The Original Party Animals!

A Fun Time was had by all at Buddy and Grandpa's Birthday Bash!
(ok, we'll admit, the dogs were severely bribed, and maybe not quite so pleased:)

Homemade Laundry Soap

This is a different kind of recipe--but so worth your while! We've been very environmentally conscientious LONG before the "green" movement became a fad. I've been buying as much organic food as possible since the late 1990's using canvas bags for almost as long (I always have about 10 in my car, and keep a collapsible one in my purse for when I forget to bring one in for quick purchases). From there I made the switch to organic/ natural personal care products and make up. And the easiest switch of all came around 2001---cleaning supplies! For the most part I clean with vinegar and baking soda, for almost everything. I've been buying earth friendly dish soap for about eight years--I never used the dishwasher (not wanting to waste the water)---but about two years ago, finally gave in as doing the dishes was not only taking up too much counter space, but I found a lot of the day was taken up in keeping up with the dishes that could have been spent with my little girls---the few plastic things we have were handwashed, but I gave up on that too (plastics are not the healthiest choice for food storage, but there isn't a lot of choice with spill proof cups, etc. We did order a couple of "spill proof" cups that are in more of a thermos material for the girls a couple of years ago, but they didn't work too well:). Ok, so anyway, I tried making my own dishwasher soap, but the dishes were left very spotty--as they were with Seventh Generation dishwasher soap--(my dishwasher is old:)--so, I do admit to using Cascade for that.

Now, the real reason for my post (yes I tend to be long-winded at times:), Laundry Detergent--since I started buying earth-friendly laundry detergent back in 2000, we had been spending about $20 a month on it!! Yes, I thing that's steep, but we felt a responsibility to do that. Well about a year and a half ago my mom found a recipe that I've been using since, that is super simple to make, only has to be made once every 1.5 months or so--and costs less than $1.50 to make for about two gallons! I think everything comes out very very clean, and I love this (and it's fun to make:):

• 1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap (I found this at Ace Hardware)
• 1 cup washing soda (NOTE: must be washing soda, not baking soda)
• 1 cup Borax powder

You will also need a small bucket, about a 2 gallon size.

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups of water and heat until the soap melts. Add the baking soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups of hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon (16 cups) plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You can use 1/2 cup per load.

A few things to note:

• The finished soap will not be a solid gel. It will be more of a watery gel (looks like egg drop soup).
• The soap is a low sudsing soap. So if you don't see suds, that's ok. Suds don't do the cleaning--it's the ingredients in there that cleans.
• I sometimes will add a few drops of my favorite essential oil to the soap as I'm doing a load of laundry--e.g. lemongrass or orange are nice--if I'm doing sheets and bedding, I use Eucalyptus essential oil (a little goes a long way)--as that kills dust mites.
• If you find the soap has separated, just keep a large spoon in you laundry room and mix it together--it probably means when you prepared the soap, you didn't let the fels naptha melt all the way before adding in the borax and washing soda.
• This does work very well in my relatively new efficient front loader washer

Try it, it's fun, takes very little time to make, it's so much cheaper than ANY commercial soap, earth-friendly or traditional--and you can feel really good about doing something better for your family and our beautiful earth!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Happy Birthday to our Beautiful Boy (poor guy will get an identity complex with his "princess" crown, it's bad enough his own grandpa keeps referring to him as a "she":) Happy belated birthday to his grandpa and cousin Cimba, and happy birthday tomorrow to his aunt:) We'll have a birthday party tomorrow for the dogs and grandpa when the grandparents arrive:) (and happy election day everyone!)

Veggie Open Face Sandwiches

This concoction came about from a group effort. My mom was at a trendy little cafe' and had a dish that she decided to try to repeat--I then improved upon her interpretation by adding a sauce, and walla, yumo!

It's very simple but really good. You can do this with any homemade or store-bought meatless "meat" type of product (or real meat if preferred).

Saute' any desired veggies: e.g.: zucchini, broccoli, peppers, onion, garlic, etc. Toast up desired bread, we liked pumpernickle for this. And make a sauce comprised of desired amount of ranch dressing with some mustard (your choice we used Dijon or garlic mustard) added in. Assemble by starting with toasted bread on bottom, next put on cooked "meat" choice, followed by sauteed veggies, sauce, and finally top with a slice of cheese (e.g. provolone, Swiss, gruyere, or fontina). Put assembled sandwiches onto a cookie sheet and broil in oven til cheese is starting to brown and bubble. Serve with a side salad, soup, baked potatoes, beans, chips, or veggies, and wow is this a quick and great meal!

Angel Hieroglyphics and Artwork

Apple Barn Orchard and Winery

We had a great (albeit frigid!!) time at the apple orchard yesterday. We enjoyed cider doughnuts, hot apple cider, obscure fruit wines (like blueberry and strawberry), and running (yes the sign does say "no running," but pictured is my little fairy girl reading the sign telling me it says "YES RUNNING!":) around the tree maze mini forest:) Today I'm having fun with the fruits of my labor (pun intended:), making an apple pie!

Angel Art (age 4.5)

Triple-Cheese Broccoli Puff

I Love broccoli! However, every time I've tried to incorporate it into a vegetarian dish (besides broccoli soup:), it's truly tasted very bland--until this surprise recipe came along---this is really good--it forms a bread crust on the bottom and the sides, and within!! I served this with onion rings and home-made cranberry-orange-walnut bread!!! Dinner was a hit tonight:)

• 1 cup of chopped water chestnuts (recipe called for mushrooms, which I don't eat:)
• 3 oz of cream cheese, softened (I used onion and chive)
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup biscuit/baking mix
• 3 cups steamed/chopped (or frozen) broccoli
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• seasonings of choice

1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, eggs, milk, and biscuit mix just until combined. Sir in broccoli, cheeses, water chestnuts, and seasonings of choice.
2. Pour into a greased round 2-1/2 qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.
   

Italian Mac & Cheese

Super Easy---Super Yummy!

• 3-4 cups of dried ziti pasta, cooked to al dente
• thick red sauce, 3-4 cups
• 1 cup of sour cream
• shredded mozzarella
  
• sliced provolone

Mix everything up, except for the sliced provolone---top with the provolone, and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes. Broil at last minute if desired.

Scenes from our Pumpkin Farm visit today!

I LOVE the color orange!
I LOVE pumpkins!



It's so beautiful here, and only about a mile from our house (searching for the perfect pumpkins)!



Please meet Pepper...



California Cows Suck!

Just believe and we all can fly!

Chunky Vegetarian Chili

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1 large bell pepper chopped
• 3-4 celery stalks, chopped
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1-1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 Tbsp. Worcestieshire sauce
  
• 2 - 16 oz. cans stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 4 cups canned or rehydrated beans rinsed and drained (e.g. black, kidney, pinto)
• 2 cups frozen corn

Saute' onion, pepper, celery and garlic in a large soup pot or Dutch oven, til tender. Add sugar and remaining ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.

optional toppings: sour cream, shredded cheese, broken tortilla chips.

Serve with a nice slice of Foccacia or Corn Bread for a great meal!

Little Pumpkin Class at the Nature Center

This is a little baby pumpkin, still on the vine.



My little fairy girl picking her pumpkin.



Giving their pumpkins some personality!


We'd like to introduce you to Geena Pumpkin (left) and Daddy Pumpkin (right) (named by the girls:).

Scenes from the Giant Pumpkin Festival

The largest pumpkin weighed over 1300 pounds!

My Loaded Baked Potato Soup

My little 15 month old great nephew inspired me to come up with a recipe. If I may say so myself, this turned out pretty darned good!!!!

My Loaded Baked Potato Soup:

• Several baking potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup of milk (part cream if desired)
• 2 T. butter
• 2 T. flour
• 2 handsful of cheddar or mont-jack cheese
• ¾ cup of sour cream
• Salt and pepper and paprika to taste
• roasted garlic, to taste
  
• Dijon mustard to taste
• Crumbled (vegetarian Morningstar) bacon
• Finely chopped green onions
• Home-made or really good quality croutons
• Grated Romano cheese

---In a large soup pan, simmer the potatoes in lightly salted water (to cover), with loose lid for about 15 minutes, til tender. Remove from heat and mash with a potato masher in water; put into separate bowl. Rinse out the soup pot, then heat butter till melted, and whisk in flour; slowly add in milk until thickened constantly using wire whisk. Bring to slight boil to thicken, then lower heat back to medium and add in potatoes, cheese, sour cream, Dijon, and roasted garlic—add seasonings to taste. Add in chopped green onions. Serve, top with crumbled bacon, croutons, and grated Romano cheese. Serve with fresh warm good quality bread (we like roasted garlic bread, either via the bread maker or the bakery). Mmmm, enjoy

Grilled Cheese in a Pan

Ok, I know this isn't a great food shot, but this is super simple and super good. This is a great dish to serve with a bowl of soup! (and the girls go crazy over this). I said we're vegetarians, but we aren't perfect eaters--this is just one of those quick and easy comfort food dishes:

• one container of Pillsbury Garlic Crescent Rolls
• one container of onion and chive cream cheese
  
• shredded cheese of choice
• butter or olive oil
• toasted sesame seeds

take half the crescent rolls and press together in the bottom of n 8x8 square baking dish. Spread on desired amount of cream cheese. Top with desired amount of shredded cheese. Press the remainder of the crescent rolls on top. Drizzle some olive oil (or melted butter) on the top of the rolls and sprinkle with some toasted sesame seeds. Bake 350 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes.

as a note: I've done this with plain (not garlic) crescent rolls, and spread on some Nutella (hazelnut spread) and or good quality chocolate shavings (or just chocolate chips:)-drizzled the top with some butter and a little bit of sugar---and HOLY MOLY is it good:)

Dance and Play Every Day!

Portrait of An Artist as a Young Women

created at age 2



created at age 3

created at age 4


created at age 4 1/2

Italian Quesadillas

I can't take credit for this--though I did add in black olives. Here's a link to Giada's recipe---mmmmmmm (I LOVE fontina cheese!)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/italian-quesadillas-recipe/index.html

Cauliflower Soup

This one's easy, and it's always a winner!

• two cups of water (or one can of chicken or vegetable broth)
• one head of cauliflower, chopped
• two cups of milk
• 2 T. butter
• 2 T. flour
• 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• black pepper
  

Steam cauliflower til tender. Remove from pan and let cool a bit (to avoid steam burn)--then puree' in food processor or with hand blender. In larger soup size sauce pan, melt butter and whisk in flour til bubbly. Slowly whisk in the milk, and bring to start of a boil, continuing to whisk--til thickened. Add in pureed cauliflower and shredded cheese. Season to taste with salt, pepper, etc. I like to top it with some croutons, and a small amount of crushed red pepper flakes for some heat. I serve this with Italian quesadillas.

My Mom's Italian Red Sauce

My mama's tangy, thick, yet sweet and savory Italian Sauce! (sorry, I don't have permission to publish this, but, I'm guessing she won't have me arrested:) It took her years to perfect the perfect blend of seasonings and flavors, and HOLY COW is this good! (note: moved from previous post as this deserves a posting of its own! And I'm just getting better-organized with this blogging stuff:)


Mama's Italian Red Sauce

• 4--3 oz cans of tomato paste
• 2--15 oz cans tomato sauce
• one small onion chopped
• season to taste:
• fresh basil
• roasted garlic
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• cracked black pepper
• oregano or Italian seasoning
• pinch of salt
• 4 cups of water in slow cooker
  
• 5 cups of water on stovetop

Italian "Meatball" Bombers

As vegetarians, it's not always easy to find something quick, easy and delicious. I came up with these "Meatball" bombers when I discovered how very good Nate's Zesty Italian Meatless Meatballs are!!!
(Notice I did the font colors in the colors of the Italian Flag:)
Here's my recipe:
--toasted onion buns
--zesty Italian red sauce (I had my mom's homemade sauce left over in the freezer)
--Nate's Zesty Italian "Meatballs"
--a thin slice of mozzarella or provolone cheese.
--put it all together and you have the makings of a delicious sandwich!

Butterfly Class

We had butterfly class today at our local nature center located just a couple of miles from our house. Unfortunately it was raining so we could not do our usual walk in the woods and to the pond to look for occurrences in nature. But the girls had a lot of fun. Something very interesting happened as we were leaving class, the girls stopped to see a couple of turtles (whom they touched and played with at our last turtle class)--and Boxy the Box turtle (in her glass case) walked right up to the front of the case and was interacting with the girls--cocking her head back and forth--and just looking at them as they were at her--and Boxy yawned too:)

Anyway, back to butterflies:

We enjoyed playing and acting out Eric Cole's THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR (for some reason, I don't have that book, I'll have to add it to my wish list:)

The Butterfly's Life cycle:

1. An Adult Butterfly lays an egg.
2. The egg hatches into a caterpillar or larva.
3. The caterpillar forms the chrysalis or pupa.
4. The chrysalis matures into a butterfly.

Pinto Bean Sloppy Joes

Top these with a thin slice of provolone or smoked gouda, along with some ketchup on a toasted onion bun, and you have the makings of a delicious meatless sloppy joe!

• olive oil
• 1 med. onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 bell pepper, finely diced
• 4-5 kosher dill pickles, finely diced
• 1 pound (about two cups) of pinto or black beans (rinsed and drained if using a can)
• 1/4 cup of wheat germ
• 1 cup of thick tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes
• 1 T. soy sauce
• Dijon Mustard to taste
• Worscestire Sauce to taste
• 1 tsp. of honey or brown rice syrup
• 1 tsp. of chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp dried basil

Sautee' onions and peppers. Add remaining ingredients to a gentle simmer. Mash with a potato masher. Simmer over medium heat, loosely covered for 5-7 minutes.

My Future's So Bright, I've Got to Wear Shades!

Meatless "Meat" Loaf

My "Meat" Loaf Recipe:

• 1/4 cup of walnuts, toasted and ground or crushed
• 4-5 kosher dill pickles, chopped small
• 3/4 cup onions, chopped
• 3-4 cups of cooked beans mashed (e.g. kidney, pinto, or black)
• 8 oz shredded cheddar (or cheese of choice)
• 1 1/4 cup of ground oats
• 3 T. soy sauce
• 3 T. worschestire sauce
• 2 T. ketchup
• 1 T. Dijon mustard
• 2 T. fresh chopped parsley
• seasonings of choice
• option: one egg to bind, not necessary as the oats and beans hold it together

mix every thing and press into a loaf pan.

bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
then at 375 degrees for 10 minutes
brush on additional ketchup and cheese and bake 5-10 minutes.

serve with mashed potatoes, corn, etc-and you have a great dinner (even for meat eaters:)

All Cozied up by the Camp Fire!