April 18, 2011
This story is part of our ongoing Earth Week coverage.
Today is Monday, and making a habit of "Meatless Mondays" is one thing that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint (which means to use fewer resources, create less waste, and generate fewer greenhouse gases). Do you remember our recent, very popular blog entry about Burping Cows? (how could you forget that picture?!).
Raising livestock to produce meat and dairy products creates 18 percent of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions - more than planes, trains and automobiles combined. So some families have started practicing "Meatless Mondays." They commit to one day each week when they will not eat meat…..which helps to reduce their carbon footprint.
One of the hardest things about getting started on Meatless Mondays is that many people don’t have interesting, satisfying vegetarian recipes on hand….and you can only serve fish sticks so many Mondays in a row before your family gives up!
So, I am going to share a delicious, easy, meatless recipe. And, there are seven more equally tasty recipes available for you right here on SeymourSimon.com, in the Educators & Families section. Click on Teacher Guides, Extra Resources to find a whole page of Meatless Monday recipes that you can download and make for your family. Saving the Earth and tasting good, too - that’s hard to beat!
ONE POT CANNELLINI FLORENTINE
(Serves: 6)
Ingredients:
1 can (15 oz) Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz) Light Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz) Dark Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 package baby spinach (fresh or frozen)
24 oz. vegetable broth
½ c. sun dried tomatoes, cut into thin strips
1 tsp. dried basil
crushed red pepper flakes
shredded Parmesan cheese
Can of Crispy French-fried onions
Directions:
1. In large stockpot over high heat, cook garlic and onion in olive oil, sauté until brown.
2. Mix in spinach, sauté 2 minutes.
3. Add beans, broth and spices, simmer 30 minutes. Salt & pepper to taste.
4. While pot is simmering, make enough rice for your family.
5. Serve over rice, top with cheese and fried onions.
That’s it. Quick, easy, and delicious, too. Happy eating, Earthlings!
What are you doing this Earth Week to contribute to the global effort to pledge a Billion Acts of Green? Click on “Comments,” at the bottom of this story, and tell us what you are doing. We will publish all your comments in one big article at the end of Earth Week, to honor each writer’s promise to protect our planet, and inspire other readers to do the same.
Posted by: Liz Nealon
