Herradura Kiwi Cooler

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Herradura Silver
• ½ ounces lime juice
• ½ ounces agave nectar
• 1 ounces cucumber juice
• ½ kiwi

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with cubed ice.
2. Shake hard to break down the kiwi and chill the drink.
3. Strain into a tall glass over cubed ice and garnish with kiwi discs.

Bohemia “Float” Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups citrus-flavored sorbet, slightly softened
• 3 12-ounce bottles of Bohemia beer, well chilled

Directions:

1. Combine sorbet and beer in a large pitcher. Stir well to completely melt the sorbet into the beer.
2. Divide between 6 wine glasses and serve immediately.

• A hip-hop mogul plans to supply New Yorkers who live in neighborhoods where healthy food is scarce with nutritious food options. He plans on opening a factory and a grocery chain in a business model mirrored after Trader Joe’s. How’s that for karma points? [NY Daily News]

• You may be carrying more than just your wallet in your leather handbag. A study revealed that 20% of handbags have more bacteria than a toilet seat. [Medicalnewstoday.com]

• Caffeinated toothpaste, anyone? A few of the products on this list of “12 things we’ve enhanced with caffeine” are surprising. Sunscreen?? [Mental Floss]

• In “Breaking Bad” fashion, a retired Taiwanese high school chemistry teacher has been teaching food factories how to make an illegal food additive that can cause kidney damage. [Quartz]

• An elderly woman who survived the tornado that hit Oklahoma on May 20 was talking to reporters from CBS News where her house once stood. As she told the reporter about her little dog, which she assumed was still trapped beneath the rubble, the reporter spotted the pup, a little worse for wear but very much alive. [Sky]

• Slate crunched some numbers to determine the best places in the United States to avoid natural disasters. [Slate]

• The makers of Oxycontin introduced a formula of the painkiller that cannot be crushed to deter drug abusers from snorting or injecting it. [PopSci]

• Scientists have pinpointed at last the exact strain of the P. infestans pathogen, which caused the Irish Potato Famine. [Smithsonian]

• Multiple-drug-resistant TB is absolutely no match for a healthy dose of vitamin C. Nutrition scores another win. [BBC]

• Worried how you look on social media? Some users are turning to plastic surgery to enhance their appearance online. [Time Healthland]

• A bacon restaurant has been shut down for smelling too much like bacon. Color us shocked. [Fox News]

• NASA is funding research for 3-D printed food that could put an end to hunger and food waste. [Quartz]

• A mystery respiratory illness has killed two people and infected five others in Alabama. [Gawker]

Before you throw your computer out the window and declare blasphemy in a violent fit of rage, consider this: The company responsible for this indecency, Mobitek-M, is actually trying to do some good.

Almost half of the animal weight processed in the meat industry is scrapped, even though it’s high in proteins and lipids, ScienceDaily explains. But the PROSPARE project — which stands for Progress in Saving Proteins and Recovering Energy — has found a solution: They developed a technology that uses food-digesting enzymes to convert meat scraps into proteins called “functional animal proteins hydrolyzes.” These proteins contain more beneficial amino acids than the proteins found in fish or eggs, and they can be used as supplements or additives in processed food — like ice cream.

Mobitek-M is testing this out in Russia through what it’s calling the Rosano Project. The company plans to transform approximately 100 tons of functional animal protein per day at its new plant in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.

Some researchers believe this concept to be a resourceful way to reduce the impact of food production on the environment, even if consumers might not consider “bone trimmings” too appealing on their ice cream’s ingredient list. Then again, it wouldn’t be the first gross ingredient in our processed foods.

Grow Jar

City dwellers that want to grow their own vegetables and herbs year-round have limited options. The Grow Jar makes it simple — it requires a shockingly small amount of space, very little water, no soil, no power and no pesticides. Using a simple passive hydroponic process, the plant receives the exact amount of water, fertilizer and air based on the plant’s needs.

Each Grow Jar kit comes with seeds of your choosing, soil-less growing mix, Grow Stones, organic plant nutrient, a seed-growing pod, The Jar (made from 100% recycled plastic), an integrated lid and growing pot, and instructions for planting and growing. You can grow a wide range of herbs, tomatoes, peppers, kale, lettuce, spinach and various other vegetables right in your own kitchen.

Price: $20
 

 

Windowfarms

Indoor gardening has never looked this good. Windowfarms are vertical hydroponic gardens that let you grow your own food inside, even in the winter. Your window is the only space you’ll need for growing just about anything in these 4-foot systems, which can hang from a hook above the window or sit on the floor, windowsill or a shelf next to the window.

Windowfarms make it easy to grow your own food. They system is hooked up to a reservoir filled with water and nutrients, which is connected to a pump that’s on a timer. The timer is set at 15 minute on/off intervals, sending the nutrient-rich water directly to the plants’ root systems twice every hour.

One Windowfarm can hold about 10 plants and works well with just about any type of vegetable or herb. You can grow anything from kale and lettuce to strawberries and squash — even stevia — in these systems. The price is much higher than most planters, but you’re paying for a very efficient, easy-to-manage technology that also looks kind of awesome in your kitchen.

Price: $179 to $399

Aquafarm

You’ve probably seen the grow-at-home mushroom kits that let you grow up to 1.5 pounds of oyster mushrooms in a small box filled with coffee grinds in only about 10 days. Now the same company, Back To The Roots, is at it again with an ingenious product that lets you grow food at the top of a fish tank.

The Aquafarm is a self-cleaning fish tank and planter that upcycles the waste from the fish, breaking it down into nutrients that feed the plants while also cleaning the fish tank water. So you never need to feed the plants or clean the fish tank — you just need to feed the fish! The Aquafarm lets you grow a variety of fresh produce, including spinach, baby greens, oregano, beans, basil, mint, parsley and thyme.

Price: $59.99

Let’s Patch self-watering planter

These attractive, compact planters use sub-irrigation to self-water. All you need to do is place a small amount of soil into a screened-in section of the reservoir at the bottom of the planter, and the system wicks up the water and delivers it the plant’s roots when needed, ensuring the plant doesn’t get under-watered or over-watered.

At 12 inches wide, 6 inches tall and 6 inches deep, the Let’s Patch planter fits perfectly on windowsills and balconies and requires only water and sunlight. You can grow a variety of culinary herbs and greens, and the company plans on releasing more growing options — such as salads, peppers and cucumbers — in the near future.

Let’s Patch is currently a project on Kickstarter, as the company needs to raise $50,000 to step up production and go to a large-scale manufacturer. It’s currently at $13,081 with 23 days to go, its last day falling on June 14.

Price: Currently depends on how much you pledge on Kickstarter

Photo: ThisMamaCooks.com

Watermelon, mint & basil salad with feta

You can’t have a barbecue without watermelon. In this recipe from This Mama Cooks, summer’s favorite fruit is tossed with basil, fresh mint, lime juice, crumbled feta and rice vinegar for a flavor-packed salad that will help you beat the heat.

Cauliflower “couscous” Greek salad

Photo: TheVintageMixer.com

Once again proving it’s one of the most versatile vegetables in existence, cauliflower subs for couscous in this delicious recipe from The Vintage Mixer. Every bite is refreshing thanks to the myriad of fresh ingredients: cucumber, red bell pepper, romaine, olives, onion, pine nuts and feta.

Photo: All You

Potato & green bean salad

Add some color and crunch to your potato salad with green beans! This recipe from All You combines red potatoes, green beans, mayo (use low-fat), white-wine vinegar, scallions, tarragon and parsley for a fresh take on a cookout staple.

Brussels sprout pomegranate citrus salad

Photo: TwoPeasAndTheirPod.com

Lettuce can get boring sometimes. Switch it up by using Brussels sprouts for your salad’s green foundation, like this recipe from Two Peas And Their Pod. Topped with avocado, oranges, pomegranate and a citrus dressing, this salad practically screams summer.

Photo: CheeriosAndLattes.com

Quick strawberry spring salad

This salad from Cheerios & Lattes brings together both sweet and salty flavors, thanks to the strawberries and candied walnuts. It’s served on a bed of fresh spinach and romaine lettuce, and topped with feta and poppyseed dressing.

Heirloom tomatoes & peach salad

Photo: TheHighHeeledHostess.com

One of the best things about summer is heirloom tomatoes. Interestingly, they’re mixed with peaches, goat cheese, pecans and basil in this unique recipe from Southern Living. A sweet balsamic dressing puts the finishing touches on this colorful dish.

Photo: ATouchOfZest.com

Quinoa salad

We couldn’t resist including a quinoa salad. This recipe from A Touch of Zest is a perfect example of how to use the pseudograin in cold summer dishes. The colorful combination of ingredients — black beans, corn, onions, lime, cherry tomatoes, red pepper and cucumber — make for a nutritious side dish that’s as pretty as it is tasty.

Crunchy Greek yogurt vegetable salad

Photo: NatalieParamore.com

Everyone loves Mom’s old-fashioned cold broccoli salad during the warmer months, but the traditional recipe is loaded with high-fat ingredients like mayonnaise and bacon. This recipe from Food Fetish gives the old version a much needed makeover, without sacrificing taste. Broccoli, cucumbers, green bell pepper and carrots are tossed in a mixture of Greek yogurt, lemon juice, fresh dill and other seasonings for a crunchy, light side dish that goes with just about anything.

Candy-stripe beet and carrot slaw

Photo: Maren Caruso; Epicurious.com

Every barbecue needs a good slaw — and it doesn’t have to be made out of cabbage. The Bon Appetit Test Kitchen got creative with this recipe, using julienned beets and carrots instead of the usual cabbage, and coating the brightly colored strands in a dressing made from Greek yogurt, orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice and dill.

Grilled corn salad

Photo: TheHealthyFoodie.com

They should have called this salad “Summer In A Bowl.” The Healthy Foodie recipe calls for fresh corn, haricots verts, grape tomatoes, red bell pepper, goat cheese, walnuts, jalapeno, lime juice and parsley. Every bite is filled with crunchy goodness and a whole lotta good-for-you nutrients!

The resort town of Seaside, Fla., is comprised of traditional pastel clapboard cottages and mandatory front porches that encourage “good ol’-fashioned porch-sittin’.”

The idea of a harmonious community that is fully planned down to the ideal distance between a white picket fence and the pedestrian-friendly sidewalk might seem like the imaginings of a sci-fi utopia. But such intricately designed towns exist in the present, and they’re actually drawing a lot of their ideals from our past.

This movement, dubbed “New Urbanism,” understands that “the design of spaces matters to the vibrancy and livability of a community,” explains the Sustainable Cities Institute of the National League of Cities. This design philosophy embraces a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle and central public spaces as “bedrock principles for creating healthy communities.”

In short, New Urbanism is bringing back the quintessential American small-town life to battle the ever-growing suburban sprawl. In the foreword to the “Charter of the New Urbanism,” the authoritative document for the movement compiled by the Congress for the New Urbanism, Shelley Poticha proclaims that the movement “began as a remarkable set of conversations aimed at systematically changing the ground rules for development in North America.”

The New Urbanism prototype

The prototype for American New Urbanism can be found in the resort town of Seaside, a northwestern Florida community nestled against the Gulf Coast designed by husband-and-wife architectural team Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, two names that receive a lot of adoration among New Urbanism devotees. With its traditional pastel clapboard cottages and mandatory front porches, Seaside has the visual effect of whisking one away to Savannah, Ga., or some other Southern coastal town in its antebellum years. This is more than just an aesthetically pleasing effect, however — those wraparound patios encourage good ol’-fashioned porch-sittin’ that “[promotes] interaction among the community’s residents.”

The porches in Seaside, Fla., are set a required distance from walkways to “enable porch sitters and passersby to communicate without raising their voices.”

As the nonprofit resource Smart Communities Network further details, the porches are set a required distance from walkways specifically to “enable porch sitters and passersby to communicate without raising their voices.” The social benefits of a pedestrian-centric community freed from the isolation of individual vehicles — if you’ve ever been caught in rush-hour traffic alone, you know the soul-crushing feeling — are not to be overlooked.

Orenco Station

In 2009, sociologist Bruce Podobnik presented a case study based on a survey of residents in Oregon’s Orenco Station. Located in the Portland-Hillsboro corridor, Orenco Station was heralded by the New York Times as “perhaps the most interesting experiment in new urbanist planning anywhere in the country right now,” a town that sprung up along the recently extended MAX light rail line.

Orenco’s master plan is centered around a pedestrian “spine” that stretches from the light rail through row homes to the town center and then onward, to a formal central park surrounded by a grid of pedestrian-friendly streets. Commuting residents are obliged to pass by their neighbors on their way here or there. In Podobnik’s study, Orenco Station residents reported more so than residents of other Portland neighborhoods that their fellow residents were friendly and that there was a stronger sense of community in the area.

Building according to the ‘human scale’

Aside from the obvious benefits of less air pollution and fuel usage due to less traffic, pedestrianism was embraced by New Urbanism theorists from the beginning because they felt that walking was a great equalizer. As the Seaside Institute, a nonprofit that promotes the tenets of New Urbanism, explains, “everyone budgets a lot of money for transportation. … Those who can’t drive — the poor, the elderly and the children — are more restricted and dependent than everyone else.”

A cobblestone-paved main street in Rosemary Beach, Fla., provides easy access to restaurants, shops, a fitness center and a market.

Instead of separating residential and commercial districts by distances that demand access to a vehicle, New Urbanism communities are planned and built to “the human scale.” In Seaside, the community includes stores, restaurants, schools, a post office and a chapel, all within of a five-minute walk — the time it takes the average person to walk a quarter-mile — of each dwelling.

The idea of having a central public space in New Urban communities isn’t just so residents can easily walk to the store to grab a gallon of milk; it all goes back to the idea of greater social interaction — and hopefully, a more harmonious existence. Integrated-use planners look to European planning traditions in their use of civic and public spaces, but “very few … will have employed the principles of neo-traditional design as anything more than a façade,” laments the Sustainable Community Research Group at Canada’s McMaster University.

In Celebration, Fla., the Disney-backed New Urbanism experiment near Orlando, a clearly definable public space is created by “orderly ranks of trees [that] present a unifying street wall, the dead faces of garages have been banish to backyards … and the house fronts are carefully scaled so as not to overwhelm the space,” wrote Michael Pollen in the New York Times. In Rosemary Beach, Fla., Seaside’s Caribbean-inspired neighboring town, a cobblestone-paved main street provides easy access to restaurants, shops, a fitness center and a food market.

Criticism

Critics of New Urbanism complain that such an idealistic lifestyle isn’t remotely realistic; “housing is expensive and the shops even more so. The people who live there don’t work there, and the people who work there can’t afford to live there,” says the Inclusive City, an advocacy group that strives to go “beyond” New Urbanism. Most of Florida’s popular New Urbanism communities are nothing more than vacation destinations. A cozy beachside bungalow in Seaside will set you back at least a lofty $1 million. So New Urbanism living might remain but a dream for most.

A cozy beachside bungalow in Seaside, Fla., will set you back a lofty $1 million.

But when walking past the quaint colonial-style cottages of Rosemary Beach or the whitewashed stucco creations of Alys Beach, Fla., one can’t help but feel engulfed in a fantasy of another time — perhaps a time of better centuries past or perhaps one of a brighter future.

ROMAINE LETTUCE
We usually don’t even cook lettuce indoors, so it’s extra-unusual to consider grilling it. But as it turns out, the charred, wilted edges add a wonderful texture to salads. Wash the lettuce and pat it dry. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with some lemon juice and salt, and grill for about four to five minutes over medium-high heat, turning occasionally.

Chop up the lettuce however you want and add your favorite salad dressing and toppings. Need some ideas? Try this yummy cilantro-lime vinaigrette from OurBestBites.com.

BANANAS
If you’re a fan of bananas foster — and let’s be honest: who isn’t? — you’ll love grilled bananas. Leave the skins on, cut the bananas in half and cook, skin side up, on medium heat for three minutes or until grill marks appear. Turn over with tongs and cook for another five minutes or until the skin pulls away from the bananas. For a sweet dessert, try this recipe for honey-rum grilled bananas from Taste of Home.

PIZZA
Why should we unnecessarily heat up the whole house when pizza tastes just as good — if not better — on the grill? We know what you’re thinking, and yes, you would think the dough would fall through the grates, but it doesn’t! You should make sure the grates are clean so the dough doesn’t stick. Coat the dough with olive oil and lay it on the grill over medium heat. Let it cook for about one to one-and-a-half minutes on one side, and then (carefully!) flip it with tongs.

Throw on the sauce and toppings like you’re participating in a timed challenge on an episode of “Master Chef” — seriously, you need to make it QUICK. Close the grill and let it cook for another one-and-a-half to two minutes, checking at least once to make sure it doesn’t overcook. The cheese should be bubbly and the crust browned. Remove it from the grill with tongs, and eat!

If you need a recipe to get started, try this grilled veggie pizza from MyRecipes.com.

PEACHES
If bananas aren’t really your thing, grilled peaches makes for a tasty summer dessert. You’ll need firm peaches that have a little give when you put some pressure on them. Cut them in half and pit them, brush the grill with oil and cook on low to medium heat for about two to four minutes per side. They should be tender and have grill marks when they’re ready. Try these grilled peaches with honey and yogurt from Skinnytaste.com.

OYSTERS
If you’ve ever been to Drago’s in New Orleans, you already know that charbroiled oysters are heavenly. If you haven’t been, we’ll let you slide this time and help you make grilled oysters from home — but get your butt to Drago’s at some point in your life! Cook oysters over medium-high heat. When the first one opens, which should take about eight minutes, remove all of them from the grill. Shuck, sprinkle with lemon juice and enjoy!

Grilled oyster recipes often use massive amounts of butter. Yes, this is delicious — but it also adds a lot of fat to what could be an amazing AND healthy meal. Keep it simple like we suggested above, or try these wood-grilled oysters in chipotle vinaigrette from Epicurious. You can also grill clams — it should take about the same amount of time to cook.

PINEAPPLE
Grilled pineapple can be eaten as dessert or used in an Asian-style dish for lunch or dinner. You’ll need ripe but not mushy pineapple that has a little give to it when you put pressure on it. Cut off the top and bottom, as well as the rind. Cut crosswise into six slices and cook over medium-high heat until grill marks appear, which should take about four to six minutes per side.

Try this grilled pineapple and scallops teriyaki recipe from Whole Foods. If you’d rather pineapple for dessert, try this recipe for grilled pineapple slices with ginger cream from EatBetterAmerica.com.

AVOCADO
If you’re in a guac slump, grilled avocados might be just what you need. Grilled avocados in non-guacamole form are also amazing. Make sure the grill is clean so the avocado doesn’t stick, and brush the avocados with lime juice and olive oil. Cook, flesh-side-up, on medium-high heat for about three to five minutes. Add a dollop of sour cream and salsa where the pits used to be, or try this grilled avocado, tomato and red onion salad from Michael Chiarello at FoodNetwork.com.

Note: Don’t forget to keep your grilling eco-friendly. To find out how, click here.

1. Angry Birds lunch

That’s one way to get your kid to eat healthy. Here’s the recipe if you want to test the strategy for yourself.

Photo credit: Ellena Guan, Food.insing.com

2. Cauliflower/broccoli poodle

Too doggone cute.

3. Eggs on death row

Gotta love the one in the pan.

4. Yin & yang eggs

5. Sweet potato guinea pig

It’s almost too cute to eat.

6. Ladybug apples

Another great way to get your kids to eat the good stuff! Here’s the recipe.

7. Orange Cheshire cat

Because a list that includes food animals needs a cat.

8. Orange peel man

It’s aliiiiivvveee!

9. Piano sandwich

This one was made by a dad who created cartoon-themed “funky lunches” to get his kids to eat fruits and vegetables. He now has his own party recipe book.

10. Scared pigs in a blanket

Not entirely sure what these are supposed to be …

11. Soup with rice people

We’re never putting rice in the bottom of the bowl again.

12. Strawberry snake

13. Fruit & veggie dog

14. Veggie dinosaur

Can someone please create a food dinosaur Tumblr?

15. Food face

Sorry for the nightmares!

Created for Women’s Health Week (May 12 to 18), the infographic shows how many women receive health services now covered by law, such as routine exams, mammograms and breast-feeding support — not to mention birth control. We’ll be interested to see if these numbers increase over the next couple of years simply because more women are able to get the health care they need.

And that’s the whole concept behind Buycott, a new app for the iPhone and Android that lets users scan product bar codes and find out if the companies behind that product conflict with, or support, the user’s beliefs.

One of the first steps in signing up for the free app is choosing campaigns. The user selects from a list of various initiatives ranging from “Avoid Sweatshop & Child Labor” to “Support Local Craft Beer.” When a product’s bar code is scanned, the app reveals the company, or companies, involved in its manufacture and whether or not they have actively supported or opposed any of the user’s campaigns.

We downloaded the app and selected the following campaigns just to test it out:

• Avoid Sweatshop & Child Labor
• Clean and Renewable Energy
• Dietitians for Corporate Change
• Support Local Craft Beer
• Local & Sustainable Food Initiative
• Equality for LGBTQ
• Demand GMO Labeling
• Colbert Nation (Since we know you’re curious, it’s a not-so-serious campaign strictly promoting brands “that have been pre-approved by Dr. Stephen T. Colbert.”)

We scanned some Aveeno lotion, Progresso red kidney beans, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner, Quaker Oats oatmeal, Bounty paper towels, a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew, Farmland Dairies half & half, Chobani yogurt, Coors Light and Brooklyn Brewery lager.

The only campaign that popped up was “Demand GMO Labeling.” (However, the app was just launched this month, so you can expect the campaigns to become more comprehensive and the number of campaigns to increase.) When we scanned Progresso, a red bar appeared at the top telling us we’re “avoiding this company,” and explained that it had donated $1,135,300 to “No on Prop 37,” the California proposition for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. Kraft, Quaker Oats and PepsiCo all produced similar messages with hefty donations against Prop 37.

Part of Kraft’s “Family Tree”

You can also view the “Family Tree” for each company, which shows what brand the product is affiliated with, what company, what parent company, etc. Or view the entire list of campaigns the company is associated with — green means the company supports the initiative, while red means they’ve opposed it in some way.

The app definitely still has its glitches. It had to be temporarily removed from the Google Play store on Wednesday so developers could address issues, and it’s working to expand its product directory; but overall, it’s a helpful tool for shoppers who want their spending to reflect their principles.