Coffee Mug $19
3. Frieling French Press $70
4. Larry’s Beans Combo Pack $34
5. David’s Tea $6-10

How to Make Organic Fortune Cookies for New Year’s Eve

December 28, 2012 1

It’s almost time to ring in 2013! Once you toast the New Year with delicious fruit-filled bubbly drinks, get things off to a great start by cracking open a homemade organic fortune cookie customized with words of wisdom for your children for the coming year! These organic fortune cookies are super simple to make, and they offer a fun, tasty, kid-friendly way to commemorate the passing of time.

After dinner, or after the clock strikes midnight, let everyone in your family choose a fortune cookie — then take turns reading your fortunes aloud. You can even custom design each cookie for each specific person in your family! Jump over to Inhabitots to learn how to make these thought-filled cookies with your little ones.

How to Make Fruit-Filled Bubbly Drinks for Kids to Toast the New Year

December 27, 2012 1

New Year’s Eve is around the corner, and you probably have a celebration planned that includes your little ones. Children love to ring in the New Year as much as adults do — given the excitement of staying up late, the fun noisemakers, and watching all of the countries across the globe commemorate the arrival of 2013 on television, and of course counting down as the ball drops in Times Square!

If your child is like mine, part of the fun of New Year’s Eve is staying up until midnight and then toasting the New Year with something bubbly. However, the last thing you want to give your child at midnight is a drink that’s loaded with sugar or caffeine! Jump over to Inhabitots to learn how to make 3 bubbly drinks for kids that will make the toast extra special, and healthy too!

How to Make Vegan Tostones with Two Dipping Sauces

December 14, 2012 5

by Teresa. 

This recipe is sure to hit the spot and transport you to the warm isles of the Caribbean – especially on a cold winter night. Tostones are served in restaurants around the world, but they are so easy to make at home. I find these to be a great comforting side dish or appetizer. Read on to get started.

What you will need for the Tostones: 

  • 2 green plantains (they should be green, not yellow – the yellow ones are too sweet)
  • Oil for frying
  • Salt to taste 


Step 1:
Preheat the oil on high heat.

Step 2:
Peel the plantains and slice them into 1 ½ inch pieces. The peel is very tough and can be difficult to remove. It is a lot easier to peel them if you drop them in boiling water for 30 seconds or so.

Step 3:
Drain them, and while they are hot, smash them. You can use a tostonera, a traditional wooden Puerto Rican smashing tool, or you can just use the bottom of a heavy drinking glass. Spray the glass with non-stick spray for easier release.

Step 4:
Heat the oil on high and fry again until golden brown.  Some people dip the plantains in water just before the second fry, but either way has a nice result.
 
Step 5:
Drain on paper towels, salt, and serve immediately with dipping sauces.

To me, tostones always taste better with dipping sauces. One of my favorite sauces is the Chimichurri sauce, which is traditionally served alongside flank steaks and brisket. I find that the vinegar and the fresh herbs make a really nice contrast with the hot and salty crispiness of the plantains.
What you will need for the Chimichurri dipping sauce:

  •  1/4 cup chopped parsley
  •  1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  •  2 cloves minced garlic
  •  1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (or your favorite vinegar)
  •  2 tbsp minced red onion (optional)

Mojo sauce is traditionally served with plantains. It is very easy to do, and you can flavor it with other ingredients. I like to add cilantro to mine. This dipping sauce adds a nice cool and creamy contrast to the hot, crispy plantains.
What you will need for the Mojo dipping sauce: 
  •  1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
  •  2-3 tbsp ketchup
  •  1 clove minced garlic 
  •  1 tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)

This is one of my favorites, so I’ll hope you’ll try them. For photos and fun background stories about tostones and the 21 Days of Going Vegan Project, please visit my blog!
** Note from Sweet Greens: You can see all of Teresa’s vegan recipes here.

All photos by Teresa © mtk 2011-2012.

How to Bake Vegan Gingerbread Men Cookies for the Holidays

December 14, 2012 3

If there is one cookie that always makes me think of the holidays, it is gingerbread men. Whether you pair these festive cookies with a large glass of soy milk or use them to decorate your holiday tree — they just scream “the holidays are here!” They evoke visions of the fun the holidays bring and they make your house smell wonderfully inviting too!

Last night, I spent the evening with my family baking vegan gingerbread men. These little guys may be vegan, but they pack the same deliciousness as their non-vegan counterpart. Jump over to Inhabitots to learn how to make my easy vegan gingerbread men and indulge in the kid-favorite holiday tradition of biting into these cute little cookies.

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