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Two years ago I started a new blog called Rivera Runs Through It where I decided I would blog about everything except the great "FOOD FIGHT". I wanted to keep these two worlds separate: my creative in one corner and my activist in another. It was a great idea at the time, and while I won't go so far as to say it has become a bad idea, I will say that it is one that is no longer serving its initial
Let's be honest here: I have no idea what I am doing. With that said, I am not going to let that stop me from trying something new. After Hurricane Sandy hit, my brother and I had some time to see where we stand in a state of emergency. Thankfully, I didn't get to really test out my resources, because... well, with the lack of any kind of solid financial backing in the last couple of years, I h
While I am a big believer in positive change coming in all sizes, I can't help but get super-excited when big moves are made in the right direction. In reading Mark Bittman's Opinionator column from yesterday's New York Times I was overcome with glee over the great news about McDonald's change in policy. McDonald's is going to join Whole Food and Chipotle in banning the use of gestation crates
I know what's going on this week. It's weight loss time! The gyms are packed (my brother, a gym rat by nature, hates this time of year). The diets are started. The promises made. Everyone is being so good.... Everyone is being so healthy... Please try something new! Or are they? What's your plan? Is it the same as last year? Is it your "faithful routine" you fall back on whene
At some point back in June I imagine regular readers of this blog started asking, What the heck is going on? Well, at that point, so was I. There were really two major factors in the hiatus of the Searching for Sustenance's posts - one I am much less proud of than the other. Happening #1: Summer = Vacation I went straight from being a student to be a teacher. This last year was the first (si
Join me at the 24 Hours of Reality Event where the world is coming together to talk about the REAL story of climate change. Streaming live video by Ustrea Here's the link if the video isn't working for you: http://ustre.am/Bp22
image from the Green Cupboards Fracking Debate Sometimes when I open my e-mail I get really disappointed. Today was one such day, because today I saw an e-mail entitled "Obama's Plan to Frack." I was hoping beyond hope that I read it wrong, or that it was some twisted play on words, but it was not. The subject line summarized the sadness within the e-mail itself, President Obama is plan
Gather your family and friends. Set your DVR. Mark your calendars: August 9, 2011. That's the day Food, Inc. will be airing on PBS for everyone to see das part of their POV listings. What is POV on PBS? POV, or "Point of View" is PBS' way of supporting independent films and programming for the public audience. Their tagline is "Documentaries with a point of view." They air new independ
Food Web Sites and Tools Fork & Bottle: Best Food Forums Do you like to talk about food, wine, or even coffee? Then you need to check this site out. There is a list of various forum links with ongoing discussions in each one of these topics! Although it says this site hasn't been updated since September 2008, the list of forums offered is pretty extensive and each of them is still going. I
I have to say that I was late to the party. I didn't understand how delicious Girl Scout cookies were until just adulthood. I don't know how I missed it... However, I made up for lost time. There are three separate girl scout families that would vie for my business because if yesterday's post about my Costco shopping has taught you anything about me, I like to stock up. So the Riveras would buy
When I first got married I had a really serious cooking problem: there were only two people in the house and I kept cooking as if there were at least five! I immediately began to blame my CostCo shopping - How could I continue to buy in bulk and be expected to make sensible meals? I thought it was impossible, but I was wrong. I can happily say that I have gotten my cooking portions under contro
Have you ever tried to eat a pyramid? I did. For years, in fact. I remember one night - out of exasperation and confusion - printing out the entire USDA Nutritional Guide, for myself on my personal printer in my bedroom, in full color and then, like a complete nut taking all of the info in the pyramid and translating it into a fancy little food diary for myself. Using nothing more than the clip
The Plate is here! Upon first glance, I must honestly say, I wasn't too impressed, but after a closer examination, I am changing my tune. Here are some of the things I really like about the USDA's new nutritional icon: The Halves Have It When we think of a good, nutritious meal the picture in our mind often is of a plate full of all that satiates us. Our problem, however, is how we stack tha
There are some weekends, some very, very special weekends, when my husband wakes up extra early and cooks up some delicious Home Fries. This was one of those weekends. He learned this tradition from his dad, who is famous for his delicious weekend morning breakfasts that bring children from afar - nieces and nephews, in-laws and the like. We all wake up nice and early and scurry over to his kit
Food Web Sites and Tools Local Harvest While I know I have written about this amazing site before, I have never featured it in a Friday Food Find which it totally deserves. Local Harvest is the site I go to find local farmers markets, coops, CSAs an online vendors as well. I guess it is because it is Farmers Market season over here that I've got Local Harvest on the mind. I want everyone to have
Saturday was the first new farmers' market of the season here in Staten Island. I was excited. I was ready. And then, as I made my way over to the market I realized I had only $17 to celebrate with! GASP! Luckily there was not a lot of heart break since it was the beginning of the season and there was not a ton of selection for me to miss out on. So here's what happened: I got potatoes: Whi
In our house, we love potatoes! While we prepare them in all different ways, this ranks as one of our top go-to recipes because of the wonderful crispy outside followed by a tender warm taste of the inside of a delicious, fresh potato. The only reason why we don't have them every time potatoes are around is that they take about 45 minutes to roast in the oven. Step 1: Cleaning the Potatoes
This is my favorite way to eat spinach. When I have fresh spinach it makes it ten times more delicious! This recipe can be made with bagged spinach, baby spinach, or full leaf - I've done them all. On this particular day, though, I prepared it with a nice full bunch from the farmers' market. Step 1: Cleaning the Spinach For me, spinach is one of the most annoying things to clean. It al
Earlier this week I received the fantastic news that one of the two Staten Island Farmers Markets will be open for business starting this Saturday, May 7th. While this isn't what I consider "my" Farmers Market, as I can not walk to it, it is still a reason to celebrate and it will be receiving my business until "my" Market comes back to town! Here's what I am looking forward to tomorrow morning
Screen capture from webcast. Don't get me wrong, I got swept up in the romantic royal madness last week when Prince William and Lady Catherine showed me where every Disney animator got their inspiration for their "happily ever after" princess movie endings, but, as a self-proclaimed foodie, it was yesterday's Royal Keynote that truly knocked my socks off! The Washington Post and Geo
Another important discussion about food is going on right now at the Washington Post Live website. To join the live stream of The Future of Food Conference, follow this link: http://washingtonpostlive.com/conferences/food/live Here is the list of speakers participating in this conference:Speakers Angela Glover BlackwellFounder and Chief Executive Officer, PolicyLinkAngela Glover Blackwell, Fou
I love food. I always have and I believe I always will. As an infant I was categorized as, "a healthy eater," to the relief of my parents who didn't have to battle with me to eat. As I grew into a young child I would gladly partake in all of our home-cooked meals and be baffled by my brother's picky pallet. As an adult I have come to truly appreciate my food thoroughly - from its creation and
I live in Staten Island, New York - one of the five boroughs of New York City. Here we are required to recycle paper products, glass and plastics. They must be separated into separate bins and are collected once a week separately from the rest of our trash. If a mistake is made (ie. a plastic bottle is accidentally found in the regular trash, as happened to me once while in college) you are slappe
