I normally like to give my tip of the week on Fridays. I'm a couple of days late. Get over it! I'm not a really rigid routine person. What I am, though, is a mom on a mission. As I stated in one of my earlier posts "My Journey to Greener Cleaning" I am in search of as many safe, non-toxic ways to clean my house and take care of my yard and garden as possible. The bonus I seem to be finding is that not only do these safe remedies work as well as the chemical cleaners I had spent so many years and dollars on - many times they are more effective. And they are always much cheaper. Can somebody say halelujah?!
What you'll start to pick up on is the fact that most of the products I write about will usually be some formulation of the same handful of ingredients. It will be easy to whip up a batch of whatever cleaner you need because it will probably already be in your pantry.
Today I want to share my new favorite furniture polish.
In a clean spray bottle mix olive oil and lemon juice. I have one source that says 2 parts oil to 1 part lemon. I have another source that says 2 parts lemon to 1 part oil. So, I figure it doesn't really matter. You can even use a 50/50 mix of the two. The same results are going to be accomplished. Simply shake the bottle up to mix them and spray away. Wipe down with a soft, dry cloth. The citric acid from the juice will gently dissolve dirt (and the dull residue from commercial dusting sprays) while the oil prevents the wood from drying out. It also leaves a beautiful shine.
By using this furniture polish you'll end up with beautiful furniture and healthier family. Not a bad trade-off in my book.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Indiana Winter Poem
IT IS FREAKIN' COLD OUTSIDE! Chris just left for work and called to share that is 16 degrees below zero. That's without factoring in the wind chill. God only knows how cold that makes it feel like. God and the weatherman, actually. And people who caught the weather report this morning. OK. So maybe I'm the only one who doesn't know that information. That's not the point. My point is it hasn't been this cold in years. It's dangerous cold. It is sooo cold that they cancelled all the schools around here. Aaah, but the beauty of home school... We still get to have school today because we don't have to leave the house. So, we'll keep it our little secret that everyone else has the day off today. That will keep the protests down from my little darling.
Now that you know what we're dealing with in this part of country, (as if you never watched the news) (or live here yourself) I would like to share a little poem that my dear Mother-in-law emailed me yesterday. This is in honor of the Arctic blast we are experiencing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Indiana Winter Poem
It's Winter in Indiana
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.
Oh, how I love Indiana
When the snow's up to your butt,
You take a breath of Winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.
Yes, the Winter here is wonderful
So, I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave Indiana
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!!
- Unknown Author
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Snow Ice Cream
This has been a pretty strange winter this far. We had about 3" of snow dumped on us as soon as the calendar switched to December. It didn't last too long before melting. Every since then, every weather maker we've had has failed to bring us any snow to speak of. Ice has been the precipitation of choice. Until yesterday that is.
When I woke up yesterday it was already snowing and didn't stop until late yesterday evening. It was beautiful! Huge, white, fluffy petals were floating down from the sky only to leave a shimmering blanket of white diamonds on the ground. What a Winter Wonderland!
So, in honor of God's frigid splendor, (And I do mean frigid. It was 6 degrees below zero when Chris left for work this morning. And that was without the windchill factor.) I decided to add a recipe for Snow Ice Cream. This is a blast for the kiddies. This recipe belonged to my Mamaw Shepherd.
Snow Ice Cream:
1 c. milk
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ c. sugar
Beat well until frothy. Place mixture in a large bowl and add enough clean, fresh snow until the liquid is completely absorbed.
For those of you who aren't fortunate enough to live someplace cold enough to indulge in this seasonal delight - let me just say, "So sorry for ya!" It's really yummy and a whole lot of fun!
When I woke up yesterday it was already snowing and didn't stop until late yesterday evening. It was beautiful! Huge, white, fluffy petals were floating down from the sky only to leave a shimmering blanket of white diamonds on the ground. What a Winter Wonderland!
So, in honor of God's frigid splendor, (And I do mean frigid. It was 6 degrees below zero when Chris left for work this morning. And that was without the windchill factor.) I decided to add a recipe for Snow Ice Cream. This is a blast for the kiddies. This recipe belonged to my Mamaw Shepherd.
Snow Ice Cream:
1 c. milk
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ c. sugar
Beat well until frothy. Place mixture in a large bowl and add enough clean, fresh snow until the liquid is completely absorbed.
For those of you who aren't fortunate enough to live someplace cold enough to indulge in this seasonal delight - let me just say, "So sorry for ya!" It's really yummy and a whole lot of fun!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
From Sentimental to Sensational!
When my son was just a wee little lad he had this intense love for all things Winnie the Pooh. Actually, this love of a yellow bear lasted until just a few years ago. Thank God that's over! Don't get me wrong. It's not that I don't like Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger, too, BUT, you can only watch so many episodes through the years (or hear the songs, or answer the what if questions pertaining to such said bear) before you want to pull some hair out. Not only did we have all of the videos, but we also had every stuffed character from the Hundred Acre Wood, the bedroom wall posters, and the clothing.
That brings me to the topic of today's blog. Isaac had this Winnie the Pooh shirt that he loved so much that he insisted on wearing it way past the stage where he had outgrown it. I finally had to put my foot down and insist that he was too big to be wearing it any longer. What a heartbreak. To soften this horrible blow I had inflicted, I promised my beloved child that I would make it into a pillow. This would be keepsake that he could treasure forever without wearing it like he was sporting "Fashions by Jethro".
It has taken me a long time to follow through on this promise. But, alas...the promise has been fulfilled. Today I took this little red t-shirt, cut it down, sewed the front and back pieces together (right sides facing) while leaving a 3" opening for the stuffing. I then turned it right side out and stuffed away with fiberfill. To finish this transformation all I had to do was slip stich the opening shut and ....viola. From tiny tee to priceless pillow!
That brings me to the topic of today's blog. Isaac had this Winnie the Pooh shirt that he loved so much that he insisted on wearing it way past the stage where he had outgrown it. I finally had to put my foot down and insist that he was too big to be wearing it any longer. What a heartbreak. To soften this horrible blow I had inflicted, I promised my beloved child that I would make it into a pillow. This would be keepsake that he could treasure forever without wearing it like he was sporting "Fashions by Jethro".
It has taken me a long time to follow through on this promise. But, alas...the promise has been fulfilled. Today I took this little red t-shirt, cut it down, sewed the front and back pieces together (right sides facing) while leaving a 3" opening for the stuffing. I then turned it right side out and stuffed away with fiberfill. To finish this transformation all I had to do was slip stich the opening shut and ....viola. From tiny tee to priceless pillow!
I am happy to announce that my darling little dude thinks his new pillow is just way too cool.
This is an easy way to save your little ones precious clothing that either they or you can't bear to get rid of.
Now, if I can just get inspired enough to tackle the new pillows for the sofa. Hmmm.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Another Spider Story
Once upon a time my husband, Chris, and I moved to central Florida to be youth pastors. One of our youth had been in a terrible jet ski incident which left him immobile and in traction for quite some time. He was sent home from the hospital with a hospital bed and traction contraption (say that 10 times). When we went to his house to visit him we had to wait in the kitchen for a few minutes before we could go in and see him.
We hadn't been in Florida for very long at this point and was admiring the wall decorations and contemplating how people decorate so differently in the Sunshine State than they do in the north. It was very common where we came from to have Home Interior pictures hung with sconces and plaques of birds or butterflies. Chris was intrigued by the fact that Crackers also hang plaques of spiders with their pictures, too. I say this because, right in the middle of the pictures was hanging a spider plaque at least the size of your fist. Two legs facing the head. Two legs facing the rear. So life like. Interesting. So interesting that Chris decides to reach out and touch it...
It wasn't a plaque. It was a real, live, mutant, monster of a spider! What the heck do they feed these things down here?! It's so big you could ride it! They don't grow spiders that big in the Midwest. These were all thoughts that instantaneously ran through our skull caps.
As Spidey scurries on up the wall 'cause he don't really like bein' manhandled - my big, strappin', 6'1", muscular, hunk of husband turns into a 5 year old little girl. He's screaming and jumping around these people's kitchen while jerking not too unlike an epileptic fit. It was really a moment to make a woman proud. Oh, yeah, that's my husband. I was just glad I wasn't the Yankee who decided to pet the puppy. OK, it wasn't a puppy. It was a spider, but puppy sounded better. Don't ya think?
Anyway. That was one more of our many adventures with creepy, crawly things in the good old Sunshine State. They grow critters down there that are larger than most household pets in Hoosier Land. Let's just say that was a lesson for us both that was well learned.
We hadn't been in Florida for very long at this point and was admiring the wall decorations and contemplating how people decorate so differently in the Sunshine State than they do in the north. It was very common where we came from to have Home Interior pictures hung with sconces and plaques of birds or butterflies. Chris was intrigued by the fact that Crackers also hang plaques of spiders with their pictures, too. I say this because, right in the middle of the pictures was hanging a spider plaque at least the size of your fist. Two legs facing the head. Two legs facing the rear. So life like. Interesting. So interesting that Chris decides to reach out and touch it...
It wasn't a plaque. It was a real, live, mutant, monster of a spider! What the heck do they feed these things down here?! It's so big you could ride it! They don't grow spiders that big in the Midwest. These were all thoughts that instantaneously ran through our skull caps.
As Spidey scurries on up the wall 'cause he don't really like bein' manhandled - my big, strappin', 6'1", muscular, hunk of husband turns into a 5 year old little girl. He's screaming and jumping around these people's kitchen while jerking not too unlike an epileptic fit. It was really a moment to make a woman proud. Oh, yeah, that's my husband. I was just glad I wasn't the Yankee who decided to pet the puppy. OK, it wasn't a puppy. It was a spider, but puppy sounded better. Don't ya think?
Anyway. That was one more of our many adventures with creepy, crawly things in the good old Sunshine State. They grow critters down there that are larger than most household pets in Hoosier Land. Let's just say that was a lesson for us both that was well learned.
Want to read the first spider story?
Maybe There Is Hope For Our Library!
I had written a little while back about going to our public library in search of Captain Underpants. They had none. Well, actually, they had 2 books, but both were missing. Bummer. So, yesterday they called me and said they had found one of them and we could come pick it up. When I got there the dear Children's Department librarian apologized to me for the fact that the book was in such poor condition. She then assured me that she had ordered a new copy. She told me that our library had such a poor selection of books for boys my son's age and that when she made the order to replace the Captain Underpants book they had held for me she found out that there was an entire, huge series. She ordered them all! Every book! She said that they'll be on the shelves within 1 to 2 weeks and we'll get first dibs on them. Whoo Hoo! I feel a laugh-a-thon coming on!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Ham and Black Bean Soup and Cornbread
OK. Are you ready for the new recipe of the week? Guess what it is. Drum roll please... Yes. Another soup recipe. I promise one day I'll do something different. But I told you we eat a lot of soup in the winter in Indiana. It's good to have a variety so meal time doesn't become boring.
This recipe comes from the Prism Weight Loss Program Cookbook. (Another one of my failed diet attempts.) Still, it has some wonderful recipes that we eat often enough. This recipe is intended for the microwave, which I have successfully done. But, since my microwave is a smaller model that we've had for over a decade, the stove works just as quickly for me.
The cornbread recipe is the one my family has made for generations. It isn't an exact science, so you can't really mess it up. The key is the skillet. It has to be really hot before you add the cornbread mix.
Ham and Black Bean Soup:
1 c. canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c. spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 c. beef broth
1 tsp. Parmesan cheese, grated
8 oz. cubed lean ham (you can buy this all ready to go in the meat dept.)
2 tsp. butter
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/2 c. celery, sliced
1/4 c. tomato paste
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
In a 3 quart casserole microwave, on HIGH, butter for 40 seconds. Add onion, celery, and garlic. With vented cover, microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes, stirring once. Add broth, tomato paste, beans, and thyme. Microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes, stirring twice. Add ham, spinach, and Parmesan cheese. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes, stirring once.
Makes 4 servings at 156 calories and 5 grams fat each. *Note - I always double this recipe.
Cornbread
Pour a thin covering of oil, lard or tallow in the bottom of an iron skillet (or one that can with stand temperatures to 500 degrees Fahrenheit). Place in the oven and then pre-heat to 450 degrees. This will allow the pan and oil to get really hot while the oven is pre-heating.
This next part is where you can play with it. You want to place 2 parts white cornmeal to 1 part flour in a bowl and stir together. (The amount you use depends on the size of your skillet. I make more when I am feeding a crowd and using my 10" skillet than I do when I am feeding my family and using my 6" skillet. You'll get a feel for how much you need as you make it.) Add 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. salt and a heaping tsp. of baking powder. Stir together. When the oven signals that it has pre-heated add enough buttermilk to the cornmeal and flour mixture to make it the consistency of cake batter. Immediately pour it into the hot skillet (1/2 - 2/3 full) and bake until it is golden brown on top (about 20 minutes). Again, this may be a little longer if you're making a big pan of it.
When it's done run a butter knife around the edges to loosen it from the sides and bottom. Flip it out onto a dinner plate. The bottom will become the top. Slice into wedges. Split each wedge in half and spread with butter.
Note: To make this gluten-free, substitute g-free all-purpose flour for the regular flour.
It may sound intimidating because there aren't exact measurements. But it's truly one of the easiest things to make. Once you get the hang of the basic recipe you can also add in corn, jalapenos, cheddar cheese, sugar (if you like a sweet cornbread), or anything of your choosing. My husband also likes to eat the plain cornbread at the end of his meal with jelly spread on it as a kind of dessert.
From my family to yours - I hope you give it a try.http://prismweightlossprogram.com/products.htm
This recipe comes from the Prism Weight Loss Program Cookbook. (Another one of my failed diet attempts.) Still, it has some wonderful recipes that we eat often enough. This recipe is intended for the microwave, which I have successfully done. But, since my microwave is a smaller model that we've had for over a decade, the stove works just as quickly for me.
The cornbread recipe is the one my family has made for generations. It isn't an exact science, so you can't really mess it up. The key is the skillet. It has to be really hot before you add the cornbread mix.
Ham and Black Bean Soup:
1 c. canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c. spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 c. beef broth
1 tsp. Parmesan cheese, grated
8 oz. cubed lean ham (you can buy this all ready to go in the meat dept.)
2 tsp. butter
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/2 c. celery, sliced
1/4 c. tomato paste
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
In a 3 quart casserole microwave, on HIGH, butter for 40 seconds. Add onion, celery, and garlic. With vented cover, microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes, stirring once. Add broth, tomato paste, beans, and thyme. Microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes, stirring twice. Add ham, spinach, and Parmesan cheese. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes, stirring once.
Makes 4 servings at 156 calories and 5 grams fat each. *Note - I always double this recipe.
Cornbread
Pour a thin covering of oil, lard or tallow in the bottom of an iron skillet (or one that can with stand temperatures to 500 degrees Fahrenheit). Place in the oven and then pre-heat to 450 degrees. This will allow the pan and oil to get really hot while the oven is pre-heating.
This next part is where you can play with it. You want to place 2 parts white cornmeal to 1 part flour in a bowl and stir together. (The amount you use depends on the size of your skillet. I make more when I am feeding a crowd and using my 10" skillet than I do when I am feeding my family and using my 6" skillet. You'll get a feel for how much you need as you make it.) Add 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. salt and a heaping tsp. of baking powder. Stir together. When the oven signals that it has pre-heated add enough buttermilk to the cornmeal and flour mixture to make it the consistency of cake batter. Immediately pour it into the hot skillet (1/2 - 2/3 full) and bake until it is golden brown on top (about 20 minutes). Again, this may be a little longer if you're making a big pan of it.
When it's done run a butter knife around the edges to loosen it from the sides and bottom. Flip it out onto a dinner plate. The bottom will become the top. Slice into wedges. Split each wedge in half and spread with butter.
Note: To make this gluten-free, substitute g-free all-purpose flour for the regular flour.
It may sound intimidating because there aren't exact measurements. But it's truly one of the easiest things to make. Once you get the hang of the basic recipe you can also add in corn, jalapenos, cheddar cheese, sugar (if you like a sweet cornbread), or anything of your choosing. My husband also likes to eat the plain cornbread at the end of his meal with jelly spread on it as a kind of dessert.
From my family to yours - I hope you give it a try.http://prismweightlossprogram.com/products.htm
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