Latest Posts — Sustained Kitchen

Ultimate Guide to Snap Beans

The world of beans can be confusing. Are green beans related to dried beans? And what about purple beans? And wax beans? In this post, I explain the ins and outs of all things snap beans!

Seasonal ProduceSustained KitchenAugust 26, 2020beans, sustained kitchen, snap beans, what is a string bean, what is, green bean, dried beans, the same, different, different than, shell beans, pole beans, bush beans, sustainability tipsComment

Musk Melon and Blueberry Swirl Sorbet

This recipe couldn't be easier. Just make a simple syrup, puree some fruit and throw it in an ice cream maker. Badabing badaboom, you've got a delicious musk melon (or cantaloupe) and blueberry sorbet!

How Restaurants are Failing People with Disabilities

People with disabilities should be able to enjoy eating out just as much as people without disabilities. Yet, many restaurants don't reflect this. This post explains what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is, what it requires of restaurants and how restaurants are failing to live up to ADA standards.

Social SustainabilitySustained KitchenAugust 19, 2020ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, disabled people, social sustainability, ADA of 1990, accessibility, wheelchair accessibility, wheelchair access, accessibility in restaurants, ADA in restaurants, sustained kitchen, increase accessibility, wheelchair accessibility in restaurants, small businesses, sustainability tipsComment

PB & J Smoothie

The jam component of this PBJ smoothie relies primarily on strawberries, but I also added blueberries and blackberries to give it wildberry jam vibes. For the peanut butter, I used a peanuts-and-salt-only jar, but feel free to use whatever peanut butter invokes nostalgia. The result tastes exactly like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

5 Questions for Sustainable Grocery Shopping

Trying to eat sustainably can be super confusing, but I'm here to help. In this post, I outline the five simple questions that will make your grocery shopping more sustainable.

Sustainable ShoppingSustained KitchenAugust 12, 2020sustainability tips, sustainable business, how to, which food is sustainable, grocery shopping, how to be sustainable, where to start, food sustainability, sustained kitchen, zero waste, pros and cons, local food, is local food good, food waste, farmers market Comments

The Best Summer Corn Chowder

I loaded the soup with onions, celery, carrots, garlic, potatoes, corn zucchini, tomatoes AND a jalapeño to make the most of summer produce. For the methods, I made the soup extra creamy by blending half of it (before adding in the corn, of course - I wanted to let the kernels shine) and adding in a can of coconut milk. Don't worry; it doesn't taste coconut-y, just creamy, healthy and satisfying.

Grilled Fennel, Onion and Tomato Salad

The original recipe in “From Asparagus to Zucchini” calls for only onions and fennel, but I remembered especially loving the combination of fennel and roasted tomatoes in my cabbage soup, so I decided to toss in some tomatoes as well. I also opted to serve this dish on a bed of greens and add in some lemon juice to make it a more substantial salad and brighten it up.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge 101

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is the backbone of many modern medicines, agricultural techniques, beauty products and more. In this post, I'll walk you through what TEK is and why indigenous knowledge holders deserve much more respect than they get.

Social SustainabilitySustained KitchenJuly 29, 2020traditional ecological knowledge, sustained kitchen, indigenous knowledge, indigenous wisdom, chinese medicine, herbal medicine, legit, legitimate, trustworthy, echinacea, indigenous rights, indigenous intellectual property, sustainability tipsComment

Cherry, Chia and Oat Pudding

With this recipe, I was determined to create something healthy that actually tastes good. I started with a traditional chia pudding, then added in some oats and flax to promote the pudding-like consistency without amplifying the chia flavor. I also added a bit of sweetener, almond extract and an easy cherry compote. The result is a yummy, nutritious and refreshing breakfast, lunch or snack.

Ultimate Guide to Tomatoes

It's finally tomato season. From softball-sized sandwich-toppers to lop-sided heirlooms to bite-sized snacks, tomatoes come in all shapes and sizes. In this post, I'll walk you through what's what in the world of tomatoes.

Seasonal ProduceSustained KitchenJuly 22, 2020tomatoes, sustained kitchen, heirloom tomatoes, what are heirloom tomatoes, are heirloom tomatoes better, are heirlooms worth it, worth it, difference between, hybrid tomatoes, best tomatoes, which tomatoes, sustainability tipsComment

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini bread was a staple food during my childhood summers and is still one of my favorite summer treats. This recipe is sweet, moist and has a hint of cinnamon. Have a slice on a Sunday morning with a pat of butter and a cup of coffee for a real treat.

Chinampas 101

Chinampas are a sustainable farming system that's been around for centuries. In this post, I'll explain what Chinampas are, why they are sustainable and why you should care.

Farming and GardeningSustained KitchenJuly 15, 2020chinampas, sustainability, sustained kitchen, sustainable agriculture, sustainable farming, sustainable farm, sustainable, chinampa, chinampero, mesoamerica, mexico, mexican, farming in mexico, what are chinampas, sustainability tips Comments

Tomato Toast Revisited

In this post, I wanted to revisit the tomato toast concept, but make it a little heartier than the classic Pan con Tomate. To do this, I replaced the ciabatta with seedy, crusty wheat bread and added a bit of cheese to the mix. These changes make the dish more filling and add a little more depth to the flavor.

Seasonal Recipe: SummerSustained KitchenJuly 12, 2020pan con tomate, tomato toast, tomato bread, asiago bread, asiago toast, tomato asiago toast, parmesan tomato toast, parmesan, asiago, tomato cheese toast, grilled tomato cheese toast, grilled, bread, sustained kitchen, recipeComment

Sustainable Cookware 101

Figuring out which cookware is sustainable, which is greenwashed and which is just plain hazardous is super difficult. In this post, I’ll give you my top tips for finding sustainable cookware and discuss the pros and cons of the most popular cookware materials.

Grandbaby Cake's Strawberry Ice Cream

I knew that I wanted my ice cream to incorporate the strawberries I have growing on my balcony, so I started searching for a truly decadent strawberry ice cream recipe. I stumbled on Jocelyn Delk Adams's Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream on her blog Grandbaby Cakes. Her recipe checks off all my criteria and more. It makes the most of strawberry season and satisfies my ultra-creamy ice cream dreams.

Seasonal Recipe: Summer, Seasonal Recipe: SpringSustained KitchenJuly 5, 2020strawberry ice cream, homemade ice cream, kitchen aid, KitchenAid, ice cream, ice cream maker, homemade, recipe, sustained kitchen, sustainable ice cream, grandbaby cakes, grandbabycakesComment

Loose Leaf Peppermint Tea

Mint plants are known for being super prolific and spreading like crazy, so your mint plant probably won’t mind a haircut. This recipe requires four cups of mint leaves, but it dehydrates down to 8 cups of tea. Feel free to cut or multiply this recipe to best suit your mint collection.

Who I'm Amplifying

In this post, I promote some of my new-found favorite food and sustainability creators who happen to be Black. Some of them are activists and some just have great content. If you're interested in anyone's content, give their page a visit and get to know them!

Social SustainabilitySustained KitchenJune 24, 2020Amplify Melanated Voices, Sustained kitchen, sustainable food, intersectional environmentalism, black lives matter, food blog, black food blog, black influencers, black environmentalists, black instagram, sustainability tips, social sustainability Comments

Chickpea, Beet and Veggie Sandwich

n this recipe, I incorporated my love for shaved vegetables with my love for simply roasted chickpeas. Every time I tested this sandwich, I ate about a handful of chickpeas before they made it into the sandwich. They're salty, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and just plain irresistible. The combination of chickpeas, beet spread and shaved veg makes this sandwich one for the record books.

Seasonal Recipe: SpringSustained KitchenJune 21, 2020sandwich, healthy sandwich, lunch recipes, sandwich lunch, lunchbox, beet pesto, healthy, healthy recipe, healthy food, sustained kitchen, sustainable food, chickpea sandwich, recipeComment

Food Insecurity, Race and Gender

Black transgender people have a higher risk of food insecurity than the average population. In this post, I explain what food insecurity is, why many black transgender people experience food insecurity and how you can help.

Social SustainabilitySustained KitchenJune 17, 2020food security, food insecurity, food justice, justice, environmental justice, nonprofits, black transgender, transphobia, racism, black lives matter, environmental racism, sustained kitchen, sustainable food, hunger, sustainability tips Comments

Lavender, Orange and Honey Shortbread Cookies

A few weeks ago in my Pinterest feed, I saw some gorgeous shortbread cookies decorated with all kinds of edible flowers. They were colorful, perfectly round and had a sparkly sugar topping. I was smitten, so I decided to recreate them.