Avocado, Sweet Potato, White Bean (non-dairy) Cream Soup…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:                                                                                    

  • ½ soft avocado
  • ¾ cup frozen peas
  • 1 (15 oz.) can cannellini beans
  • 1 med. sweet potato
  • 1 red pepper
  • 3 cups vegetable stock
  • ¾ cup frozen corn
  • 1 Macintosh apple (remove core and stem-leave skin)
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Parsley flakes
  • Basil flakes

 

Directions:

  • Cut up and steam red pepper and sweet potatoes (with skin) until soft
  • In a blender place the avocado, peas, ½ can cannellini beans, apple, vegetable stock + steamed red pepper and sweet potato
  • Add all blended ingredients to a pot as well as the other half of the beans, corn, salt, pepper, parsley, basil, and maple syrup.
  • Medium flame, stir and serve hot.

Is Broccoli Really All That Beneficial? …

Of all the green vegetables, broccoli is the most recognizable by most people. In working with small children, I find that if they will eat a green vegetable, it is most likely broccoli. I don’t think it is the nutritional value but more of a question of it resembling a small tree or flower. Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower are all part of what is know as cruciferous vegetables. The strong sulfuric smell of broccoli is from a compound known as sulforaphane which scientists believe may not only be beneficial to heart and bone health but may play a part in cancer prevention. Research is showing that the strong mineral compounds in broccoli may fight the harmful effects of pollution and secondhand smoke. Studies are showing that people who eat broccoli once a week have lower risks of common cancers (lung, breast, colon). However, it may be that those who eat broccoli may also have a healthier lifestyle in general. The high level of Vitamin K in broccoli can improve circulation for heart health, the fiber content can fight colon cancer, the potassium level can help with blood pressure, and the level of vitamin C and calcium can help with bone mineralization. Choose steaming over boiling to prevent some of these benefits from being lost. Try sautéing garlic, red peppers, pignoli nuts, salt, pepper to taste and then adding them to the steamed broccoli.

 

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/broccoli-and-other-cruciferous-veggies-can-significantly-lower-cancer-risks

 

Oldest Wild Bird (age 74) Lays an Egg…

The average age of a Laysan Albatross is 30 years. It is a rare occasion when a bird lives to 45 years of age. “Wisdom” is in her 75th year. Albatross are said to mate for life but because of her age she is on her third mate. Scientists have been tracking her existence since the Eisenhower administration. Wisdom has laid over 60 eggs in her lifetime and has hatched over 30 chicks. Her breeding ground is the Midway Atoll Wildlife Refuge where she usually returns when it is time to mate. She was given the name Wisdom since she has survived despite all the environmental dangers that exist especially to Albatross. Plastic pollution and rising sea levels that are threatening their nesting grounds are just a few of these obstacles. Wisdom spends most of her life at sea and it is estimated that she has flown at least 3.7 million miles during her lifetime. Along with outliving her mates she has also outlived the scientist who originally tagged her in 1956. An albatross can lay one egg a year and it will take 6 months before a chick will leave the nest.

https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/wisdom-the-74-year-old-albatross-lays-an-egg-with-new-mate/

Sand from Recycled Glass…

Glass Half Full is a recycling company that converts glass into sand. It was founded by Franziska Trautmann, who has a background in chemical engineering. The goal was to find a solution to coastal erosion. Sand is part of coastal restoration, construction, landscaping and flooring. Her and her partner Max were students at Tulane University and wanted to do something regarding disaster relief after severe storms. The company started small in 2020. Instead of glass bottles going to a landfill, Glass Half Full now recycles over 100,000 lbs. of glass in its 40,000 square foot facility every month. After the glass is pulverized, it is then sorted into different size sand particles which can be utilized in different ways. Fine sand is used to fill sandbags while courser sand is used for coastal restoration. This is truly a positive solution to addressing our coastline which is eroding at an alarming rate.

https://www.ted.com/speakers/franziska_trautmann