The Wonders of Compost and how to get rid of pests naturally

Posted on June 13, 2011

Do you know you have free fertilizer from your garden that you are throwing into your garbage can everyday?  Why not use it for compost for that delicious garden you are fawning over every day.  Save all your vegetable peels, leftovers, egg shells, coffee grounds anything that is natural material (not meat or dairy other than egg shells) put them into a bowl and put them into a composter (which you can make or buy just about anywhere these days) add water and turn once in awhile…voila…free…yes FREE fertilizer.  And the best fertilizer at that.  Back in the day, my grandma just used a separate part of the yard, dug a hole and put her compost in there.  She would shovel the top to the bottom every couple weeks or so and have fresh compost for her garden all the time.  For those of you who don’t know the benefits of compost…it is what adds the nutrients and vitamins to your soul so that your plants will grow larger, and produce more product, which is the goal of the garden after all.  ;)

Some of you may have watched Paul James on HGTV way back when they were first starting up.  He did a show called gardening by the yard.  I was always envious of his ginormous yard the size of two football stadiums, but he always had really GREAT tips for natural bug killers and fertilizers.  Compost was one, the other was a very easy bug killer that is non toxic and will do wonders to kill the pests in your garden.  So here is the simple recipe.  There are recipes for other pests as well, I will start with these two that I found interesting.  We have wasps at our house so the soap and water one is a must for us.  I keep spray bottles around with this mixture so the kids can spray the wasps if they get too close.  NOTE:  Don’t spray the bees…we need them to pollinate our fruit and vegetable plants.  :D

Bug Killer:

  • 1/4 cup dish soap
  • 1 qt of water

If you have Aphids…here’s another home treatment

  • 1 part 409 cleaner
  • 1 part rubbing alcohol
  • 2 parts water

3% hydrogen peroxide will work fine too

And last but not least….green up that lawn (From Tim Heffron a former golf course groundskeeper)  If your climate is not as dry you might have to slightly modify the recipe.

  • One full can of regular pop (any kind-no diet soda)
  • One full can of beer (no light beer) 12oz
  • 1/2 Cup of Liquid dishwashing soap (do NOT use anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid)
  • 1/2 Cup of household ammonia
  • 1/2 Cup of mouthwash (any brand)

Directions:

  • Pour into 10-gallon hose-end sprayer (other sizes will work too)
  • In high heat, apply every three weeks

Happy Gardening!  :D

 

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Spaghetti Sauce Savvy

Posted on June 9, 2011

Summer is the season where we jam pack in all that we can during the days and long nights.  I thought I would give you some quick easy dinners that you can make out of one pot of spaghetti sauce.  I usually make my sauce in the morning and let it simmer all day long, it really makes a difference in the flavor and taste.  There are lots of different types of spaghetti sauces out there, some chunkier than others, some smoother consistencies.  I think it is all due to how long they cook.  The tomato based sauces tend to cook down the tomatoes to a smoother consistency.  So here is my basic recipe (actually my mom’s but it is the one I make too).  I make a huge pot of sauce when I make it because then I can freeze it in smaller containers or jars and have it ready for a quick dinner.  You could also can this if you wanted, just not with any meat.  I’ve never canned it because we eat it too fast and canning although a good way to store food is time consuming.  I save canning for things we don’t consume as quickly.

Here is my version of Spaghetti Sauce

  • 2 cans tomatoes (I like organic) or 6 cups fresh
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 3 cans tomato sauce
  • 1/4 palmful of parsley (to taste)
  • 1 Tbsp. Basil (to taste)
  • 1 palmful italian seasoning (to taste)
  • 3 whole cloves of garlic (to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp onion salt (to taste)
  • 1 tsp salt (to taste)

  1. Rinse all the cans with water and then add 2 more cups
  2. All the seasonings are to taste
  3. Bring the sauce to a boil.
  4. I cook my meat separately in the oven until is browned (either italian sausage or meatballs) and then add it to the sauce once it has come to a boil.  I then let it simmer on low all day.

And now some meal ideas with your spaghetti sauce:

Spaghetti and meat balls or Italian sausage (of couse) with garlic bread and a fresh tossed salad

Sausage or Meatball Sandwiches

Eggplant Parmesan

Homemade Pizza

Baked Ziti

I am sure there are others, but that is five I thought of off the top of my head.  Versatile and yummy…..what are you making for dinner?  ;)

Happy Almost Friday.

 

 

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Tai Chi or Faux Japanese Sword Fighting?

Posted on June 6, 2011

On a whim I decided to head on over to the club I workout at to try a Tai Chi class.  I’ve not done Tai Chi, but somewhere in the back of my mind I defined the class as being like power yoga with images of people standing in the park in their tranquil poses finding serenity and peace.  I needed a little serenity peace with last week being the first week of summer vacation, so I said what they hey…sign me up.  The class was at 7:30 so I screeched in at 7:29 because that’s how I roll.  I grab a mat and the class starts with stretching.  I mention to Larry, the instructor (who is indeed Japanese), that I’ve never done Tai Chi and I might need a little help.  It then occurs to me to look around the room, and I find I am the only female in the class.  This should have been a clue to me, unfortunately, it was not.  Alas, we start with a stretching routine and a few abs warm up exercises and I am thinking…this is going to be great.  Get some good stretching in, relax, enjoy the quiet in the dimly lit room with the pretty music…yes this is the class for me.  Then I hear Larry say, alright put your mats away.  I’m thinking, that’s weird…won’t we need those for stretching?  Larry then proceeds to hand me a faux wood sword (I kid you not!)  I am wondering what the heck is this for?  When my friendly instructor Larry starts to indeed practice some Japanese sword fighting moves.  At this point I start to sweat a little.  Then he puts us in pairs, I can’t remember the guy’s name I was paired with because I was seriously wondering how fast I could bolt from this class, when we start practicing these great sword moves with each other.  I suffer through an hour long class, wishing that my peaceful park posed Tai Chi was indeed happening in this class.  Finally, it’s 8:30.  Larry, who is something like Jackie Chan with these moves, then suggests I stay for the extra half hour of class and run through the poses with the class.  I am thinking, finally poses…peace, serenity, no more sword fighting.  Sure Larry I’ll stay.  What was I thinking?  Larry then begins to do some sort of sword fighting dance and all I can think of is I am indeed living Dustin Hoffman’s character from Meet the Fockers, when he is practicing Brazilian Fight Dancing….only this is the Japanese version.  Half an hour later, after feeling like the worst Japanese Fight Dancer ever to have walked the earth…Larry says “You did great, you must have taken dance because you balance is expceptional.”  I never did find that peace and tranquility….but I had a good laugh.  No more Tai Chi for me.

Happy Monday!

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Do you remember your field days?

Posted on May 25, 2011

I have spent a good chunk of my last week at school going to field day for the kids.  I think that as adults we should have field day too.  Maybe if offices had field day a couple of times a year it would improve employee moral and remind us how easy it is to get along and solve problems when we are having fun.  As I listened to the opening announcements in my 3rd graders class the message was simple.  Sure there will be winners, sure some people might do better than others, but the important lesson is everyone has fun and everyone is on the same team together.  The kids had a great day starting off with relay races and silly obstacle courses including one where they had to race to put on goggles, a pool ring raft and pool noodle in a contortion of directions including forwards, backwards and sideways and ending with the classic plug your nose dive dance.  The pictures were hysterical and the laughter was memorable.  Fun races like the three legged race and balancing a beach ball on a plunger while walking.  All in the spirit of fun and not winning.  The traditional long jump was there and made it’s debut has my son’s favorite.  Everyone ended up with ribbons and we beat out the rain to end the day with popsicles and a visit from the local fireman who sprayed them all with the hose.  Maybe in the grown up version of field day we could end with water balloons and a beer?  Life is too short to compete in everything, maybe remembering the fun of days gone by will add a little bit of adventure, nostalgia and a whole lot of joy back into our lives.

Welcome summer!

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Jam time (yes the kind you eat) and a long awaited canning tutorial

Posted on May 19, 2011

Today was strawberry/blackberry jam day around here because all the berries were a steal at Costco over the weekend.  Don’t be daunted by the canning process, I promise it isn’t that hard and you will love the results.  Besides, homemade jams and jellies just taste better.  Peanut butter and jelly will never be the same, and remember those neighbors you have been meeting to get acquainted or reacquainted with?  How about dropping off a loaf of homemade bread or scones and a little jar of jam?  You will be so in the “in” crowd on your street.  ;)  (Recipes for both scones and bread are forth coming.)  However, today is about jam…strawberry and blackberry specifically.  Several people have asked me for a  step by step tutorial on the canning process…as promised, here it is.

Collect the following items first prior to starting your canning project

  1. Jars, seals and rims clean and clear of rust, chips or dents.
  2. Jar Tongs (this probably isn’t the proper name but you know what I mean (see photo)

    Magnetic Lid Grabber, Jar Tongs, Wide Mouth Funnel

  3. Wide canning funnel
  4. Magnetic Lid Retriever
  5. Large canning pot or large pot for processing
  6. Small pot to boil seals and lids
  7. Medium to large pot for your jam to cook in
  8. Clean wash cloth
  9. Clean towels

You will need the following ingredients for your Strawberry Jam:

  • 2 Quarts Strawberries
  • 1 package pectin powder
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 7 cups sugar

The first step is to stick your jars in the dishwasher.  If they are already clean, just put them on the rinse and dry cycle so they get nice and hot and sanitized.  If you don’t have a dishwasher…don’t panic.  You can sanitize your jars by bringing a large pot of water to a boil and dipping them in with your jar grabbers.  Or you can dip them into your processing jar before you start processing.  You will need 4 pint sized jars for this recipe.

Second, (while you are santizing) set your canner/large pot full of water to boil on the stove.  Bringing that much water to a boil will take time.  If you are using a large pot without canning marks be sure to allow enough head space with the water to account for the jars.  If you fill it too full your stove will be awash with water.

Third, wash, hull (take the stem out) and either slice or mash your strawberries.  It all depends on how much strawberries “chunk” you want in your jam.  I doubled the recipe for one large lot of strawberries from Costco.  (The container says 4lbs)  Put your strawberries, lemon juice, pectin and sugar in a large pot (it will bubble up so allow room in the pot) and set the heat to medium/medium low.  Slowly bring the mixture to a boil.  In the meantime, set your rings and seals to boil in water in a separate pot.

Once it seems like the whole house is ready to boil…you are ready to can.  Remove the jars from the dishwasher or boiling water with a towel or jar tongs (they will be hot).  Set them near the stove.

 

 

This is blackberries because I made both jams

Work slowly and efficiently and your jelly will turn out well.  The key to good canning is getting a good seal.  Once my jam mixture is boiling I turn the heat down a little so the bubbles will settle.  You can skim the bubbles off if you want, but I normally don’t.

 

Slowly ladle your jar almost full with jam using the wide jar funnel.  Set the onto your next jar to be filled.  Leave 1/4 inch head room at the top to create a good seal.

Leave headroom in order to create a seal.

 

 

 

Wipe off jar rim to ensure a good seal

Gently wipe off the rim of your jar with a clean warm washcloth to remove any sticky from the jam.

 

 

 

 

Take your magnetic lid grabber and grab a seal.  Lay the seal on the jar being sure to only touch the top not the bottom.  Grab a ring with your magnetic grabber again and twist it into place on your jar.  Repeat until your jars are all full sealed and ringed.

 

 

 

If you are not using a canner you will need to be sure to keep an eye on your jars so they don’t clank into each other while boiling.  Gently lower the jars into the boiling water bath with your jar tongs.  Make sure the water covers the top of the jars.  (Hint put all the jars into the pot before adding water)  Process for 20 minutes in the water bath.

 

 

While waiting for your jars to process create a little bed for them to stay in while they cool.  Use clean towels.  Normally I lay two on the bottom and then leave three to cover them up.  This allows the jars to cool slowly and seal completely.  After your jars have finished processing, take them out one at a time with your jar grabbers and carry them to their bed.  It is a good idea to place a towel in your hand and carry the jar from the top and the bottom for stability as it will be very hot.  Sometimes you will hear a pop right away, others it might take some time.  That magic clink means you canned well.  ;)  Put the jars in their bed and let them cool completely.  If you press on the top of the jar and it doesn’t press in the jar has sealed.  You can also remove the rim and gently push on the seal, if it moves the jar did not seal if it is stuck, reapply the ring and put it in your pantry to use later.  You will need to use a lid remover to open these jars.

If a jar didn’t seal or you have a not full jar, don’t panic.  Attach a ring and a seal and put it in the refrigerator.  It will be fine to use.  If several jars didn’t seal you can either eat jam like crazy, share with neighbors telling them to keep it refrigerated or place the jars in the freezer.

I hope this was helpful and gets you in the kitchen to do some canning.  Happy canning!  :)

 

 

If you would like to try Blackberry Jam here is the recipe for that, follow the same canning directions.

Non Pectin Blackberry Jam

  • 9 cups crushed blackberries (I use a potato masher)
  • 6 cups sugar

 

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Today was “B” day

Posted on May 17, 2011

Let’s start by me telling you that I have waited a good majority of my life to get braces.  Not necessarily because my smile was “horrible” but rather just not perfectly gleaming from photos and close up.  On the other two occasions I tried to get braces (prior to today) the following happened:

First appointment, flashback 1993ish…went to the orthodontist for the initial appointment, all good to go, put that lovely clay like material in your mouth that tastes like chalky playdough and made the impressions of my teeth.  Fast forward a few weeks…diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  NO braces for me.  (I am fine…although I am sure I scared the H – E – double hockey sticks – out of my parents.  But, a little chemo, some surgery, good as new.  But that isn’t today’s story…so getting back to topic.)

Second appointment, flash forward to 2000ish.  Working a great job, making pretty good money, think I will head to get braces.  I have a terrible habit of grinding my teeth, a night guard would help, but really braces are a better fix to get your bite aligned.  Get ready to make the appointment, double pink lines this time….yes I am pregnant.  So much for having any extra money.  Again, NO braces for me.

Flash forward to a month ago.  I go to the dentist, I have “excellent oral care” he tells me….BUT….I am grinding my teeth to a nub.  Do you have a nightguard he asks “yes, but I haven’t worn it in about ten years…sort of lost priority during that three kid thing”.  Apparently, night guards are pretty essential as I have managed to grind two teeth down to the layer underneath the enamel.  In other words, the enamel is GONE.  I will need crowns, but have I ever considered braces?  It would really help things out.  I run through my past orthodontic saga and he sends me to an orthodontist.  I then relay the whole saga to Dr. N. who says in two weeks we will have you in braces (I think he took it as a personal challenge to move things along), you only have to wear them a year, you will love it when they come off and and and….60% of our patients are over age 30 so you won’t be alone.

That brings us to today…”B” day.  So I am chocked full of metal and wondering if I am in fact a better attractant to lightening (as it just started thundering) and am sucking down baby foods that don’t require much chewing.  I’m pretty sure I resemble the character in Ugly Betty sans the poncho, maybe a hat?  All in all, things aren’t so bad so far except for the obsessive need I feel to continually pick at my teeth.  Only 364 ish days to go.  :)

Happy Tuesday!

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An Afternoon of Tea

Posted on May 14, 2011

Image found at portfolio.du.edu

Somewhere back in April I decided I would host a tea party this summer for some friends.  I have been researching different tea houses and attending teas here and there as the budget allows to see what little touches I want to add to my own tea party.  I think that tea parties are perhaps one of the most girlie things we can do, we should have them often.  ;)

Today the women’s group at the church I attend hosted a tea party for members of the church.  The decorations were simple, the company, food, and entertainment were all delightful.  I won’t share too many tea details as those will be forthcoming as I plan my own party and teach you how to plan yours.   But there is something about a tea party that just doesn’t exist in the everyday lives of women today.  Conversation was exchanged about different teas we had attended, both here in Denver, within the U.S. and also abroad.  The differences in cultural and the importance of this simple gesture in different cultures.  I was curious about the history of Afternoon Tea, so I did a little research.  I found this cute link and this information about the creation of the Afternoon Tea Party.

History of the Afternoon Tea Party

While drinking tea as a fashionable event is credited to Catharine of Braganza, the actual taking of tea in the afternoon developed into a new social event some time in the late 1830’s and early 1840’s. Jane Austen hints of afternoon tea as early as 1804 in an unfinished novel. It is said that the afternoon tea tradition was established by Anne, Duchess of Bedford. She requested that light sandwiches be brought to her in the late afternoon because she had a “sinking feeling” during that time because of the long gap between meals. She began to invite others to join her and thus became the tradition.

 

The entertainment at this afternoon’s tea party, was a speaker who also added into her oratory, character reenactments.  She was delightful, informative and gave me a true appreciation of not only the lives of our forefathers, but also the women who stood beside them.  We often rush through our daily lives and miss the everyday moments.  I think back to the truly difficult circumstances that they lived through and I think have we really simplified our lives with technology?  Yes their physical labor was more difficult, but their priorities were family, the farm, and making a difference in their communities and country.  Today it seems we are more distracted and less focused on those things which should be the most important.  I always enjoyed this poem by Erma Bombeck, on a dreary day, having tea with mostly older women of the church, I have a greater appreciation for the simple.

Happy Saturday!

“IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather rambling about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculped like a rose before it melted
in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more
while watching life.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment, realising that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s” and more “I’m sorry’s”

. . . but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute . . .
look at it and really see it . . . and never give it back.”
— Erma Bombeck

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Planning for Canning

Posted on May 11, 2011

As you are revving up for summer and all the fun flavors that come with it, you might consider canning some of that deliciousness for next year.  As yard sales and spring cleaning begin to be in full swing, this is the time to start searching for bargains on your canning equipment.

Good Jar No Chips

Most importantly are your jars.  You want to find jars that are of various sizes depending on what food you are canning and how much space you have.  Pint jars are great for jellies, jams and sauces.  Whereas, quart jars are better for fruits and veggies like tomatoes, green beans, applesauce, etc.  When you are hunting for jars on the cheap, keep in mind to make sure there are no cracks or chips on the jar, especially on the mouth.  Jars with cracks and chips can’t be used because they won’t seal properly.

While hunting you may run across jar lids

Chipped Jar

and seals.  I recommend buying your seals new because they are relatively inexpensive, can only be used once and loose their effectiveness after a certain time period.  If your jars don’t seal you are really wasting your time and will have to eat the food you have canned immediately.  When looking for rims, inspect the interior for dings and rust.  Avoid those and only use clean smooth rims for your canning.

Rusty Rim

Right now is a great time to combine two of my favorites, strawberries and rhubarb.  I have two rhubarb plants in my yard and they are easy to care for, come back every year, and provide plenty of rhubarb for cobbler, sauce and pie for our family.  Rhubarb at the store can be expensive, it is a worthwhile investment to get your own plant.

Clean Rim

This is an easy freezer recipe for strawberry rhubarb spread…we will get to canning in another episode.  Stay tuned.  ;)

Happy Hump Day!

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

  • 1 1/2 cups crushed or sieved strawberries
  • 1/2 cup diced (small) rhubarb
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 1 pkg powdered pectin
  • 3/4 cup water
  1. Combine berries, rhubarb and sugar in a medium pan, bring to a low boil.  Combine water and pectin in a small sauce pan, bring to a boil.  Boil 1 minute stirring constantly.  Add to fruit mixture and stir for three minutes.  Ladle jam into can or freeze jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.  Adjust two piece caps.  Let stand at room temperature until set, up to 24 hours.  Label and freeze.  Makes about 6 half pints.
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Remember when your mom sent you outside for the entire day?

Posted on May 10, 2011

Apparently kids today view being outside as some sort of punishment.  I remember growing up my mom would send us out for the day and say I’ll see you at lunch (and not before).  We would hustle in, inhale our lunch and head back outside.  Why would we want to be inside, all of our friends were outside.  We would ride bikes, jump rope, hopscotch, play flag football (yes even the girls), hula hoop, play jacks, kickball, tennis…if you were lucky one of your friends had a pool.  You name it, if it was outside…we were there.  Only to be summoned for food and bedtime.  I think kids today are at a severe disadvantage due mostly to tv and video games.  I am planning a revolution of our old time games and activities.  I am hoping it will spread across the neighborhood, the state, heck even the country.  I say we go outside and play with our kids…or play like kids.  They will get the idea.  ;)

 

 

Here are some summer activities to enjoy outdoors.  Summer is peaking it’s head right around the corner…make this one a summer to remember.

  1. Go on a bike ride.
  2. Fly a kite
  3. Play hide and seek, jacks, hopscotch, dodgeball, croquet, kick the can or red light green light.
  4. Set up a tent in the backyard and have a campout.
  5. Roast marshmallows in your fire pit.
  6. Set up an ice cream sundae station and invite the neighbors over.
  7. Make homemade popsicles.
  8. Jump rope or hula hoop.
  9. Set up an obstacle course in the yard.  Include a tug o war.
  10. Jump on a trampoline.
  11. Slide on a slip-n-slide.
  12. Do a cannonball off the high dive.
  13. Take a picnic to a local park or forest.
  14. Go on a nature hike.
  15. Check out the local farmer’s markets.
  16. Chase down the ice cream man.

Enjoy summer….it’s only here for a little while.

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Monday’s Marvelous Meatloaf

Posted on May 9, 2011

 

If you are like me you are always trying to figure out something for dinner, and usually in my case, it is about half an hour before everyone’s stomach reaches empty and starving mode.  I find on those days that I end up going back to some favorites that I grew up with.  One being my mom’s meatloaf.  This is a quick and easy recipe that can quickly be made into a complete meal.  So, for this Monday post Mother’s Day Hangover, I say make a meatloaf.  I have also put low-fat/healthy recommendations if you are trying to cut calories.

 

Marvelous Meatloaf

  • 1lb lean ground beef or turkey
  • 1/2 lb sausage or turkey sausage
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 finely chopped onion
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 Tbsp sage (as desired)
  • small can tomato sauce (I like plain but you can use any variety to jazz your meatloaf up)
  • A dash of Worcestershire sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
  3. Squeeze ketchup or BBQ sauce to coat the top.
  4. Place in a loaf or bundt pan and then put into a 350 degree oven.
  5. Bake for 30-45 minutes until browned.

At the same time I like to put in potatoes to bake or sweet potatoes.  Make a nice salad and in our case green beans were on sale, so I put them on the stove to cook.  This enables the entire meal to be ready at about the same time.

Serve and enjoy bringing this longtime tradition to your table.

Happy Monday!

 

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