Many of us have fond memories of cutting folded paper, then unfolding it to reveal a unique snow
flake design. Some of us kids-at-heart still enjoy such things! Well did you know that December 27th is
Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day? Now that we're adults, we can really impress people by using one of these special
snowflake cutting templates. These beauties are works of art!
If you have some youngsters visiting for the holidays who are glued to their devices, show them the
Make-a-Flake site. You're able to move virtual scissors around the screen to cut pieces out of a folded paper triangle. When you're happy with the cutting, click preview and watch as your snowflake unfolds. The possibilities are endless and will keep the kids occupied for at least five minutes!
As individuals who care deeply about issues regarding food security, it comes as no surprise that, even in our country of plenty, one in seven people goes hungry every day. This is ironic since the US wastes over one billion tons of food each year. Kitchen Angels does a phenomenal job of reducing waste by donating scraps, freezing extra meals, and using food before it goes bad. Thanks to everyone who assists us in this effort!
Have you heard about what the rest of the world is doing to help combat excessive food waste? The
New York Times has a wonderful listing of various waste reduction efforts throughout the world. Take a look:
Harvard University outlines several innovative efforts taking place worldwide to minimize waste.
A pair of apps tackle the problem in two ways.
One in San Francisco locates places with unused food so that it can be driven to shelters and churches. Another
serving the European Union alerts consumers to deals on items nearing their expiration dates.
Inhospitable climates can also contribute to food waste. A solar-powered refrigerator has been used to preserve food in a particularly
hot region of India.
Sometimes it's a matter of looks. Misshapen fruits and vegetables are often tossed. A
company in Germany picks up "odd-looking" edibles and cooks them for catered events. Many
French supermarkets offer discounts on "ugly" fruits and vegetables - sometimes as much as 30 percent.
The kitchen is also a focal point of a
three-pronged program in Washington. Unemployed residents are trained to be chefs. Using unwanted food, they make meals for the homeless.
As for how
we can reduce food waste at home, an expert offers a simple tip:
Buy less and freeze more. Thanks to
Kenneth R. Rosen for this information.
We had an incredible turnout of regular and visiting volunteers during Thanksgiving week. A huge round of applause goes to
Sotheby's International Realty for their gift of both time and funds. We love seeing new faces in the kitchen and for delivery. Special thanks to our regular volunteers for making space and guiding people who were new to the kitchen. We couldn't do this without each of you, year round. We hope you all had a blessed, joyful Thanksgiving.
