Et tu Wendy’s?

Black Bean Sliders
Picture by Walkingfox

 

Just as I was beginning a post this morning about a new product that makes my heart sing, bam the door slammed shut on me.

You see in my mail today, was a nifty story about a new Black Bean Burger being introduced at a select number of Wendy’s in Ohio.

But, regretfully when I started reading it, there was also a side story, that pointed to a quite unhappy situation.

It would seem that the about to become newest favorite eatery, Wendy’s, is embroiled in a mess over wages, with ugly insults being hurled, indicating that they may have participated in what amounts to slave labor with their employees.

Now, if the idea of a Black Bean Burger is new to you, please let me share this, my best friend at UCLA was married to the Manager of one of their top Campus eating places and he delighted in letting me know each week when he made them, knowing full well that I hated meat and loved this culinary treat.

I never did learn all of the ingredients of this delicious, decadent burger, but had been a huge fan of Black Beans for many years, so never cared a whole lot about what he put into them.

Moving to Florida basically closed the door on all of my favorite California vegetarian eating places, as I soon learned that they were not high on anyone’s totem pole here.

So, not willing to eat the Morning Star veggie burgers made with soy beans that have been processed with Hexane, a known carcinogen and pretty much a toxin/pesticide, I had given up hope.

That was until a few months ago, when shockingly I found a new Black Bean Burger from a previously unknown Company, at our local Wal-Mart.

Bringing it home was a challenge, as Walkingfox is not huge on doing without meat.

Surprise, he liked them and has become a fan, of sorts.

But being out on a shopping or other trip and hoping to find one was not to be, at least not here.

So, you can imagine my delight this morning seeing/reading this story about Wendy’s.

Joy quickly turned to sorrow, after reading that they are having similar salary and wages problems  with their employees as Waffle House is.

Right now the delectable Black Bean Burgers are only being tested in Ohio, near Wendy’s Corporate offices, but it looks like that may change quickly judging from the public responses to them.

Now if they can only get their employee/wages issues fixed, Wendy’s may yet become a new place to eat on the run.

And, if they don’t, then, as with Waffle House, we will not be dining there any time soon either.

So, dear Wendy’s, please treat your employees right, pay them right and this may after all, be only a rhetorical question, et tu Wendy’s?

 

Places to learn more:

Amid Call for Boycott, Concerns Rise That Eating at Wendy’s Supports Slave Labor

Why Wendy’s Vegan Black Bean Burger Isn’t Masquerading as Meat

Low Wage Workers Fast Food Forward Campaign

Worker wages: Wendy’s vs. Wal-Mart vs. Costco

Wendy’s “The Final Fast Food Hold-out”

Wendy’s salaries

 

No New Ideas Needed

A McDonald’s in Norway
Picture credit: Ken

 

It all started out innocently enough.

I was going through my email this morning and saw a new petition for McDonald’s.

This particular petition was about something that I personally have been nagging them about for years, or every single time that I went there, which by the way, in the past few years has been less and less.

I do not like meat or hamburgers and have repeatedly suggested to them that they might want to consider making some sort of meatless or veggie burger, as several of their competitors have already done.

Even better, to introduce a few Organic items!

Each and every time I was met with the same blank stare and ” ok, we will suggest it…”

In California, we who don’t like meat are not a minority, we are a strong group with many voices in high places, like the countless celebrities who also choose not to eat animals and love Organic Foods.

This petition was written by a woman in California who was asking a huge company, which at the present time is all over the news for its financial woes, to consider making a meatless burger.

The Company is cutting their Dollar meals, shuffling their vast menu, and has had a somewhat dismal showing for the past two years, many say.

They have had issues with China and meat and a variety of other embarrassing issues.

None has been very good for their image.

So, I was delighted to go and see this new petition and to absolutely sign it and support it.

However, when I got there, it seems that the desired numbers had already been reached.

Well, that’s very good news and there was also a letter from the author with suggestions for other things to do in support of the Petition and all the necessary details were included in it.

As I don’t do Twitter and wanted to go beyond just posting it on my FB page,  I  then, as suggested, called the company directly.

What happened next is the honest truth, you cannot make this stuff up.

I dialed the number, it rang and a pleasant computer asked me to make a choice of directions to be transferred to next.

I listened to all of the different choices and finally selected  ” suggest new ideas.”

This is the response, or answer that the computer gave me, I swear on my beloved Grandmother.

” I’m sorry, but McDonald’s does not accept any new ideas from anyone who does not work for the company.”

End quote!

Umm,  McDonald’s, I think I see the problem and why your sales and profits may be going down the proverbial drain.

You obviously do not listen, nor care what your customers think.

And you don’t want any ” new ideas “  from those who just happen to pay your salaries.

 

Eureka, It’s Organic Bread!

Picture credit:  Eureka Organic Bread
“Worth Its Weight in Gold!”

 

If like me, you prefer and choose Organic Foods, you are more than just a little annoyed at the usual poor, or quite limited choices that are available in so many places still.

Especially here in what those of us from the West Coast often call, the Twilight Shopping Zone of Florida.

Since I began buying Organic Foods here, one much-loved item, has continued to remain elusive.

And until today was at the top of my list for first choice, thanks in part to my Dear Irish Grandmother, who had stuffed my fat little cheeks full, since I was able to sit up, this missing item was BREAD!

As I began this story today, I had not found any Organic Bread at the places here in Central Florida, where I/we normally shop.

That would be Wal Mart, Publix and a few other stores.

So seeing this story this morning was reason to cheer and share this great news with all of you.

Hello East Coast, Organic Bread is being delivered to a store near you as we speak.

Hooray, Organic Bread is finally available to the masses!

This Bread is USDA Organic, Certified Vegan and has no junk in it, that is a very good start.

Have just gone to their great website and used their handy product finder.

Glory be, this Bread is now at every Publix store in my area here in Florida.

Hallelujah.

This new Bread will be now and forever be included on my grocery list on every future shopping sojourn.

The three new choices include, my favorite before I even taste it, Grainiac,  Saaa – Wheat and Seeds the Day.

The Organic line of this wonderful company began in California, of course, in 2012.

Their Facebook Page is awesome and a link to it is below.

What a great way to introduce this completely wholesome, healthy Organic Bread, to the legions of us who have waited for so long.

The Company claims that their Organic Bread is:
” worth its weight in Gold.”

PS: Don’t let that guy on the package scare you, he really is quite harmless~

Actually, Nicole just told me that he is Archimedes the Ancient Greek God and the source of  the famous California saying:  ” Eureka I have found it.!”

Thank you Nicole for permission to use this awesome logo~

Eureka, it’s Organic Bread!

 

Places to learn more:

Eureka! Organic Bread Makes Its Debut On The East Coast

Discover more about Eureka! Organic Breads, visit www.EurekaBakingCompany

Their Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/EurekaBread

Eureka Bread

Eureka Grainiac Organic Bread

 

The Big Boys Are Buying In

Advertisement, late 1880s
Picture credit: Public domain/Wikipedia

 

Although I have not purchased anything from this 25-year-old company yet, Annie’s Organics, with over 145 products, is about to become a part of one of the biggest cereal companies in the world, General Mills.

This is just the most recent attempt of the Corporate Big Boys, to cash in on the Organic Corner of the food market.

Too many people are now demanding Organics be available in every section of their food needs and Breakfast Cereal has become a huge portion of that market.

Personally I love my Organic Granola, but it does not come from a Conglomerate, rather a small company who is faithful to its consumers and hopefully will stay so.

With General Mills newest entrance into the Organic Cereal Market,  the pressure will now be on all of the others to do like wise.

This can only be good news for those of us who have been quite limited for years, to just a sparse selection of choices, where we buy our Organics.

The mind bending price tag of this purchase at $820 million, is a pretty big investment for GM and hopefully, they can take the heat from the competition, when the rest of the Cereal makers do like wise.

Those who cherish Annie’s long history and well-known healthy product line, are more than just a little worried, they are quite concerned with this merger/takeover by a Mega Company who is not known for rejecting GMO’s.

The future of both companies is about to be subjected to the intense scrutiny of finicky, demanding, US Organic Consumers, who are not known to be very forgiving of what they perceive to be traitorous acts, by their favorite Companies.

Stay tuned Organic Lovers, things are about to get very interesting, as the Big Boys are buying in!

 

Places to learn more:

General Mills to acquire Berkeley-based Annie’s Inc. foods for $820 million

General Mills buys Annie’s for $820 million

General Mills Adds Organic Foods With Purchase of Annie’s

General Mills’ $820M Annie’s buy is a big bet on organic

General Mills Buys Annie’s Homegrown, Anti-GMO Proponents Go Berserk

General Mills to Buy Annie’s for About $820M

 

Awful Additives!

Eucheuma denticulatumor or  Carrageenan
Picture credit:  Wikipedia –  Stina Tano

 

This is an Organic Blog, so why do I want to talk to you about additives you may wonder?

Here’s why.

Harmful, even dangerous additives are being added to our foods claiming to be Organic and few of us truly know the affects that they may have our bodies.

Because I have such a wide genetic background that includes Native American, I think, my reactions or over reactions, to chemicals and food additives, may be likely just in a small minority of humans?

Yesterday I had, what I was hoping would become a new favorite: Spinach Garlic Pizza by Di Gorno.

There were so many claims on the box about how natural it was, but waking up this morning with, “the headache,” that always accompanies one of the “awful additives” that I am affected by, I knew the answer before I even read the ingredient label.

Sure enough, about half way down the list, was the dreaded word I did not want to find:  Carrageenan.

I was in a hurry last night and much to my regret, did not read the label on this new product.

Idiot!

If this word, this additive, is new to you, please read on.

The first time that I became aware of this food additive and its ugly affects on me, was several years ago.

There was a story on the morning news about a new additive that people were having nasty reactions to.

From that point on, I searched for it in every product.

Please keep in mind two things when scanning your labels from now on.

This product is made from a sea weed, much of it coming from Asia, where nuclear meltdowns are now becoming increasingly all too common.

This product is allowed in VEGETARIAN  hot dogs!

Carrageenan  is a cheap thickener, or filler, used in so many products now, you may need a score card to keep track.

The very definition of it, explains why I have so much trouble with it:

“Carageenan is a linear sulphated polysaccharides that are extracted from red edible seaweeds” – Wikipedia

I am highly allergic to  sulfur,  think Penicillin!

Predominantly it is used in ice cream products and anything that has a sauce, after that it is difficult to list all of them.

There are thousands, it is, OMG, even in our shampoo and toothpaste!

The reaction to it for me, is always the same, a nasty miserable headache, stomach pain and well you know……

One new-found affect recently discovered, is “brain fog,” or feeling just slightly off and not knowing why.

The other additive that I want to talk about is  maltodextrin.

It preceded Carrageenan in my life and was just as debilitating, with nearly identical affects and reactions.

I had just begun to feel like I had conquered the demon and BAM, they started putting Carrageenan in everything.

So, back to square one for label reading.

Many years before either of these two were a part of my life, I found that I had terrible reactions to MSG.

I will not expand on this product because most people are already quite aware of its deleterious effects.

But back to the beginning of this story.

It is very disturbing to me and hopefully to you as well, that Carrageenan can be added to Organic products.

The very definition of Organic is to give the consumer a feeling of safety in a chosen product.

But if the FDA and whoever else has allowed this to happen, is green lighting Carrageenan in Organics, when it clearly does not belong there, what else are they letting slide in?

As always, read your labels and let those who control everything that we eat and use in this country, especially the FDA, know how you feel about this kind of behavior.

If you don’t think that we have a huge effect on bad Company practices, remember the Bread at Sub Way that was being made with rubber mat materials?

They stopped doing this and now even proudly claim and announce in their commercials that azodicarbonamide is no longer used.

This was, although completely denied by Sub Way, the direct result of a massive, hugely successful Blogging Campaign to expose it, by one very determined woman, who would not back down.

God Bless her tenacity, her temerity!

We are, as we should be, in control of what we buy in this Country and we need to send the message loud and clear to all those who make and approve these awful additives to be included in our food.

“In the U.S., carrageenan is allowed under FDA regulations”  –  Wikipedia

 

Places to learn more:

Carrageenan – Wikipedia

Dr. Andrew Weil talks about Carrageenan

The Natural Ingredient You Should Ban From Your Diet

Shopping Guide to Avoiding Organic Foods with Carrageenan

Maltodextrin

Sulfur – Wikipedia

Subway Bread Made With Yoga Mat and Shoe Rubber Time to Remove 

Uncovering Hidden Food Allergies & Food Sensitivities

Carrageenan what? Beware of this ingredient

 

It’s Looking Up!

Organic Bananas, Carrots and Blue Corn tortillas chips made with Certified Organic Blue Corn.
These are regular favorites: the bananas go in our morning smoothie with assorted fruits, the chips are for our lunch.
The Carrots are for all of us.
All pictures by Walkingfox

 

Things have been looking much better lately at the two local stores where I normally buy our food, which are Walmart and Publix.

This week, for example, some very kind people, showed me the newest Organic sections in each of the stores and they were, I hate to admit, quite impressive.

Not only is Walmart trying harder, they actually seem to like hearing, thank you when they do something, as in bringing in a new Organic product that you like.

The newest purchases this week included Organics that were: fresh, frozen or packaged.

A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I came home happier with my finds, than I have been in many weeks.

Now for the first time in a very long time, every meal that we have, has an Organic ingredient, or product in it.

The great new Organic Pasta Section at Publix is just awesome.

There are many varieties of both Pasta and Sauces galore and all are Organic.

Love it.

There are Organic things there from around the world and some,  I am delighted to say, are completely new to me.

Have you ever heard of Bavaette Lavorazione Artigianale?

It is an imported Spinach Pasta to die for!

I top it with a great Organic Basil Pesto mixed with the Garlic Alfredo from Newman’s Own.

There will be a picture here of it, when we have it next.

More good and inspiring news for we long-suffering Organic lovers here on the East side of Lake County.

There will be a new Aldi going in quite near to us soon and you can bet that I will be checking out their Organics.

We have not been to their store in the Villages since gas prices went up  and the store is nearly 30 miles away.

But the new one will be right here in our neighborhood.

Wahoo!

Aldi’s has always carried quite a few Organics and here’s hoping that the new store will have expanded on their already good selections.

It’s looking up!

 

Organic Dog Food

Our  sweet Breanna  with her Santa Moose~

 

Beginning this Organic Blog has introduced us to a new world of healthy foods and next we want to be sure that Breanna is eating Organic as well.

We have been feeding her what we considered to be a wonderful diet, for the past three years that she has been with us, but now we are about to go in search of a new Organic food for her.

We know about all of the reasons that she should be eating Organic, but were not aware before, that it existed.

Now that we do, the hunt is on for the best one.

She has been eating Wellness Core Ocean since she turned one year old, it was suggested by the maker, that we wait until then to switch her off of her Wellness Puppy food and we did.

She has loved this food and the rest of her diet, so why change now?

A very simple reason, we do not want ANY chemicals or pesticides in her food.

One of the things that disturbed me the most when I first began searching for her food, was the fact that too many companies were using  Ethoxyquin  as a preservative, which is a known pesticide produced by guess who, Monsanto, of course.

This was the beginning of my hostility towards this Company and it has only deteriorated since.

This search is going to take time, as there are now, unlike three years ago, quite a few makers of Organic Dog Food.

The list of those in contention includes the following:

Newman’s Own, Blue Wilderness, Natural Planet Organics, Castor & Pollux Organix, Taste of the Wild, Natura Karma, Pet Guard, Royal Canin, Merrick, Canidae and Wellness.

If you have personal favorites, please tell us about them.

More will be added here as they are discovered and the final choice will be posted when it is decided upon.

Stay tuned dear Readers~

 

Places to learn more:

Ethoxyquin

Organic Dry Dog Food

Best Organic Dog Foods

The best organic pet food brands revealed

Organic Dog Food Reviews

Best Organic Dog Food

Choosing the Best Organic Dog Food Brands – What to look for

 

Spinach Quiche

A perfect, for us, Spinach Quiche~
Picture credit: Walkingfox

 

This will be the first Recipe here for a good reason, it is one of our favorite quick dinners.

It would be perfect if all of its ingredients were Organic, but I buy what is available here~

To begin, assemble everything and try to use a bowl with a pour lip, if possible.

Rinse and drain the Spinach and set aside.

Crack five eggs into your bowl, then stir in your own personal favorite spices.

I add a bit of each of these three: California Style, Coarse Grind Garlic, Onion, McCormick’s Perfect Pinch, ORIGINAL All-Purpose Salt Free.

Next add the grated cheese and mustard, then pour in the half & half.

Finally add the rinsed and well-drained spinach.

Blend gently and pour into a frozen pie shell.

Bake and test with a knife half way in, to be sure it comes out clean.

We tend to like ours just a bit well done, so I add a few extra minutes for a nice brown crust.

Let the Quiche sit for 5-10 minutes, while you set the table, or other.

We like this with a loaded salad. ( Everything, but the kitchen sink)

Enjoy~

 

The ingredients are quite simple, please do try to buy as many Organics as you can find~

Preheat the Oven to 375ºF.

I Cup Organic Spinach (Rinse and drain)

5 Grade A Large Eggs ( Eggland’s Best, All Natural, Vegetarian Fed hens)

1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese ( We use Colby/Jack)

1/2 Cup Half and Half

1/2 Cup crispy, crunchy, Turkey Bacon, broken into small pieces ( I use Louis Rich or Oscar Meyer )

1/2 to I Teaspoon Dijon Mustard, to taste.

I Frozen pie shell ( I buy Marie Callendars )

Add your own spices, as you like.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown, tested and set, at 375ºF.

 

 

Welcome~

Your Coffee should always be Organic!
Picture: Public domain Wiki

 

This Blog is quite a broad departure from what I normally write about, which is Endangered Animals, Global Culture and Evil Corporations.

The impetus for beginning this Blog today, came from my continuing disappointment and failure to find anything, but a narrow range of real Organic products here in Florida.

As with today, all I wanted to do, was to find some Organic Spinach to use in a Quiche later this week, but it was simply not to be.

Wal Mart, which is where I normally buy much of our food from, always with an eye out for anything Organic, chooses not to carry Organic Spinach.

Today, lucky us,  they had Organic Bananas, yeah, once a month, this is their idea of a tiny reward, for the thousands of dollars that we spend there each year!

So, I had to, as usual, make a special trip and stop at a Publix to find it.

There are several places near us, that claim to carry Organic products, but upon discovery, they quite frequently are not.

Today, as a result of yet another frustrating trip in search of Organic anything and in what hopefully will not be a futile effort, to educate myself, perhaps find some like minds or kindred spirits along the way, this Blog begins.

This ongoing failure to find Organic anything, is only exacerbated by the fact that after living in Southern California for more than 30 years and having easy, convenient access to healthy Organic Food and countless other products,  coming to Florida is just so hard to adjust to.

People often  refer to this phenomena of coming here, as “culture shock,” but  in this case, it is ” food shock.”

The Journey will be a hopefully joint venture, or effort, with you and me.

I know that real Organic products are out there, but as the title at the top says:  finding it, aye,  there’s the rub!

We shall begin….