Make Everyday Earth Day

Earth Day 2006

My first job as a kid was going door to door collecting donations for PennPIRG and their reduce reuse recycle campaign. I was 17, and at the end of that summer I went off to college. Its funny how you are so often formed by the experiences of your late teens. I'm still a vegetarian because a reading of Anne Lappe's, Diet for a Small Planet. I just never learned to cook meat.

So,  I'm a life long greenie, but Earth Day often goes by unnoticed.

You still have time to make this for dinner (vegan)

 

It's rare but it's 3pm and I know what we're having for dinner tonight. I'm sharing this because you still have time to make this for tonight as well!  Here's a link to the recipe: Vegan Quinoa Salad.  This one dish meal has something for everyone, and works well as a picnic side too (no pesky mayo to keep you up at night).  I always forget how much every one loves this dish but fortunately DH made the request. It calls for cukes, bell peppers, tomatoes and broccoli and of course quinoa.  I have in the past substituted for each of these ingredients (i even accidentally made it with cous cous, and it was still very good. Its' 15 min. on the stove and a while to chill, but if you don't put the veggies in right away you can chill the cooked grain in the freezer for quick summer supper that even my DS will eat. Aside from looking yummy quinoa is a source of complete protein and other nutrients ==>Nutrition Facts Here<==; and if you don't really feel like cooking and just want some colorful history associated with it ==>Quinoa on Wikipedia here<==

fresh cukes

uncooked quinoa from bulk section

 

the worlds easiest dressing

BTW: this is my 100th post, but that's counting the one that DD made from my phone by accident. Anyway I'm thinking of revamping and renaming this site so look for coming changes. And some more frequent post as well!

What are you having for dinner tonight? Because I have no idea what I'm making for Thursday.

Why Not to Hire an Architect to Build a Sandbox: Part 1

Laid out on our driveway

Laundry

from my local Wegmans

I've been making my own laundry soap. Some combination of sensitive skin and noses in my family means we are very picky about laundry soap. But I never really added it up, as it turns out: $9.36 = FOUR MONTHS of laundry for four with cloth diapers. Click here to visit Kelly's Closet for more about cloth diapers and diaper care.

Our old liquid cost $8-$11 for about 3 weeks worth and DIY means no plastic containers to throw out.
Win

(from my friend Cynthia)

2c washing soda
2c borax
1/3 - 1/2  grated bar of soap (I use Fels-Naptha)

Mix together and use 1 tablespoon per load (yep, that's all 1 tablespoon)

Here's the recipe for liquid in the past but I prefer the powdered just because the prep is easier:

1/2 - 1  grated bar of fels naptha soao

2 cups borax

2 cups washing soda

3.5 gallons of water

Melt grated soap in a pot with about half a gallon of water.....stir until dissolved. Pour into a 5 gallon bucket (or recycle a cat little bucket with lid)

Add borax and washing soda and stir until dissolved. Add the other 3 gallons of water and stir. Once it cools it will look like a white lumpy gel.

Use 1/4 cup per regular load and up to 1/2 cup for extra large loads. It's safe in all washing machines.

One batch costs roughly $3.20 to make and lasts about 6-7 months.
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I understand that you can add a few drops of essential oils if you feel like having a fragrance.

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