It's Easy Being Green!

If, for you, being "green" is another word for being frugal,

you can become a budget-saving steward

with just a little inspiration.



Martha Stewart



Recycled Chip Bags

Simply trim, wash with hot soapy water, and dry.
Et Viola!  You have wrapping paper!
(I'm sure Martha had her crew iron these.)




Martha Stewart



Gift-Box Fillers

Shred your old wrapping paper instead of buying a bag of shredded paper.  Use pine boughs to nestle your gift and offer fragrance.  Use candies, nuts, potpourri, tea bags, corks, or cocoa mix packets.



Martha Stewart



Recycled Paper Wrapping

Re-use wallpaper, restaurant menus, maps, shopping bags, old music sheets, old sewing patterns, etc




Martha Stewart


Magazine Bows

Trim matching colored pages to 3/4 inch widths.

Three at 11 inches, three at 10 inches, two at 9 inches,

One at 3 1/2 inches.

Happy Wrapping, friends!

Learning How To Eat More Veggies: Winter



Aurora Borealis in MN



Lets face it, we don't generally like winter produce.  The list above looks like a sad bunch as a tasty side for our suppers tonight.   We rather prefer fresh lettuce, crunchy broccoli, and bright sweet peas.  Up here in the North, where the ground has become too cold to offer us any more bounty, and will soon freeze-over completely, were looking at another long, bleak winter of frozen grocers peas and canned tomato sauce.

There is another option. 

Take a fresh look around you next time you're walking through the produce section.  You will see sweet potatoes, colorful winter squash, and so many different types of cabbage. 

I know, you don't like squash, and you don't like sweet potatoes,

and you're not a fan of cabbage. 

Its the same in my house. 

Forgive me for what I'm about to say, but its time to grow up.  We've spent a lifetime eating what we like and neglecting what we think is yucky, and look where its gotten us. 

Chubby, tired, and battling a host of health issues.

There's good reason why cabbage is so often

eaten as a weight loss food.

1 cup contains only 19 calories.  It offers plenty of vitamins C & K,

and has cancer-preventive properties.

This is a nutritious and economical vegetable that we should learn to love.

Emeril Lagasse's Favorite Cabbage recipe looks like a good bet.

It's rated 5 stars and is as easy as ... slaw!

Stuffed Cabbage is a bit putzy, but as an all-time favorite combination,

 your family will thank you!

If you haven't tried Creamed Cabbage,

you're missin' somethin'.  Give this a try, you might be surprised

with this creamy comfort side dish.

A super spokes-veg for vitamins A & C, a good source for minerals, too.

There are only 30 - 60 calories in 1/2 cup serving.

Mommies, winter squash offers a good source of folic acid,

good for growing baby.

They're rich in carotenes, helping to fight cancers, heart disease,

and type 2 diabetes.

Roasted Corn Pudding in Acorn Squash gives us all of our favorites

in an edible, nutritous bowl.  Cheese, butter, corn,

and scallions, what better way to introduce winter squash to the fam?

1 small acorn squash, seeded & cleaned

1 Tbsp butter

1 cup milk

1 egg + 2 egg whites

1/2 cup corn kernels

1/4 tsp anise seed, pulverized

1/2 cup chopped scallions

pinch nutmeg

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/3 cup grated Cheddar

Preheat oven to 375°F, place rack in center.

Rub squash flesh with butter.

Be sure it sits flat on baking sheet, trim the bottom even, if needed.

Cover with foil and bake 40 min until tender.

In a bowl, combine milk, eggs, corn, anise seed,

half the scallions, nutmeg and salt.

Fill squash 3/4 full.

Return to oven, bake 30 - 50 minutes.

Check that the pudding has set, toothpick comes out clean.

Sprinkle the cheese on top, brown under the broiler.

Garnish with remaining scallions.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Apples and Chipotle

is a healthy, spicy Mexican-inspired soup with loads of flavor,

and great with crusty bread.

Risotto with Winter Squash and Shrimp is with

dry white wine, shallots, and scallions.  A pleasing combination.

The Culinary Institute of America shares

Peppery Beef Stew with Butternut Squash, a hearty meal with robust flavors.

Jacques Pepin shares his recipe for Gratin of Butternut Squash.

This creamy dish serves 6.

1 large butternut squash

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Peel, seed, and slice squash 1/8 - 1/4 inch thick.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Place squash slice in large saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil.

Boil on high heat 1 1/2 - 2 minutes, drain.

Arrange pieces in gratin dish, sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Pour on the cream, cover with cheese.

Bake 30 minutes.

Brown under broiler before serving, 4 - 5 min.


There are only 103 calories in 1 whole sweet potato.
That's about the same as 1/2 cup of brown rice.
That same veg packs-in 14% of your daily fiber, 37% vitamin C,
and 438% vitamin A!
It also throws in some calcium and iron, for good measure.

They help to stabilize and lower your blood sugar,
and, without the skins,
they still fall into the medium glycemic zone,
which is lower than whole-wheat bread.

The North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission shares many recipes
for us to try, from appetizers to main dishes to sweets.

Try Jalapeno Sweet Potato Chowder for an
easy spicy and creamy soup.

Roasted Sweet Potato Poblano Salad is a fresh twist.  Very delicious,
simple, and a world apart from being smothered in marshmallows.

Sweet Potato Cabbage Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing,
goodness!  How bad could this be?
Chicken, bleu cheese, toasted pecans, and red wine vinegar
make a glorious and flavorful dish for the whole family.

1 medium sweet potato
1 small head red cabbage
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced & toasted
8 slices bacon
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1 lb. roast chicken
1/2 cup toasted pecans
Hot Bacon Dressing (recipe below)
4 oz bleu cheese
1 Tbsp chopped parsley

Sprinkle sweet potato with salt & pepper; wrap in foil.
Roast 375º F 45 minutes, or until tender but not soft.  Cool.

Slice cabbage thinly, removing core.
Place into a bowl & toss with vinegar and garlic;
season with salt & pepper.

Cook bacon crispy.  Cut to 1-in. pieces.  Keep warm.

Slice cooled sweet potato into rounds;
saute with butter and honey until glazed; set aside.

Heat oil in large pan; add cabbage, toss 30 seconds.
Add shredded chicken and bacon pieces, sweet potato rounds,
and pecans; toss 1 minute.

Add 1/4 cup bacon dressing; toss.
Serve immediately with bleau cheese & parsley.

Hot Bacon Dressing

Cook 1 slice bacon until crisp; remove & set aside.
Add 2 Tbsp diced celery & 2 Tbsp minced onion,
cook tender 2 minutes.

Add 3 Tbsp each red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar,
brown sugar, and 1 tsp whole grain mustard.
Salt & pepper to taste.
Simmer 10 min.  Remove from heat.

Slowly stir-in 1 cup olive oil to emulsify.
Crumble and add bacon.




What are your favorite vegetable recipes?

You Can Paint on Porcelain

It's not as tricky as it sounds.



Mug Painted in Iceland

 We can paint on porcelain, crockery, terra-cotta, metals,

ceramics, glass, and more!

Find your design,

be inspired with anything from embroidery patterns to tattoos.

You can play with it a bit

or, for gift-giving, keep it just as you found it.

Your local craft and/or art store will sell

Porcelain paint.



Plate Painted in Japan



(Pebeo is easy to find, and it comes in many colors

and applications, like markers, tubes, and jars.)

Any heat-stable surface is ready for painting with this medium.

Once your design is transfered,

place your piece into a preheated 300°F oven

for 30 minutes.

It is now as permanant as baked enamel!



Kid's mug



They're nontoxic and safe for common detergents,

as well as the top rack of your dishwasher.

If you decide to use a brush, it's recommended that you use

a natural fiber in order to avoid brush marks.

 With supervision this is a good project to do with the kids,

a great opportunity to teach them about giving, creating, resourcefulness and self-sufficiency.

Cross-Stitch Lettering on Variety Plates



  

Japanese-Style Painted Bowls






 

Painting on Terra-Cotta



Painted Serving Platter, Bloomingdales



 







Painted Tile/Coaster



Painting tile






Painting on Glass

 



 

  I've posted a few black and white images below for you,

to help you and inspire you with your search for designs and ideas.



Painted Plates: Play With Your Food



Whether traditional or whimsical,

fancy or funky,

think of your recipient and have fun!

This can be for holiday, wedding, graduation, birth,

house-warming, anniversary, anything that is special and

celebrated in your family.

I can't wait to get started!

I have my first tube and a couple of porcelain ornaments.

It's been fun to research along with you,

now I'm ready to begin.

I'll post my finished product soon!

Matryoshka Doll





Chinese Dragon



Swedish Dala Horse

Bird in Flight

Lotus Blossom Henna Pattern



Celtic Claddagh Symbol



Moravian Lamb




Love Birds



Embroidery Chicken



Pineapple, Symbol of Welcome



Two Hearts as One





Fluffy Chic, for Baby



Oak and Acorn, Symbol For Strength




Madonna and Christ




Treble Clef





Butterfly, Nouveau Style



Robots

Spring Dogwood Blossom

Happy porcelain painting, friends!

Homemade Christmas Gifts, Keeping it Simple For Everyone

Mulled Cider Sachets

6 Star Anise
12 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Tbsp  Allspice Berries
1 Tbsp  Whole Cloves

Divide between three bags

~  *  ~  *~  *  ~  *~  *  ~  *  ~

Honey Skin Cream With Herbs

2 tsp each dried mint, sage, & rosemary

1/2 oz beeswax

2 ozs lanolin

1/2 cup carrier oil*

1 tsp honey

1.  Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over combined herbs.  Steep 10 minutes.  Strain through fine sieve.  Allow liquid to cool.  Discard herbs.

2.  Melt beeswax and lanolin in heatproof glass over simmering water.  Add carrier oil, stirring.  Add herbal infusion by teaspoonful, stirring until well blended.  Remove glass from water.

3.  Add honey to tepid cream and stir carefully until blended.  Let cool completely.

4.  Stir cream thoroughly and transfer to clean containers with tight-fitting lids. 

Makes approximately 10 ozs.  Will keep about 3 months.

* Carrier oil: Sweet Almond oil, Jojoba oil, Sunflower oil, Canola oil

~  *  ~  *~  *  ~  *~  *  ~  *  ~

 

Body Scrub

2 cups Epsom Salts
1 cup carrier oil  (like sweet almond oil)
8 drops essential oil(s)
1 drop food coloring (optional)


1.  Stir together Epsom salts and carrier oil.

2.  Add essential oil, 1 drop at a time.  Add food coloring.  Stir until even throughout.  Spoon into clean jars.

Can also use this recipe with organic cane sugar.

Replace equal parts Epsom salts with organic cane sugar.

 

~  *  ~  *~  *  ~  *~  *  ~  *  ~

 

Scented Geranium Leaf Pound Cake

12 - 16 unsprayed scented geranium leaves, wiped clean

1 pound butter, room temperature

1 pound sugar

1 pound flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 pound eggs, separated

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Grease your pans and line with parchment.

Arrange leaves, tops down.

Set aside.

Beat butter and sugar, 2 - 3 minutes to light and fluffy.
Sift together flour and baking powder.
Add egg yolks, one at a time, slowly to the creamed butter.
Alternate with flour mixture.

Beat in vanilla, then cream.

Batter will be thick.

Transfer to large mixing bowl.  Set aside.

Place egg white in medium, non-reactive bowl.

Whip to stiff peaks.

Stir in about 1/4 with rubber spatula.

Fold in the remaining whites.

Carefully spoon batter into prepared pans,

filling the mini ceramic loaf pans 2/3 full and

running a knife blade through batter a couple times

to remove air bubbles.

Bake 40 - 45 min. until toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool.

I've adjusted the baking time to accomidate the small ceramic pans.

Ceramic requires longer times, but the smaller amount requires less.

A little investigation, and a careful eye will help.

Do not open the oven while pound cake is baking.