Fantastic Film: FUEL

Check out this fantastic eco-movie, FUEL. Gary Goldstein says, "'Fuel' is a vital, superbly assembled documentary that presents an insightful overview of America's troubled relationship with oil and how alternative and sustainable energies can reduce our country's -- and the world's -- addictive dependence on fossil fuels.

The film's structure is built around director-narrator Josh Tickell's personal journey of enlightenment, which started in childhood after moving with his family from idyllic Australia to murkier Louisiana, where he came to realize the oil-rich environment was being ravaged by the omnipotent petrochemical industry. Later, as a young adult, he spent 11 years crossing the country in his vegetable oil-powered "Veggie Van," promoting biofuels and compiling footage for what would become this impressively comprehensive film..."

I saw this fantastic movie last year at Go Green Expo in NYC and I highly recommend it!

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsP5EmMrTqk&feature=related

Website:
http://thefuelfilm.com/

Get Clean and Do Good with Dr. Bronner's

Want to get great soap AND to help the planet? Dr. Bronner's castile soaps come in liquid and bar form and will get you feeling fresh in no time. This soap is affordable and great quality.
This soap is:

Completely Biodegradable and Vegetable-Based Made with Certified Fair Trade and Organic Oils Multi-Purpose: 18-in-1 Uses No Synthetic Foaming Agents, Thickeners or Preservatives 100% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Cylinder Bottles and Paper Labels Simple, Ecological Formulations Based on Old-World Quality and Expertise #1-Selling Natural Brand of Soaps in North America

INGREDIENTS: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut*, Organic Palm* and Organic Olive* Oils (w/Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Essential Oils**, Citric Acid, Vitamin E * FAIR TRADE Ingredients

** Available in Peppermint, Lavender, Almond, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Unscented Baby-Mild, Rose and Citrus Orange


Check out their monthly special of 15% off Lavender soaps and lotions:
http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/SPECIALS.htm

Dr. Bronner's soap and other great products:
http://www.drbronner.com/

Sweet N' Spicy Popcorn Crunch

Check out this recipe for a delicious and nutritious treat, a healthy version of Cracker Jacks! These popcorn snacks will satisfy your sweet tooth, are made without refined sugars and are vegan. Try to get organic ingredients as much as possible, since organic is better for you and the planet.

• 2 tablespoons safflower oil
• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
• 1 cup salted and roasted peanuts
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) Earth Balance Natural Shortening
• 1 cup brown rice syrup powder
• 1/4 cup brown rice syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.
2. In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add 3 popcorn kernels and cover until they pop. Add remaining popcorn kernels, cover, and shake pot continuously over burner until popcorn is completely popped, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer popcorn to large bowl, add peanuts and set aside.
3. Combine Earth Balance, brown rice syrup powder, and brown rice syrup in a medium pot over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until brown rice syrup powder has dissolved. Increase heat to medium-high, and cook, without stirring, until golden brown, about 5 minutes, swirling pot occasionally.
4. Remove mixture from heat and quickly stir in sea salt and cayenne with a heatproof spatula or spoon. Immediately pour over popcorn mixture and stir to incorporate. Divide popcorn mixture evenly between baking sheets. Transfer to oven and bake, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Let cool on sheet pans before breaking apart into clusters. Store popcorn in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Enjoy!

Share the Love with Heart Tarts

There is nothing better (and more eco) than homemade goodies! Try this Linzer Heart Tart recipe, created by holistic health counselor, Carol Anne Wasserman.

These are great to make for a friend to show your appreciation or for someone you love. They are made with whole grain flour and naturally sweetened with agave nectar. Agave is really sweet - so you only need a little bit. Use a little almond flour - almonds are super healthy - and they also lend the cookies a nice rich and tender quality. If you can't find almond meal or almond flour, you can just grind up some almonds in your blender or food processor to a fine meal.

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
½ cup almond flour
½ teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (or unrefined cold pressed sunflower, safflower, or sesame oil)
¼ cup agave nectar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

• In a bowl combine the dry ingredients. In another bowl combine the wet ingredients. Stir the wet into the dry. Do not overmix.

• Roll out the dough, 1/8 inch thick or less, between 2 pieces of parchment paper. Sprinkle flour onto of the bottom piece of parchment only, to keep the dough from sticking.

• Cut out heart shapes, any size is fine, I use 2 inch.

• In half of the hearts, cut out a smaller heart, I use 1 inch.

• Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake 7 – 10 minutes, depending on the size and thickness. Cookie are done when bottom edges just begin to turn slightly brown. Do not over-bake.

• When cool, put a teaspoon or 2 of jam in the center of each solid heart. Top with the cut out heart.

Optional: Instead of using jam, melt grain sweetened chocolate chips, or a 70% cacao dark chocolate bar. Use this filling instead of the jam.

For more FREE healthy recipes from Carol, check out:

http://www.gethealthywithcarol.com/index.html

http://www.gethealthywithcarol.blogspot.com/

http://www.ncctv.org/index.php?option=com_jvideo&view=watch&id=230 

Always Stylish, Matt & Nat Bags

Looking for a new fab bag? Check out Matt and Nat bags, high quality, stylish, vegan AND environmentally conscious. These bags are so great, even Ellen DeGeneres gave them away last year on her show during 12 days of giveaways!

Check out the latest arrivals at:
www.mattandnat.com

Get Inspired at Green Festivals

Green Festival is a fun and exciting weekend festival featuring 125 renowned authors, leader and educators, 350 eco-businesses (offering giveaways, discounts and free samples), workshops, kid's activities, entertainment, and an organic, vegetarian food court.

It is now being held in 4 different places in the United States every year and is the largest sustainability event in the world. It is the only green event that screens all exhibitors for their commitment to sustainability, ecological balance and social justice using Green America’s green business standards. It also offsets 100% of its electricity emissions with clean, renewable energy and each year, gets closer and closer to being a zero-waste event.

This is definitely one eco-event I never miss!

Check it out online:
http://www.greenfestivals.org/