Taking an odd ingredient and finding even more unusual uses for it.

It’s not so much that the following uses are particularly unusual, but rather that nutritional yeast itself is an odd ingredient. It’s gaining popularity among foodies for its cheesy taste and nutritional benefits, but it still has a way to go in terms of becoming the pantry staple it’s meant to be. Nutritional yeast (nooch) is one of the only non-animal sources of vitamin B-12. It only takes 1/2-1 tbsp of nutritional yeast to get the daily requirement for B-12. Nutritional yeast is also an excellent source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, chromium, selenium, and other minerals as well as 18 amino acids, protein, folic acid, biotin, and other vitamins.

And don’t worry about the yeast fermenting in your gut. It’s deactivated, so it will not give you the bloat. This is what distinguishes it from Brewer’s Yeast, which has not been deactivated.

Pop Corn

As if popcorn couldn’t get any more addicting, nooch had to get involved. Sprinkle the powder along with a drizzle olive oil and a dash of sea salt onto popcorn just popped for a cheesy touch. Add other spices, such as garlic powder, dried thyme or dried rosemary for an even more gourmet experience.

Pizza

Skip cheese and sprinkle a light layer of nutritional yeast onto pizza just after it leaves the oven. Cheese is hard to digest, especially when cooked, but that doesn’t mean you have to cede the taste completely. If you top a pizza with diverse textures and flavors, such as a robust marinara sauce, roasted vegetables and nutritional yeast, the cheese component is unnecessary.

Vegan Cheese Sauce

The food blog world is bursting with vegan “cheese” recipes – some simple, some elaborate – with nutritional yeast as the key ingredient. Check out Angela’s Low-Fat Vegan Cheeze Sauce on her blog Oh She Glows for a 5-ingredient approach. Head over to Epicurian Vegan for a heartier vegan cheese sauce that gets some extra bulk from cashews.

Bread Crumbs

Replace bread crumbs with nutritional yeast in any mixture requiring holding power. This cuts down on the carbs and adds an extra bite. Try using nutritional yeast to hold together veggie burgers or any other patty that would normally require bread crumbs.

Kale Chips

There’s nothing wrong with the standard kale chip recipe. But, nutritional yeast takes kale chips to a whole new level – a level that merits obsession and daily consumption. Try your hand at the Spicy & Cheesy Kale Chips presented by the blog Eating Bird Food.

Macaroni & Cheese

We’ve already given macaroni and cheese a serious makeover, and nutritional yeast was an crucial player in this feat. Not only is this recipe vegan, but thanks to nooch, it offers cheesy comfort to a creamy, sweet potato base.

Pasta

Skip the grated parmesan and sprinkle nutritional yeast atop warm pasta along with some garlic powder and a drizzle of olive oil. The combination of flavors makes for a dish that doesn’t miss a thing.

Mashed Potatoes

Stir nooch into mashed potatoes, not only saving calories by nixing cheese but also cutting down on the sodium. Indeed, mashed potatoes can be healthy.

Bean Dip

Emily Malone of the blog Daily Garnish makes a fabulous bean dip using nutritional yeast. If serving this at a party, no one would even be able to tell its vegan.

Roasted Vegetables

One of my favorite go-to meals is roasted vegetables topped with shredded cheese. On days I’d like to skip the cheese and opt for a healthier alternative, I stir nutritional yeast into the finished vegetables instead. When warmed by the vegetables, the yeast smoothens out and creates a creamy sauce with help from the vegetable juices and oils.

Roasted Nuts

Roast nuts that have been tossed in some nutritional yeast. The roasted flavor will be augmented and the nuts will have a slightly cheesy coating on the skin.

Onion Rings

Nutritional yeast has been showing up in onion ring recipes, and for good reason. It helps to increase the nutritional benefit of onion ring batter and adds an edge to each bite. Make the baked fat-free onion rings featured on vegan blog My Whole Deal.

Sauce Thickener

Much like flour and butter are used to thicken a sauce, nutritional yeast can replace the flour to do the same thing.

Gravy

Keeping your health on track during the holidays is all about cutting corners in small ways. Nutritional yeast can redefine gravy. Bring this simple recipe to the table and the cheer will only heighten.

Salad Dressing

Sneak in your B12 quota is by adding a tablespoon of nutritional yeast to a homemade salad dressing like the Hollyhock Salad Dressing, which you can find on A Passionate Plate blog.

French Fries

Want some added nutrition, crisp, and kick to a homemade version of baked French fries? Drizzle olive oil over cut root vegetables and then toss them in a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast. The flavor is out of this world.

Creamy Cooked Greens

Cooked spinach pairs well with cream and cheese, but you can replace those heavier add-ins with a tablespoon or two of nutritional yeast and then watch as the bare spinach suddenly becomes decadently creamy and bold in flavor.

Vegan Quiche

Experiment with this No-Soy Vegan Quiche recipe from blog Triumph Wellness. It’s the perfect example of where just a little bit of nooch makes a big difference.

Dog Food

Dogs need their vitamin B12 too, especially if your dog is on a plant-based diet. Mix some nutritional yeast in your furry friend’s nibbles and he or she will benefit in a major way.

Baby Formula

If a baby is using formula in place of breast feeding, it is recommended to add nutritional yeast to the infant formula.  Nutritional yeast provides B12, iron and folic acid, which are essential to growth.

Aylin Erman currently resides in Istanbul and is creator of plant-based recipe website GlowKitchen.

Photo Credit: Artizone, Acquired Life

The post 20 Unusual Ways to Use Nutritional Yeast appeared first on EcoSalon.

Had it not been for the sweeping pet-food recall of 2007, most consumers would’ve remained unaware of the sketchy pet-food manufacturing industry. That debacle shed light on the industry and has, thankfully, incited change. But because pet food is mostly unregulated, since the recall, many companies are jumping on the organic bandwagon and splashing “natural” marketing claims across their packaging. So how can you be sure that what you’re feeding your dog is as healthy as the package claims?

When you’re evaluating a new commercial pet food, don’t even look at the front. Flip the bag or box over and focus on the ingredients. Let’s take a look at a real dog food label to see how it stacks up. Holistic Select sent a sample of their Radiant Adult Health Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe.

Ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols), Pork Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Anchovy & Sardine Meal, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Menhaden Fish Oil, Tomato Pomace, Carrots, Peas, Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Potassium Chloride, Organic Quinoa, Blueberries, Apples, Cranberries, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, DL-Methionine, Vitamins [Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Biotin], Minerals [Polysaccharide Complexes of Zinc, Iron, Manganese and Copper, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Choline Chloride, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Inulin, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger Fermentation Products, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative).

Deciphering Protein Sources

Like the labels on people food, pet food labels list ingredients from the highest quantity to the lowest. The Holistic Select label indicates that chicken meal is in the highest concentration followed by brown and white rice. Here’s where it gets tricky: If rice were listed as a single ingredient, it would most likely outweigh the chicken meal, making grain – not meat – the primary ingredient.

Commercial pet food utilizes a lot of animal parts that don’t provide our dogs with the nutrition they require. The best meat to look for is “human-grade,” which is the highest quality and thus the most nutritionally dense. The second best option would be a named meat meal (i.e. chicken meal). And lastly, the lowest-quality meats are animal digest, meat meal, or bone meal, which are made from carcass remains and include heads, bones, blood, intestines, ligaments, and unborn babies, among others.

In our Holistic Select example, as far as dog-food meat goes, the chicken meal, pork meal, and anchovy and sardine meal are high-quality meats.

Fruits and Veggies

The label lists a range of fruits and vegetables (Carrots, Peas, Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Organic Quinoa, Blueberries, Apples, Cranberries, Dried Kelp) and probiotics, all of which are crucial to round out a dog’s complete diet. Until recently, many dog foods ignored these important components, which are thankfully starting to appear in higher-quality dog foods.

Fillers and Preservatives

Beet pulp and tomato pomace are both fillers used in Holistic Select, and both are typical ingredients, though beet pulp is somewhat controversial. Despite its name, beet pulp isn’t derived from the veggie. It’s derived from sugar beets, after the sugar has been extracted, and is used as a fiber source in pet foods. However, in large quantities, beet pulp may cause intestinal problems like bloat or torsion, though commercial dog foods like Holistic Select use safe amounts.

Natural preservatives are a safer option than chemical preservatives. Avoid dog foods that list BHA/BHT. Instead, look for rosemary or Mixed Tocopherols, both of which appear in the Holistic Select food.

The Conclusion?

Pros: The Holistic Select label lists high-quality fats, whole grains, a range of vegetables and probiotics, and natural preservatives.

Cons: While this is a healthy food overall, there isn’t enough high-quality meat to make a complete diet. This food would have to be supplemented with additional meat. I would feed this to my dogs only with the addition of a grain-free canned meat.

Image: laffy4k

The post Of Course You Don’t Feed Your Dog Chicken Beaks or Feathers. Or Do You? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Nothing beats the heat quite like a tasty ice cream treat. As the temperatures heat up, so does your fur-coat-wearing dog! Help him cool off with homemade, organic ice cream.

Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this simple treat:

• 32 oz. container of plain, organic yogurt
• 1 small box of fresh or frozen organic blueberries
• 2 heaping tablespoons of natural peanut butter

In a large bowl, stir together the yogurt and peanut butter. Toss in the blueberries and give it a gentle stir to distribute the blueberries throughout. Pour the mixture into bowls or dishes you have available – muffin tins work great as do ice cube trays for smaller dogs, just pop the cubes into a bowl once they’re frozen. I fill ramekins for my bigger dogs, and this recipe makes eight full ramekins. Stick the containers in the freezer, and in just a few hours, your dog will be happily lapping up his frosty treat!

For a little variety, you can switch out the blueberries for other fresh or frozen berries. Most dogs love raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries. In addition, if your dog is on a diet, you can substitute low-fat yogurt.

Image: dryfish

The post How to Make Your Own Organic Doggy Ice Cream appeared first on EcoSalon.

Anyone who has ever loved and cared for a pet knows how deep and all-encompassing the affection between human and canine can run. Most dog owners would do anything for their furry best friend, especially wanting to ensure that they live as long and as healthy of a life as possible. We take the time to make nutritional, organic meals for other members of fur family, so why not offer our pooches a homemade meal, free of the cancer causing, harmful fillers and questionable ingredients found in most dog food brands, and one we’re certain won’t end up on a scary pet food recall list? It’s time to invite Fido to fine dining!

Here is a menu for a day in the life of a lucky dog – complete with an organic feast for breakfast and dinner that will keep your pup’s tail wagging as he licks his bowl clean. Both of these recipes have been tested and adored by dogs I personally know.

Tailor the recipes below to yield the amount you’d like to feed your dog, whether for one meal, or if you’d like to cook enough to freeze for a week’s worth of food, or just enough to have leftovers for the following day.

Organic Breakfast for Dogs

Organic Oatmeal:

• Prepare organic oatmeal according to box instructions, or make from scratch if buying organic oats from the bulk aisle of your local health food store.
• Once oatmeal is cooked, add a couple spoonfuls of organic cottage cheese and sprinkle in organic blueberries, pears or mandarin oranges depending on your pooch’s palate.

Organic Dinner for Dogs

Organic Pasta Salad:

• Prepare whole wheat pasta according to package instructions, or cook brown rice gluten free pasta if preferred. *Note: spiral, penne or macaroni noodles are easiest for dogs to eat.
• Toss cooked pasta with mixed organic steamed vegetables (carrots, potatoes, lima beans, broccoli, green beans)
• Add cooked organic chicken pieces
• Add organic cubes of cheese

Top tip: A meal of steamed white rice and boiled chicken may help provide relief from gastrointestinal upset for your dog.

As you foray into cooking meals for your dog, for your reference, here’s a comprehensive and informative list of foods that you should never feed your pooch.

Additionally, the ASPCA offers, “Homemade diets require a substantial amount of work to ensure that the final product includes a complete nutritional balance. It is very important to follow recipe directions exactly, not allowing for substitutions or omitting of ingredients. If you wish to use a homemade diet, please consult with your veterinarian or an animal nutritionist for an acceptable recipe.”

The recipes listed here are just a starting off point. Talk to your vet about quantities and specialized recipes that will best benefit your individual dog.

Image: Ed Yourdon

The post Easy and Affordable Organic DIY Dog Food Recipes appeared first on EcoSalon.

This is the third in Luanne’s new lifestyle column, Life in the Green Lane. Read the inaugural column, “The Pros & Cons of Being Married to an Eco Man” and the follow-up, “Why Is it So Hard to Get My Mom to Go Green?”.

My dog has fleece. And that’s not all. There are dozens of reasons why this impossibly adorable pug is leaving behind a puny carbon paw print.

If you consider dogs part of the family then it’s important they’re pulling their weight in the eco department along with the rest of us.

My little Smokey may not be as earthy as those drooling, stick- fetching, shaggy water dogs you see at Ocean Beach. But he plunges into nature pretty darn well for a pampered, toy breed favored by Tibetan monks, Chinese emperors and 16th century European royalty.

Plus, he’s a champion chick  magnet. I can’t take him anywhere without hormonal, puppy-loving teenage girls gushing over what looks to them to be a huge stuffed pet. Their devoted boyfriends stand by while they give up some love to my guy. “Ohhh, is that your pug? Can I pet him? What’s his name? OMG, he’s sooooo cute!”

Okay, so being a magnet doesn’t earn you an LEED certification, but these other things count – things you won’t learn at obedience school.

Here’s why my dog is cuter..I mean greener…than lots of other dogs.

1. Carpools on Playdates

Smokey gets picked up for his group, The Littles, a couple of days a week, and this has helped him become the socialized, refined gentleman neighbors invite over for biscuits and tea. Also, his owner (me) is saving fuel by not driving him myself.

2. Named for the Bear

Every time we call out his name, “Smokey, stop eating those Bounce sheets,” people are reminded of that famous ranger bear Smokey who first appeared in 1952 to get clueless cigarette smokers and weekend campers on a campaign to prevent wildfires. My mother argues he should be named Oliver or Churchill or something that goes with brandy and a cigar. But Smokey was already named when our babysitter gave him to us ’cause she was moving and couldn’t keep him.

2. Reuses Everyday Household Objects

A savvy consumer not taken in by the notion that new is best, Smokey forgoes the fancy, synthetic dog bed for a cozy laundry bag or basket filled with warm sheets and socks. Good boy! That’s my good green dog! However, his favorite mount is our laps and that costs nothing at all and we like it because he is so lovable and sweet.

3.  Maintains a Strict  Organic Diet

We feed him Newman’s Own organic pet food, as well as organic kibble and free range chicken broth in a reusable stainless steel dog dish. Occasionally, we let him have a treat, such as organic string cheese, which was a great training aid for prompting him to sit, lie down and stop eating Bounce Free sheets.

4.  Walks the Walk

Smokey is an avid walker who adores cruising to a nearby playground or hiking at Fort Funston. Walking keeps him fit (pugs have a tendency to pack on the pounds) and also calms him down. Walking is great for me, too, and for pet owners like you! Besides, Smokey gets rather nervous riding in cars. He insists on having the windows rolled all the way down and whimpers uncontrollably until we arrive at our destination. My husband is the same way.

5.  Wears Made-in-the-USA

Whether starring in a 4th of July parade in Sonoma or escorting his sisters on Halloween, Smokey wears locally-made garb, from patriotic bandanas to harnesses and muscle shirts. He feels we import too many toxic toys and products from China, and although he springs from the Asian culture and resembles the Foo Dog in looks and stature, it all stops there.

6. Creates a Warm Fur-ness

If you can sleep through the intense snoring (being hit over the head with a large mallet can help) then you don’t need to turn up the heat on a cold night in San Francisco. When Smokey stomps on your ribs and flops down on you or near you, it’s like a natural furnace that keeps you toasty all night. Just ask old Audrey. She likes to hang with Mr. Smokes for sunny afternoon cat naps. Audrey showed him who is boss from the very start, but now she needs him. Oh, yes she does, girl.

8. Prefers Biodegradable Pooper Scooper Bags

He won’t tolerate any other sort of bag for scooping up his shit. Funny, that’s one of the reasons I love him so. I once tried to pick up a poop using a plastic grocery bag and boy did he yelp. He likes that Bio Bags are made with planet friendly corn that breaks down. We use bio bags for composting, too.

9. Is Never, Ever Wasteful

Kids might kvetch, “there’s nothing to eat,” but Smokey never takes that stance because he will eat just about anything that resembles food. While I’m preparing his meal, he cries and dances manically in a circle, a tribal dance reminiscent of Native American rituals praising the buffalo. If a scrap falls on the floor, he laps it up. If he feels the compost we set aside could be more useful as a snack, then he asserts himself like a good steward of the planet should. And if Audrey won’t finish her own breakfast, Smokey recycles that into his dessert.

10. Conserves Energy

Like the best hybrid, Smokey is efficient at conserving fuel. Here he is after completing a five mile course along the Great Highway bike path. He parked his tired pug ass on the sofa for a snooze before dinner.  After dinner, he usually rests until his late night walk with dad. Then he parks it until breakfast.

OMG! My pug is sooooo cute!

Images: Luanne Bradley

The post 10 Reasons Why the Planet Loves My Dog appeared first on EcoSalon.