Clean THE LAND May 18, 2012

During my time in Israel, I remember thinking that people there needed to really step-up their game when it comes to basic environmental awareness. I constantly saw trash all over the place - throughout the streets in neighborhoods, on the side of the road, everywhere I looked.

I was raised in a neighborhood that was pretty conscientious about recycling, not littering and taking care of our environment. So going to what many people refer to as "the Holyland" and seeing it totally trashed was a pretty surprising sight!

I thought I was somewhat alone in my views about trash in Israel, but I am excited to say that I recently found the coolest group doing exactly what I had wanted to do, but did not have the time or resources while I was there.

This group is called Clean the Land.Clean the Land is a social, environmental initiative with two simple components: a coordinated, annual, nation-wide trash pickup day; and a mission to educate communities about recycling, sustainability and environmental protection. Ummm, YES  Pleeeeease!!

I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to hear about this group! Environmentalism does not just stop in your own home, or in your neighborhood, we need to spread the word about it to everyone - even in other countries. Not everyone grows up with environmental education and awareness like many Americans do, when they learn about these things in public schools. Many children do not know that they should not throw their candy wrappers on the ground outside...

Be a part of the solution. Help educate the people. Bring communities together.

This MAY 18, 2012 is the Nationwide Trash Pickup Day in Israel. If you live in Israel, get involved. If you know someone who lives in Israel, tell them.

Let the Clean the Land motto inspire you, "Love it. Live it. Clean it."

Check their website for more information and to get involved:

http://www.cleantheland.org/

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/CleanTheLand

Delicious Fruitcake, It Really Does Exist!

Usually when we think of fruit cake, we think of preservative filled white cake with red and green chemical food colored candied fruits. Who knows how old that cake really is?! It has probably been re-gifted too many times to count...ugh.

Well, I have terrific news for everyone- delicious and healthy fruitcake really does exist, and it is so easy to make! Don't be turned off by the name. I'm telling you, I ate some of this cake and it is really tasty.

I had the pleasure of getting to meet an amazing and very talented women during my travels abroad. I would say she is the Martha Stewart of the middle east. She has her own creative artsy crafty blog, CreativeJewishMom.com

During my visit with CreativeJewishMom, I got a first hand tour of her beautiful, inspiring, crafty ideas and I also got a sample of her homemade fruitcake. It was moist, delicious, and not too sweet. She used whole wheat and did not use sugar! I was very happy. She served it with an apricot spice tea, sooo delicious.

Here is her article and recipe for Whole Wheat Fruit Cake. Also check out her awesome website. Her ideas and inspiration are endless!

No-Sugar Whole Wheat Fruit Cake—Delicious!

No sugar, that is sugar-free, with no added sweeteners, whole wheat fruit cake....a healthy alternative to well, you know, that regular sugar and oil laden cake that tastes good but isn't very good for you! You are joining me on the quest for healthier eating right? You'll feel so much better, believe me!

One small disclaimer: I thought this cake was great and could have easily eaten it all, and a very nice guest said it was the best cake she's eaten in Israel, though she is a macrobiotic cook, so she likes things that are healthy and natural. My children on the other hand did not quite appreciate this version of cake, and I even saw a piece in the garbage. The person who gave me this recipe however is a serious cake baker of the unhealthy kind also, and her children do like it!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup each of raisins, dried apricots, dates, prunes, or some combination of some of these, or some of these, those the dates are the sweetest, so I wouldn't skip those! (I made mine without the prunes)
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 envelope of baking power (about 2 1/2 teaspoons)
• 1 tsp cinnamon (I actually forgot this, so if you don't like cinnamon you can omit it!)
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil (or for Israelis: 1/2 cup chad paami)
• 1 cup of boiling water

Instructions:

Pour boiling water over chopped dried fruit (I forgot to chop mine and the pieces would have been better smaller) and let sit until fruit is really soft. Combine remaining ingredients, pour fruit together with the water that it sat in, into the batter and mix. Or drain fruit and add a new cup of water. Bake until it's ready, at the same temperature you usually bake your cakes. Ever seen a cook book that said something like that?

Note: As you can see from the quantity of flour, this makes a fairly small cake, but maybe try it before doubling the ingredients? I made it in a silicone bandit pan, and it only filled up half the depth of the pan, but the results were a cute ring shaped cake, perfect for putting on the table whole!

Wholesome Home Cooked Goodness

For warm, easy breezy ambiance and healthy and delicious macrobiotic meals in Israel, check out Carpathian Mountain House. Located in hippy Nachlaot in Jerusalem by a wonderful open-air market (shuk), it's walking distance from what's happening around town.

Drop by Carpathian Mountain House during the week:

Monday:
10 Item Plate
12:45 - 3:45 pm
15 shekels - Regular/12 shekels - Student

Tuesday:
Dinner Lecture
6:45 - 8:30 pm
25 shekels

Wednesday:
Advice Day - Macrobiotic Health Consultations
30 shekels for 30 minutes

Thursday:
Rice, curry, seaweed, salad, beans for 1 shekel
or 10 item plate 12/15 shekels

All food is Macrobiotic, Strictly Kosher and Mostly Vegan

38 Ha Gilboa, Nachlaot
Jerusalem, Israel
#02-624-7796

Call for updated schedule and prices.

Green Drinks for Social Networking

Wanna meet interesting people who are passionate about eco-ness, find a green job, or tell people about your green business? If so, then check out Green Drinks! Green Drinks is a fun way to network and connect with others who work or would like to work in environmentally respectful jobs. See their websites to get more info, attend an event, or set up a Green Drinks in your area.

http://www.greendrinks.org/
http://greendrinks.ning.com/