All Things Green

I promise you that this isn’t one of those annoyingly condescending blog posts where I preach to you about the state of the environment and educate you on the small acts that you can do to protect it (there are many!) but be forewarned those blog posts are imminent!!!

And I must apologize, in advance, to Sarah who will be thoroughly disappointed if she thinks this blog post is about Dallas Green because it's not!

The truth is that we’re experiencing an arctic cold snap here today (before you continue reading, could you go back and re-read “arctic cold snap” but snap your fingers when you say “snap” and shimmy your shoulders...isn’t that, like, so fun and sassy?). Seriously though, it's like living in the Arctic (before the demise of the planet under the aegis of global warming!) with a current temperature of minus 38 degrees Celsius (that’s minus 36 degrees Fahrenheit!) with the windchill...brrrrrrr! I know this because my favourite weatherman told me via Twitter (yes, I'm a twit!)! You should check him out @blacksweather (I still don’t quite get all of the symbols on Twitter but it's only been two days!) because he makes weather fun and hot and sexy (ahem!). So let's get back to that arctic cold snap (did you snap your fingers and shimmy?).  Since it’s so cold outside, I’ve decided to stay in all day and procrastinate about work catch up on my personal e-mails (I’ve got 200+ non-work-related e-mails!). Having read scanned over half of the e-mails (most were spam...so much for that spam filter!), I’ve identified a common thread amongst many of the e-mails.  I’ve read about green veggies, gardening, and the environment (I know, I know, I promised!), and I've read glanced at propaganda for the new movie Green Hornet and the Green Party of Canada, and I've read the latest newsletter from Green Living. So all of these e-mails have me seeing green and that's got me thinking (surprise!) about, well, I’ll let you guess...

Writing a blog about all things green? No.
About money? No.
About the green-eyed monster? No.
About what it means to “look green around the gills”? No, but you’ve aroused my curiosity!
About golf courses? No, Dad!
About emeralds? No.
About how much I miss seeing the green grass? No, I love snow!
About my Christmas tree? No, but I finally put away the Christmas tree, lights and decorations. It was a sad, sad day!
About chocolate chip mint ice cream?  Mmmmm...NO!

Ha! You think you know me, but you don’t!

All of this talk about green reminded me that I need to water my plants (it's Sunday afterall!).

So I’m back from watering my plants and while I was up, I boiled water for tea, took a warm bath, had lunch, boiled water for another cup of tea then I found this video of that cute, adorable, don't you just want to eat him right up (sick, sick, carnivores!!! Oh, you’re welcome PETA!), very green frog named Kermit singing The Rainbow Connection (I love this song!!!):

Oh Kermie! You really know how to warm up a girl's heart (sorry Miss Piggy but it's the truth!). 

Back to my e-mails...one of the e-mails I read earlier linked me to Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman’s blog (I’m a big fan of The Fat Flush and The Fast Track Detox Diet!) about Winter Wellness Fat Flushing. According to Dr. Ann Louise, dark, leafy greens are the most potent source of chlorophyll (Science lesson: chlorophyll is the chemical by which plants photosynthesize while photosynthesis is the process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds using the energy from sunlight) which is a powerful blood purifier and natural internal deodorize. Chlorophyll helps oxygenate the blood while supplying the body with much-needed magnesium. This anti-stress mineral plays a key role in over 350 cellular processes – protecting your arteries, bones, muscles, and nerves while keeping your blood circulating smoothly. It goes about its job as a meticulous germ fighter by setting free abundant amounts of oxygen. Doesn't that sound like a good reason to eat or drink your greens?

Unfortunately, Dr. Ann Louise is a product pusher (her brand name products!) so I’ve learned to apply the knowledge I’ve gained from reading her blog and/or books (i.e. drinking your greens will fight off germs and detox) and improvise. Today’s improvisation has resulted in a yummy juice straight from my precious juicer and I’ve dedicated this juice to my favourite “green” singer (no Sarah, not Dallas or Max!) Kermit the Frog!

Before sharing the recipe with you, I thought I’d tell you about my favourite green vegetable (lucky you!): the beloved broccoli and the equally beloved broccoli sprout. I’ve been asked on many occasions where I buy my sprouts (giggle, giggle) and the answer is that I grow my own sprouts (Tracey the producer!). I buy my organic seeds at the natural food store and within 4 days I have sprouts (why does saying that make me giggle?). Not only are they easy to grow, sprouts are so healthy! In addition to providing the highest amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes of any food per unit of calorie, sprouts deliver them in a form which is easily assimilated and digested. In fact, sprouts improve the efficiency of digestion. Sprouts are also yummy and colourful. My favourite sprout is broccoli but I also enjoy mixing them with other sprouts including alfalfa (probably the most popular sprout!), radish and mung beans but there are so many more choices including peas, lentils and red clovers. To help get you started on growing your own sprouts (I know, I know, I'm childish but it makes me giggle!), I've tracked down theses simple directions (click on "directions") and this DIY video for you: 

Happy growing!

While I was looking for DIY sprouting information (hehe!), I came across this awesomely stunning (!!!) photo of a broccoli fractal (I’m rather obsessed with fractals!) which I just had to share with you (the artist, John Sullivan, has stated that he placed the photo in the public domain for it to be shared so posting it on my blog is allowed...just in case you were wondering!).

While you're admiring the photo of me, why not sip on this yummy Kermit Juice:

• Cucumber (I used half the cuke)
• Broccoli sprouts (a few tablespoons)
• Brocolli (a few pieces)
• Celery (1 stock)
• Parsley (a bunch of leaves)
• Spinach (approximately 3 handfuls)
• Ginger (1 inch)
• Green apple (doesn’t that count as green?)
• A shot of wheatgrass (I buy it frozen so I just added a cube to my glass of juice)

ENJOY!!!

STAY WARM...SNAP! :)