Yes I was an addict. A bleach addict that is! I still have setbacks and moments where I start to reach for the bleach and have to stop myself. I think this started when I was very young because I remember the smell of Lysol that my mom religiously cleaned with. I am not talking about a little here or a little there I am talking everything was cleaned with it. Back then though my mom did not think anything about it. Cleaner the better and it got passed down to me.
Any cleaning supplies I would buy had to have bleach in them and I even used Ammonia and Lysol to clean with. On cleaning day my house would smell like I had cleaned with a bottle of bleach. If you have ever seen the bleach commercials on tv where the guy was jumping into the bed and all you see was this nasty bacteria that they told you was in your sheets. Yeah I shudder whenever I think of that commercial because I would dump cups of bleach in my sheets to wash them.
This all changed though after I had the boys I think they were around six months when I had one of them in the Bumbo chair on the counter in the kitchen. Gasp yes I had my son in a Bumbo chair on the counter. Before I get the riot act about having it on the counter please let me assure you it was in a corner so he would not fall backwards and I never ever left the room. My other son was safely in his bouncy seat hanging from the laundry room door. Now back to my intended blog......I was cleaning the counters and went to spray cleaner and realized he was sitting right there. That started me thinking about all the chemicals I was using on and around us. I was ready for a change.
Besides the fact that bleach a skin irritant it can be bad for your lungs. My mom can't use bleach much anymore because the fumes will make her sick for days, almost as if she has bronchitis. I started looking for greener and health friendly alternatives. It has taken me over six months to make a gradual change which started with laundry soap and softener, then to kitchen cleaners, and etc. The most basic was baking soda and vinegar. By the way is was fun to mix the two and watch them foam. (I know I am easy to entertain) I learned during this time to that it is actually bad to remove all bacteria. Overly cleaning can actually make us sick because when we do come in contact with bacteria our bodies don't know how to fight it off. For more on the dangers of bleach in itself please check out the link below. I found it interesting that Chlorine was first made not for cleaning but for use in chemical warfare.
When I first started making the swtich I was worried more about the price more then anything. So I started looking up natural cleaners. Duh...Baking soda, vinagar, lemon and grapefruit oil/extract. Though I have yet to use grapefruit oil I have heard it is amazing stuff. Baking soda in itself proves over and over to be a great product and relitvitly cheap to. I like to buy it in bulk and use it to clean my stove top, the bathtubs (takes the ring right out with just a bit of elbow grease), toilets, in the laundry and diaper pail. With vinegar you can make window wash, wash your floors with it, and also use it in the laundry. There are so many uses for all these easy to get products and they are safe.
I have also tried Seventh Generation, Method and Green Works. I like Seventh Generation the best though at times it can be pricey and I am always looking for the lowest prices. Green Works is ok but to me anything made by the same company that makes Clorox Bleach seems untrustworthy to me. I even have clorine free bleach in the house now and that has been the biggest change for me. The night I washed the tub with bleach and thought I had it all rinsed good enough when I gave the boys a bath made that an easy switch for me. Their legs and bottom half of their body was covered in red rash and I have never looked back.
Removing chemicals from our houses is not only good for our body's but for the environment as well. For example when I replaced the laundry detegant for a green alternive I was getting rid of the petrolim in my previous product. I now use products that are non toxic, renewable, and biodegradable. Which is way better for the environment. I am including another link to information on how to clean green, how to do it cheap if you want, and where to start.
Link on the Dangers of Bleach: (worth the short read)
http://www.educatingwellness.com/prevention/dangers-of-bleach
How to go Green: (with cleaning)
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/how-to-go-green-cleaning.php
131 ways to use Vinegar:
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/homemaking/vinegar.html
72 Ways to use Baking Soda:
http://lifehackery.com/2008/07/22/home-4/
Things about lemons you never knew you could do:
http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-green-clean-with-lemon-a110908
The last three links are just the tip of what you can do. The most amazing to me is using a cut lemon to disinfect and deodorize it! Please check them out it will amaze you!
The recipe I am including in this blog is slowly becoming a favorite around here thanks to a good friend that showed me Turkey is more then for Thanksgiving. Again I never measure my own recipes all measurements are approximate.
Turkey Meatloaf
2lbs ground turkey
Half a sleeve of soda crackers (crushed)
2 eggs
Tablespoon milk
dash salt/pepper
1 medium onion chopped
Worcester sauce (a splash here or there)
Italian Seasoning
Garlic (4 cloves chopped and mashed)
Ketchup
Take the ground turkey and put it in big bowl add all ingredients for the Italian Seasoning I always eyeball it never measure I don't think I would put more then a couple teaspoons though. If you have no soda crackers in the house a little secret of mine is cheerios crushed. (Bread crumbs would also work for this.) After all ingredients have been added use hands to mix together and then transfer to baking dish. Forming a little oval of the meatloaf. Add ketchup to the top spreading evenly over whole loaf. Then add a bit of water to bottom of pan. I usually put the oven on 375 and leave it in for an hour or so. I really need to be better at setting the timer. I never know how long. As long as it is not pink on the inside it is done. My favorite addition to this is homemade mac and cheese or mashed potatoes and cream corn.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
You do What?
I don't get up go to work and punch in and out. I don't have thirty minute lunches or fifthteen minute breaks, but that is ok. I can live with that, and in fact I love what I do. I eat when I can, I may or may not get a shower everyday, but again that is ok.
I remember going to an appointment when I was pregnant. There was this nice older lady that started a conversation with me. She asked me what I did. I said well I am a Stay at home wife and will be a stay at home mother. Concern flashed immediately a crossed her face. "You mean you stay home all day? Don't you want to work?" Then she got down to business and explained to me that I needed independence. I needed to have my own money and that I needed to save my own money. I nodded my head politely, and silently inside I sighed.
I tend to get this reaction often and by many women. Who seem to think I am messing feminism up for her and every other woman out there. Wait a second! Hold on! Just because I chose to stay home and take care of my home, and my family I am suddenly ruining it for every other women in the world? If anything am I not making a choice to do what I do? Am I not doing what other women generations before me did not have. A choice. It seems funny to me that we as women attack each other instead of congratulate ourselfs on what we have accomplished in this world.
I made a choice to stay home and raise my children, to take care of the household, to make my family dinner. Does that mean I think it is the only way? No. Does it mean that I hate all women that work and think they should all quit and stay at home. Of course not. I think to each their own, we should embrace each other in the fact we have choices. I may not have a 9-5 job but I still work. There is not many a day that goes by that I do not go to bed tired and still have to get up at night to take care of a child. Honestly I don't know how mothers that do work, do it. Go to work and then come home to take care of things there. I could not, and I give credit to them.
Wanted to point out here to that my husband did not force me to stay home. Nor did he tell me I have to work. Would I work if I had to oh yes in a heartbeat. If it came down to being on the street or putting food on the table I would be working as hard as I could to make sure we had what we needed. As for the reasons the lady gave me, about money. I am lucky enough my husband considers it our money. I never have to worry if it is his or mine. If you think that my independence is in jeopardy, just ask my husband I am very independent and make sure I am heard.
If anyone thinks that being a stay a home mom is eating bonbons like Peggy Bundy, they have no idea what I do on a daily basis. Oh that would be so nice, Bonbons and TV! Fact is as I said above I love what I do. I love taking care of the house, and cooking dinner for my husband and family. I love being able to do what I want on my time and not someone else's. I hope someday women can stop belittling and stop judging other women for a choice. A choice that women before us fought for us to have.
I am including a recipe for bread (I think this one is pretty simple/fast) and for my homemade chicken soup. Enjoy.
Betty Crocker: White Bread
(This can be made easy into wheat bread)
2 packages active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 2/3 cup warm water
1/4 cup of sugar
1tablespoon of salt
3 tablespoons of shortening
9 to 10 cups flour (I use unbleached)
Soft Butter or Margarine
Dissolve yeast in 3/4 cup warm water. (If unsure just use a meat thermometer) Stir in 2 2/3 cup warm water, the sugar, salt, shortening and 5 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
Turn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about one hour. (Dough is ready if impression remains.)
Punch down dough; divide in half. shape into loaf. Let rise until double 1 hour. Preheat oven to 425. Place the loaves on low rack so that the tops of the pans are in the center of the oven. Pans should not touch each other or the sides of the oven. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until deep golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove from pans and brush with butter; cool on wire rack. (2 loaves)
To make this wheat bread instead of white just use half whole wheat flour and half reg. That's it.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
I usually cook a full bird in the crock pot and then skim off all the juice and seasonings from that in a jar. You can either freeze it or put it in the fridge for use. I never measure for my own recipes so make it your own if you think more carrots is what it needs go for it. Don't like celery don't use it.
1 med. onion chopped
1-2 stalks of celery chopped
2 carrots peeled/chopped
olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic (I use the one in the jar)
Broth homemade and chicken broth cubes
Half pk. of Whole Wheat egg noodles
Aprox. one pd. chicken breast
Salt/Pepper
Water
Cut up and cook the chicken breast in a little olive oil. Set aside. Take onion, carrots, celery, and the garlic and satuee in a large pot. As the onions start to soften add a little of the broth to help keep it cooking but not burning. Keep adding broth until it is all in the pot with the veggies. I then take 2-3 broth cubes and throw them in with then chicken and to start 6 cups water. Again I guess on a lot of things please add water and broth cubes to your taste. Add salt and pepper to taste and let simmer until the veggies are all soft. Add noodles the last ten minutes of cooking. Enjoy.
Sorry if the above recipe is a little all over it is the first time I have really wrote that recipe down. I usually just eyeball it and never measure.
I remember going to an appointment when I was pregnant. There was this nice older lady that started a conversation with me. She asked me what I did. I said well I am a Stay at home wife and will be a stay at home mother. Concern flashed immediately a crossed her face. "You mean you stay home all day? Don't you want to work?" Then she got down to business and explained to me that I needed independence. I needed to have my own money and that I needed to save my own money. I nodded my head politely, and silently inside I sighed.
I tend to get this reaction often and by many women. Who seem to think I am messing feminism up for her and every other woman out there. Wait a second! Hold on! Just because I chose to stay home and take care of my home, and my family I am suddenly ruining it for every other women in the world? If anything am I not making a choice to do what I do? Am I not doing what other women generations before me did not have. A choice. It seems funny to me that we as women attack each other instead of congratulate ourselfs on what we have accomplished in this world.
I made a choice to stay home and raise my children, to take care of the household, to make my family dinner. Does that mean I think it is the only way? No. Does it mean that I hate all women that work and think they should all quit and stay at home. Of course not. I think to each their own, we should embrace each other in the fact we have choices. I may not have a 9-5 job but I still work. There is not many a day that goes by that I do not go to bed tired and still have to get up at night to take care of a child. Honestly I don't know how mothers that do work, do it. Go to work and then come home to take care of things there. I could not, and I give credit to them.
Wanted to point out here to that my husband did not force me to stay home. Nor did he tell me I have to work. Would I work if I had to oh yes in a heartbeat. If it came down to being on the street or putting food on the table I would be working as hard as I could to make sure we had what we needed. As for the reasons the lady gave me, about money. I am lucky enough my husband considers it our money. I never have to worry if it is his or mine. If you think that my independence is in jeopardy, just ask my husband I am very independent and make sure I am heard.
If anyone thinks that being a stay a home mom is eating bonbons like Peggy Bundy, they have no idea what I do on a daily basis. Oh that would be so nice, Bonbons and TV! Fact is as I said above I love what I do. I love taking care of the house, and cooking dinner for my husband and family. I love being able to do what I want on my time and not someone else's. I hope someday women can stop belittling and stop judging other women for a choice. A choice that women before us fought for us to have.
I am including a recipe for bread (I think this one is pretty simple/fast) and for my homemade chicken soup. Enjoy.
Betty Crocker: White Bread
(This can be made easy into wheat bread)
2 packages active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 2/3 cup warm water
1/4 cup of sugar
1tablespoon of salt
3 tablespoons of shortening
9 to 10 cups flour (I use unbleached)
Soft Butter or Margarine
Dissolve yeast in 3/4 cup warm water. (If unsure just use a meat thermometer) Stir in 2 2/3 cup warm water, the sugar, salt, shortening and 5 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
Turn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about one hour. (Dough is ready if impression remains.)
Punch down dough; divide in half. shape into loaf. Let rise until double 1 hour. Preheat oven to 425. Place the loaves on low rack so that the tops of the pans are in the center of the oven. Pans should not touch each other or the sides of the oven. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until deep golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove from pans and brush with butter; cool on wire rack. (2 loaves)
To make this wheat bread instead of white just use half whole wheat flour and half reg. That's it.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
I usually cook a full bird in the crock pot and then skim off all the juice and seasonings from that in a jar. You can either freeze it or put it in the fridge for use. I never measure for my own recipes so make it your own if you think more carrots is what it needs go for it. Don't like celery don't use it.
1 med. onion chopped
1-2 stalks of celery chopped
2 carrots peeled/chopped
olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic (I use the one in the jar)
Broth homemade and chicken broth cubes
Half pk. of Whole Wheat egg noodles
Aprox. one pd. chicken breast
Salt/Pepper
Water
Cut up and cook the chicken breast in a little olive oil. Set aside. Take onion, carrots, celery, and the garlic and satuee in a large pot. As the onions start to soften add a little of the broth to help keep it cooking but not burning. Keep adding broth until it is all in the pot with the veggies. I then take 2-3 broth cubes and throw them in with then chicken and to start 6 cups water. Again I guess on a lot of things please add water and broth cubes to your taste. Add salt and pepper to taste and let simmer until the veggies are all soft. Add noodles the last ten minutes of cooking. Enjoy.
Sorry if the above recipe is a little all over it is the first time I have really wrote that recipe down. I usually just eyeball it and never measure.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Up and Running
It has been awhile and perhaps to long maybe since I have had a chance to sit and write, but I feel the need to get back to normal as much as I can. In doing this I am going to start writing hopefully a blog a week. There have been many changes the last almost three months. I had stopped baking bread, stopped cooking homemade meals and kinda just stopped being me.
I thought it would be easier on me that way. Easier on the boys and make it less stressful. I found out though it was more stressful not being me. About two weeks ago I made homemade bread for the first time in about two or more months. It was the most amazing feeling. I was finally able to relax and it made me feel good. It was then that I realized this is who I am, this is what I do and if I enjoy it I am going to do it. Never ever underestimate what kneading a ball of dough will do.
So I have also decided that along with my writing about going green. I will frequently also do an recipe along with each blog. I have had so many requests for things that I make I thought this was a great way to share them. To kick it off I will include a recipe for a quick simple meal I have recently discovered. Good, healthy and fast. I would take a picture, but it seems it was eaten very quickly before I got a chance to.
I thought it would be easier on me that way. Easier on the boys and make it less stressful. I found out though it was more stressful not being me. About two weeks ago I made homemade bread for the first time in about two or more months. It was the most amazing feeling. I was finally able to relax and it made me feel good. It was then that I realized this is who I am, this is what I do and if I enjoy it I am going to do it. Never ever underestimate what kneading a ball of dough will do.
So I have also decided that along with my writing about going green. I will frequently also do an recipe along with each blog. I have had so many requests for things that I make I thought this was a great way to share them. To kick it off I will include a recipe for a quick simple meal I have recently discovered. Good, healthy and fast. I would take a picture, but it seems it was eaten very quickly before I got a chance to.
Quick and Fast Mexican Pizza
- 1 Whole Wheat Pizza Crust (Premade)
- Salsa (As hot or mild as you want it)
- 1/2 pd or less of ground beef
- 1/2 cup of Black Beans drained
- 1/2 cup of frozen corn
- Mozzarella Cheese Grated
Preheat the oven to what the package of Pizza Crust says to. Cook the ground beef. I like to cook a pound at a time and then use what I need and store the rest to spice up tomato soup or add to other things. Drain and let the ground beef sit on paper towel on a plate. This helps get any extra grease off. Take the Salsa and spread it as sauce on the crust. Use your judgment this is your pizza we are talking about. Add the ground beef, Black beans and corn to the top of crust. Top with Mozzerella cheese. I usually use enough cheese to cover the toppings. Cook as package of Pizza Crust says to.
*Please note I usually guess on some measurements and if 1/2 cup seems like to much for you eyeball it to your needs and wants. :) Also be creative if you think a peppers would go good on this add them. Or change up the meat a little maybe try turkey instead of ground beef. Have fun.
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