by Michele Morris
By Jodi Helmer
Step away from that festive-looking flocked plastic wreath — and start opting for holiday decorations that really are green. You’ll feel even better giving green gifts this year if your present-opening happens amid halls decked in eco-friendly style.
Q: What's better for the planet — fake Christmas trees or the real thing?
A: There's no easy answer.
8 pears (Anjou or Bartlett are best)
4 cups red wine – (about one bottle; a fruity type is best)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon orange zest (about 1 orange)
1/4 cup heavy cream
by Michele Morris
Yields 30 appetizers or 8 salads
This mock ceviche uses cooked shrimp and can be served as an appetizer or a salad.
by Michele Morris
Yields 20 appetizers or 4 salads
Because tuna is rich tasting, a small portion leaves your diners feeling satisfied. Serve in Asian soup spoons for a pretty appetizer or plated as the first course of an elegant meal.
by Julie Kailus
Give your favorite fitness fanatic's routine a kick in the pants without taking a bite out of the planet. We've rounded up five awesomely bright green gifts for the active-ist. From our Green Gift Guide.
1. Kickbox Yoga Fusion DVD
by Julie Kailus
Green is beautiful! Give your favorite beauty a gift that does good and makes her feel gorgeous. Five pampering, polishing and prettying finds that leave darned tiny footprints on the planet. From our Green Gift Guide.
Bamboo Bath Towel Ladder
by Julie Kailus
Five eco-friendly gifts, from organic yoga wear to a retreat at a solar-powered studio, to help your favorite yogi do good and be green whether she's balancing in tree pose or just a-walkin' down the street. From our Green Gift Guide.
Yoga Dance Fusion DVD
Interests: Living life as an intiatic experience, uniting with like minds and hearts to build a better, cleaner, more peaceful world, listening to the wisdom of the inner voice, communing with the elemental forces of Nature, the arts, media and communications, personal growth and development, the natural healing arts, interesting cuisines, cinema, all that expands the consciousness, betters the Self, and links me with THAT from Which I come.
Inspiration: Whitman, Thoreau, the Tao, deep meditation, spiritually anointed words carried on the human voice and the Cosmic Winds, being with those of like mind and calling.