I used to loooove getting the Kraft Food and Family magazine, chock full of simple, tasty recipes that I could peruse and add to my menu plans. Lately, though, I’m disheartened. So many of the recipes have processed foods in them already (which makes sense, since it’s published by a food processing company, but still). […]
How to Reverse Engineer a Recipe for Real Food Quality Read More »
The more I read ingredients labels, the more easily convinced I am that getting rid of anything that has an ingredient label is a really crucial goal. Just try to keep track of the number of time you see “soy” and “corn” as you peruse your cupboard. That brings us to our next Monday Mission:
Monday Mission: Healthy Upgrades – Real Food Recipe Renditions Read More »
When you’re having company, what do you serve? Typically people fall into two camps: the make-it-easy-and-tasty-so-I-can-hang-out-with-my-guests style of meal, and the wow-factor-on-the-plate “this-is-a-company-meal” dish. This recipe is a little bit of both. There is some work involved, but it can be done blessedly well in advance of dinnertime if you wish. Both the elegant look
BEST Natural home remedies for an ear infection – what you can do NOW and to be prepared for next time a kid or an adult has an earache. If you want to avoid antibiotics, this one’s for you. I didn’t think I’d ever fit this neatly into the “nuts” or “off the grid” category.
Humility is fast becoming a lost virtue in our society. Who wants to put the mental and emotional effort into downplaying their strengths when the world tells us to speak loudly, be aggressive, and tout our successes as fervently as possible? Humility is seen as a weakness. To be small is to be less. The
Mary and Martha Moment: Why We Teach our Children to Be Like Children Read More »
If you’re going to meal plan well, one bonus is that you should only have to make the grocery store run once a week (or even once every two weeks). Knowing how to keep your fresh produce is vital, then, for the system to be a success. You know how I hate wasting food. As
How to Store and Freeze Fresh Produce, Grains, and More Read More »
Your mission, if you choose to accept it (on a Friday!), is to decrease what you throw away while attempting to keep a clean house. Watching some people clean up is like being the unfortunate witness to another mother’s child’s screaming hissy fit: I’m embarrassed and pained to watch, and the memory can be seared
There are little toys all over my house. It’s a professional hazard of having a toddler. I’m bound and determined to get her organized, and someday (when she’s 2) I’ll be able to teach her where everything goes. Free Toy Storage with Bonus Vitamin C How many toys did your kids get that came in
Some Reminders: Organizing Toys and Cards Post-Christmas Read More »
Thanks for hanging in there waiting for me to come back! I wasn’t planning on being away from Kitchen Stewardship® for an entire week (yikes!), but we stayed an extra day with my husband’s family over the weekend, had time to literally unpack and re-pack, then went to my family’s a day earlier than planned.
Finally Back! Christmas Prayers, GREENery, Gifts to Keep and Return! Read More »
I had been seeing reviews for Skoy cloths as substitutes for paper towel here and there around the blogosphere, and my interest was definitely piqued since I’m all about decreasing the amount of disposable products I use and have switched over to using green cleaners. As I was awaiting a sample for my very own, I
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to find one way to reduce plastic usage by using the real thing instead of disposables on the table. How to Reduce the Use of Plastics It’s a Choose Your Own Adventure Monday Mission. Click each idea for more details on how to reduce the use of
In order to be good stewards of what we have, I’ve brought you healthy holiday school parties and non-toy gift ideas. Today, we’ll be exploring baby steps to decrease your holiday disposables. Make these habits part of your holiday family traditions. Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to find a way to reduce
My “garage fridge”: Pumpkin pie, lots of flour (waited until winter to buy whole grain flour in bulk so I could keep it cold!), yogurt, kombucha, water kefir resting… Birthday cake and cookie dough… More cookie dough (filling), homemade applesauce, cranberries, and a few apples left from the orchard… Seriously folks. I’ve been waiting for
The ONE Reason My Kitchen Loves a Michigan Winter… Read More »
I don’t understand it, but I’m going to embrace it! I have finally made proper chocolate chip cookies, a feat I have been unable to do since getting married. They’re even healthy with 100% whole wheat flour. It was like a curse – no matter what troubleshooting I did or how I fidgeted with the
While others are meticulously organizing their cupboards and pantries or posting beautiful pictures of their type A storage systems, I’m taking the alternative route and showing you some ways I use what I have and watch for strange and unusual storage solutions. Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to throw away and recycle
Monday Mission: Repurpose Kitchen Containers as Unusual (Frugal) Storage Methods Read More »
“Can you recycle this here?” (Holding up a massive can from gravy) “I could recycle, but just throw it away.” [conversation between two aunts overheard at family Thanksgiving ] Me? I couldn’t even throw away the two graham crackers left on the plate with my appetizer dip and felt totally guilty using a new
Whey is used for soaking grains, homemade ferments, and as a protein source (although it’s not a good one). I prefer homemade whey as the acidic medium for soaking my oats because I have found it least likely to impart a sour flavor to the finished oatmeal. PLUS you get gorgeous yogurt cheese, which is an
How to Make Yogurt Cheese (and Where Do I Find Whey?) Read More »
I believe in the simplicity and thoughtfulness of homemade gifts, especially for young ones. In fact, I truly believe we need to pray for a return to a greater appreciation of simple times and simple toys. (See my food gift ideas and useful stocking stuffers too.) I’ve had a lot of fun creating homemade gift
Simple, Frugal Homemade Gifts for Kids: Books on CD, Playdough Kits, Bathtime Fun Read More »
Simple things. What can I do that is simple and will increase my nutrition? I’m often asked that question, and the folks who ask it don’t know that it’s the question I ask myself all the time. When I read about soaking grains for the first time, I was pleased to find out that it’s
In addition to storing grains long-term, I like to soak my grains. Here’s why. Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to try soaking grains in one recipe this week. You’re right: it’s controversial. But it can’t hurt. It is said that traditional cultures almost exclusively soaked or sprouted their grains before baking with
