Mushroom and Chicken Tamale Pie

MUSHROOM AND CHICKEN TAMALE PIE

Serves 8-10

INGREDIENTS

For filling

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound white or baby bella mushrooms, thinly sliced

1 pound boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground cumin seeds

1/2 teaspoon Mexican oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground garlic

1 teaspoon salt

2 large scallions, diced

1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup shredded mild cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese

Minced cilantro to garnish

For topping

1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4 cup corn meal

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk

1/4 cup canola oil

1 large egg

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil in a saute pan on medium high heat. Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Remove from pan. Turn heat to medium.

Heat remaining olive oil. Add chicken, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and salt. Cook for 8 minutes. Remove from heat.

Toss mushrooms, chicken, scallions, red peppers, and corn together in a bowl. Layer the mixture in a 9 inch x 13 inch casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese.

In a large bowl, combine flour, corn meal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Whisk together milk, canola oil, and egg. Combine with dry ingredients until just moistened.

Spread over chicken mixture.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Garnish with cilantro.

The ReUse People Will Deconstruct Your Kitchen

I received The ReUse People's Velvet Crowbar Newsletter today and they are making an offer that the kitchen remodeling contractor and the Do-It-Yourselfer cannot refuse.

These folks know what they're doing and you can be assured that whatever can be recycled from your kitchen will be.

Peggy

TRP Kitchen-Removal Program a Win-Win Recipe
By Ted Reiff

In January, 2010, I briefly mentioned the new TRP Kitchen Deconstruction and Removal Program currently being launched, first in the San Francisco Bay Area and then throughout all TRP regions.

We are targeting kitchen designers and remodelers and homeowners. For the same cost as traditional smash-and-discard demolition, TRP will remove kitchen cabinets and appliances, leave the project in broom-clean condition and provide a tax-deductible receipt for the donated reusable items.

Here is how it works:

You call Kitchen Specialist Diana Pell at (510) 385-5786, or TRP at (510) 383-1983 and request a Kitchen Removal Order Form
The form is immediately e-mailed or faxed to you.
You complete the form, computing the easy cost formula to calculate total removal costs.
You send the completed form back to TRP by email or fax.
TRP calls to arrange the work schedule. (Removal can usually be completed in one day.)
A specially-trained TRP crew shows up on the agreed upon day, completes the work, leaves the kitchen ready for cabinet and appliance installation, and presents you with the donation receipt.
The donation will generally cover the entire cost of removal! How much better can it get? With its nonprofit status and 16-plus years of deconstruction and kitchen-removal experience, TRP is the only company that can offer this sweet a deal.
If the project involves a very large kitchen with expensive cabinets and appliances, an appraisal may be required (appraisals are mandatory for donations of $5,000 or more). TRP will provide you with a list of independent appraisers.

TRP kitchen-removal crews cover finished floors and openings to other rooms with plastic or other appropriate protective materials to minimize dust. If you want additional work done while our crew is there (for example, removal of wall coverings, windows, finished floors or recessed lighting), TRP will provide you with a separate quotation for the work.

Location and Contact Information

TRP Retail-Warehouse
9235 San Leandro Street
Oakland, CA 94603
(510) 383-1983; toll-free 888-588-9490
Hours: Mon through Sat 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Los Angeles (Pacoima) TRP Retail-Warehouse
11017 Sutter Avenue
Pacoima, CA 91331
(818) 897-2798
Hours: Tues through Fri 10:00 to 5:00; Saturday 10:00 to 4:00

Please visit our partnering warehouse in Kansas City:

Kansas City Habitat for Humanity
4701 Deramus Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64120
(816) 231-7602

Please visit our partnering warehouse in Chicago:

Chicago ReBuilding Exchange
3335 West 47th Street,
Chicago, IL 60632
(312) 554-0900

Please visit our partnering warehouse in the Los Angeles area:

Silver Lake Yards
1086 Manzanita Street
Silver Lake, CA 90026
(323) 667-2875
Hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment
Directions: Manzanita Street crosses Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. Go south 1 short block and turn right just before Santa Monica Boulevard.

Please visit our partnering warehouse in the Sacramento area:

Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps (SRCC)
6350 27th Street, Sacramento, CA 95822 (northwest corner of 27th St. at 47th Ave.)
Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Telephone: 916-556-1174

Purchasing Clean Electricity

The energy industry is changing steadily. Consumers concerned about the environment and their own bottom line are looking for newer, more efficient, more economical energy sources. Nowhere is this more apparent than with electricity.

Today, almost 50 percent of electric customers have the ability to buy renewable energy straight from their power distributor, and every consumer has the option to purchase green energy certificates.

Most states offer at least one of several different programs that let consumers buy green energy.

Green pricing programs require customers to pay a small fee in exchange for electricity produced by green energy sources. This optional service is offered through many traditional power companies; the premium fee helps offset costs for the supplier that come from increased expenses related to renewable energy generation.

Competitive electricity markets give customers a lot of choice when it comes to energy efficiency and low environmental impact. Through competitive markets, customers can select to have their power delivered by an independent green energy supplier rather than buy it from the traditional provider active in their area.

The competitive market model works a lot like the restructured long distance telephone call system of years ago. Instead of allowing a single default supplier to provide power to all consumers in a specific geographic area, some states have allowed alternative energy producers in to market green energy products and services to customers. This has increased competition among service providers in these markets, giving consumers renewable energy options and in some cases even lowering prices for traditional electric customers.

Green certificates can be purchased by anyone, regardless of their access to green pricing or competitive markets. Sometimes called green tags, renewable energy certificates, or tradable renewable certificates, green certificates are essentially the environmental benefits that come from producing clean energy. In buying green certificates, consumers are able to help alternative providers produce clean, renewable energy no matter where they are. These contributions make it possible for companies producing green power to generate more of it, thereby feeding more renewable energy into the country’s electricity supply.

The process starts with clean power companies that separate the power they sell to suppliers from the environmental attributes associated with that energy. These attributes are the green certificates. The certificates are then sold to both businesses and individual consumers who want to help increase the amount of green energy entering the power grid.

The separation makes it possible for alternative energy suppliers to sell their products to traditional suppliers at competitive prices. Selling the green certificates helps cover the additional costs associated with producing renewable energy, as well as stimulating the research and development of more green energy initiatives.

There are many organizations that offer renewable energy certificates. No matter where you live, you have the opportunity to contribute to these alternative providers and, in turn, increase the amount of green energy that circulates through our nation’s electric systems.

For more information about buying green electricity or participating in renewable energy initiatives in your area, contact your local electric company or your state’s Department of Environmental Protection.



Links to Local Electric Utilities in DE, PA and MD:

• Peco Energy
• Delmarva Power

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