Happy Independence Day!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Independence Day

Calls for Pool Time!

It's almost the Fourth of July. A day when families gather to celebrate our independence. We eat, we drink, we enjoy the sun and the water. Here at Organic Journey Online, we just want to remind you to celebrate safely. Designate a DD if you'll be enjoying Caledonian Promise Organic Beer. Wear your PABA-free, paraben-free sunscreen, and reapply regularly throughout the day. And don't forget the hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes and delicate facial skin.

Keep a close eye on swimmers, especially the youngsters. Even my pups are required to swim with supervision. Tanner knows he's supposed to wait permission to go in the pool. Silly boy, he will sit at the edge, with his paws dangling in, watching me inside, until I give him the signal.

If you're looking for recipes for a cookout with friends, check out:

• Hankering for a Healthy Hamburger
• Real Southern Sweet Tea and an Arnold Palmer: Great cookout beverages
• Lazy Cook's Holiday Organic Cookout
• Organic London Broil and Twice Baked Potatoes
  
  

Stay cool and enjoy your family's day together. See you next week.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Toni and Xena Enjoy

a Dip in the Pool

Don't forget the sunscreen, if you're like Toni. She burns easily.

Want to Get Greener? Save Money with Tax Credits

Tax credits for homeowners are looking pretty good for 2009 and 2010. For instance, you can take a 30 percent tax credit, up to $1,500, when you install energy efficient home equipment such as windows, doors, solar, roofs, air conditioners, and other items. For details, visit Energy Star Tax Credits.

Solar energy systems installed in Florida can qualify for up to $20,000 in rebates, depending on the wattage. You have until June 30, 2010 to make these installations, but don't put it off. If you're interested in taking advantage of this, understand that last minute shoppers will find providers busier and prices likely will be higher as the deadline grows nearer. Rebates are also available for pool and water heaters. More information can be found at Florida Climate. To locate this the easy way, type in "solar energy incentives" in the search box.

Florida also has federal funding for weatherization, which is available to low income families for repairs, air conditioners, insulation and water heaters. Contact your county office for details on requirements, which may vary by county. I'd like to hear any success stories. You can email me at CarrieLeaJohnson@gmail.com

Source: Sun Sentinel.com

Cuddly Puppies are Good Therapy

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Tanner Enjoys Snuggling with Tiffany

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Sometimes Tanner Gets a Bit too Comfortable!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Falling Asleep in this Position Seems Impossible

Tanner Clearly Trusts Tiffany!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver Likes to Cuddle

Just Like a Kitten

Pets are not just enjoyable companions. Scientific evidence has shown many health benefits of contact with pets. Here's just a few of the many resources you might be interested in:

• Pet Therapy at Holistic Online
• The Delta Society: Human-Animal Health Connection
• Love on a Leash
• Happy Tails Pets

For more information on dogs and all things about them, I invite you to visit my All Things Dog Blog, where I talk dogs 24/7. Every post is plastered with photos to enrich the topic of the day. Search your question or area of interest at the top, or drop me an email and perhaps I can help: LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com . Hope to hear from you!

Thursday's Green Tip of the Day Preview

Tomorrow I'll be talking tax credits, every body's topic of interest. If you have appliances to replace or improvements to make in your home, there are probably tax credits to help you reduce the cost. That's what this post is about. Check in tomorrow for details and learn what you can do to save money, while improving the value of your home.

Hankering for a Healthier Hamburger

Before my son left for his dream internship in New Zealand, we had the pleasure of a week's visit from he and his girlfriend. My biggest challenge in having him home is always feeding him. With an unending appetite, my 6' 3" tall environmental scientist can eat like nobody's business.

Well, you know what they say, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Brent has been learning to cook, and is looking forward to living in an apartment during his last year of college, so that he can cook his own food--finally. No more cafeteria food.

The following recipe is one I snagged, while watching him prepare hamburgers, that turned out to be mouthwateringly delicious. I have to admit, though, that whenever I make soups, stews, or ground beef recipes, I always add in some unseen ingredients that supplement the nutritional value of the meal. Hamburgers are no different than meatloaf or chicken soup. The result is a much more healthy hamburger, making it a bit more pleasing to those of us who avoid too much beef in our diets.

A Healthier Hamburger

• 1 lb. Organic Ground Chuck, lowest fat content available
• 6 large cloves of Organic Garlic, minced or crushed
• 3 Tablespoons of Fiber powder (such as Benefiber)
• 1 Tablespoon Organic Barbeque Sauce
• 1 Organic Egg
• 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Organic Ground Pepper
• Sliced Organic Provolone Cheese (much better than American!)
• Hamburger buns, Organic if available (we like Kaisers)
• Organic toppings and condiments as desired: ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickles, onions, tomatoes and lettuce

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly and create 4-5 patties. Cover and refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavors to blend. Grill as usual, adding cheese at the end. Serve on toasted buns.

Like them? Serve these babies on July 4th and you'll be everyone's favorite cookout host. Don't forget to make time for yourself to enjoy your guests. Ask everyone to bring a side dish and you'll be set. Just add beverages and lots of ice.

Need some drink recipes? I recently posted Southern Sweet Tea and Organic Lemonade. These are the perfect accompaniments to Organic Caledonian Golden Promise Beer. Remember...You gotta keep the guys happy too. Enjoy!

If you're looking for some more creative cookout specialties, check this out:

Woofing Wednesday's Preview

While tomorrow's post is hardly green or organic, it certainly does address the health benefits of owning a pet. In full illustration, I'll show and tell you some of the reasons that pets can enrich your life and enhance your health. I hope you'll join me for "Cuddly Puppies" tomorrow.

I'm Celebrating National Iced Tea Month in June

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Southern Sweet Tea in the Making

Having lived 11 years in Charlotte, North Carolina, I became a fan of Southern sweet iced tea. There's just no going back to instant tea after you've enjoyed the real thing. Fortunately, I got a native friend from the "old South" to teach me the tricks to getting that deep South flavor in your sweet tea.


If you're not a sweet tea drinker, I totally understand and you can move along. This post is devoted to the art of making Southern sweet tea the way folks in the Carolinas enjoy it--fresh brewed, bold tasting and sweetened at just the right time in the steeping process. Oh, and don't forget to add the lemon. Sounds nit picky, but the lemon is like icing on the cake. Here goes:


Mom's Sweet Tea (that's what my kids call it when they come home to visit)

(makes 1 pitcher=1/2 gallon=2 quarts)

Ingredients:

• 1 quart filtered water, boiling
  
• 2 family sized Luzianne Iced Tea bags
  
• 2/3 Cup Organic Sugar
  
• 1 quart filtered water, room temperature
  
• Organic Lemon slices or wedges
  
• Ice cubes, made with filtered water
  

Instructions:

1. Pour 1 quart boiling water over 2 tea bags in a heat-resistant glass container. Time out here for a quality control tip: (A) I know this is an organic blog, but most of the organic teas I have tried just did not make the quintessential Southern Sweet Tea. The closest I have found was an English Breakfast blend, so try that if you're a purist. (B) No plastic containers--heating plastic releases toxins into your tea. Bad!
2. Allow tea to steep about 10-15 minutes. A couple of minutes after adding the water to the tea bags, add sugar and stir carefully, so as not to bust the tea bags. Adding the sugar while the water is still hot immeasurably changes the flavor. This is the KEY to the special taste of Southern Sweet tea.
3. When fully steeped, remove 1 tea bag, squeeze its liquid back into the container, and pour tea into your pitcher (1/2 gallon size).
4. Place the remaining tea bag in the pitcher until it is cool; then remove it and go to step 5.
5. Tip: Don't forget that those tea bags can go into your compost.
6. Add 1 full quart of room temperature filtered water to the steeped tea and stir to mix.
7. Quality control tip: Don't skimp with tap water and don't use chilled water. Trust me; it will taste different.
8. More quality control tips: (A) When serving tea that is still warm, use an overfilled glass of ice, as much of it will melt when you pour the tea over it. (B) Make the tea just a bit stronger to compensate for the melted ice, which will water your tea down a bit. Do this by steeping an extra 5 minutes.
9. Add your lemon to the top of the ice before you fill the glass. Serve with a smile--your Southern hospitality has arrived.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Southern Sweet Tea--Perfect!

Ahh! There's nothing better on a hot Summer day. Even so, you can try my husband's second favorite drink, made with the tea recipe above. An Arnold Palmer is Orlando's specialty. It seems that they serve it nearly everywhere around this area--especially the golf course restaurants. I wonder why?

An Arnold Palmer is 1/2 Iced Tea and 1/2 Lemonade. Here's how I make my homemade organic lemonade. If you stop by most any day, I'll have a pitcher in the fridge. It's a staple at our house.

Arnold Palmer

Ingredients:

• 1/3 Cup Organic Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed does taste better, but bottled organic lemon juice works too; just don't resort to reconstituted--yuck!)
  
• 2/3 Cup Organic Sugar
  
• 2 Quarts Filtered Water
  

Mix ingredients together until well mixed and serve over ice. Add a lemon slice for a little extra ambiance, when serving guests. Enjoy!

One additional note: If you're looking for good sweet tea in Florida, good luck. There are few places to find Southern sweet tea that tastes like the Carolinas. Your best bet is Sonny's Real Pit Barbeque. Be sure to tell them I sent you.

Tuesday's Commercial Preview

With Independence Day just around the corner, cookouts and cold beverages are on every cook's mind. Today's post was a start. I hope you'll take time to visit on Tuesday when I share a recipe for a wonderful organic hamburger that will melt in your mouth with magnificent flavor. You simply cannot miss this one: "Hankering for a Healthy Hamburger."

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: One Family's Year of Eating Locally Produced Food

For me, the enjoyment of this delightful narrative, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, about a family who commits to eating only locally produced foods, was in the details. While I have written two other reviews of the book for other blogs, the review you will find here is another animal entirely—no pun intended.

I loved reading the turkey sex stories (seriously!) and learning about how agribusiness has taken over the seed industry and the problems they have caused. I enjoyed learning more about CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations, where animals are raised without grazing or seeing sunlight), and their appalling use of antibiotics to kill the inherent bacteria created within these facilities.

Through Kingsolver’s story of zealous zucchini and not enough fruit, I came to appreciate why food costs so much at market. Learning that there is a label for my abstinence from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was absolutely exciting. I can now proudly say I am fructose celibate. Sounds kinky, huh?!! Kingsolver’s writing style enthralled me. And listening to her read her own book on CD made it even better. Her voice brought a calm, soft-spoken strength to the issues; she reminded me of a female Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer. I really think these two should meet. Despite their entirely different fields, they both endeavor to bring a difficult message to the masses—one that involves a belief system.




While I have long known that small farmers struggle, Kingsolver’s stories drove this reality home, with her descriptions of poultry harvesting day and mountains of zucchini to find a home for. The challenges vary with each day and each task, and these farmers clearly do not do it for the money.

In as much as I write about the dangers of pesticide use, I had never thought about the collateral animal death from agricultural pesticides. Birds, rodents and rabbits are all at risk in farming areas, with pesticides in the air, land, water, and on the plants and vegetables that they often steal in the night. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle added a whole new level to my commitment to organic foods.

A wonderfully inspiring book, Kingsolver and her family craft an educational, yet charming snapshot of their year as a Virginia farm family. While she professes not to be a purist, she eloquently presents a viable lifestyle for those who might wish to take a crack at producing and/or living off their locally available foods. A must-read for anyone interested in food production, health or limiting their oil usage, her charming family narrative will open your mind to the possibility of not living a life dependent on processed foods from the global marketplace.


Web Resources at the Animal, Vegetable, Miracle website

Can't wait to read it? You can order from my site. In just a couple of minutes it will be on its way to you. Go ahead. You'll love it!

Woofing Wednesday Has Gone to the Dogs!

Nah! The dogs are just stepping aside for a minute while I wish my husband of 31 years a Happy Anniversary. At a recent teen event, we took a turn in the photo booth, just like the rest of the teen couples, and these two pix caught my eye. What a hoot to be young again for just a few seconds!

Caught in a kiss

Young Love is Still Here

And We Can Still Laugh at Ourselves!

Two years after we began our organic journey, he hasn't tossed me out yet. My cancer rechecks continue to be positive, and my attitude and energy level are good. No wonder; I have a terrific husband.

The dogs are glad we've gone green, too. Here they are, all dressed in their green bandanas, wishing all of you a continued green life. You can read more about their greener life at All Things Dog Blog. Our goal may not be to live off the grid, but we are succeeding in living a lighter shade of green. It's a start.

Xena, Tanner and Oliver

Enjoying their Organic Journey

Speaking of going to the dogs, I have to share Xena's good news too. More than a year ago she had a diagnosis of liver cancer, and was given a couple of months to live. Without giving up hope, I put her on organic dog food and treats and have been feeding her organic carrots for snacks. According to my reading, carrots have a cleansing effect on the liver, which seemed to me to be a positive thing. She's still as energetic and playful as ever, more than a year after her bad news. No symptoms or problems. I'm simply enjoying her happy days.

So, when Real Age, a website that evaluates your body's actual age in terms of wear and tear, started their Dog Age evaluation...well, I just had to put Xena's stats in and see how she turned up. She is 12-1/2 years old, which puts her at nearly 90 in human years. Her Dog Age score? 48.1! No wonder she still enjoys her wrestling matches with Tanner.

I encourage you to check out Real Age for yourself, and try the Dog Age test for your Fido or Fifi. It's great input, as they give you an analysis that explains what factors go into your positive and negative scoring areas. It's quite useful information, and well worth the time. Try it. Just click the links and you'll be on your way.

Can You Spare Two Minutes to Help Save the Polar Bears?

Can you imagine a world without Polar Bears? They would disappear not only from the wild, but also from toy stores, storybooks, Sea World gift shops, zoos, and much more, while causing disruption to the Arctic food chain, among other disasters. Their majestic beauty would sorely be missed.

Biogems and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are trying to make a difference. Global warming is shrinking our polar ice cap, limiting the environment for polar bears, who need much territory to survive. You can help. Do your part by signing this Petition for Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar. If enough of us sign it, we will send a powerful message to President Obama that the Polar Bears matter. Once again, imagine a world without a Polar Bear. Let your conscience do the rest.

Want to learn more? Check out this video:

Save Money with Recycled Aluminum Foil

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

Recycled Aluminum Foil Rocks!

Way to go Reynolds! They finally got it right. They've introduced a recycled version of aluminum foil. When I first heard about this, my initial thought was that it would likely be more expensive. I was concerned that this would diminish sales.

But, surprise! This new product is actually considerably less expensive than the original version. I paid $1.40 less per box for the Recycled Aluminum foil pictured above, than the price of the original foil at the same store on the same day. That's great news for those of us who would like to do our part to use more recycled products.

I was also delighted to find it at my local traditional supermarket, making it more likely that the cost would be less than if I purchase it at an organic market, where prices tend to run a bit higher. I suppose this is mostly due to the larger volumes that supermarket chains are able to purchase. Their bigger purchasing power gives them more leverage for discounts and cheaper shipping costs per item.

Whatever the reason, it's all good news for consumers. Let me know what you think of this new product if you try it. As always, I encourage comments at the end of each post, where you can have your say on most anything I talk about. Feel free to chime in. Just click the COMMENTS link next to the little envelope icon below this post.

Lookie here! See what I found at Amazon? I guess we do have options. Multipacks are available also, at a savings per box, so if you're not into supporting the big companies, this could be your ticket.

Teflon Alternatives

It seems that with each passing year we learn more about the health dangers of our cookware. Aluminum is linked to Alzheimer's and now Teflon has a host of concerns. You can read about this at my recent post, Teflon Terror!





In order to provide you with some alternatives, I'm bringing you a few tidbits of possibilities. I wish there were more. As much as I have read and heard nothing problematic about stainless steel, we all hate cooking with it. Nonstick is so much easier to cleanup that we have now been spoiled, destined to wander the Earth in search of an alternative to Teflon. Pristine Planet has some nice Eco-friendly options. Check it out. Also, I have heard and am checking on a new line from Cuisinart. I'll get back to you on that.

I've been cooking with a cast iron skillet for many years. Once seasoned, or broken in properly (just some oil rubdowns and a few uses) the cleanup of a cast iron skillet is not nearly as disgusting as it appears. Actually, a quick soak in hot, soapy water will do the trick for everything I cook.

The other benefit is that most cast iron cookware can also go in your oven. This gives you much more flexibility, and requires less storage space.

Granted, cast iron is heavy and not as glamorous looking as the beautiful Calphalon cookware we find in kitchen superstores. However, in my humble opinion, Calphalon could stand to go on a diet, if it doesn't want to be compared to cast iron. Have you ever lifted their large saucepan? Bring a hand truck if you decide to buy a set of this stuff.

Consider this. Cast iron cookware has been found to leave small residues of iron in our foods, small enough to be considered a mineral enrichment. Reports I've read over the years gave glowing kudos to these old fashioned pans that we love to hate and hate to love. Yet, we often fail to consider the nutritional and health consequences as quickly as we dismiss these darlings for their less desirable appearance. Why has some company not yet made cast iron with a beautiful red exterior of ceramic? Maybe I have a business idea here. Would you buy them if they were pretty?

Bad news. Or good news, depending on your vantage point. I'm too late. There are already red ceramic-coated, cast iron skillets on the market. A note to my family: these babies are on my wish list...hint, hint, wink wink! Check it out: