Oh No! I wanted to post at least one quick, easy, veggie recipe! I had a yummy mexican veggie pizza going for lunch but after reviewing my pictures on my phone I realized that something was amiss. Lo and behold the children and I have terrorized my Blackberry into submission. There is significant scratching in the middle of my lens leaving a cloudy, mucky haze to all of my pictures.
This led to a short retail therapy session and I bought a new camera. El Cheapo Wal-Mart Special but seems decent for my purposes. It's a Kodak EasyShare C182. It is supposed to be here early next week (fingers crossed).
As soon as our glitch is resolved, I will recreate the recipe and the corresponding photos and give everyone something to try.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Vegetarian
We are bombarded daily by the happening hot diet. Sometimes they are a gimmick, sometimes they are expensive, many times they are far far from healthy! The best diet is the balanced diet; eating everything in moderation. I know that seems like a duh, but how many times do you see across the front of a magazine, "Lose 15 lbs and 4 inches in just 3 weeks eating this amazing food." Now the balanced diet/moderation concept doesn't seem so silly, huh!
This is titled Vegetarian. I'm sure you are expecting the normal meat is bad lecture. I'm not going to tell you about the evils of steak. Granted if meat is consumed in large quantities (not in moderation) it is bad for your health, the environment and the budget, but in moderation is a tasty treat. This is titled Vegetarian because I think that many of the benefits are overlooked when it comes to eating Vegetarian meals.
My primary driving forces behind a weekly vegetarian meal is: cost, taste, health, environmental concern. Yes, I said it, it can be a cheap, tasty, healthy and green way to eat. I'm not saying that every meal should be meat free and we should protest and raise in arms for a vegetarian utopia on earth. I'm just saying give your budget a break, give your mouth a treat and don't be scared to eat a meal that doesn't have meat.
What is less expensive than veggies? When you combine beans and rice or beans and corn you create a complete protein that rivals meat. No I lied, it doesn't rival meat, it trumps meat. Why you ask. Well, it is low fat and high fiber. Meat can't tote those qualities! Price a bag of rice and beans to a nice steak, ya, I told you so. C-h-e-a-p! And when you are feeding a family of six on a limited budget, cheap is important. Heck, it's important for everybody, look at rocketing food costs, save a few bucks and eat some veggies.
Tasty? We aren't talking about the overcooked flavorless slop that used to be served on your plate during school lunch. We are talking about fresh flavorful food. Something that nourishes the whole body, spirit and mind. Mexican and Italian cuisine lends itself well to Vegetarian cooking. Try making mini pizza's on corn (or flour) tortillas, using veggies for toppings. Nice and quick!
Of course, it's easy on the environment and healthier. Low fat, high fiber, high nutrient. Animals take large amounts of land and meat must be refrigerated etc. etc. etc. You've all heard it before, I'm not going to go over it again.
So, I encourage you to try the occasional veggie only meal once in a while. It is the best way to balance, green, inexpensive, healthy living without depriving yourself!
This is titled Vegetarian. I'm sure you are expecting the normal meat is bad lecture. I'm not going to tell you about the evils of steak. Granted if meat is consumed in large quantities (not in moderation) it is bad for your health, the environment and the budget, but in moderation is a tasty treat. This is titled Vegetarian because I think that many of the benefits are overlooked when it comes to eating Vegetarian meals.
My primary driving forces behind a weekly vegetarian meal is: cost, taste, health, environmental concern. Yes, I said it, it can be a cheap, tasty, healthy and green way to eat. I'm not saying that every meal should be meat free and we should protest and raise in arms for a vegetarian utopia on earth. I'm just saying give your budget a break, give your mouth a treat and don't be scared to eat a meal that doesn't have meat.
What is less expensive than veggies? When you combine beans and rice or beans and corn you create a complete protein that rivals meat. No I lied, it doesn't rival meat, it trumps meat. Why you ask. Well, it is low fat and high fiber. Meat can't tote those qualities! Price a bag of rice and beans to a nice steak, ya, I told you so. C-h-e-a-p! And when you are feeding a family of six on a limited budget, cheap is important. Heck, it's important for everybody, look at rocketing food costs, save a few bucks and eat some veggies.
Tasty? We aren't talking about the overcooked flavorless slop that used to be served on your plate during school lunch. We are talking about fresh flavorful food. Something that nourishes the whole body, spirit and mind. Mexican and Italian cuisine lends itself well to Vegetarian cooking. Try making mini pizza's on corn (or flour) tortillas, using veggies for toppings. Nice and quick!
Of course, it's easy on the environment and healthier. Low fat, high fiber, high nutrient. Animals take large amounts of land and meat must be refrigerated etc. etc. etc. You've all heard it before, I'm not going to go over it again.
So, I encourage you to try the occasional veggie only meal once in a while. It is the best way to balance, green, inexpensive, healthy living without depriving yourself!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Food Stamp Window Cleaner.
Sorry all, no pictures. Found an awesome recipe for window cleaner on Tip Nut. It's called Lemon-Fresh Window Cleaner, but I call it Food Stamp Window Cleaner. The reason is two fold. The ingredients are all items you can purchase with Food Stamps and they are inexpensive. Here's the recipe:
3 TBS lemon juice (freshly squeezed) 2 cups club soda (you can use water too or a mix of water and club soda but
I prefer 100% club soda) 1 tsp cornstarch
I prefer 100% club soda)
Pour everything into a spray bottle then shake well before using.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Matchbook Notebook.
It's 10:00 am and I wave happily to my daughters as they trot happily out the door for a bowling birthday party. I relax back with a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the peace of the boys playing nicely. What more could you ask for on a Monday morning? How about a super awesome, cheap, easy, quick, green craft project! Win!
As usual in the Contrary household 1 hour before the party, Mom goes, "Oh No! We forgot a gift!" This causes a short brainstorm and the outbreak of craft supplies. I found this super cute matchbook notebook on Greeting Arts that took me 30 minutes to whip up with some "used" items around the house.
Please excuse the photo quality. I was in a hurry since the girls were getting ready to bound out the door! We found an old neon green index card to use as the cardstock and the stamp pattern was courtesy of an advertisement in an old magazine. We used old glue from school years past (rather then throw it away, we keep for summer projects).
Later I think I will make a larger one for hubby!
Have an excellent day!
As usual in the Contrary household 1 hour before the party, Mom goes, "Oh No! We forgot a gift!" This causes a short brainstorm and the outbreak of craft supplies. I found this super cute matchbook notebook on Greeting Arts that took me 30 minutes to whip up with some "used" items around the house.
Please excuse the photo quality. I was in a hurry since the girls were getting ready to bound out the door! We found an old neon green index card to use as the cardstock and the stamp pattern was courtesy of an advertisement in an old magazine. We used old glue from school years past (rather then throw it away, we keep for summer projects).Later I think I will make a larger one for hubby!
Have an excellent day!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Welcome.
I'm new to this whole blogging thing. I thought I had some great ideas and it would be a great way to help stay in touch with family and friends. I'm out to explore my artistic crafty side a little more and hoping to share some of my discoveries and learnings here. I also hope to share with ya'll my unique perspective on frugal living and translating that into greener living.
I'm new to this whole blogging thing. I thought I had some great ideas and it would be a great way to help stay in touch with family and friends. I'm out to explore my artistic crafty side a little more and hoping to share some of my discoveries and learnings here. I also hope to share with ya'll my unique perspective on frugal living and translating that into greener living.
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