Green Options » thanksgiving http://greenoptions.com/tag/thanksgiving Posts tagged 'thanksgiving' Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:52:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Happy Thanksgiving: Turkey Facts as a Tribute to Those who Gave their Lives for our Stomachs http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/11/25/happy-thanksgiving-turkey-facts-as-a-tribute-to-those-who-gave-their-lives-for-our-stomachs/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/11/25/happy-thanksgiving-turkey-facts-as-a-tribute-to-those-who-gave-their-lives-for-our-stomachs/#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:52:21 +0000 Daniel Hohler http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/11/25/happy-thanksgiving-turkey-facts-as-a-tribute-to-those-who-gave-their-lives-for-our-stomachs/

Whether you are eating turkey or tofurkey this Thanksgiving, you cannot deny the great sacrifice that turkeys are making to fill dinner plates across the nation. I figured I would honor their sacrifice here on the eve of thanksgiving, with some fun turkey facts.

  • More than 45 million turkeys are eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving (one sixth of all turkeys sold in the U.S. each year). American per capita consumption of turkeys has soared from 8.3 pounds in 1975 to 18.5 pounds in 1997. Ten years later, the number has dropped slightly in 2007 to 17.5 pounds (more tofurkey?)

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/11/25/happy-thanksgiving-turkey-facts-as-a-tribute-to-those-who-gave-their-lives-for-our-stomachs/feed/ Holiday Binge Might Alter Gut Microbes http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/21/holiday-binge-might-alter-gut-microbes/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/21/holiday-binge-might-alter-gut-microbes/#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:45:51 +0000 Rachel Shulman http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/21/holiday-binge-might-alter-gut-microbes/ Overeating on holidays like Thanksgiving is more than acceptable in our culture - it’s expected.

Why not binge on mashed potatoes, gravy, and pecan pie?  Thanksgiving only comes once a year, after all.  Sure, you might gain a few pounds over the holiday season, but you have until New Year’s to worry about those.

New research suggests that the holiday binge might have a less visible effect than the extra weight around your midsection.  Switching from a healthy diet to one high in fat and sugar - even for just a day - might allow obesity-linked microbes to dominate the communities of microorganisms found in your gut.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/21/holiday-binge-might-alter-gut-microbes/feed/ Savoring Gratitude: Three Tips toward Thanksgiving Appreciation http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/19/savoring-gratitude-three-tips-toward-thanksgiving-appreciation/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/19/savoring-gratitude-three-tips-toward-thanksgiving-appreciation/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:28:34 +0000 Lisa Kivirist http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/19/savoring-gratitude-three-tips-toward-thanksgiving-appreciation/ As we head into the Thanksgiving season, all eyes (and mouths) fixate on that key holiday ingredient:  food.  From turkeys to pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving gifts us with a list of seasonal traditions that celebrate our love for good food.  While these all rank important holiday elements, let’s not miss the key ingredient rooted in the inherent concept of Thanksgiving:  gratitude.

A mindset of green gratitude emphasizes positive abundance, relishing the glass half full perspective.  An important concept to keep on the front burner, especially as tanking economies fuel table conversations that tend to serve up sentiments of fear, scarcity and deprivation.

Add a dash of green reflection and gratitude to your Thanksgiving table by throwing these three questions on eating and drinking better into the conversation mix:

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/19/savoring-gratitude-three-tips-toward-thanksgiving-appreciation/feed/ Holidaze- 5 Tips to Ward Off Holiday Weight Gain This Year http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/12/holidaze-5-tips-to-ward-off-holiday-weight-gain-this-year/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/12/holidaze-5-tips-to-ward-off-holiday-weight-gain-this-year/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:01 +0000 Rachel Venokur-Clark http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/12/holidaze-5-tips-to-ward-off-holiday-weight-gain-this-year/ The holiday season is a time to celebrate with family and friends. Unfortunately, for many it also becomes a time for over-eating and weight gain. According to the National Institutes of Health, holiday eating can result in an extra pound or two every year. Over a lifetime, holiday weight gain can really add up. The holidays don’t have to mean gaining weight. Focus on a healthy balance of food, smart choices, activity, and fun. By implementing a few simple tips you can stay healthy through the holiday season.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/12/holidaze-5-tips-to-ward-off-holiday-weight-gain-this-year/feed/ Thanksgiving Golden Beet, Yam and Apple Fall Salad with Cranberry Dressing http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/11/thanksgiving-golden-beet-yam-and-apple-fall-salad-with-cranberry-dressing/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/11/thanksgiving-golden-beet-yam-and-apple-fall-salad-with-cranberry-dressing/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:26:10 +0000 Lucille Chi http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/11/thanksgiving-golden-beet-yam-and-apple-fall-salad-with-cranberry-dressing/

Fall salads are as bright and colorful as the falling leaves outside now. I hope you’ll try this easy fresh beet, apple and yam salad with cranberry dressing.

The recipe is simple. First boil and roast the beets and yams. Then let cool, slice some organic apples and the golden beets together with the yams or sweet potatoes. Cranberry vinaigrette adds a delightful tang to this side dish.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/11/thanksgiving-golden-beet-yam-and-apple-fall-salad-with-cranberry-dressing/feed/ 7 Odd Food-for-Fuel Solutions http://gas2.org/2009/09/07/7-odd-food-for-fuel-solutions/ http://gas2.org/2009/09/07/7-odd-food-for-fuel-solutions/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:11:08 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2009/09/07/7-odd-food-for-fuel-solutions/ Using food as a resource in biofuel production is one of the biggest mistakes our country could make. And while we all shake our heads at the idea of corn ethanol…what about using turkey innards? Or Mountain Dew for that matter.

Shaq Wants Your Leftover Beer and Wine for Making Ethanol

First, who ever has leftover alcohol except maybe these guys? The Shaq-backed MicroFueler is a 250-gallon tank for organic feedstock, such as waste wine and beer, that converts it into pure ethanol. It also doubles as a fuel pump and the only waste product is distilled water.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/09/07/7-odd-food-for-fuel-solutions/feed/ The True Thanksgiving Day History: Thank Journalism, not Pilgrims http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/29/the-true-thanksgiving-origin-thank-journalism-not-pilgrims/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/29/the-true-thanksgiving-origin-thank-journalism-not-pilgrims/#comments Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:04:44 +0000 Brian Liloia http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/29/the-true-thanksgiving-origin-thank-journalism-not-pilgrims/

As you recover from your day of Thanksgiving feasting, you might be curious as to whom you should really thank for your day off from work or school day of celebration. There are many stories, myths, and misinformation surrounding Thanksgiving history. Equally significant are the many strong emotions and opinions evoked this holiday, including everything from the feel-good and sense of hope, to doubt and downright condemnation of the infamous feasting day.

But there’s a little-known truth about Thanksgiving that you may not realize. The real reason we celebrate the fourth Thursday of every November as “Thanksgiving” is because of a journalist, not the pilgrims.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/29/the-true-thanksgiving-origin-thank-journalism-not-pilgrims/feed/ Appetite for Gratitude: Three Questions to Express Green Thanks this Thanksgiving http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/27/appetite-for-gratitude-three-questions-to-express-green-thanks-this-thanksgiving/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/27/appetite-for-gratitude-three-questions-to-express-green-thanks-this-thanksgiving/#comments Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:10:45 +0000 Lisa Kivirist http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/27/appetite-for-gratitude-three-questions-to-express-green-thanks-this-thanksgiving/ From local turkeys to seasonal root crops, Thanksgiving gifts us with a list of seasonal opportunities to green the holiday. While these all rank tangible, important actions to take, let’s not miss the golden green opportunity rooted in the inherent concept of Thanksgiving: gratitude.

A mindset of green gratitude emphasizes positive abundance, relishing the glass half full perspective. An important concept to keep on the front burner, especially as tanking economies fuel table conversations that tend to serve up sentiments of fear, scarcity and deprivation.

Add a dash of green reflection and gratitude to your Thanksgiving table by throwing these three questions on eating and drinking better into the conversation mix:

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/27/appetite-for-gratitude-three-questions-to-express-green-thanks-this-thanksgiving/feed/ A Cap & Trade Thanksgiving http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/26/a-cap-trade-thanksgiving/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/26/a-cap-trade-thanksgiving/#comments Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:18:27 +0000 Jennifer Kaplan http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/26/a-cap-trade-thanksgiving/ My family is coming for Thanksgiving this year and in the spirit of the season, we wanted to try and do something a little different, a 100-mile Thanksgiving.

The 100-mile movement is a local eating experiment whereby you buy food that is locally raised and produced from within a 100-mile radius of where you live.  We have 22 family and friends coming from up and down the East coast from Ithaca, NY to Tampa, and while the family is generally sympathetic to green-living, it required some friendly advice to pull it off. So, I sent an e-mail describing the concept and offering helpful advice, tips, links, etc.

We did our part, ordering a bunch of stuff from our milk man and local farm, Southmountain Creamery. We spent Sunday morning at the Dupont Circle Farmers Market and found all sorts of fabulous greens, yams, “Dr. Seuss” cauliflower, herbs, cheeses and chicken for stock. Once the kids warmed up with hot cocoa and croissants it was a terrific morning all around.

As for the rest of the guests, at first I heard nothing back from my email.

Then a few requests to resend the email.

Finally….

My sister-in-law from Brooklyn jumped in with apple-pear chutney to replace cranberry sauce. She also asked if chocolate from Jacques Torres in Brooklyn qualified. We decided, since one cannot pass up Jacques Torres Chocolate and we’re making a similar exception for coffee, that products with raw materials that cannot be found within a 100 miles (cocoa nibs, coffee beans) can be brought if they are processed locally. So, Jacques Torres is in as is Gimme Coffee! roasted in Ithaca, NY.

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]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/26/a-cap-trade-thanksgiving/feed/ Top 7 Posts About Ideas for a Green Thanksgiving http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/26/top-7-posts-about-ideas-for-a-green-thanksgiving/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/26/top-7-posts-about-ideas-for-a-green-thanksgiving/#comments Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:04:46 +0000 Reenita Malhotra http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/26/top-7-posts-about-ideas-for-a-green-thanksgiving/ With the Thanksgiving Holiday just a few days away, you are probably focusing on how to have a green Thanksgiving. I have enjoyed reading tips and ideas from around the Green Options network and the blogosphere.  Here are some of my favorite green Thanksgiving posts:

1. A Green and Affordable Thanksgiving

NBC11 recorded a segment on how to have a sustainable Thanksgiving as part of their Green Week coverage. I got to spend the morning with them talking about heritage turkeys, organic vegetables and ways to create a natural Thanksgiving Centerpiece.

To view the segment click here.

2. How To Get The Kids Involved in Helping You Create a Green Thanksgiving

Do you want to get the kids involved in your green Thanksgiving plans? Watch this video to see how these kids helped out.

For full story go here.

3. Thanks, Earth

SustainLane, a green living company provides 5 top tips for a Green Thanksgiving.

Read here for full story.

4. Handmade Holidays: Thanksgiving Craft Ideas to Share with the Family

The talented crafters at Etsy have some very special holiday how-to tutorials to share this season. Earlier this week they featured this adorable “patchwork trivet for your table. You can spice up your home decor, whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or a potluck with friends!”

For full story go here

5. How Local Will Your Thanksgiving Be?

A local Thanksgiving is a green Thanksgiving. It is not hard to eat local during the Holiday. Beth Bader tells you how.

For full story go here

6. Beyond Pie: 10 Great Savory Pumpkin Recipes

Nothing like pumpkin at the Thanksgiving table. Here are 10 pumpkin recipes to satisfy your savory side and take advantage of the current farmers market bounty.

For full story go here.

7. Green Gorilla: Create a Natural Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Have the kids help you create a natural Thanksgiving centerpiece.  The folks at Green Gorilla show you how.

For full story go here.

360,000 Tons of Watermelon Spoil Every Year in the U.S.

Almost 40% of all watermelons grown here in the U.S. never make it to market due to imperfections, bad spots, or for being oddly shaped (um, haven’t these farmers seen the square ones). But waste not, want not. The watermelon juice could actually be used to produce ethanol.

Truck Runs on 100% Recycled Coffee Grounds

The truck above is powered by a wood gas generator, except it runs fully on coffee grounds. The Cafe Racer is a 1975 GMC pickup that essentially burns used coffee to create a combustible gas. The gas is filtered on its way to the engine. I hope it’s fair trade coffee.

The Innards of 45 Million Turkeys Turned in to Fuel

On Thanksgiving–which is just around the corner–Americans will gobble down over 45 million turkeys. But we don’t eat the whole turkey so slaughterhouses are left with rotting heads, feet and all those innards. So a factory farm in Carthage, Missouri is turning all that waste into fuel using a thermal conversion process from Changing World Technologies.

Guy Builds Engine that Runs on Mountain Dew

Inventor Paul Patone has created the GEET (Global Environmental Energy Technology) Fuel Processor. A mod that allows you to run your car on about 80% water. Or possibly, just a nice cold Tab. He prefers Mountain Dew.

5,000 Miles Traveled Using 80,000 Chocolate Bars

A chocolate powered Ford Iveco Cargo lorry traveled for almost an entire month through France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and all the way to Timbuktu and doing so while facing the unforgiving Saharan Desert. The whole trip took about 80,000 chocolate bars.

Farm Saves More Than $700K Using Onion Juice for Energy

Gills Onions has saved a whopping $700K off their electricity bill by using onion juice to power most everything on the farm. They saved an additional $400K just on disposal costs alone. Using an anaerobic digester, they convert onion waste into biogas which is then conditioned and finally turned into methane.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/26/top-7-posts-about-ideas-for-a-green-thanksgiving/feed/ The San Francisco Local Foods Wheel is a Great Resource for Thanksgiving in the Bay Area http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/25/the-san-francisco-local-foods-wheel-is-a-great-resource-for-thanksgiving-in-the-bay-area/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/25/the-san-francisco-local-foods-wheel-is-a-great-resource-for-thanksgiving-in-the-bay-area/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:19:55 +0000 Lucille Chi http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/25/the-san-francisco-local-foods-wheel-is-a-great-resource-for-thanksgiving-in-the-bay-area/ While we are on the topic of enjoying a local turkey day, I’m reminded of the trusty local foods wheel that was created by three brilliant women to help Bay Area folks decide what’s in season at the grocery store.

Hopefully a local foods wheel will be created for each and every spot in the US, but for now they are focused on the San Francisco Bay Area and New York Metro Area. The concept is simple, just choose the month we’re in, and rotate the wheel to reveal the local foods available. They explain:

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/25/the-san-francisco-local-foods-wheel-is-a-great-resource-for-thanksgiving-in-the-bay-area/feed/ Economic Slump Spawns Rise in Animal Poaching http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/11/25/economic-slump-spawns-rise-in-animal-poaching/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/11/25/economic-slump-spawns-rise-in-animal-poaching/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:20:12 +0000 Aurelia d'Andrea http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/11/25/economic-slump-spawns-rise-in-animal-poaching/ Department of Fish and Game officers survey one California hunter\'s illegally poached cache

If you’re one of the millions of California voters who helped pass Proposition 2 on November 4, chances are pretty good that your Thanksgiving meal will include some sort of free-range, hormone-free dead bird—or, if you fall into the veg camp, maybe a more benign Tofurky or Field Roast. But for illegal poachers like Peter Ciraula of Gilroy, California, odds are good that the celebratory meal will include breast of snow goose, leg of endangered sandhill crane, or perhaps a pot-pie of protected swan.

“[Ciraula] said he was going to eat some of them,” said Department of Fish and Game warden Patrick Foy, ”But when we asked him why he had so many, he never really never offered up a very valid explanation.”

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/11/25/economic-slump-spawns-rise-in-animal-poaching/feed/ How Local Will Your Thanksgiving Be? http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/24/how-local-will-your-thanksgiving-be/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/24/how-local-will-your-thanksgiving-be/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:54:14 +0000 Beth Bader http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/24/how-local-will-your-thanksgiving-be/ The phone rang on Friday. It was our CSA farmer, “Farmer Dan.” We then went through the list of everything he had from the greenhouse and field and how much I needed. Arrangements were made for a special drop at one of the restaurants he sells to. Ten minutes later, part of my menu for Thanksgiving changes, salad is now on, and broccoli, another sweet potato dish, five pounds of late season apples mean a pie and applesauce both.

At the last farmers market of the season, I purchase spinach and more pecans. The pies will now include pecan. My spouse is off picking up our turkey, just butchered Saturday. There, he will get pork sausage and more pecans, both of which will go in the stuffing. Whatever else looks good, more eggs, whatever we can buy, he will get.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/24/how-local-will-your-thanksgiving-be/feed/ Give Turkeys a Reason to Be Thankful on Thanksgiving http://sustainablog.org/2008/11/22/give-turkeys-a-reason-to-be-thankful-on-thanksgiving/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/11/22/give-turkeys-a-reason-to-be-thankful-on-thanksgiving/#comments Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:08:28 +0000 Justin Van Kleeck http://sustainablog.org/2008/11/22/give-turkeys-a-reason-to-be-thankful-on-thanksgiving/ Long before the Puritans decided to cop a squat on Native American land and then had the first “Thanksgiving” meal featuring turkey meat, someone managed to discover that the turkey was a good bird to eat. Somehow, despite all logic, some hungry human looked at this rather odd-looking (okay, ugly) bird and thought, “Boy, that sure looks tasty!” Or maybe that lucky hunter was just so desperate that anything would suffice for food.

Whatever the case, turkeys found themselves on the menu. And then after 1621, turkeys became the feature of Thanksgiving–comprising the main course and finding their way into just about everything else, from stuffing to leftovers for the rest of the week.

While gourmands may give praise to the first turkey eater, turkeys themselves have very little to look forward to on Thanksgiving–the Black Thursday for these birds. Even if their intelligence level is as low as it has long been held to be, even amongst (the stupidest) animals, turkeys are yet another victim of the meat industry. Unlike other commodified creatures, though, turkeys practically have their own holiday…with celebration centered on eating them!

Thanksgiving is particularly black for more reasons than the simple acts of killing and eating living beings (however ugly and dumb). Like most other commercial meat industries, the turkey industry is riddled with cruel practices, from raising to transporting to “preparing” the birds that end up on human tables.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/11/22/give-turkeys-a-reason-to-be-thankful-on-thanksgiving/feed/ Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes: Organic Cashew Golden Gravy http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/21/vegan-thanksgiving-recipes-organic-cashew-golden-gravy/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/21/vegan-thanksgiving-recipes-organic-cashew-golden-gravy/#comments Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:29:36 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/21/vegan-thanksgiving-recipes-organic-cashew-golden-gravy/ cashewsI never understood gravy as a child.  My grandmother’s gravy didn’t have much flavor and was lumpy. I was always grossed out by the innards and turkey juices used to make it. Needless to say, when you make tofu turkey from scratch, as we do every year, there really aren’t juices to make the gravy from, so here is our recipe:

Vegan Cashew Golden Gravy

Saute in oil:

  • 1 cup mushrooms
  • 1 onion

In a separate fry pan, preferably a cast iron skillet, lightly toast. Stir often and be careful not to burn the flour:

  • 1/3 cup organic flour (white or whole wheat)
  • 1/3 cup ground organic cashews (easy to grind in the blender)

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/21/vegan-thanksgiving-recipes-organic-cashew-golden-gravy/feed/ You Can’t Have A Kosher Turkey This Thanksgiving! http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/11/21/you-cant-have-a-kosher-turkey-this-thanksgiving/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/11/21/you-cant-have-a-kosher-turkey-this-thanksgiving/#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:26:02 +0000 mcmilker http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/11/21/you-cant-have-a-kosher-turkey-this-thanksgiving/

Are you looking for a Kosher turkey this year?

Many interested in organic food are, since Kosher Turkeys are required by Jewish law to be slaughtered in a particular fashion designed to be humane. Sarah Palin’sTurkey video has just increased awareness of the issue this year!

They are also often organic by default, that is raised without pesticides, growth hormones, etc…. and, of course, are considered exceptionally tasty.

I heard this story on NPR’s Marketplace this morning..”There’s a shortage of kosher turkey and beef thanks to the closing of supplier Agriprocessors, which had provided much of the country’s kosher meat…” and immediately wondered how our Thanksgiving would turn out since, the friends with whom we hope to share the holiday meal swear by these birds.

Agriprocessors halted production earlier this week and then closed its doors. The company that supplies an estimated 40% of the country’s kosher turkeys has found it self in well, if not the oven, in hot water!

Agriprocessors was the site of a May immigration raid in which 389 workers were arrested. Plant managers later were charged with violating child labor laws, wage and hour regulations and safety rules.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/11/21/you-cant-have-a-kosher-turkey-this-thanksgiving/feed/ What to Drink with Your Turkey? http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/20/what-to-drink-with-your-turkey/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/20/what-to-drink-with-your-turkey/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:00:12 +0000 Stuart Stein http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/20/what-to-drink-with-your-turkey/ One of the biggest headaches when entertaining, especially during Thanksgiving, is deciding what beverages to serve with dinner. As Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg (authors of What to Drink with What You Eat) wrote in the Washington Post,

The prospect of choosing a bottle that will please all of your guests and complement all of your dishes can perplex the most confident holiday host.

Even avid wine lovers can be struck with a temporary case of oenophobia — fear of wine — around Thanksgiving. The prospect of choosing a bottle that will please all of your guests and complement all of your dishes can perplex the most confident holiday host.

So what do you do? BYBO is one answer. Another is to let me help you choose a few bottles to uncork without breaking the bank or cashing in that IRA.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/20/what-to-drink-with-your-turkey/feed/ PETA Releases ‘Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals’ Videogame http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/11/17/peta-releases-cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals-videogame/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/11/17/peta-releases-cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals-videogame/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:26:06 +0000 Alex Felsinger http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/11/17/peta-releases-cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals-videogame/

PETA has released a downloadable videogame parody of the Cooking Mama series usually found on Nintendo game consoles. The game includes such family friendly activities as plucking feathers and removing the internal organs from a dead turkey.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/11/17/peta-releases-cooking-mama-mama-kills-animals-videogame/feed/ Green Gorilla: Create a Natural Thanksgiving Centerpiece http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/16/green-gorilla-create-a-natural-thanksgiving-centerpiece/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/16/green-gorilla-create-a-natural-thanksgiving-centerpiece/#comments Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:57:06 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/16/green-gorilla-create-a-natural-thanksgiving-centerpiece/ natural items for a fall Thanksgiving centerpieceEditor’s note: The following post originally appeared on Green Gorilla.  “Gorilla in the Greenhouse” is an action-packed animated web show that inspires kids to take real-world steps towards a healthier environment.  The show is distributed through the kid’s web channel Green Gorilla (www.greengorilla.com), which is host to a variety of kids activities, videos about issues important to kids, music and eco-merchandise.

Create a Natural Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Mom and Dad have got a lot going on these next two weeks before Thanksgiving.  Ordering the turkey, figuring out the stuffing, making pies…yummy! Why not help them out by creating an awesome natural centerpiece for the table? It’s the perfect opportunity to get your nature hat on and your creative juices flowing.

Go for a walk in a nearby park and collect anything that you think would look good on the table.  There’s loads of Autumn stuff out there…lightweight twigs, fallen leaves, pine cones, acorns. Go for whatever you can find based upon where you live…you want your Thanksgiving centerpiece to reflect your own part of the country. Look for natural objects of different shapes, sizes and colors.  The more variety you have on, they greater they will look on the table.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/16/green-gorilla-create-a-natural-thanksgiving-centerpiece/feed/ Vegan Thanksgiving Holiday Recipes: Organic Homemade Cranberry Sauce http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/14/vegan-thanksgiving-holiday-recipes-organic-homemade-cranberry-sauce/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/14/vegan-thanksgiving-holiday-recipes-organic-homemade-cranberry-sauce/#comments Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:01:04 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/14/vegan-thanksgiving-holiday-recipes-organic-homemade-cranberry-sauce/ organic cranberries make delicious sauceAs a child, I hated cranberry sauce. That weird jellied substance that still retained the shape of its tin can freaked me out. Only dog food retains the shape of can, and I didn’t understand what this sweet substance was doing on my Thanksgiving plate.

The first time I tasted organic homemade cranberry sauce, I was in heaven. I had no idea that was what it was supposed to taste like, and it wasn’t can-shaped (did you know tin cans contain BPA?)  Besides, homemade cranberry sauce is super easy to make, so who needs a can?

It is easy to find organic cranberries at coops and health food stores to make your own sweet sauce to complement your Thanksgiving feast, whether vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore.

Organic Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Plan ahead!  Cranberry sauce needs to chill in your refrigerator for at least three hours before your feast.  It is best to make it the night before Thanksgiving.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/11/14/vegan-thanksgiving-holiday-recipes-organic-homemade-cranberry-sauce/feed/