After several weekends away, we are home on a Sunday to enjoy homemade pancakes.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pancakes
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tsp. Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 4 Tbsp. warm water (or 2 eggs)
1 1/2 cups soy milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
In a bowl, combine flours, baking powder, cinnamon, and brown sugar. In another bowl, combine egg replacer mix, soy milk, and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients. Pour 2 Tbsp. of batter onto griddle preheated to 350 and cook until batter bubbles and pancakes begin to brown around edges. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label chartreuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chartreuse. Show all posts
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Adopt A Shelter Cat Month
Since June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, we did our part to help and adopted a wonderful cat from the local animal shelter. Our family cat recently passed away and we were missing the cuddles and purrs that a cat brings to your life. When we first visited the shelter, we were disheartened to see the large number of animals that have ended up without homes. After speaking to a wonderful volunteer we agreed to foster 4 precious kittens until they could be offered for adoption. This was a wonderful experience for our family. When we returned the kittens to the shelter, our family fell in love with an adorable and friendly 8 month old kitten named Shane. Shane had been at the shelter for 3 months and time was running out for him. He is adapting well to our home and is so sweet and loves to cuddle. He is a wonderful addition to our family and is happy to have found his forever home. So please remember - the next time you decide to add a pet to your family, check the local shelter first. If you are unable to adopt a pet you can help the shelter out by fostering animals short term, spaying or neutering your pet, donating food, volunteering your time, or donating money.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Citrus Blueberry Pancakes
Today for Father's Day we used fresh blueberries - my husband's favorite in our pancakes and added a fresh twist with citrus juice.
Citrus Blueberry Pancakes
1/2 cup organic unbleached flour
1/2 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. evaporated cane juice
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 2 Tbsp. warm water
3/4 cup soy milk
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. orange juice
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Combine flours, salt, sugar, and baking powder in bowl. Whisk egg replacer powder and warm water together; add milk, oil,lemon juice and orange juice. Slowly stir liquid mixture into dry ingredients and mix completely. Pour 2 Tbsp. of batter onto griddle preheated to 350, sprinkle with blueberries and cook until batter bubbles and pancakes begin to brown around edges. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Enjoy!
Citrus Blueberry Pancakes
1/2 cup organic unbleached flour
1/2 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. evaporated cane juice
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 2 Tbsp. warm water
3/4 cup soy milk
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. orange juice
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Combine flours, salt, sugar, and baking powder in bowl. Whisk egg replacer powder and warm water together; add milk, oil,lemon juice and orange juice. Slowly stir liquid mixture into dry ingredients and mix completely. Pour 2 Tbsp. of batter onto griddle preheated to 350, sprinkle with blueberries and cook until batter bubbles and pancakes begin to brown around edges. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Conserving Gas
As gas prices continue to climb, people are looking for ways to reduce their gas consumption. A positive aspect of high gas prices is that as people reduce their gas use they are also reducing their carbon footprint. This means that by looking for ways to stretch their gas budget, people that don't consider themselves "green" may actually be living a greener life.
Here are some ideas to help you out:
1. Ride your bike to work. By riding your bike you will save money while improving your health and depending on where you live - you may even get to work faster. In this year's Great NYC Commuter Race, which is a race between a bike, a car, and the subway to see which is the fastest commute - the biker won again.
2. Carpool. Carpooling reduces the number of cars on the road and splitting the ride and it's cost saves you money.
3. Plan your errands better. Plan your trips to include all your errands in that part of town instead of driving all over town several times a day.
4. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage by about 3%, and save up to 7 cents per gallon.
5. For short trips, walk instead of driving.
In an effort to reduce our gas consumption, my family is using all the above tips. Our two big changes, my husband is biking the short distance to his work and since I work farther away and am typically traveling with my 8 year old daughter - I am carpooling.
Here are some ideas to help you out:
1. Ride your bike to work. By riding your bike you will save money while improving your health and depending on where you live - you may even get to work faster. In this year's Great NYC Commuter Race, which is a race between a bike, a car, and the subway to see which is the fastest commute - the biker won again.
2. Carpool. Carpooling reduces the number of cars on the road and splitting the ride and it's cost saves you money.
3. Plan your errands better. Plan your trips to include all your errands in that part of town instead of driving all over town several times a day.
4. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage by about 3%, and save up to 7 cents per gallon.
5. For short trips, walk instead of driving.
In an effort to reduce our gas consumption, my family is using all the above tips. Our two big changes, my husband is biking the short distance to his work and since I work farther away and am typically traveling with my 8 year old daughter - I am carpooling.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Green & Frugal
Going green can also save you some green - as in money! While some green products may cost more, some green choices are definite money-saving ideas as well. One star of the frugal lifestyle, Amy Dacyczyn, author of the Tightwad Gazette says, "I realized that economy and ecology are like two circles that overlap about 90%. The remaining 10% is the area where doing the right thing for the environment costs more...but having successfully blended the areas of economy and ecology in the 90% area, we have found that we now have some surplus money, and this surplus gives us economic room to reexamine some of the areas within the 10%."
For some of Amy's great money saving ideas, check your local library for her book - Tightwad Gazette. Now when I do the following things I can just say I'm eco-friendly, which sounds better than cheap:
1. Reuse all paper that enters your house & then recycle it. I don't need to purchase any paper for notes, I reuse all the paper that comes in the house by cutting it in forths and using the backs for notes and grocery lists which I then recycle in our paper bin. We also use the backs of envelopes that bills and stuff come in.
2. Make items from scratch - the basics like flour, sugar, eggs, baking soda, etc. are cheaper to purchase and are healthy than most prepared foods.
3. Eat seasonally. When fruits & veggies are on sale it's because they are in season and aren't grown in far off tropical locations. You will save money and will reduce the carbon footprint of your diet.
4. Use your local library. Today's libraries are a great source for best sellers, movies, books on tape, afterschool programs, etc.
5. Make sun tea. Put 6 tea bags in a gallon jug of water and set it in the sun for several hours. You get great tasting tea using the energy from the sun.
6. Make your own cleaners from items in your pantry. You can make antibacterial cleaners, toilet cleaners, glass cleaner, and laundry detergent that is safer and cheaper than what you can buy in the store.
7. Eliminate all disposables. Purchasing paper towels, paper napkins, paper plates, plastic cutlery, plastic cups, and other one time use items can add a lot to your grocery bill and to our landfills.
For some of Amy's great money saving ideas, check your local library for her book - Tightwad Gazette. Now when I do the following things I can just say I'm eco-friendly, which sounds better than cheap:
1. Reuse all paper that enters your house & then recycle it. I don't need to purchase any paper for notes, I reuse all the paper that comes in the house by cutting it in forths and using the backs for notes and grocery lists which I then recycle in our paper bin. We also use the backs of envelopes that bills and stuff come in.
2. Make items from scratch - the basics like flour, sugar, eggs, baking soda, etc. are cheaper to purchase and are healthy than most prepared foods.
3. Eat seasonally. When fruits & veggies are on sale it's because they are in season and aren't grown in far off tropical locations. You will save money and will reduce the carbon footprint of your diet.
4. Use your local library. Today's libraries are a great source for best sellers, movies, books on tape, afterschool programs, etc.
5. Make sun tea. Put 6 tea bags in a gallon jug of water and set it in the sun for several hours. You get great tasting tea using the energy from the sun.
6. Make your own cleaners from items in your pantry. You can make antibacterial cleaners, toilet cleaners, glass cleaner, and laundry detergent that is safer and cheaper than what you can buy in the store.
7. Eliminate all disposables. Purchasing paper towels, paper napkins, paper plates, plastic cutlery, plastic cups, and other one time use items can add a lot to your grocery bill and to our landfills.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Planet Green Launches Today at 6pm!!
After months of anticipation, today's finally the day - the launch of the new green network Planet Green! Planet Green will be the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network. Planet Green is taking the place of Discovery Home and will reach 50 million homes with more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming. Some shows on the channel have already aired like Wasted - a show that teaches families how they can save money while reducing their ecological footprint and Living With Ed - which chronicles the life of superstar and eco-activist Ed Begley Jr. New shows for the channel include Renovation Nation, Greenovate, Hollywood Green, G Word, and Stuff Happens. Renovation Nation and Greenovate will profile green remodeling & renovation projects. Stuff Happens stars Bill Nye, The Science Guy and will profile how the stuff we eat, wear, and use is made and should be an interesting show for the whole family. Be sure to set your DVR to catch up on all the lastest in green products and ideas!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
6 Reasons to Give Up Bottled Water
I know some people don't get what the big deal is with plastic water bottles, but studies show not only is the plastic dangerous to you (check previous posts on BPA) but plastic bottles have a huge impact on our Earth. Maybe one of these facts will help convince someone with a plastic bottle habit to invest in a reusable bottle.
1. North Americans spent $15,000,000,000 on water in plastic bottles last year.
2. Americans consumed 50 billion plastic water bottles last year, made of totally recyclable PET plastic however we only recycle 38% of these bottles meaning 38 billion water bottles a year go into landfills.
3. EVERY piece of petroleum-based plastic EVER manufactured still exists!
4. Plastic is the most common type of marine litter found worldwide, over 300,000 pieces of plastic per square mile have been found in the middle of the North Pacific.
5. The hidden costs of bottled water: the production of bottles uses crude oil, each liter of water sold actually represents three liters of water because manufacturing the PET plastic uses two times the amount of water that each bottle will hold, filling the bottles with water at the factory also uses energy, transporting it to the buyer uses gas, cooling it in grocery stores and home refrigerators, and recovering, recycling or discarding the empty bottles uses even more energy. The Pacific Institute estimates that "the total amount of energy embedded in our use of bottled water can be as high as the equivalent of filling a plastic bottle one quarter full with oil." And you wonder why gas prices are so high!
6. Make a change today to reusable bottles and save money. While reusable bottles, like Sigg aluminum bottles may seem pricey at $20 a bottle, statistics show the average person buys 167 water bottles a year - with water selling for at least $1 a bottle you will save money in the long run!
1. North Americans spent $15,000,000,000 on water in plastic bottles last year.
2. Americans consumed 50 billion plastic water bottles last year, made of totally recyclable PET plastic however we only recycle 38% of these bottles meaning 38 billion water bottles a year go into landfills.
3. EVERY piece of petroleum-based plastic EVER manufactured still exists!
4. Plastic is the most common type of marine litter found worldwide, over 300,000 pieces of plastic per square mile have been found in the middle of the North Pacific.
5. The hidden costs of bottled water: the production of bottles uses crude oil, each liter of water sold actually represents three liters of water because manufacturing the PET plastic uses two times the amount of water that each bottle will hold, filling the bottles with water at the factory also uses energy, transporting it to the buyer uses gas, cooling it in grocery stores and home refrigerators, and recovering, recycling or discarding the empty bottles uses even more energy. The Pacific Institute estimates that "the total amount of energy embedded in our use of bottled water can be as high as the equivalent of filling a plastic bottle one quarter full with oil." And you wonder why gas prices are so high!
6. Make a change today to reusable bottles and save money. While reusable bottles, like Sigg aluminum bottles may seem pricey at $20 a bottle, statistics show the average person buys 167 water bottles a year - with water selling for at least $1 a bottle you will save money in the long run!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Non-toxic Toilet Cleaners
Acid-based toilet bowl cleaners are in the top three of the most toxic household products available because they contain caustic ingredients that burn eyes, skin and internal tissues. They can also contain chlorine or ammonia and pesticides. Of course you're concerned about bacteria and germs in the bathroom, but with regular cleaning those harsh chemicals are not necessary. A good rule of thumb to help green your cleaning is to start as mild as possible and go from there. Here’s some advice for the toilet.
Regular toilet cleaning:
1. Brush bowl and flush.
2. Pour a tablespoon of Sal Suds from Dr. Bronners to help clean and fight bacteria and ½ cup baking soda to help scrub and deodorize into the bowl
3. Brush the whole bowl.
To clean the exterior of the toilet try this minty fresh antibacterial spray:
2 cups water
2 Tbsp. Dr. Bronners Sal Suds
25 drops tea tree oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
Regular toilet cleaning:
1. Brush bowl and flush.
2. Pour a tablespoon of Sal Suds from Dr. Bronners to help clean and fight bacteria and ½ cup baking soda to help scrub and deodorize into the bowl
3. Brush the whole bowl.
To clean the exterior of the toilet try this minty fresh antibacterial spray:
2 cups water
2 Tbsp. Dr. Bronners Sal Suds
25 drops tea tree oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
What Does Organic Mean?
You know that you should be buying more organic foods, but why? What does organic really mean?
Organic produce is grown without any herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Organic meat and dairy animals receive no antibiotics or hormones and are raised on organic feed. Organic products cannot be genetically engineered or irradiated. Farming with organic practices improves soil quality, conserves water, increases biodiversity, and reduces chemicals in our earth, water, and air. Organic food is known to contain 50% more nutrients, minerals and vitamins than produce that has been intensively farmed.
The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) strictly enforces the use organic labels, so be sure to look for the USDA Organic symbol on organic products you purchase. Here's some guidelines on organic food labels:
100% Organic - all ingredients are produced organically
USDA Certified Organic - products contain 95% or more organic ingredients
Made with Organic Ingredients - made with 70-95% organic ingredients
Organic produce is grown without any herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Organic meat and dairy animals receive no antibiotics or hormones and are raised on organic feed. Organic products cannot be genetically engineered or irradiated. Farming with organic practices improves soil quality, conserves water, increases biodiversity, and reduces chemicals in our earth, water, and air. Organic food is known to contain 50% more nutrients, minerals and vitamins than produce that has been intensively farmed.
The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) strictly enforces the use organic labels, so be sure to look for the USDA Organic symbol on organic products you purchase. Here's some guidelines on organic food labels:
100% Organic - all ingredients are produced organically
USDA Certified Organic - products contain 95% or more organic ingredients
Made with Organic Ingredients - made with 70-95% organic ingredients
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Eat Green & Save Some Green
With the price of fuel and food skyrocketing it's time to find ways to make every dollar count. Sometimes it's hard to eat well on a budget as organic items can be expensive. I have gathered some tricks and tips to help you stretch your food dollars while still keeping the environment and your health in mind:
1. Eat locally. Shop your local farmer's market for fresh, in season produce. The markets are always cheaper than grocery stores, you can find unique varieties not found on supermarket shelves, you reduce packaging on your food, you help support farmers in your community, and you will enjoy the freshest most flavorful fruits and veggies money can buy.
2. Cook from scratch. Preparing most items from basic staples, will save you money and will reduce the amount of packaging that your family disposes. By making items like, pancakes, tortillas, bread, treats, etc. you can also eliminate excessive preservatives, fats, and chemical in your family's diet.
3. Plan your meals. Reading sales circulars and buying sales items helps you save money while still making your family's favorite meals.
4. Buy and cook in bulk and then remember to eat the leftovers. By cutting down on the amount of meals you have to cook from scratch you save time and electricity. Bringing leftovers in your brown bag lunch will save money when compared to eating lunch out.
5. Don’t buy too much food. Buying food that goes bad before you'll use it doesn't save money and impacts the planet with extra waste. Plan your meals carefully and use what ingredients are fresh in the fridge. Shop your pantry for items that you already have on hand and plan meals around these items.
6. Quit eating meat. Buying meat can really break the bank and is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. By replacing meat with plant-based protein sources, such as beans and lentils you can save money and lighten your footprint. If you can't give up meat completely, decreasing your meat-based meals will help the planet and your pocketbook.
7. Use coupons. Now that organic foods are growing in popularity, so are coupons for these foods. Check your Sunday newspaper for coupons, check your local store for coupon books like Mambo Sprouts, or check the websites of your favorite companies for coupon offers. When using coupons, don't just buy an item because you have a coupon, if your family won't eat the food you've wasted money not saved money.
8. Grow your own food. My family is getting ready to prepare a bed for planting in the fall and we are researching which fruits and veggies will grow best in our area. We have been composting for a year and have some great materials to feed our soil with. Organic seeds are inexpensive and can be found at most garden stores or online.
1. Eat locally. Shop your local farmer's market for fresh, in season produce. The markets are always cheaper than grocery stores, you can find unique varieties not found on supermarket shelves, you reduce packaging on your food, you help support farmers in your community, and you will enjoy the freshest most flavorful fruits and veggies money can buy.
2. Cook from scratch. Preparing most items from basic staples, will save you money and will reduce the amount of packaging that your family disposes. By making items like, pancakes, tortillas, bread, treats, etc. you can also eliminate excessive preservatives, fats, and chemical in your family's diet.
3. Plan your meals. Reading sales circulars and buying sales items helps you save money while still making your family's favorite meals.
4. Buy and cook in bulk and then remember to eat the leftovers. By cutting down on the amount of meals you have to cook from scratch you save time and electricity. Bringing leftovers in your brown bag lunch will save money when compared to eating lunch out.
5. Don’t buy too much food. Buying food that goes bad before you'll use it doesn't save money and impacts the planet with extra waste. Plan your meals carefully and use what ingredients are fresh in the fridge. Shop your pantry for items that you already have on hand and plan meals around these items.
6. Quit eating meat. Buying meat can really break the bank and is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. By replacing meat with plant-based protein sources, such as beans and lentils you can save money and lighten your footprint. If you can't give up meat completely, decreasing your meat-based meals will help the planet and your pocketbook.
7. Use coupons. Now that organic foods are growing in popularity, so are coupons for these foods. Check your Sunday newspaper for coupons, check your local store for coupon books like Mambo Sprouts, or check the websites of your favorite companies for coupon offers. When using coupons, don't just buy an item because you have a coupon, if your family won't eat the food you've wasted money not saved money.
8. Grow your own food. My family is getting ready to prepare a bed for planting in the fall and we are researching which fruits and veggies will grow best in our area. We have been composting for a year and have some great materials to feed our soil with. Organic seeds are inexpensive and can be found at most garden stores or online.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes
Today's recipe is a nod to my mom's favorite sandwich - peanut butter with banana slices. We are going to see her this afternoon and are bringing her a sample of our new pancakes to get her input.
Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp. evaporated cane juice
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3 bananas, pureed
1 1/2 cups soy milk
1/2 cup organic peanut butter
Mix together the flour, evaporated cane juice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix bananas, soy milk, and peanut butter. Pour dry ingredients into wet and mix together. Pour 2 Tbsp. of batter onto griddle preheated to 350 and cook until batter bubbles and pancakes begin to brown around edges. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Enjoy!
Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp. evaporated cane juice
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3 bananas, pureed
1 1/2 cups soy milk
1/2 cup organic peanut butter
Mix together the flour, evaporated cane juice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix bananas, soy milk, and peanut butter. Pour dry ingredients into wet and mix together. Pour 2 Tbsp. of batter onto griddle preheated to 350 and cook until batter bubbles and pancakes begin to brown around edges. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Enjoy!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
National Chocolate Chip Day
I think I have a new favorite holiday - Thursday May 15th was National Chocolate Chip Day! My daughter and I made 4 dozen chocolate chip cookies which we shared with neighbors, friends, and my coworkers. It was nice to bring a smile to so many people with such a simple gesture to let them know we care and of course we enjoyed a few cookies ourselves :) We also wrapped up 2 dozen cookies for our local fire station. Our town was hit hard this week with dangerous fires and our local firefighters, as well as teams from across the state worked for days straight to extinguish the fires and protect homes. Bringing them a sweet treat to say thank you for all their hard work seemed like the least we could do. So mark your calendars for next year and be sure to celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day on May 15th, you won't regret it!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Bike To Work Day
Tomorrow May 16th is National Bike to Work Day so I thought I would give you time to plan your trip and some tips for your biking commute:
1. Find a safe route.
2. If you can't take your bike into work, find a safe place to lock it up.
3. Dress appropriately - wear clothes to bike in and change when you get to work.
4. Wear a helmet.
5. Lucky you if you live in Orlando - In support of Bike to Work Day on May 16th you can get FREE Coffee at ALL Orlando area Starbucks IF you ride your bike and bring your own mug.
Even if you live too far from work to bike or if you don't work, there are ways you can celebrate this holiday and help the environment.
1. Ride your bike to run errands.
2. If your child is in school, ride your bike to school with them.
3. Contact local officials to encourage them to make your town bike friendly - by creating bike trails and lanes and by installing bike racks around town.
Why bike instead of drive? Here are some facts:
1. If you drive an SUV and live 5 miles from work, you would save $346.32 a year by biking to work one day a week.
2. If you drive a Toyota Camry and live 9 miles from work, you would reduce emissions pollutants by 908 lbs year by biking one day a week.
1. Find a safe route.
2. If you can't take your bike into work, find a safe place to lock it up.
3. Dress appropriately - wear clothes to bike in and change when you get to work.
4. Wear a helmet.
5. Lucky you if you live in Orlando - In support of Bike to Work Day on May 16th you can get FREE Coffee at ALL Orlando area Starbucks IF you ride your bike and bring your own mug.
Even if you live too far from work to bike or if you don't work, there are ways you can celebrate this holiday and help the environment.
1. Ride your bike to run errands.
2. If your child is in school, ride your bike to school with them.
3. Contact local officials to encourage them to make your town bike friendly - by creating bike trails and lanes and by installing bike racks around town.
Why bike instead of drive? Here are some facts:
1. If you drive an SUV and live 5 miles from work, you would save $346.32 a year by biking to work one day a week.
2. If you drive a Toyota Camry and live 9 miles from work, you would reduce emissions pollutants by 908 lbs year by biking one day a week.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
More Great Uses for Baking Soda
Instead of purchasing chemical cleaners or increasing your waste by buying multiple products, use baking soda from your pantry for a variety of uses.
1. Tile & grout cleaner – make a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water
2. Autos – remove dead bugs with a paste of 3 parts baking soda and a few drops of dishwashing liquid to one part water
3. Insect bites & stings – applying a paste of baking soda and water removes pain and irritation
4. Foot Smoother – massage with a paste of baking soda and water
5. Foot bath – soak your feet for 10 minute in a solution of 4 Tbsp. baking soda per quart warm water to relieve tired feet and soften calluses
6. Clean the inside of your refrigerator with a solution of 3 Tbsp. of baking soda dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water.
7. Exfoliate your skin. Apply a soft paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water. Massage gently with a circular motion, being sure to avoid the eye area; rinse clean.
8. Remove burned-on food from a pan by letting the pan soak in baking soda and water for 10 minutes before washing.
9. Clean sterling silver jewelry with a paste of baking soda and water. Use a soft cloth to wipe away all tarnish.
10. Think you have a lot to cleaning to do? More than 100 tons of baking soda were used to clean the Statue of Liberty’s inner copper walls during its 1986 restoration.
1. Tile & grout cleaner – make a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water
2. Autos – remove dead bugs with a paste of 3 parts baking soda and a few drops of dishwashing liquid to one part water
3. Insect bites & stings – applying a paste of baking soda and water removes pain and irritation
4. Foot Smoother – massage with a paste of baking soda and water
5. Foot bath – soak your feet for 10 minute in a solution of 4 Tbsp. baking soda per quart warm water to relieve tired feet and soften calluses
6. Clean the inside of your refrigerator with a solution of 3 Tbsp. of baking soda dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water.
7. Exfoliate your skin. Apply a soft paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water. Massage gently with a circular motion, being sure to avoid the eye area; rinse clean.
8. Remove burned-on food from a pan by letting the pan soak in baking soda and water for 10 minutes before washing.
9. Clean sterling silver jewelry with a paste of baking soda and water. Use a soft cloth to wipe away all tarnish.
10. Think you have a lot to cleaning to do? More than 100 tons of baking soda were used to clean the Statue of Liberty’s inner copper walls during its 1986 restoration.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Free & Green
One of the main complaints I hear about trying to be greener is the cost. Many items that are eco-friendly are more expensive than their conventional counterparts. So here are some green tips that will cost you nothing and may even save you money!
1. Reuse your towel - after showering, hang your towel up so it can be reused
2. Turn off lights, televisions, etc. when you leave a room.
3. Use natural daylight as much as possible, open blinds or curtains during the day to limit the number of lights you need to turn on.
4. Use your library for books, movies & magazines
5. Recycle!
6. Freecycle - check out this great movement at www.freecycle.org
7. Use cloths to clean up spills instead of paper towels
8. Stop using disposable items - paper plates & cups, paper napkins, etc.
9. Reduce your shower time - by keeping your shower time under five minutes, you can save as many as 1,000 gallons per month.
10. Go paperless with your bills and use the internet instead.
1. Reuse your towel - after showering, hang your towel up so it can be reused
2. Turn off lights, televisions, etc. when you leave a room.
3. Use natural daylight as much as possible, open blinds or curtains during the day to limit the number of lights you need to turn on.
4. Use your library for books, movies & magazines
5. Recycle!
6. Freecycle - check out this great movement at www.freecycle.org
7. Use cloths to clean up spills instead of paper towels
8. Stop using disposable items - paper plates & cups, paper napkins, etc.
9. Reduce your shower time - by keeping your shower time under five minutes, you can save as many as 1,000 gallons per month.
10. Go paperless with your bills and use the internet instead.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to all the green moms out there and Happy Mother's Day to the most important mom - Mother Earth. Respect her by making one green change in your home this week.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Save a life ...
Looking for a new friend for your family? Please check out the great animals available at your local shelter or rescue agencies. When you get an animal from the shelter you save a life - euthanasia is the single greatest cause of death for cats and dogs in the U.S. Each year, 8 to 12 million animals are euthanized or 1 pet every 4 seconds. Our county alone euthanizes over 10,000 animals a year! Also by adopting a cat or dog from the shelter you will be helping to reduce the demand for the puppy and kitty mills where animals are horribly abused. If you are looking for a particular breed of animal check your local shelter, many purebred cats and dogs are also abandoned or check for local purebred rescue agencies. Online resources - www.petfinder.com and www.pet911.com
Want to help, but not ready to commit to a forever friend? There are many ways you can help. We are currently "fostering" 4 abandoned kittens for our local shelter. Baby animals are at risk in the shelter since they are to young to be vaccinated against respiratory diseases and other diseases they may be exposed to in the shelter. Our job is to help them eat well and gain weight and to give them tons of love - not a bad job huh? When they are older they will return to the shelter for their vaccines, be spayed or neutered and will be available for adoption. Animal shelters always need donations of food especially kitten, puppy, and canned food as well as towels, and kitty litter. They also need volunteers to help with the animals and with office work, contact your local shelter for more information.
Want to help, but not ready to commit to a forever friend? There are many ways you can help. We are currently "fostering" 4 abandoned kittens for our local shelter. Baby animals are at risk in the shelter since they are to young to be vaccinated against respiratory diseases and other diseases they may be exposed to in the shelter. Our job is to help them eat well and gain weight and to give them tons of love - not a bad job huh? When they are older they will return to the shelter for their vaccines, be spayed or neutered and will be available for adoption. Animal shelters always need donations of food especially kitten, puppy, and canned food as well as towels, and kitty litter. They also need volunteers to help with the animals and with office work, contact your local shelter for more information.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Dine with the planet in mind
When planning your meals, be sure to consider the impact your choices have on the environment. Some great ways to be kind to the earth:
1. Buy in bulk - bulk buying reduces the amount of packaging used
2. Buy local - help support community farms and reduce the amount of gas used to transport your food
3. Reduce meat consumption - the livestock industry alone is responsible for nearly one-fifth of the greenhouse gases —more than all transportation
4. Buy organic - reduce the amount of pesticides your family is exposed to and help support farmers who protect the planet with their farming techniques
5. Compost - help reduce the impact to landfills by composting as much food waste as possible check out www.compostguide.com for composting tips
1. Buy in bulk - bulk buying reduces the amount of packaging used
2. Buy local - help support community farms and reduce the amount of gas used to transport your food
3. Reduce meat consumption - the livestock industry alone is responsible for nearly one-fifth of the greenhouse gases —more than all transportation
4. Buy organic - reduce the amount of pesticides your family is exposed to and help support farmers who protect the planet with their farming techniques
5. Compost - help reduce the impact to landfills by composting as much food waste as possible check out www.compostguide.com for composting tips
Monday, May 5, 2008
Green Window Cleaning
An easy step you can take to green your cleaning is to replace your neon blue conventional glass cleaners with a mixture of vinegar and water in a reusable spray bottle. This will reduce your household’s impact on the environment by reducing packaging and will keep your indoor air clean and free of toxins. Conventional glass cleaners can contain a number of different toxins including ammonia - an irritant to eyes, noses, throats and lungs.
Some people get turned off by using vinegar and water because when they first use it to clean windows they have streaking. The streaking is caused by the residue left over from conventional cleaners, not the vinegar. When first making the switch to vinegar cleaners, start with a mix of about 1/3 white vinegar, 1 tsp. of Dr. Bronner's soap, and 2/3 water. The next time you mix the cleaner, omit the soap and you will continue to have sparkling clean windows.
To be extra green, use microfiber cloths to clean your windows instead of paper towels.
Some people get turned off by using vinegar and water because when they first use it to clean windows they have streaking. The streaking is caused by the residue left over from conventional cleaners, not the vinegar. When first making the switch to vinegar cleaners, start with a mix of about 1/3 white vinegar, 1 tsp. of Dr. Bronner's soap, and 2/3 water. The next time you mix the cleaner, omit the soap and you will continue to have sparkling clean windows.
To be extra green, use microfiber cloths to clean your windows instead of paper towels.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Okay not the healthiest pancakes, but the whole wheat does offset the chocolate a little right?
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes
2 cups organic whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
4 Tbsp. evaporated cane juice
4 tsp. baking powder
3 tsp. Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 4 Tbsp. warm water (or 2 eggs)
1 1/2 cup soy milk
4 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Tropical Source chocolate chips
Combine flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder in bowl. Whisk egg replacer powder and warm water together; add milk and oil. Slowly stir liquid mixture into dry ingredients and mix completely. Pour 2 Tbsp. of batter onto griddle preheated to 350 and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Cook until batter bubbles and pancakes begin to brown around edges. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Enjoy!
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes
2 cups organic whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
4 Tbsp. evaporated cane juice
4 tsp. baking powder
3 tsp. Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 4 Tbsp. warm water (or 2 eggs)
1 1/2 cup soy milk
4 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Tropical Source chocolate chips
Combine flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder in bowl. Whisk egg replacer powder and warm water together; add milk and oil. Slowly stir liquid mixture into dry ingredients and mix completely. Pour 2 Tbsp. of batter onto griddle preheated to 350 and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Cook until batter bubbles and pancakes begin to brown around edges. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Enjoy!
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