USA Book News Awards

Harmonious Environment is Award Winner for Best New Non-Fiction USA National Best Books 2008

USA BOOK NEWS ANNOUNCES WINNERS AND FINALISTS
OF THE NATIONAL “BEST BOOKS 2008” AWARDS

LOS ANGELES – USABookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE NATIONAL “BEST BOOKS” 2008 AWARDS (NBBA) on October 20, 2008. Over 500 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books. Awards were presented for titles published in 2008 and late 2007.

A complete list of the winners and finalists of the USABookNews.com National “Best Books” 2008 Awards are available online at http://www.USABookNews.com.

Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet is now in its second printing! Go to book to purchase your copy.

Go to Harmonious Environment website

CobraHead® Weeder and Cultivator

Got weeds? Then try a CobraHead®! The company makes the hand tool, shown below and a long handle CobraHead.

Made in Wisconsin, the handle is a mix of recycled plastic and flax fiber. The blade is steel and easily cuts through tough weeds or can be used for cultivating.

I like the tool for digging up grass and roots growing where they don't belong. The "steel finger tip" blade saves my own nails!

Go to CobraHead for more information.

Cucumber salad

4 kirby Cucumbers, sliced in food processor, thinly hand-sliced or on a mandolin
1 T Greek style plain yogurt
2 T olive oil
1 T white rice vinegar
Chives, chopped
Lemon Thyme, chopped
Mint, chopped
Dill, chopped
S & P

Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet is now in its second printing! Go to book to purchase your copy.
Go to Harmonious Environment website.

Killer BBQ Sauce

This is the best BBQ sauce I've ever had. Makes even the "best" commercial ones pale in comparison. This is enough for a summer of BBQ for my husband and I. Just don't contaminate the sauce with the meat and it will keep for months.

½ cup oil
1 1 /2 cups chopped onion
4 gralic, minced
1 cup tomato paste
1 cup cider vinegar
¼ cup honey
½ cup Worcester sauce
1 cup Dijon
½ cup soy
1 cup hoison sauce
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
½ t red pepper flakes

Heat oil under low temperature. Add onions and garlic and sauté until clear. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 30 minutes.

Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet is now in its second printing! Go to book to purchase your copy.

Go to Harmonious Environment website

Wasabi Tuna and Pasta Salad

This is delicious! I made this the other night and served it with zucchini salad, see below. I have made this recipe with both canned tuna and fresh and prefer the canned because of the way the flavors all meld together into one delicious yummy meal.

1 large carrot, shredded in food processor
Hunk of radicchio, shredded in food processor
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 red onion, chopped
Handful arugula, chopped
1 pound pasta
2-3 cans tuna fish, drained or fresh, grilled and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup mayo
½ cup wasabi mayo
Salt & pepper
1 can black olives, sliced
1 can hearts of palm, sliced (optional)

While pasta is cooking, prepare vegetables and tuna. Add both mayo’s. Drain pasta and cool with cold water. Combine and chill.

Zucchini Salad

2 lb zucchini, sliced thinly lengthwise with slicer on food processor or on a mandolin
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspons lemon zest
2 teaspons lemon juice
2 teaspons Dijon mustard
1 teaspon anchovy paste
Pepper
Handful mint, chopped
Handful parsley, chopped
3 ounces frisee, cut in small pieces (optional)
1 small red onion, sliced thin

Sprinkle salt on zucchini and let sit in a colander 5 minutes. Rinse well with cold water. Gently place in kitchen towels and dry. Wisk together oil, lemon, anchovy paste, mustard and pepper. Combine with remaining ingredients.

Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet is now in its second printing! Go to book to purchase your copy.

Go to Harmonious Environment website

Non Toxic Mold Killer

I just discovered the best way to clean mold in my shower! I used to struggle with baking soda and vinegar, but no more. Mix hydrogen peroxide, a little eco-friendly soap and baking soda. Apply to mold, using a scrub brush, mold instantly dissolves. This mix is safe on stone and tile.

Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet is now in its second printing! Go to book to purchase your copy.

Go to Harmonious Environment website

Reusable Tote bags

I have been using reusable tote bags for shopping for years now. I keep them in my car and just grab a bunch when needed. (I also keep one that folds into itself in my purse.) Aside from the obvious benefits of helping the environment by choosing reusable over plastic or paper bags, reusable totes are far stronger than throw out bags. Stronger means no fears of bags breaking and spilled stuff all over the place. If you live in a city and have to schlep bags any distance, this is especially convenient.

Up until the last few months, I rarely saw anyone else in the grocery stores with reusable totes. That is changing and fast! I can happily report that in my oh-so-suburban town about an hour north of New York City, it is now common to see people with their reusable bags.

Most of the grocery stores in my area give back a few cents for every reusable bag, and I think that's great, but the next step is to charge people for each paper or plastic bag they use, and eventually, ban throw-out bags altogether.

Go to Harmonious Environment website