blueberries!!!

One of my favorite parts about summer is preserving all of the wonderful bounty that grows around here in our short summer months.  And fresh, local berries are top on the preserving list!  My summer berry picking usually starts off with strawberries, and then moves on to raspberries and blueberries.  With all of the berry picking that I usually do, we typically don't buy any berries throughout the remainder of the year (expect for special occasions).  This year has been a bit of disappointment in the berry picking department, though.  Due to our traveling this summer, I completely missed the strawberry season!  It was a bit shorter than normal due to heavy rains, which abruptly ended the season on the same day we got back into town.  And then this week I was all ready to go blueberry and raspberry picking when I found out that the farm I usually go to for both types of berries had a worm infestation in their raspberries and they closed them for the season.  So sad (both for the farmers and for me)!!  I did, however, get a bumper crop of blueberries and I found a pint or so of worm-free raspberries.  I've decided that blueberries are one of my favorite berries to freeze!  They are so easy to incorporate into muffins, pancakes, deserts, and more in their frozen form, unlike raspberries and strawberries, which are better eaten fresh.  So, in the end, it worked out.  We won't have any strawberry or raspberry jam this summer, but that's ok.  I've realized that we really only need 1-2 batches of fruit preserves to get us through the year.  So, this may be an apple butter year.  And I'm just fine with that.   

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I picked an ice cream bucket full of blueberries, which gave me 12 cups to freeze for muffins, pancakes, smoothies, and whatever else we want them for.  I also set aside 6 cups for a blueberry pie (yum!!!) and 4 more cups to be used this week and for fresh eating.  So far we've made blueberry pancakes, blueberry muffins, blueberry kombucha, and of course eaten many more of those berries fresh out of the fridge.  

How about you??  What types of berries do you like to pick and how do you use them??

washing windows

Windows!  We have so many windows!  Sixteen on our main floor, to be exact, and six upstairs.  I love our windows for the wonderful ventilation and natural light that the bring to our little house, but when it's time to wash the windows, it isn't a quick task!  And if we're being completely honest, it happens very rarely in this house.  

Now, sometimes in my natural living adventures I forget that some of the simplest, everyday tasks, I occasionally take for granted.  For example, over the past couple months, I've noticed in other people's homes the large number of cleaning supplies that fill their cupboards: tub and tile, disinfectants, wood cleaners, wood polishers, stainless steel cleaners/polishers, disposable floor mops and their specific cleaning solutions, the list goes on and on.  However, the one that always stands out to me as very unnecessary and often rather ineffective is the bottle of window cleaner.  The reason for this is that my Grandma taught me many years ago that the best way to wash windows is to use warm water, a little vinegar, and a little lemon juice.  And she is so very right about that.  Nothing is easier, cheaper, safer, or more effective!  

So, while this may not be new news to you at all, I thought I'd share it for those who may find their cupboards a bit overloaded with cleaning supplies and those who may be looking for a way to simplify and clean in a more natural, safe, and effective way.  This simple cleaning solution not only produces streak-free, crystal clear windows, but since it's made from edible ingredients, it's perfectly safe for anyone in your household to use (or accidentally consume!). 

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Natural Window Washing Solution

1 gallon of very warm water

1/4 cup of white vinegar

2 tablespoons of lemon juice (fresh or bottled both work, but I prefer bottled since it's easier to use and doesn't have pulp)

Add the vinegar and lemon juice to the warm water and use a lint-free cloth to wipe down windows and sills with the water mixture.  Then use a dry towel to wipe the window dry.  I have found that microfiber cloths work the best for both washing and drying.  

And there you have it!!  A simple, natural, and effective way to wash your windows!  Thanks, Grandma Nola! 

sleepy time tea

As I mentioned back in February, I've been diving into the world of herbs!  I've learned so much over the past couple months, yet still have so much to learn!  I've mostly been experimenting with herbal teas--both for medicinal purposes and everyday uses--and what I've found is that some of the herbs are so very easy to incorporate into everyday life!  My favorite everyday blend that I've created so far has been my Sleepy Time blend.  There is nothing quite like a warm cup of tea to help you wind down after a long day or a full evening--especially when the tea puts relaxing herbs to use like chamomile and lavender.  

Sleepy Time Tea :: helps calm and relax the body before bed 

2 parts chamomile flowers

1 part peppermint leaves

1 part spearmint leaves

1/2 part licorice root*

1/2 part lavender flowers

Mix together and store in an airtight container.  Use 1-2 teaspoons per cup of boiling water.  Steep for about 5 minutes.  Enjoy!

*omit the licorice root if pregnant

The best part about blending herbal teas, is that you can experiment with your own ratios--if the flavor is not to your liking, then mix it up and add a bit more of what you like.  It's so very easy.  And if sourced from the right place, it can be ever so affordable (far less expensive than using prepackaged tea bags)!!  I have been buying some of my herbs from our food co-op, but whatever I can't find there I've bought from Mountain Rose Herbs.  They are a great company, sourcing quality herbs and other herbal products. 

If you're looking for a good intro to herbs book, I've found Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs for Beginners book very helpful as well!  

reusable living :: lunches

A couple weeks ago I started a new series entitled "Reusable Living."  We live in such a disposable society, I thought it would be interesting to share some of the ways that we try to use more sustainable options in our home as a way to inspire you to do the same.  If you missed the first post on cloth napkins, you can find it here.  Today, I thought I'd share a bit about my lunch routine.  

Now, we've all had cupboards filled with random Tupperware container and lids that don't seem to have a match.  And most of us have probably left them in our fridge (or the fridge at work) until the food inside of them has almost fully decomposed, right?!  And at some point in our culinary histories we've also probably just taken that plastic container full of who-knows-what and tossed it, the food, and the lid directly into the trash.  Well, maybe you haven't done those things, but I for sure have! Because let's face it, there's nothing quite as gross as reaching for a clean container only to realize that it still smells like whatever rotten food you recently cleaned out of it--even after going through the sanitation cycle in the dishwasher.  Gross and gross.  

On that note, don't be alarmed.  I'm not at all about to tell you to start bringing your lunches in plastic.  I am, however, going to tell you about my love for glass.  

When we got married, we registered for a couple sets of Rubbermaid's glass food containers and we threw away most of our plastic containers.  Since then, we've slowly gotten rid of most of the plastics in our kitchen that were used for food storage.  I still have a a few mixing bowls and such, but the day-to-day things we use are either glass or stainless.  Here are a few reasons why we try to avoid using plastics for food storage (find more info on this here):

  • They contain unknown (and in some cases known) levels of toxicity
  • Heat can break down plastics 
  • They are porous and can take on the scents and colors of the food they hold
  • They don't last very long

For all of these reasons, we've found that glass is the perfect alternative.  Toxic chemicals don't leach into your food through glass.  They can be heated and frozen without consequence (other than becoming more fragile when frozen).  They will not take on the scents and/or colors of food.  And, unless they break, they last for years and years.  Now, there are a few downsides to glass containers.  One, they are much heavier than plastic and this can be a problem for those (like me) who commute on foot, by bike, or just have to walk a long ways from their car to office.  The other downside is that they are breakable.  The first problem can easily be solved with a good lunch bag with sturdy handles.  The second has never been a problem for me.  I've broken far more drinking glasses in my day than glass food storage containers.  They tend to be made of pretty thick glass that is relatively break resistant.  

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So, when it comes to lunches, here are a few of my favorite ways to transport food.  

  • Rubbermaid or Pyrex glass containers:  these are great for most lunch items--especially if you have a variety of sizes.  
  • Canning Jars (Ball/Kerr/or whatever):  these are the best option for soups and other liquids.  The metal lids are spill proof and you can eat/drink right out of the jars.
  • Bee's Wrap:  I love this stuff!  It's muslin fabric coated in beeswax and it can be used to wrap up a sandwich, veggies, slice of bread, cheese, etc.  You can wash it with cold water and soap and use it again and again!  I've even seen a few of our local shops start to carry it on their shelves.  It's great stuff!!  
  • Glass Water Bottles:  Dan and I both have water bottles from Lifefactory and we love them!  The silicone sleeves keep the glass safe (except if you leave it full of water in a freezing car over night...whoops...) and they are so very cute and functional!  
  • Cloth Napkins:  I keep a napkin in my lunch bag to use to cover my food in the microwave and wipe my mouth and fingers as I eat.  It stays in my bag until it needs a wash, then I switch it out for a clean one.  They are also great for wrapping up hard boiled eggs. 
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There are so many disaposables out there designed specifically for lunches, but as I mentioned in my last Reusable Living post, I really don't think they make life all that easier.  Here are a few reasons why:

  • Using canning jars for food storage both at home and away from home means that I need less things in my cupboards that are used for different purposes, so it simplifies my kitchen cupboards.  
  • It takes just as much time to pack a lunch using disposables as it does reusables.  
  • The clean up is simple.  Rather than tossing things after lunch, I toss them back into my lunch bag and throw them in the dishwasher when I get home.  (Obviously, if you don't have a dishwasher, then hand washing is an added step.)
  • We don't run out of containers like we used to run out of ziplock bags.  Yes, sometimes they are all dirty or filled with other food, but that's a much easier problem to solve then when you reach for a bag only to realize that you're all out.  

Incorporating more sustainable lunch options into your routine doesn't have to be complicated or expensive--just slowly start to build your food storage options and be intentional about the containers you use to transport your food.  And trust me, glass is wonderful!