This Years Goals

Every window I look out I see beautiful snow. This winter has been colder than normal, which makes it a good time to spend inside. A time to think what my goals for 2011 will be and listing them here maybe I will get them all done.

1. Have a great veggie garden and do a little extra for the local food bank. (We moved in after the garden season).
2. Change out our heating source to something cheaper and better for the environment.
3. Complete my first year trash free and living by rethink, recycle, reuse and reduce. I have 6 months left. Half way there. :-).
4. Learn to make home made bread. I made it when I was a kid but my mother was close and could help me.
I will keep you updated along the way.

Chicken Dinner for under $10.00

Well last night I posted on my Facebook page that I made dinner for a family of 4 and it only costing me $7.00. Everyone was interested. So tonight dinner was Baked breaded chicken strips, potato skins and a great salad. The salad was huge and only costs $1.50.  The total cost was $9.00 for four of us. It took about 15 minutes to get cooking and then cooked for about 30 minutes.  Not to bad I say.

The salad: cut up half a lettuce, on top cut tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and avocado. My four year old made the honey mustard dressing. All was great.

Enjoy

Creating a Greener Family: Apple Sauce

Creating a Greener Family: Apple Sauce: "As I contiune to look at the food in America and what I have at home, I didn't even think about Apple Sauce. Apple Sauce is one of those foo..."

Apple Sauce

As I contiune to look at the food in America and what I have at home, I didn't even think about Apple Sauce. Apple Sauce is one of those foods that kids love, well my two do and since my son doesn't like to bite into an apple it is a way for me to get him to eat it. Well a light bulb went off yesterday and I have been feeling stupid ever since. Why not make my own apple sauce. I think because it is so easy to pick up at the store I have never thought about making it. Well it is so easy to make and the kids said it was the best they had ever tasted.

Recipe:
Local apples. Take the kids to pick out their own.
A little sugar, lemon juice, and water.
Bring to the boil and then simmer until ready.

Give it a try.

Food in America

So I was at the store the other day watching what the lady in front of me was buying. Something I do alot while I'm waiting my turn. I look to see what people get and try to work out what they are going to cook, and sometimes wonder if people do it to me.  We listen to all the talk about what is going into our food and how we are not eating right and then we still go on to buy prepared box food, which is what I see the most of.  We color our cheese as we are used to seeing it yellow or orange and not the real color of white. We think eating and drinking diet will help instead of just eating less. Why????? Why don't we just make food the good old fashion way and enjoy being in the kitchen. It doesn't take long. In fact I can get a dinner on in 10 minutes and be sitting down at the table eating in about 30 minutes. AS the new year starts I hope we all make a difference in what we are doing to ourselves. 

Green Toys Review

Since I gave my kids some more green toys for Christmas. I thought it was a good time to write a review from what my kids had to say. First of all they were so happy to be getting something Mommy sells. Their little faces were all excited when they open their presents. My son got the Tugboat and jumped up to hug me. He said this is very cool and I can pour water over my head to get the shampoo out and it will not go in my eyes. So true and great if you have kids that hate having their hair washed.  Next my little girl got the tea set. She has played with it since Christmas day. Every room I go into she has it set up ready for a tea party. Her words were "you told me I would get one for Christmas and I love it. THANK YOU MOMMY!"
Now when you buy green toys you will notice they come straight out of the box. No tags or wires, no kids saying open it, open it. Plus you can recycle the box.

Christmas and the New Year

As 2010 comes to an end. I can only look forward to what 2011 is going to bring. What are your plans? We have almost been in our new (old) farm house for a year. The spring will bring planting and cleaning up under the trees and around the pond.  But before that it will be cold and spending time inside researching new and different ways to help us reduce waste and live off our land.  When we brought this place lots of stuff was left behind. Most of which we have been able to recyle. We still have a long way to go to get it the way we would like. Merino Moms has had a great first year and we are looking forward to finding more ways and products to help you and us out.

  Happy Holidays enjoy your family and friends.