Random Recycling: Modern Green Living for Busy Families

Crock Pot Tomato Soup

2012-01-30T19:30:00.005-05:00

Ever try to make your own Tomato Soup? After reading the label on my favorite tomato soup, I decided to test out other organic options. Nothing ever hit the mark. I've cooked it before on the stove and never really been happy with the results. Finally tried it in the crock pot and it came out fabulous! I served it alongside grilled cheese sandwiches for a simple dinner one night, then added barley to it to make it into a lunch.

Ingredients
1 large Onion, chopped.
1 stick of butter
28oz Can of Whole Tomatoes
1/2 Cup White Wine (I used Sauvingnon Blanc)
1 Tbl Sugar
1 Tsp Dried Tarragon
Sea Salt
Sour Cream for serving

Instructions
1. In a large skillet, melt the butter on medium heat. Add onion and cook for about 15 minutes until softened. Stir often. (Or, set slow cooker to saute and complete this task in the main cooker.)
2. Add tomatoes (do not drain), wine, sugar and tarragon into the crock pot. Add onion and butter. Cover and cook on Low for 5 hours.
3. Puree using an Immersion Blender
or in a blender in batches. Season with salt. Serve with cold sour cream.

Enjoy!

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

This post is shared with Made From Scratch Tuesday, Real Food Forager,

Have I mentioned how much I love Menu Planning?

2012-01-29T21:46:00.000-05:00

This weekend I think I finally hit my stride in making a plan to menu plan. It does take some time to sit down and review what you have on hand to make a menu, review recipes to see what needs to be added to the grocery list, and then finish up the grocery list. I did my planning session during Saturday's naptime so I could get a couple of little things on Sunday and be ready to start the week with the majority of the ingredients needed for the week. I'm using my binder of favorite recipes or Pinterest most often.

So far the menu planning is helping me feel less stressed about dinner time, especially since I am adding in at least one or two crock-pot meals for the week. It's also started to trim my grocery bill for the week by about $25. Next up is to start clearing through some back-up in the pantry and freezer so hopefully I can increase our savings even more.

Up on this week's plan...
Monday~ new Mexican Chicken in the Crock-Pot...I'm winging it so if it's good, a recipe will follow ;)
Tuesday~ Lentil Soup and Salad. Daddy is away so I get to test out some meatless meals to see if they are hearty enough for his return.
Wednesday~ Chicken Sausage and Pasta
Thursday~ Easy Chicken Curry. I've made this two times before and some very picky eaters LOVED it.
Friday~ Fried Haddock Sandwiches. My little man turns ONE on Friday, so he may get something special.

For more recipe inspiration, you can follow my Favorite Recipe or Slow Cooker Board.

What are you cooking this week?

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

This post will be shared at OrgJunkie Menu Plan Monday.

Three Years Ago I Became a Mom

2012-01-28T14:34:00.000-05:00

My world changed when my beautiful daughter arrived in this world.
I became a Mom three years ago today.
I left a world where my actions affected only me.
Now I look twice, think twice, stress twice and so on in hopes that I make the best decision for her.
Do I always make the right one? Probably not. But I know that I try ever day to look her in the eyes and tell her I love her.

Happy Birthday to my Madison. I love you to the moon and back.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe

2012-01-25T21:11:00.004-05:00

Skip the drive thru and the frozen food aisle. Here is an easy chicken nugget recipe that is both kid, and husband, friendly. I grew up eating these and I have hardly tweaked the original recipe from the Eater's Choicecookbook. Now we just make sure to cook enough so there is leftovers for the kids lunches.

A note about breadcrumbs. I use the heels of my bread and pulse them in the food processor. I have also use panko breadcrumbs as well and they come out just slightly crunchy.

Ingredients
3-4 Boneless Chicken Breasts
2 Tbl Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 Cup Breadcrumbs (2-3 pieces of bread)
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Dipping Sauce~ 2 1/2 Tsp Honey and 2 Tbl Dijon Mustard

Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces, about 8 pieces per breast.
Mix oil, garlic, pepper and chicken in a zip top bag and marinate about 30 minutes. (You can do it in the morning and let it sit till evening, or just marinate for a few minutes, it doesn't make a huge difference in taste.)
Mix Breadcrumbs with cayenne pepper. Roll chicken pieces in bread crumbs and place on a large cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes until brown and cooked through.

Use honey mustard sauce or ketchup for dipping.
Serves 4.

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

This post is being shared with Gnowfglins Simple Lives Thursday, Make Ahead Meals and The Humble Homemaker.

How to Make Your Own Yogurt

2012-01-24T22:00:00.002-05:00

After a few rounds of making my own yogurt, I feel confident enough to share my easy How-To. I've tried to make it in the past using a stove top method with thermometers involved, but never found it that easy. The slow cooker method is easier, you just need to plan your time accordingly.

Ingredients

1/2 Gallon of Milk ~ cannot be Ultra-Pasteurized, which many Organic milk products are. I have found Organic Pasteurized milk at Trader Joe's that worked fine.

1/2 Cup Plain Yogurt, called the "starter". Once you make up your first batch, you can save a 1/2 cup and use for a future batch.

Instructions

Pour all of the milk into a slow-cooker and turn to Low. Leave it on for 2 1/2 hours.

Unplug the cooker and let it sit for 3 hours.

At the end of 3 hours, mix in the 1/2 cup yogurt starter to the warm milk. I slowly whisk in the yogurt.

Cover the slow cooker with a thick bath towel to retain heat. Let the slow cooker sit overnight, or at least 8 hours. Refrigerate in the morning.

That's it! In the morning, you have yogurt. While I like it cool, I have eaten it right away in the morning, and so have the kids. I've tried my starter using both Plain and Vanilla and each worked fine, just choose according to your taste. I use my yogurt for baking and also to serve with my Homemade Granola. I usually mix fresh fruit in my yogurt and granola breakfast so I don't care for fruity yogurt. If that's how you roll, you can make a puree in the blender of fresh or frozen fruit and then blend it into the yogurt.

What do you think? Will this take some of the burden off your yogurt expense each week?

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

This post was shared with Real Food 101, Made from Scratch Tuesday, Real Food Forager, and Traditional Tuesday.

Ever Tried Dryer Balls?

2012-01-24T10:09:00.001-05:00

I am a dryer ball convert. I know that makes me a little weird since the majority of my friends probably have never even heard of dryer balls. It was probably a year ago that I first read about them. They replace dryer sheets, and last a VERY long time. Like, years. No more buying dryer sheets...or more like, no more running out of dryer sheets. Plus, it's just one less laundry time-sucking chore since the balls just stay in the dryer for the next round.

During the Black Friday/Cyber Monday haze of ordering Christmas presents, I saw The Willow Store had a discount code and I jumped on it. I thought it would be a good present for my husband to wrap up for me. I was so efficient in getting it and putting it in his closet, he never opened it up and I didn't get it under the tree!
Regardless, I started using them a week after Christmas and here are my thoughts after one month.

1. Why didn't I buy these sooner.

2. Use three balls, any less and I get some static.

3. There is still a little static with synthetic clothes...think dry-fit gym clothes. Usually the static is only when I first pull them out of the dryer. By the time I get them into the drawer an hour (or ahem, day) later, the static is gone. I talked with Catherine from the Willow Store and she said to cut the drying time by a few minutes and the static should disappear. Less drying time? Even better.

4. I choose the natural color set, but Catherine said the colored balls are safe to use in white washes since the the colors are fiber reactive dyed. It's actually easier to find the colored balls in the white washes and vice versa. Smart.

5. The kids love them. Laundry is now a little game time for everyone :)

I have also used the balls for drying my cloth diapers. No static to report and it has cut my drying time down by about 5 minutes. I know there are some DIY wool dryer ball posts you can search for, but for me, I am happy with my order and look forward to giving you an update in a year to see if they are still working as well as they are today.

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

~I bought this product on my own and in no way affiliated with The Willow Store. My opinions shared here are strictly my own. I'll be sharing this post with Frugally Sustainable , I Thought I Knew Mama,and SortaCrunchy.

Meal Plan Monday Jan 23

2012-01-23T07:30:00.015-05:00

All is well in our house since the Patriots won! We had a fun Taco dinner with friends to start the week off on the right foot.

Here is this week's menu details.

Monday~ Tomato Soup and maybe some Grilled Cheese too.

Tuesday~ First time trying the Coconut Ginger Slow Cooker recipe from Simple Bites. Planning to serve it over Brown Rice.

Wednesday~ Beef Stew in Pressure Cooker. I love my Cuisinart Pressure Cooker

Thursday~ Baked Haddock, Mac n Cheese and Broccoli.

Friday~ Burgers and Sweet Potato fries. Hopefully the weather is decent so we can grill and I'm going to test out my new mandoline to make our own french fries.

Saturday~ My little girl turns THREE!! Birthday dinner out to celebrate.

What are you making this week? Feel free to leave a link to your menu plan in the comments.

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

For more menu plan ideas, stop by OrgJunkie for lots of recipes and more.

Do you Test your Kids Products?

2012-01-22T20:43:00.000-05:00

I have a daughter who loves to watch me put lip gloss on. And then I hear, "My turn, my turn." One time she put some lip balm on and it turned her skin all red. Since then, I'm more strict about what I share with her, and it's motivated me to switch to safer products for myself.

As our kids get older, they start using more bath and beauty products. They might need conditioner and detangler spray, especially if they have curly hair like my Madison. Or maybe they need a stronger shampoo to get rid of greasy hair. Do you want to use the same thing you do? Maybe not. The skin is our largest organ and all those ingredients get absorbed into the bloodstream and if it's a chemical, it can cause hormonal disruptions, dermatitis and more.

As we buy new products, I have been doing a test wash on myself on my inner arm prior to letting either kid use it. I figure it's a good first start to make sure there are no skin irritants. Now I know we can't really test diaper rash creams, but look for one without too many ingredients besides the all important zinc oxide.

Here are the ingredients I make sure are not listed:

Sodium laureth sulfate
Parabens

Fragrance

There is a great online guide that will give you a safety rating, based on the ingredient list. It's organized by the EWG, or Environmental Working Group. Lots of people use their database to check their sunscreen safety, but they also have one for beauty products. I was excited to see one of our products, Dolphin Organics Body Lotion got a zero rating. That means there is nothing unnatural about what goes into making this lotion. I am totally comfortable using this for Madison for dry patches on her face.

Here is my go-to list for bath and beauty products for the kids

Bath Wash

California Baby

Dolphin Organics

Conditioner
Whole Foods Conditioner
(Going to check out Aubrey's next)

Detangler
We were using Healthy Sexy Hair (yes, for my 3 year old), but i'm going to switch after I looked at the ingredient list. However, it works amazing well. A couple of good ones recommended are the California Baby detangler or Original Sprout

Lip balm
Mad Gabs. Madison now gets her own she can put on before nap time or bedtime. She is enjoying the new Wildy Natural Juicy Mango Lip Butter. Doesn't that just sound delicious! I love her having her own special lip gloss like Mommy, but no sharing germs and it's safe for her skin. Plus the tube is recyclable. :)
(I also am using Mad Gab's lip gloss and love the texture and shine. The lip shimmers they offer were a bust...they were too smushy, even in cool temperatures. I can't imagine how they would hold up over the summer! To find a store that carries Mad Gabs, check here.)

Lotion
Dolphin Organics Lotion
Coconut Oil

Toothpaste
Tom's of Maine for Kids, Strawberry Flavor **Yet just realized there is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate on the ingredient list which I am not excited about.

What are your favorite products for your kids?

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

Disclosure: I received samples of Mad Gabs and Dolphin Organics. This did not influence my opinions shared here.

Why I Say No to Rainbow Colored Sprinkles

2012-01-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

In my quest to eat more real foods, I’ve become more conscious of the how often I see synthetic food dyes in our world. Valentine’s Day candy is already set-up in the stores and it’s a billboard for Red Dye#40. (Synthetic food dyes are listed with a #, like Blue #2.) In the past couple of years, I keep reading that food dyes have been linked to hyperactivity in children, eczema, ear infections, headaches, asthma, sleep issues and more. As a parent of young children, I don’t need to increase the likely hood of any of those ailments, so I say no to rainbow colored sprinkles when we are in the grocery store. However, I'm not going to prevent my kids from enjoying confetti colored birthday cake when they are at friend's parties. I figure that if I reduce our use by at least 80%, then the other 20% will have less of an impact.

As an avid label reader, I have started a mental list of where I need to seek an alternative to the conventional options. You can see that the list extends far beyond the dinner table.

Ice Cream
Tortilla Chips
Kids Medicine. (look for Dye free)
Play Dough (we use eco-dough)
Toothpaste
Yogurts (most organic options use natural coloring, like from beet juice)
Husband’s Sports Drinks and Maraschino Cherries

In April 2008, Britain’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) advised the food industry to voluntarily ban the use of six common synthetic food dyes by 2009 (UK food dyes on which the Food Standards Agency has called for a voluntary ban include: Tartrazine, Quinoline Yellow, Sunset Yellow, Carmoisine, Ponceau 4R, and Allura Red). Source Mars has removed synthetic dyes from M&M’s in the UK, but not yet in the US. Why? It’s a half penny more expensive to switch to natural plant dyes in some cases. I would be willing to pay a half penny more to avoid potential cancer causing ingredients. I would even pay two pennies more to help cover the costs of the families that don’t have the additional money to make a healthier choice. Education is key and if we can use our consumer dollars to choose products made with natural plant dyes instead of synthetic junk, maybe the big manufacturers will make the change for the better.

Here’s a quote that is rather scary, but true…

“In Europe manufacturers need to prove an ingredient is SAFE beyond a shadow of a doubt for it to be approved for use.

In the US, researchers need to prove an ingredient is DANGEROUS beyond a shadow of a doubt for it to be banned.”

- Fooducate.com

To learn more about synthetic food dyes, see

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/30/fda.food.dye.health/index.html

http://healthfreedoms.org/2011/03/14/u-s-still-using-toxic-dyes-left-out-of-u-k-goods-2/

diefooddye.com

http://www.sortacrunchy.net/sortacrunchy/2011/12/ten-things-everyone-should-know-about-artificial-food-coloring-.html

What do you think? What products do you have a hard time finding a good alternative? (Mine was Green Monster Mint Hood Ice Cream...sad to see synthetic food dyes here.)

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!
This is being shared at Frugally Sustainable & SortaCrunchy.

Menu Plan Monday~ Jan 16, 2012

2012-01-15T20:52:00.000-05:00

Happy long holiday weekend!

Missing from the list is Sunday's great Beef Stew made in the Pressure Cooker tonight for my Mom's birthday. Have I mentioned how much I'm loving my new pressure cooker? ;) Thanks Mom!

While my wonderful husband is traveling, I'm going to try a meatless Monday recipe I saw in Whole Living, the Mushroom and White Bean soup. It just looks so cozy.

The chicken broth came out so good in the pressure cooker last time so I'm planning to do the same again this week. I may throw in some sweet potatoes and cinnamon this time for some variety.

Mushroom and White Bean Soup

What are you making this week? Winter has finally arrived and I would love to hear what you are making to keep yourselves warm and cozy!

For more menu planning ideas, stop by OrgJunkie for Menu Plan Mondays.

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

Step Back in time and Visit Pompeii at the Museum of Science

2012-01-13T14:07:00.000-05:00

I have always loved museums, even as a little kid. There is something so grand about the exhibit halls and the amount of information you can absorb seems endless. Now I enjoy it when museums have family friendly activities that keep everyone entertained. The Museum of Science Boston offers a nice blend of grown-up information and hands-on activities for the little ones.

My trip to the Museum of Science coincided with the A Day in Pompeii exhibit, running now through Feb 12, 2012. First, I had an amazing lunch in their Skyline Function room with a spectacular view of the Charles River on a sunny January day. (After 5 years of being a wedding planner, trust me when I say their food is good!) Afterwards, I got to enjoy a mostly peaceful walk through the exhibit. Peaceful because my kids were not with me, yet it was clearly a big field trip day for middle-school kids. The Pompeii exhibit was educational and humbling. The devastating volcanic eruption in AD 79 buried the Roman city of Pompeii. The exhibit features amazing archaeological treasures found 1700 years later. Some of the preserved items are the Statue of Venus (1) and a Water Urn (2) which was made from lead at the time. There is a room of body casts from the victims of Mount Vesuvius's eruption. It was eerie to walk through and see some of the details that have been captured by the plaster molds of the victims (4).
At the end of the exhibit, there was a fun interactive learning area sharing stories of volcanic eruptions around the world, a chance to measure your own earthquake, and a mosaic building area for all ages (2).

While I have fond memories of going to the Museum of Science as a kid to see the giant wave and bring home some astronaut ice cream, I'm happy to say they have moved into the future with amazing exhibits. I am a believer in giving kids the gift of experiences and some museum passes fit the bill. To learn more about the museum, you can visit their website http://www.mos.org/.

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

Disclosure: I attended a luncheon at the Museum of Science in order to review their current exhibit. This in no way influenced my opinions shared here.

Pressure Cooker Shrimp Risotto

2012-01-12T15:01:00.001-05:00

I have been testing out my new Cuisanart Pressure Cooker and recently tried to make risotto. I find it difficult to make risotto on the stove top since it requires so much attention, but I love it. In our quest to avoid relying on packaged goods, I wanted to find a way to make risotto that works for us. By using the pressure cooker, I was able to make the risotto on a weeknight, while the kids played in the kitchen.

I do some of prep work for dinners while the kids take afternoon naps so the shallots and garlic were already chopped once I got started. In the evening, I prepped the shrimp by cutting the tails off with kitchen scissors. It was easier than expected and everyone ate it so this will be repeated in our menu plans to come.

Pressure Cooker Parmesan Shrimp Risotto

Ingredients

· 1 1/2 tablespoons butter

· 2/3 cup finely chopped shallots (about 2 large)

· 3 garlic cloves, minced

· 1 1/3 cups uncooked Aborio rice

· 1 cup white wine divided

· 3 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth (I used broth made in the pressure cooker)

· 2 ounces fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided

· 1 lb Cooked Large Shrimp, tails removed (I use scissors to cut off the tails)

· 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

· 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. 1. Heat a 6-quart pressure cooker over medium-high heat, or use the Saute function. Add butter to cooker; swirl until butter melts. Add shallots; sauté 2 minutes. Add garlic; sauté for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add rice; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 cup wine; cook 1 minute or until liquid is absorbed, stirring constantly. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup wine and broth. Close lid securely; bring to high pressure over high heat. Adjust heat to medium or level needed to maintain high pressure; cook 8 minutes. Remove from heat; release pressure through steam vent, or place cooker under cold running water to release pressure. Remove lid. Grate 1 3/4 ounces cheese; stir in grated cheese and remaining ingredients, including shrimp. Let stand 4 minutes to thicken. Shave remaining 1/4 ounce cheese, and top with shavings.

Adapted from, Cooking Light

This post is being shared via the Green Resource, hosted by A Delightful Home, and also TidyMom.

Meal Plan Monday Jan 9

2012-01-09T17:44:00.002-05:00

Chicken chili is from the Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook

Risotto will be a test in the pressure cooker. I'll add in some shrimp at the end.

Fish sandwiches will be made with Flounder. I fry them in coconut oil.

Burgers and potatoes are on deck for Thursday as Daddy is in charge of dinner.
Friday is homemade pizza night. I may be adventurous and make my own dough.
Pats game is on Sat night which calls for some chili!
For more recipe ideas, visit OrgJunkie.com.

Amazing Deal on Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil

2012-01-05T17:24:00.001-05:00

Just an amazing deal to share over at Amazon for the Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
.
I did the math and it comes out to only $.40/ounce, vs the Tropical Traditions Buy One Get on Free deal which is $.60/ounce.

You need to sign up for Subscribe & Save to get an extra 15% off, which I did with a 4 month delivery set-up. (I am familiar with the program since I use to use it for diapers.) You get an email before your next order is shipped so you can always cancel later if you don't need it. Once you start cooking with coconut oil, I bet you will need it.

Also, use the discount code NUTIVJAN to get the additional 10% off your order.

My total order: $12.15 for 30 ounces of coconut oil. Just in time for chapped hands and faces from the late-arriving cold weather. And for making more homemade Granola.

Are you using Coconut Oil?

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

Disclosure: Amazon links are affiliate links and if you make a purchase, I get a small commission. This helps support further development of the website. Thanks!

The Start of One Bite at a Time

2012-01-05T09:51:00.003-05:00

You may have heard me mention I was eating my frogs this week. You may have thought I was a little crazy after the holiday hoop-la. You are probably a little right. At the start of the new year, I love the fresh start it provides. With an over abundance of organizing articles in magazines, the clutter free tabletops after the Christmas decorations are put away, and a need to settle in for winter, I love having a new challenge to tackle.

One Bite at a Time is providing this challenge in a way that is simple and understandable. It's written by Tsh Oxenreider, the founder of Simple Mom. (my favorite site!) In it is a collection of bite size tasks to help get your life in order, from starting the day off right to getting more quality time with your spouse. And no, grocery shopping together is not quality time. You have the flexibility to follow along weekly, as there are 52 ideas to put into action. Or, if you are super motivated, you can tackle more when your schedule allows for it.

I'm following along with Katie and her fans at Kitchen Stewardship. She is chronically her tasks on Facebook, where you can also join in the conversation. I have already gotten some additional goods ideas on how to get started.

Now back to the frogs...Eat Your Frog is a concept where you tackle the hardest thing on your list once you start the day. The goal is for this task on your to-do list, at work or at home, to be checked off and everything after that seems a little easier to manage. On Day 1, my frog was to clear off our dining room table. It's the first thing everyone sees when they come into the house and it bothers me when it gets messy and cluttered. With a high chair and booster seat also at the table, you can imagine how messy under the table it is too.

Here is what I realized by tackling this project.
1. It's easier to clean it up right away.
2. The clear space gave me a place to fold laundry, which is usually Frog #2.
3. It was much more relaxing to bring out the next meal to a clear table.

It you want to follow along, you can download the One Bite at a Time ebook here. It's only $5 and offers the potential to save you loads of time and money in the long run. A couple of topics coming up that I'm excited to read are about menu planning and creating a morning routine. After the lovely holiday break, I realized that I function better with a routine.

Order your copy today for Kindle, Nook or PDF.

What do you think? Want to join in? One last organizing note...if you love new calendars and free organizing lists, check out The Nest Effect. I'm enjoying reading through her organizing posts for fun storage ideas.

Click here to visit Simple Mom.
I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of this book, which means I get a little commission for the sale of the book. Thanks!

I'm sharing this post at Frugally Sustainable, where you can lots of other green living tips & tricks.

Update Mason Jars with Chalkboard Paint

2012-01-04T21:41:00.000-05:00

I love collecting glass jars, in all shapes and sizes. I even keep extras on hand of spaghetti sauce or coconut oil jars. There are so many uses for them, both in and out of the kitchen. One way I found to help organize them is to create chalkboard labels. This works great for items you put in the freezer and want a quick label that can be reused over and over again, just like the jars.

Step One: Wash your jar and dry thoroughly.

Step Two: Use paint to create the shape you want on the jar. (masking tape or blue painter's tape both work fine.)

Step Three: Apply two coats of chalkboard paint to the jar. Allow to let dry in between coats. Remove tape once it's dry.

I use these jars in the kitchen and also in my craft storage area. I have one for buttons and another for ribbons so far. Chalkboard paint can be found at your local craft store, paint store, or on Amazon. My advice, a little goes a long way so buy a small amount. (Or paint a whole cabinet, like I did.)

What would you put in your jars?

For more green living ideas, visit Frugally Sustainable and SortaCrunchy.

Menu Plan Monday~ Jan 1, 2012

2012-01-02T20:36:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!
Here is this week's dinner menu. One of my resolutions for 2012 is to spend more time menu planning. I find such relief when I open my chalkboard closet and find tonight's dinner decision ready and waiting for me. I also want to be better prepared for lunches, so I may start planning those out too. My goal is to make sure we use up all of our leftovers as it bothers me when we have to throw out food that has been sitting too long in our fridge. I love to cook, but there is always a way to make it more efficient and enjoyable.

Monday Meatloaf is a beef version of this recipe from Cooking Light. (I find turkey meatloaf just doesn't cut it.) We left out the sriracha sauce so everyone could eat it. Our little guy ate it all up! If it's just me and my husband eating it, the spicy version is amazing. Roasted Green Beans in the oven and Sweet Potatoes in the Pressure cooker (10 mins total time!) rounded out the meal.

Tuesday will be my first attempt at cooking a Whole Chicken in the pressure cooker. I have found recipes including beer cans, lots of liquid, minimal liquid, etc. I haven't quite decided what I'll do, but most recipes say it should be done in about 25 minutes. I'll also be saving the bones to make a fresh batch of chicken broth. (Still trying to get it to gel...maybe in the pressure cooker it will work!) The leftover chicken will be used for Waldorf chicken salad sandwiches, which will help me meet my healthy lunch goal and to use up leftovers.

Wednesday~ Sweet & Sour Pork Tenderloin in the Crock pot. New recipe...will update later with results.

Thursday~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets and Sweet Potato fries.

Friday~ Homemade Pepperoni Pizza night. I should do a salad...but probably won't.

Saturday~ Salmon and Broccoli. Last time we did salmon the little guy wasn't for it. I'm going to try it poached and see if he will eat it this time.

What menu planning resources do you use? To get more ideas, check out Menu Plan Monday.

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

Making Family Resolutions

2012-01-01T21:11:00.000-05:00

I was a little sad to say goodbye to 2011. Overall it was an amazing year. I realized that as a family, we are much more successful at achieving our goals if we all are partners in the same resolutions.

We were blessed with the arrival of our son in February. Soon after, I made the tough decision to leave corporate life and become a stay-at-home mom. I don't believe I could have made this transition without the full support of my husband. We decided that having a parent home with the kids was a priority, so everything else in life had to be adjusted. It was a major change for us, both emotionally and financially. While I won't say the adjustment was super easy, I will say that I am still very happy with our decision.

As we started to talk about 2012, I knew it was important for my husband and I to share our resolutions. We both feel strongly about getting prepared in case of an emergency, preparing healthy lunches for everyone plus a few other family goals. As our children get older, I look forward to including them in making family resolutions. Our three year old is just starting to understand the days of the week and the months, but a new year is a bit more than she can handle just yet.

Cheers to a beautiful 2012! What resolutions are you focusing on this year?

Image Source

I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit the Facebook page or Twitter for updates! Or get updates via Email or RSS Feed. Thanks!

What a difference a year makes

2011-12-28T11:10:00.001-05:00

Kids got sleds this year from Grandma & Grandpa. They are towing each other around the house as there is not a flake of snow in our forecast.

Then there was last year...the first of MANY snowstorms. Christmas Day was the last time we saw our lawn until March.

Wonder what the next couple of months will bring. You just never know in New England!
For more fun Wordless Wed posts, check out DearChrissy, and 5MinsforMom!

Meal Plan Dec 26

2011-12-27T20:15:00.000-05:00

Here is this week's menu!
Monday's Shrimp Scampi used up the extra shrimp cocktail we had from Christmas dinner. I did an easy sauce with leftover baby tomatoes, onion, garlic, and a little white wine. Madison surprised us and liked the shrimp, although she keeps calling it "lobster."

The Sirloin Roast is actually in my new Pressure Cooker (noted on the menu plan with PC). Stay tuned for more pressure cooker recipes as I get more familiar with it. (update~ the 3 lb roast was slightly more done than I would like. I would decrease the cooking time to 30-35 mins if I do this one again. Pretty cool though to make a roast in less than an hour.)

Salmon will probably be a maple syrup glaze and baked. Easy and everyone, including the almost 11 month old little guy, will be able to eat this. I'm all for making one meal for everyone, I'm getting tired of the purees!

Meatloaf will be spiced up with chile garlic sauce. Usually this is a grown up only dish, but sometimes Madison surprises us!

This menu plan is being shared on I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Pull Apart Pumpkin French Toast

2011-12-27T15:56:00.000-05:00

Need a new recipe for a New Year's Brunch? Or maybe a cozy breakfast-for-dinner idea on New Year's Eve? I highly suggest the Baked Pumpkin French Toast I found over at Simple Bites. We made it for Christmas morning brunch and it came out AWESOME!
I set it up the night before so everything soaks into the bread. In the morning, just pop it into the oven for about 40 minutes and you are ready for a new favorite breakfast treat.

Ingredients

1 loaf hearty whole wheat bread, sliced (no floppy bread or it will come out too mushy)
3 large eggs
1 cup milk or cream
3/4 cup pumpkin puree ( I used canned)
1/4 cup salted butter, melted
2 Tablespoons molasses
2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend
1/4 cup brown sugar

Instructions

The night before…

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, 2 Tablespoons melted butter, molasses and 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice blend.
Dip each slice of bread into the mixture to coat well, then place, one layer thick, on a 13×17 baking sheet. Drizzle any remaining pumpkin mixture on top of the bread.
Place plastic wrap over the soaking bread slices and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

In the morning…

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter an 8 x 11 baking dish. (I use coconut oil to "butter" my pans, and I used a smaller circle casserole dish instead to better fit the bread)
Mix together brown sugar with remaining teaspoon of spice blend.
Remove plastic wrap from the soaked bread and brush tops lightly with remaining 2 Tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle French toast tops all over with cinnamon sugar mixture.
Starting with the smaller pieces, arrange the slices of bread in the buttered baking dish, propping them up on top of each other until the pan is full. Place on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until the tops are crispy.
Serve at once with Molasses-Cinnamon Syrup or pure maple syrup, and whipped cream.

Both kids ate the french toast for breakfast so that always makes the recipe a keeper in my book.

If you haven't checked out Simple Bites yet, head on over as there are so many other delicious recipes waiting for you!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T22:56:00.001-05:00

From my family to yours, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday,

photo by Nikki Amara Myers

Which Wrapping Papers can be Recycled?

2011-12-23T06:00:00.006-05:00

Next week is always a major trash haul with post party rubbish and the remnants of boxes and gift wrapping. Much of the wrapping paper used can be recycled, but a few will cause havoc in the recycling process. Here is a quick run down of what to avoid throwing into the paper recycling bin when it comes to gift wrap.

No Foil Lined Paper. It's pretty, but not recyclable. Try to reuse it for another gift instead.
Glitter paper is also a no go
Take the tape off if possible to make it easier to process
Some paper is heavily dyed also not recyclable, this one is a little bit tricky to decipher. If it's made with soy based inks, you are in the clear.

If the wrapping is made from recycled papers, it can be re-recycled. A couple of alternative to traditional wrapping paper are using sheet music, maps, a grocery reusable bag, kids artwork and of course, newspaper.

Any other clever ideas to share?

Happy Holidays to all. Thank you for taking time to read my stories. I have enjoyed your comments and encouragement in the past year and thankful to have this opportunity. Blessings to you and your families.

Image source

Easy Last Minute Christmas Decorations

2011-12-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays to all as Hanukkah arrives and Christmas is just three days away. Here are a few quick and easy holiday decorating ideas for anyone that needs some last minute inspiration.

Use your Scrabble trays for a holiday greeting.

Can't go wrong with food as decoration

Holiday cards on a ribbon tree

Our Nativity set made from toilet paper rolls, fabric scrapes and cotton balls.

This post is being shared with the Green Resource at SortaCrunchy.net, Tidy Mom, and Frugally Sustainable.

A Little Baking Inspiration

2011-12-21T10:00:00.001-05:00

Mayan Chocolate Sparklers

As this week includes multiple baking sessions, wrapping nights and dinner planning, I'm a trying to stay calm and focused on the important things this season. I'm spreading some blog love and sharing a few sites I get my baking inspiration from. We made the cookies above today and they are delicious! The recipe is from Under the Highchair, which is written by Aimee, the editor of Simple Bites.

Here is the run down of my favorite baking sites this month.

These sites offer not only amazing recipes and photos, but also adorable ways to package and gift your latest confections.

Any other favorite sites to share?