Friday, January 6, 2012



Hello from your friendly neighborhood hippie!




I have gotten so many wonderful tips from my friends over the years it seems that I am now being asked for my resources regularly, so I am going to do my best to keep this list updated. I will add to it as good stuff comes in, please email me if you have a tip or are looking for something. Forward to friends, family, and anyone you think might be interested.

I recognize that some of this is controversial and not all of it is proven one way or the other. I try to remain as science based and neutral as possible but that is not always possible, so apologies if any of this information is not perfect. Please let me know if there is anything egregiously wrong.
Take care and be healthy!

NOT organized at all. Sorry!

1. Lobbying groups and healthy eating organizations:

2. Westchester and NYC CSA that I have participated in for two summers now:
Registration is open now (Jan 2012) The season is generally from June - November, and you pick up veggies one day per week. Depending on the pick-up location you get 3 - 4 hrs to pick up. The variety is very good, and of course you can always hit me up for recipes if you're scared of garlic scapes (don't be, they're awesome!) They allow you to split shares with another family if you're concerned about it being too much too eat or if you travel a lot.

3. Milkman for Westchester:
http://mjmdairy.com/ All their milk is growth-hormone free, you can also order organic. Matt delivers all dairy products and juice, cider, i think even hummus too. 914-528-3951. I'm pretty sure he has a partner that delivers in the city as well.

4. Movies & Videos to watch:

5. Westchester Butchers:
  • Crisfields' Prime Meats, 61 Purchase St, Rye, NY 914-967-0152. The owner knows exactly where all his meat comes from and what it has been fed so far and as long as he's not too busy, willing to entertain hippies with multiple silly questions. Also where most of the Yankees, Knicks, etc that live in Westchester go so who knows who you'll meet there.
  • North End Meats, 835 Post Rd Scarsdale, NY 10583-5504 914-723-3363. Old-school Italian butcher that has been there for many years. I have not asked him about where his beef comes from but I'm sure he knows.
  • John Boy's meat. This is the best, most quality raised beef, pork and poultry available to us in Westchester. John publishes a newsletter that you can get if you email him at johnboysmarket @ aol (dot) com. He can be found in the winter at St. Mark's church at the corner of 117 and 133 in Mt. Kisco on Saturdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm. You will not find anyone who cares about the quality of his animals more than John, ever.
5.5 Fresh Fish
  • Gus' Fish, Halstead Ave, Harrison, NY
  • Eastchester Fish Gourmet, Post Rd, Scarsdale/Eastchester, NY
  • Imperial Seafood, 419 Mamaroneck Ave Mamaroneck, NY
  • Smokehouse, 434 Waverly Avenue, Mamaroneck, New York

6. Fresh eggs & Chicken:
Ok, aside from my yard, you can find the best eggs at http://www.featherridgeeggs.com/
They are at the Rye Farmer's market on Sundays in the summer, and Mamaroneck indoors in the winter. They also sell fresh killed, dressed, whole birds which are possibly the best tasting chicken I've ever eaten. They are also for sale in the city at three markets there.

7. Farmer's Markets

8. Seeds & plants for the spring:

9. Local Farms (Westchester, NY):
These are both family friendly and functioning. Stop by with your little ones and possibly pick up some farmer's market goodies or maybe take a class. Some of them allow you to bring pets (aka dogs) some don't so check ahead of time.

  • Hilltop Hanover Farm - located in Yorktown, offers a CSA - http://www.hilltophanoverfarm.org
  • Blue Hills Stone Barns - located in Briarcliff Manor, also boasts an insanely good restaurant (*with prices to match but yes I had my 40th birthday party here and it was totally worth it) - http://www.stonebarnscenter.org
  • Muscoot Farm - located in Somers, NY - http://www.muscootfarm.org
  • Harvest Moon - located in North Salem, NY - This is both an apple orchard and a farm. They have chickens, eggs, donkeys, and Alpacas! There are lots of fun events for families on the weekends. We go apple picking here early Sept. - http://www.harvestmoonfarmandorchard.com
10. Chickens:
If you're looking to have your own flock of pet chickens, let me start by saying they are not for the squeamish! There is poop: lots and lots of poop. You need to have an idea of where this poop is going to go first, before you get the chickens. Then you need to consider what you will do when the chickens get sick or too old to lay eggs. Are you keeping them? Putting them down with a vet? Butchering them? Think about these things first. Then try looking at:

11. Trea's Treats aka Maki's Crack -
This is a non-gluten, no tree nut type granola that can be eaten like a bar, crumbled over yogurt or salad or just plain wolfed down. Sugar burns very badly so if you make this with little ones remind them that it has to cool down first.


Ingredients:
1 cup pepitos
1 cup sesame seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup rolled oats
.5 cup dried cranberries
4 TB butter
4 TB brown sugar
2 TB honey
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp green cardamom pods
pinch/ to taste large flake sea salt

Preheat oven to 350o F. Line a metal roasting pan with buttered parchment paper.
Toast any seeds that are unroasted in a large, dry skillet over med-high heat, stirring constantly until they brown slightly. Grind spices together in coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. Melt butter in saucepan with brown sugar and stir in nuts, oats and spices. Cook at a simmer for five minutes, add cranberries. Spread seeds on parchment paper with silicon spatula. Bake for 10 minutes, and allow to cool. Cut into squares and store in air tight containers. Alternatively roll into balls when still soft, or crack into pieces like peanut brittle.

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