EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What are conservation dogs? – Jon Gretcham, Portland, OR Simply put, conservation dogs are canines specially trained in sniffing out evidence of specific wildlife species that scientists are seeking to learn more about for one reason or another. Most commonly these dogs are […]
Spinach-Ham Dip Bowl
2 cups ricotta cheese 1 cup sour cream 1 pkg (10 oz) frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry ¼ pound ham, cubed ¾ cup shredded Parmesan cheese 2 green onions, thinly sliced 1 round bread loaf (16 oz), unsliced Heat oven to 350 F. In medium bowl, blend ricotta cheese and sour cream until smooth. […]
Is The Dish Washer More Eco-Friendly?
Dear EarthTalk: My husband thinks it’s better for the planet to hand-wash dishes in the sink, but it seems to me using the dishwasher is more eco-friendly. Can you settle this debate for us?— Chris B., Bowie, MD Hands-down, the dishwasher is the way to go, not only from the standpoint of water waste and […]
Grape Dutch Baby
6 large eggs 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/3 cups low-fat milk 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp salt 5 tbsp unsalted butter, divided 2 cups red California grapes, halved 2 tbsp brown sugar 1/8 tsp cinnamon (optional) confectioners’ sugar Heat oven to 450 F. Put large (10-inch) cast-iron or ovenproof skillet in oven. With […]
Ricotta Puff Pastries with Strawberry Compote
2 sheets puff pastry 1/2 cup, plus 1 tbsp, heavy cream 1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 1 tbsp water 1package fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced 1/2 cup homemade, part-skim or whole milk ricotta cheese 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract Heat oven to 400 F. Cut both puff pastry […]
Should You Ditch Your Gas Stove?
Dear EarthTalk: Should we all be ditching our gas stoves in favor of electric models?– Mary R., San Francisco, CA Walking into your kitchen to make dinner appears relatively simple with a gas-powered stove readily available to cook your every desire. But while rotating the switch to turn on a gas stove, most people do […]
Peanut Butter Saltine Candy
Nonstick cooking spray (butter flavor) 1 sleeve (4 oz) regular saltine crackers 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1 cup granulated sugar 2 cups milk chocolate chips 1/2 cup peanut butter chips 1/2 cup rough chopped, dry roasted peanuts Preheat oven to 400 F. Line 10-by-15-by-1-inch pan with aluminum foil. Spray foil with […]
Indigenous Peoples and Reclaiming National Parks
EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What’s up with efforts by Native Americans to take back the national parks?– C. Woodend, Brea, CA Prior to white settlement, as many as 15 million Indigenous people inhabited what would come to be called the contiguous United States; by the 1890s only […]
Bacon-Wrapped Halibut
4 halibut fillets (6 oz each), skin removed salt, to taste pepper, to taste 8 slices Coleman Natural Bacon 1 tbsp canola oil cooked rice or other grain (optional) salad or other vegetable (optional) Season halibut with salt and pepper, to taste, then wrap each fillet along shorter side with two bacon slices, tucking ends […]
Proctor & Gamble’s Virgin Forest Fiber
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest on efforts to force Procter & Gamble to stop using virgin forest fiber for its toilet paper products? – P. Brody, Boulder, CO Strolling down the toilet paper aisle, one is faced with a grave decision: 3-ply or ultra-plush? For consumers, factors like price, size and comfort always come to […]