Recipe: Pickled Beets

Beets are one of my favorite vegetables. I love the earthy flavor, vibrant colors and that they are packed of vitamins. This time of year we get at least 5 beets a week in our veggie delivery but lately there have been more. I haven't been able to keep up with them, I try to roast them and juice them but found myself with too many to use. Wasting them is not an option so pickling them seemed like the best way to preserve all of those the beets. I found this recipe online that I used as a jumping off point, then processed the jars in a water bath to create a canning seal so that they'll last for months in the cupboard. 

First I infused some white vinegar with tarragon buy just letting it soak in the vinegar for about an hour then strained out the herbs. Then I roasted all the beets, pealed them and sliced them in about 1/4 pieces. While the beets were roasting I sliced up two red onions. Using sterilized jars I layered the beet and onion slices and set jars aside. In a sauce pan I combined the sugar, tarragon infused vinegar, water and salt, simmered the mixture for five minutes and poured brine over the beets and onions. I wiped off the rims of the jars, placed on new gaskets and submerged them in a water bath to create a seal like I do when canning tomatoes. 

Ingredients:
12-15 beets (I used red and yellow)
2 large red onions
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
2 tsp salt
1 tsp tarragon

{Pickled and processed beets with red onion}

DIY: Vanilla Extract

One product that is grossly marked up in stores is all natural vanilla extract. I don't think that most people realize how easy it is to make at home. There's just two ingredients: vanilla beans and vodka. I bought 10 Madagascar vanilla beans online at beanilla thinking they'd come in glass vials but instead were shipped in a vacuum sealed plastic pouch (ouch!). I still need to find a zero waste way to by them. 

To prep the beans for the extract cut down the center of the bean without piercing through the onther side then use the dull side of the knife to scrape out the seeds. Place both seeds and pods in a jar then cover them with vodka. Store in a dark cool place to marinate for a few weeks. For easy access while cooking and baking strain and store in a small glass bottle. I gave these away for christmas gifts this year using a cute label and bow. 

{4 oz decorative bottle perfect for a holiday or hostess gift}

DIY Toothpaste

After an experimental phase trying using tooth powder to clean our teeth we both weren't satisfied. On my post about my dissatisfaction my friend Devon digested DIY toothpaste. I did some research and came up with this recipe that we love. 

{DIY toothpaste}

Recipe:

1 part baking soda (about 1/4 cup)

1 part organic coconut oil (about 1/4 cup)

1 teaspoon stevia

Several drops spearmint essential oil to taste

Combine all ingredients, mix well.

Store in your medicine cabinet in a glass jar. Use spoon to apply to toothbrush.

{Espresso spoon used to apply toothpaste to compostable bamboo toothbrush}

DIY Foraged Wreath

This post is a little late but oh well ;)

I was in Santa Barbara at Christmas time last year, I stopped by my aunt and uncle's house for a visit and found my cousin Julianna crafting. She was making wreaths and planting beautiful individual succulent arrangements. She showed me how to make everything, I left feeling inspired. It was all DIY upcycled, free, foraged and zero waste, very impressive! Since we've never had a holiday wreath on our front door I decided to give it a try, with Juliana's advice of course. 

Although it's not environmentally friendly my husband insisted on getting a fresh cut tree this year because he loves the scent of a real tree. I hadn't heard of The Living Christmas Company, if I had we would have ordered one of their living trees, DOH! There's always next year. 

After we found the perfect tree I asked an employee for trimmings for a wreath. He happily obliged and I was able to help myself to as much as I needed for free. I was closer to being able to make my wreath but still needed some decorations. I looked around our place and found a pretty maroon ribbon that I could reuse for the bow. Then I went on a hike on the mountain (the one outside our front door =) and foraged for holly berries and pine cones. 

Back at home I knew I needed some type of sturdy ring to tie the greenery on to and to make the classic round wreath shape. I brainstormed a few ideas, first I thought I could cut out an 'O' shape out of a cardboard box, then thought maybe I could bend a metal hanger in to shape. Then a lightbulb went off and realized we have a ten inch tart pan with a removable bottom, the ring part is a perfect ridged metal base to use for my wreath. The veggie twist ties i've been saving for something (anything but landfill!) were finally going to go to good use by using the green ones as fasteners. Supplies in tow I was ready to make my first wreath.

First, I cut the trimmings in to more manageable sized pieces approximately six inches long. I fastened the first piece using a green twist tie then made my way around the wreath making sure to cover up each twist tie with greenery as I went around. I used an additional twist tie to make a loop to hang the wreath on. I was ready to decorate, I just placed the pine cones and berries wedging them in between the greenery and twist ties. The final touch was the bow which I tied then tacked in place with a straight pin.

This wreath was foraged, free, zero waste and stayed fresh and pretty all December long, I can't wait to make more next year.

{My first wreath!}

DIY Reed Diffuser

I've been using this DIY reed diffuser for about a month now and it works great. I have it on our bathroom windowsill and it gives off a realy pleasant not too strong scent. 

My friends gifted us designer room diffusing oil two years ago and I had no idea what to do with it so it just sat in the closet unused. An idea popped in to my head to create a scented diffuser using a clean Straus cream bottle and clean wooden chopsticks I saved from a sushi night out. Just wipe them clean at the end of your meal, take them home to hand wash with soap and water then let dry completely. 

When I'm done with the diffuser I'll wash and return the bottle for deposit and compost the sticks. 

{DIY Room Diffuser}

Orange All Purpose Cleaner

I like to infuse white vinegar with orange peels inside a jar that is stored in the refrigerator. The orange peels scent the vinegar I use for my all purpose cleaner and cuts the vinegar smell really well. I usually just keep adding vinegar to the jar when it gets low and switch out the orange peels periodically too. 

{orange peel infused vinegar}

Aged Eggnog Recipe

Last year I made eggnog from scratch for the first time, it came out well but was thinking the flavors could meld better. I remembered yesterday of a few years ago around this time of year when my husband and I ran into friends at the local grocery store. They were buying ingredients for their traditional aged for a month eggnog. Up until yesterday it had been on my list of mental to do's. Today I decided to go for it, here's what I did.

I found this recipe online then went shopping for the following ingredients:
12 eggs (brought to our home via FFTY)
1 cup heavy cream (Straus, in a bottle to turn back for deposit)
1 qt whole milk (Straus, in a bottle to turn back for deposit)
2 cups sugar (bought in bulk in a reusable cloth bag)
1 liter Bourbon (bought in a glass recyclable bottle)
1/2 cup dark rum (bought in a glass recyclable bottle)
3/4 cup brandy (bought in a glass recyclable bottle)
1 pinch salt (bought in bulk in a reusable cloth bag)
1 pinch mace (bought in bulk in a reusable cloth bag)

{Nearly 3 liters of eggnog ready to age for a month in the refrigerator}

Directions:
Separate egg whites from yolks, place yolks in a large bowl and save egg whites in an airtight container for another use. Cream together egg yolks and sugar with whisk until creamy. Then add and stir in cream, milk, bourbon, rum, brandy salt and mace. Mix with spoon and store in the refrigerator for 3 weeks to a year. I made ours tonight so it will be consumed exactly a month from now.

Serve over ice and garnish with sweetened fresh whipped cream and a shaving of nutmeg. 

UPDATE: 1/17/2014
We had a holiday party and served the aged eggnog along with spiced cider and mulled wine. The eggnog was the star, everyone loved it. I ended up cutting it with about 1/4 parts milk because it was super strong. Aging it made it super smooth and creamy.

Homemade Jalapeño Hot Sauce

One thing that has been seriously lacking in our house is hot sauce. Friends gave us a bottle of the kind from the store and when we ran out we didn't buy more. We have been using a sprinkle of cayenne and/or red pepper flakes to add heat but its just not the same so I decided to make some myself. 

I was inspired by this recipe from Bobby Flay but made some adjustments to simplify and it turned out great.

{The finished product: homemade jalapeño hot sauce}

Ingredients:
3 tsp EVOO
5 jalapeño peppers
1/4 large white onion
1 garlic clove
1 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbs honey

Directions:
Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of EVOO in a sauce pan on medium. Add in coarsely chopped onion and jalapeño then cook until soft. Add garlic and cook for about a minute more then add vinegar and water and cook a few more minutes. Take off heat and stir in remaining EVOO, salt and honey. Using a hand blender, blend mixture until smooth. Using a funnel, pour into a bottle and store in the refrigerator. 

Note:
Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and often while making this, these peppers are hot and can really burn your eyes if you aren't careful!

Easy Swaps Towards a Sustainable Household

So I gave up Facebook but have been going full steam ahead on Instagram. Recently I posted the photo of our 2 month trash tally in a 16oz mason jar and the comments were all really encouraging. One of my friends said 'teach me your ways' which inspired this post. I've come up with a list of easy swaps, all of which are simple and will help not only save the environment but also save you money. 

My husband and I have been striving towards a more simplified household focusing on reducing our garbage and carbon footprint for about 18 months. We still have a long way to go. Living with these changes every day it feels like we haven't made much progress at all, it's been a slow gradual change through every step but reading this list makes me see how far we've come. These are the swaps we've made.

Kitchen Swaps
Swap paper towels for dishcloths 
Swap plastic and paper grocery bags for reusable tote bags
Swap paper napkins for cloth napkins 
Swap plastic kitchen tools for bamboo and stainless steel
Swap plastic Tupperware for glass hermetic jars
Swap plastic produce and bulk bags for reusable mesh and cloth bags
Swap plastic baggies for jars and reusable snack bags like lunchskins (also if you are storing food in the refrigerator a deep bowl with a saucer on top works great too!)
Swap nonstick cookware for stainless steel or cast iron
Swap nonstick cookie sheets for metal (stop relying on tinfoil and just clean them =) 
Swap beer bottles and cans for refillable growlers
Swap wine bottles for pop top lemonade bottles to be refilled at a winery
Swap plastic cling wrap and wax paper for abeego
Swap plastic cutting boards for a wood fiber cutting board
Swap disposable plastic water bottles for a reusable stainless steel ones
Swap disposable coffee cups for a stainless steel thermos
Swap disposable skewers and toothpicks for stainless steel reusable ones
Swap to go plastic utensils for bamboo utensils 
Swap plastic straws for stainless steel ones
Swap disposable cups for reusable stainless steel tumblers
Swap cooking oil spray for a Silpat or just a bit of oil
Swap coffee maker for a stovetop espresso maker
In general swap plastics for ceramic, glass and stainless steel options
Additional ideas: Get rid of multiples in the kitchen (ie: mixing bowls, cheese knives, bottle stoppers, the list goes on and on!), try to eat your food before it goes bad, learn to love leftovers, keep your fridge stocked (I put a few glass bottles filled with water in there at all times, it saves energy), replace incandescent bulbs with LED’s

Bathroom Swaps
Swap plastic wrapped toilet paper for individually wrapped recycled toilet paper
Swap disposable razors or cartridges for a safety razor
Swap store bought toothpaste and deodorant for homemade versions
Swap shampoo, body wash, body lotion and conditioner in a plastic bottle from the store for bulk shampoo in a glass pump bottle that can be refilled
Swap lip gloss and lip balm for homemade lip balm
Swap store bought facial toner for apple cider vinegar
Swap body lotion for body oil available in bulk, I like using almond oil for the scent
Swap your toothbrush for a bamboo or recycled from yogurt container one
Swap facial tissue for toilet paper or better yet a reusable handkerchief
Swap disposable menstrual products with reusables (do your research, they are out there =)
Additional ideas: Collect toilet paper rolls for another use (I use them to stuff dryer lint in to use as campfire starter), if it’s yellow let it mellow (gross I know!), turn off the water when you brush your teeth, take shorter showers, place a full water bottle or brick in your toilet tank to save on water, install an aerator in your faucets, choose energy efficient appliances like Energy Star

Cleaning Swaps
Swap Windex for a microfiber rag
Swap Ajax and Soft Scrub for tea tree oil and baking soda
Swap all purpose cleaner for vinegar and water in a spray bottle
Swap store bought toxic laundry detergent for homemade or nontoxic in cardboard box
Swap store bought toxic dishwasher detergent for non toxic in a cardboard box
Swap dish soap for liquid castile soap or bulk all purpose soap
Swap kitchen sponge for compostable natural fiber scrubber and steel wool 
Swap air fresheners with incense or small bowl of vinegar (my husband hates the vinegar but it really works!)
Swap mothballs for sachets of dried lavender
Swap Swiffer disposable pads for cloth rags
Swap sticker lables for reused paper and rubber bands
Additional ideas: Compost vacuum cleaner dust, reuse dryer lint as campfire starter or just compost it, soak orange peels in white vinegar to make orange scented all-purpose cleaner, reuse ‘grey’ water for watering plants, compost hair from brushes, stop using dryer sheets, wash full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine, hang dry your laundry, add fresh air to your home by opening some windows and having house plants

Transportation Swaps
Swap driving everywhere for carpooling, riding the bus or ferry, riding your bike or walking
Additional ideas: Start a ride share program at your work

{View from my commute home on the ferry to Sausalito, sure beats traffic}

Entertainment Swaps
Swap cable and dvd’s for an Apple TV or Roku with Netflix and Hulu+
Swap dvd’s and cd’s for downloadable digital versions
Swap paper books and magazines for digital versions for your tablet
Swap hard copies for digital versions by going 'paperless' 
Swap printed hard copy boarding pass, event and movie tickets for smartphone digital version for iPhone use Passbook
Swap regular batteries for rechargeable ones
Additional ideas: Spend more time at the library they have tons of books, free wifi and movies

Swaps we still want to make
Swap our collection of pens and pencils for refillable versions
Swap disposable lighter with refillable one
Swap disposable plate with reusable version (at my work)

Purge
We started by evaluating what things we actually use, then analyzed what objects can do double or triple duty. By purging what we do is evaluate the item to see what condition it is in. If it’s still full of life we first try to think of a friend who might want it, once we’ve asked around and no one is interested we’ll donate it to Goodwill. This goes for clothing too, for example we went on our honeymoon to Europe for two weeks and each only brought a regular backpack worth of clothing but we never felt like we needed more. When we got back purging clothing and shoes from our wardrobe came easy. But I'm convinced that purging, evaluating and organizing is a lifelong process.

Take action
Start collecting compostable kitchen waste, buy a compost keeper (we got ours at Ross for next to nothing)
Request a green waste compost bin from your local refuse
Start composting at home with a tumbling composter
Refuse plastic and paper bags at grocery store
Refuse plastic packaging at the grocery store
Refuse produce and bulk bags at the grocery store
Start upcycling - start to think of things you’d typically discard in a new way and put it to good use!

Recipe: Homemade Lip Balm

This recipe is a combination of a few that I found on the internet and tweaked to what worked for me. I've made it a few times and love it. You can use it on your lips and on dry skin. Just don't slather it on at the beach because your lips will burn, I learned my lesson the hard way.

I purchased a one pound block of local beeswax unpackaged from the Beekind stand in the Ferry Building. I use a cheese grater to make shavings because it's easier to melt. Almond oil was purchased in bulk from Rainbow Grocery. I bought the tin new at the Container Store but next time I think I'll try reusing a mint tin. 

Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp beeswax shavings
- 4 tbsp almond oil

Directions: Heat beeswax shavings and oil together in a glass jar inside a pot with an inch of water until melted then pour into a tin to set up. 

You can also try adding a bit of lipstick or mineral pigment for a tinted balm. I've tried this recipe with coconut oil as well and the ratio wasn't working, you have to use a lot more beeswax to oil so I just stick with almond oil.

{Homemade lip balm in a tin}

Non-toxic Alternative: White Vinegar

White vinegar is a staple in our household. We buy it in either 1/2 gallon plastic jugs or 1 liter glass bottles because we have not been able to find it sold in bulk. We use it to clean pretty much everything on a day to day basis in our natural 'all-purpose cleaner' and I keep discovering new uses for it. Here's how we are currently using organic white vinegar.

{All-purpose cleaner in a stainless steal spray bottle}

Cleaning:

- All purpose cleaner (for all household surfaces and spills)

- Natural soft scrub (tile, toilet, sink and shower cleaner)

- Room deodorizer (fill half a ramekin and leave where there's odor)

- Microwave cleaner (fill half a ramekin, microwave for a minute, wipe clean)

- Dishwasher rinse (pour in rinse receptacle)

- Fabric softener (add to rinse receptacle)

- Sink sparkler (fill sink with water and a cup of vinegar, soak, wipe down)

- Goo gone alternative (use straight on sticky spills on carpet and on sticker adhesive)

Cooking:

- Poached eggs (a splash in the water helps whites stay together)

How do you use white vinegar?

Recipe: Almond Milk

Making almond milk is much easier then most people think. It's fresh, better tasting and much less expensive then store bought. It can be enjoyed with cereal, tea, coffee and in baking recipe's as a substitute for milk. How do you use your almond milk?

Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted organic almonds (bought in bulk)
- 4 cups water
- 1 tbs local honey (or 1 date, bought in bulk)

Directions:
1. Soak almonds in at least an inch of water in the refrigerator overnight. 

2. Strain, then rince soaked almonds with water.

3. Place soaked and strained almonds into blender with 4 fresh cups of water and honey.

4. Place chinoise over a bowl (you can use a cheese cloth or nut milk bag too), pour blended almond mixture into strainer. Press pulp with a spoon until most of the milk is in the bowl (squeeze, if its cheesecloth). Set aside the almond pulp to use later for an exfoliating scrub or freeze to add to cookies. 

5. Using a funnel, pour strained almond milk into an airtight container. Shake before using, refrigerate and enjoy for up to a week. 

{Almond milk in a pop-top reusable glass bottle}

Zero Waste: Grocery Shopping

There are several easy ways to reduce your waste. I realized quickly that much of our waste originates in the kitchen and eliminating waste before it enters the home through zero waste grocery shopping could make a sizable impact. I researched online for tips on waste free shopping, many of which I learned from the Zero Waste Home blog. Bringing our own containers, bulk and produce bags seemed like a big step. Gearing up for that first shopping trip took a mentality shift but was so intriguing that I knew I had to give it a try! 

This is how I prepped for that trip: I had two plastic Tupperware containers, a few mesh produce bags (had been using for a while) and a reusable canvas tote. I also did a ton of research to pepare but still had so many 'what ifs' whirling in my mind. 

What if - they flat out said no?
What if - everyone looked at me like I was insane?
What if - I lose the nerve at the last second?

I silenced the chatter in my head and went for it. Then, as I first asked for chicken thighs in my own container I got a burst of adrenaline. I felt like I could do anything. After checkout I walked out of the grocery store feeling proud and I couldn't wait until my husband got home from work to tell him about it. 

It's been about a year and a half since that first shopping trip and we haven't looked back. My husband and I usually do our grocery shopping together and we don't think about how we 'used' to shop anymore. We just understand that if we're not prepared to shop then we shouldn't be inside a store. This mentality has made us much more organized. We come prepared with a shopping list and we stick to it which saves us time and money. We bring the containers and bags just for what we need and leave the rest at home. 

Here is how we do our less waste grocery shopping:

1. Make a list. We talk to each other and figure out what we are out of and what we need (usually with specific recipes in mind).

2. Gather supplies. Our usual shopping supplies look a little something like this:

• 2 - 3 Reusable tote bags for carrying everything
• A few glass jars for wet items such as meat, cheese, peanut butter and olives. We use various sizes of Le Parfet jars, they're durable, clear and not plastic. If buying wet items in bulk (not behind meat counter for instance) then you'll have to weigh your jar to get the tare so the weight of the jar gets subtracted at check out. They can weigh jars at customer service, bring a water soluble crayon to write weight on the lid.
• A few produce bags. We use green mesh bags by Blue Avocado.
• A few bulk drawstring bags. I made mine out of flour sack towels because I love to sew but I have also seen them in the bulk section for sale at Whole Foods.
• Water soluble crayon to write tare weight on jars and bulk bin numbers on my bulk bags 
• Deposit items, such as clean Straus milk bottles, Revive kombucha bottles and St. Benoit yogurt jars. These products charge a deposit when purchased that is then refunded to you once you bring it back. 

3. Head to the store with your supplies for shopping.

4. Stick to the list. It's easy to get side tracked just know you aren't going to buy anything that has packaging.

5. At checkout refuse the receipt, it probably has BPA on it anyway.

{Produce and meat purchased with our reusables}

Organically Dyed Easter Eggs

About a month ago while browsing PopSugar SmartLiving I stumbled upon a posting about all natural alternatives to traditional Easter egg dyeing.

{Eco Chic: Naturally dye Easter eggs with Leftovers}

After reading the article my wheels started to turn, thinking about what else I could use to dye eggs. I planned on sharing this activity with our 20 month old niece (this was the first Easter she was able to hunt for eggs) it was important for these eggs to be bright, colorful and non-toxic for her to enjoy. 

I had a rough list of ingredients in my head as I headed to the local farmers market in hunt for items that could serve double duty: package-free edibles that could be both conusumed and used for dye. The farmers market in Larkspur had an Easter theme that day which included a kids craft for (you guessed it =) natural egg dyeing with items available at the farmers market! I got so excited when I saw their display that I began asking the ladies running the craft tons of questions. They were sweet, informative and I could tell they were really happy to talk to someone over the age of six. =) The gist of what they told me is just to boil the ingredient of choice with two cups of water for less then an hour. Once the mixture is cool add a splash of white vinegar to set the color. Also, these dyes are weaker then their unsafe counterparts so for brighter colors the eggs should stay in the dye for longer. Farmers market purchases in tow, I headed to the store for a few more 'zero waste' ingredients then home to experiment. 

{Farmers Market Kids Craft}

At home I had fun concocting the dyes and testing out the colors. I hard boiled six eggs and blew out the insides of the remaining so that my sister wasn't stuck with a dozen hard boiled eggs! To add interest through negative designs I tied rubber bands around some and zigzag strips of sticker labels on others. Here are the dyes I tried:

• Red Wine
• Yellow Onion Skins
• Turmeric 
• Purple Cabbage
• Turmeric + Purple Cabbage

The experiments results surprised me a bit. Red Wine, thinking it would make a red or purple egg made an interesting grey marbled egg resembling stone. Yellow onion skins produced a rich golden orange hue. Turmeric made bright yellow. Purple cabbage turned the eggs a beautiful cyan color then the turmeric and cabbage dye made a green.

{The finished product on my sisters spring time table-scape}

On Easter, my husband hid the eggs for our niece to find. It was a precious sight watching her roam around the yard, even though she found just one egg ;)

{Success!}

Zero Waste Impromptu BBQ

A few weeks ago my husband and I planned a day hike with some friends up to the Tourist Club. Afterword we decided to have everyone over for an impromptu BBQ. We needed food and beer so I knew I better act fast to avoid all the waste that usually comes with a party, especially an unplanned last minute one! I volunteered to go on a food and beer run with my friend Reny, she was happy to help out!

I quickly grabbed a few jars, produce bags, shopping bag and our two beer growlers. We hopped in the car and were on our way. We swung by Mill Valley Market, first stop was the meat counter. I asked the butcher to fill up my large jar with chicken thighs and a smaller jar with ground chuck, he happily obliged. Next we needed buns for the burgers, I filled my bread sack with rolls available in bulk. Then over to produce, I filled my produce bag with fresh corn and picked up a watermelon for dessert. Once we got to the check out line I showed Reny my jars-o-meat (she was Instagraming while we were racing around so I knew she didn't notice me asking the butcher to place the goods in my jars) she looked at it and said "Woah, that's awesome! Did they give you a discount, because they should?!" I said "No, no discount but that would be nice, haha." 

We checked out then headed down the street to Mill Valley Beerworks. We filled both growlers that we brought with our favorite, 'Sweetwater Kolsch.' The entire trip took a total of 20 minutes door-to-door. Our friends couldn't believe how fast we were and I was happy that we were able to do a full on Zero Waste shopping trip on the fly! 

The party was a success. We drank beer, wine,(refilled bottles of course!) grilled and even played charades. A good time was had by all! =)

{Reny and I enjoying the Tourist Club}

Non-toxic Alternative: Baking Soda

After reading "Slow Death By Rubber Duck" I was on a mission to eliminate harmful chemicals from our home. The toxic cleaning products we had been using had to go. I did my research and found great homemade alternatives often using baking soda that are chemical free, super inexpensive and easy to make. I bought a good amount of baking soda in bulk on our last trip to Rainbow Grocery. Baking soda is extremely versatile, here are all the ways I'm currently using it.

Cleaning:

- Natural Soft Scrub

- Lemon Dishwashing Detergent

- Sprinkle straight on tile and scrub

Hygiene:

- Toothpaste

- Deodorant

Recipes

Lemon Dishwashing Detergent:
¾ cup baking soda
½ cup salt
2 - 3 tsp dr. bronners soap
1 lemon worth of zest and juice
Mix all dry ingredients eliminating lumps then add the lemon zest, juice and soap. Mix well and use, 1 heaping tbsp per dishload. Make sure there is white vinegar in the rince liquid receptacle. This actually can also be used as a garbage disposal refresher. I got the recipe from SavvySugar tried it and they never set up. I was thinking it would make a great dishwasher detergent, tried it and was blown away with how well it worked!

Toothpaste (updated 9/13):
1 Part Baking Soda
1 Part Coconut Oil
1/4 tsp Stevia Powder
15 - 20 drops of food safe peppermint essential oil
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until it forms a paste then transfer in to a jar.

Homemade Deodorant:
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup cornstarch or arrowroot
10 drops tea tree oil
1 - 2 tsp coconut oil
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, press in to an empty clean deodorant dispenser.

Homemade Hummus Recipe

One of life's simple pleasures is a warm piece of fresh bread served with a smear of something fresh and delicious. My sister first gave me 'Amber's Famous Hummus' recipe a few years ago in a recipe binder. I loved it then and over time have moulded it in to what works best for us. We enjoy this spread on bread for a sandwich or to serve it with carrot sticks as dip. It's so versatile, tasty, healthy and easy to make.  

Hummus 

(adapted from ‘Amber’s Famous Hummus Recipe’)

Prep:
Soak 1 cup dried garbanzo beans in a bowl of water on the counter for 12 - 24 hours, change water once if needed. Strain beans then boil in fresh water for an hour to an hour and a half, strain and use immediately or store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator covered with cooking liquid for up to three days.

Ingredients:
{garbanzo beans}
3 ½ tbsp tahini
3 tbsp lemon juice or light colored vinegar
½ tsp salt
2 - 3 cloves of garlic
2 tsp olive oil
¾ tsp cumin
¾ tsp paprika

Directions:
Place all ingredients into a bowl, blend smooth with a hand blender. If mixture is looking dry, add more cooking water.

Store in an airtight jar for up to 10 days in the refrigerator, it usually doesn't last that long in our house =)

Zero Waste Recipes: Cleaners

My husband and I have been striving towards a zero waste lifestyle for over a year now. We make much of what we used to buy. This not only cuts down unwanted packaging but also saves us money and eliminates harmful chemicals from our home. 

I have tested and tweaked this collection of recipes and have boiled them down to what works best for us with what's available in bulk in our area. We make and use all of these household items and would never go back to the packaged alternatives, we are hooked! Enjoy the health benefits, sense of accomplishment and ease on your wallet!

Home Recipes:

Homemade Antibacterial Soft Scrub Cleanser:
3/4 cup baking soda (you can add a little more if it seems a little thin after it’s all mixed together.)
1/4 cup castile soap (We use Tea Tree scented Dr. Bronners)
1 Tablespoon water
10-15 drops of tea tree oil
1 Tablespoon vinegar

I store mine in a shampoo bottle I washed out and removed the label from, the squeeze bottle makes cleaning a breeze

Homemade All Purpose Cleaner:
In a clean spray bottle, fill ½ inch with white vinegar
then a few drops of essential oil or dr. bronners for scent
fill the rest of the bottle up with water and shake before use

Homemade Laundry Detergent:
1 part Borax (usually I use 1 cup)
1 part Washing Soda (usually I use 1 cup)
1 Bar of soap grated with a cheese grater
Mix well in a bowl with a wooden spoon
Store in jar, use 1 heaping tbs per load

Hello Blogosphere! This is my first post on the Gennarator Blog. On this blog I plan to share my explorations, creativity, tips and life events. I welcome comments and idea sharing. 

All the best,
Gennarator