Earning My Apron Strings

Team Green Clean

2010-03-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

I'm all for going green. We've done the organic co-op (it sucked), the composting (it rocked), we own one car, and produce 300% more recycling than garbage (and where is our prize??). But something I have a hard time really getting behind is the whole all-natural cleaning thing. If it doesn't smell like bleach, I don't think it cleans. I used to adore Clorox Clean-up and would still use it if Matt hadn't used it randomly several times bleaching things like pillows, kitchen towels, and shower curtains. We now use Windex Antibacterial, which is bleach-free but still has a great, chemical smell that lets me know that everything is squeaky clean. And if you keep your eyes out, you can get great deals/rebates on this product... we've gotten about 4 bottles of windex free in the past year :)

When we started trying to have a baby, we limited my exposure to chemicals because, well they're chemicals and they're toxic (I read The Complete Guide to Organic Pregnancy... great book whether you're pregnant or not). But, I would still handle the cleaning, airing out the house as needed to get rid of those wonderful fumes.

Now that I am finally pregnant (24 weeks tomorrow!!), my wonderful husband is cleaning the house. It's not only about the chemical exposure, but it's also the manual labor of it all- it's just not good for a high risk pregnancy. And we worked really hard to get pregnant so we aren't leaving anything to chance.

In theory, it's fantastic to have someone cleaning for me... but it's driving me UP. THE. WALL. for several reasons:

1. He works all week, only to come home and spend his free time cleaning and organizing. Not only is he ADHD, but he also knows nothing about cleaning. Some spots get missed and it takes him 2 hours to clean our tiny bathroom. On average, it takes him 8 hours to clean our 900sqft cottage; it's takes me 2. And I just cringe thinking that his "down time" is taken up with my responsibilities. And when he's finally done and things still aren't clean, I just can't bring myself to tell him because all I really want is for him to relax.

2. He only cleans once a week, which I think is a totally reasonable expectation for a 27-year-old man who works full-time (plus). But it grosses me out. Our place is teeny and our dogs shed like crazy. I cook and bake all week. Our house is down-right gross in 3 days - and I need a clean house. I do not function well in the filth.

So, I finally decided to problem solve. Sure, it's over half-way through the pregnancy, but to my credit, we've lived in three different places in the past 3 months so I've been a bit busy just getting life settled. How am I going to avoid cleaning chemicals/heavy cleaning while pregnant?

Four words: vinegar, water, rubbing alcohol, spray-bottle (spray-bottle is one word because it's hyphenated). Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a (new) spray bottle and you've got a surprisingly inexpensive all-purpose cleaning solution. Mix one cup water, one cup rubbing alcohol, and 1 tablespoon vinegar and you've got window cleaner. I plan on using my special cleaner everyday on the kitchen counters and every-other-day in the bathroom for upkeep. We also purchased a cheap-o lightweight vacuum that I can take around the house daily to make it a little less hairy.

I am a bit weary of these things actually working well because they're so simple. I found some other cleaning recipes that are for stronger solutions, though I really don't think I'll need it if I'm cleaning on a daily basis. I just made these today and will try them this week to see how I like the cleaning solution and process. Hopefully these substitutes will get me by until the weekend when Matt can bust out the real stuff and give the house a good scrub-down.

One Small Step for Man

2010-02-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

I finally got this on Wednesday (it was a 2009 goal...)

AND, I checked out 2 books!! I couldn't find 8 of the 10 on my list, but they are mostly specialized parenting books or social justice reads (I'm a dork), so I'm not surprised. I love how frugal and waste-free the library is, and it's only a 1/2 mile from our house. I see many walks with the baby in my near future.

And for the books that I can't find at my library (they are not at the Stanford library, either...), I am searching for on www.paperbackswap.com (my friend, Ashley, told me about this- she's always full of great ideas). I haven't found too many of the books on my list, but I'm getting rid of about 50 books that were taking up space in our garage!! I usually just sell books that are worth $5 + on amazon and donate the rest, but with Paper Back Swap I can essentially "swap" my old books for used books I want to read (for about $2 shipping). You can also swap-out old CDs and DVDs... I love getting junk out of the house!!

She's My Cherry Pie

2010-02-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

I stole an idea from my old-friend, Keight, (not that she's old, but we were inseparable from grades 3-7 which was awhile ago) and she stole the idea from popular blogger, NieNie. In short, it's celebrating moments in life with your family and helping create traditions for them. I've been thinking about how I can do this for awhile now but life hasn't exactly been settled enough to really get there. But this month I did two things to (hopefully) make our home a more festive and memorable place.

1. We are celebrating the Olympics in style!! Both Matt and I love the Olympics so I decided to give it a bit more umph this time. We pulled out a map and are keeping track of the medals; we made torches; and we will be making a few more things along the way. We watch every night with our American flags and talk about it constantly. In a perfect world, we will either be at the 2012 Olympics or host a big, Olympics party for the opening ceremony with our friends: the food will have a British touch and the kids can make Olympic related crafts.

2. We celebrated George Washington's birthday!! Well, kinda. I made a cherry pie (because he mythically chopped down a cherry tree). Why didn't I post the recipe and a stunning picture?? Well, because it consisted of rolling out a pre-made pie crust, opening two cans of pie filling, dumping said filling in the pie crust, topping with the second pre-made pie crust, and baking. How un-domestic is that?? Martha would be soooo ashamed... but life is just crazy sometimes and short-cuts are ok. The best part is that Matt absolutely loves the pie. He says it's the best pie he's ever eaten. Apparently, my homemade pies from last summer were all in vain :)

I love that we did these things this month. They are simple, stress-free ways to make everyday life a little more fun and enjoyable. And once we have a full family, it's a great way to include kids on what's going on in the world.

My goal is to do 2-3 of these a month. For March I'm thinking St. Patrick's Day (wear green, make Irish stew and soda bread, play some Irish music, etc), the start of spring (I'm thinking of planting our flowers on this day and making a big, fresh salad with grilled meat), and Gerdy's first birthday.

Sewey McSew Pants

2010-02-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

That's my new name (my real nickname is Prudence McPrude...). Anyway, look at what I did yesterday!!

My pillow took an hour (and a half) of private instruction at Bobbins Nest (which I love). It was a great scene of my instructor looking horrified at how little I know about anything sewing related- and yes, she knew I was a beginner. She was shocked that I didn't do any sewing projects growing up...

I did not realize that I was making a bed pillow case; my other one was a 12x12 pillowcase. Anywho, I went with the Valentine's Day fabric because a) it was on sale, and b) I didn't really want or need to make a pillow, but figured I could always pull this out in February. Or perhaps we will call it the "love pillow" and pull it out when anyone in our family is sick to feel special (sorta like a mix between the vomit bowl and the "You Are Special Today" plate).

Today I will fix the dog bed. Our youngest pup, Gerdy, destroys anything with an eye ball, button, or zipper, as documented here. Her bed is 2 weeks old and she already demolished the zipper beyond repair and ate part of the stuffing (she's 15 pounds), which makes for some "interesting" digestion situations... So, I will one-up my crazy dog by sewing the entire bed closed therefore negating the need for a zipper and hopefully, her need to destroy it.

My instructor thought it would be good for me to start with bibs and burp cloths (so if you have a baby, you can expect a beautiful piece of artwork to randomly appear in your mailbox- feel free to donate). I also got an Amy Coe pattern for a bag and some of her fabric (you should see how $$ her fabric is... I think I need to shift careers). As for my plan to make window treatments for my house, she thinks that's a bit ambitious. I will do it just to spite her. I am hoping to check out some good beginner's sewing books from the library- any suggestions??

I also need some new fabric for my bibs/burp cloths... looks like I get to go shopping this weekend!!

If I Only Had a Brain

2010-02-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

I have tried some new recipes in the past week and none of them have been good. I have somehow messed-up recipes that are labeled "easy" and get 5/5 stars. So it's definitely me, which is cool. I've already been adjusting my dinners; the whole "pregnancy brain" phenomenon has taken serious root and I can't really handle anything more than a main dish and maybe a side dish. Most of our dinners are one-pot meals because I simply can't keep it together enough to do more than that. I've been thinking I need to break out the crock-pot and put that to good use, too.

Another wonderful mess-up of mine is the sewing machine. I purchased it 18 months ago (along with a box full of "supplies"), took a beginners class, made my pillow and completed 1.5 projects at home. And then we started IVF and anything "extra" fell off a cliff. So, I haven't even looked at my machine in over a year.

Flash forward to now: I'm pregnant with our son; I'm nesting in our new home; and, I see these adorable bibs and burp cloths that I suddenly must make for myself. I locate my long-abandoned sewing machine and realize I cannot remember how to turn it on, much less thread the darn thing to save my life. So, I signed up for beginners class numero dos where I will make yet another pillow. The only problem is that I spend all of my free time thinking about car seats and strollers, leaving little brain space for dates/times. Yes- I wrote down the wrong day for my class, completely missing it. Luckily, the little studio (which is adorable) took pity on me and is having me come in tomorrow for an hour private lesson. They will teach me how to turn on the machine, thread it, and yes- make a pillow.

Here's to hoping I can pull it together just enough to get all my supplies in the car and to the studio by 4pm tomorrow...

Must-Have

2010-02-11T17:09:00.000-08:00

My mom is considering buying a dutch oven to make the Barefoot Contessa's Beef Bourginon... I was helping her pick out a color and I found something I must have:

Aren't they beautiful?? I have a red Le Creuset that I adore and use at least three times a week. But I think I need every piece of the Carribean Blue line... so it looks like I'd better win the lottery to pay for my new cookware (and organic meat).

Grocery Budget

2010-02-04T09:47:00.000-08:00

Let me start this by saying that I have learned (the hard way) that all of the horseradish I ate with my yummy beef strudel gives me horrible pregnancy gas. And by horrible, I mean painful... I probably ate half a jar of that stuff, which left me barely able to stand up yesterday... so no more smothering on horseradish- bummer.

ANYWAY,

One of the absolute best things about living where we do is the wide availability of organic foods. Not only does our Safeway carry organic produce, eggs, and milk at a decent price- BUT we also live right down the street from a Whole Foods which actually stocks a wide variety of organic, grass-fed, locally grown meat. The meat, however, totally messes with my grocery budget: I purchased 3 pounds of red meat (2 pounds stew meat and 1 pound ground beef) and it was $24. Thank you for the gift card, Santa... but seriously: it made me want to purchase a herd of cattle and set up a butcher shop in our garage.

On Long Island, we couldn't quite find the organic, grass-fed, locally grown meat, but we looked for organic or antibiotic free options. We really have been wanting to make the big jump to great meat like this... the more we read about corn-fed animals pumped full of drugs on massive meat farms, the more sense it makes for us. But let's be honest: we're a one income household and my husband works at a non-profit that currently will not cover our next round of fertility treatments should we want another baby (which is much more than the standard IVF cost you see in ads on TV- trust me). How will we be able to retire if our grocery budget explodes and all our extra $$ in the next 35 years goes to meat (and babies)??

Because we want to make the better choices for our health and environment, here is what I'm thinking:

1. Look into zoning laws for the aforementioned herding/garage slaughter-house option.

2. Limit the amount of meat we actually eat and learn how to make hearty, protein rich meals that are meat-less. These meals must also be yummy. By no means would we go totally vegetarian, but this would give us some dinner options that are a bit cheaper.

3. Hold-up the Whole Foods meat department.

4. Win the lottery.

5. Research a meat share or actually purchase a full animal. We would work with a certified organic farmer in our area, pick out our animal, and he would take care of killing/butchering it. Lovely, right? We'd store Bessie in a deep freezer in the garage. Not sure the pricing for this. BUT, I love the idea of being able to support humane, organic, local farming.

If you have any ideas (or experience farming/butchering cattle) please, please let me know...

New Recipe

2010-02-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful day yesterday. I only got up once during the night to pee; I slept until 9am; I found some great deals on cute baby clothes and Christmas decorations; I baked 2 dozen banana muffins (1 dozen for here, 1 dozen for Matt to take to work); I did laundry; I did dishes; and, I tried a new recipe.

I pulled this recipe from Rachel Ray's magazine, which is odd since I don't particularly care for her. I don't mind her, but I'm not a fan, per se. Anyway, it had so many yummy things: dough, meat, potatoes, horseradish... how does a pregnant girl deny that??

Horseradish Beef Strudel

I have been trying to make it for a month or two, but the planets never aligned and it just sat on top of the recipe list. But tonight was the night- and it was so yummy!! Matt actually said, "This is my favorite thing you've made". A definite keeper (both Matt and the recipe).

Some notes on the recipe:

This makes LOTS of food... the picture doesn't communicate this well- it can easily be halved for me and Matt (which is great, considering how randomly expensive puff pastry sheets are).
Compiling/prepping all of the ingredients to go into the pastry is super easy. The most tedious part of it is rolling out the puff pastry sheet to a larger size on a floured piece of parchment paper. Make sure to flour somewhat liberally. I also marked the parchment paper so that I could roll the pastry sheet to the right size and it worked well.
I didn't do a formal side dish tonight (I had been on my feet all day and just couldn't bring myself to do one more thing), but I did serve it with grapes, celery, and carrots. Because the dish is so heavy, I think a great, green salad would go wonderfully as a side. Be sure to salt and pepper, as noted in the recipe. The recipe has a great flavor, but Matt and I love love love horseradish, so we spread it on as we ate, too.

Happy cooking!

Follow-Up On My Inability to Simmer and What-Not

2010-01-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

I was lamenting my simmering saga from the Beef Stew to my oven repair man, Canady (like "Canada" with a "y" and no- I did not call him to fix the simmer, but because the oven makes the stop top super hot, which I learned is totally normal...). Anyway, he informed me that if you have a gas stove-top, one of the inner burners will be smaller than the others and that is the burner to use for simmering. Sweet. Good to know. I will try that.

My mom said that I can buy a diffuser to attach to the burner to help spread out the heat and simmer better. I will try that next.

She also mentioned that we do in fact have a family recipe file. News to me (and probably news to anyone who is in my family). My mom used to make bowls of popcorn for dinner- and I'm not complaining; I just can't imagine what's been collected over the years. Supposedly she's going to send me a copy of it (assuming she's not offended by me outing her with the popcorn dinners-which were fabulous). Stay tuned.

Hello Paula Deen, Beef Stew Much??

2010-01-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

Beef stew was one of those foods I avoided from age 5-18... my mom tried to make it a few times but my brother was super picky it wasn't worth the fight. And, for what it's worth, I knew that no matter how many foods I rejected, I would never be as picky as Tommy so I kinda flew under the radar on these things and ate whatever I wanted for the most part.

Anyway, now I like it and when I went to ask my mom for the recipe a few months ago she said, "Oh- I don't make a good Beef Stew". Really? I hope someone besides a 7-year-old boy who insists on eating cereal, cheese pizza, and peas and an opportunistic 5-year-old girl told her it wasn't good... Either way, I wasn't getting any from the family, recipe file (and I don't think such a file exists...).

Enter Paula Deen and her Old Time Beef Stew. It got 5/5 stars based on 381 reviews on Food Network and there was non of her typical Ms. Deen butter: how does one say no? I read the reviews and decided to add a bit of beef broth and red potatoes. I purchased all organic ingredients, including 2 pounds of organic, grass fed, locally grown beef from Whole Foods (my wallet is still crying). I was super excited.

But here's the problem : Amy doesn't know how to brown beef. Obviously, I cook it until it's some sort of brown. But, does that mean just brown on all sides? Cooked through? How long should it take? As I have the equivalent of this month's rent worth of beef cooking in the Le Crueset, I am frantically posting on yahoo's answer board... "how do I brown stew meat?". Here is what I know now...

1. Browning meat is done to seal in the flavor and prevent the meat from getting tough;

2. Stew meat should be browned, but not cooked all of the way through; and

3. One should not over-crowd the pan during browning process, as this will actually steam the meat instead of browning the meat.

Well, I went for the triple crown and botched all three of these things. My meat was tough; my meat was cooked all the way through; and my pan was super-crowded steaming the meat. Go big or go home? I suppose...

And by no means was that the end of it... apparently, I am inept at how to simmer for 1 1/2 hours on our new cook-top. I could not find "simmer" to save my life. It was either "boil" or "warm". I finally got around to adding the carrots, celery, and potatoes. I added THREE extra cups of beef broth to compensate for the potatoes (and besides, the liquid level was super low in the pot". It took 20 minutes longer to cook than anticipated because of the additions, and even though I added extra cornstarch to thicken the "gravy" as Ms. Deen calls it, it still was pretty watery.

So, we ended up with a soup that had a great flavor, but I would not give it a 5/5- obviously I messed up something (or perhaps everything). The hunks of meat and potato were HUGE and they did not fit in with the watery base.

The good thing?? We have 2 nights worth of left-overs to get through in the near future. Lucky us :)

Catching-Up and Moving On

2010-01-25T12:53:00.002-08:00

The past week has been very exciting for me and Matt... we found out we're having a little boy and my parents came in town for a weekend visit!! So, we've been busy, to say that least :) But these are great things, not only because it's family, but because they're things that make me get off my butt and get the house organized.

One of the most frustrating things about having a high-risk pregnancy is that I haven't been "released" to do much. I can walk and float down a pool on my back- I can't even do the backstroke. I can dust the house, do dishes, and fold laundry, but I can't really clean anything. And that means that Matt is stuck doing a lot of the grunt work. He's happy to do it, of course: he's the sweetest man alive and he would take on any extra responsibilities to have a child. But, I hate it. I feel useless and I hate that he spends his down-time working on our house. I have to say that he did a great job getting everything in order for my parent's visit. The house was clean and organized enough (we did just move 3 weeks ago, so give some grace!), and I feel like we're making some progress here.

Now that we know we're having a boy, I feel like it's going to be easier to get things settled and organized. I am HUGE into envisioning my future and playing out likely/unlikely scenarios for every possible outcome... Matt calls is "worrying"- I call it "processing so I can be organized". Potayto/Potahto. Anyway, now I can see our life in this little house with our baby boy so I'm more energized to get settled. I ordered a diaper bag and some clothes for our little man. As a part of my "processing so I can be organized", I'm beginning to research just how much clothing he'll really need for each stage (input is greatly appreciated). I'm starting to work on the textiles for his room... I'm thinking I might go custom, simply because I want certain things to match. I'm starting to debate BPA free plastic bottles vs. glass ones, and I even cleared a shelf in the kitchen for all of his eating supplies. The list goes on-and-on... but, I feel like I can actually tackle these things... because Baby Boy will be here soon!!

Another thing I'm getting all organized are my coupons. Since we moved in late November and life has been a cluster since that time, I have not kept up on my coupon clipping (gasp!). BUT, we purchased a Sunday paper yesterday and I plan on clipping/filing tonight while watching The Bachelor. I threw out all of the expired ones last night. We needed groceries desperately today, so I scoured the weekly circular to be the biggest opportunist I could be. I got 6 bags of groceries for 48% off with NO coupons... it was all from looking at the circular and shopping the sales. Can you imagine if I had coupons I could match with my purchases? It would have been an epic shopping adventure. Hopefully, I can build my coupon stash in the next few weeks and get back on the saving band-wagon.

So, life here is getting organized to a point where I might actually be able to blog about some of it... don't hold your breath.

Slowly, Slowly, Slowly Goes the Sloth

2010-01-16T19:41:00.004-08:00

Well, the house is making progress -- not much progress, but some. I thought we'd have the bathroom together by now, but it's been a bit hap-hazard. Here's a summary of the progress:

The Bathroom

This was supposed to be the "easy" room and I thought it would be done in a period of 24-hours. All I needed was new hardware for the cabinets/walls and a shower curtain. Easy, right? Matt was more than happy to tackle the hardware (yea!!) and I was certain that I could find the right curtain. And I did- it was only $20 at Marshals- score! When Matt was ready to install the hardware, I went to Home Depot and picked it all up- sans the 6th and final cabinet handle I needed. Wouldn't you know it- they only had 5 and even though I stop by regularly, they haven't restocked. Matt finished the hardware installation in a matter of days (sans the final handle, for which I'm still searching). I washed, ironed, and put up the curtain. Barf- it was horrible. Just awful. I can't believe I paid money for it. Time to regroup.

I looked at the bathroom for several days and finally realized (and embraced) what it really needed: a new curtain (obviously), new towels, and new "accessories". I hate thinking about buying all that "junk", but what we currently own just doesn't work with our current situation. Matt agreed, so I started to look around. The only one I liked that would work in our bathroom was from Pottery Barn and not available to ship until the end of February. And since I want the towels to match, I'll have to wait until that arrives and I can match them right. I'll then pick-up some nice, polished nickel accessories to pull everything together. Heck- maybe Home Depot will actually have my 6th handle by then. But until that glorious day when everything is here, our bathroom is in a tacky transition.

The Kitchen

Oh the kitchen... it's a beast. Our dishwasher won't arrive until the end of January, so our counter is constantly littered with dishes that are drying. And where there aren't dishes, there are clusters of random junk that hasn't quite found a home, yet. Our oven (hello, 1970) is getting replaced this week. And our kitchen table is too big for our kitchen, so we're waiting for an antiques place to come appraise/sell it for us. In the meantime, it's not-fitting-so-well in our dining area, covered in a jumble of junk ranging from baskets, to q-tips, to bills (which I need to pay, but I can't find stamps). So, give me two weeks and maybe- just maybe- it'll be ready.

The Master Bedroom

This might actually be the first place ready for photographs. We have the new sheets on the bed, and our white bed-skirt finally arrived (now I just need to wash/iron it...). We're using our current furniture, so all we need to do is sort/organize our clothes and actually find a way to have it all make sense. (Oh- and somehow find our lamps. Where did they go?) And there's this other problem: window treatments. I'm drawing such a blank on this area, that I'm considering hiring a decorator. I don't know where to start...

The Living Room

Well, it's functioning as of this moment. All of the furniture that we needed for the space has arrived and half of it is assembled (thanks, Matt!). But also in this room is a whole bunch of random boxes full of random stuff. Once we get everything put together and get rid of all of the junk (and for-the-love-of-all-things-holy iron our rug), I'll feel a lot better. But this room has the issue of window treatments, too. Maybe Mama Huff can help when she's in town next week.

The Nursery

This room is currently the "catch all" room. All of our "misc" stuff is in there- and there's a lot it. The good thing is that I'm only 4 months along so we have awhile to really pull it together. It's nice to have this room to just put things and sort through them slowly. Needless to say, this room won't be ready for a long time- even longer if Baby Franck continues to be modest/secretive about his/her gender. Oh- and there are window treatment issues in this room, too. Bottom line: don't expect photos until the baby's almost here.

So, that's where we are... it's a crummy place: I feel like we're never making progress on anything! But, we have loads and loads and loads of things for goodwill, so that's a start.

2010- I Made It

2010-01-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

Not only are we finally in California, but we're also finally in our permanent home. I've been moving since the beginning of November and my body, mind, and house can feel it. It's time to get sorted and organized. It's time for all 5 of us (me, Matt, Hula, Gerdy, and BABY!!) to settle.

I'm super-excited about the un-pack, because for 2 1/2 months I have not really been doing anything house-wifey... just playing the getting-by game. And, typical of me, I have a plan for this: we're going one room at a time. Tonight and tomorrow is dedicated to finishing the bathroom/hall closet.

Oh- and I actually made a menu for the week- go me!! It's not exciting (lots of easy favorites), but it feels good to be settled in this area for the week :)

Monday: Chicken/noodle casserole

Tuesday: Homemade (but not from scratch...) Tomato Soup

Wednesday: Dinner out to celebrate finding out the gender of our baby!!

Thursday: Beef Strudel with Green Beans

Friday: Black bean and chicken soup

Saturday: Shepherd's Pie

Sunday: Brinner

Hoping my daily organizing/unpacking goes well enough to get some good pics :)

Have I Disappeared???

2009-12-11T09:16:00.002-08:00

Nope!! As if the move wasn't enough of a distraction, I'm also pregnant!!! We finally conceived via IVF, so all our free time from September until now has been totally devoted to getting and staying pregnant. Throw-in a last minute move across the country and there was no time for any type of fun, house-wife things.

But, I might be able to redeem myself- Matt's co-workers at Stanford are having a "cookie festival" for the entire athletic department on Monday. Since Matt doesn't bake, I've stepped up to the plate and will be making:

Fudge
Peppermint Bark
Pine Bark
Knock-You-Naked Brownies (best caramel brownies ever)
Peppermint Brownies (easiest spin on brownies ever and super delicious, too)
Frosted Cinnamon Apple Bars
Chocolate Toffee Crunch Bars

Yes- I'm making 7 different desserts. Impressed?? You should be :) Today I have to make the shopping list to make sure I have enough eggs and butter and what-not. And yes- recipes to come, but only after I've tested them and know that they're good.

Forgive Me

2009-11-15T16:25:00.002-08:00

Life has been nuts the past 2 months. The lastest craziness? We're moving. It's just our second cross-country move in the past 18 months. We're busy packing, but once we're settled in our new home (early December) I'll be back to being the busy housewife that I was before :)

Envelopes

2009-09-21T19:05:00.002-07:00

So - many people know that I love mail and how I think envelopes hold little nuggets of joy. And in an effort to trim the budget, I am turning to the genius of envelopes. It's a simple method (and I guess it came from Dave Ramsey, but I have no idea about his financial advice...) and really helps keep a lid on things.

In a nutshell, the envelope system is simply putting aside cash (in an envelope) for budgeted expenditures. My grocery money?? It has it's own envelope and whatever is in the envelope has to stretch for the month. Clothing money?? Same thing... it arrives on the first of the month in an envelope and that's all I get. When it's gone- it's gone.

It's amazing to see how much you can save by forcing yourself to stick to a budget like this. We made an excel sheet and seeing the numbers made it all the more motivating. The systems starts in October- wish me luck!

Value

2009-09-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

When I was a junior in high school, my family spent spring break in NYC. One of my mom and I's outings was to Trish McEvoy's original office (in her hubby's derm office) to get our make-up done. I remember being wonderfully amazed. Unlike the typical woman behind the Clinque office, this woman doing my makeup was as artist. She actually knew what she was doing and as a client, I learned much from her.

Besides the make-up, my mom bought me a set of TM's make-up brushes. I remember thinking, "wow- that's kind of expensive for an eye shadow brush... I just use the little q-tip like thing in my old make-up". The woman explained to me that the brushes were an investment... they are wonderful, high-end tools that if maintained properly would last more than 10 years.

As I was cleaning the house the past few days, I came across my make-up brushes. Sure enough, they've lasted for over 10 years. Purchased at 17, they are still in wonderful condition. I clean them religiously and store them properly... who knows how long I'll have them!!

I just love products like this... wonderfully made and that stands the test of time. Sure, I have to give my brushes a bath every few months. But for me, that's a small cost.

Totally Gross

2009-09-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

And this is why it's vitally important to deep clean:

This is underneath my oven... three crayons, one pencil, two marbles, one Barie toy syringe, one hair band, some purple thing, 40 cents, and years of dust. Apparrently the family here before us had a girl and never took the time to deep clean :)

It feels good to know all of that stuff isn't lurking under my oven anymore.

Fall Cleaning

2009-09-11T07:05:00.003-07:00

So, Matt is away in Boston visiting some high school friends for the weekend. That means I'm cleaning the house. But it's not just cleaning: I'm super-dee-duper cleaning for fall!! And honestly, it's the perfect day for it... pouring rain, wind, and grey skies.

When I sat down to make a room-by-room list of everything I needed to do for this, I was overwhelmed, to say the least. But, I finally checked out Fly Lady and she has a pretty good list. I'm a fan of Fly Lady because she's real and is very encouraging in the home making department. I know she is a bit over the top sometimes (getting dressed to the shoes??) and her style is by no means practical for everyone, but overall she's a winner

Here is her list for doing a detailed cleaning of your home:
The List

Now, there are things I'm adding because I'm viewing this cleaning journey like spring cleaning in the fall. I'll be washing pillows, wiping walls, and cleaning behind the fridge, too.

Happy cleaning!

Zucchini Plan

2009-08-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, with 16 zucchini/summer squash on my kitchen counter, I made a plan. How about zucchini soup?? I could cook it up now, freeze it, and then pull it out of the freezer this fall/winter. I hit the computer and found this recipe:

Creamy Zucchini Soup

I tasted it and it's GREAT. I did not do the herb thing on top because:

a) I despise the taste of parsley;

b) I'm freezing the soup; and

c) I buy herbs very cautiously (except cilantro, which is the King of Herbs)... If I can't use up all of it, I try to find a way around it.

I do plan on serving this with bread... maybe a garlic-rubbed charred bread (ala Rachel Ray). This recipe took up 8 of the zucchinis. Only 8 to go! My freezer is already full of shredded zucchini from past co-op weeks... we'll be enjoying lots of zucchini bread throughout the fall :) But, I'm sure I'll end up shredding more. Luckily, Matt likes to eat zucchini raw so I keep slicing it and sending it to work with him.

Co-op This Week

2009-08-28T05:16:00.004-07:00

Matt picked up our share this week... and we got 12 zucchinis!!! We also received:

5 summer squash
2 egg plants
4 green peppers
raspberries
bag of peaches/nectarines
arugula
tomatoes (cherry and regular)
basil

I have NO idea what I'm going to do with that zucchini... any help??

What I Really Wanted to Buy at William Sonoma

2009-08-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?

It's only $899, but I'd receive $40.00 cash back plus a 1 year subscription to Food & Wine or Travel & Leisure magazine. I don't think it's going to happen...

Dish Towels

2009-08-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

Kitchen linens hold a special place in my heart. I can (and frequently do) visit home stores for hours just looking at the different options for table cloths, napkins, and towels. I invision when I would use each one, what I'd wear to match (seriously), and the meal that would go perfectly. Without doing much, linens can change the look and feel of your kitchen. And, high-end linens make me giddy... there is just something wonderful about these beautiful pieces. The colors, designs, textures, and shape somehow endure. I know- I sound crazy.

Anyway, the nice linens come at a price... the beautiful Le Jacquard Francais towles below run $20 a piece. Sure, $20 isn't bad. But, when you think about stocking your kitchen with 10 of them and then consider replacing them as stains require, it's a few hundred a year- on dish towels!! This doesn't include napkins, table clothes, or dish cloths (yes, there is a difference). So, I skip this little luxury because sadly, I live in reality.

One of my favorite "cheaper" towels are Willaim Sonoma dish towels. I've had mine about 5 years now and while some are looking rough, most have held up extraordinarily well. And, they're (only) $18/4.

While I was in Dallas a few weeks back, I popped into William Sonoma while waiting for a sweet friend at the mall. And, to my delight- they were on sale for $4.29/4!!! They had 2 colors of towels: green/pink, which I will save to use next summer, and a white/sage which is already at use in our kitchen. I am super delighted with my purchase :)

Peach Pie

2009-08-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

We've been getting peaches weekly in our co-op pick-up, so I finally decided to make a pie a few weeks ago! To date, I have made 2 of these pies and they've both been a big hit. The best part is: the recipe is so simple.

Peach Pie Recipe

No, I didn't make my own pie crust (gasp!) but I think I will for the next one. I've heard that they're much easier than they sound. Oh- and peeling peaches is very simple with a potato peeler. I read lots of articles that said to blanche them and then peel them. I found no need to do that.

Co-op

2009-08-12T10:44:00.005-07:00

I have loved being apart of our food co-op. We get a wide variety of fresh, organic, locally grown produce delivered to our town weekly. It keeps me focused on trying new ingredients and recipes, and our meals are more diverse.

That's not to say that it's easy doing a co-op. Menu planning has changed since I get the produce on Wednesday: instead of planning on Sunday (after I've had a chance to research this week's circulars/coupons), I'm trying to plan a bit on Sunday and a bit on Wednesday. It's not the most efficient use of my time, but it's working- I think. And, you need to be flexible with what you get. Lucky for me, Matt eats ANYTHING. So, I know that whatever we get will likely be eaten if I take the time to prepare it. We've also had to be a bit understanding of how many crops the farm is yielding. Like most of the East Coast, Long Island has had a crummy summer. That translated to lots of lettuce in June (more than 2 people can eat) and no tomatoes, yet. But overall, we're happy with it- it's been the right decision for us!

This week we got:

3 red onions

3 green peppers

2 zucchinis

1 bunch of parsley

1 bunch of carrots

2 lbs of purple potatoes

1 bag of mixed lettuce

1 eggplant

1 bag of UFO peaches

We usually get more fruit, but we have tons of these cute, little peaches to help us get through the week! Not quite sure how I'm going to use all of this throughout the week, but I'll let you know!!

The Dilema

2009-08-12T10:18:00.004-07:00

I find that I post infrequently and it bothers me. But, I think I know why: I'm very unimpressed with what I do around the home. And, I'm sure other people are equally unimpressed listening to me talk about how I followed a recipe. This was greatly reinforced when I watched "Julie and Julia" this weekend with some friends in Dallas. You will never see me bone a duck or cook a live lobster. It's just not in the cards for this girl.

But, I LOVE what I do around our home. The planning, prepping, and cooking; the sorting, organizing, and cleaning. And, I love keeping a record of it. So I'm going to continue :)

Tomorrow: this week's co-op pick-up!!

Summer Squash

2009-07-13T10:51:00.001-07:00

Matt and I are about 6 weeks into our farm co-op program and we are slowly getting the hang of everything... for the first few weeks we were overwhelmed with large amounts of random produce. We get our deliveries on Wednesdays, so I'll explain more then.

Last week, we received some summer squash, aka: zuchinni. It looks like a cucumber but when you hold it, you can tell it's not as dense. Having never even purchased a zuchinni before, I didn't have a clue what I was going to do with it. Luckily, our co-op has a recipe site:

Golden Earthworm Recipes

Here is the recipe I used last night for our summer squash and Matt LOVED it. While I was preparing it, I was bit neverous... oil spattered everywhere and I was convinced I had somehow messed up this seemingly easy recipe. But, apparently it worked! Matt said he has several dishes like this before and this one was done perfectly.

Zucchini with Garlic and Dried Crushed Red Pepper

Enjoy!

I'm Baaaack and CVS

2009-07-12T04:33:00.007-07:00

I have no idea what I was doing for 2 months, but I'm back!! I've been couponing and saving, but my house is embarassingly messy and I can't remember the last time I tried a new recipe (except for a braised fennel one that made me gag two nights ago). But, here goes to a summer of house-wife goodness!

I heart school supplies. In "You've Got Mail", Tom Hanks says to Meg Ryan (via email, no less), "Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address". A man after my own heart...

I digress. CVS is starting to have great deals on school supplies, and I was the first one through the doors this morning to get my fill! Here's how I did (reminder: ECBs is a CVS store credit):

Portfolio Folders: Usually $0.59 each, on sale for $0.05
No Coupon --> Total Price: 10 for $0.50

Bic Pens: Uusually $1.99, on sale for $0.99
No Coupon --> Total Price: 3 for $2.97
Earned $2.97 in ECBs --> Free!

Rulers: Usually $1.19, on sale for $0.99
No Coupon --> Total Price: 2 for $1.98
Earned $1.98 in ECBs --> Free!

Scissors: $2.99 each
No Coupon --> Total Price: 2 for $5.98
Earned $5.98 in ECBs --> Free!

Notebooks: Usually $2.29, on sale for $0.99
No Coupon --> Total Price: 2 for $1.98
Earned $1.98 in ECBs --> Free!

Glue: $0.99 each
No Coupon --> Total Price: 2 for $1.98
Earned $1.98 in ECBs --> Free!

8-Hour Tylenol: Usually $5.99, on sale for $3.99
Used $2 Coupon --> New Price: $1.99
Earned $3 ECBs --> -$1.01 (aka: Money Maker)

Gillete Fusion Razor: Usually $9.99, on sale for $7.99
Used $4 Coupon --> New Price: $3.99 Earned $4 ECBs --> Free!

Total for items without sale prices/coupons= $44.06
Total for items using sale prices and coupons= $22.66 (incl tax)
Used $9.93 in ECBs from last week
Final Price= $12.73
Total ECBs Earned= $21.89 ($9 more than I spent!)

So, what am I going to do with this stuff?? We will definitely use some of it and the rest is marked for donation!

Super Yummy Brownies

2009-05-10T11:22:00.002-07:00

We hosted our Bible study last night and I finally got a chance to make these cheesecake brownies. I printed the recipe about a year ago but somehow, I never made it. These are really good and really easy. I like them best straight out of the fridge.

Cheesecake Topped Brownies

Stamp Out Hunger

2009-05-08T09:16:00.002-07:00

Since I've been collecting canned goods on super-sale for the past few months, I have lots to give away to those in need! The US Postal Service (whom I love... getting mail is one of the highlights of my life- seriously) will be collecting non-perishables on their mail-routes tomorrow and delivering the goods to local food banks. You can bet that I plan on cleaning out our basement pantry!! The great thing is that you just have to pack up the goods- your mail carrier takes care of everything else- easy peasy. Learn more: http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/.

Baking Day

2009-04-25T06:36:00.003-07:00

Today is baking day!! Tomorrow we are going to Disney World, and I thought we'd bring along some homemade treats for snacks and breakfasts. It's more economical and healthier... and I get a good excuse to spend a day in the kitchen :) Here's what we're making today:

Sour Cream Banana Bread (2 loaves)

Apple Bread (2 loaves)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Snickerdoodles

Right now the banana bread is in the oven and I'm going and I'm going to do some laundry.

My (imaginary) Cutting Garden

2009-04-08T08:37:00.003-07:00

When I grow up, I want a great cutting garden surrounding my home. I love the idea of planting and tending, so that when the time is right, I can go outside with a wide-brimmed hat and clippers, and cut beautiful bouquets right from my yard at a moment's notice. Until then, the local Stop-n-Shop flower department will suffice... I picked up these flowers for our bathroom this week. They didn't translate well on my camera phone (my camera needs to be fixed... again...) but I'm really happy with my selection. I have no idea what they're called, but I think of them as my "Dr. Seuss" flowers.

Hopefully, Matt and I can start some container gardens this month... I don't have much experience gardening- anyone have any ideas or advice?

Favorite New Top

2009-04-05T16:11:00.006-07:00

Let's face it: I love to be comfortable. Seriously. Love. The Comfort.

And, I also love to look pulled together and cute, which can be difficult for a stay-at-home-wife because most of my day is spent, well, in the home. I can (and have) gone the entire day in my sweats, only to change just minutes before Matt gets home.

So, when I find a piece that is (a) soft and comfy; (b) cute and stylish, I nearly keel over in excitement. I purchased this Ella Moss top while in Seattle a few weeks ago. It looks great on and it's soft as can be. I know I will wear this all spring and summer, and therefore didn't mind the absurd price tag :)

I have no idea who this girl is...

Laundry Shute

2009-04-03T18:17:00.004-07:00

These are the stairs to the basement (which is 90% finished; there is no ceiling...). Our washer/dryer live down there; and consequently, our stairs have turned into a make-shift laundry shute:

Look closely and you'll see that I've thrown clothing, towels, boxes, buckets, and wrapping paper. It is creeping half-up the stairs. Not so organized or pretty... need to work on this.

Banana Bread with Sour Cream

2009-03-16T06:30:00.004-07:00

I used to use an amazing recipe for Banana Bread... it called for coconut and raisins, and it was so moist; I would literally eat an entire loaf in one sitting. However, Matt didn't like the recipe so I've spent the better part of the last three years finding one that he loves. Apparently, this recipe is the one:

Banana Bread with Sour Cream

Matt told me several times that this recipe was a keeper... I thought the recipe was very good- the sour cream adds a bit of tartness, but I still miss my raisin/coconut recipe!

CVS

2009-03-13T17:39:00.005-07:00

I am always amazed when I walk out of CVS... I feel like I've committed highway robbery. Here's what I got today (yes, the photo was taken in the car...):

It's only three items, but it should have cost me $13.24, but I only paid $1.59- yes folks, that's 88% off! Here's the breakdown:

Secret Deodorant: Usually $5.49- on sale for $3.99

Used $2 Coupon --> New price: $1.99

Earned $1 Extra Buck for next week.

Crest Toothpaste: Usually $3.89- on sale for $2.99

Used $1 Coupon --> New price: $1.99

Earned $2 Extra Bucks for next week.

Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion: $3.69

Used $1.25 Coupon --> New price: $2.44

Earned $2 Extra Bucks for next week.

Total for items without sale prices/coupons= $13.24

Total for items using sale prices and coupons= $6.59 (incl tax)

Used $5 in Extra Bucks from last week.

Final Total = $1. 59

Earned EB's = $5

And yes, these are all things we needed!

Dinner Party Review

2009-03-04T15:06:00.004-08:00

Matt and I hosted our first dinner party in our new home last night! Some friends from church have included us in their tradition of rotating dinner each week. One couple hosts/cooks the main course, one brings a salad, one brings a dessert, and one couple is "off" and doesn't bring anything. We feel so, so blessed to have met these friends; we just laugh for hours when we're with them :)

Anyway, here is what I made:

Barefoot Contessa Turkey Meatloaf: Yes, I'm still on my BC kick... I was really excited about this dish! The online reviews for her recipe are all great and it was a good size for our group. I hadn't had meatloaf since my mom made it when I was about 5, but it was really good and very moist! Even though it takes 5 lbs of turkey, it feeds 8 well. I might up the ketchup on top to 1 cup next time. Oh, and you need a really, really large bowl to mix everything in before shaping it into a loaf :)

Glazed Carrots: I made these once before but couldn't remember them. Turns out that they aren't that memorable! They were a decent side dish, but I'm looking for new recipes...

Green Beans with Shallots: I decided to try this Food Network recipe and it was pretty good. I still like my almond, lemon, and butter green beans better, but I will make these again.

I also learned something about tea kettles... if you fill them above the "max fill" line, they over flow... who knew!?

2009-03-02T05:44:00.003-08:00

No, I haven't disappeared or fallen into a deep hole :) It's just that my domestic life hasn't been too interesting lately... we've been busy with travels and work, so I feel like I'm keeping up just enough to get by. But, I wanted to share something that is now sitting on my desk.

Spring Cleaning
Are you ready for it? I'm not, but I love the list. It makes me want her book!!

Also, I'm having 2 other couples for dinner tomorrow night! Matt and I have been included in a dinner party group that meets at a different home every Tuesday. There are usually 4 couples, but one can't make it this week. It's finally our turn to host and I'm really excited. We have a snow-day today so I'll be spending most of it sorting, organizing, and cleaning so that the house looks nice. Matt was super excited that it snowed because it meant that he could get away with NOT raking up the leaves (yes, Matt never raked before the snow fell... so, we have to deal with leaves in the spring). I'm trying a few new recipes for the dinner, and I'll be sure to post how they turn out.

More to come later!

Awesome Day at Stop-and-Shop

2009-02-09T09:14:00.003-08:00

Thanks to The Wandering Peanut, I scored some great deals today at Stop-n-Shop!! I'm actually still basking in the glow of saving so much money :)

We didn't need much this week, since we're heading back to Seattle for 5 days. But, it happened to be a great time to stock up on some staples. What should have cost me $99, cost me $57 (it will be $53 once I get my Windex rebate). That's almost half-off!! And, it's either all natural and organic products, or great deals on canned food to donate.

My purchases for our home included:
2 bottles of salad dressing for $1
All natural frozen corn: FREE
12 organic chicken breasts for $10 (plus a $3 coupon off my next purchase)
5 big cans of organic tomatoes for $9
Bags of frozen organic potatoes, raspberries, blueberries, edamame, and corn for $10.
10 organic chicken drumsticks for $3

Enchiladas

2009-02-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

Matt and I have a new favorite enchilada recipe, but I'm nervous to share it. It's delicious and simple, but it's about as Mexican as Taco Bell. But still, who am I withhold this yumminess?

http://www.bigoven.com/167211-Creamy-Chicken-Enchiladas-recipe.html

Depending on where you live, your experience of finding green enchilada sauce will remind you of Indiana Jones finding the Holy Grail. Long Island happens to be one of these places. It took me weeks to find a can. It was hiding in an all-organic store. 15oz cost me $4.49. (You will need about 25oz). Yes, you can make your own. If you have or know of a good recipe, let me know... I'm trying this one next week:
http://www.recipezaar.com/El-Charro-Cafe-Green-Enchilada-Sauce-55478

Coconut Cookies

2009-02-06T09:33:00.003-08:00

I had a hankering for coconut the other night... lucky for me, I found some in the pantry and made these. They were SO good!! The recipe says it makes 3 dozen, but unless you make miniature cookies, I don't see that happening... I got about 15 cookies out of this.

Chewy Coconut Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually blend in the flour mixture, then mix in the coconut.
3. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto an un greased cookie sheet. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly toasted. Cool on wire racks.

What-Did-I-Make Wednesday

2009-02-04T07:49:00.004-08:00

When I first starting cooking (really cooking meals for Matt and I), I always searched for the easiest recipe. And, I was thrilled if it actually was an all-inclusive meal... I could not handle more than one thing at a time! Yes, there were many nights of burned dishes and choice words... But, I'd always throw together a mixed green salad for the illusion of working hard in the kitchen:)

One of my favorite newbie resources was used Real Simple's "Fake It- Don't Make It" recipes. While I've moved-on from these, one recipe has stuck around our home. It's the Shepherd's Pie. It's a warm, hearty meal and perfect for a day like today when we have a foot of snow on the ground. And, since we have tons of potatoes just hanging around, I've decided to make it tonight.

Easy Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1/3 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
8 ounces frozen mixed vegetables (such as carrots, peas, and corn), thawed
1/4 cup (1 ounce) shredded Cheddar (optional, but we always add cheese...)
1 16-ounce package refrigerated or frozen and thawed mashed potatoes (I never used these, but chose to make my own)

Method:
1. Heat oven to 400° F.
2. Place the beef in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until no trace of pink remains, about 5 minutes.
3. Spoon off and discard any fat. Stir in the ketchup and Worcestershire. Add the vegetables and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
4. Spoon the beef mixture into a baking dish. Mix the cheese (if using) with the potatoes in a medium bowl.
4. Spread the potatoes over the beef and bake until heated through, 10 minutes.
5. Divide among individual plates.

This Week at CVS

2009-02-02T08:37:00.005-08:00

I mentioned before that I'm starting to really love shopping at CVS. Why? Because they have the greatest Customer Loyalty program and I'm racking up free items :) When you purchase certain items with your member's card, you get an ECB (Earned Cash Back... it's literally like a gift certificate for a future CVS purchase). Here's what I purchased today:

Gillette Shampoo
Cost: $5.99 (used a $2 coupon) --> $3.99
Earned ECB: $3.00

Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse
Cost: $6.99 (used a $2 coupon) --> $4.99
Earned ECB: $4.00
I purchased two of these (and used two coupons) so that I could actually get money back with a $10 mail-in-rebate. Thanks, BeCentsAble!

** I also had $3 worth of ECBs (gift certificate to CVS) that I used during my purchase.

Total without coupons: $19.97
Total with coupons: $10.97
Earned ECB's: $11
MIR Check:$10

If you consider ECB's like cash (I do because I use them on things we actually need...), we paid nothing for these 3 items and actually made $10! So, in a small, small way- it's like I was paid to shop :)

Booo!

2009-02-01T19:00:00.003-08:00

I read somewhere that an easy way to save money was to cut dryer sheets in half. Sure, you're only saving cents/load, but essentially, you'd be getting your dryer sheets for half-off... not bad.

I tried it tonight.

It didn't work.

All of our clothes are full of static and they aren't as soft.

So, save yourself the time and energy- splurge on a full dryer sheet :)

Cleaning Out

2009-01-28T14:00:00.003-08:00

Purging clutter and junk can be so good for the soul!! If you need any additional reasons, check out Martha's 100-Reasons-To-Get-Rid-Of-It. I can't wait to clean out some more...

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/100-reasons-to-get-rid-of-it?xsc=eml_org_2009_01_28

I have a confession...

2009-01-28T08:41:00.006-08:00

... I love getting a bargain. Anytime I can save money on something, I'm thrilled.

But, I also have my staples on which I splurge: I'll literally show up to Marshall's wearing an outfit that could pay the rent just to save an extra 50% on an already reduced post-seasonal item.

My recent conquest to save money has been on groceries... learning how to effectively/efficiently comparison shop and use coupons- it's been a little stressful at times, but totally worth it!! It's getting a little trickier now that we're moving towards organics. But, I'm still doing well (and very thankful for store brand organics)... I spent $60 on our groceries today (it should last through the end of next week) when it should have cost around $80.

My favorite way to save money is at CVS. I have been learning their customer loyalty program (aka: free card) for the past few months, thanks to some blogs that I now read daily (thank you, www.becentsable.net and www.moneysavingmom.com). Two weeks ago I got $9 worth of items for $0.09- seriously. And this week, I got a big bottle of Head and Shoulders for $0.79 (it's about $6.75 regularly).

YES- I have boundaries for saving money:

1. It has to fit in the budget;

2. We have to have a place to put it; and

3. It has to be something that we can actually use (or donate to a local non-profit).

Great Play-Doh Recipe

2009-01-22T14:06:00.003-08:00

I know that play-doh isn't a standard kitchen creation. But, working with kids, you come across a lot of make-your-own-play-doh recipes; and, most of them are poor substitutes for the real thing. However, I made one today that is actually really great- it's smooth and soft and really moist. And, the ingredient list is simple and sweet :)

Ingredients:
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup corn starch
3/4 cup water

Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and corn starch in a pot.
2. Use hands to make sure all the lumps are broken up.
3. Add water.
4. Heat the pan on the stove over medium heat and stir constantly.
5. As soon as the mixture gathers together (a little over 5 minutes), remove from the heat. When it cools (about 45 minutes), knead it into a smooth play dough.

Note: If you don't stir continually, it will stick and burn (and stink). Also, don't over cook this play dough or it will crumble when used.

Black Bean Soup

2009-01-14T19:02:00.002-08:00

I got this recipe from my mom, Ellen. Most people love it:

Ingredients:

3T olive oil

1/2c. yellow onion, chopped

2 small garlic cloves, minced

1t ground cumin

3/4c. celery, chopped

3/4c. carrot, chopped

3c. chicken broth

3 - 15.5oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained

juice from 1 lime

1T tomato paste

Salt

Method:

1. In a large pot, heat the oil. Add onion and garlic, and cook until tender

2. Stir in cumin and cook 1 minute.

3. Add celery, carrot, stock, and beans. Heat to boiling.

4. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes.

5. Stir in the lime juice and tomato paste.

6. Puree soup in the blender (note: when mixing hot soup in blender, only fill the blender about 1/3 full, as hot liquid expands).

This soup is great for freezing. I serve with sour cream and a warm, crusty bread. Enjoy!

What-Did-I-Make Wednesday

2009-01-14T09:39:00.003-08:00

Side Note: Well, in the past week my "domesticity" has pretty much revolved around unpacking boxes, sorting, organizing, and putting-away. The bad part is that we're going on 2 1/2 months of this, but the good part is that it's almost done (seriously...)

Whenever I go out of town, I like to leave something for Matt. I used to write him a letter for everyday I was gone (awwww....), until I found that he never opened them, much less read them. So, now I leave food- a much more reasonable gesture. I have completely monopolized the kitchen, so Matt has no idea where anything is (you should see him try to unload the dishwasher). I'm sure he would survive without the meals; and I'm sure he would just head to the closest grocery store and buy 10 Budget Gourmets for $10. Economical, yes. Healthy, not so much.

This weekend, I'm heading to Dallas to see Kim, my amazing college roommate. (I haven't seen her since August and I'm going crazy.) We're going to shop, see friends, celebrate her promotion, etc. Matt, on the other hand, is staying home with Hula, so I'm starting his "leave behind" meals today.

This is what he's slated to get:
Sun dried tomato pasta (in fridge for Friday night and Saturday lunch)
Black Bean Soup (freezer meal)
Tomato Soup (freezer meal)
I am freezing a loaf of french bread (sliced in half) for his soups. The boy will freak without something to dip in his soup.
Hummus with freshly sliced carrots and Naan
Homemade chocolate chip cookies
Homemade strawberry lemon muffins

I will also do a shopping trip right before he goes and get things like bananas, chips/salsa, and Pirate's Booty. Does this sound like a lot of food?? Not for Matt. Matt consumes like a beast.

Long story short: tonight I am making the black bean soup and will post the recipe later.

What-Did-I-Make Wednesday??

2009-01-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year- the Stony Brook student athletes are being reviewed for the academic eligibility. This means long, stressful meetings for Matt and the academic advisors. I decided I would cheer them up with some yummy treats! I delivered these goodies today:

Sun Dried Tomato Dip: I admit it; I am addicted to the Barefoot Contessa (thanks, Lil!). I use light/reduced fat ingredients for this dip and by "good mayo", I use Helman's Light and it still turns out great :) I serve with carrots, celery, tortilla chips, and pretzels.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/sun-dried-tomato-dip-recipe/index.html

Apple Muffins: I got to use the apples I froze back in the fall!! I felt so domestic pulling the labeled and dated zip-loc from the freezer and taking the appropriate amount. These muffins are really good. I make them in large muffin pans so it looks like they're from a bakery.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Strudel-Muffins/Detail.aspx

Our CSA

2009-01-06T17:02:00.005-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, we joined a CSA for the upcoming spring, summer, and fall. What is a CSA?? Good question! A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is like having a farm membership. Members (like me) pay a fee and "buy into" the farm. Every week, we receive a variety of fresh, organic produce. Some CSA's require members to work on the farm in addition to paying a membership fee. I made sure to find one that did not require labor :) You can learn more about CSA's at www.localharvest.org/csa/

We decided to join The Golden Earthworm (www.goldenearthworm.com). Besides having an awesome name, it delivers the food about a mile from our home. I'll go on Wednesday afternoons and pick up our fresh produce (if I miss the pick-up, they simply donate the food to a food bank). We decided to join a CSA because:

1. it's organic, making it healthier for us and for the community. Pesticides ruin soil and compromise the water quality.

2. it's local, meaning healthier for us and healthier for the community. Supporting local farms is a wonderful way to be involved in the community and support our neighbors. Not that our neighbors are farmers...

3. it'll help me think "out of the box" for cooking...

While I'm super excited about this, I'm really nervous, too. There's no guarantee about which produce you'll receive. It's all based on what was harvested that week. So, I could easily end up with 6 types of produce that I a) don't like, and b) have no clue what to do with. I guess I'll be getting creative in the kitchen during the harvest :) People who are super-CSA-ers will freeze much of their produce to help them get through the winter months. We will not be those people :)

To find a CSA near you, visit www.localharvest.org and type in your zip code! Some CSAs will actually deliver to you door every week- you can't beat that!

Home Making Goals 2009

2009-01-02T08:47:00.003-08:00

Do you know what favorite part of New Year's Resolutions? That there's no day when everyone sits down and evaluates their progress (or lack-there-of).

I didn't post these sooner because I'm still working with them... I almost ditched this exercise all-together. Making a list of goals is tough for me. I LOVE planning, sorting, and organizing. But- I also love letting ideas and routines develop organically based on current needs, future desires, and the people around me. Life isn't consistent, so why would my goals remain consistent for an entire year?? Consequently, this list below is a bit uneven: some resolutions are very specific, while others are just grand ideas. In no particular order:

1. Move towards an organic, locally grown. seasonal diet/menu/shopping experience. I already joined a CSA... more on that to come!
2. Purchase more "whole" foods, less pre-packaged foods.
3. Learn how to (and actually practice) canning/freezing techniques.
4. Move towards home-made, chemical free cleaning solvents.
5. Re-think our use of the dry-cleaners. I may look into wet cleaning, instead.
6. Create (and stick to) a functional cleaning schedule.
7. Learn to knit... I hope I can find someone to teach me!
8. Practice cake decorating.
9. Enjoy at least 1 craft project/week.
10. Reduce our grocery bill monthly.
11. Get rid of any toxic products in the house. Replace with healthier options.
12. Purchase "fair-trade" whenever possible.
13. Take a quilting class.
14. Make the bed at least 5 times/week. I am really, really bad about this.

Do you have any good ones??

Happy New Year!!

New Year's Eve Menu Review

2009-01-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

How did I do?? Not too badly! I spent the day leisurely making the meal (in my new apron- thanks, Roomie!!). I baked the cake in the morning and then did the Parmesan croutons around noon. I frosted the cake around 1:30pm and then took a break to clean up the kitchen/house and do my hair :) Then, I blanched the green beans so they'd cook faster and vacuumed the house with our brand-new, special pet-hair vacuum. By this time, Matt came home with a twisted ankle from his run- poor guy! Here is a review of our meal:

Starter:
Parker's Split Pea Soup: This soup was very, very yummy. The recipe says to skim the foam from the top of the soup, but not much acquired through the cooking. It also reminds you to stir frequently so that the veggies won't stick to the bottom- I found this very true in the last 20 minutes of cooking. I pulled the soup off the burner about 5 minutes early, as it was really thickening up. I'll add more chicken stock when I reheat it today.

Parmesan Croutons: There was way too much salt called for in this recipe and not enough Parmesan cheese! I added more cheese as I went but didn't realize how much salt was on them until it was too late. Next time, I will edit the ingredients :) Matt didn't think there was too much salt on the croutons, but I thought it was worse that a potato chip. My throat actually hurt from the salt... Regardless, they are pretty yummy- we each had about 4 in our soup!

Main Course:
Pan Seared Fillet Mignon with a Cabernet Sauce: This was pretty good and pretty easy to make. HOWEVER, the recipe says to put the cab in a hot pan. I did and it was a big, BIG mistake. The wine popped and spatted all over the kitchen. The floor, my clothes, the counter, the stove top, the cabinets, the ceiling, etc were all covered with wine. Next time, I will let the pan cool a bit before adding the wine... think "warm" pan- NOT "hot" pan.

Mustard-Roasted Potatoes: Matt thought these were good, but I thought they were really good. The mustard flavor was pretty subtle so I might add another tablespoon next time. And, the prep was so easy and so was the cooking, which is always nice! After popping these bad boys in the over (I used a mini turkey roasting pan), all I did was stir every 20 minutes. They cooked the perfect amount and I can't wait to finish them today!

String Beans with Shallots: These were just beans to me... I couldn't really taste anything else. I really like green beans, so I'm ok with that. I guess I just expected more. Both Matt and I prefer this green bean recipe (and no, I do not use all of the butter that it calls for because, well, beans are supposed to be healthy): http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1609295

Dessert:
Coconut Cake: It was amazing!! Seriously- go make this cake!!!! It does make a lot of icing, so there's plenty to cover every last bit of cake. Make sure you put enough frosting between the layers and keep frosting until you're out! I did have one goof making it... I didn't realize that I had an 8" and a 9" cake pan until after the cakes were baked. Oops. But, it's nothing that some creative cutting with a serrated knife can't fix. It's a BIG cake, so I could only eat half of my small slice. I think I'll try the cupcakes, too :)

Overall, I was really happy with our dinner (and thankful that Matt cleaned the wine off of the ceiling while I kept our meal on track)! I did notice that I don't have a cake leveler, so I may have to pick one up with my 50% off coupon from Michael's tomorrow :)

Happy New Year!!

New Year's Eve

2008-12-30T17:35:00.002-08:00

We've never been much for New Year's Eve... it's rarely exciting and it's a hassle to get around safely. Last year, we just stayed home in our comfies and enjoyed a nice dinner and each other's company. This year, we're doing the same, except it's a little fancier! We're going to dress up and I'm in the process of prepping our meal... can you tell I was inspired by the Barefoot Contessa??

Starter:
Parker's Split Pea Soup: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parkers-split-pea-soup-recipe/index.html
Parmesan Croutons: http://www.recipezaar.com/The-Barefoot-Contessas-Parmesan-Croutons-299026

Main Course:
Pan Seared Fillet Mignon with a Cabernet Sauce: http://megs-tastytreats.blogspot.com/2008/05/pan-seared-filet-mignon-with-cabernet.html
Mustard-Roasted Potatoes: http://myfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2007/02/mustard-roasted-potatoes.html
String Beans with Shallots: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/string-beans-with-shallots-recipe/index.html

Dessert:
Coconut Cake: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coconut-cake-recipe/index.html

I'm most nervous about the cake and getting the coconut to stick... it's really the only course I can make in the morning, so I guess that's a good thing. I can always fall back on Betty Crocker, if it fails :)

Nesting Bowls

2008-12-16T14:28:00.003-08:00

Now that I've spent 2 days in the kitchen, I have realized two things:

1. I need a double oven if I plan on baking this much again; and,
2. I love nesting bowls.

What is it about these that makes me love them so?? They are incredibly practical, easy to store, fun to use, and, if you purchase a good set, they're cute too. I have my green William Sonoma ones; a set of glass bowls that go so small, and a ceramic set from Crate and Barrel.

Expired Coupons??

2008-12-13T13:23:00.004-08:00

One of my recent hobbies is coupon-ing (I can hear my brother laughing at me right now...). Slowly, but surely, I'm learning how to get good deals on the food we eat and the products we use (for example, $0.11 for a box of couscous, which Matt loves). Many of our local stores offer double and triple coupons, which adds up every week. I cut out every coupon I get, because I never know what's going to be on sale or what I'm going to need!

However, being just the two of us (and Hula), we don't exactly consume a lot of goods. What do we do with our left over coupons and coupons that we just don't need? I have four options that I'm learning to alternate between:

1. Stock-up on basics: Even if I don't need chicken broth, I'll use my soon-to-be-expired coupon and buy stock on sale. If I know that I'm actually going to use it soon, I'll stock up :)

2. Stock-up on items to donate: We like to give back to the community and participate in drives for those in need. When there is an amazing deal on products like soaps, toothpaste, canned food, diapers, etc, I purchase with my coupons and save the item(s) to donate. This way, we always have stock on hand and we can contribute to worthy causes while watching the budget :)

3. Send to friends: I have several friends with babies, and since we don't have kids yet, I send them my baby/kid related coupons. Even if they don't use them, I know that they have the potential to use them. I also send links to good online coupons to friends who I know will want to use them.

4. Send to military families overseas: The commissary stores on army bases accepts expired coupons up to 6 months past their expiration dates!! For families earning very little, coupons can make a big difference. Since I'm clipping anyway, it's an easy way for us to support our troops. If you would like to donate your coupons, go to http://www.ocpnet.org and follow their instructions for mailing coupons. This site sends coupons to a base of your choosing, and the coupons are put in a box at the front of the commissary for the shoppers. Military commissaries accept coupons 6 months past their expiration date as well as internet printed coupons. You can also send your coupons directly to military family/friends overseas!

If you have any creative ideas for old/irrelevant coupons, please let me know! Happy clipping :)

Anniversary Dinner

2008-12-04T06:22:00.004-08:00

Last night, Matt and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. I was SO excited to have a real kitchen, that I cooked us a three course dinner. Matt said that he'd love an Italian or French dinner. Since I didn't have the internet to help me, I went for Italian. I forgot how much I really enjoy cooking :) The key for me is lots of planning and lots of prep work. Here's what I made:

Martha Stewart's Tuscan Tomato Soup: I pureed the soup, thinned with light cream, and put a dollop of pesto on top. It's also good with a bit of sour cream mixed in.
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/05/tuscan-tomato-soup-and-homemade-french-bread-recipe.html

Chicken, Garlic, and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta: I tried to make the cream sauce as healthy as possible, but the butter makes it a bit tricky :) I will probably double the amount of sun dried tomatoes next time. We loved this! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chicken-Garlic-and-Sundried-Tomato-Pasta/Detail.aspx

Tiramisu: I just used the BHG recipe; it was really tasty, but it didn't "present" very well. It looks nice when served on a plate, but I wouldn't want anyone to see it in the pan :) Also, you need about 8 more lady fingers than the recipe calls for. I made it with the liquor options, as I think it tastes better. We have a lot left over so I'm going to drop it by Matt's work today.

I was also SO excited to have a real dining table, that I took pictures of how I set it. Nothing special to it, but such a joy to have a dedicated eating space :) I wanted to use our wedding china, but we have about a dozen "formal dining" boxes full of fragile pieces individually wrapped with bubble wrap, taped, and wrapped in paper. I just didn't have the time! I did manage to use wine glasses we received for our wedding (thanks, Katie!) and some candle holders that I received at my bridal shower.

My Pillow

2008-11-18T05:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my first sewing class, and I successfully completed my pillow!! Aren't you so proud of me!?!? I have enough yardage to make a second pillow, so I'm going to undertake that in a day or so. But, of course, I have to purchase all of the cutting supplies, which means another trip to JoAnn's :)

Like a child holding up a finger painting...

The pillow in all of it's glory!

Now that I have the pillow (and soon-to-be two pillows) I have no idea what to do with them... I wish we had our sofa!! I'm planning on taking a basic quilting class in January, so until then:

1. I'm going to practice threading/re-threading my machine on a (somewhat) regular basis.

2. I'm going to practice threading the bobbin on a (somewhat) regular basis.

3. I'm going to practice sewing a straight line on a (somewhat) regular basis.

If you know of any basic, beginner projects that would be good for me, please let me know!! If I can't find anything else, I'll be making 14"x14" pillows for months-on-end and everyone will be getting one for Christmas :)

The Barefoot Contessa

2008-11-17T07:46:00.002-08:00

SIDE NOTE: Although only one person commented on the calendar post, it's been amazing to hear from others (by email and phone) about similar experiences. It seems like everyone has the same grievance. SO, if anyone is talented in the business world and wants a project... I think there is a market for the perfect calendar :)

When my parents decided to re-do their home, I was so lucky in receiving their discarded items. Among these treasures were a wealth of cookbooks, including a set of The Barefoot Contessa Cookbooks. My adorable sorority little sis, Lauren, is quite enamored with The Barefoot Contessa, so I have been pouring through the books eying recipe after recipe that I want to try. But, then it just goes on the shelf with all of the other cookbooks. When it comes around to picking my weekly recipes, I'm overwhelmed at the thought of looking through all of my cookbooks and picking out recipes we will enjoy.

SO, today I selected the 4 Barefoot Contessa cookbooks and flagged and labeled the recipes that interest me. To me, the great part is the labeling (the 1" wide post-it flags worked perfectly for this and our local dollar store has the generic brand for only $1). Simply by pulling the book off of the shelf, I'll be able to see in just a glance the selection of recipes in there. I've flagged recipes often, but these new, labeled flags will actually provide the info I need to make decisions. (Any yes, I know my pic is bad).

Note: I did not flag any of her desserts... they are all amazing and there would be no point in flagging every page!

Her cookbooks are truly beautiful, and she has great sections full of good information, such as how to make a schedule, or what to do with finicky eaters. The photos are incredible, but I do wish she had more. It's very, very difficult for me to select a recipe if I don't know what the final product is going to be. I must be a visual learner :)

In the future (when I'm whipping up yummy, pink applesauce and making beautiful hand-made cards), I want to have a spreadsheet database of recipes. I'm sure there must be some program out there that does this, but for now I'm happy with my Post-Its!

My Husband Consumes Everything

2008-11-15T19:41:00.004-08:00

Matt came home late from work the other night, so I heated up some soup for him. Yes, the bowl is about as big as his head and he ate everything. I loved it!

My Calendar Dilema

2008-11-14T05:25:00.000-08:00

From monthly, to weekly, to daily... from mini, to desk, to wall, to virtual... I feel like I have tried nearly every calendar out there. My most recent attempt was Google calendar, but it just didn't feel right.

I like the idea of a virtual calendar, but I think I'm just one of those people that need to actually hold my the papers in my hands. But, it's not exactly convenient to carry around a big calendar. I refuse to even try in the wallet size systems again... there is no space! I have determined that I don't like the day-view calendars; I need more perspective. So, it comes down to a week view (which gives me more perspective but still not as much as I'd like) or a monthly view (which doesn't have enough room for writing and details).

Oh, the drama of it all!!!

I'm currently using a week-view calendar and I am missing the monthly view. I might have to learn how coordinate both :) I'd love to have an integrated space where I can plan errands, chores, shopping lists, etc. But, all of the calendars I've seen that incorporate that type of things hardly provide the necessary space to do that.

I obviously want to have my cake and eat it, too... Regardless of my calendar pipe-dreams, I will continue to search for that most perfect of calendar systems. If you happen to know of anything I'd like, feel free to let me know!!

Being a Good Steward of My Time

2008-11-13T09:58:00.003-08:00

Side Note: I haven't fallen off the domestic wagon... I have just misplaced the converter for my memory card, so I can't upload photos of my various projects (I have been busy organizing and decorating for Christmas). I think I'll have to break down and buy a new converter...

Now that I'm taking time off and focusing on being a house wife (which I am LOVING), I am trying to be more conscious of how I spend this so-called "free time". I'll be the first to admit that I love the extra rest I get each morning, but I'd like to think that most of time at home isn't so self-indulgent :) I'm getting involved with various non-profits and trying to develop skills like crafting and sewing (much harder than they sound), and I like to think I'm getting better about keeping a clean and organized home. I like Matt coming home to a welcoming, comfortable space :) I am also learning about comparison shopping and getting good deals, which is helping the budget!

It is a challenge, though! I'm an infamous procrastinator (just ask my college roomie, Kim) and sometimes I hurriedly put the house together just before Matt gets home. If anyone has any encouraging stories or useful strategies, I'd love to know!

My Love/Hate Relationship With Martha

2008-11-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

I hate Martha Stewart, and I love her.

Whenever I make a recipe from her book, it requires either:

a) some weird ingredient that I cannot find in the surrounding 50 miles;

b) some weird technique that require me watching online videos for 20 minutes just to sort-of understand it; and/or

c) a new, funky piece of equipment that I will never, ever use again.

But, does any of this stop me?? Not really- I still want to do it all. I start looking around her site and 2 hours later I'm trying to figure out how to dry corn-husks ,or I'm convinced that I too can make a leaf-lattice pie crust. Regardless, she is getting more accessible... and I'm getting more realistic. I've set up my online profile at her site and have more projects/recipes than I know what to do with. But, here's just a taste of what's my Martha List:

Recipes:

Tex-Mex Chicken Stew

Chicken with Ginger

Gingerbread Snowflakes

Crafts:

Sewing on Paper

Monogrammed Boxes

I also get her daily emails about cookies, organizing, crafts, etc (thanks, Lara!) and even though I won't do even 10% of them, it's a great inspiration to do something creative. Even her emails look cute...

Making Cards

2008-11-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

First off, thanks for all of the apple sauce recipes!! I now want to un-freeze all of apples and try again- this time on the stove top. I tasted my apple sauce again yesterday- way too much cinnamon. So, that'll be another adjustment!

I received such a beautiful, hand-made thank you card from my sweet friend, Juliet last week! The picture below does not do it justice, but she did so well mixing colors, themes, and textures. It isn't surprising, of course- Juliet is a genius with projects like this! So after a nice trip to Michael's, I decided to give card making a try...

Juliet's card: my inspiration!

I'd like to say that the picture doesn't do wonderful things for this first-ditch effort... the colors do look better in person. But, it's obvious I have a lot to learn.

This one turned out better... again, the colors didn't translate well in the picture. I like the ribbon aspect, so I may need to get some more ribbon options :)

I noticed that I really need a paper cutter and ruler- I cannot cut straight lines!! I think that I will also get a card making kit; it'll provide all of the coordinating elements and then I just to put it together. I think I was too ambitious in doing everything without any guidance. Hopefully I'll collect a good amount of papers, ribbons, stamps, etc over the next few months and can learn how to blend together. Once I get the hang of this card-making thing, I'll be sure to post some cute ones so you can see my progress :)

If you have experience in making cards, feel free to pass on tips!! I'm looking for all of the help I can get.

Home Made Apple Sauce

2008-11-04T11:26:00.005-08:00

It was a first for me, yesterday- I made home made apple sauce!! I had lots of left over apples and while I froze about 8 cups of sliced apples (for breads, pies, etc), I decided to use 6 of the small ones for apple sauce. I made it in a crockpot, so the method is a bit untraditional. But, it made our cottage smell so yummy for hours and hours while it cooked. Here is a link to recipe:
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/09/crockpot-applesauce-recipe.html

What I Did:
I chose this recipe because it was simple, straight-forward, and only had 1T of sugar in it. I used bottled lemon juice and 6 small apples, in leiu of 4 large apples. To mash the apples, I used my potato masher and had excellent results. It made about 2 cups of apple sauce, which we will eat through the week. Apple sauce is also easy to freeze (and I've heard it can last years), so if you have a lot of apples or little kiddos, apple sauce could be a good idea.

What I Learned:
If I could do it over again, I would use 2 more small apples. There was a bit too much liquid left after cooking. Also, the apple sauce is very orange, and I don't know why! Maybe the cinnamon I used dyed everything?? The apple sauce is good, but it's missing a flavor... not quite sure what it is.

If you happen to have a good apple sauce recipe, please let me know!!

My First Sewing Machine

2008-11-04T10:33:00.005-08:00

It came in the mail yesterday (yea for sales on Amazon.com) and while I have no idea how to plug it in (much less use it), I am so, so excited to finally learn how to sew! I am taking a Beginner's Machine class in a few weeks where I will make a 14"x14" pillow.

After about 45 minutes in JoAnn's Fabrics, I finally picked this snowflake print for my pillow.

I was shocked at how much sewing boxes were (only $30, but still... that seems like a lot for a box...), so I'm just using an extra box we had at home. I don't have a lot of supplies, so it works well for now! Not only do I have all of these supplies, but I actually know what they're called!! And, in just a few weeks, I'll actually know how to use them :)

Am I Really This Bored??

2008-11-04T10:14:00.005-08:00

I have decided to start a new blog, in addition to The Franck Files. This way, I have a dedicated space to chronicle my life as I become a home maker. It will include new recipes, projects, and all of the successes and failures I endure in the process. Feel free to check back and laugh!