Ad in The Times & Guardian today...

Designed these press ads in a rush yesterday for 38 Degrees. Just made the deadline to print overnight! Phew.

Get involved here: http://38degrees.org.uk

Non-toxic, Non-stick (ish) pan...

Recently bought this GreenPan frying pan.

It's PTFE-free - that's Polytetrafluoroethylene, used in Teflon - so the coating on this pan (Thermalon) doesn't release toxic fumes above 260° C as PTFE apparently does, which are proven to be lethal to small pets and potentially harmful to humans.

Also, the process, unlike Teflon, does not use PFOA (PerFluoroOctanoic Acid), classified as a ‘persistent pollutant of the environment’*. Also, PFOA is a tough chemical that the body has great difficulties in expelling and is known to be a ‘likely human carcinogen’*

When it first arrived I tested it with a fried egg - It was so non-stick that when trying to take it out of the pan, the egg slipped uncontrollably everywhere except onto the wooden spatula!

HOWEVER, after several uses, it no longer has the same qualities: It now seems to stick severely if heated on full, but is fine if kept at just over halfway. There IS a statement in the accompanying leaflet stating that it is normal for the non-stick properties to reduce after a while, so I guess I just need to be careful.

All in all I believe that cooking on a slightly lower heat is a small price to pay when considering all the advantages this pan has to offer over the slightly more heat-tolerant (but possibly quite harmful) Teflon alternatives. I just need to be a little more patient when cooking my dinner.

http://www.green-pan.com

* According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency, a US federal agency in charge of the protection of human health and the environment)

Recycled Toys...

Just back from a week in the (windy) west country. Nice (in a stormy kinda way).

While at the Eden Project I was quite inspired by these kids eco toys: http://www.sprigtoys.com - made from their Sprigwood material: http://www.sprigwood.com - recycled plastic mixed with wood! With no batteries or annoying noises either, AND packaged in eco friendly packaging too!

OK, it's still plastic, and has to end it's life some time, but surely better than all the crap my 4 yr old will undoubtedly receive again this Christmas.

Now why can't Disney invest some of their vast profits in a similar project? I was quite impressed and encouraged after watching WALL-E with it's warning of how our rubbish is ruining and taking over our planet, only to visit a Disney store soon after to discover shelves of WALL-E toys made from plastic, packaged in (you guessed it) yet more plastic. Yeah, thanks Disney.

Found these Fantastic 60s recipe cards by the original celeb chef Robert Carrier, while on holiday last month in a cottage in North Wales.

The recipes range from the classic to the exotic to the absolutely bizzare! I also photographed some of the recipes close up, so if you fancy spoiling your guests, why not try cooking Egg & Anchovy Barrels, followed by a Fish Turban with Scallops, with a grande finale of Rice a la Royale.

More to follow soon.

Enjoy!

Triodos wins FT Sustainable Bank of the Year Award.

Congratulations to Triodos, who recently won the Financial Times Sustainable Bank of the Year Award, and this year bieng the first time Triodos Bank has entered the awards.


When you bank or invest with Triodos you know exactly how they are using your money as they provide complete transparency. Here you can see every company in the UK that they lend money to!...
http://www.triodos.co.uk/knowwhereyourmoneygoes
 You also receive an occasional newsletter filled with information about the progress of some of the ethical companies they have invested in.


Let's hope more organisations follow their lead.


http://www.triodos.co.uk/uk/whats_new/latest_news/press_releases/ft_award_win


http://www.ftconferences.com/sustainablebanking

Cereal Killers...

Having worked in the past on American cereal packs, the Cereal Killers project made me laugh out loud (or lol as the 'youths' say). http://idigcerealkillers.blogspot.com (scroll down on right to link to archives) - I have also included one or two real cereal packs, which in a way are even MORE scary!

the first post...

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