Leslie Meredith

True to the holiday in color, but a bit of a departure from historical roots, this easy to make, healthy soup can be served in individual shot glasses for a party. Look for organic local vegaetables, and don't hesitate to substitute or add green vegetables depending on what you see at the market.

Green Gazpacho

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 small zucchini, trimmed and coarsely chopped
2 tomatillos, husks removed, quartered
1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and coarsely chopped
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
2 medium-ripe green tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1/4 to 1/2 cup vegetable broth
Tabasco sauce
Salt

Garnish
1/3 cup sour cream
1 bunch fresh cilantro, washed and trimmed

Directions

1. Blend the lime juice, vinegar, oil, cilantro leaves, and cumin in the small bowl with a wooden spoon.

2. Place the zucchini, tomatillos, bell pepper, cucumber, onion, and green tomatoes in batches in the bowl of the food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process, adding the lime juice mixture, 2 tablespoons at a time, to prevent the blade from being clogged with the vegetables. The soup should have a crunchy texture; do not puree the vegetables. Pour the soup into the large bowl as each batch is processed.

3. When all the vegetables have been processed, add just enough vegetable broth to give the gazpacho a smoother consistency. Season the soup with the Tabasco sauce and salt to taste.

4. Refrigerate, covered, for 2 1/2 to 3 hours before serving.

To Serve:

Fill the shot glasses three-quarters full with the gazpacho. Top each glass with a dollop of sour cream. Arrange the glasses on a large tray, with the bunch of cilantro in the center. Guests can help themselves.

3-D TVs have arrived from Samsung at hhgregg and energy savers will be happy to know these TVs are Energy Star Rated for efficiency. Samsung is the first TV manufacturer to deliver the 3-D TV option to shoppers at hhgregg. The sets are available in 46-inch and 55-inch screen sizes, ideal for a theater-like experience at home, whether you are viewing 2-D or 3-D content.

The Samsung 3-D TVs use LED backlight technology, which means these televisions like all Samsung LED models, use 40% less power than conventional LCD TVs and are mercury free. The series 7000 3-D TVs is up to 50% more efficient than the latest ENERGY STAR® specifications (depending on series and screen size, in standard mode).

The Samsung 3-D TVs offer all of the latest TV tech features like instant connections to Web sites and services including Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pandora and USA Today, and wireless connections to a cell phone and computer to easily transfer photos and videos for sharing.

These top of the line features are supported by exceptional specifications. The new 3-D TVs offer full HD at 1080p resolution, a 6,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 240 Hz refresh rate for fast action viewing in 2-D and a comfortable 3-D viewing experience, and the 1.1-inch overall depth that have made LED TVs the fastest growing category of TV technology.

Samsung 46" Class 3D 1080p 240Hz LED HDTV with 4 HDMI™ Inputs
Model No: UN46C7000
Samsung 240Hz Clear Motion Rate technology delivers even the fastest on-screen motion with utterly lifelike clarity. It all comes together in a sleek design that complements any dècor.

Samsung 55" Class 3D 1080p 240Hz LED HDTV with 4 HDMI™ Inputs
Model No: UN55C7000
What do you get when you combine the breakout thrills of 3D entertainment and visually stunning picture quality with Internet@TV? This Samsung LED HDTV. Action leaps of the screen with advanced 3D technology for a truly immersive viewing experience.

Environmentally concerned consumers may want to make greener choices at the grocery store, but most do not have the information they need. A group of four young designers hope to solve this problem with their Augmented Living Goods mobile app, which recently got a boost by winning first prize in the Consumer Electronics Association's annual Greener Gadgets Design Competition held in New York.

Former Savannah College of Art & Design students Shane Blomberg, John Healy, Seth Laupus and Andrew Reeves explained that AUG would scan a new barcode system for food and give instant information about the product from the shopper's cell phone.

"The augmented living goods program provides a stream of producer information which enables shoppers to make a more informed buying decision," Healy told TechNewsDaily, "At this point in time, mobile technology makes information digestible on-the-go, so the climate is right for a program such as AUG to lift the cloud between producers and consumers."

Greener Gadgets conference attendees agreed. While judges weighed in on the finalists, the winner was determined by the people at the show.

The National Grocers Association annual study of U.S. shoppers' grocery buying habits confirms interest in organic produce is at its highest level ever. More than six in ten people now say organic products matter in the stores they frequent, and more than nine out of ten people regarded high quality fruits and vegetables as "very important."

The study also showed more interest in nutrition and health information. Four out of 10 shoppers rated the availability of this type of information as a "very important" store trait, a jump of six percentage points over last year's results. AUG would provide this information and more to shoppers as they pondered their choices in the produce aisles.

How AUG works

AUG begins with a new bar-coded directory that can be accessed through text or by smartphone app. Shoppers could scan the bar-code of any produce, dairy or meat item in the system, and see things like: Where the farm is, how far it is from the store, nutritional information, pricing history and other available data to make a more informed buying decision.

Shoppers could also receive promotional information and rewards for purchasing an AUG-assigned product.

AUG creators point out this type of bar code system is already in use for many grocery items. AUG Living Goods Program would be a technologically feasible extension to give eco-conscious consumers the relevant information they need to make greener buying decisions.

The boys may have their work cut out for them, but the green trends are in their favor. Healy said, "We are looking into funding options and hope to test the idea in a few different markets within the year."

Meanwhile, green shoppers may consider replacing any outdated appliances with Energy Star Rated models from hhgregg.

Just as people may delight in their contrasting characteristics and interests, food and drinks may benefit as well an "opposites attract" strategy. On the site Food and Wine Pairing, I discovered a helpful pairing application that helps readers pair 10 different groups of food with a wine. The natural leanness of green vegetables need the balance of a fuller wine like a Chardonnay.

Take this a step further and apply the principle to side dishes too. Green vegetables are far more interesting in combination than on their own. Try pungent leeks and green onions with sweet spring peas and asparagus. Mint pairs surprisingly well with sautéed zucchini, while edamame liven up a tossed green salad. Use your imagination to come up with healthy, delicious combinations of your own.

Head to your local farmers market to pick up fresh, local greens and the baby beets for this spring salad.

Roasted Baby Beets and Arugula Salad
Leslie's note: Mild baby beets contrast well with spicy arugula in this spring salad.

Ingredients

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup crumbled mild Gorgonzola cheese (about 4 ounces)
2 cups roughly torn bite-size pieces French bread
1/4 cup assorted chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley, basil, and rosemary)
1 garlic clove, minced
24 baby beets, trimmed, scrubbed
8 ounces baby arugula (about 12 cups)

Preparation

Place lemon juice and vinegar in small bowl. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup oil. Stir in cheese. Season with salt and pepper. (Dressing can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat remaining 1/3 cup oil in medium ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add bread pieces; toss to coat. Add herbs and garlic; toss to coat. Sauté until bread is crisp, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer croutons to plate in single layer. Cool.

Add beets to same skillet, tossing to coat with any remaining herbs and oil. Cover skillet with foil and transfer to oven. Roast until beets are tender, about 45 minutes. Cool beets. Peel, if desired; cut in half.

Toss arugula with 1/2 cup dressing in large wide bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with beets and croutons and serve.

Test-kitchen tip: After being roasted, baby beets peel easily, but the skins are perfectly edible if you choose to leave them on.

A Sub-Zero refrigerator is the mark of a professional kitchen for the home chef. Walk into a kitchen featuring this restaurant style appliance, and you know you're in the kitchen of someone who loves to cook.  And they last forever: I once lived in a house where the owner was proud to tell me the 20-year old Sub-Zero refrigerator had come across the country after she had graduated from law school in New York.  

Bring Sexy Back

Yves Behar, founder of the integrated design agency fuse project, kicked off Greener Gadgets with a challenge to designers to "put the sexy back into green." Behar said this is the most exciting challenge that designers have had in the last 20-30 years and will lead to innovative products. Behar showed off examples of his own work for clients: One Laptop Per Child, Jawbone, Mission Motors and Swarovski.

Sarah Rich, formerly of Dwell magazine, moderated the panel, “Green Living Begins at Home,” which focused on the challenges and opportunities for creating a sustainable lifestyle within the home. The panelists all agreed that consumers have to be responsible for their energy consumption and must be equipped with the right information. Architect Ellen Honigstock stated, "You can't change what you don't know."

Vote Green with Your Wallet

On Thursday morning, Jaymi Heimbuch of TreeHugger.com interviewed Jeff Omelchuck, founder of the Green Electronics Council and EPEAT, a green electronics certification program required in more than $60 billion of government and enterprise purchasing contracts worldwide. The program will be re-launched as a consumer facing brand and will appear on products in retail stores later this year. "What can we do to increase the greenness of consumer electronics products? Buy them," said Omelchuck. "Manufacturers are good at listening to the market."

In the afternoon session, “Gadget Talk,’ Tom Hadfield, COO of LaboGroup, demonstrated the award-winning Andrea air filter purifier, which uses household plants to rid household or office air of toxic substances, including formaldehyde. Based on an aesthetic approach and designed by French designer, Mathieu Lehanneur, and Harvard professor, David Edward, Andrea accelerates the rate at which the plant is cleaning the air.

The second compelling ‘Gadget Talk,” was given by Leo Bonnani, founder of Sourcemap. Bonnani described Sourcemap.org as a collective online tool for life cycle assessment and supply chain transparency to help consumers know where the elements within their devices come from and what they are made of. Sourcemap, an open source project of the MIT Media Lab, calculates the carbon footprint of laptops and other CE devices and allows users to build lifecycle maps of different products.

For the afternoon “Green Spotlight” session, Joe Hutsko, author of Greener Gadgets for Dummies, interviewed Maria Tate, senior industrial designer, Hewlett-Packard and Peter Fannon, vice president, corporate and government affairs, Panasonic, about their company's sustainability strategies. Tate discussed HP's innovative closed loop eCartridge recycling process.

TV industry going green

Fannon gave an update on Panasonic's success in reducing its C02 emissions one year ahead of schedule and how the company incentivized all employees to develop and meet environment targets.

Fannon discussed the industry-wide effort by television manufacturers to improve their energy efficiency significantly. He noted the average large screen now uses less than 100 watts of power. Also, he pointed out the green aspects of video streaming capability on TVs and predicted that we will soon see a future that allows consumers to control their home energy use through their TV's remote control.

hhgregg offers a selection of LED HDTVs, the most energy efficient television technology available to consumers. An LED TV can save up to 40 percent of the energy used by its cousin, the CCFL-backlit LCD TV. If it's time to go green in your household, visit an hhgregg and see how far you can go.

Replacing older appliances and other electronics with new energy efficient models can save consumers noticeable amounts on their utility bills. While most utility companies offer a comparison of energy usage from one month to the one past, users may want to know more.

Smart grid projects are underway to provide consumers with the information they may want, but a national service is projected to take several years to implement. In the meantime, individual digital energy monitoring devices are available. Whether you need that extra bit of motivation to replace energy-hungry appliances, or want to maximize energy savings on more efficient appliances by changing your own habits, monitoring is a simple solution.

A study by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of the Energy Department showed that attaching usage monitors to household electronics and making the data accessible to homeowners through their computers prompted a voluntary reduction in energy.  The report concluded that this reduction over a 20 year period could save $70 billion on spending for power plants and infrastructure, and avoid the need to build the equivalent of 30 large coal-fired plants.

Green-based businesses are encouraging people to use monitoring tools. "A big part of our mission is to empower people with more information, so it made sense to encourage the purchase of energy efficient thermostats and other gadgets that keep your finger on the pulse of your family’s energy usage," said John S. Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronics and e-waste, and parent company of 1-800-Recycling, "Being better informed is the first step to reducing your carbon footprint and actively making an environmental difference."

hhgregg has a large selection of Energy Star Rated appliances. Find them online and in our stores.

• Georgia's Cash for Appliances Program
• Reduce Carbon Footprint: Use Eco-Savings Calculator
• National Broadband Plan Includes Energy Saving Initiatives

Compliments of Chef Tim Love for Thermador

Chef Love tells Thermador he makes fresh ricotta cheese everyday in his restaurant, The Lonesome Dove Bistro located in Fort Worth, Texas. It is surprisingly simple to make and adheres to the principles of green cooking: use fresh ingredients and make it yourself.

This homemade cheese takes just minutes to prepare if an induction cooktop is a part of your kitchen. Otherwise, allow up to an hour and a half to bring to the proper temperature where the curds will naturally separate from the liquid.

After five minutes in the refrigerator, you will have a bowlful of natural ricotta cheese that may be used for a range of recipes from traditional lasagna to low fat cheesecake. It also makes a delicious accompaniment to sliced fruit and is lower in fat than cottage cheese.

Fresh Ricotta Cheese

Ingredients
2 quarts whole milk (must be whole milk, do not substitute low fat or skim)
1 quart buttermilk
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons salt

Pour all ingredients into a large saucepan. Turn the burner to high. Just watch it, no stirring. If using an induction cooktop, the liquid will come to a boil in about 5 minutes. Steam will rise, the surface will begin to roll as the seasonings move to the perimeter. The curds will appear. Once you see a pudding-like mass on the surface, turn the burner off. Pour through a strainer over the sink. Pour the remaining seasoned curds into a bowl and refrigerate. After about five minutes, you will have a soft, crumbly cheese.

The FCC is counting down the days until it presents the first national broadband plan to Congress on March, 17 2010. With just 27 days to go, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski offered a preview of the agency's goals. While his so-called 100 Squared Initiative―100 million households with broadband speeds of 100M bps by 2010―garnered the most attention, the National Purposes Update covered objectives for major government sectors where broadband could play a role, including energy efficiency and the environment.

The 56-page document cites two complementary areas where broadband could be deployed to help achieve the nation's energy reduction goals.

First, the FCC hopes to use broadband as a means to help consumers understand and manage their energy use.  The report said that providing consumers with energy information could reduce consumption by 5 to 15 percent, representing a $60 to $180 annual savings per home. Today, less than 1 percent of customers have real-time access to their daily energy consumption data.

Second, the FCC could support a mission critical piece of the smart grid network: a high speed connection to relay information between utilities, smart appliances and consumers. Already smart grid projects are underway.

In October 2009, GE and Whirlpool Corporation announced the creation of the Smart Green Grid Initiative (SGGI), a collaborative effort aimed at demonstrating the role of smart grid technologies and practices in the achievement of climate change goals. Utilities and technology companies support SGGI including National Grid, Southern Company, AEP, Google, LG Electronics, Landis + Gyr, Echelon, Tendril, Ice Energy, Enspiria, eMeter and Itron.

Jim Campbell, President & CEO of GE Consumer & Industrial said, "Smart appliances connected to the grid can schedule energy intensive activities to take place during lower energy usage periods like evenings and nights, when some renewable resources like wind are more likely to be available."

Meanwhile, consumers can get an estimate of the impact replacing older appliances could have on their homes, their community and the entire country. Electrolux recently launched an Eco-Savings calculator that allows people to easily see how much money, electricity and water can be saved along with a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, simply by replacing older appliances with new, energy-efficient ones.

For example, if all U.S. appliances more than 10 years old were replaced with new ones, CO2 emissions would be reduced by 26.9 billion pounds, the equivalent to taking 2.3 million cars off the road. Americans would save $25.9 bllion over a 10-year period and enough water to fill 235,357 Olympic swimming pools.

hhgregg offers a large selection of green, Energy Star rated appliances. Take a look.

By replacing old appliances with new ones, the average U.S. household could reduce its carbon footprint by about 3 percent. It may not sound like much, but as more and more households install new, energy efficient appliances in their homes, the reduction becomes significant.

Electrolux, the Sweden-based manufacturer of European-style appliances, has created an easy to use EcoSavings Calculator that displays the effects of replacing appliances, 10 or more years old, including refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and room air conditioners.

The calculator shows consumers how much water, electricity and money on their utility bills they can save in addition to reducing their carbon footprint, a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. CO2 reduction is expressed as an equivalent number of cars removed from U.S. roads, while water, electricity and dollar savings are all pinned to a tangible equivalent.

Take a look at the state of Indiana:

The amount of carbon dioxide emissions saved is equivalent to all households in the sate driving a car 242 miles.

The amount of money saved is equivalent to a stack of U.S. dollar coins more than three stories high.

The amount of electricity saved is equivalent to all Indiana households letting one 60W light bulb shine day and night for 105 days.

The amount of water saved is equivalent to 12 hours of flow from one faucet in every house in the state put together.

If all residents of Indiana replaced their appliances, savings would be significant. Users can also generate savings by city and by individual household. Give it a try. See how going green can save resources for everyone.

Georgia residents can take advantage of the state's Cash for Appliances program on now until federal funds run out.

Green cooks value locally grown, seasonal food, and with spring around the corner, asparagus season will soon make its way from south to north.

I remember the raised bed set aside for asparagus in my Maryland garden. When I moved in, it was the only green in the fenced vegetable garden, a plot I initially mistook for rampant weeds. Once spruced up with an edging of marigolds and removal of the actual weeds, that part of the garden was one of the first signs of spring as tiny asparagus shoots poked their way out of the ground. These slim shoots were tender enough to eat raw, and as a matter of fact, few actually made it to the dinner table.

Pan Roasted Asparagus by Thermador

Ingredients
Serves 3 to 4

This recipe works best with asparagus that is at least ½ inch thick near the base. If using thinner spears, reduce the covered cooking time to 3 minutes and the uncovered cooking time to 5 minutes. Do not use pencil-thin asparagus; it cannot withstand the heat and overcooks too easily.

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 pounds thick asparagus spears (see note), ends trimmed
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1/2 lemon (optional)

1. Heat the oil and butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, add half of the asparagus to the skillet with the tips pointed in one direction; add the remaining spears with the tips pointed in the opposite direction. Using tongs, distribute the spears in an even layer (the spears will not quite fit into a single layer); cover and cook until the asparagus is bright green and still crisp, about 5 minutes.

2. Uncover and increase the heat to high; season the asparagus with salt and pepper. Cook until the spears are tender and well browned along one side, 5 to 7 minutes, using the tongs to occasionally move the spears from the center of the pan to the edge of the pan to ensure all are browned. Transfer the asparagus to a serving dish, adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper, and, if desired, squeeze the lemon half over the spears. Serve immediately.

As predicted, as California goes, so goes the nation. Within three months of the California Energy Commission passing stricter requirements on all TVs in the state, Washington, Wisconsin, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York have introduced legislation mandating similar energy efficiency guidelines. Not content with following California's lead, Massachusetts and Washington expanded their bills to cover other home theater components like Blu-ray players and speaker systems.

While energy hogging technologies may be hurt by legislation, energy efficient technologies like LED, could benefit. An analyst at Gerson Lehrman Group, Dr. Munisamy Anandan, gave the green light to LED makers, concluding that green technology worked substantially in favor of LEDs.

Samsung, the U.S. market share leader in LED TVs as reported by DisplaySearch, has next generation LED panels underway, which already surpass California requirements slated for implementation in 2011 and the stricter guidelines for 2013.

"We've been bringing forth technologies well ahead of the energy requirements coming out of California," said Scott Birnbaum, vice president LCD Business at Samsung, "We've been promoting a green LCD panel strategy for quite awhile―developing technologies that allow us to drop power down significantly, and at the same time, we're actually improving the picture quality."

Birnbaum explained that by using two bands of LEDs instead of four and by employing active dimming technology where the LED bulbs respond to the content itself, the next generation of LED TVs will significantly exceed its predecessors' 40 percent energy savings figure.

Consumers can expect to see these more efficient LED TVs this spring.

Home theater components may also be subject to state legislated guideline, but so far, the energy requirements have addressed power consumption during standby mode, when the device is not running, but is plugged into a power source.

More on the greening of electronics at hhgregg:
Georgia Appliance Rebates Available
BRIC Consumers Greener than Americans
Singapore Becomes 41st EPEAT Member

The Georgia E-Star Rebate program offers up to $99 cash back on E-Star approved appliances beginning this Friday, February 12. 

No Valentine's Day would be complete without flowers and chocolate. And as I've mentioned before, it's easy to go green when the star ingredient is chocolate. Several manufacturers offer an organic, sustainable chocolate, perfect for an eco-friendly dessert that relies on pure chocolate flavor. Look for Green & Black's at many stores and 365 Chocolate at Whole Foods.

Singapore joined the EPEAT  green electronics rating system, the first to do so following EPEAT's international expansion in August 2009 and the 41st  in a line of countries participating in the program. Singapore consumers will now be able to easily assess the environmental performance of computer hardware and displays.

Electronics manufacturers like Toshiba embrace Singapore's inclusion. “The EPEAT system offers Toshiba a clear and impartial way to assess and communicate the strength of our environmental design initiatives," said Hidemi Murata, Managing Director of Toshiba Singapore Pte Ltd, which has registered the first EPEAT Gold-rated products in Singapore.

EPEAT is the largest environmental rating system for electronics, with a registry of over 1,000 products and more than 40 participating manufacturers worldwide. Last summer’s expansion enabled IT purchasers in the US, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Mexico to compare and select environmentally preferable products based on their environmental performance in their countries. Now Singaporeans have that same ability.

The EPEAT system evaluates electronic products according to three tiers of environmental performance: Bronze, Silver and Gold, based on 51 environmental criteria. Key benchmarks include elimination of toxics, design for recycling, extended product longevity, increased energy efficiency, packaging waste reduction, and takeback and recycling services.

EPEAT is a purchasing requirement for all U.S. federal agencies, and is integrated into hundreds of government, education, health care and enterprise IT contracts worldwide.

hhgregg carries more than a dozen Toshiba laptops in addition to other EPEAT participants.

• New EPEAT Ratings
• Another Rating System Underway: Sustainability Consortium
• Toshiba laptops at hhgregg.com

The greenest TVs available today are LCD HD TVs with LED backlights, commonly referred to as LED TVs. Sales of LED TVs in 2009 surprised industry analysts considering a tight economy and the premium price for LED technology.

"We estimate that shipments of LED backlit LCD TVs were 2.6 million in 2009 and will be 27 million in 2010," Paul Semenza, Senior Vice President at DisplaySearch, an industry research firm and part of the NPD Group. That's more than a ten-fold increase.

Not quite a year ago, Samsung announced that it has begun mass producing the industry’s first ultra-slim LCD panels suited for large size TVs.

Samsung’s edge-lit LED (light emitting diode) backlighting offers lighter weight and thinner designs, which is preferable for wall mounting over bulkier direct-lit LED LCDs. The LED-backlit panels also are mercury-free and consume less energy.
 
A 55-inch Samsung HDTV with edge-lit LED backlighting uses at least 45 percent less power than direct-lit LCD TVs, consuming just 130 watts.

By the close of 2009, Samsung LED TVs represented more than 50 percent of all LED TVs sold in the twelve month period.

Hhgregg offers the full line of Samsung LED TVs, and even better, all TVs are on sale now through Saturday. These energy efficient TVs can be delivered and ready to go in time for Sunday's big game.

• More than the Turf Will Be Green at the Super Bowl
• All About Samsung's Series 8 LED TVs
• LED on a Budget

Looking for energy efficient appliances? See all Energy Star Rated appliances at hhgregg.

With less than a week to go until the Super Bowl XLIV kick-off at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, the NFL has been working to ensure this is the greenest big game to date.