Are you ready for some FOOTBALL??!!

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(photo:  arizonapopwarner.org)

Can a huge sporting event like the Superbowl possibly be green?  According to Neill Duffy, Sustainability Director of the Bay Area Superbowl 50 Host Committee, it can indeed be green!  In a recent interview with GreenSportsBlog, Mr. Duffy states that the goal of his organization is to host a Net Positive Superbowl.  The group has 4 pillars for greening the Superbowl:

1. Reduce impact on climate change -- deliver a low-emissions event
2. Responsibly use materials and resources (food/water/waste)
3. Leave a positive and lasting legacy for the region
4. Inspire fans to embrace sustainability

If you live in California, you're invited to take the Play Your Part pledge to help achieve these goals. If you don't live in California, you can still take the pledge and participate in sustainability as you watch the big game!  Nachos anyone?

          

"Chicken" tetrazzini

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A great winter casserole!  This tetrazzini (adapted from a recipe in the January 2009 issue of Southern Living) substitutes white wine and green chiles for the more traditional sherry and mushrooms.

Ingredients

• 1 16 oz. box of spaghetti
• 2 packages of defrosted Quorn chick'n tenders
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 15 oz. cans cream of mushroom soup
• 1 18 oz. jar of Alfredo sauce
• 5 small cans of Hatch green chiles (mix hot and mild to taste)
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup slivered almonds and extra cheddar cheese for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions
3. While the pasta is cooking, stir together chick'n, cheddar cheese, mushroom soup, Alfredo sauce, chiles, vegetable broth, wine, and pepper. Stir in the pasta.
4. Spoon chick'n and pasta mixture into an 11x8'' pan (lightly greased).  Top with almonds and cheddar cheese.  Cook for about 35 minutes, or until filling is bubbly and top is golden brown.

Enjoy!

Celebrities doing green stuff -- Leonardo DiCaprio

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Let's take a look at celebrities who have taken on green causes!



This week, we'll start with Leonardo DiCaprio (photo: treehugger.com).  When Leo's not being mauled by a bear or having a campout in a horse carcass, he's very interested in environmental causes.  He has founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which states:

"The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is dedicated to the long-term health and wellbeing of all Earth’s inhabitants. Through collaborative partnerships, we support innovative projects that protect vulnerable wildlife from extinction, while restoring balance to threatened ecosystems and communities. LDF works in 4 key areas:

• Protecting biodiversity
• Oceans conservation
• Wildlands conservation
• Climate change"

The foundation was started in 1998 and has donated $30 million in grants to over 65 organizations.  Projects are varied and there are lots of ways you can get involved:

• Saving orangutan habitat in Sumatra.  Have you removed conflict palm oil from your kitchen shelves? 
• Defending Ivindo National Park.  Remember to avoid any elephant products when buying souvenirs, home decor, or medicine.
• Restoring Ecuador's Pacific Lowland Forests.  Learn more about frogs and other amphibians and the environmental threats they face.
• Recovery of Stellar Sea Lions.  Learn more about marine mammals!

Let's join Leo and work on species conservation and biodiversity issues!  When you're finished watching him tell Ellen Degeneres about sharks, you can plan your conservation strategy.

Do you "believe" in climate change?

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As we dig out from the blizzard, maybe you'll want to watch some videos in your free time.  I recently came across climate scientist, Katharine Hayhoe, who speaks on the topic of climate change and how Christianity should address this challenge.  Here's one of her presentations.  She does a great job of explaining why we don't "believe" in climate change; we simply understand the science and look for solutions.

Perfect winter meat-free Friday dinner!

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Believe it or not, this recipe is a hit with the kids!  It’s a filling, warm soup – perfect for the middle of winter, using lots of in-season items.

Cabbage and Potato Soup

• 1 small head of cabbage, coarsely chopped into 1 to 2 inch squares
• 6 yukon gold potatoes, peeled and chopped into 2 inch cubes
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 3 to 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2  tablespoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme (about 1 1/2 tablespoons if you’re using dried thyme)
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups water

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter in a large soup pot and saute the onion, potatoes, salt, and pepper for about 5 minutes
2. Add vegetable broth and water; boil until the potato is just soft enough to mash.
3. Using a hand potato masher, mash the potatoes in the soup until half the potatoes are mashed and half are still in chunks.  If you really like a smooth soup, instead of hand-mashing, use a blender to puree about half the soup.
4. Add cabbage and thyme; cook until cabbage is soft.
5. Makes about 4 servings.

Enjoy!

10 fun polar bear facts!

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It’s winter, so let’s look at the polar bear (Ursus maritimus)(photo from http://worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear).   Here are 10 things to know about polar bears:

1. These powerful symbols of the arctic weigh between 500 and 1000 lbs (and even up to 1400 lbs!),
2. Polar bears feed primarily on ringed seals (U.S. FWS 2009).
3. Polar bears are extremely strong swimmers
4. Polar bears can live from 25 to 30 years in the wild. 
5. To live in the harsh arctic climate, they have evolved several different adaptations to stay warm – they’ve got a thick layer of blubber and are covered in a thick layer of insulating fur.  Although the fur is white (providing camouflage in their white, icy environment), the skin underneath is actually black, allowing it to absorb the sun’s rays.  Even the soles of the polar bear’s feet are covered in fur (National Geographic ND).
6. At around 3-5 years of age, polar bears are ready to reproduce (U.S. FWS 2009).  Females dig dens in the arctic ice and give birth during the winter, usually to twins. 
7. Polar bear cubs stay with their mothers for over two years, in order to learn survival skills.  All parental care is given by the female; in fact, the females must protect the young from the males who have been known to kill the cubs (National Geographic ND).
8. The polar bear population is currently estimated at 20,000-25,000 (U.S. FWS 2009).
9. Polar bears are listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened (U.S. FWS 2013) and listed on Appendix II of CITES, with primary threats to the population being the loss of sea ice, due to climate change.  Several international agreements are in place to try to protect the polar bear and its habitat.
10. Canada is the only nation with polar bears that currently allows sports hunting of this species (Washington Post 2013). 

Why should we care about the polar bear?  As stated on the World Wildlife Federation’s website:  “Polar bears are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. Over thousands of years, polar bears have also been an important part of the cultures and economies of Arctic peoples. Polar bears depend on sea ice for their existence and are directly impacted by climate change—serving as important indicator species.”   To learn more about the polar bear and what you can do to help, be sure to visit:  http://worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear

Sources:

Eilperin, J.. 2013. “U.S. Proposal to Protect Polar Bears Fails.” Washington Post, March 8, 2013.

National Geographic.  ND.  “Polar Bear Ursus maritimus”  Accessed online 3/8/2013.  http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/polar-bear/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  2013.  “Species Profile.  Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus)”  Last updated 3/8/2013.  Accessed online 3/8/2012.  http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A0IJ

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2009.  “Polar Bear Ursus maritimus”  Last updated October 2009.  Accessed online 3/8/2013.  http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/polar_bear.pdf

World Wildlife Fund.  2013.  “Polar Bear”  Accessed online 3/8/2013. http://worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear

Better late than never!

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Here’s your meat-free Friday recipe on Saturday morning!  No worries – this recipe is great for weekends too.  It’s adapted from Lighten up, y’all:  Classic Southern Recipes made Healthy and Wholesome, by Virginia Willis. 

Southern Style Shepherd’s Pie with Grits

Ingredients

• 1/2 cups stone-ground grits –cook according to package directions
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 sweet onion, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 2 tblsp jar garlic
• 2 packages Quorn Chick’n Tenders (thawed)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• pinch of cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• 1 (9oz) bag of baby spinach
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 tblsp oregano
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2. Cook grits according to package directions.
3. While the grits are cooking, heat the oil in a large pot.  Add onion, celery, and carrot and cook until starting to soften.  Add garlic and saute for about 1 minute.  Add the chick’n tenders and cook for about 5 minutes.  Add the red pepper flakes, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Pour in wine and add spinach.  Cover the pot and simmer until the spinach starts to wilt.  Add oregaano.
4. Add the parmesan cheese to the grits and stir well.
5. Pour the chick’n/vegetable mixture into the pan and spread across the bottom of the pan.  Top with the grits, spreading the grits evenly with a wet rubber spatula, and cook until the grits are set and golden brown, about 30 – 40 minutes.

Enjoy!