GREEN APPLE KITCHEN BLOG

Iced Chia Green Tea with Lemon

2010-06-09T19:49:00.009-04:00

The battle of the bulge is on my mind right now. As a huge fan of green tea - the anitoxidant rich, calorie free beverage and a new fan of chia - the super nutritious seed, it seemed like a perfect pairing for a healthy, refreshing and perhaps slimming drink!

Have you noticed that green tea extract seems to be in almost every weight loss supplement. Well, there's something to it. Studies have found that a key compound in green tea called EGCG (epigallacatechin gallate) benefits weight loss by helping the body burn fat. We're not talking huge drops here so don't go bananas. It seems to take at least 3 cups of green tea to "burn" less than 100 calories but it's still a boost and maybe we can kick it up with the chia.

Referred to as a "superfood"chia seeds are rich in protein, seriously loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, and supply B vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, copper and zinc- but it's the seriously water loving soluble fiber in chia that might help our cause. These seeds can hold more than 10 times their weight in water helping us to feel satisfied, stabilizing blood sugar levels and reducing cravings. Yeeha!

The Recipe:
4 cups green tea

1 lemon, juiced

2 Tablespoons chia seeds
Optional - sweetener

Directions:

Brew up 4 cups of organic green tea and chill (making it the night before and leaving it in the refrigerator might be a good way to do it).
After the tea has chilled add the freshly squeezed juice from one lemon.

Add the 2 Tablespoons of chia seeds and whisk.

Let sit at least 10 minutes before drinking.

Don't freak out, it's crazy looking !

Okay so this may be the first drink you have to chew but it's kind of fun and super healthy for only 25 calories a cup. It definitely can use some sweetening but be easy with it unless you're using something calorie free like Stevia . Keep in mind green tea has caffeine and drinking it late in the day can effect your sleep. Try sipping away at this between and before meals. Good luck, this is definitely a new adventure.

Asparagus - a Perfect Spring Time Vegetable

2010-06-02T13:36:00.008-04:00

For some reason, asparagus seems to be my go-to vegetable and right now it's in season! Asparagus, like most vegetables is low in calories, only 40 for a cup, a good source of protein and fiber and rich in Vitamins K, folate, A, C and Iron. Asparagus is also pretty simple to make; rinse, lop off some of the woodier ends and roast, steam, sautee or slice it super thin and serve raw. In the cooler months asparagus is delicious roasted on super high heat with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt and cooked until they get a bit crispy. Now that it's warmer the same effect can be achieved on the barbecue grill. It's also nice to steam them until they're just right, not too soft and not too hard and make delicious cold sides like garlic-sesame asparagus, or lemon-ginger asparagus, which hold up well for lunches and picnics. Cold, cooked asparagus is also a great addition to pasta and potato salads or even a green salad.

Klean Kanteen Safety Notice

2010-06-01T12:45:00.002-04:00

Klean Kanteen is recalling it's sports cap 2.0. If your Kanteen is topped with this cap please follow the directions below to send it back and receive a new one. Here's what the notice states.

Details
For safety reasons and in cooperation with US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Klean Kanteen is recalling ths Sports Cap 2.0. Klean Kanteen has received five consumer reports relating to the Sport Cap 2.0 breaking or cracking after being dropped, which could pose a potential choking or ingestion hazard. There have been no incidents of actual choking or ingestion reported. Klean Kanteen has developed a higher-impact version of the spout that remedies the potential hazard.

Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottles and other caps are not affected by this recall.

Return Procedure
1. Inspect the spout of your Sports Cap 2.0 to determine if it is the ersion being recalled (see online link below for images).
2. If the spout on your cap is the version being recalled discontinue use.
3. Contact Klean Kanteen to receive a new cap with the redesigned spout.
ONLINE at www.kleankanteen.com/safetynotice
PHONE at 1-877-456-9063

Five High Fiber Whole Foods

2010-05-26T11:26:00.015-04:00

The fiber message has been sent loud and clear. Everyone knows it's an important part of one's daily diet. You may even be aware of the conditions it's particulary beneficial for such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, constipation and obesity, but the problem is most of us aren't getting enough.

We should be shooting for 25 - 35 grams per day but studies show we're more typically coming in at 15 grams per day. It might be easier to just take some sort of powdered fiber supplement but I'm a food first kind of girl, and natural, whole foods that are rich in fiber can also offer vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other health promoting substances that we just shouldn't miss out on. So here are five, high fiber ,whole foods you might want to consider for a fiber boost with benefits.

BEANS. And lentils and split peas, all those gassy little devils are by far one of the best ways to get fiber in your diet. They even have the harder to find soluble fiber which helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels and lower blood cholesterol levels. A one cup serving supplies between 12 and 16 g of fiber getting you almost half way to your daily target.

SALBA. Salba is a white chia seed that is a serious nutritional power house. It's rich in plant based omega 3's, it's a great source of complete plant based protein, it's rich in potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium and antioxidants AND it provides 8 grams of fiber per 2 Tbsp serving. Sprinkle Salba onto your hot or cold breakfast cereal, add it to smoothies, toss it on your salad, even just eat a spoonful straight up but try to get it in.

RASPBERRIES. In a one cup serving, these delicious berries provide half your day's supply of vitamin C, are a good source of manganese, Vitamin K and magnesium and supply 8 tasty grams of fiber.

WINTER SQUASH. Pumpkin, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash you get the picture, all these delicious vegetable soffer plenty of vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, manganese and iron. A one cup portion of winter squash provides 6 - 9 grams of fiber. In months when these veggies aren't available fresh you can find them frozen or for pumpkin, canned, organic and unsweetened.

ARTICHOKE. One medium artichoke offers healthy amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, magnesium, potassium and manganese as well as an unusual amount of antioxidants with particular benefit to the liver. One cooked artichoke supplies about 7 grams of fiber. If eating a whole artichoke is not your thing, just get the hearts, cup's worth will give you even more of the beneficial fiber.

Add Quinoa To Your Grocery List

2010-05-19T18:25:00.005-04:00

It's time to give rice a rest and add a new super-food to your weekly menu.

Quinoa is a tiny little seed that cooks up and eats like a grain but with a lot more going for it.

It's quick cooking, low on the glycemic index, gluten free, easy to digest and a rare plant source of complete protein.

Quinoa is also nutrient packed offering plenty of manganese, magnesium, folate and iron.

Quinoa makes a nutritious hot breakfast cereal, just top with fresh fruit: add veggies, nuts and broth to make a yummy pilaf or add crunchy diced vegetables and fresh herbs for a delicious salad.

To prepare quinoa bring two parts water to a boil add one part quinoa, lower to a simmer, cover and cook for 14- 18 minutes.

Great Green Hostess Gifts

2009-12-11T14:23:00.023-05:00

You never want to walk in empty handed for a holiday get-together but instead of handing over yet another bottle of wine, why not give something a little different, something a little greener.

To make it really easy, we picked out 5 great, green gifts that will impress your hosts with your thoughfullness and won't crush your wallet!

Bamboo Spreaders- a set of 4 made from organically grown bamboo, they can be used to spread dips, cheeses or tapenades.

Glass Stra ws- a set of 4 with each having a different colored decoration makes it easy to slurp down punch, hot cider or eggnog and everyone knows which glass is theirs by their way cool straw.

Bamboo Kitchen Towels- these towels are high end, absorbent and earth friendly and come in some beautiful colors, the red is perfect for the holidays!

Soy Kitchen Candles- scented in cranberry spice, the perfect scent for the season.

Organic Kitchen Soap Bars- Your host will be able to wash up at the kitchen sink with an organic soap bar that is scented only with essenial oils.

The Wide Kanteens are In

2009-10-06T18:27:00.006-04:00

The new "wide" kanteens have arrived and we love their new look! Of course the bottle is still 18/8 stainless steel but the new "wide" bottles even have a stainless inner cap so no plastic ever touches your beverage. The hip new bottle design has a wide mouth for easy filling and pouring and is super easy to clean. This bottle really stands out from the crowd.

Another excellent new design form klean kanteen is the Sports Cap 2.0 for the "classic kanteens". This new sports cap has an easy flow, a sleeker one piece design and no longer makes weird chirping sounds when you drink.

Ginger MoTeato- Iced White Tea with Ginger, Lime and Mint

2009-07-11T18:38:00.003-04:00

Lime and mint are the delicious flavorings to the popular cocktail the Mojito. Inspired by those flavors and with the addition of fresh ginger for a little extra bite, this is one refreshing summer brew and it's healthy too. White tea is the most antioxidant rich of the tea leaves so drink up and enjoy!

Ingredients:
8 cups of cold water
3 inch piece of fresh ginger root finely sliced
¼ cup packed fresh mint leaves plus more for garnish
3 Tbsps loose leaf White Tea of 9 white tea bags
½ cup fresh lime juice (approximately 3 medium limes) plus a few more limes for garnish
Agave nectar to taste

Directions:

- Place the 8 cups of cold water and ginger in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Turn the heat off. Add the white tea and the mint. If not using tea bags we recommend a large tea ball.
- Steep the tea for 5 minutes and remove the tea ball or bags.
- Let sit for one hour to cool.
- Strain the ginger and mint from the tea and place in a pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This can be done a day or two in advance.
- To serve, fill tall glasses with ice add throw in some fresh mint leaves and lime slices, fill with the tea. Try drinking it with a glass straw!
- Let everyone sweeten to taste with agave nectar or their choice of sweetener.

Notes:
- This drink comes to life with the sweetener so don’t be afraid if you don’t care for it straight up, you’ll love it when it’s iced up and sweetened.
- A 12 ounce iced filled glass of Ginger MoTeato was sweetened with two – three teaspoons of Agave. If you would like to sweeten the whole pitcher, start with ¼ cup of sweetener and then add by the Tablespoon to get it just right.

Al Roker is Living Greener

2009-06-02T17:28:00.009-04:00

Al Roker is one of the hosts of NBC's Today Show. Although he's on way to early for me to watch on a regular basis, I've always been a big fan. Luckily, I do get to catch a glimpse of him now and then in the neighborhood. The other day I ran into the supermarket and he was picking up a few groceries. I was happily surprised to see that he was carrying his own reuseable bag. After he was rung up, he took his few items threw them in his bag and off he went. Al Roker is living greener and setting an example for the rest of us. If a busy man like that can take the time to grab a bag before heading out the door, can't we? Thanks Al for caring about our planet.

Banboo Kitchen Towels

2009-05-15T19:24:00.005-04:00

We've been waiting for these towels for months and they're finally here- soft bamboo towels in beautiful colors we know you'll love.

We offer other fantastic kitchen towels like the organic European hand knit hemp and the 100% organic cotton but they are only available in white and beige and sometimes you just want a little color. Now with these new bamboo kitchen towels we can offer an earth friendly option with a little more pizzaz! They come in seven delicious colors; tangerine, milk, lemon, cream, tomato, chocolate and kiwi, how could you resist? Our new bamboo towels are generously sized, super absorbent, quick drying, natural bacteria and odor fighters, machine washable and soft to the touch!

Grow Some Grass!

2009-04-17T11:10:00.013-04:00

We've just started carrying organic wheat grass seeds! Yes, you can use them to make a juice shot of the magical elixir, sprout them to make your own super- healthy bread, or finally have a fresh plant your pets are welcome to chew but we just love decorating wih the stuff. How can a little patch of fresh grass, not make you smile? It looks absolutely adorable grown in an old vintage cheese box or vintage cup and saucer. The best part is it's so easy to grow and and in just a few days you have a beautiful green patch of grass. What are you waiting for?

To grow the grass seed, just soak the seeds for 8 hours, place them in a solid layer on top of the soil then water with a spray bottle twice a day. Once the grass is 7 inches tall you can cut it down to an inch and watch it grow again. It's simple, and fun for the whole family!

Broccoli Sprouts Fight Stomach Illness

2009-04-07T14:09:00.005-04:00

New research shows broccoli sprouts might keep stomach illness at bay. A small study by Japanese researchers found that people who ate 2.5 ounces of baby broccoli daily over two months had increased protection from Helicobacter pylori and other gastric problems, including ulcers and stomach cancer. Broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphane, a natural biochemical that triggers production of enzymes in the gut that protect against inflammation and DNA-damaging chemicals. Reuters.

Vegighetti

2009-03-20T20:29:00.008-04:00

Vegighetti is a simple, quick and delicious vegetable side dish. Use a julienne slicer to make the thin spaghetti like strands of the vegetables.

Ingredients:
1 medium green zucchini
1 medium yellow summer squash
1 medium carrot
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
pinch of red pepper flakes
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Use your julienne slicer to make thin strands of the zucchini, yellow squash and carrot. Set aside.

In a skillet over medium heat, saute garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil until you can smell the garlic, less than a minute.

Add the zucchini, summer squash and carrot and saute until just tender, about three minutes.

Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground pepper and serve.

Makes approximately 4 half cup servings.

Nutrition info: Calories 48, Carb, 4g, Fat 4g, Protein 1g, Fiber 1g, Vitamin C 21%

Vintage Cheese Boxes Rock!

2009-03-10T16:54:00.026-04:00

Here at Green Apple Kitchen we're thrilled when we can offer a fantastic new kitchen item, especially if it's healthy and "green" but nothing gets us more excited than giving new life to a little piece of our past. One of our favorite oldies but goodies are the wooden boxes cheese used to come in. There are 2, 3 and 5 pound boxes with terrific old-fashioned type and graphics that we find utterly charming.

So what can you do with them, you ask. Well, they can be used as planters for your kitchen herbs (line them first). They can store your farmers market hall of apples.. They can keep your cabinets tidy by storing teas, and spices. They can help organize a drawer by storing your favorite kitchen gadgets in them. Why not keep the napkins and the salt and pepper you use every day in one so it looks cute on your kitchen table but quickly can be stored away in one swoop when not needed. Of course we could go on and on but you get the idea.
We try to always keep plenty on hand, you can find them under Cheese boxes in our Vintage Kitchen Collectibles section of the website.

3 New Earth Friendly Sponges from Twist

2009-02-04T15:43:00.010-05:00

We're really excited about the new sponges from Twist. All three have a natural cellulose sponge center but are wrapped in different earth friendly, bio-degradeable wrappers. For your least yucky pile of dishes whip out the "Ravioli" scrubby made from hemp burlap. Have a bit of a sticky mess going, then it's time for the loofah scrubby made from all natural loofah. When it's time for the big guns, the adorable dish "dumpling" made from agave will blast through the toughest grime while not scratching or hurting your dishes, glasses, pots or pans. These natural fibers feel great in your hand and look rather cute hanging out at your kitchen sink!

Strawberry, Banana, Almond, Whole Food Smoothie

2009-01-21T15:04:00.006-05:00

Give your new Glass Smoothie Straw a workout with this delicious easy to make smoothie. Just a few ingredients swirled in your blender will create a wonderful light breakfast or anytime pick me up. This smoothie also packs a nutritional punch with more than 90% of your days requirement for vitamin C, more than 20% of your days supply of manganese, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, B6 and ribloflavin and 8% of your days supply of iron and calcium. Woohoo!

Ingredients:
¼ cup almonds
1/2 cup strawberries
1 ripe banana
½ cup cold water
½ cup ice

Instruction: Toss the almonds in the blender alone and blend a minute. Then add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and drink with your glass smoothie straw.

Nutrition Information:
Calories 266, Protein 7g, Fat 12g, Carbohydrate 36 g, Fiber 7g

GLASS STRAWS

2009-01-21T14:43:00.006-05:00

We‘re really excited about our new line of earth- friendly glass straws. They’re super strong, they can slurp up both cold and hot drinks. they feel great in your mouth and they even make really cool sounds when you stir, especially if there’s ice in your glass!

The sipper straw is a bit shorter and has the smallest opening of the three sizes. This one requires a little suction on your part and is perfect for anything you want to sip slowly like wine and cocktails hot tea or coffee.

The drinking straw flows easily and is perfect for everyday use of your favorite beverages such as iced tea, lemonade or juices.

The smoothie straw has the largest opening, it’s big, and is best used for thick drinks like smoothies and shakes.

Our sipper set of 4 is perfect for entertaining because each straw has a different colored glass dot on it, so your company can always find their glass!

New Insulated Tote for Klean Kanteen

2008-03-26T16:12:00.004-04:00

Now you can keep the beverage in your Klean Kanteen cooler longer with our new insulated totes. They're made from neoprene rubber, the durable, stretchy wetsuit material and come in green or black. Machine washable.

Organic Linen Reusable Shopping Bags

2008-03-14T16:32:00.003-04:00

The idea of taking your own shopping bag with you each time you go to the store is a great one and will dramatically cut back on plastic bag consumption but why buy a bag made from synthetic fabrics when there are strong, durable and stylish organic ones. At Green Apple Kitchen we have a selection of reusable shopping bags made from organic materials such as hemp, bamboo and cotton and this is our newest addition- organic linen. Linen is made from the flax plant and is said to be the strongest of the vegetable fibers. You'll feel condfident that your groceries will be held securely in this bag!

Fruit and Veggie Carver

2008-02-27T16:18:00.007-05:00

We've just added a fun new product to our store called the Fruit and Veggie Carver. It turns simple fruit and veggies, like apples, pears, cucumbers, squash, mini pumpkins etc into centerpieces. It's also made of stainless steel, so it's durable and earth friendly. With a simple twist you can make a candle holder for tea candles or votives, a vase for flowers, a serving piece to hold your cut veggies strips, dip, or melted chocolate. The possibilities are endless and sure to be attention getters. So go ahead and play with your food!

Twist - Earth Friendly Sponges

2008-02-19T16:17:00.003-05:00

We're pretty excited about these new kitchen sponges from Twist. You may have already seen the adorable loofah sponges we carry from Loofah-art that are absolutely fantastic, but a few people (very serious people) found them a little too cutesy for their taste.
These new Twist sponges solve that problem with their hip and functional design. There are four different styles, a Naked Sponge (just cellulose from a renewable tree farm), a dual sided Loofah Sponge (cellulose one side and natural loofah for scrubbing on the other), a Euro Sponge (a new aponge design) and the European Sponge Cloth (the result of a love affair between a paper towel and a sponge, a sort of updated handi-wipe).

Try them out, you're going to love them.

The International Gift Fair- Getting Greener

2008-02-12T14:03:00.003-05:00

Last weekend we attended the International Gift Fair at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City. We're always looking for great new kitchen products to add to our store. Although several things caught our eye, what's really exciting is seeing more and more products that are Fair Trade, organic, and earth friendly in general. Even companies who sell bags, boxes and packaging supplies now offer recycled and "greener" options.

Visit Us at Green Flea this Sunday

2008-02-02T18:43:00.002-05:00

If you're in New York City, visit us at the Greenflea this Sunday from 10 - 5 PM at Columbus Avenue and West 77th Street. We'll be promoting our fantastic kitchen products and spreading the word on healthier living. Don't worry you'll have plenty of time to get back home and watch the NEW YORK Giants win the Super Bowl!

Classic Swiss Peeler Still Going Strong

2008-01-18T19:35:00.001-05:00

Weve just added this Swiss Peeler to our stiainless steel collection of kitchen tools. And not because it's new and edgy but because it's a quality tool that might last you a life time. I've been using this same peeler several times a week for over 15 years and it's still razor sharp! And yes, I have others but this is the one I reach for time and time again, it's just comfortable in the hand and easy to use. If you're in the market for a peeler this is the one to get!