Ysanne's blog

Preserved lemons

Preserving lemons is one of the most simple and fun ways to start home preserving...
Read the whole post »

Sprouting seeds

Mung bean sprouts

My friend Erik came by my house tonight and noticed two jars with some seeds in them, both covered with water...
Read the whole post »

Apple pie… with coconut sugar

Apple Pie with coconut sugar

Wheat-free, dairy-free and sugar-free... this is an apple pie that tastes delicious, but is so light that you can eat an enormous delicious piece and not have to worry about sugar-crashes or feeling gloopy. It has a sugar-cookie style crumb to the crust thanks to a mix of buckwheat and spelt flour, and has plenty of natural sweetness due to the organic Granny Smiths and Bosc pear it's filled with, plus some coconut sugar. Coconut sugar is a traditional organic food that's new to me, but well known in Indonesia...
Read the whole post »

Organic news

India hates Genetically Modified food

"We shouldn't be a part of a system that will destroy traditional seeds and crops and allow multinational corporations to infringe on the agriculture sector.” Indian Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, saying Genetically Modified food would lead to the ‘colonization’ of the food sector. The Guardian UK, 9 February 2010.
Read the whole post »

How much money farmers get

Out of every dollar we spend at a store, only 8 cents makes it back to the farmer.
Read the whole post »

Organic food isn’t posh

"The paradox is there's this view that organic is elitist, it's expensive, it's a lifestyle choice for people who can afford it. As far as I'm concerned it's not elitist to believe everyone should have the right to high-quality, nutritious food from sustainable farming systems. What's elitist is that a handful of corporations have got a vice-like grip on the farming systems and food." Patrick Holden, Soil Association director, rejecting claims that organic is expensive and elitist...
Read the whole post »

Recipes and books

Homemade sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is the easiest thing in the world to make, last forever, is much healthier for you than the ingredients it's made from, and is super-good when served on the side with sausages and mashed potatoes! All you need is a big glass mason jar with a rubber seal lid, a potato masher, a big plastic bowl, a knife and board, one organic cabbage, and a tablespoon of salt. Firstly, boil your mason jar to sterilize it, then set aside. Remove any outer leaves that you don't like the look of and rinse the cabbage...
Read the whole post »

Orange and Almond Cake

You've been asking me to post some of my wheat-free, dairy-free, sugar-free dessert recipes, so here's a recipe I adore that's free of anything like that...
Read the whole post »

The New Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving

by Diane Morgan Published by Chronicle Books Diane knows how to bake a turkey and keep it moist and flavorful...
Read the whole post »

Your emails

Can “hothouse” food be organic?

Question: "When a grocery store advertises "hot house" red or yellow peppers, are they considered organic?" from, Susan Dillard Answer: The only way you can be sure something is grown organically is if it is labeled "Organic" "Hot-house" means they have been grown indoors, perhaps under a plastic polytunnel, or perhaps under glass...
Read the email and response »

Converted

Hi there, Just like to say,great website. I am now a full convert to organic fruit and veg etc. I'm addicted to the stuff. I actually have an organic box delivered each week, sort of boycotting the supermarkets these days, hardly any organic produce there these days, strange. Keep up the great work, David Tait
Read the email and response »

Raw organic milk

I live in north East Fife, in Scotland and was brought up on raw "green top" unpasteurised milk, as it was, as nature intended. When this was banned in Scotland, I turned to ordinary pasteurised milk, but now, all milk, even organic, seems to be homogenised - but I read that in Australia, this type of milk treatment has raised health issues, mostly do with heart health...
Read the email and response »