Nov

28

2011

Happy (late) Thanksgiving and Smoothies!

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Category : cooking, diy, fun, recipes

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I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! Ours was small. My mom and sister were in Tennessee visiting family and Genevieve was in Michigan with her dad, so it was just me, my boyfriend and his mom. So it was different from most years, but a nice break from the usual routine. I was really happy that I got turkey and ham bones to make stock out of! The freezer is stocked for awhile now. I skipped Black Friday shopping. I don’t do well with crowds and long lines, and I prefer to use discount sites and coupon codes and do most of my holiday shopping online.

About a month ago Genevieve noticed the blender and asked me what it was for. I told her it was for making smoothies, because I couldn’t think of anything else right then even though I have never made them before. Since then she’s asked a few times if we can make them, and yesterday we finally did.

After consulting foodgawker and becoming hopelessly overwhelmed by all the smoothie recipes, and then wondering why I can’t manage to make such a simple drink I texted my friend Alaina, who loves cooking as much as I do. She broke it down in simple terms: fruit and a bit of liquid or ice, throw in blender, blend. So easy!

I used canned fruit, because none of the fresh at the grocery store looked delicious at all. I can of peaches, half a can of pineapple and a bit of orange juice. They were delicious, and now I have dreams of making a variety of fruit smoothies to go with breakfast each morning…

Genevieve making smoothies

in the blender

make smoothies today!

Jan

23

2011

Homemade Furniture Polish/Wood Cleanser

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Category : diy

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For the past few years I’ve been trying to make all my own home cleaning products. There are a few I haven’t been able to master, toilet bowl cleaner and dishwasher liquid. I have been waiting for my furniture polish to run out and it’s taken this long! It’s true that I don’t polish it all that often though…

I tried this one from Better Basics for the Home and it was fantastic! All of the milk splatters and other gross stuff that Ve has gotten on the tables came right off. It left the wood shiny and clean, and was easy to make and use.

Here’s the recipe:

1/4 cup vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
a few drops oil (I used olive, about a Tablespoon)
Optional ~ a few drops essential oil (I used sage, because I like the smell and it’s naturally anti-bacterial)

Just mix all the ingredients together and apply with a clean, soft cloth. You may have to do a second wipe with a dry cloth. Since it doesn’t contain much oil it doesn’t leave a greasy residue and actually seemed to protect the wood.

This is now my go-to recipe for wood cleansing. It’s cheap and natural and works great, so I see no reason to pay money for an inferior product. Try it out!

Nov

15

2010

Homemade Bread Crumbs

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Category : cooking, diy

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Making your own bread crumbs is so easy! You can season them as you like, or leave them plain and they taste far better than store-bought. Plus, they are free, since you already paid for the bread.

Preheat oven to 350

Crumble bread ends (either store-bought or homemade) into a bowl

Toss the crumbs in about a tablespoon of olive oil, add a bit of salt, pepper and fresh or dried herbs if you’d like (I used a bit of dried parsley in this batch)

Place the crumb mixture on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 5 minutes, toss the crumbs and bake for another 5 minutes or until browned

Remove from oven and let cool

That’s it! These should be okay stored in an air-tight container, but I always freeze mine because I want to ensure that they don’t go bad.

about to go in the oven

finished!

Oct

21

2010

How to Roast Pumpkin and Winter Squash

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Category : cooking, diy, recipes

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I hate canned pumpkin. For years I thought that I didn’t like pumpkin at all, until I finally roasted my own and realized that it is actually delicious! Now I get really excited when pie pumpkins hit the market and I can buy a bunch to roast and make sweet or savory meals with it, and freeze whatever is left over. It is hard to cut through the thick shells, I usually end up kinda sawing through it. I had butternut squash to roast too, so I went ahead and did them at the same time. Usually I cut the squash into cubes and roast with olive oil, garlic and herbs, but I was using it to make gnocchi so I wanted it plain this time.I don’t know exactly how long they last in the fridge, but I think it’s around a week. I freeze the leftovers in 1 cup portions in plastic freezer bags.

How to do it:

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil (or put it directly on if you want more of a mess).

Wash the produce. Get out a cutting board and large, sharp knife.

Cut the top off the pumpkin, then cut it in half. Scoop out the seeds and the stringy bits. I reserve the seeds to roast.

Cut the top off the squash, cut it again just before the bell, then cut those pieces in half. Scoop out the seeds and stringy bits, and these seeds can be roasted too!

Place all the pieces face-down on your prepared baking sheets. Some people add a bit of water, but I don’t and don’t see the point of adding an extra step in when it’s unnecessary.

Start checking them after about 45 minutes, but it usually takes about an hour. They are ready when they are soft.

When cool enough to touch, scoop out the meat and discard the skins. Enjoy!

Sep

27

2010

How to Can Tomatoes

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Category : cooking, diy

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Home canned tomatoes are the only thing that can even begin to compare to fresh summer tomatoes. There is nothing like opening up a can in January and enjoying a little taste of summer. It is a considerable amount of work, and it is worth it. I spent about 5 hours on this batch and ended up with 25 pint jars, which will hopefully get us through the winter. I bought a half-bushel of tomatoes (only $12!), and it weighed 25 lbs! I had never done that big of a batch before but I’m glad I did. Last year was my first year canning and I only had 10 cans, which only got us through about half of the cold months.The benefits of canning your own are that you can use local tomatoes, organic and/or of any variety, and they won’t be loaded with sodium and preservatives. Also, the flavor is far superior to factory canned or using off-season fresh tomatoes.

My method for canning crushed tomatoes is adapted from The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. I insist you read this book or another reputable one before you can at home. If not done properly it is possible for bacteria to grow in your cans which can cause food poisoning. That said, don’t be scared. After canning just a few times it starts to feel easy and learning new skills is always a good thing.

1. Examine jars and closures for nicks and chips, discard any that are not in perfect condition. Wash jars.

2. Place jars in a large pot of boiling water. A canning rack should be used, but I don’t have one and it’s been fine. Place lids in a separate pot of warm (NOT boiling) water.

3. In another large pot, boil water. Place clean tomatoes in the boiling water for a minute or so until the skins loosen and can easily be peeled off. I use tongs to remove the tomatoes. Immediately place them in a bowl of icy water to slip skins off. Remove core and any bruised portions.

4. Quarter about 2 cups of tomatoes and heat them in yet another large pot (this should be stainless steel). Mash the tomatoes as they come to a boil. Keep quartering tomatoes and adding them to the pot, you probably won’t need to keep mashing them, as they soften in the heat. After all tomatoes are added boil 5 minutes.

quartered tomatoes

tomatoes in the pot

almost ready to jar!

5. Remove a jar from its bath using canning tongs. For pint jars, add 1 Tablespoon bottled lemon juice (the acid is necessary for safe canning). Using a wide-mouth funnel pour in enough tomatoes to leave 1/2 inch headspace. I use a soup ladle to get the tomatoes from the pot to the jar with minimal mess. Wipe rim. Place lid on jar, close with screw band. Repeat until all jars are filled.

carefully removing the jar, the water in there is hot!

a filled jar

6. Place jars in canner. Make sure they are covered by at least 1 inch of water. Cover. Start the processing time when the water is at a rapid boil (and it must stay at a rapid boil the entire time). Process for 35 minutes, wait 5 minutes, remove jars with canning tongs and let cool. Store and use as needed.

finished!

Aug

19

2010

How to Freeze Broccoli

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Category : cooking, diy, recipes

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Last summer I started learning preserving. I wanted to be able to eat locally all year, avoid preservatives in food and save money. I did a great job of it, we had a wide variety of jams to enjoy through the winter and plenty of veggies frozen. This year I’m behind, I didn’t put up any asparagus or rhubarb, and I know I’ll be kicking myself for not having any on-hand when I feel like eating some. I did make 10 jars of strawberry jam with honey, which will taste incredible on toast or stirred into oatmeal on cold winter mornings. I’ve also already made and frozen 6 bags of marinara sauce which isn’t nearly enough, but there is time left on fresh tomatoes. This week I realized that summer is coming to an end and if I want to eat well this winter it’s time to step up the preserving before it’s too late, so I bought just under 6 lbs of broccoli at the market yesterday for $6, and a few bunches of parsley to dry for $1.50.

I would recommend preserving food to anyone. It’s not always easy and it does take time but it’s worth it to have a freezer and cabinet stocked with food that hasn’t travelled 3000 miles to get to your door. Plus, having a selection on hand prevents unnecessary trips to the grocery store and you never end up eating tasteless, out of season produce. Check out The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving and The Busy Person’s Guide to Preserving Food for instructions and recipes.

My simple method of freezing broccoli is adapted from the Busy Person’s Guide, and is a great place to start for beginning preservers.

Remove any leaves from broccoli, wash and chop
Blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes
Remove and quickly cool, using ice or under running water
Let dry and put as much as you typically use at once in freezer safe bags

blanched broccoli, drying

my strawberry jam

Jul

28

2010

Speaking to an herb guild and Beverly Arts Feast

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Category : diy, recipes, special events

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I’ve had a really busy week. Besides my regular farmer’s markets I was able to participate in 2 special events in the past week. An herb guild invited me to speak on Thursday evening, and Sunday I had the Beverly Arts Feast.

I met a member of the herb guild about a month ago at the Homer Glen Farmer’s Market. She had asked me if I would be interested in coming to speak about soap-making to them, and to set up my products so the members could have a private shopping event. It’s different from the work I usually do, but I thought it would be a fun experience and give me the opportunity to meet some new people. I was nervous, I’ve never talked about what I do to more than a few people at a time, but I’m glad I did it. The group was really great, they were interested in my products and asked good questions. Just for fun, I decided to make a garden’s scrub out of pantry ingredients to demonstrate to them, and to teach them something they can easily do at home. I ended up having fun and hope to do it again some day.

Easy Garden’s Scrub with Lavender

1 Tablespoon any kind of sugar
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon dried lavender (crushed)
1 squirt honey

a lavender field

I only found out about the Beverly Arts Feast a week before the event. I met a lady at the Oak Lawn Farmer’s Market, she passed my card along to her friend who is one of the organizers, who called me to invite me to participate. So it was a bit last minute to prepare, but I didn’t want to miss what proved to be a great event. Beverly is a really nice neighborhood in Chicago, there are beautiful old homes there and a cute little downtown area with shops and galleries. The fest was so nice, there were quality vendors, live music and bunches of great food! If you’re ever in the area, eat at Cafe 103, delicious! Luckily, the day was finally not crazy hot like it has been recently and bunches of people came out and many of them bought my products ♥ My friend Luz lives in the area and came out and ended up helping me all day. She’s a great salesperson, I don’t know how she did it, but I’m sure that my sales were higher because she has a magic way of framing my products to potential clients. I also got to meet Luz’s friend Erin, who was there giving massages. She offers yoga classes on Sunday mornings that I want to attend soon.

taking a break with mini gelato cones

I was exhausted after all of it, for days I didn’t have a chance to rest or get much done at home besides make product, but I’m glad for all of it. I met new people and introduced them to Veve’s Handmade and had fun!

Jun

10

2010

Why I love to soak and 4 easy soaks you can make at home

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A soak, for me, is one of the easiest ways to bring luxury and relaxation into my life. I take a bath when I’m stressed, when I’m sick, when my muscles are sore and when I just need some time to relax. I always come out feeling better, warm and refreshed. A long soak can’t cure all your problems, but it does go a long way towards easing them.

I wish this was my bathtub

My current favorite soak is with my Dancing Queen Fizzies and Cocoa Lavender Bath Melts. I come out with super soft skin, feeling moisturized and smelling great. When my daughter bathes, I put a scoop of my bath salts in, and let her throw in some fizzie crumbs, she loves to see them explode and dissolve!

There are ways to take inexpensive luxury baths at home. I used to love shopping for yummy bath products, especially from Lush, before I learned how easy is it to mix up simple potions at home, with ingredients you can find at most groceries.

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♥ Milk Bath ~ Pour a cup or two of any kind of milk in a warm bath. I prefer to use full-fat, and buttermilk is also a good choice, and I love powdered goats’s milk. This is what Cleopatra bathed in.

♥ Salts ~ Sprinkle a handful of epsom salts or sea salts into your bath. I know that epsom salts may seem old-fashioned, but they really work! Read more about their benefits here. For scent, mix in a few drops of your favorite essential oil or fragrance oil, lavender is great for calming.

♥ Bath Tea ~ Wrap up a handful of dried herbs in cheesecloth or a muslin bag and put it in the bath while the water is running. I like calendula, chamomile and rose petals, but any dried herb or tea will work.

♥ Baking Soda ~ Want soft skin? Use baking soda in your bath. Pour about a cup into your tub and come out feeling silky smooth.

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Feel free to mix and match these fun at-home recipes and see what you can come up with. One of the best parts of making your own is that you can customize your bath experience according to your preferences.

Please check for allergies before you make any of these beauty treatments at home.

Jun

06

2010

Container Gardening

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Category : Featured, Uncategorized, diy, gardening

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Last summer we lived in a rented house shared with my sister. We had a decent yard space, with a little area fenced off behind the garage that was perfect for a garden. It was my first time gardening, and it was a lot of fun. It was also a lot of work! I loved it though, and it provided much fresh produce and herbs throughout the season, plus some food to preserve for the winter.

Corn in my first garden

I grew a sexy lady carrot! I pickled her with some cucumbers and she was delicious!

Heirloom tomatoes and romano beans

This summer me and Ve live in an apartment, but I didn’t want to give up on gardening. All winter long I missed being able to go outside and pick dinner. I missed the fresh tomatoes, I missed snips of fresh, organic herbs in most of our meals, so I decided that I would grow what I could on my balcony.

The balcony is fairly large, for an apartment, and faces south. We live on the third floor with no other buildings close by blocking the sun. I’m starting some from seeds, and I bought some seedlings. To save space, I made these hanging upside-down planters for tomatoes and cucumbers and some herbs.

Empty upside-down planter

Basil

Mexican Midget tomatoes and basil

I ran out of small planters to start seeds in, so I decided to keep going with the idea of reusing empty plastic bottles by cutting them in half and using each piece as a planter. I’m not sure how it’s going to work, but I’m hoping for the best. These are flowers, but I have a few with herbs and tomato seeds too. I found some left-over seeds from last year, and I put those in empty egg cartons.

White Rose Campion

Herb seeds in an egg carton

Growing directly in the ground, I didn’t need to use fertilizer. I had prepared the soil for planting last year, turning it and mulching it, so the plants could take what they needed from the soil. Plants growing in containers need to be fed so I’m using fish emulsion. The stuff really stinks, but from what I’ve read it’s a great organic option, the smell doesn’t linger and they only need to eat twice a month.

Wish me luck! I plan on writing about my garden all season long, so check back in to see how it’s doing ♥