Food

Eggs

Figuring out how to replace eggs in any recipe can be tricky. Basically, eggs function as leavening, binding, and thickening agents. In some recipes, eggs perform all three functions, like quick breads, but all recipes need the moisture from the eggs. Don't be afraid to experiment with different egg substitutes to figure out which one works best in your favorite recipe. If your recipe calls for 3 or more eggs, consider combining a couple of egg substitutes to get your desired result.

As an environmental professional and concerned global citizen, many of my goals center on reducing my impact and living lightly on the earth. I try to reduce the amount of waste I produce, and I recycle as much as I can. I make my own natural cleaners and keep my thermostat at moderate temperatures.

Urban chicken laws vary from city to city in Minnesota. Recent laws have made it easier for residents to raise backyard chickens in the Twin Cities and many neighbors are taking advantage of the opportunity for fresh eggs and a closer connection to their food supply. If you are interested in following this trend with your very own flock, it's important to understand the legal basics in your community.

Minneapolis

Rule #1: Chickens can be kept by residents of single-family homes and duplexes only. Sorry apartment-dwellers!

With the census just around the corner, an inventory of just who lives where is in order—and animals come into the picture. Many of us have childhood memories of experiences with farm animals—including chickens. Most of our fowl memories are of chickens at the state fair or on a farm in the country.

If you are reading this you must be curious about Apis mellifera (Latin for bee carrying honey). Maybe you intellectually know how important bees are as pollinators and in keeping us humans fed. Maybe you are a gardener and simply love bees buzzing in your flowers. On the other hand, maybe you are terrified of bees and wondering, why would anyone invite 60,000 or more stinging insects into their yard?!

pic: 2009 Minnesta State Fair pickle winners.

I LOVE FALL! It's the time to harvest hay, can your precious goods from your hard working garden and getting the goat meat in the freezer.

Preserving fresh vegetables and fruits at home is a great way to save money and create a healthy diet for your family. Good quality fruits and vegetables, canned or frozen shortly after picking, retain nutrients and good flavor. In fact, they may contain more nutrients than a similar "fresh" food that has spent weeks in warehouses. Nutrient loss begins as soon as a fruit or vegetable is picked. Peeling and cutting, heating, exposure to air and light, and time spent in storage all contribute to loss of nutrients. Refrigeration slows nutrient loss but does not stop it.

Scott Jurek, Murray Rose, Tony Gonzalez, Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi, Prince Fielder, Brendan Brazier, and Pat Neshek. What do these elite athletes have in common? They are committed to reducing their carbon footprint through their diet. They eat plant-based diets and maintain professional and/or Olympic athletic careers. By eating a completely plant-based diet, they are each reducing their carbon emissions the same as driving 56,000 miles less per year.