Meat-free Friday -- Watercress soup

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It's Good Friday, which means soup and bread for many folks.  We enjoyed this Watercress Soup recently; I thought it would be a perfect Good Friday meal.  I made no changes to the recipe, so I'm just providing the link.  Enjoy and Happy Easter!

The Potomac's grades are going up!

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"What difference does it make if I do "green" things, if everyone else doesn't?"

That's a question my students often ask when we're talking about changing our behavior to protect the environment.  Today's report from the Potomac Conservancy, "State of the Nation's River" provides an answer.  Thanks to the actions of private citizens, as well as government and business support, the Potomac River has climbed from a grade of D 10 years ago to a grade of B today!  There's still work to be done in the areas of invasive species, riparian buffers, and underwater grasses, but the Potomac has seen marked improvement in:

• reduced P and N pollution (which leads to algal blooms and dead zones which are a big issue in the Chesapeake Bay) 
• increased numbers of shad and Bald Eagles
• better access to recreation along the river
• decreased sediment into the river
• increased land conservation in the watershed 

There's still work to be done, but this report is an important sign that individual action DOES make a difference!

Meat-Free Friday -- Spicy Egg Casserole

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I like this recipe because it's tasty and super-forgiving -- a little more here, a little less there and it still tastes great.  Perfect recipe for a relaxed Friday evening!

Ingredients

• 12 eggs
• a little less that 1/4 cup milk
• 12 oz cottage cheese -- rinsed and drained
• 1 4oz. can of diced Hatch chiles -- hot
• about 8-10 chopped scallions
• 1 large can sliced black olives
• 1 can of Rotel or tomatoes/peppers, drained
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Rinse and drain cottage cheese.  Spray an 9 x 13 inch baking pan with olive oil and wipe clean.
2. Spread the cottage cheese, cheese, scallions, chiles, olives, and Rotel in the bottom of the baking pan.  Mix it all around so it's evenly distributed.
3. Beat together the eggs and milk and pour over the other ingredients in the baking pan.  Again, mix everything around gently to be sure it's distributed evenly.
4. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.
5. Enjoy with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, or plain!  Serve with tater tots and Morningstar Farms soysage for a filling meal.

Last of a Kind -- Sudan

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I heard the sad news this morning about the death of Sudan, the last male white rhino.  I think his veterinarian summed it up best: 

"Dr. Steve Ngulu, the veterinarian who was in charge of Sudan, said the animal's death is sad and shocking -- and a testament to human failure."

There's not much new I can say about the fact that this species is creeping ever closer to extinction, but my son's video sums up my mood. 

Mammal Monday -- invasive non-native mammals

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We're going in a slightly different direction this week.  Usually on Mammal Monday we look at fascinating or endangered mammals.  But sometimes mammals can be what we call "invasive non-natives."  A recent article in the Morning Ag Clips about feral pigs got me thinking about this topic.  Check out this article, which discusses the issue of feral pigs and proposed solutions. 

If you're not familiar with the term invasive non-native species, here's a quick explanation.  Over thousands of years, species in an ecosystem evolve together.  An example of this "co-evolution" would be insects that begin to come out of winter sleep at about the same time that flowers begin to bloom -- this coordination ensures that the insects get nectar for food and that the plants get pollination.  When these native species evolve together, this type of coordination helps the ecosystem remain healthy.

Sometimes, new species that didn't evolve in the ecosystem are introduced.  These species are considered "non-native."  Here in the Chesapeake Bay region, we often consider any species that was introduced after Europeans arrived in the area (let's say the 1600s) to be a non-native.  Some non-natives stay where they're planted and really don't cause much trouble -- plants such as roses, tomatoes, and tulips are non-natives.  Sure, non-native species may not be the greenest option, since they require more water or fertilizer than natives and often don't provide food sources to native species, but they aren't quite the problem that their cousins the "non-native invasive" are.

Non-native invasive species are plants or animals that are introduced into an ecosystem and quickly begin to outcompete native species.  They may be a predator that eats everything in sight, such as the northern snakehead (see video below), or they could be a plant that outcompetes and kills other plants in the area (check your backyard for English ivy).  Common non-native invasives include house sparrows and kudzu, but there are many, many more.  And these species aren't just an ecological nuisance; they can have major economic impacts.  Kudzu and bamboo can cost homeowners substantial amounts once it gets into their landscaping, and the invasive stink bug has already cost mid-Atlantic apple farmers millions of dollars in crop losses.  The invasive emerald ash borer currently threatens ash trees.  Why is that an issue?  Think about America's past time -- wooden baseball bats are mostly made of ash wood. Zebra mussels were first introduced in the Great Lakes region, but have spread throughout the U.S.  The Missouri Department of Conservation estimates that this small mollusk, responsible for clogging water intake pipes and power plant pipes, fouling boat hulls, and displacing native species, will cost the U.S. billions of dollars by the end of this decade. 

But when we talk about mammal invasive non-natives (and yes, birds and fish too), animal lovers like me start to feel a little agita.  On the one hand, we don't want to allow the ecological damage caused by non-natives, but on the other hand we don't want to see animals hurt or killed, although we know these organisms must be removed to protect native habitat.  So what can a greenmomster do?  First off, never set an unwanted pet (such as a snake or fish) loose into the environment.  Check with a local nature center for proper ways to find them new homes.  Second, try to encourage native plants and animals by choosing native plants for landscaping.  Eradicating non-native species, particularly mammals like the nutria or feral pigs is a tough business.  Prevention is our best, and most humane, weapon against non-native invasive species.

Meat-free for St. Patrick's Day!

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Potato and Cabbage Soup

(photo:  tokyotimes.com)

Ingredients

• 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 (I used a little more)

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!

Turtles rock!

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I just got back from a little college touring in NC and VA.  I always enjoy going to new places and discovering murals or other public art.  Duke University is known for its beautiful chapel and gothic architecture, but here's what caught my eye at the student center:

Nothing like a turtle in a spring snowstorm!  Want to learn a little more about turtles?  Check out this previous post.