Throwing 'Green' Summer Parties

(CBS)  Most of us usually don't think about recycling when we're entertaining.

But Tuesday's installment of The Early Show series "Culinary Inspirations" proves it's possible to have fun and save the planet, too.

Activist and stylist Danny Seo stops by to share many of the environmentally-friendly suggestions from his new book, "Simply Green Parties." It shows you can think of Mother Earth and be chic at the same time.

Seo is an environmental activist who promotes eco-friendly lifestyles that can still be stylish. He's frequently been called the "green Martha Stewart."

Seo assists some of Hollywood's biggest celebrities as an "eco-stylist," dressing actors in environmentally friendly fashion, consulting on the renovation of their homes, and helping them raise money for their eco-charities.

His main theme is that people should constantly re-think how to use everyday objects. The uses may be unusual, but that's where creativity kicks in.

"Simply Green Parties" is the first of a how-to series Seo is working on. The book is printed on recycled paper and doesn't have a dust jacket. All the pictures in the book were taken digitally, and the props were made from organic materials or from thrift shops. Nothing brand-new was purchased for the book.

It's filled with resourceful, innovative ideas that are environmentally-friendly, useful and easy to carry out. It offers eco-friendly and creative ways to throw a great party or get-together. Most of the ideas in the book involve things you already have around the house.

"Simply Green Parties" has chapters on dinners under the stars, baby showers, housewarmings, birthday parties, winter warm-up parties and "summer sizzlers."

Seo describes "eco-entertaining" as using things for parties or get-togethers that are either recycled or biodegradable, instead of things that are used once and thrown. For example: using Twizzlers with the ends cut off, instead of straws. The idea is to reuse things in a creative and perhaps untraditional way.

Among Seo's suggestions for summer soirees:

NATURALLY FLAVORED WATER

Drinking plain old water can become boring after awhile. Seo has a fun way to add a little kick and flavor to a plain bottle of water by using real fruits, herbs and vegetables. Cut strips of cucumber, apple, or sprigs of mint and insert into bottles or pitchers of water. Chill for an hour or so in the refrigerator or freezer to let the flavors develop. You can even use grapefruit, peaches, limes and lemons instead. Seo recommends one fruit per bottle and using bottled water in glass containers, as opposed to plastic.

SIMPLY GREEN "COOKING": HEALTHY FROZEN TREATS

Kids love ice pops in summer, but they tend to be loaded with sugar and artificial flavoring. Seo gives an easy way to make healthy pops. All you need to start is an ice-pop mold set. They're available at any cooking supply store. You also need some wooden sticks. Fill the molds with vitamin-fortified flavored waters or electrolyte-filled sports drinks. You can even add a drop of vitamin B-12 if you want more natural energy. Insert the wooden sticks and freeze overnight. Seo loves using vitamin water along with a drop of the B-12.

For more of Seo's ideas, see Page 2.

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