Dancing Alligator

The Dancing Alligator is so much fun! While being pulled, the wooden pieces make rhythmic click-clack sounds.Ok, we are a bit biased because we love eco-friendly wooden pull toys!

PlanToys manufacture toys using wood from rubber trees that no longer provide Latex. This cute toy is made from non-toxic natural materials such as organic rubberwood.

By PlanToys

Berries, Banana and Tofu? Really Good!

We don't usually think of Tofu as an ingredient for smoothies. Well, time to try new options! Tofu blends really well with fruits, and this smoothie tastes incredibly good. Do we need to mention how nutritious it is?

Ok, if drinking tofu is pushing your envelope way too hard (although kids won't even notice!), just substitute the apple juice and tofu with cow, soy or rice milk. Just as good!

Fruit Tofu Smoothie
Servings: 1 portion


- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 cup apple juice
- 1/4 cup silken tofu


Combine berries, banana, apple juice and tofu in a blender; blend until smooth.

Source: Eating Well

Hot Browns and Hats (plus a giveaway winner!)

Derby Day is always such fun...whether you are a diehard racetrack aficionado or just like to people watch and peruse the extraordinary hats. I've only been once, but the excitment is something I'll never forget. Now I never miss it...even though it's only on the big screen.

Everyone knows about the mint julep, but how many of you know about Kentucky Hot Browns?

There's a hotel in Louisville called The Brown Hotel. During the 20's it would draw as many as 1,200 guests for its' dinner dance. In the wee hours of the morning, the guests would grow tired of dancing and would want a little something to eat. They were getting bored with ham and eggs, so Chef Fred Schmidt set out to create something new to tempt his guests' palates. His unique creation was an open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and a delicate Mornay sauce. Enter The Hot Brown!

Now a Louisville tradition, the Hot Brown has been featured in Southern Living Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, NBC's Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, as well as being included in many cookbooks. So if you want to be part of a Derby tradition, here's the original recipe, right from The Brown Hotel.

The Legendary Hot Brown Recipe

Ingredients:  (Makes two hot browns)

2 ounces butter
2 ounces flour
1 quart heavy cream
1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, plus 1 tablespoon for garnish
Salt and pepper to taste
14 ounces sliced roasted turkey breast
2-4 slices of Texas Toast (To make your own, a recipe follows)
4 slices of crisp bacon
2 Roma Tomatoes, sliced in half
Paprika, parsley, tomato for garnish


Method:

In a two-quart saucepan, melt butter and slowly whisk in flour until combined and forms a roux. Continue to cook roux for two minutes over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Whisk whipping cream into the roux and cook over medium heat until the cream begins to simmer, about 2-3 minutes. Remove sauce from heat and slowly whisk in Pecorino Romano cheese until the Mornay sauce is smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
For each Hot Brown, place one or two slices of toast in an oven safe dish and cover with 7 ounces of turkey.

Place the tomatos on top of turkey and toast. Next, pour the Mornay sauce to completely cover the dish.

Sprinkle with additional Pecorino Romano cheese. Place entire dish under a broiler until cheese begins to brown and bubble and is heated through. Remove from broiler, cross two pieces of crispy bacon on top, sprinkle with paprika and parsley, and serve immediately.

I can find Texas Toast in my market.

But if you can't here's how to make your own: start with some good bread; smash a couple cloves of garlic and mix them with some butter. Spread on the bread, sprinkle with salt and pepper and then toast it.

And now something just for the ladies. I collected some photos of fun and fabulous Derby Day hats. Pick out your favorite! Which one would you love to wear?

Last, but not least,  The Mother's Day Giveaway: The lucky winner is: Faith from An Edible Mosaic. Congratulations! Please email me your address at bsmithw@gmail.com so I can get your cookbook in the mail ASAP!


Hat photo source: http://www.deescrafts.com/hats/

From the Farm

After a winter hibernation, Demarest Farm opened for the season on Earth Day. This Hillsdale, New Jersey-based farm has been around since 1886. You may recall my visit here last year.

You can now enjoy a lovely lunch outside at one of their tables, in their greenhouse, or on a picnic bench (my preferred choice). Bonus points: they are dog-friendly. My mom and I took our family's adopted dog, who enjoyed the sunshine with us while we dined.

In addition to two daily soups (one vegetarian selection that day, corn chowder), they always have vegetarian chili, loaded with bell peppers, chickpeas and beans, $4.59/pound. This portion was $2.85, paired with an onion roll, $1.10. To avoid the disposables, my mom and I brought our own silverware, cloth napkins and cups in a picnic basket.

We shared a white peach iced tea, $2.

I love wraps. Recreate this avocado, tomato and onion wrap at home.

Deli pickles.

I was pining for some Clyde's of Garfield Italian ice, but it isn't available until this weekend. I would have gotten one scoop watermelon, one scoop honeydew melon. Next time!

There's usually a mob around these during their busiest season in the fall: cider donuts. If you'd like, veganize at home.

I cannot wait for fresh summer tomatoes to hit the farm for tomato and basil salads.

Simple snack: radishes.

Love the way they repurposed this old chair in the garden.

I like Demarest for lunching, but for general shopping, I favor Old Hook Farm, for its wider selection of vegan offerings, organic produce, and local finds. Demarest Farm had asparagus from Peru, but look what I found at Old Hook Farm. This will be cream of asparagus soup (the cream from soy creamer).

In addition to produce, I picked up some indulgences: vegan fudge bars, and some organic strawberry lemonade.

Fragrant lilacs. My mom surprised me with a bunch while we took turns waiting in the car with the dog.


Find a family farm near you through LocalHarvest.

Be Entered at Least Twice to Win our Coola Eco-Giveaway!

The Coola Eco-Giveaway ends this Sunday!

As a request from some of our Facebook fans, we are offering the opportunity to be entered at least twice to win a basket of Coola Sun Care Products worth US$138! Basket includes:

- Coola Cucumber Face SPF 30

- Coola Total Body Plumeria SPF 30

- Coola Sport Mango SPF 45

- Coola Sport Unscented SPF 45

- Coola Vanilla Peppermint LipLux SPF 15

The sunscreen and sunblock products are crafted with care from the finest certified organic, natural and advanced active ingredients available. The moisture-rich signature products also contain age-defying antioxidants and vitamins!

Become Fan of Eco.Logical.Mom on Facebook by May 2, 2010 and be entered to win this brilliant Basket of Signature Sunscreen and Sunblock Products from Coola! 

All Facebook fans of Eco.Logical.Mom are automatically entered. The winner will be announced on May 3, 2010.

Invite your friends to become fans of Eco.Logical.Mom on Facebook, e-mail us the names of each friend, and you will be entered twice per person that you refer that becomes a fan, and stays until the end of the giveaway. E-mail us at EcoLogicalMom@ymail.com.

Good Luck!
Click here to become fan of Eco.Logical.Mom



Coola products are provided by Coola Sun Care.
Giveaway winner is chosen at random.

Snuggly and Warm

Organic blankies are usually very soft. Well, these ones are cute and fun too! Kids can snuggle and play with them.
Available in 5 characters: (pink) bunny, (brown) monkey, (yellow) giraffe, (blue) elephant, and (green) frog.

Made by miYim

Classic Wooden Toys

We love classic wooden toys, there is something nostalgic and fascinating about them!
Pull toys are a big hit with the little ones, and this particular one is incredibly cute. Check out their large selection of wooden toys.

Handcrafted by Real Wooden Toys