Chicken and Ham Pot Pie

Although the days have been warm, the evenings are cool and just right for a comforting chicken pot pie.

Ingredients:
Single pie crust dough
2 Tablespoons butter
4 oz. ham diced
8 ounces mushroom sliced
1 leek chopped
2 cloves garlic mined
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon thyme
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts of thighs

In dutch oven melt butter. Add mushrooms and leeks and cook until soft. Add ham and garlic and cook about 1 minute. Stir in flour and gradually add broth, lemon zest and thyme. Stir in cream, add chicken, cover and simmer for 8 - 10 minutes.Transfer to a 2-quart casserole dash and top with pie crust. Poke crust for steam to escape. If desired, brush crust with cream. Bake at 400 degrees about 40 minutes until bubbly and crust is brown. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Simmering chicken, ham and broth

 

Celebrate Earth Day!

Today, April 22nd we celebrate this precious planet that we call home. This year's Earth Day theme is "End Plastic Pollution." That is a bold statement, since this material has become so ubiquitous in our lives. According to the Earth Day Network, the organizer of Earth Day events across the globe, their goals for 2018 "include ending single-use plastics, promoting alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials, promoting 100 percent recycling of plastics, corporate and government accountability and changing human behavior concerning plastics."

By simply becoming more conscientious in our shopping and disposal decision, we can all make a difference. Although I am a good steward of the environment, and if you are reading this blog, you are too, I have learned that I can always do better. As I reported back in January, recycling plastic bags and wraps is one of those ways. So many things come wrapped in plastic, like our daily newspaper delivery. In addition to reusing these bags to pick up pet waste, I collect the extras and recycle them at our local grocery store. It amazes me how much plastic wrap I collect within just a few days.

Plastic wrap awaiting recycling.

When possible, I try and purchase items without extra wrapping. If I feel that items are unnecessarily wrapped in plastic I contact the manufacturer and let them know. Your voice as a consumer can influence their sustainability goals, particularly as the problems of plastic pollution in the oceans has become more publicly recognized and as outlets for recycling these materials become more scarce.

If possible, try and get outside today and enjoy the signs of Spring that are emerging, from the sounds of peepers and wood frogs, to the smells of the soil as it comes alive, to the sights of the first daffodils, there is much to celebrate. And, don't forget to bring a big to pick up those plastic containers on the side of the road that are now visible since the snow has melted.

It won't be long before these daffodils are in bloom.

Shrimp on Bed of Zucchini

A light and simple weeknight meal which uses a bed of zucchini in place of pasta or rice.


Ingredients:
1/2 cup onion
3 cloves garlic
fresh parsley (1 - 2 Tablespoons)
3 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper
1/2 cup white wine
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 cup Panko crumbs
1 medium zucchini
1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp

Grease large casserole dish. Shred zucchini in food processor, set aside. Chop onion and garlic. Melt half the butter with the oil and saute onions for about 3 minutes and then add garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Season shrimp with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook 2 minutes, then turn and cook for an additional minute. Remove shrimp. Add lemon juice and wine to pan, stirring until it begins to butter. Add remaining butter and oil and stir until melted. Place shrimp in casserole dish, then add zucchini, mix slightly and poor sauce over both. Return pan to medium low heat and add panko, stirring until golden. Sprinkle over the top of dish and bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes or until bubbling. Serve immediately with parsley sprinkled on top.

Looking for Signs of Spring

April is an unpredictable month. The sun definitely shines a bit brighter and the longer days indicate that winter is past, but sometimes the season just doesn't want to let go. That was the case this past weekend. We drove North to Vermont Friday afternoon and encountered snow most of the way. Saturday morning the sun was out briefly, but snow returned throughout the day as the temperature remained below freezing. 

The wind blows snow across Lake Memphremagog

Nevertheless, Saturday afternoon I put on my hat and mittens and walked along the lake looking for some signs of Spring. The nice thing about early Spring is that trees and brush take on a different appearance before their leaves come out and I realize that although the landscape may initially appear dull and uninteresting their is actually lots of color to be seen.

The branches of Red-Osier Dogwood stand out among other wetland plants in Spring

One of the most recognizable wetland species and a welcome sign of spring are the fuzzy white catkins of pussy willows.

Pussy willows and clouds are a nice contrast to a bright blue sky

It's amazing that the berries of this viburnum were able to survive the cold and wind of a very long winter.

Post-Winter berries of viburnum

Although most of the lake was still covered with ice, fishermen were out drilling holes through the ice Saturday morning, there were some open areas of water. This was fortunate for those migratory birds that decided to return before ice-out.

Canada Geese and a Mallard brave the cold water in April

If you have been near water this month, you have probably heard some red-winged blackbirds. Another common bird that you may here this time of year are Common Grackles.  These two were making quite a racket as they perched at the top of a tree.

Common Grackles 

Even though I won't be putting away my winter clothing yet, I know that the upcoming days will continue to reveal the sights and sounds of a new season of life.

No Market for Glass?

Recyclable glass containers. (source: Montana Dept. of Env. Quality, deq.mt.gov

A recent news article announcing that our neighboring town, Hooksett, is no longer accepting glass for recycling left me puzzled. Glass - which is 100% recyclable and for me is the preferred packaging material for public health as well as environmental reasons. Further, with an increasing public awareness of the huge plastic pollution problem in our oceans, it would seem that glass would be a commodity increasing in demand. According to the Glass Packaging Institute, (GPI) glass "can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity." Their website also contains some interesting facts

• Recycled glass containers are always needed because glass manufacturers require high-quality recycled container glass to meet market demands for new glass containers.
•  Recycled glass is always part of the recipe for glass, and the more that is used, the greater the decrease in energy used in the furnace. This makes using recycled glass profitable in the long run, lowering costs for glass container manufacturers—and benefiting the environment.

According to the Town of Hooksett, their decision to no longer accept glass for recycling is that   "Glass has always been hard to find markets for but with local glass disposal sites closing down we have no markets at all." How can this be? It all comes down to economics. The way that most communities in the state are collecting recyclables is through single stream, where plastic, cans, paper and glass are all mixed together. Although this gets recycling rates up, the value of those materials is diminished. For glass, it needs to be clean, a certain size, and separated by color to be used in the manufacturing of new glass bottles. When recyclable waste streams are mixed together, chances of contamination are higher and the end use of the materials becomes limited. Apparently a bottle manufacturing plant in Massachusetts recently closed down which has further reduced the market for recycled glass in New England. According to the Concord Monitor one of the reasons for the plant's closure was the increase in the craft beer market and the subsequent decline in the sales of national beer brands. This I don't understand; don't craft beer makers need bottles as well?

In any event the economics are complicated, but tossing recyclable materials into the trash is short-sighted. According to the GPI, Over a ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled and one ton of carbon dioxide is reduced for every six tons of recycled container glass used in the manufacturing process. According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes. There are clearly environmental reasons to use and recycle glass. What can we do? New Hampshire is a state that does not have a beverage container redemption program. States with container deposits and redemption programs recycle glass containers at a 39% higher rate than states without such programs. It reduces roadside litter and provides jobs, a win win. However, numerous attempts to adopt legislation in the "Live Free or Die State" have failed, but if such a bill did pass it would reduce the economic burden currently being placed on municipalities which are forced to make decisions based solely on local budgets.

As I have posted previously, the use and disposal of plastic exposes people and wildlife to toxic chemicals and plastic debris is causing havoc to our oceans. Glass may be heavier, subject to breakage, but most won't dispute that food and beverages taste better when stored in glass. Further, it is a known fact that hormone disrupting chemicals can leach from plastic containers. We need to remember that consumer demand can and should direct manufacturing. All types of waste needs to be reduced and recycling is one mechanism to do this. Make known to your town that you want comprehensive recycling options available in your community. If your town stops the curbside collection of glass, please encourage them to offer, at a minimum, a drop off location that is convenient for its residents. Tossing more waste in the trash to be incinerated or landfilled is not an environmentally responsible solution for our generation or the future of the planet. Saving a few dollars today only postpones additional costs to some time in the future. 

Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew

Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew

In addition to cookbooks and the internet, the newspaper is also a great resource for recipes. This recipe from a recent edition of the Concord Monitor was a hit the other night.

Ingredients:

1 ½ pounds boneless chicken breasts cubed

3 Tablespoons oil

1 small onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1 Tablespoon fresh ginger peeled and chopped

1 teaspoon ground coriander

½ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon turmeric

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

4 cups chicken broth

1-14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes

1 sweet potato peeled and cubed

2 cups chopped spinach, kale or other greens

1 orange or yellow pepper chopped

⅓ cup peanut butter

Salt and pepper

2 cups cooked rice

In a heavy soup pot heat 1 Tablespoon oil and brown half of chicken. Remove and repeat for remaining chicken. Set aside and keep warm. Add 1 Tablespoon oil. add onion and saute until softened, then add garlic, ginger and spices and cook for 30 seconds. Then add canned tomatoes with juices, broth, and remaining ingredients, including chicken. Cover and simmer for about 30 - 45 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Stir in peanut butter and cook until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over rice.

I Love Nature Because it Makes Me Feel Good

EPA recently published on article title "Are Greenspaces Good for Your Heart" which reported on two recent studies that support the notion that being exposed to "Green Spaces" leads to healthier outcomes in people's lives. One study showed an inverse relationship with sudden deaths and greenway density and forest cover.  Another study showed positive effects on people of natural ecosystems when evaluating certain types of illnesses. While you are pondering this, enjoy the warm feeling that watching this video invokes.