Archive for the ‘How Tos’ Category

  • Ecover Tantalizes the Palate with a Sustainable Delight from the City of Angels

    Date: 2012.01.06 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0

    Amidst a panorama of palm trees, ocean, skyscrapers and chic shops, Ecover  is thrilled to report that the sustainable food revolution is alive and well in Los Angeles! One of the “green culinary revolutionaries” is none other than Chef Victor Casanova of Culina Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

    The Culina was designed and built with materials such as reclaimed wood, and nature is the driving decorative element throughout the space…and the food is, well, simply sustainable! Here’s a great and tasty example for you to try out yourself –

    Panzanella Salad


    Ingredients:

    Rustic country loaf, exterior removed then cut into 1/2 inch dice
    3 heirloom tomatoes cut into ½ inch dice
    2 cups fresh ripe watermelon, cut into ½ inch dice
    ½ red onion, julienne
    ½ bunch basil, torn into ½ inch pieces
    ½ cucumber, cut into ½ inch half-moons
    4 oz. ricotta salata, coarsely grated
    4 vine-ripened tomatoes, passed through a food mill
    4 oz. DaVero Champagne Vinegar (can substitute)
    3 oz. DaVero Extra Virgin Olive Oil “Dry Creek Estate” (can substitute)
    Salt & pepper, to taste

    Directions:

    1.  Toast bread in preheated oven at 375°F, until well-colored but not brown.
    2.  Reserve bread.
    3.  Take the 4 vine-ripened tomatoes and pass through a food mill, then combine in mixing bowl with vinegar & oil.
    4.  Season to taste with salt & pepper.
    5.  Reserve vinaigrette.
    6.  In a large salad bowl, combine all ingredients;  toss well.
    7.  Season to taste.
    8.  Divide into 4 small salad bowls.

    Yield: Serves 4

    Note:  Pair that with passion fruit-infused iced tea or 100% organic Arabica coffee and dark chocolate truffles! 

    Photos via Travel.nationalgeographic.com (courtesy of Catherine Karnow) and Yourdailythread.com (courtesy of Culina Restaurant)

    Recipe via Culina Restaurant (courtesy of Chef Victor Casanova)

     

  • Ecover Celebrates a Green New Year!

    Date: 2011.12.30 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0

    Happy Green New Year! Here’s a toast with organic champagne to all of our Ecover fans who are busy at home, and who work to live more sustainably, from recycling to making sustainable food choices, to using our nontoxic, plant-based products. You are on the front lines doing your part – taking care of your family – as well as the planet! So to kick off 2012, we offer a few favorite ideas (dare we say resolutions!) for helping you out at home.

    Ecover is passionate in our pursuit of innovative ways to make our business more sustainable – but these simple, super-practical strategies are just as useful for everyday life:

    • Stretch your organic food budget – It’s hard on the food budget to only purchase organic products, but Daily Green’s Dirty Dozen list of foods with the most pesticide residue can help you choose wisely.
    • Gas up sustainably – Carpooling, public transportation, biking … all are great ways to reduce gas usage, but let’s face it, driving is still a necessity for most of us. Here are 16 ways – some of them quite surprising – to get the most mileage from each fill-up.
    • Decorate with your own stuff – If you’re crafty, you’ll love these ideas. And even if you’re not, you may still be inspired to create a memory quilt out of those precious baby clothes that you can’t bring yourself to give away!
    • Pare down on packaging and waste – Lots of people are accustomed to separating trash and recyclables, but it’s also important to reduce the amount of waste left curbside. If you have a garden, consider composting your food scraps, and avoid products with excessive packaging.

    Best wishes to all, and here’s to an even more sustainable new year!

    Photo by Wandering Brit via Flickr.com

     

  • A Festive Ecover Suggestion: Reuse Your Gift Wrap This Holiday Season

    Date: 2011.12.28 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0

    Can you believe that half of the paper consumed in the U.S. every year is used to wrap and decorate consumer products?!  We at Ecover hope you’ll help decrease the amount of paper tossed in the trash this holiday season by putting your gift wrap to good use. Check out these easy-breezy tips!

    The Gift that Keeps on Giving

    1.   Save your wrapping paper for reuse; if the paper has wrinkles, simply iron it on low heat.
    2.   Keep those ribbons, bows, gift bags and tissue. Ribbon can be re-curled using the edge of scissors to remove creases.
    3.   Torn paper can be saved and used as filler for the inside of gifts or gift bags.

    Other Nifty Ways to Reuse Gift Wrap

    1.    Cut wrapping paper into notepad sized pieces and use the back for scratch paper and grocery lists.
    2.    Reuse tissue paper to wrap fragile holiday items such as ornaments.
    3.    Reuse wrapping paper as the decorative background for scrapbooks or used to create decorative storage boxes.
    4.    Turn the wrapping paper inside out to cover your children’s books.

    Fun Winter Crafts for the Family

    1.   Create a Paper Holiday Wreath that can be used for years to come.
    2.   Make unique paper snowflakes.
    3.   Use the back of your wrapping as drawing paper for kids and fold the ends in on all sides to create a decorative border.
    4.   Make your own unique bookmarks by cutting a rectangle from an old cereal box and glue on the wrap. Punch a hole in the top and add a string or reused ribbon!

    We wish you happy, festive and recyclable season!

    Image courtesy of  Flickr

     

  • Ecover’s Top Tips to Green Your Holiday Wrapping!

    Date: 2011.12.23 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0

    Oh, the inevitable but joyful task of wrapping gifts for the holidays! We know that traditional gift wrap can be terribly wasteful — to the tune of 4 million tons of waste during the Holidays – so here at Ecover we want to help this season; making it fun but with alternatives that are inexpensive, inventive, and more sustainable!

    1.) Use what you have: Brightly-colored magazines and newspapers, phone book or old calendar pages, brown bags, wallpaper, old maps, your child’s artwork – they all make great wrap. Old t-shirts, towels, and washcloths are perfect for odd-shaped gifts, too. (Secure open ends with a safety pin or knot!) You could even use an old potato-chip bag to wrap gifts! Really!

    2.) Box it up better. Your gifts will be stored safely in reusable boxes and jars. Jam and baby food jars are perfect for jewelry, bottles and tins are ideal for edible gifts.

    3.) Source trimmings from nature. Elements found in your own backyard or nearby park makes any wrapped gift look unique and organic. Forage for pinecones, red berries, branches, and bright leaves!

    4.) Get resourceful with embellishments. Use old ribbon, yarn, colored string and bakers twine to tie-up your gifts. Maybe have the kids draw or paint something special for the recipient on plain brown or white paper! Cut-outs from holiday cards make gifts pop!

    5.) Wrap better. Wrap a gift with a gift! Items like scarves, bath towels, hats, bowls and mugs are great paper alternatives. If you do want wrapping paper, get recycled craft paper or try gift wrap from some of these options:

    Happy Wrappingdays!

    Image by cuttlefish, via Flickr.com

     

  • Ecover Wishes You A Chic and Elegant Holiday Party Season!

    Date: 2011.12.19 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0

    T’is the season for entertaining! Here at Ecover, we love a holiday party that spreads warmth and good cheer without leaving a mountain of waste behind. Luckily, celebrating sustainably never goes out of style…from your table décor to your front door, earth-friendly equalschic – and affordability too! Check out these great ideas for eco-friendly party planning.

    • Set the tone with green invitations – Sending online invitations is a great option. If paper is the more appropriate choice, look for 100 percent recycled, bleach-free or FSC-certified paper.
    • Table the disposables – It’s tempting to stock up on fancy paper plates and plastic cutlery if you’re entertaining a crowd, but white linen tablecloths and napkins, along with your good china, are more elegant and eco-friendly.  Supplement your collection with flea market finds or rentals as needed. Don’t shy away from mixing and matching; it just adds to your shabby-chic style!
    • Green your tabletop and mantle – Bringing in natural elements to decorate makes a beautiful statement. Use your imagination – and the colors you love. You needn’t feel compelled to festoon your house in red, green and gold or blue and silver! Try mixing dogwood, birch, curly willow, sumac, evergreens and artichokes, along with fruits, birds’ nests and ceramic birds. Here are some other creative ideas for transforming candles into interesting centerpieces and accents.
    • Don’t forget to adorn your entrance – A wreath made out of old neckties or corks? Why not! And we love the idea of placing an antique sled or pair of skis near the front door.

    Most of all, remember to take the time to enjoy the season with those you care about most! Happy holidays! 

    Photo by Michel Arnaud via Good Housekeeping

     

  • Take Your Cooking Up a Notch — Get Your Geek On in the Kitchen!

    Date: 2011.12.14 | Category: How Tos, Science Anyone? | Response: 0

    Remember the classic baking soda volcano experiment? Just add vinegar and – voila – erupting lava! Cool and fun to do with kids, yes, but also evidence that your kitchen is a culinary laboratory where a little scientific know-how comes in handy. Especially when the recipe leaves you hanging, or you just want to try something new with whatever’s on hand.

    At Ecover, we’re proud of the science behind our products, so we’re also intrigued by the idea of exploring scientifically based cooking tips. Hey, we love to eat, too! And when you think about it, every recipe is a controlled experiment involving a teaspoon of this and tablespoon of that….it’s a brave soul who goes rogue with hungry people waiting to eat. We say go for it, but be armed with information that many cookbooks don’t give you!

    For instance, have you ever wondered about the secrets to browning – getting that golden crust on freshly baked bread? We can thank the “Maillard Reaction.” When baking bread, sugars are reduced by heat and react with amino acids in the dough. Baked goods with sugar substitutes don’t participate in the Maillard Reaction and therefore won’t brown, so substitute at your own risk! Speaking of substitutions, check out this great comprehensive list that you can put to good use.

    Are you more curious? The Internet makes it easy to brush up on the “molecular art of grilling” or the “science of sugar,” as well as plenty of other kitchen science topics. Or generate fascinating dinner conversation with common kitchen myths! Who knew a box of baking soda in the fridge doesn’t absorb odors after all?

    Have fun testing your newfound knowledge, and may all your kitchen experiments be deliciously successful!

    Image 1 by rittyrats, via www.flickr.com
    Image 2 by Minimalist Photography, via www.flickr.com 

  • What’s in Your Mascara? Ecover Has an Eye On It!

    Date: 2011.12.09 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0

    Lush and lengthy lashes – every gal wants ‘em, and many of us rely on mascara to get the full fringe nature has withheld. In fact, according to Mintel Oxygen Reports, mascara is one of the fastest-growing segments in the color cosmetics category. Ecover certainly understands why. Since mascara is such a makeup staple, we’re taking a closer look at the ingredients inside those little tubes. What we found is pretty eye-opening!

    Although mascara has been around since the ancient Egyptians began experimenting with kohl, mascara, as we use it today didn’t appear until the turn of the 19th century. These first mascaras were made with newly discovered petroleum jelly and were notoriously messy. With improvements came a few horror stories, such as the “Lash Lure” scare of 1933.  Sixteen women were blinded and another died after using lash dye which contained paraphenylenediamine, which is extremely toxic. Very scary, indeed.

    Fast-forward to modern mascara. Women today may not realize that the US Food & Drug Administration has only loose regulatory authority over cosmetics; it’s up to the cosmetics companies to vouch for the safety of their products. That leaves significant leeway for the use of unfriendly ingredients in mascara, including petrochemicals, parabens, titanium dioxide, coal tar colorants, and more rarely, mercury-based preservatives.

    What’s a beauty- and earth-conscious woman to do? A great resource for checking the safety and sustainability of ingredients in the products you use is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database. To be totally on the safe side, consider switching to all-natural mascara recommended by Organic Beauty View or The Good Human.

    Ecover is confident you can find a mascara that brings out the beauty in your eyes without harming your body or the planet!

    Photo by neuroticcamel, via Flickr.com

  • Ecover Celebrates A Feast Of Seasonal Veggies And Berries

    Date: 2011.11.30 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0


    As Ecover welcomes this colorful season, we can’t wait to taste the abundance of Mother Nature’s finest — like wonderfully fresh butternut squash and mouthwatering cranberries! Not only are they traditional fare for the colder seasons, but they are two of the healthiest delicacies available now! We have a recipe that will surely delight your taste buds…enjoy!

    Red Quinoa with Roasted Butternut Squash Cranberries and Pecans

     

    Ingredients:

    1 cup red quinoa (i.e. Ancient Harvest Red Quinoa)
    2 cups water
    1 smallish butternut squash, peeled and diced
    ½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries, halved or chopped as you prefer
    ½ of a medium red onion, diced fine
    1 clove of garlic, minced
    ½ cup chopped pecans
    2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
    A sprinkle of cumin, ginger or curry, to taste
    Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste

     

    Directions:

    1.  Cook the red quinoa in a rice cooker, using a 1:2 ratio of 1 cup red quinoa to 2 cups water. If you like it softer, add additional ¼ cup water.
    2.  Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375° F.
    3.  In a medium roasting pan add the squash, cranberries, onion, and garlic.
    4.  Drizzle the butternut squash, cranberries, onion and garlic with a little olive oil, to coat. Add a teaspoon or two of pure maple syrup — not too much. Sprinkle with sea salt. Toss everything together.  Roast in the top half of the oven, until the squash is tender  — about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pan and set aside.
    5.   In a large dry skillet, add the pecans. Heat the skillet and lightly toast the pecans briefly, until fragrant.
    6.  Add in the cooked quinoa and the butternut mixture. Then add the parsley, cumin/ginger/curry, sea salt and pepper.
    7.  Drizzle the quinoa mixture with some fruity extra virgin olive oil and toss to coat. Taste test and adjust seasonings. Heat through gently. Serve.

    Yield: Serves 4.

    Photos via Fulchinovineyard.com, Valleynaturalfoods.com, and glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com
    Recipe via Glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

  • Ecover Plans To Vanquish Kitchen Chaos This Thanksgiving!

    Date: 2011.11.23 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0

     

    We’ve all had them – those disastrous Thanksgiving dinners that everyone is thankful just to forget. You know, the kind where the from-scratch pie crust is inedible, Aunt Betty shows up unexpectedly with five friends, and just when you think you can’t take another thing, the smoke detectors signal culinary Armageddon! Here at Ecover, we say stop the Thanksgiving madness!

    If it’s your turn to host Thanksgiving – or any big holiday event this year – take it easy and start planning now for a celebration that will be remembered for all the right reasons. As food mavens will tell you, do-ahead recipes are your best hedge against kitchen emergencies, and the Internet provides a smorgasbord of tasty dishes to please every palate. The variety is truly amazing, and these recipes will work well throughout the holidays.

    We’re particularly drawn to soup as a festive first course on Thanksgiving…it’s easy to make in advance for a crowd, fills ‘em up (helpful when Aunt Betty arrives with her posse!) and can be kept on a low simmer while you take care of other tasks. This elegant soup from Saveur is so pretty, with a hint of spice. Let the warmth fill you and your family with the spirit of Thanksgiving!

    Winter Squash and Apple Soup

     

    Ingredients:

    2 tbsp. olive oil
    1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
    2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1 tsp. ground turmeric
    ½ tsp. Chinese five-spice powder
    2 acorn squash (about 1¾ lb.), peeled, seeded, and cut into ½″ cubes
    2 tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and cut into ½″ cubes
    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    4 cups vegetable stock
    1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
    1 cup canola oil
    1 cup thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms
    6 tbsp. unsalted butter
    1 tsp. dried mint
    ½ tsp. ground cumin
    ½ tsp. paprika

    Yield: 6-8 servings

    Instructions:

    1. Heat olive oil in a 6-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion, and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Add ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add turmeric, five-spice powder, squash, apples, and salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add stock, and bring to a boil; cook, covered and stirring occasionally, until squash and apple are tender, about 15 minutes.

    2. Using an immersion blender or food processor, puree the soup and then return it to saucepan. Stir in the lime juice and keep warm.

    3. Meanwhile, heat canola oil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350°; add mushrooms, and fry until browned and crisp, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to paper towels to drain; set aside and reserve oil for another use. Wipe saucepan clean and add butter, mint, cumin, paprika, and salt and pepper; heat over medium heat, and cook, stirring, until melted and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

    4. To serve, ladle soup into bowls; drizzle each bowl with some of the spiced mint butter and top with some of the fried mushrooms.

    Photo 1: by AlphaTangoBravo/Adam Baker via Flickr.com
    Photo 2: by Todd Coleman via Saveur

     

  • How to Choose a Sustainable Lifestyle for your Pet

    Date: 2011.11.09 | Category: How Tos | Response: 0

    As we create a positive lifestyle for ourselves – ecological cleaning products, organic foods and all-natural products – we should remember our pets, too. Many of us can’t imagine our lives without our furry friends; they’re part of the family and we care for them like they’re “our own.” Just as there are affordable, chemical-free options for humans in practically every facet of our lives, there are also eco-friendly products for your pet’s every need.

    Diet plays a crucial role in your cat or dog’s overall health. Many pet foods on the market are poor-quality and filled with long lists of preservatives and pesticides. Organic pet food offers a host of benefits.  You can even bake your own treats!

    Because toys spend a great deal of time in good old Rover’s mouth shop for ones that are made from organic cotton, hemp or sustainable plastics. Equally important to your beloved pet is the indoor air quality of your home, because the most common types of cat litter are made of clay which gives off clay dust into the air, irritating both feline and human lungs. Luckily, there are a slew of eco-friendly litter alternatives. Also, consider replacing Whisker’s scratch post with a sustainable option made from recycled cardboard.

    You’ll also want to bathe your pets with products free of those chemicals that you avoid. And because ticks and fleas are often unavoidable, be sure to use an all-natural alternative to flea medications, free of pesticides and poisons.

    With beautiful coats and healthy lungs, they should wear sustainable threads, too! For instance, leashes and collars made from sustainably grown hemp and organic cotton are hypoallergenic, biodegradable and pesticide-free. Now you and your pet can live a healthy, sustainable and ‘tail-wagging’ lifestyle together!

    Photo by Victoria Everman, via life.gaiam.com

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