Chelsea Green Blog
Food & Drink
Growing Koji in Your Own Kitchen
Koji, the microbe behind the delicious, umami flavors of soy sauce, miso, fermented bean sauce, and so many of the ingredients that underpin Japanese cuisine. After you’ve mastered growing your koji, a whole new world of culinary opportunities will be at your fingertips! To start, all you need is a baking tray, rice, koji spores,…
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RECIPE: How to Make Three Kinds of Kimchi
If I may be graphic for a moment—my mouth is watering, literally, as I type this. I have a new food passion, and its name is kimchi. This tangy, spicy side dish can be cooked with pork, in savory pancakes, or as a soup stock. And imagine if you made it with your own fresh,…
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Veggie Mandala with Chervil Aioli Sauce: A Natural Spring Recipe
With the birth of spring comes its profusion of gifts—the warm sun, higher temperatures, and (best of all) fertile soil. With each day, more colors seem to burst forth—both in nature and on our plates. This veggie mandala is traditionally served directly on the surface of the entire length of the farm table, but, whether…
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Fermentation 101: Just Add Salt
Fermentation isn’t just for highly skilled experts, at its core, fermentation is actually pretty simple. Once you’ve mastered the basics of fermentation, you’ll be on your way to creating delicious and unique dishes in no time! The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Fermentation by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web. For…
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On Foraging and Picking Wild Plants
Foraging for your own food limits your carbon footprint and helps to maintain the natural landscape. Done correctly, it reconnects us to nature while limiting our impact on our natural surroundings. Humans need to be an active part of changing the environment—even on this small scale. The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Fermentation by…
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Sap Moon Recipes for Sweet Treats
This time of year we always seem to get a hint of spring in the air for a moment, whether it’s the snow storms starting to taper off or a glimpse of grass in your yard. The lure of sweetness calls from the maple trees and we begin daydreaming about all of the wonderous treats…
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RECIPE: Soup of Independence and Remembrance
For most people, traditional foods and family recipes are often thought of in the simple terms of comfort foods or those dishes that only make an appearance at the holidays. However, for many, traditional foods are so much more than that. They are a gateway to health and wellness and offer an opportunity to reflect…
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Our Top Blog Articles of 2019: A Look Back
Ah, 2019 – how the time flies! The end of the year is always a little bit nostalgic, and as the year comes to an end, we’re taking stock of what our community has found most useful. If there’s one thing (or two) we know about our readers, it’s that they love growing food and…
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Preparing and Cooking Rabbit
Ever wonder how you can mix up you or your family’s meal routine? How about substituting in some rabbit instead of conventional meats! The idea of eating a rabbit for dinner may feel overwhelming, but here are some quick tips and tricks to get you started on preparing and cooking one of your own. The…
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Artisan Cheesemakers Unite!
Over the past 35 years, the US Food and Drug Administration has pushed for a mandatory requirement for the use of pasteurized milk in cheesemaking, claiming a public health risk for raw milk cheese. This scenario is playing out abroad as well, where creameries are collapsing because they can’t comply with EU health ordinances. In…
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Miracle Crackers: Grain-Free, Low-Carb, and Keto-Friendly
If you’re anything like me, you know how hard it can be to resist the delectable crunch and pure happiness that comes from enjoying your favorite snack cracker. Unfortunately, when you need to cut carbs it can be hard to find a substitute that truly quenches the cravings. Until now. The following is an excerpt…
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Why Raw Milk Cheese is Not Raw
Have you ever wanted to try out exotic and rare types of cheeses, made non-traditionally? Well you might not be able to if the FDA has anything to say about it! Non-traditional cheesemaking using raw milk is under attack for all the wrong reasons, and it has sparked a revolution of cheese-lovers to stand up…
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Happy National Cookbook Month!
From foraging to fermenting, a good cookbook can be the guiding force that elevates your culinary skills. Draw a little inspiration from our expert chefs, foragers, and brewers and get ready to kickstart your own creativity in the kitchen! With recipes for gumbos and stews, plus okra pickles, tofu, marshmallow, paper, and more The Whole…
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Vegan Apple Honey Cake
Oy Vey Vegan explores the plant-based food world with a concentration in Mediterranean and Jewish Eastern European flavor influences. Estee Raviv creates a variety of options from breakfast to dinner to snacks and desserts that disprove the common thought of vegan food being bland. This cookbook is for everyone—from beginners to master chefs to curious…
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Recipe: Rainbow Beet and Carrot Salad with Garden Herbs
What’s better than eating food that tastes delicious? Eating food that tastes AND looks delicious! Beets and carrots are the secret ingredients to liven up your salad. Combine these colorful vegetables and fresh herbs to create a salad that tastes like spring. This excerpt is fromThe Occidental Arts and Ecology Center Cookbook by The Occidental…
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Making Delicious Recipes on a Restrictive Diet —With Love!
Leah M. Webb, MPH, obtained her health coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She has worked in nutrition and gardening education since 2009 with a focus on engaging children in healthy eating habits through experiential learning and discovery. Leah started and runs the Deep Rooted Wellness blog, on which she posts stories and…
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Sweet Fermentation: Strawberry Kvass
Fresh fruit is a great source of nutrients and flavor, especially when it’s berry season–specifically strawberry season. Take this sweet fruit and make it bubbly with this recipe for strawberry kvass. Let the natural sugars do most of the work for you (besides the essential stirring, of course), and enjoy this refreshing drink. The following…
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Vanilla Strawberry Beet Smoothie
Eating healthy doesn’t always taste the best, but combining your favorite treats with nutritious foods is the perfect balance! Though strawberries and beets may not seem like a good mix, combined with vanilla and cinnamon, they create a smoothie that’s not only healthy, but tastes delicious as well. The following is an excerpt from The…
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A Guide to Okra: Ok-RAH-RAH-RAH!
Expert okra enthusiast Chris Smith writes regularly for The Heirloom Gardener, the Mother Earth News blog, and the Farmers’ Almanac blog. His presentations on the versatility of okra have delighted audiences at food and farming festivals and fairs throughout the Southeast. He is the Communications Manager for Sow True Seed in Asheville, North Carolina, and…
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Make Your Own Kombucha: The Tea Beast Lives
Kombucha. The tea beast. The new and trendy health drink. The combination black tea and bacteria ball that is known to cure ailments, heal emotional wounds, and impress houseguests who happen upon it by accident when looking for the dog treats. What’s better than drinking this wonderful tea? Making your own. The following is an…
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The Apple: America’s Fruit
Did you know that the apple traveled to North America the same way the Pilgrims did in the 1600s? Though apple trees are abundant all across the country, they aren’t native to these lands. Apples have a fascinating and complex history that lead them to become an American symbol. The following is an excerpt from…
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Okra Recipe: Fabulous Fries
Ever think about eating fries that aren’t made out of potatoes? Why not try okra fries! These easy to make and fun to eat treats are the perfect side to your meal, or you might be tempted to have a whole bowl full. Author Chris Smith pulls this fabulous recipe from Chef Viviane Howard. The…
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Tips for the Square-Inch Gardener: Vertical Gardening
Do you dream of having your own garden but live in a city or an area with not enough space? Try vertical gardening! Take advantage of plants’ willingness to grow toward sunshine ability to grow in unusual places. There are three techniques involved in vertical gardening: terracing, trellising, and tumbling. Each is designed to maximize…
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Reaching Grill Greatness: The Best Meat Temperatures
Have plans to fire up the grill this summer? Want to impress everyone with your grilling skills? Take some advice from the gourmet butcher himself!
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Making Your Own Okra Cosmetics
Okra, slime is gold! This pod-producing vegetable is a nutritional powerhouse and has been used throughout history for medicinal, culinary and cosmetics purposes. Discover the benefits of okra when eaten or use the slime from okra for glowing skin, thick shiny hair and strong nails, among others. The following is an excerpt from The Whole…
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