eco ike

Cinnamon avocado muffins

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:42:00 +0000

A sweet & sneaky (in a healthy & delicious way) to start your day!

Who knew that avocados would be super tasty in baked goods? Technically they are a fruit, so it only makes sense to add them to baked goods. Plus with all of their wonderful health benefits (they are loaded with fiber, potassium, Vitamin A and beta carotene), it’s good to sneak them into your meals whenever you can. Try replacing them in any recipe that calls for sweet potato or banana… just remember that the baked goods will be less sweet (but just as healthy)!

¼ cup of coconut oil (or butter), melted

1/3 cup of honey

1 egg

1 pureed avocado (or mashed sweet potato or banana)

1 cup plain yogurt

2 cups almond flour

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 cup of mix-ins (chopped walnuts, unsweetened coconut, mini chocolate chips)

1.) Preheat oven to 350°.

2.) Mix together the coconut oil, honey, egg, avocado and yogurt. Stir until thoroughly combined.

3.) Add almond flour, cinnamon and baking soda. Mix until combined.

4.) Stir in mix-ins.

5.) Fill 12-14 grease or muffin-lined cups 2/3rds full.

6.) Bake for 20-25 minutes.

have kids play outside!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:12:00 +0000

A recent study in Pediatrics highlights the effects a life lived outdoors has on teenagers. Researchers at Australia's University of Sydney found that adolescents who spent more time outside were not only healthier but also happier than their sedentary peers, who were more likely to report "feelings of loneliness or shyness".

17 household uses for vinegar

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:53:00 +0000

Our good friends at MotherEarth Living compiled a wonderful list of 17 ways to use vinegar around the home! We loved their ideas and wanted to share them with you!

1. Grease Cutter: Vinegar’s acidity lets it cut through grease with ease. Dip a sponge in vinegar and wipe to degrease stovetops, microwaves, dirty dishes and more.

2. Disinfectant: A natural antibacterial, vinegar makes a great base for any nontoxic cleaning solution. For an all-purpose disinfecting solution, dilute 1 part vinegar in 4 parts water and use anywhere germs are found, such as countertops, keyboards, shared phones, doorknobs and remote controls.

3. Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Clean, disinfect and deodorize your toilet by pouring 1 cup of vinegar around the inside of the bowl. Let sit for an hour, use a brush to remove rings, then flush.

4. Drain Cleaner: To keep drains clog-free, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then follow with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Wait for foaming to subside, then follow with a gallon of boiling water. If necessary, remove hair and other debris with a wire. Repeat if drain is still slow.

5. Glass Cleaner: For a streak-free shine, combine 2 cups water, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. Spritz onto mirrors, then wipe down with old newspapers.

6. Residue Remover: Clean the glue residue that labels and stickers leave behind by wiping the sticky surface with a rag dipped in a vinegar-water solution.

7. Hair Rinse: Shampoos and other hair products can leave behind residue, making hair lackluster. Remove buildup by diluting 2 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in 3 cups water and mixing well. After shampooing, pour rinse over hair before rinsing with water. The vinegar will close the cuticle and leave hair soft and shiny.

8. Furniture Polish: Combine 1/4 cup olive oil, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 2 teaspoons lemon juice in a spray bottle. Shake well before use, and refrigerate any leftover solution to keep it from going rancid.

9. Stain Remover: Purge grass stains and blood spots by whipping up your own natural stain remover. Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda and 3 cups water in a spray bottle. Just spray on the stain and toss clothing into the laundry!

10. Laundry Softener: Conventional fabric softener stays in clothing, where a buildup can cause irritation, but vinegar breaks down and dissolves detergents. For softer clothes, towels and sheets, just add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.

11. Dandruff Preventive: Vinegar’s acidity can help kill some of the bacteria responsible for causing dandruff. Rinsing with vinegar can also deep-clean the scalp and help remove flakes of dead skin cells. For a no-dandruff rinse, mix 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (or 1 tablespoon dried leaves) and 1 cup boiling water. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, strain, then pour over scalp after shampooing. Rinse treatment from hair with water.

12. Wart Killer: To remove unsightly warts, dip a cotton ball in vinegar, place over wart and secure with a bandage. Change the cotton ball daily. The acid in vinegar will eat away at the wart over time. (Be sure to keep the skin around the wart moisturized.)

13. Breath Freshener: Eliminate bad breath by rinsing with 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 tablespoon salt diluted in 1 cup water. This rinse is especially effective at removing onion and garlic odors.

14. Paintbrush Softener: Make stiff paintbrushes useful again by dipping hardened bristles in a bowl of vinegar for an hour or less. Rinse the bristles with warm water and soap, then let dry before using.

15. Greens Reviver: Leafy greens looking wilted? Soak them in a bath of 2 cups cold water and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar to bring them back to life.

16. Egg Aid: When hard-boiling eggs, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water to prevent egg white from seeping out of cracks in the shell.

17. Rust Remover: Revive rusted nuts, bolts, nails or tools by soaking them in a bath of pure vinegar for several hours. If the solution becomes cloudy, change the vinegar. After soaking, wipe away rust with a cloth.

Buyer Beware:

Not all vinegar is created equal. While all vinegars require ethanol for production, some vinegars are made with synthetically produced ethanol made from petroleum. Check the label before you buy for words like “grain alcohol” or “neutral grain spirits” to ensure you’re buying a product made from natural food sources.

photo and article courtesy of Mother Earth Living

Unplug!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:51:00 +0000

Did you know that, “technology overuse is related to child attention problems, poor academics, aggression, family conflict, impaired sleep, developmental delays, attachment disorders, impaired body image, obesity and early sexuality?” “ The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1-2 hours per day of combined technology use, yet elementary children use on average 8 hours per day!”? Holy cannoli! That’s a ton of online time. Way too much for adults, let alone children!

We’ve got a technology addiction epidemic going on-------faces are buried in facebook, twitter, email, television, ipad, kindle, pinterest, instagram and screens of all sorts! Families, children, parents are all in need of learning how to disconnect and to start implementing electronic-free time more frequently! Interacting and connecting face-to-face with one another is essential for our health and wellness! Now more than ever we need to unplug.

Technology is going to become more prevalent, so learning how to balance it in our lives is going to become a must! Try unplugging for a day! No phones, tv’s, games, texting, tweeting, pinning, etc. for 24 hours. If that’s too much, designate offline times or limits to their use. Find something that works for you and your family and enjoy disconnecting to reconnect with your loved ones!

Take the National Day of Unplugging Challenge! Why do you want to unplug?

Going Microwave-Free… one month and counting!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:02:00 +0000

I decided to conduct a little experiment, could our family forgo a microwave and not miss the convenience? I am so happy to report that it has been very easy and extremely doable! With little kids, a microwave is a great convenience for zapping leftovers and getting things heated up and on the their plates, quickly. The speed, convenience and predictable outcome make microwaves feel like a must have… but they are super easy to omit.

Reports and safety information on microwaves are very conflicting; the FDA states that they are perfectly safe, but there is a ton of contradictory information stating otherwise. Reportedly, with each use there is radiation leakage (the FDA states that the leakage levels are “insignificant” and “well below the level known to harm people” but radiation is radiation… NONE is the amount I would like circulating in my home). Reducing our exposure to radiation is the main factor, but in addition, it is also well documented that microwaves change the chemical structure of food and reduces the vitamin and antioxidants levels in the foods after being heated. I spend a lot of money, time and energy buying & preparing nourishing foods and I don’t want the microwave zapping away the nutritional content of our foods, so eliminating this appliance was a no brainer for me!

If you want to do a trial or total elimination, here are a couple of tips to make the transition easier:

I placed ours in the basement so we weren’t tempted to use it; but that it was still in our home just in case there was a microwave-needing-emergency (stranger things have happened in our house).
I only had one little saucepan and quickly realized that I needed to invest in another one.
I have started using my toaster oven more often to quickly heat things.
I try to plan ahead more than before. I safely pull things out of the fridge in time to let them somewhat come to room temperature before heating.
I coordinate oven time and try to optimize any oven usage much more wisely now. Before I would have zapped any leftovers, now I try to throw any leftovers into an oven safe dish and re-heat while I am cooking anything for dinner.
When baking, I always allot a teeny bit more time because melting and cooling butter & coconut oil takes a smidgen longer.

Overall, I am so surprised at how easy the transition was, and the best litmus test of all, is not one complaint from the hubster!

we are on Pinterest! follow our pinterest board for more ways to raise eco kids!

Make your own laundry detergent

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:31:00 +0000

I am so excited about this! I started tinkering with making a more natural laundry detergent and I created a recipe that works better, smells better and is much cheaper than my natural detergent! Considering how frequently I do laundry, it’s fun to actually get excited when I get to make my home made concoction. It’s extremely simple to do! A lot of homemade detergent recipes call for shredding a bar of soap, baking it, etc. NOT THIS RECIPE, it comes together in 30 seconds.

This recipe is for one large load, but you could easily modify it based on the load you are doing. Just remember that there are 3 teaspoons in a Tablespoon… so adjust the recipe based on your load size.

For a large load, empty the washing machine of any clothes. Turn the water to HOT. Add 1 Tablespoon baking soda, 2 Tablespoons Borax powder (found in laundry detergent aisle), 1 Tablespoon natural liquid laundry detergent (for the sudsing action) and 6-12 drops of bergamot essential oil (natural antibacterial that smells wonderful). Once the ingredients are added, adjust the water temperature to your normal setting and put clothes in! Your clothes will smell amazing and feel super clean after every wash!

1 Tablespoon baking soda

2 Tablespoons borax

1 Tablespoon natural liquid laundry detergent

6-12 drops bergamot essential oil (or your favorite essential oil)

Photo courtesy of All Things New. If you want to buy a natural laundry detergent for a loved one or don’t feel like making one, this is super close to my recipe and super green! Buy Here!

The chocolatiest chocolate cookies

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:34:00 +0000

Do you have someone on your “nice” list that loves chocolate? If so, we have the yummiest {and chocolatiest, of course!} cookie recipe to bake for them! Unsweetened chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate is melted and then additional chocolate chips are folded in to make this rich, fudgy cookie! This recipe can be made with either all-purpose flour or brown rice flour (to make them gluten free)… either way, Oh what fun it is to do holiday baking!

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

3 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla

¾ cup all-purpose flour (or brown rice flour)

½ teaspoon baking powder

1.) Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2.) Place 1 cup of the semi-sweet chocolate chips, the unsweetened chocolate and the butter in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture melts. Take off of heat and set aside.

3.) In a large bowl, with electric mixer at high speed, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla for 2-3 minutes.

4.) In a small bowl, whisk or stir together the flour and baking powder.

5.) Add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and blend until smooth.

6.) Beat in the flour mixture until blended. Stir in the remaining cup of chocolate chips.

7.) Drop batter onto prepared pan by Tablespoons, about 2 inches apart.

8.) Bake one sheet at a time, 8-10 minutes, until cookies are puffed and lightly cracked on top.

Optional: when completely cool, dust with powdered sugar. Makes approximately 30 cookies

Reusable Batteries… a greener choice!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:36:00 +0000

He’s got a bag that is filled with toys for the boys and girls again ...

… and most of the toys will be battery operated. What should green parents do?

Invest in reusable batteries! For approximately $20 you can purchase a battery charger and four batteries making it easy to recoup your investment in a year or less and quickly save money.

Reusable batteries can be charged between 1,000 – 1,500 times and are easy to recycle when they have maxed out.

If you have used traditional batteries at home and are not sure where or how to recycle them, check out 1800recycling.com to find the closest place to recycle.

wild rice & shiitake mushroom soup

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 12:45:00 +0000

This earthy soup is perfect for cold weather. It’s comforting, delicious and filling. Pair it with garlic breadsticks for a yummy dinner that the whole family will love!

½ cup wild rice (or brown or white rice)

4 Tablespoons butter

1 celery stalk, cleaned and finely chopped

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

1/3 pound shiitake mushrooms, sliced

1/3 pound button mushrooms, sliced

¼-½ teaspoon salt

4 cups vegetable broth

2 Tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped

Freshly ground pepper

½ cup heavy cream

Cook the rice according to package directions. Set aside.
In a soup pot over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the celery, onion and mushrooms. Sauté, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft.
Add the rice, salt, broth, parsley and black pepper. Reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 20-30 minutes.
Add the heavy cream and taste for additional seasoning.

Pecan Pie Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:26:00 +0000

Rich, buttery, brown sugar deliciousness in a bite! These decadent little pecan pie muffins are everything that you love about the pie but in a tender mini-muffin. This recipe is low in sugar and gluten-free… but no one will know it. It will take you 5 minutes to whip them up and the whole family will love you for baking them. Even your pickiest eater will love them… at least my super-finicky-little guy did!

2/3 cup butter, melted and cooled

2 eggs

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup brown sugar, packed

½ cup brown rice flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill)

1 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350°.
Generously grease mini muffin tin.
In a mixing bowl, mix together melted butter, eggs, cinnamon and vanilla.
Add brown sugar and mix until well incorporated.
Add the brown rice flour. Mix until just combined.
Add the pecans and stir until evenly incorporated.
Fill each muffin cup a little over 2/3rds full.
Bake for 17-18 minutes, until golden brown.
As soon as muffins come out, flip over and tap pan to remove all of them (they tend to stick to the pan). Place on a cooling rack.

Makes approximately 30 mini muffins. Recipe can easily be cut in half.

This recipe is low in sugar, but if you would like it a little sweeter, a couple Tablespoons of maple syrup would be a delicious addition.

Making Kids Sports Snacks Healthy!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:53:00 +0000

It takes strong parents to try and buck the current sports snacks & drinks trend. Every game and practice, kids are loading up on high-fructose corn syrup snacks and juice boxes. And if it isn’t the snack, they are hitting the snack bar for donuts, hotdogs and candy. Parents also report visits to fast-food outlets on days that their kids take part in sports, relying on convenient foods as they juggle busy schedules of games and practice. “The food environment in youth sports exposes kids and their families to many unhealthy foods and beverages and few healthful options,” said Toben F. Nelson, ScD, of the University of Minnesota. His team of researchers believes that youth sports programs offer a promising setting for promoting better nutrition. They recommend collaboration between sports leagues, dietitians, and health professionals to create positive messages about nutrition that can be integrated into youth sports programs. They also suggest that youth sports programs develop guidelines for which foods and beverages should be offered as snacks or sold at concession stands.

Fruit makes a great snack during breaks from sports, particularly bananas, apples, grapes, pears and oranges. Skip the sugary drinks and encourage kids to bring their own water bottle!

Articleexcerpted & adapted from TasteforLife

GMO’s = FrankenFood! What you need to know!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 11:55:00 +0000

It’s a mad scientist and greedy villains wildest dream come true… a crossbreed of a tomato with basically a car tire… a complete food monopoly and trillions of people ignorant to the mass damage done to the earth and themselves. Are we talking about the latest box office sci-fi thriller? No. It’s Genetically Modified Organisms and it’s taken over the

and a home near you!

Does it scare you that over 75% of today’s produce are genetically modified? What about the fact that GMO foods have been linked to liver, pancreas, kidney and heart damage in animals?¹ Or the fact that GMO foods use herbicides two, three & four times more than a traditional farmer that uses pesticides? GMO foods cannot thrive without chemicals, herbicides and pesticides. If that doesn’t frighten you, what about the fact that food companies do not have to label that their product contains GMO? It should be illegal to NOT tell consumers what they are buying! Unfortunately everything associated with GMO’s is horrific.

Two ways to protect your families from GMO’s is to Go organic & Get vocal! Organic products can not legally be GMO’s. It’s not 100% guaranteed that GMO’s are not in your food source, but it’s a good place to start. Call every food company that you support and verify that the products you buy from them are indeed GMO-free. Speak up at your local stores (even companies like Whole Foods put GMO products on their shelves). Tell them to pass and to take a stance to be GMO-Free!

Proposition 37 is an excellent ballot being proposed in CA that if passed, will require labeling that an item contains GMO. It will also prohibit labeling or advertising of GMO foods as “natural”. Director Ronnie Cummins from the Organic Consumers Association described it perfectly in his article, Here are 8 reasons you want Prop 37 to pass:

(1.) GMOs have never been proven safe. The FDA conducts no independent testing of GMOs, but instead claims that they are "not substantially different" from non-GMO foods.

(2.) The biotech industry is not required to conduct long-term safety studies on GMOs, and it keeps researchers from conducting those tests by claiming the right to protect its patented seeds and technologies.

(3.) GMOs are everywhere. Today, most non-organic US corn, soy, cotton and sugar beets - which are used in most of the sweeteners and additives used by food processors - are genetically engineered. So is the feed fed to the animals you eat. In fact, 75 - 85% of the processed food in your grocery store contains unlabeled GMOs.

(4.) The companies who want you to believe GMOs are safe are the same ones who lied to you about Agent Orange and DDT.

(5.) GE crops are responsible for super weeds and super bugs, soil degradation, and lack of diversity - which makes crops and humans more susceptible to disease.

(6.) The only folks who don't want you to know what's in your food are huge corporations like Monsanto, Dow AgriScience, BASF and food conglomerates like Pepsi and Coca-Cola - who along with other biotech, pesticide and processed food manufacturers have donated nearly $33 million to defeat Prop 37.

(7.) This is our best - and perhaps only - shot at labeling GMOs and ending Monsanto's monopoly of our food supply and destruction of our health and environment. Nineteen other states have tried - and failed - to get a GMO labeling law through the state legislative process. Prop 37 takes GMO labeling direct to the voters so Monsanto's lobbyists can't kill it.

(8.) If this law passes in California, food manufacturers have admitted that it may as well be a national law. They won’t want to put ‘this product contains GMOs” on their labels, so they will reformulate their products. And if they reformulate for California, they may as well do it for all of their products.

An excellent resource is The Non-GMO Project! Check them out! Also, take 2 minutes to watch this video and share it with friends and family!

families who eat together are healthier

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:42:00 +0000

According to Taste for Life Magazine, "Family mealtime leads to better health and sociability, particularly among children. A review of 68 studies found that kids who eat more meals with their families consume more fruit and vegetables, calcium-rich foods, and fiber, and less junk food.

Teens who regularly eat at home are likely to show fewer signs of depression. And all family members benefit from lower obesity rates.

Mealtime quality was also shown to be important. Families who watched TV during meals or ate together at fast-food outlets did not gain the same benefits."

We love family meals and are going to have some great articles coming up about incorporating them (along with easy, delicious & nutritious recipes!).

photo courtesy of Three Loud Kids

3 fun ways w/ fruit for the lunchbox!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:34:00 +0000

Here are three cute ways to pack fruit in the lunchbox:

Grab a pointed (but not too sharp) object to do the writing and leave a fun message like, "I love you", "Good luck on the test" or "Have a great day!"

Cut or pull the top and bottom circles from the orange/tangerine. Then slit between two sections and roll it out.

Cut up apple and then re-assemble with rubber band around it.

all photos from pinterest!

granola bites

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:58:00 +0000

Looking for a healthy and lightly-sweet treat to pack in your child’s lunch? These granola bites are perfect! A combination of oats, honey, nuts and dried fruit makes this compact little snack a super-charged, yummy addition to their lunch box! This recipe is easily adaptable, so feel free to modify with your favorite ingredients (mini chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, banana chips, chia seeds, sesame seeds or rice crispy cereal would be tasty additions!).

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4-5 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup of dried fruit & nuts

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Spread the oats and coconut on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
Meanwhile, combine the peanut butter, honey and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until combined, stirring continuously so as to prevent scorching.
Turn heat off. Add the toasted oats and coconut to the peanut butter mixture along with dried fruit & nuts, and stir to combine. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
With a small ice cream scooper (or dampened hands), shape into 12 one-inch balls and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

recipe modified and photo courtesy of Whole Foods

lunchbox lessons

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:28:00 +0000

I packed my son’s lunch every day last year for his preschool. It wasn’t until the end of the year at the parent/teacher meeting that his teachers told me, “You know that Ike can’t open any of the lids to the containers you send in? Right? We have to open them. And next year the elementary school lunch teachers won’t have the time or availability to open them for him.” Well, ‘No’, ‘I didn’t know that!’. It turns out that all of my fancy stainless steel containers were kid-UNfriendly! Yikes. A whole year of Ike not being able to open any of his containers and he never told me! Now that I realize a lot of these stainless steel containers have tight-fitting lids (too tight for a 5-year-old), what is a green mom to do? Test the goods before purchasing! Let your kids maneuver the products and see if they can easily open and close them. It’s sometimes hard to test the containers because a lot of the greener ones are not available at a store near you and have to be purchased online.

Stainless steel water bottles and reusable sandwich bags are an easy and safe bet no matter where you buy them. For containers that hold fruit or other wet ingredients (or easily smushed foods), I am on the lookout for an easy-to-open lid. Typically, I try to avoid plastics at all costs, but if it seems to be the easiest to open, I may be going with going with a BPA & PVC-free plastic container. I’ll keep you posted!

Share with us your best lunch-packing tips!
Follow us on Pinterest

watermelon lemonade

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 01:04:00 +0000

A little bit sweet, a teeny bit sour and a whole lot delicious! Kids love sipping on this refreshing summer drink! Parents: you can easily turn this into a cocktail by adding your favorite spirit.

To make ice cubes, place 1 seedless watermelon ball and 1 mint leaf into each of 36 ice cube tray holes. Fill with water and freeze.

6 cups 1-inch seedless watermelon (from about a 5-pound melon)

1 bottle (10-ounce) Whole Foods 365 Everday Value® Organic Lemon Juice

6 cups water

¾ cup sugar

Crushed ice

Mint sprigs, for garnish

(1.) Working in batches as necessary, puree watermelon and lemon juice in blender until smooth; transfer to a large container.

(2.) Add water and sugar; stir until dissolved.

(3.) Pour over ice in tall glasses, garnish with mint sprig and watermelon icecubes or thin slices of watermelon, if desired, and serve.

Recipe adapted & photo courtesy of Whole Foods

Fun with Fruit!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:13:00 +0000

This summer, combine your creative side with fresh seasonal fruits! Kids (for the most part) love fruit, but they love it even more when it’s served up in fun shapes or say, coming out of a shark’s mouth!

all images from our Pinterest page! follow us on pinterest!

Car Trip Activities

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:27:00 +0000

“Are we there yet?” or “How much longer?” The infamous words kids repeat the entire car trip. Fear not! We’ve got some fun ways to divert kid’s boredom and make their time go by much faster for this year’s trip.

Next time you are planning a get-away, try these activities to keep the kids busy and the trip running smoothly:

Pack a goodie box! Load the box with fun stuff like a new toy or art supplies (crayons, markers, paper & coloring or activity books). Make sure that the kids don’t see the goodie box beforehand! A free and great way to load up the box is by having a toy swap with a friend. You’ll be able to load the box with “new” toys with little effort and no money.

Play games! Games are a creative way to waste time and a great way to keep kids preoccupied. Try playing:

“What if” or “What is”. See what imaginative responses you get from questions like, “What if you were a dinosaur or a bird?” “What if you lived in the dessert or Antartica?” “What is your favorite fruit, drink, dessert, color, shape, car?” “If you could be any animal (or bug) what would it be?”

Go Fish – pack a little shallow container to hold the ‘ocean’ of cards the kids to need to fish from.

More game ideas: I spy, Hangman, Tic Tac Toe. Magnetic checkers board game.

Give them a map! Giving kids a map allows them to visually see where they are, how far they have traveled and how far they have to go. It’s a great way to keep them interested in the journey.

Pull out snacks! Portable, non-messy & safe munchies keep kids happy and sometimes fussiness at bay. Try packing:

cheese cubes or string cheese

grapes (sliced in half for young ones), apple slices, peeled oranges

peanut butter and banana sandwiches (cut in half or quarters)

fruit smoothie

popcorn trail mix recipe (try our recipe!)

mini bagels (plain or lightly topped with cream cheese or fruit jam)
pack a couple of napkins and a bag or two for garbage.

Safe travels!

Attracting butterflies, hummingbirds & ladybugs to your garden!

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:37:00 +0000

While bees need little enticement (beyond a few flowers) to visit your garden, other helpful bugs & birds benefit from some coaxing. A garden pro shares the easiest ways to attract these natural beauties!

Butterflies

Why your garden loves them: Because pollen sticks to their legs as they flit from flower to flower, butterflies help both flowers and vegetables flourish – and help the gardener too (studies show that just watching butterflies lowers blood pressure)!

Invite them by:

Making a mud pie! Male butterflies have a serious salt tooth, says Sharon Lovejoy, author of Trowel and Error. “They like to feast on the proteins and minerals in salt.” Just fill an 8”-10” wide plant saucer with a little soil, water and 1 Tablespoon salt, and put your ‘mud pie’ in a sunny area, because “butterflies are solar powered,” she says.

Planting “pizza” herbs! Butterflies make a beeline to both colorful flowers (sunflowers, zinnias and butterfly bush) and herbs. So Lovejoy suggests you combine the two: Grow the herbs they most love- basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme and place sunflowers around them. Small butterflies will land on the herbs, while the sunflowers will entice bigger Monarchs.

Hummingbirds

Why your garden loves them: “Look at a hummer’s head,” says Sally Roth, author of Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard. “It’s often dusted with grains of pollen, which are then transferred to the next flower it visits.”

Invite them by:

Hanging a sack of scraps! “Fill a mesh onion sack with finger-length pieces of yarn – any color will do – and small feathers,” advises Lovejoy. Hang the sack on a tree branch and hummingbirds will “tug out your offerings” to use to make their nests!

Feeding them right! They may look dainty, but hummers are champion eaters, consuming half their body weight every day! To feed them, make hummingbird syrup by combining ¼ cup sugar and 1 cup water and microwaving 1 ½ minutes. Use in a hummingbird feeder and change the solution every few days.

Ladybugs

Why your garden loves them: Ladybugs devour harmful pests, including rose-ruining aphids; each adult can gobble up several hundred insects a day! The larvae of ladybugs also eat garden enemies, meaning that once ladybugs are in your garden, they provide continual protection!

Invite them by:

Planting borage! In one Swiss study, gardens with the pretty blue herb- which can be planted in June- had the highest numbers of ladybugs! Other herbs ladybugs love? Dill, coriander, parsley and cilantro.

Setting them free at night! Live ladybugs can be bought at your local nursery or online (INSERT HERE). Wait until evening to set them out. “If you release them during the day, they’ll fly away,” Lovejoy explains. To further ensure they linger, spray your garden with a solution of ¼ cup water and 5 ounces of sugar – “sweet leaves” lure ladybugs!

Praying Mantises

Entice praying mantises with berries! Praying mantises are natural bug zappers, feeding on pests like mosquitoes. They seek out shrubs- especially raspberry and rose bushes, which attract the aphids they favor!

Fireflies

Welcome fireflies with wildflowers! “Firefly larvae are voracious eaters of slugs, mites and cutworms,” notes Lovejoy, who says they seek the protection of tall wildflowers and bushy areas that are free of pesticides.

for more reading, check out:
Trowel & Error
Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to your Backyard

article excerpted from Woman’s World

Crisp Apricot Turnovers [+ awesome health benefits of apricots]

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:20:00 +0000

Nature’s bounty is popping up with all sorts of delectable produce right now… including golden apricots. Be sure to stock up on this fruit for its tastiness and all of its health benefits! We’re loving them right now and their amazing nutritional benefits! Did you know that apricots pack a serious dose of fiber? Two medium apricots have approximately 1 ½ grams of fiber. They also are loaded with potassium, Vitamins A and C. Apricots also contain beta-cryptoxanthin, a member of the carotenoid family that is a strong antioxidant.

For a delicious treat, make these apricot turnovers! These mini hand-held pies will disappear quickly & be loved by little ones and grown-ups! This recipe could easily be adjusted for most seasonal fruit, so try replacing the apricots with any fresh picks from the farmers’ market J

Filling:

3 cups apricots, pitted & cut into ½-inch thick slices

¼ cup + 2 teaspoons sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Pastry:

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3 Tablespoons vegetable shortening
4-5 Tablespoons ice water
1 egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon milk

Filling: Combine apricots, ¼ cup sugar, cornstarch, butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt in pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until apricots break down slightly, 20-30 minutes. Cool.

Pastry: Place flour, sugar and salt in food processor and process to combine. Sprinkle in butter pieces and shortening. Pulse mixture just until combined but still has a few pea-sized pieces of butter in it. Sprinkle in 3 Tablespoons ice water; pulse again until dough just comes together when squeezed in your hand. If dough is still dry, add a bit more water as needed. Turn dough out onto large sheet of plastic wrap; press into disk. Cover with another sheet of plastic; using rolling pin, roll into rough 1/8 inch-thick circle. Transfer to baking sheet; chill until firm, 15-20 minutes.

Assembly: Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut dough into 8 (5-inch) rounds. Fill each round with a spoonful of apricot mixture. Fold dough and press edges with fork to seal. Brush with egg-milk mixture; sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons sugar. Prick tops with fork. Place on baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, 25-30 minutes.

Photo & Recipe from Williams Sonoma Cooking from the Farmers’ Market

Strawberry Cream Pie

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:36:00 +0000

We are baking, or shall we say, mixing the easiest spring pie! Sweet & seasonal strawberries top a light and creamy pie filling that’s drizzled with a little chocolate on top.

This recipe comes together in minutes and is super easy to prepare. It’s also super adaptable. We love this in a prepared Oreo pie crust, but a graham cracker crust or traditional pie crust is equally yummy. If you don’t have strawberries, feel free to substitute them with raspberries or blueberries (or even doubling the chocolate topping for a different twist!).

Crust

Prepared Oreo pie crust, or prepared graham cracker pie crust, or prepared traditional pie crust

Filling

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature

1/3 cup sugar

¼ - ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

1 cup whipping cream

Fruit Topping

3-4 cups strawberries

1 Tablespoon sugar

Garnish

½ cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 Tablespoon shortening

(1.) In a large bowl with electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar and extract until well blended and fluffy.

(2.) In a small bowl with electric mixer, beat whipping cream on high speed until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.

(3.) Spoon into a cooled prepared pie shell.

(4.) Slice strawberries (or leave whole). Add Tablespoon of sugar to the strawberries and stir until sugar crystals dissolve.

(5.) Arrange strawberries (if whole, pointed sides up), over cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate while preparing chocolate garnish.

(6.) In a 1-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Drizzle over strawberries and cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate at least one hour or until set. Store in refrigerator.

Recipe adapted and photo courtesy ofPillsbury.com

Safe make up & beauty products

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:16:00 +0000

Hello gorgeous! Looking for some lovely beauty products without the nasty chemicals? Then this article is for you!

Feeling and looking beautiful should not come with the price tag of our health. It’s important for makeup companies to know that we want beauty products that don’t hinder our wellbeing in any way. I vote with my money, and will purchase products that are free of:

Benzophenones (oxybenzone) – Can have photoallergic reactions and is a hormone disrupter.

Paraben (butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben) – The most widely used preservative in cosmetics and personal care products. It can mimic estrogen in the body, may disrupt hormones and possibly increase the risk of breast cancer. (see this video -http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/research/endocrine/videos/makeup.cfm)

Phthalates – A chemical additive that can disrupt the endocrine system, mimic estrogen, cause thyroid problems, allergies and asthma.

Sulfates (sodium laurly sulfate SLS or sodium laureth sulfate SLES) – This thickening, lathering agent is a skin irritant (despite being used in products that you put on your skin!) and can mimic estrogen. SLS has been linked to cancer causing carcinogens.

A resource is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Just type in your make up brand and it will give you the lowdown on that product http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ My complaint with this site is that it does not state why some products don’t get better marks than others. So, use it. But sometimes question how they came to their conclusions.

Here’s what is in my makeup bag! I am very happy with all of these safe beauty products:

Zuzu liquid eyeliner

Gabriel foundation

Mineral Fusion lipstick

Badger lip tint & shimmer

Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava perfume

What products do you use and love?

Grow Great Grub

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:43:00 +0000

Do your summer plans include growing great grub or a garden that fits your space & schedule? If so, we have two book recommendations that you need to check out:

Grow Great Grub: Organic Food From Small Spaces by Gayla Trail is a wonderful how-to gardening book loaded with great photographs & nuggets of tips! I love that this book gets to the point and doesn’t waste reader’s time with extra words. There are pictures and oodles of excellent tips to get started and apply immediately!

I Garden: Urban Style by Reggie Solomon and Michael Nolan is packed with gorgeous photographs and helpful information to identify what you want out of your garden and how to get it. It focuses on the urban garden, but their information is pertinent for anyone starting small or working with window boxes and container gardening.

No matter how small (or big) your yard is, these books will provide tons of great ideas & helpful tips for:

Container gardening – everything you need to know

Getting started – where & what to grow, site preparation, seeds, fertilizing, growing conditions, garden maintenance & garden style

Growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, edible flowers, climbing plants & native plants

Harvesting, composting & pest control

Garden bounty recipes and instructions for preserving your harvested goods

These books are perfect for beginner & experienced gardeners. They are packed with every piece of information to be successful, great pictures to help you visually plan your garden and delicious recipes to enjoy what you grew!

8 natural cleaning ingredients

noreply@blogger.com (eco ike) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:16:00 +0000

If your spring involves any cleaning, we’ve got 8 natural cleaning ingredients to get the job done well & safely!

Our good friends at Natural Home Magazine put together this list of 8 products that you probably have at home that can naturally and thoroughly clean without the nasty & dangerous chemicals that are in most traditional products:

Baking Soda: A truly multitasking cleaner, baking soda is a perfect substitute for cleaning powders that scour sinks and tubs without scratching. It’s also great for wiping down and deodorizing the fridge. Combined with an equal amount of vinegar, baking soda can freshen drains and prevent them from clogging.

Borax: Combining equal amounts of white vinegar and borax will banish mold and mildew from hard surfaces. This natural mineral can also clean your toilet. Pour 1 cup of borax into the toilet bowl and let it sit for a few hours before scrubbing to eliminate stains and odor

Distilled White Vinegar: This pantry staple cuts grease, eats away lime deposits and destroys odors. Because of its neutralizing properties, white vinegar is also good for washing windows, sanitizing kitchen counters and shining bathroom fixtures. Simply dilute 1 part vinegar in 4 parts water. A natural antibacterial because of its high acid content, vinegar is an effective alternative to caustic cleaners on toilets and floors.

Hydrogen Peroxide: Typically found in the medicine cabinet, this disinfectant can also be used as an effective bleach alternative in the laundry room. Because it’s also a powerful oxidizing agent, it works especially well on food, soil, plant, blood and other organic stains. Just make sure to spot test in a discreet area because, like bleach, hydrogen peroxide may lighten fabrics. For each average-size load of whites, add 8 ounces of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide after you have filled the washer with hot water.

Salt: Perfect for cleaning grungy ovens, this natural abrasive is also great for soaking up fresh carpet stains such as red wine, coffee or ink. Pour salt on the wet stain. Let dry, then vacuum.

Vegetable Oil (Castile) Soap: This natural soap is great for floors and all-purpose cleaning when combined with vinegar, borax or even warm water. For an all-purpose cleaner, add 1⁄2 teaspoon of soap to either 2 cups of water or to the “All-Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant” recipe below. For floors, combine 2 teaspoons of soap with 3 gallons of water. Make sure to rinse well to remove any dulling residue.

Washing Soda: This old-fashioned laundry booster cuts through tough grease on grills, broiler pans and ovens. Because washing soda is a strong alkaline, it’s perfect for tackling dirty linoleum floors. But because it’s caustic and strong enough to strip wax and peel paint, wear gloves when using—and use sparingly. Adding just 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon of washing soda to 32 ounces of hot water will tackle the toughest grease.

Lemons: Lemon’s citric acid content cuts stubborn grease and makes your home smell fresh. Lemon juice is also a natural bleach, especially when combined with the sun. Freshen cutting boards by rubbing a cut lemon over the surface. This is especially effective for banishing fish odors. Undiluted lemon juice can also be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits.

What we're reading- The Naturally Clean Home: 100 safe & easy herbal formulas for non-toxic cleansers! Simple recipes that clean and leave your home smelling amazing. Check it out!