Let's Roast Some Vegetables

How do you cook your vegetables?  If you've never tried roasting, you should!  It's easy and it's more flavorful than most other cooking methods.  Here's what I do on a regular basis.

First, I cut up cauliflower and broccoli into small florets.  Then I cut up some cabbage into 1-2 inch squares.  I add some sliced carrots and put all this into a 9 x 13 glass baking dish.  I also use Rachael Ray's Crispy Baking Sheets, they're wonderful.

Next, I drizzle some olive or canola oil over the veggies and mix well with my hands.  Then I sprinkle sea salt and black pepper over the whole pan.  The vegetables are not swimming in oil, just a light coating is fine.

Sometimes I sprinkle frozen corn on the top, or I add some extra fine green beans (I love Aldi's brand!) before baking.

Bake in a hot 375-400 degree oven for 20-30 minutes.  I have a convection oven so I put it at 375 with the fan on.  If you don't have convection, just turn the heat up.

I keep my eye on them and turn them over with a spatula after 10 minutes.  When they are nicely browned, take them out!

Serve as a side dish or as the main event with some rice or pasta.  We sprinkle Romano cheese over the top.  My husband could eat this every night.

I've roasted almost every vegetable you can think of, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes...  Asparagus roasts very quickly, 5-8 minutes.

Let me know if you try them and how they turn out!

It's Cooooold!

What do you do when it's too cold to go outside?  Let me give you some ideas:

1.  Brew a hot pot of tea and wrap yourself in a blanket with a good book.

2.  Do something with all the photos that are sitting either in your computer or on your phone.  Delete the ones you don't want.  Print some for a scrapbook.  Or order an online photo book.

3.  Go through your filing cabinet and get rid of old papers, invoices, receipts, statements and shred them.

4.  Write a letter, yes I said a paper letter with a pen in hand, to someone important in your life.  Emails and texts are ok, but there's nothing like a handwritten note from a loved one.

5.  Do some mending.  It's a great time to sew on buttons, fix torn seams, hem trousers.  (I do this in front of the TV.)

These are the things I do every January, at least.  You've got some time and nowhere to go, so what are you waiting for?

Send me your ideas, I'd love to hear them!

Something Old Is New Again

I love taking something that has lost its usefulness and turning it into something that can be treasured and valued again.  In my antique show travels I find many beautiful hand-embroidered linens that are not used anymore.  My mother had a cedar chest filled with pillow cases, doilies, and other linens that she sewed in her teen years.  I still have a few of them and I display them where I can.

Here's a sample of a linen table runner that I found that was stained on one end and had no purpose anymore.

I cut off the good end and the crocheted lace edges to make a small gift bag with handles.  I used an old white sheet to line the embroidered part.  Here's the finished product:

I can't wait to use this for a gift bag!  I hope that it will serve many new purposes as it's given over and over with gifts inside!

Here are some more that I made:

Have you repurposed any old linens?  Please let me know!

Where Are Your Cleaning Products?

Do you keep cleaning products near the area where you use them?  If not, you should!  Here you can see under my bathroom sink, and the stuff I need to clean is right inside the door along with a stack of rags, small plastic garbage bags, and other bathroom necessities.

When I'm ready to clean in my usual quick style, everything I need is within reach.  And I can get the job done in as few minutes as possible.  Because who wants to spend all day locating products and cleaning??

If you don't enjoy scrubbing your shower walls, here's my tip:  Wipe down the walls with a spare towel when you're done in the shower.  I trained my husband to do this years ago and the shower always looks like new.  It takes about 30 seconds to do this every time, but it prevents scum and mildew from building up.  And that means NO scrubbing later on - priceless!

A note to those with small children, I understand that  these kinds of products must be locked up for safety reasons.  Another possibility is to keep them on a high shelf away from small hands.  I may have to rethink my strategy when grandchildren come around:)  I can't wait!!

What are your tips for bathroom cleaning?  Please leave a comment!

Easy Killer Brownies

What could be more comforting on a cold winter day than a dense, moist, chewy, rich, brownie?  I've been asked more times than I can remember for this recipe.  It's so simple, you'll make these for all the chocolate lovers in your life!

Killer Brownies

2 box brownie mixes (any kind, I use Aldi's brand)
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
3/4+ cup oil
1 bag dark chocolate chips

-Mix the brownies as the directions say, usually with 2 eggs per mix, water and oil.  I use less oil than called for, it's not needed.
-Add the chocolate chips.
*(If you have chocolate left over from Christmas, this is a nice way to use it.  Just chop it up and add with the chips.  It bakes nicely into the brownies and adds more texture and richness.)
-Pour batter into a 9 x 13 inch greased glass baking pan.  Bake for 55-60 minutes.

These freeze beautifully.  I warn you, they're addicting.  We always keep a bag of these cut into small squares in our freezer for that small chocolate punch that we "need" sometimes.  Our son swears that they are better frozen than thawed!

Let me know what you think of these!  What other chocolate lovers' desserts do you enjoy?

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent!

If I told you that you could mix up an easy recipe for laundry detergent that costs just pennies per load, cleans as well as Tide with Bleach, works well in front-loading HE as well as top-loading washers, and is environmentally friendly...would you believe me??  Well it's true!

This coming June will mark my 3 year anniversary of NOT buying laundry detergent.  I came upon this recipe in a newsletter by Mary Hunt, author of Debt-Proof Living and Everyday Cheapskate.  If you like my blog, you'll love hers, it's full of great ideas.

Here's the recipe:

2 bars Fels Naptha soap
1 cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer, not baking soda)
1 cup Borax (20 Mule-Team is good)

  

All these items can be purchased at Martin's Food Stores or Walmart.  

Grate the soap on a small-holed cheese grater.

Or cut it in cubes and process it in a small food processor.

  

                                       It looks like this:




Then add the powdered Washing Soda and the Borax and mix.  I keep mine in an old plastic container with a tight lid.

Use 1-2 tablespoons per load.  Put it into the water before you add the clothes.  It dissolves very quickly.

You might think that's not enough because you're used to dumping lots of soap into your machine.  Trust me, it's enough.   It doesn't make suds, but it will pull out the dirt from your clothes.  The water will turn gray-black depending on how much dirt is there.

I've also stopped buying fabric softener.  All you need is 1/4-1/2 cup of white vinegar in your rinse load.  It will get the soap out of the clothes and eliminate all static cling.  Your clothes will NOT smell like vinegar, they will just smell really, truly clean.  And clean smells really, truly good!

It's Tax Time

Now is the time of year when we all start thinking about tax returns, like it or not.  For a lot of people, it's a huge source of stress to locate the forms, receipts and papers necessary to file the IRS return.

So...how about establishing a file NOW for next year called "Income Tax" and make it a habit to put all the needed papers in there for next year's taxes??  If you don't have a file cabinet, they make small inexpensive plastic bin types now that can hold a lot.  They could fit in a closet or on a shelf if you don't have floor space.  I file lots of papers so that they don't clutter precious space.

What should go in the "Income Tax" file?

-tax deductible donation receipts
-real estate tax receipts
-school tax receipts
-W-2 forms
-bank interest statements
-mortgage interest statements
-sales receipts for work-related items
-sales receipts for tax-deductible purchases (in PA it changes yearly)
-anything else you're not sure if you'll need at tax time

Next year at this time you'll be thankful that you KNOW where your forms and receipts are, and you'll have one less stress producer in your life!

Please comment with your tax organizing tips!

Reading Spot

Do you have a reading spot?  Or if you don't read that much, a quiet spot where you can think, write down your thoughts, or pray?  I highly recommend dedicating a place in your house where you can go, even if for only 3 minutes, and collect your thoughts.  This is my corner where I sit sideways, prop up my feet, and read.  I have a small table nearby where I put my mug of tea and my journal.

This location has migrated several times over the years.  Only now that my "boys" are grown can I actually have quiet in the living room.  When they were babies I grabbed a few minutes while they napped to be quiet, take a nap myself, or do some reading.  When they were in high school, my "reading spot" was on a chair 3 floors above the TV room where it actually was quiet even when 10 boys were playing in the basement.

My point is, don't apologize for carving out a small space where you can collect your thoughts, pray, write down what's important in your life, read your bible, etc.  Life gets so busy and crazy that it's easy to get worn down and worn out.  Even if there are piles of laundry and dishes in the sink, sometimes you have to take a few minutes and retreat so that you can have what you need on the inside to truly be a blessing to others around you.  So, take some time today, take a deep breath, and sit down.

Gifts

I admit that I'm a minimalist when it comes to decorating,  but I have plenty of reminders in my house of all the wonderful friends and family that I have.  I'm not a big fan of knickknacks, but there are many items that I just love to look at, and they will always have a place.

I believe that God sends gifts to us all the time.  Sometimes they are wrapped in paper and ribbon from friends, sometimes it's the steam rising from my tea cup on a cold day.  As Ann Voskamp says in One Thousand Gifts "How we look determines how we live."  Do you see the gifts that God fills your cup with everyday?  We can build a habit of giving thanks for all the gifts around us, small and large.  It surprises me how a small item can spur me to be thankful and help me to see other blessings all around.

I like to remember what's important in life.  I'm a "big picture" kind of person.  So I enjoy looking at reminders of special people.  It can help me to focus my attention on something outside of myself and my own cares.

Sometimes looking at a gift reminds me to pray for blessings on my friends' lives, sometimes it just makes me smile,

sometimes it moves me to write a note to that person just to let them know that I'm thinking about them and that God cares.

Even if you haven't seen those friends for a while, it's easy to pray because God knows where they are and what they need.

So don't apologize for keeping and displaying items that are special gifts from precious family and friends.  And be thankful for those important people in your life.  See the gifts around you every day!

Hospitality

Do you wish you were more hospitable?  Do you know people who are?  I've known plenty of people who excel at welcoming others into their homes, friends who have warm hearts and the ability to love and serve others in their homes.  I'm so thankful for all the dear friends who got me out of the dorms during my college years for a while to share a home-cooked meal with a family.  I'm equally thankful for all the friends who showed me what it meant to give from the heart and reach out to others even when it's inconvenient.

The Bible says that we should "seek to show hospitality" in Romans 12.  What does that mean?

Here's what it doesn't mean:

1 - Your home has to be perfectly clean and organized before you can invite anyone in.
2 - You must serve a 5-course meal modeled after the Food Network stars.
3 - You need to have granite countertops and newly remodeled bathrooms that show all the latest home innovations.

The most precious times I've spent in others' homes have been a result of the sweet spirit of the host.  I've been invited to share a wonderful meal with parents of some of my students.  I've had coffee and great conversation with young mothers who have children running around and laundry piles that they can't get done.  I've had iced tea with animal-loving friends whose dogs show me their affection the only way they know how, licking me and jumping on me, and I love every minute of it!!

There's just something beautiful about sharing some time with friends.  It's not about the atmosphere, it's about the attitude.  So, what are you waiting for?  Especially now during this cold, dark winter season, invite your friends into your home and show some good hospitality.  Pop some popcorn and put in a movie, brew a pot of tea and bake something, or buy a bag of pretzels, but don't wait too long to reach out beyond your walls and let your friends know you care.  You'll be glad you did!

Beans and Greens

Here's a simple recipe that we really like.  I got home from work late today and had this dish ready in less than 30 minutes!

If you don't like beans, then you can stop reading here.  I think beans are a great source of protein and pair very nicely with kale.  We first had this at Enrico's Cafe at the Strip District in Pittsburgh.  It was delightful!!

Beans and Greens

3-4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
2 T olive oil
1 bunch kale, rinsed and chopped
1/2 cup+ chicken stock
1 can white beans drained (great northern, garbanzo, navy)
salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes to taste

Put the garlic and oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and cook on medium high heat until golden.  Add a few crushed red pepper flakes now for a heat kick!

Add the kale.  (I rinse it well, then hold the stalk in one hand and with the other hand push the leafy part off onto my cutting board.  A few quick chops with my knife and the whole bunch is ready to cook!)  It will sputter a bit in the oil, just keep turning all the leaves to spread the oil around for a minute.

Add the chicken stock.  I use water and chicken bouillon sometimes as a good substitute.  Cover and let it simmer gently for 10 minutes.  Add salt and pepper as you like.

Add beans and heat for 5 more minutes.  Serve with bread, rice, pastina...mmmmmmmm!

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think of this one!

I Love Shelves!

After my last post about cluttered counters I got many comments about not having storage space.  It got me thinking about how I dealt with this problem in my house. My game plan has always been to use space to its maximum, that means going vertical!  I really love shelves!!

27 years ago when we bought our first old house I realized quickly that there were hardly any cupboards or closets in the house.  My father-in-law kindly built 3 small sets of shelves in my kitchen and 1 in the bathroom for general storage.  It was a lifesaver!  And the beginning of a long-lasting relationship...

Fast-forward to the present:  I have so many shelves in my house now it's embarrassing, but it helps me to have places to put things.  I must confess I am mystically drawn to any shelving unit I see at a yard sale or antique show.  I automatically start dreaming of what could be put on the shelves.  The first photo is in my office where I needed a way to store all kinds of papers, bills, maps, CDs, books, and newspaper clippings.  I also love baskets, but that's another blog.

This is my basement storage.  Part of this unit I inherited with the house, I just painted it white.  One section I bought at a flea market for $10.  At the time I didn't know what I'd do with it, but then it fit beautifully along the wall and now it is home to all this stuff.

This little beauty is at the bottom of my basement stairs.  I've never had the luxury of a "mud room" so we use this to keep the pile of shoes away from the entrance.

Last but not least, I have 3 small units like this that I found at yard sales for all my fabric, yarn, craft stuff, etc.  None of these cost much, but they give me the option of having a place to organize.  I'm a simple girl, just give me some shelves and I'm happy!

What are your favorite shelves??

Cluttered Counters, Ugh!!

Does this counter resemble yours?  If so, you're wasting valuable food preparation space with stuff that should be stored other places.  If you want to reclaim some counter space so that your kitchen can function more efficiently, let's set some rules!

Number 1:  Have a place for all the things that you come in the door with so that they don't end up on the kitchen counter.  We all know that it's easy to accumulate stuff.  Modern life clutters us constantly with mail, papers, school projects, technology, gadgets, etc.  Set a designated "Landing Pad" for your keys, bags, mail, bills, important papers, etc. near your front door.  Take a few minutes every day to put those things where they belong, then you'll not be searching later for missing keys and other stuff.  Baskets, drawers, small tables, or cupboards work well.

Number 2:  Don't load your kitchen counter with rarely used appliances.  I've seen many kitchen counters filled up with empty cake stands, dusty juicers and bread makers.  If you don't use an item at least a couple of times every week, put it away.  You may say that you don't have any place to put it.  Well, you may need to clean out a cupboard filled with items that you never use so that you can put these counter clutterers in there.  Try to keep things you use regularly as near as possible to the place where you need them.  If this seems overwhelming, just try to de-clutter one small area at a time.  Keep it that way for a couple of weeks and it will inspire you to work on another area.  Small steps work best!  Remember the Tortoise and the Hare?  That Tortoise is my hero!

Number 3:  If you have family members who are major contributors to the counter clutter, you need to have a talk with them and help them to put their stuff in appropriate places.  I've helped many moms organize kitchens and other rooms only to have them trashed within days by all the other people in the home.  Children and spouses can learn to help with keeping homes orderly.  Give kids a shelf, a drawer, or a cupboard where they can keep all their school things.  Help them to decide what is really important to keep with folders, boxes and baskets in their closets.  It can be really challenging to keep toys with lots of pieces, like Legos, together.  Plastic bins help, but it takes more than one person to keep a home in order.  I remember the piles of projects and papers that came home from school every day with my boys.  They knew where to put lunchboxes, homework, papers, etc. with my help.  

Number 4:  Use your dishwasher!  If you have a dishwasher that does a good job, why do you have a plastic dish drainer on your counter all the time?  It takes up valuable space and isn't necessary.  I was 28 years old before I had my first dishwasher and I still give thanks to God for this wonderful invention!  I don't care if I run mine 2 times a day, even more if we have lots of guests.  My Maytag scrubs pots, cleans grease, and it even has a food grinder so I don't rinse anything before I put it in there.  It cleans wine glasses, flatware, baking sheets, almost everything.  So I use it a lot and it keeps lots of clutter off my counter.  The few items I wash by hand I lay on a towel to dry and usually put away within a couple hours.

So, I hope some of these ideas are helpful.  Please leave your comments here and let me know what you do to keep the kitchen counter clutter at bay!

Quick Sausage Kale Soup

Rachael Ray hit a sweet note with millions when she proved that it only takes 30 minutes to get a healthy, delicious meal on the table.  Being a working mom forced me to find great ideas for quick meals.  Eating out often is way too expensive and unhealthy, and I'm convinced that a great meal doesn't take long to make.  So here's a great example of a quick and wonderful meal.  It's another one of my favorite soups:

3-4 garlic cloves, minced
olive oil
1 pound Italian sausage, hot or sweet
1 large sweet onion, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup of finely chopped cabbage
1 quart chicken stock plus some water
1 can diced tomatoes (optional)
1 bunch of kale, rinsed and chopped loosely
1 can beans, garbanzo, white (your choice)

In a heavy-bottomed large pot brown the garlic in  2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Add the chopped sausage and brown it over medium high heat.  If you get sausage in the casing, just cut it away if you want chunks, or slice the sausage into the size you want in the soup.

When the meat is browned add the onion, carrots, celery and cabbage.  Let the veggies heat through for 5 minutes, then add the chicken stock, tomatoes (if you want) and the kale.  If you need more liquid add 1-2 cups of water.  The kale will wilt and reduce in size once it cooks.  Let the kale simmer for 10 minutes in the broth.  Add the beans, salt and pepper to taste, cook for 5-10 more minutes and it's done!

I like to serve this with pastina or rice.  Sometimes I cook lentils to add to this soup.  You really could add any vegetable you like.  Kale is a "super food" and is loaded with vitamins A & C, along with other nutrients.  I hope you enjoy this one, I sure do!

What are some of your favorite quick soups?  Please let me know.

Good Old Chicken Soup

When it gets cold I love to start making soup!  My favorite crock pot soup is so simple and good for you, I thought it was worth its own post.  Here's the recipe:

1 small frying chicken (4-6 pounds), rinsed, giblets discarded
1 large sweet onion, chopped
6 stalks celery, chopped
6 carrots, chopped
salt to taste

Put the chicken in the crock pot and fill with water.  Cook it on low all day, 8-10 hours.  Remove the chicken to a platter, split it apart and let it cool.  Pour the chicken stock into a large soup pot.  Add the onion, celery and carrots to the broth and bring it to a boil.  Turn it off and let it sit, the vegetables will cook and not get mushy.  Pull all the meat off the bones and discard the carcass.  Add the meat to the soup and salt to taste.  Serve with rice, pastina, millet, or just plain!

I love this soup and make it regularly all winter long.  I put the chicken in the crock pot before I go to work and when I come home I feel like dinner is almost ready!

I can get a small chicken at Aldi or Walmart for less than $5 and this soup lasts us for days.  There's something wonderful about sipping hot broth and eating wholesome chicken and vegetables inside when the weather outside is frightful.  I hope you enjoy this!

Please comment with your variations and tips for chicken soup!

You've Got To Love It

This is a live action shot of my Christmas storage in my basement.  Now is the time when people are taking down decorations and packing things away for next year.  But, it's a great opportunity to thin out the amount of decorations you have and make decisions to only keep the things you love.

It's hard to get rid of sentimental items, I know, but you have to be realistic about how much space you can devote to stuff you use once a year.  So, be brave, take a little time while you're packing up the Christmas garland and stockings, and get rid of decorations you haven't used in a few years.  It may be time to give some items away to someone who might enjoy them more!  Keep the important pieces that you really love to look at and that remind you of special memories.  That's worth your storage space.  And next year when you take out the boxes you'll be glad you whittled down the amount.  Remember, if you pack it away, you've got to love it.

But It Was My Grandmother's!

You are looking at a teapot that my mother had on a shelf next to her kitchen sink for as long as I can remember.  For years I used it to brew tea, then I just looked at it on a shelf for a while.  Now it's in a cupboard where I don't see if often.  But it was my mother's!

I have lots of conversations with people who are conflicted about how to deal with stuff they inherit from beloved family members.  Just how do you measure your devotion to someone you love?  Is it wrong to sell or give away things that belonged to your grandmother?  I know people who had to clean out entire contents of houses when a parent passes away or moves into a smaller house.  These kinds of decisions are difficult and are very personal.

Here's my point, keeping truckloads of items from a dear loved one does not prove devotion.  I believe that truly honoring someone's memory is an attitude, and cannot measured by physical items kept.  My mother passed away when I was newly married and I inherited lots of her things as we cleaned out the house.  I got dishes, pots, kitchen gadgets, linens, knickknacks, and some jewelry.  All the boxes were piled in my basement for a long time until I realized that my personal tolerance for clutter was very low.  I slowly gave away or sold many of the everyday items that I knew I would never use and didn't want to store.  None of that diminished my gratefulness and love for the woman who nurtured me and loved me with her whole heart.  I think of her more and more often as I grow older and I look forward to the day when I'll see her again in heaven.  The items that I've kept I use regularly, or have places to store them neatly.  I think my mom would like that.

So, if you are being harassed by an attic full of boxes you inherited, or a garage filled with stuff you don't know where to put, wait until you're ready to make honest decisions about what you really want to keep to remember someone, and don't be afraid to give away the rest.  Your heart will be glad in the end!

Priorities

I'm going to be writing about all kinds of tips for making our home lives easier.  But it occurred to me that I have many young mom friends who are very busy with young children and truly don't have time to think about organizing cupboards or cleaning closets.  That's OK!!

There are seasons in life and each season has priorities.  If you're busy running after toddlers, changing diapers and sometimes can't even get dinner on the table,  please don't let anything on my blog depress you.  You are doing one of the most difficult and honorable jobs on the planet!  It's not easy to train a child in the way he should go.  It takes time, effort and a lot of selflessness.  Years from now you will never even remember that your linen closet was disorganized, but you will definitely remember the hours you spent cuddling your babies and reading to your toddlers.  Household stuff has a way of "screaming" at young moms who are home a lot and feel the pressure of getting things done around the house.  Don't get your priorities out of order.

This is a New Year, a good time to make a mental list of what's important in your life.  This crazy world we live in has its upside-down list of priorities.  I would resist outside pressure at every turn and hold on firmly to what you know is important.  For me, it's God, my husband, my children, family, friends, and after all that comes home, job, etc.  So, what are your priorities?

Time Yourself!

I'd like to meet someone someday who actually has a lot of time for cleaning.  Most of us have plenty of other and better things to do.  So, here's one of my favorite cleaning hints - Go Faster!  Recently I had 15 minutes to spare before I had to leave the house one morning.  I was ready to go, purse in hand, when I thought to myself, "I wonder if I could quickly clean the kitchen sink before I go?"  Off I went to the sink, sprinkled cleanser, etc...done in 3 minutes.  Then I thought, "Could I wipe all the dirty fingerprint marks around the cabinet knobs before I go?"  Grabbed some cleaner and another rag...done in 3 minutes.  Well, I kept going and wiped the counter, the front of the stove, the windowsill, the refrigerator handles and even wiped a spot off my tile floor.  And I was still done in less than the 15 minutes I originally had.  Later, it was nice to come home from my appointment with a cleanly wiped kitchen!

So, give yourself 5 or 10 minutes, a rag and some cleaner, and see what you can accomplish if you move fast!  Let me know what you did!

Cleaning Habits

Now that it's January 1, people naturally talk about resolutions.  I'm not a big fan of those because they generally are too vague and not achievable.  If you make a resolution, keep it honest and limited so that you'll be encouraged when you do it!

Let's talk about our cleaning habits and maybe try to make a small change that can have a big outcome.  I'm a firm believer in Spot Cleaning.  Here's my motto:  If you make a mess, clean it up.  For example, I can't remember the last time I actually fully cleaned my refrigerator by taking everything out and scrubbing surfaces.  But when I notice a small spot or spill, it takes less than 15 seconds to grab a washrag and wipe.  If I take those 15 seconds to wipe, pick up, put away, etc. the small things I notice then big cleaning jobs aren't as necessary.  Yes, it can be annoying when you're in the middle of cooking dinner and you see a drop of dried ketchup on the floor to take care of it.  But if it becomes your habit, then you'll simplify your life with fewer big cleaning sessions.

By the way, I apologize that the "Comment Settings" were wrong.  I changed them and now it should be easier to leave comments.  Please try again if you had trouble before!