Tag: organic

  • It’s Non-GMO Month: Part 1

    It’s Non-GMO Month: Part 1

    October is Non-GMO Month! This event is North America’s largest non-GMO celebration. Every October, Basil Bandwagon collects donations in order to raise customer awareness and support Non-GMO Project Verified products.

    What is the Non-GMO Project you may ask?

    Well, the Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and protecting a non-GMO food supply. They reach this mission through consumer education and outreach programs; marketing support provided to Non-GMO Project Verified brands; and training resources and merchandising materials that they provide to retailers. Around our Basil Bandwagon locations, you will find posters and butterflies that were supplied from the Non-GMO Project in order to spread more awareness.

    What is a GMO and why are people so cautious about not consuming them?

    Great question! A GMO is a genetically modified living organism whose DNA has been manipulated in a laboratory to create a crossbreed that does not occur naturally. Most GMOs are engineered to resist herbicides and/or produce an insecticide. Today, some technologies have been used to create new organisms and traits, for example, apples not browning.

    Research shows that there is a growing amount of evidence that links consumption of GMOs to health problems, environmental damage, and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights. Due to the substantial amount of research, more than 60 countries around the world require GMOs to be labeled. With the ample amount of research against GMOs, companies and consumers are choosing to opt out of swallowing GMOs in a fight to live a longer life.

    For more information about the Non-GMO Project and its efforts to decrease the amount of GMOs in the market, click here.

     

  • RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 10/10/18

    RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 10/10/18

    Check out our NEW products this week!

    GT’s Alive Adaptogenic Tea: Pu-erh Root

    Acure Face Masks: Fortifying Silver Foil & Firming Gold Foil

    Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein: Beauty & Sleep and Beauty Within

    Birch Benders: Pumpkin Spice Pancake & Waffle Mix

    Brodo Bone Broth: Hearth

    Califia Farms: Pumpkin Creamer and Pumpkin Half & Half

    Green Beginnings Organic Coconut Water Pouches: Fruit Punch and Mango & Tangerine

    JOCO Glassware

    Made Of Baby Products

    Milkadamia: Macadamia Fudge Creamer

    Pamela’s: Cassava Flour

    Terry Naturally: BosMed

    YumEarth: Organic Candy Corn

  • RECAP: NEW PRODUCT TUESDAY 10/2/18

    RECAP: NEW PRODUCT TUESDAY 10/2/18

    Check out our NEW products this week!

    Kombucha 221B.C.: Moringa Lavender, Berry Hibiscus, & Grapefruit Bee Pollen Basil

    Advanced Orthomolecular Research (AOR) Supplements: A supplement for your everyday needs!

    Backyard Beans Coffee Co.: Adiesto Guatemala, Punch in the Face, & Breakfast Blend

    Bee Bella Lip Balm: Lots of flavors and tints to choose from!

    Blue Moose of Boulder Hummus: Beet Balsamic, Lime & Black Bean, Roasted Red Pepper, Lemon Turmeric, Original, & Green Chile

    Canaan Olive Oil: Garlic, Lemon, & Jenin

    Desert Shadow Hair Color: Deep Red Shadow, Deep Chestnut Shadow, and many more!

    Flow Alkaline Spring Water: Watermelon & Lime, Cucumber & Mint, Lemon & Ginger, and Strawberry & Rose

    Kor Shots: Wellness, Vitality, Green Up, & Gut Check

    Nordic Naturals: Nordic Berries

    Zevia Tea: Black Tea, Lemon, Raspberry, Green Tea, and more!

  • RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 9/26/18

    RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 9/26/18

    Check out our NEW products this week!

    Flora Apple Cider Vinegar: Elderberry, Ginger & Lemon, and Turmeric & Cinnamon

    Humble Deodorant: New & all natural scents!

    Appalachian Naturals Organic Cranberry Sauce

    CV Sciences PlusCBDoil Gummies: Cherry Mango and Citrus Punch

    Louisville Vegan Jerky Co.: Enid’s Perfect Pepperoni

    Nature’s Path Organic Nut Butter Bars: Pumpkin Seed & Sunflower and Pretzel & Peanut

    Nature’s Path Organic Cereal: Golden Turmeric

    Nordic Naturals: Curcumin Gummies, Melatonin Gummies, Digestive Enzymes, & Marine Collagen

    Sol-ti Organic Goji Strawberry SuperAde

    Jack’s Paleo Kitchen Cookies: Lemon Zing

    LifeSeasons: Natural health supplements to support your everyday ailments!

  • RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 9/19/18

    RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 9/19/18

    Check out our NEW products this week!

    Maddalena’s KETO Cheesecake

    Lake Champlain Halloween Chocolates

    Forager Project Coconut Cashewgurt

    Califia Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk

    Basil Bandwagon Elderberry Syrup & Ginger Rescue

    Aunt Patty’s Brown Rice Syrup

    Anita’s Plain Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative

    Essential Baking Take & Bake French Baguette

  • 7 Reasons Why You Need to Eat Cherries This Season

    7 Reasons Why You Need to Eat Cherries This Season

     

    1. Cherries are a smart sweet. They score low on the glycemic index for a fruit, keeping us fuller longer and helping curb our appetites.

     

    1. Cherries will help you snooze. They are a natural source of melatonin, a compound found in our bodies that helps us regulate healthy sleep cycles.

     

    1. Our ancestors have been chomping on cherries for years (and years).  Archaeologists discovered fossilized cherry pits in prehistoric caves. The earliest mention of them was in the year 300 BC!

     

    1. Cherries come in many varieties. There are over 1000 varieties, including our personal favorite at Basil Bandwagon: Rainier Cherries!

     

    1. Cherries combat inflammation. All varieties: dark, sweet, Rainier, etc. all lower uric acid, which is a key contributor to the inflammation that can make us feel stiff, achy, puffy and sore.

     

    1. Cherries are rich in anthocynanins. Say what, now? Anthocynanins are a class of flavonoids found in many fruits that give them their vibrant colors. The health benefits of them can be far-reaching: boosting cognitive performance, supporting liver health, optimizing vision, and more!

     

    1. Cherries are fun! In fact, cherry pit spitting contests are no joke! The world record for spitting was made during the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship in Eau Claire, Michigan, in 2004: 93 feet, 6.5 inches!!!

     

    Sources:

    http://mentalfloss.com/article/82858/13-sweet-facts-about-cherries

    http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2007/12/sf_cherries/page-01  

    http://www.naturallivingideas.com/7-reasons-to-eat-more-anthocyanins-and-top-foods/

    http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/cherry-stone-spitting-greatest-distance

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pit_spitting

     

     

     

     

     

  • Memorial Day Barbeque Headquarters

    Memorial Day Barbeque Headquarters

  • Natural Egg Dyeing

    Natural Egg Dyeing

    With Spring here and the Easter holiday on the horizon, many of you are opting to celebrate with the longstanding tradition of dyeing eggs. And a beautiful tradition it is! The eggs make great decorations as a centerpiece for your dining table or simply as a table arrangement to impress guests. Not to mention they are a FUN family activity.
    The not-so-fun part of the traditional dyeing comes from the back of the egg dyeing kit: yellow 5, blue 1, blue 2, red 40 and so on, and so on. The dye is full of synthetic junk. Which, may not seem like a big deal to you, but if you intend on consuming the eggs after the holiday, you may want to rethink what you’re using to dye them. On the other hand, if you care about the environment and would like to vote mindfully with your dollars to support natural food products, you may also want to rethink what you’re using to dye them.
    Here’s where we come in. We scoured the internet to find the best recipes for dyeing our eggs and came up with a few unique favorites to test out:

     

     

    • turmeric
    • purple cabbage
    • blueberries
    • spirulina
    • hibiscus

     

    As you will see, some of the colors came out much more vibrant than others. And we also discovered that the longer you soak them and keep them refrigerated when not on display, the more vibrant the colors will stay. We opted to de-complicate the recipes. We simply filled single cups about 1/2 way with each of the materials. Then added enough distilled vinegar to cover the material. Then followed up with hot water to activate the dyeing process. We submerged a single egg in each of the cups and let them sit refrigerated overnight.
    Here’s what we ended up with!

     

     

    Notice that we didn’t include what should have been a green egg that was dyed with the Spirulina. It didn’t work for us! Next time we will add some mashed spinach, perhaps?
    Give this a try and let us know what materials worked best for you and which were your favorites!
    Happy egg dyeing!
  • Vietnamese Chicken Thighs with Papaya Salsa

    Vietnamese Chicken Thighs with Papaya Salsa

    Soft, sweet Papaya…we love them in smoothies, we love them in salads- but we REALLY love them mixed in with savory flavors. Vietnamese Chicken Thighs blend sweet and savory and are elevated with our favorite, simple Papaya Salsa. Check out this video to see how we like to prepare this fruit for one of our favorite recipes.

    https://vimeo.com/205087514

     

    Papaya Salsa

    Our salsa can be adjusted depending on the crowd you’re serving. The ingredients are simple and fragrant and you’ll find yourself sampling after each step as the flavors build!

    https://vimeo.com/205095005

     

     

    Vietnamese Chicken Thighs

     

    Free Bird Organic Chicken Thighs (Bone-in, with Skin)

    1 Lime- zest and Juice

    1 Jalapeno- seeded & minced

    3 Cloves of Garlic-minced

    2 Tablespoons Braggs Aminos

    1 Tablespoons Fish Sauce

    1 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

     

    Combine ingredients in a plastic bag. Add chicken thighs, press air out and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

    Grill, pan sear or roast- your choice. Cook until thighs reach 165 degrees.

    Top with Papaya Salsa and enjoy!

     

     

     

  • How to Slice an Ataulfo Mango

    Make the most of our Fresh Deals on Organic Produce by knowing how to use them!