Commonsense Organics Blog
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Commonsense is a family business based on three key values: organic food, environmental sustainability and fair trade. We’ve been going strong since 1991, and these values still underpin everything we do!
Commonsense Organics Blog
4M ago
Ceremonial Cacao has recently grown in popularity. Is it just the latest trend or is there more to it? We talked to Seleno Health to get the low down on authentically produced Ceremonial Cacao.
Seleno Health's Uturunku (jaguar) cacao is a mellow, calming blend that promotes relaxation, embodiment and satisfaction
Ceremonial Cacao and Chocolate
When people think of cacao they most often think of chocolate, the product made from the seeds of the cacao fruit that have been fermented, dried, roasted, milled and combined with sugar and milk solids. However before the Europeans discove ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
6M ago
Commonsense chooses Phenol-free receipt paper
In 2012 we discovered that our receipts contained Bisphenol A (BPA), which is an endocrine disruptor. We were concerned by the dangers of having these chemicals in something that was being handled daily by staff and customers alike so we started using BPA-free receipts. In 2021 we discovered that the suppliers of BPA-free receipts had not in fact resolved the problem but had cynically replaced the BPA with BPS - a chemical that was just as bad. This caused a much bigger problem for us as we were now looking for a thermal receipt that was ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
6M ago
This is one of the tastiest, quickest hot snacks loved by all - but especially vegans. All you need is 2 ingredients, 5 minutes, and a frying pan!
These delicious, hot little savoury morsels are great on their own as a snack with your favourite dipping sauce - try mixing hot sauce with some vegan mayo - or as boost of flavour and protein to meals such as salads, sprinkled over ramen broth, or included in stir-fries.
Even if you don't consider yourself a tempeh fan, give it a go - we had some hard-line tempeh dislikers try this and they're hooked!
Ingredients
1 pack ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
7M ago
Salads should never be that difficult, so here’s some inspiration for an incredibly simple, flavourful Spring salad, incorporating our latest in-season star – Asparagus.
Ingredients:
100g Red Quinoa
2 x Portobello/field mushrooms
1 bunch organic asparagus
100g Commonsense Organic Salad Mix
½ organic carrot
¼ organic red onion
¼ packet Feta
¼ packet of Alamir Bakery Pita Chips (we used Garlic and Coriander flavour)
Olive oil, Apple Cider Vinegar (or your favourite salad dressing).
Method:
Rinse the quinoa well under cold water.
Tip it into a pan on medium heat and add doubl ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
8M ago
A great wheat-free recipe to make with the kids, perfect to pop into lunch boxes whether you're heading off to school or the office!
We’ve used carrot, but these muffins can also be made using courgette, beetroot, or parsnip. We recommend using whatever veg is in season at the time. These are not overly sweet and make an excellent, nutritious lunchbox filler. If you are dairy or egg free, you can use vegan yoghurt in place of buttermilk and psyllium husk gel in place of the eggs.
Streusel is a crumbly topping, often added on muffins, cakes and pies. The streusel is delicious, but if you ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
8M ago
Bursting with essential nutrients, plant-based protein, and the rich goodness of walnuts, these vegetarian meatballs are a harmonious blend of the finest fresh, organic ingredients resulting in a satisfying meal for two which can be easily scaled up to feed a group. We've adapted our recipe from one of our walnut suppliers, Tricket's Grove, which showcased their recipe on Country Calendar in 2022.
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup minced onion
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup cooked bulgar wheat (or you could ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
11M ago
Within the last 20 years there has been an explosion in the choice of cooking oils - no doubt for the betterment of both our health and our palette - but it does lead to some confusion about which oil to use. Here’s what you need to know about the edible oils we sell and how to work out which one to use.
Extraction and refining
The first thing we consider at Commonsense is how the oil was extracted. Most mass market oils are extracted using a chemical solvent – usually hexane. At Commonsense we avoid chemicals and instead opt for mechanical extraction which is called expeller ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
11M ago
Creamy mushrooms on toast is a classic option that is hard to go past when out for weekend brunch and now it's easy to recreate this savoury dish at home too! We've made it café style here but you can also pair it with thick cut noodles, rice or potatoes and you've got yourself a mushroom stroganoff. Whichever meal occasion you opt for the result is the same - thick and creamy deliciousness!
Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
¼ tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp paprika
1T butter
600-700g mixed mushrooms, thickly sliced
200ml white wine
½ tbsp Dijon mustard
200m ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
1y ago
Ceres Organics was Aotearoa/New Zealand’s first organic co-op, starting out from a garage in Mt Wellington/Panmure in Auckland in 1982. From these humble beginnings it quickly transformed into the leading distribution company that we know and love today, operating across Australia and New Zealand with shareholdings in organic companies in Thailand and Argentina. Noel Josephson was there from the start and is still involved today and, ahead of Organic Week (1-7 May), we caught up with him to find out more about this market leader of the organic world.
Noel Josephson, Managing Director, C ..read more
Commonsense Organics Blog
1y ago
For the past 20 years The Organic Farm Butchery (previously Ti Kouka Farm Organic Meats) has worked hard to grow beyond a one-farm-story, and now have a total of 8 certified organic farms within the East Coast and central North Island supplying their butchery (including some familiar brands such as BioFarm and Sentry Hill). This network gives The Organic Farm excellent resilience against inclement weather patterns and logistical challenges, and a steady supply of high-quality meat 365 days a year. Earlier this year when Cyclone Gabrielle hit The Hawkes B ..read more