Wean Green – Thinking outside the box!

With the growing consciousness for less packaging and waste it is worth investing in storage items that are long lasting, eco friendly and that look good.

I have recently gotten my hands on some fabulous glass storage containers from Wean Green.

A company whose philosophy is well rooted around creating small enough containers that mom’s could use to store baby food and kids snacks. Whether it’s a home made puree of vegetables or for other dried snacks.  It is nice to be able to have it all portioned out and ready to-use on demand.

These containers are not only eco, fun and come in different shapes and sizes but they can be used by anyone! Let’s think outside the glass box, as I am confidant that teenagers, adults and full time CEO’s can easily load their containers with foods and snacks will compliment their lifestyle and mealtime add-ons.

Some of these containers appear to be on the small side, but that just forces you to be more creative with the space you’ve got. It also is perfect because when you make a full batch of a recipe – let’s say for something like pesto, it’s nice to be able to portion it off for each time of use. The largest size is big enough for a hearty sandwich so before you start getting squeamish that there’s not enough room, let me give you some insight as to how some of these weeny containers can benefit your life.

Here are some of favourite uses for these containers:

Making sauces, dips and spreads. This is a perfect way to store them in indvidual sections so that they can be used without defrosting or using a whole batch of a recipe all at once.

In particular for something like pesto, or sundried tomato dip…both are great store, seal and freeze for future use.

Salad Dressings. Whether you are packing it up and taking it for lunch or keeping it in the fridge – either way it is sealed, airtight abd the best part is that it’s homemade! Try this one!

Trail Mix and dry snacks. Packed in your bag, purse of kit or in the cupboard you can use a slightly bigger container to store your fav nuts seeds and dried fruits. Give it enough room to shake and mix all in. Also portion our your favourite crackers, cookies, chips from my favourite companies. That way you don’t have to use a plastic baggie or eat right out of the box (which may sound good in theory, but there is something to be said about portion control when it comes to snacking).

Puddings, Yogurt or Frozen Desserts. Whether you are making a homemade sundae or parfait and having that all portioned out is great for not only portion control but makes it easy for your when you know you want dessert – it is all ready to go for those nights that you want to curl up in front of the TV with a yummy dessert in hand. it is also great for taking breakfast or a snack with you for the day. You don’t have to worry about peeling back the lid of a yogurt container – simply fill it up at home and you are good to go.

Banana Cream

2 frozen banana’s

1 tbsp coconut butter from Artisana

1 tsp lacuma powder from Navitas Naturals

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until thick and creamy.

Remove, scoop into a wean green container and top with hemp seeds, goji berries and cacao.

I am doing a GIVEAWAY. I am offering you the chance to get your hands on one of these beautiful containers.

But first you must tell me…

Why you want to try a Wean Green container?

What you would put into your Wean Green containers?

Tweet about @weangreen and @marniwasserman and mention this post! (Sample Tweet below)

“I want to win an @weangreen from @marniwasserman to store my delicious food! #giveaway #ecohappy“

Become of a fan of Wean Green and Delicious Knowledge on Facebook and mention this post!

If you can accomplish all of this ++….you may just be the lucky winner!

TERMS & CONDITIONS: MUST live in Toronto!!! (no exceptions, the winner has to be able to come and claim prize)

My favourite kind of Butter!

Take a look and see what I have to say about my LOVE for nut butters and what I use in my kitchen!

Since the term butter can be applied to more than just a creamed milk substance – but to anything that is thick, creamy and loaded with nutrients – I will share what kind of “butters” are my favourites!

These butters come from nuts and seeds and other plant varieties. When you take a nut or a seed and grind it down or blend it into a puree – you will get a thick, sticky substance that makes an excellent substitute for traditional butter and even peanut butter!

(The reason why I am not a fan of peanut butters is because there are so many allergies associated with it. Peanuts also often are grown where there is more a chance for certain toxin’s and molds to grow with it. And lastly peanuts – are actually not a NUT they are legume, grown from the ground and not a tree like most other nuts. But that being said, there are so many delicious and nutritious alternatives.)

It’s easy enough to make your own blends at home by grabbing at least a cups worth of nuts – let’s say almonds – placing them in your food processor and leaving it on for about 3-5 minutes. The oils will start to separate and you will get a smooth paste soon enough. If you don’t quite have the time or means to make your own then support companies that go out of their way to make them for us.

There are quite a few companies that I use to support my love for nut butters

Sun Butter – the best sunflower seed butter (tastes like peanut butter)

Blue Mountain Organics – better than roasted seed and nut butters (raw natural butters)

Then there is also Artisana which is a company that has put true love and care into the quality of their butters. They have a variety from nut based butters from almond and walnut to cocoa, coconut and tahini (sesame seed) butters. They use only organically sourced nuts. Which is extremely important. Since nuts are fat soluble, if they are not organic they usually carry with them toxins and other residues that can absorb within the nut. You can truly taste this purity in their products.

There is something (hopefully) for everyone. Since I love their packaging and product philosophy I have been so genoursoulsy given a whole batch of their wonderul products and now I want to give some away to you!

Tell me why you love seed or nut butters?

What do you put your “butter” on?

In order to win you must live in Canada and:

1. Comment Below

2. Share on Facebook

3. Share on Twitter

This contest is now closed! Thank you for all of your comments.

A Sweet Giveaway

I am in a great mood this week and I feel like giving away goodies…gluten free ones, I might add. Not only is Gluten Free the theme of my week – as it will be featured in my article this week in Chatelaine on Friday but my class on Thursday night is also Gluten Free (2 spots left might I mention).

I also want to take this opportunity to feature a product line that I so truly value and appreciate, Sweets from the Earth. They are everywhere, I bet you have even tried or at least seen there cookies or cakes somewhere in the city of Toronto (or Canada?). They a family run business that focuses on quality desserts that are made with love and no dairy, eggs some with no wheat and more recently no nuts in some of their goodies and no gluten in others. In fact, they have two separate facilities to adhere to these strict and common allergens to gluten and nuts. This is truly where the market is going. More and more people are gluten intolerant, with true sensitives to the protein found in wheat called gluten. This can be a difficult and devastating occurrence when diagnosed. Some people go through life with it, and some people have just figured it out!

It may seem daunting like there is nothing to eat. I think that even before people get worried about what breads and pastas they can’t eat – they think that they will never see a cookie, cake or square ever again? Well that is not true. Not only are there thousands of recipes to be found in my cooking classes, books and online – especially right here on my blog - that are gluten-free friendly, but there are incredible products such as those from Sweets From the Earth that take pride in making delicious desserts that are free of gluten but not of flavour. P.S. you don’t have to have have an intolerance to gluten or be vegan to enjoy these desserts – they can be enjoyed by all. Also note that their gluten free items are not necessarily nut free!

You will not only be less bloated after eating one of their decadent sweets but you will feel good knowing that you can enjoy a perfectly healthy dessert that resembles and if not takes over the “traditional” version.

All that being said, Sweets from the Earth has been kind enough to put together an incredible Gift Basket for ONE lucky winner that MUST live in TORONTO. This basket will feature some of Sweets from the Earth most delicious gluten free goodies.

The Details:

In order to win and to be valid – you must live in Canada.

You need to tell me why you would benefit from this amazing gift basket.

Are you gluten free? Do you have Celiac disease? Have you been missing out on sweets?

Please share your story here and which ever one touches me and Sweets from the Earth the most will get a special package in the mail!

Please also…

Share on Twitter and link back to this blog

Share on Facebook and link back to this blog

Join Delicious Knowledge and Sweets from the Earth Pages