Burritos with Refried Beans and Zucchini

For some reason this is Mexican week at our house. Here is the recipe for night #1.

Sugar Free Zucchini Bread

I had great success with my zucchini bread recipe I made the other day. It was a bit to sweet though.  I am going to try and make a loaf with no added sugar and with reduced fat.

Roasted Zucchini

Tonight we are finishing up the leftover pasta and sauce from last night. This evening's vegetable of choice is roasted zucchini.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

I found a bunch of different recipes for apple cider vinegar rinses online. After reading through, I found that the recipes with a higher ratio of vinegar are better for long, dry hair. I am adding rose petals and rose hips so it complements my Rose Butter Bath & Shampoo bar I am using. Hopefully this will help with the coarse, dry feeling my hair has since I started using natural products.

Zucchini Carrot Bread

Zucchini is one of the cheapest vegetables we can get at the farmers market here in Hilo. As a result, we have eaten a TON of it this summer. At least we will have a bunch of new recipes to deal with the traditional summer zucchini glut next year.

Rotini in Pink Sauce with Broccoli & Cauliflower

I made this up for our dinner tonight.

Polenta Cakes With Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Garlic Green Beans

I wanted something easy and filling for dinner tonight. I found a few inspirational recipe videos on Youtube, a couple minutes on Allrecipes.com, and Voilà! A delicious dinner! Here are the original recipes for the Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans. The polenta is my own recipe.

Minty Toothpaste

I didn't really enjoy the first batch of homemade toothpaste I made. It was overwhelmingly coconuty and greasy. After it sat on the counter a while, the mixture started to separate. I poured off some of the accumulated coconut oil. Then I added more essential oil and stevia. Now it is much more palatable.

Kitchen Sink Tea Blend

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp rose petals
• 1 tsp spearmint
• 1 tsp hyssop
• 1 tsp lemongrass
• 4 green cardamom pods

Macocona Bread

For MAcadamia-COCOnut-banaNA bread. It is totally a word. I am making this for the pot luck they are having this evening at the Gemimi Observatory.

Tropical Bread Pudding

Since we have been in Hawaii, I have become obsessed with coconut. I made this for breakfast this morning. My bread pudding is based loosely on this recipe.

Irish Colcannon

Tonight I made Mushroom Meatloaf with Onion Gravy, Roasted Cauliflower and Irish Colcannon. Lots of cruciferous vegetables and totally delicious. I am happy I will have tons of leftovers and not have to cook lunch tomorrow.

Cardamom Tea

Ingredients

• 3 green cardamom pods
• 1 tsp chopped lemongrass
• 1 tsp crushed rose hips

Instructions

1. Place all tea ingredients in tea ball. 
2. Cover with boiling water
3. Steep for 10 minutes.
4. Remove tea ball.
5. Add sweetener and creamer as desired.
6. Enjoy!

Cruciferous Quiche

I had some roasted cauliflower, cabbage and 1/2 zucchini in the fridge that had to get used and I didn't feel like doing to much work for dinner. The result: Cruciferous Quiche! I love quiche because I get a good serving of protein and I stay nice and full after eating them.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup finely chopped cabbage
• 1 medium onion, sliced very thin
• 1/2 cup finely chopped zucchini
• 1 prepared pie crust
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled Feta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• 4 tsps all purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground mustard
• 1/2 cup finely chopped, roasted cauliflower

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400º. 
2. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add cabbage, onion and zucchini and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. In medium bowl, toss 4 teaspoons flour with the cheese. Sprinkle cheese mixture into the pie shell. Add the zucchini and onions. Be careful not to get any of the liquid from the pan into the quiche, it will make the crust soggy.
4. In medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, salt and mustard. Whisk until smooth and pour over cheese and veggies. Sprinkle roasted cauliflower over the top.
5. Place foil around edge of crust to protect it.
6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until filling is set and crust is golden brown. Garnish with parsley.

Night Time Tea Blend

I have had a lot of trouble falling asleep the last few nights. Tonight I am going to try to make a relaxing and calming tea blend to help. This tastes just like Celestial Seasonings Sleepy Time Tea.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp Chamomile
• 1 tsp Spearmint
• 1 tsp Lemongrass
• Honey
• 1/2 & 1/2

Instructions

1. Place all tea ingredients in tea ball. 
2. Cover with boiling water
3. Steep for 10 minutes.
4. Remove tea ball.
5. Add creamer as desired.
6. Enjoy!

Notes For Next Time:

1. I used Fresh Stevia to sweeten this cup. Next time, skip the Stevia. Go with honey

Fancy Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup

I wanted something that I could do most of the preparation early and just do a little bit at dinner time. I threw the soup together while Billy was napping. All I had to do at dinner time was make the cheese sandwiches, reheat the soup and put a splash of milk in each bowl. Easy Peasy.

Grilled Cheese and Apple Sandwiches

Based on this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tbsp butter, softened
• 4 slices whole wheat bread
• 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced thin
• 2/3 cup shredded cheese or 4 slices

Instructions

1. Place a pan over medium/low heat. Spray with cooking spray.
2. Butter one side of each piece of bread. Place butter side down in pan. Add 1 slice cheese, half the apple slices and then another slice cheese. Place second piece of bread on top. After a few minutes, flip carefully. Continue cooking and flipping until cheese is melted and the bread is browned. If the bread is browning faster than the cheese is melting, turn down the heat.
3. Repeat for the second sandwich.

Notes for next time:

1. The sandwich was great dunked in the soup. However, on its own it was not balanced. Maybe use cheddar instead of swiss for a sandwich on its own.

Easy Tomato Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup onions, sliced thin
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup milk or half and half

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in large pan over medium heat. Add onions and saute until tender. Add garlic and cook for about 1 more minute, until garlic is fragrant.
2. Add tomatoes. Turn heat down to a simmer and cook for another 20 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Add brown sugar, stirring well. Remove from heat. 
3. If you are going to eat the soup right away, add milk or half and half. Stir well. Blend if desired.
4. If you are going to wait to eat the soup, refrigerate after step 2. At mealtime, reheat soup, add the dairy and continue heating until just warmed through.

Rose Hip & Hyssop Tea Blend

I bought a few different types of loose leaf tea in the bulk section at Abundant Life Natural Foods grocery store yesterday. This is my first experiment.

Rose Hip & Hyssop Tea Blend 

Ingredients

• 1 tsp rose hips
• 1 tsp hyssop
• 1 tsp chamomile
• 1 tsp lemongrass

Instructions

1. Place all tea ingredients in tea ball. 
2. Cover with boiling water
3. Steep for 10 minutes.
4. Remove tea ball.
5. Add sweetener and creamer as desired.
6. Enjoy!

This is a great tea!

Vegetable Pot Pie

I had to buy a pie crust for the quiche I made on Father's Day and they came in a 2-pack. I figured I should use the leftovers. After looking at recipes, I figured out that you just need about 5-5 1/2 cups vegetable filling and 1 to 1 1/4 cups gravy. Here is my recipe based on the vegetables I could get at the farmers market and what I already had in the house.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cauliflower, chopped
• olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3/4 cups thinly sliced onion
• 3" piece carrot, grated
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh green beans
• 1/2 cup chopped zucchini 
• 1/2 cup chopped cabbage
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup 1/2" cubed potatoes
• 1 1/4 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 1 tbsp vegan fish sauce
• pre-made 9" pie shell

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425º. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Toss cauliflower with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip pieces. Return to oven for 10-20 more minutes or until tender and browned. Remove from oven and set aside. Reduce heat to 400º.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, green beans, zucchini and cabbage. Cook, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until softened.
4. Add flour and garlic and stir until fragrant, about a minute. Add potatoes, broth and poultry seasoning. Cover and bring to a boil. Then, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add roasted cauliflower, peas and corn.
5. Put filling in pie shell and bake for 30 - 40 minutes until filling is hot and crust is cooked.

Exfoliating Salt and Sugar Scrub

Citrus Body Scrub

I have been having some trouble with ingrown hairs on my leg (just the left one) and I am not sure why. One of the most frequently recommended solutions I have found online is to use an exfoliating scrub. This falls nicely in with my new hobby of homemade body care products. I wanted to make something with the ingredients I already have in the house so I chose to make a super basic scrub recipe.

After looking around, I found that there is a general formula to follow for body scrubs.

• 1 part oil
• 2 parts abrasive (salt, sugar, oatmeal, etc.)
• Essential oil

I decided to make my own recipe using the above guidelines.

Unmixed Ingredients

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 20 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 20 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients together. Place in covered container. Enjoy!

Father's Day Menu 2013

Since it is Father's Day, Brian got to choose the menu. Hence, the meat quiche. We also served a beet salad and tropical banana bread. Both of the quiches and the beet salad were great. The Tropical Banana bread was delicious but it was a bit greasy. I will revisit the recipe and mess around with the oils. Maybe just cut out the olive oil and keep the coconut oil.

Ham and Cheese Quiche

Filling Ingredients

• 1 prepared pie crust
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
• 4 tsps all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cooked, diced ham 
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground mustard
• 6-8 small tomatoes, sliced 1/2"

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400º. 
2. In medium bowl, toss 4 teaspoons flour with the cheese. Sprinkle cheese mixture into the pie shell. Add the ham.
3. In medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, salt and mustard. Whisk until smooth and pour over cheese and ham.
4. Place foil around edge of crust to protect it.
5. Bake for 45 minutes, or until filling is set and crust is golden brown. Garnish with parsley.

You can cover with plastic wrap and then foil and freeze after step 5. Then preheat oven to 400º and place frozen quiche in oven. Bake for 60 minutes.

Onion And Zucchini Vegetarian Quiche

Filling Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 small zucchini, chopped small
• 1 medium onion, sliced very thin
• 1 prepared pie crust
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
• 4 tsps all purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground mustard
• 6-8 small tomatoes, sliced 1/2"

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400º. 
2. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and zucchini and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. In medium bowl, toss 4 teaspoons flour with the cheese. Sprinkle cheese mixture into the pie shell. Add the zucchini and onions. Be careful not to get any of the liquid from the pan into the quiche, it will make the crust soggy.
4. In medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, salt and mustard. Whisk until smooth and pour over cheese and veggies.
5. Place foil around edge of crust to protect it.
6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until filling is set and crust is golden brown. Garnish with parsley.

Hawaiian Inspired Banana Bread

Blogged here.

Tropical Banana Bread

Beet Salad with Candied Walnuts & Feta

Ingredients 

• 3/4 cups walnuts
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 tsp coarse salt
• 1 (10 ounce) package mixed baby salad greens 
• 1 sweet apple, chopped 
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
• 2 ounces Feta cheese
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375º. 
2. Trim beet leaves and scrub. Place beets in pan and drizzle with olive oil. Cover with foil. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until beets are tender. Remove from oven set aside until cool enough to handle. Peel and chop beets. Set aside to finish cooling.
3. While the beets are cooking, place the walnuts in a shallow roasting pan. Place in oven for about 5 minutes to toast. Be careful not to burn them!
4. Place sugar in a pan over medium heat. Stir as sugar starts to melt. Once the sugar has melted and browned, add walnuts and stir well to coat.
5. Remove from the heat, spread in a single layer on wax paper, sprinkle with salt and set aside to cool.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar and olive oil to make the dressing.
7. Place baby greens in a large bowl, Add walnuts, beets and chopped apples over the greens, and top with dabs of goat cheese and parmesan. Drizzle with some of the dressing. Serve and enjoy.

Tropical Banana Bread

I am baking this for our Father's Day Brunch we are hosting tomorrow. Hopefully it is as delicious tasting as it smells.



This is not a high altitude recipe!

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 3 medium bananas, mashed
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cups sweetened coconut flakes
• 3/4 cup pineapple chunks, drained
• nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Spray an 8x8 (or 9x5) pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together bananas, vegetable oil, coconut oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, coconut, and pineapple. Fold liquid mixture into flour and stir until just combined. 
3. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 (45-50) minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Freezing Directions:

1. Bake as directed above and allow to cool. 
2. Slice bread into serving sizes and individually wrap with plastic wrap. Place into gallon freezer bag, label, and freeze. 
3. To serve: Thaw on countertop for 30 minutes or reheat in microwave for 30 seconds.

Notes for next time:

1. Very crumbly, add another egg.
2. A bit greasy. maybe use just 1/4 cup coconut oil and no olive oil.

Homemade Citrus Lip Balm Pots

I need to stop using Chapstick so I decided to make some homemade lip balm pots. I found some tiny tupperware at the thrift store for 50¢. This little pot held half the recipe below.

Citrus Lip Balm

Recipe from The Spiffy Cookie.

Ingredients

3 Tbsp (1 oz.) beeswax
2 Tbsp coconut oil
4 Tbsp shea butter
5 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops sweet orange essential oil

Instructions

1. Melt beeswax over low heat. Add coconut oil and shea butter. Stir to mix well as they melt.
2. Remove from heat. Add essential oils.
3. Pour into pots and allow to cool. Cover.

Homemade Lemon Lavender Lotion

I found a great basic lotion recipe at Wellnessmama. It is very simple and I had already bought all of the ingredients, except the beeswax, for making my peppermint deodorant. Luckily, I found local beeswax for a great price at Abundant Life Natural Foods in Hilo.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup (1 oz) beeswax
• 2 tbsp Shea butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• 5 drops Lavender essential oil
• 10 drops Lemon essential oil
• tsp Vanilla Extract

Instructions

1. Place beeswax in a jar.
2. Fill a medium sauce pan with 2" water and place over medium heat.
3. Place jar in water. Allow beeswax to melt.
4. Add Shea butter, coconut oil and olive oil cover loosely.
5. Stir or shake regularly to combine the ingredients as they melt.
6. Remove from heat. Stir every 15 minutes as the mixture cools. 
7. Once the lotion is cool, add the Vitamin E oil and the lavender and lemon essential oils.
8. Place lotion into small (8 oz) jars.
9. Use within 6 months.

I found another lotion recipe at A Sonoma Garden that had more in depth instructions. I made my lotion using a combination of the instructions from both sites. When I was done, I created the instructions listed above based on my experience. I think it is better to melt the bees wax alone first so you don't have to heat all the oils and butters up to the melting point of the wax.

I put a bit to much lavender in the first batch (7 drops) so I decreased to 5 in the written recipe.

Lotion cooling on the lanai.

Zucchini Grinders

Zucchini Grinders - Sorry for the awful pic =)

I made these sandwiches the other night for dinner and they were quick, easy to make and delicious. They are also a great way to use up some of the summer zucchini glut. They are based on this recipe I found at Allrecipes.com.

Yield: 4 sandwiches
Serving Size: 1 sandwich
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, sliced thin
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 oz) Can Muir Glen Chunky Tomato Sauce
• 2 tbsps brown sugar
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 small onion, sliced thin
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium zucchini, cubed
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 slices Provolone cheese
• 4 whole wheat rolls

Instructions

1. Put zucchini in a colander and lightly sprinkle with salt. Allow to set for about 1/2 hour to get some of the moisture out.
2. Preheat oven to 350º F.
3. Heat olive oil in large pan over medium heat. Add onions and saute until tender. Add garlic and cook for about 1 more minute, until garlic is fragrant.
4. Add tomatoes. Turn heat down to a simmer and cook for another 20 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Add sugar to taste.
5. Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until softened. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute. Add the zucchini and cook until browned and slightly tender. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
6. Spoon a generous amount of the zucchini mixture into each sandwich roll. Cover zucchini with about 1/4 cup marinara sauce per roll. Top with a handful of shredded mozzarella. Close the rolls, and wrap individually in aluminum foil.
7. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until bread is heated through, rolls are soft, and cheese is melted.

Homemade Peppermint Deodorant

Yesterday, I decided to start my home made personal care item voyage with something simple. Why not deodorant? I am in Hawaii on an extended vacation and I don't want to have a ton of stuff to take back home with me. The ingredients are readily available and not overly expensive. Another perk is that is recipe doesn't require any special equipment. Perfect!

I want a scented deodorant and I found a great recipe at Angry Chicken. I modified it a bit to suit my needs.

Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons shea butter
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa butter
• 3 Tablespoons baking soda
• 2 Tablespoons corn starch
• 2 vitamin E oil gel caps (I forgot to add these but will next time)
• Peppermint Essential Oil

Instructions

1. Melt shea butter and cocoa butter with baking soda and cornstarch. Stir until smooth.
2. Add vitamin E oil and essential oil. Stir well.
3. Divide mixture into tins and place in a cool place to set. Let rest over night. (You can also place in a pan of ice water to set faster. Be careful not to splash water into the mixture.)
4. Place in freezer for about 1 hour to loosen. 
5. Remove from tins and use.

On another of her posts she recommends making it into little pucks by placing the mixture in muffin tins, freezing and them popping them out. I found some little metal cups at the Salvation Army for 10¢ each. They worked perfectly. As an added bonus, Billy loves stacking and throwing these around because they make nice loud clanging noises =)

The deodorant is a bit tacky. I am not sure if that is just because of the humidity here in Hawaii or because there is to much liquid in the recipe. Maybe I should add some beeswax or more cocoa  butter next time? I will wait til I get back to the desert and see how the little bars fair in the drier climate before I go make another batch. Maybe it won't matter if I put it in a deodorant roll up tube and don't have to touch it. I found some empty, new deodorant containers on Amazon. They were 5 for 6.99. If I find that the deodorant works well, I will get some for future batches.

Homemade All Natural Toothpaste Fail

I found this simple toothpaste recipe on Familysponge.com. I changed it just a bit to suit my own tastes.

Here is the recipe I used.

• 6 tbsp coconut oil
• 6 tbsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp (65 drops) peppermint essential oil
• 3/4 tsp stevia

When I used this for the first time this afternoon, it was awful. Even though I had drastically increased the amount of essential oil, the coconut flavor was overwhelming. I definitely did not enjoy it. I will let the toothpaste sit and see if the flavors blend better over time. In the meantime I will look for a recipe that does not contain coconut oil or at least a much smaller proportion.

Beginner Soapmaking Recipes and Resources

Image Found Here.

After doing a lot of research, I have decided that I would like to try soapmaking. Since I can't do anything until I get home in August, I figured I would compile my lists of resources, recipes and suppliers so I am all set for when I can actually make some soap.

I think I should try both hot and cold process soapmaking. They both use the same tools with the addition of a crockpot for the hot process. I already have one so I might as well try.

Basic Information Resources

• Cold Process
• Lye Calculator
• Creating a basic soap recipe
• Properties of different oils

Supplies

Essential Oils from Bulk Apothecary
Cheapest Lye from Bulk Apothecary

Oils, Caustics, etc, at great prices from thesoapdish.com

Beginner Soap Recipe

I want to try a basic recipe before I jump in to more complicated waters. 

• Beginner Soap Recipe - From SmallNotebook.org
• 1 oz Orange (5 fold) Essential Oil
• 1 oz Ginger Essential Oil
• or
• 1 oz Lavender (40/42) Essential Oil
• 1 oz Lemon (5 Fold) Essential Oil
• or 
• 1 oz Peppermint Essential Oil
• 1 oz Vanilla (10 fold Oleoresin) Essential Oil

Assuming all goes well with the beginner recipe, I have chosen a few more recipes to try.

Shampoo

• Marshmallow Root Shampoo Bar - From sustaincreateandflow.com

For Brian:

• Manly Bar of Soap - From theartofmanliness.com
• Shaving Soap Recipe - From soap-making-resource.com; I can also make this with feminine scents for myself if it works well.

For Billy

• Chamomile Baby Soap - From soap-making-resource.com
• Buttermilk Bastille Baby Bar - From soapqueen.com

A Happier, Healthier Family

About 3 years ago, I got pregnant. It was an amazing experience that really made me reevaluate my life. I started thinking more and more about my family's health and the health of our planet. I became very interested in how my actions affect other people, animals and our environment. After a bit of cogitating, I realized that I had to change. I'm am not trying to sound like I was down on myself and thinking I was a bad person; I was just careless and uneducated about the ways in which my actions were affecting others. I really wanted to do everything I could to make the world just a little bit better for my little one on the way.

Original Image Here.

One of the first things I did was change the way Brian and I ate. I began purchasing whole organic foods. I stopped buying processed foods. We started using all organic options in our vegetable and fruit garden. I began making my own pancake/muffin mixes etc. because the homemade versions have no added chemical preservatives, artificial colors/ flavors etc. It has been a gradual change and I am happy with our progress but I still want to do more.

Original Image Here.

I also wanted to change the way I was contributing to the rampant consumerism that is taking over our society. I have decided to reuse as much as possible. To that end, I pledged that I would not buy new clothes. This was huge for me because I loved to go to the mall and shop. Now, I reuse others old items by buying all my clothes at thrift and charity shops. I love this option because I am not only saving something from going into the landfill, my money is going directly back into my community. In the last year I have only bought 4-5 new pieces of clothing so I am very happy with my progress.

I decided I wanted to create instead of just consume. I also started sewing clothes for Billy and I. I find that I have a much greater appreciation for my handmade items than I do for store bought. Because of this, I take much better care of them. Since I am absolutely obsessive about doing everything properly, finishing every seam, lining my garments etc., my homemade garments are much more well constructed than store bought clothing. This also helps them last longer.

Original Image Here.

I became vegetarian. Brian is not, but he eats vegetarian when he is at home. Luckily, it does not bother him at all. I started buying my milk and eggs locally from small backyard farms where the animals are raised safely and humanely. They are treated with the respect that they deserve.

Original Image Here.

I recently became interested in green cleaning and more healthful options for our personal hygiene. I would like to start making our soaps and cleaning products for our home. I would like to also make our lotions, shaving creams etc. This is another option that is not only better for our health, it is better for our planet. I am happy that I will also be able to reduce our waste because we will not be throwing out all those shampoo bottles, soap boxes, shaving cream cans, etc.

I am sure there is more that I forgot to write about. But I can always post another day. At least I could get some of my thoughts down. It is nice to see that most of the things that I do for the health of my family are also good for the environment and others around me.

Vegetarian "Meatloaf" with Onion Gravy

I made this the other day for dinner and it was great. The recipe prep is a bit time consuming but totally worth it. It makes a very hearty and filling meal. I served it with roasted cauliflower and some roasted squash the second day.

Ingredients for Meatloaf

• 3 small potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 3 cups water
• 8 oz mushrooms, cleaned
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 tbsp butter, divided
• 1 small onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 small carrot, finely grated
• 3 tbsp dried onion flakes
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1/8 tsp celery seed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease loaf pan.
2. Boil potatoes in water until tender. Drain and place in a large bowl. Mash with 2 tbsp butter.
3. In blender, puree mushrooms with 1/2 cup milk. Add to mashed potatoes.
4. Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 tbsp butter in a medium pan. Add onions and saute until tender. Add garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, basil, salt and pepper. Cook for another minute and then add to the mashed potato mixture.
5. Add rice, eggs, bread crumbs, cheddar, grated carrot and spices/herbs. Mix until well combined. Place in greased loaf pan and smooth the top.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 1/2 hour then cover with foil. Bake another 1/2 hour until firm and lightly browned on top. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Onion Gravy

• 2 medium onions, peeled and sliced thinly
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 3 cups vegetable stock
• 4 tsp cornstarch
• 4 tsp cold water
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Melt the butter over medium heat. Add onions and cook until soft and translucent but not browned, about 10 minutes.
2. Add sugar and vinegar, stir well. Cover and cook 5 more minutes. 
3. Add stock and boil uncovered for 5 more minutes. 
4. Mix cornstarch and water in a heatproof jug. Add about ½ cup hot broth and stir until smooth. Return to pot. Raise heat to high and boil for about 10 more minutes or until slightly thickened.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Roasted Cauliflower

I love roasted cauliflower and I use it in tons of recipes. For some reason, I can never remember the details. I figured I should add it to my blog.

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, chopped
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425º. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Toss cauliflower with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip pieces. Return to oven for 10-20 more minutes or until tender and browned. Remove from oven and set aside.