Showing posts with label Green Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Living. Show all posts

Monday, July 22, 2013

GO GREEN Helpful Hints

I've had a bunch of requests to post this again...so here ya go!

 Please ***SHARE*** this so you can ***SAVE*** all these great tips to your page!

 THIS IS LONG BUT SO TOTALLY AWESOME AND INFORMATIVE!!!!!

 YOU NEED TO READ THIS!

 Most people are watching their dollars and working off a budget to make ends meet. Many are also now looking for natural alternatives to live a more wholesome and chemical free life. Following are a few ways in which you can have both of the above. These uses are becoming more prevalent and are easy to do it yourself. So, here are great easy uses for common household items to make your life more chemical free and your wallet a little fatter. 

 SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND VISIT http://on.fb.me/ZH7GVa FOR MORE AWESOME TIPS!

 1) Toothpaste: Buff a CD/DVD
 Apply toothpaste to a cotton ball and wipe the disc. Wash with water afterwards and you’ve got a brand new disc!

 2) Cornstarch: Untangle Knots
 Sprinkling cornstarch into tough knots, such as shoe laces helps loosen them.

 3) Walnut: Buff Dings out of Wood Furniture
 Get rid of unsightly scratches and dings on wood furniture by rubbing a walnut on the areas. The blemishes will vanish quickly and your furniture and pocket book will be saved.

 4) Club Soda: Make Your Breads Fluffier
 When baking, where recipes call for water, add club soda instead to make pancakes, waffles and any other breads fluffier.

 5) Salt: Keep Windows Frost Free
 Pour a cup of salt into a liter of water. Sponge the liquid onto the inside of window to prevent frost from forming during the winter months.

 6) Rubbing Alcohol: Remove Permanent Marker
 Dab the surface that has the permanent marker on it with a cloth or cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol to make it disappear quickly.

 7) Chap stick: Stops Bleeding When Nicked Shaving
 Cut yourself shaving? Just swipe some chap stick over the cut to stop that constant bleeding. No more tissue squares!
 Apple Juice: Removes Dandruff
 Don’t ask how it works, but it does! Instead of buying a special shampoo, just wash your hair in apple juice to rid your scalp of pesky dandruff.

 9) Aspirin: Get Rid of Armpit Stains on T-Shirts
 Grind up an aspirin tablet or two, then make a paste out of it using water, lemon or vinegar. Spread the paste on the stained area and let sit for an hour before washing.

 10) Olive Oil: Make Pets’ Coat Shinier
 Add a bit of olive oil to your pet’s food to give them a healthier, shinier coat of fur.

 11) Newspapers: Clean Windows and Mirrors
 Instead of using a spray and a streaky cloth, use only newspaper to clean off your mirrors and windows for a streak-free finish.

 12) Baking Soda: Remove Bugs from Windshield
 Mix baking soda with warm water to make a paste. Spread the paste over your windshield for fifteen minutes. Then wipe or spray off with a hose.

 13) Bleach: Extend Life of Flowers in Vase
 Add a few drops of bleach to vase water to prevent the build-up of the slime caused by bacteria. It works just like chlorine in a swimming pool.

 14) Kitchen Dish Soap: Flea-Killing Dog Shampoo
 Kitchen dish soap (not dish detergent) can double as dog shampoo for its flea killing abilities.

 15) Coke: Remove Blood Stains from Clothing
 Soak the stain in coke until the stain is dissolved, then wash the clothing as usual. Wash before the coke dries, though.

 16) Honey: Remove Blemish Overnight
 Have a blemish you need to get rid of by tomorrow? Put a dab of honey on the blemish and cover it up (it’s best to use a Band-Aid) and the honey’s natural antibacterial properties will clean out the bacteria by the morning.

 17) Wax Paper: Clean Can Opener Gears
 Run a few small strips of wax paper through the can opener to clean out of the bits and pieces that have built up in the gears throughout the year. The wax will also rub off on the gears to protect for future use as well.

 18) WD-40: Remove Crayons from Walls
 Use the lubricant and a cloth to remove stubborn crayon marks from the walls just by spraying the wall and wiping with a cloth.

 19) Chalk: Keep Ants and Slugs Out of the House
 Ants and Slugs Won’t Touch Chalk. So, simply draw a line in front of your doorway where you are having problems with these pesky critters and they won’t cross it, meaning they won’t be able to get into your house.

 20) Vinegar: Kills Weeds and Helps Flowers Grow
 Vinegar is a magic wonder when it comes to gardening. It not only kills weeds but they help flowers grow as well. Douse vinegar all around your garden to prevent weeds from popping up and to help your flowers to grow healthy and strong.

 21) Mayonnaise: Remove Bumper Sticker
 Spread mayonnaise on the bumper sticker and let sit for at least thirty minutes. Then, rub the sticker off with a towel, leaving a clean bumper!

 22) Tin Foil Ball: Replace Dryer Sheets Permanently
 Instead of using a dryer sheet ball up one or a few sheets of tin foil and toss it in the dryer. It removes the static electricity from your clothes and one can last up to a year.

 23) Banana Peel: Polish Leather Shoes
 Use the inside of a banana peel to give shoes a professional and natural shine that will last for quite some time.

 24) Mouthwash: Cure Athlete’s Foot
 Pour mouthwash on cotton balls and then swab your feet. The alcohol will disinfect the bacteria completely if you continue this for a week or so.

 25) Baking Soda: Clean BBQ Grill
 Mix a cup of baking soda with half a cup water to make a paste. Dip your brush into the paste and scrub the grill. The caked on pieces and black residue will come off much quicker and using baking soda is much safer and cheaper than using cleaning chemicals.

 26) Coffee Grounds: Fertilizer
 Coffee is full of nutrients and vitamins that are very beneficial to soil. That’s why some people include it in compost piles. If you want to get the most out of your coffee, pour the grounds on areas where you want more grass or flowers.

 27) Olive Oil: Shaving Cream
 The smoothness of the oil can replace the need for shaving cream, and it also provides great moisture.

 28) Dryer Sheets: Gets Rid of Static Electricity
 Use dryer sheets to remove static electricity from things such as clothing, TV screens or your own hair. Tame fly away strands by running a dryer sheet over them.

 29) Freezer: Freeze Candles to Make Them Last Longer
 Put candles in the freezer for at least 2 hours before using. Once you burn them, the wax will melt at a much slower pace, making them last much longer!

 30) Two glasses of water: Cure Headache
 Water is the cure to most common headaches. To make the headache go away quickly, drink two cups of water very quickly.

 31) Lemons: Deodorize Garbage Disposal
 Toss whole slices of lemon into the garbage disposal then run it. The acidity of the lemon will rid your sink of all odors and leave a fresh scent that usually lasts for a few months.

 32) Alka Seltzer: Remove Burnt-On Grease and Food Stains
 When letting your pots and pans soak, throw in one or two Alka Seltzer tablets and the caked on residue from cooking will come off easily when you scrub/wash.

 33) Apple Cider Vinegar: Relieve Diarrhea
 Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into eight ounces of water to soothe your stomach. The taste may not be the greatest, but the antibacterial properties of the vinegar will end the unpleasantness of the bowel problems.

 34) Toothpaste: Remove Scratches from Glass
 Apply toothpaste to scratch, then rub with a cloth until the scratch is gone. Make sure the glass is clean beforehand.

 35) Cheerios: Relieve Pain from Poison Ivy, Chickenpox and Sunburns
 Pound one to four cups of Cheerios into a powder and add to your bath to soothe your skin while you soak. You may not feel relief while in the tub, but you will soon after.

 36) Buttons: Sort Earrings
 Organize your earrings and prevent them from becoming entangled by using spare buttons as holders for each pair.

 37) Corn Oil: Prevent Hairballs for Pets
 Add a few drops of corn oil to your pets’ food to prevent hairballs from forming. The thick oil helps the fur pass through the animal’s system much quicker and easily.

 38) Whipped Cream: Remove Gum from Hair
 There are many remedies for removing gum from hair, but this is a lesser known one. Give it a try rather than peanut butter the next time you’re in need.

 39) Coke: Remove Oil Stains from the Driveway
 Oil stains are very difficult to remove pavement, but one method guaranteed to work is Coke. The highly acidic drink will eat away at the oil until clean.

 40) Brown Sugar: Facial Scrub
 A scrub is good to do about once a month to remove dead skin and bacteria built up in pores and remove excess oil from the skin. Brown sugar does just as well as expensive products and will definitely result in a clearer and smoother complexion.

 41) Dryer Sheet: Lint Brush
 You already know that dryer sheets remove lint in the dryer. Well, it can do the same thing out of the dryer, too. When you’re in a fix, use a dryer sheet. It works just as well as a lint brush, and if you like the scent, it’s an added bonus.

 42) Newspaper: Deodorize food containers and Food Drawers in the Refrigerator
 For that stinky Tupperware or smelly refrigerator drawer that is too much to deal with, toss in a sheet of newspaper overnight before you deal with it. The paper will absorb the smell greatly reducing it or eliminating it completely.

 43) Olive Oil: Unstick a Zipper
 The oil will help the zipper slide more easily, fixing the problem!

 44) Salt: Cool Something Quickly
 You know that feeling when you’re having a BBQ and someone asks for a drink and you realize that no one has put them in the cooler? There’s nothing worse than a warm drink on a hot day. Chill a drink quickly, by adding salt and water to your ice. The drinks will be cold in a matter of minutes; saving your party and making you look smart all at once.

 45) Scotch Tape: Prevent Wall from Chipping When Nailing
 The wall can leave unsightly chips when hammering in a nail. Prevent this by simply placing a piece of scotch tape over the area you’re going to nail. The wall will be held tighter, preventing chips from occurring.

 46) Alka Seltzer: Soothe Insect Bites
 Dissolve two tablets into a glass of water. Then use a cloth or cotton ball to apply it to the affected area. The red will go down and most importantly, the itchiness will vanish usually in fifteen minutes.

 47) Lemon: Whitens Whites
 Add about half a cup of lemon juice to your load of whites to makes them extra white. You can use lemon juice with bleach or detergent, so don’t worry about mixing chemicals with the acidic lemon.

 48) Banana Peel: Whiten Teeth
 This may sound a little odd, but rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth twice a day for two weeks and you will receive the same effect from a teeth-whitening kit. Plus, you’ll save yourself money and the hassle of using chemicals.

 49) Hair Dryer: Free Photos Stuck on Pages
 If you have a photo stuck on a page that you can’t get free, try using a blow dryer on the back of the page. It will loosen the photo from the page and the adhesive holding it there.

 50) Banana Peel: Heal Most Skin Problems
 Bananas are the magical fruit, because they heal many common problems on the skin. By rubbing the peel on your skin, you can heal bruises and cuts and eliminate rashes, itching and warts. Basically if you have a common skin problem, it can be cured by this fruit.

 I hope you can put some or all of these to good use to save money and make your home a safer environment. There are tons more DIY uses for common household items like these. make sure to share the info with your friends! 

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1) Toothpaste: Buff a CD/DVD
Apply toothpaste to a cotton ball and wipe the disc. Wash with water afterwards and you’ve got a brand new disc!

2) Cornstarch: Untangle Knots
Sprinkling cornstarch into tough knots, such as shoe laces helps loosen them.

3) Walnut: Buff Dings out of Wood Furniture
Get rid of unsightly scratches and dings on wood furniture by rubbing a walnut on the areas. The blemishes will vanish quickly and your furniture and pocket book will be saved.

4) Club Soda: Make Your Breads Fluffier
When baking, where recipes call for water, add club soda instead to make pancakes, waffles and any other breads fluffier.

5) Salt: Keep Windows Frost Free
Pour a cup of salt into a liter of water. Sponge the liquid onto the inside of window to prevent frost from forming during the winter months.

6) Rubbing Alcohol: Remove Permanent Marker
Dab the surface that has the permanent marker on it with a cloth or cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol to make it disappear quickly.

7) Chap stick: Stops Bleeding When Nicked Shaving
Cut yourself shaving? Just swipe some chap stick over the cut to stop that constant bleeding. No more tissue squares!
Apple Juice: Removes Dandruff
Don’t ask how it works, but it does! Instead of buying a special shampoo, just wash your hair in apple juice to rid your scalp of pesky dandruff.

9) Aspirin: Get Rid of Armpit Stains on T-Shirts
Grind up an aspirin tablet or two, then make a paste out of it using water, lemon or vinegar. Spread the paste on the stained area and let sit for an hour before washing.

10) Olive Oil: Make Pets’ Coat Shinier
Add a bit of olive oil to your pet’s food to give them a healthier, shinier coat of fur.

11) Newspapers: Clean Windows and Mirrors
Instead of using a spray and a streaky cloth, use only newspaper to clean off your mirrors and windows for a streak-free finish.

12) Baking Soda: Remove Bugs from Windshield
Mix baking soda with warm water to make a paste. Spread the paste over your windshield for fifteen minutes. Then wipe or spray off with a hose.

13) Bleach: Extend Life of Flowers in Vase
Add a few drops of bleach to vase water to prevent the build-up of the slime caused by bacteria. It works just like chlorine in a swimming pool.

14) Kitchen Dish Soap: Flea-Killing Dog Shampoo
Kitchen dish soap (not dish detergent) can double as dog shampoo for its flea killing abilities.

15) Coke: Remove Blood Stains from Clothing
Soak the stain in coke until the stain is dissolved, then wash the clothing as usual. Wash before the coke dries, though.

16) Honey: Remove Blemish Overnight
Have a blemish you need to get rid of by tomorrow? Put a dab of honey on the blemish and cover it up (it’s best to use a Band-Aid) and the honey’s natural antibacterial properties will clean out the bacteria by the morning.

17) Wax Paper: Clean Can Opener Gears
Run a few small strips of wax paper through the can opener to clean out of the bits and pieces that have built up in the gears throughout the year. The wax will also rub off on the gears to protect for future use as well.

18) WD-40: Remove Crayons from Walls
Use the lubricant and a cloth to remove stubborn crayon marks from the walls just by spraying the wall and wiping with a cloth.

19) Chalk: Keep Ants and Slugs Out of the House
Ants and Slugs Won’t Touch Chalk. So, simply draw a line in front of your doorway where you are having problems with these pesky critters and they won’t cross it, meaning they won’t be able to get into your house.

20) Vinegar: Kills Weeds and Helps Flowers Grow
Vinegar is a magic wonder when it comes to gardening. It not only kills weeds but they help flowers grow as well. Douse vinegar all around your garden to prevent weeds from popping up and to help your flowers to grow healthy and strong.

21) Mayonnaise: Remove Bumper Sticker
Spread mayonnaise on the bumper sticker and let sit for at least thirty minutes. Then, rub the sticker off with a towel, leaving a clean bumper!

22) Tin Foil Ball: Replace Dryer Sheets Permanently
Instead of using a dryer sheet ball up one or a few sheets of tin foil and toss it in the dryer. It removes the static electricity from your clothes and one can last up to a year.

23) Banana Peel: Polish Leather Shoes
Use the inside of a banana peel to give shoes a professional and natural shine that will last for quite some time.

24) Mouthwash: Cure Athlete’s Foot
Pour mouthwash on cotton balls and then swab your feet. The alcohol will disinfect the bacteria completely if you continue this for a week or so.

25) Baking Soda: Clean BBQ Grill
Mix a cup of baking soda with half a cup water to make a paste. Dip your brush into the paste and scrub the grill. The caked on pieces and black residue will come off much quicker and using baking soda is much safer and cheaper than using cleaning chemicals.

26) Coffee Grounds: Fertilizer
Coffee is full of nutrients and vitamins that are very beneficial to soil. That’s why some people include it in compost piles. If you want to get the most out of your coffee, pour the grounds on areas where you want more grass or flowers.

27) Olive Oil: Shaving Cream
The smoothness of the oil can replace the need for shaving cream, and it also provides great moisture.

28) Dryer Sheets: Gets Rid of Static Electricity
Use dryer sheets to remove static electricity from things such as clothing, TV screens or your own hair. Tame fly away strands by running a dryer sheet over them.

29) Freezer: Freeze Candles to Make Them Last Longer
Put candles in the freezer for at least 2 hours before using. Once you burn them, the wax will melt at a much slower pace, making them last much longer!

30) Two glasses of water: Cure Headache
Water is the cure to most common headaches. To make the headache go away quickly, drink two cups of water very quickly.

31) Lemons: Deodorize Garbage Disposal
Toss whole slices of lemon into the garbage disposal then run it. The acidity of the lemon will rid your sink of all odors and leave a fresh scent that usually lasts for a few months.

32) Alka Seltzer: Remove Burnt-On Grease and Food Stains
When letting your pots and pans soak, throw in one or two Alka Seltzer tablets and the caked on residue from cooking will come off easily when you scrub/wash.

33) Apple Cider Vinegar: Relieve Diarrhea
Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into eight ounces of water to soothe your stomach. The taste may not be the greatest, but the antibacterial properties of the vinegar will end the unpleasantness of the bowel problems.

34) Toothpaste: Remove Scratches from Glass
Apply toothpaste to scratch, then rub with a cloth until the scratch is gone. Make sure the glass is clean beforehand.

35) Cheerios: Relieve Pain from Poison Ivy, Chickenpox and Sunburns
Pound one to four cups of Cheerios into a powder and add to your bath to soothe your skin while you soak. You may not feel relief while in the tub, but you will soon after.

36) Buttons: Sort Earrings
Organize your earrings and prevent them from becoming entangled by using spare buttons as holders for each pair.

37) Corn Oil: Prevent Hairballs for Pets
Add a few drops of corn oil to your pets’ food to prevent hairballs from forming. The thick oil helps the fur pass through the animal’s system much quicker and easily.

38) Whipped Cream: Remove Gum from Hair
There are many remedies for removing gum from hair, but this is a lesser known one. Give it a try rather than peanut butter the next time you’re in need.

39) Coke: Remove Oil Stains from the Driveway
Oil stains are very difficult to remove pavement, but one method guaranteed to work is Coke. The highly acidic drink will eat away at the oil until clean.

40) Brown Sugar: Facial Scrub
A scrub is good to do about once a month to remove dead skin and bacteria built up in pores and remove excess oil from the skin. Brown sugar does just as well as expensive products and will definitely result in a clearer and smoother complexion.

41) Dryer Sheet: Lint Brush
You already know that dryer sheets remove lint in the dryer. Well, it can do the same thing out of the dryer, too. When you’re in a fix, use a dryer sheet. It works just as well as a lint brush, and if you like the scent, it’s an added bonus.

42) Newspaper: Deodorize food containers and Food Drawers in the Refrigerator
For that stinky Tupperware or smelly refrigerator drawer that is too much to deal with, toss in a sheet of newspaper overnight before you deal with it. The paper will absorb the smell greatly reducing it or eliminating it completely.

43) Olive Oil: Unstick a Zipper
The oil will help the zipper slide more easily, fixing the problem!

44) Salt: Cool Something Quickly
You know that feeling when you’re having a BBQ and someone asks for a drink and you realize that no one has put them in the cooler? There’s nothing worse than a warm drink on a hot day. Chill a drink quickly, by adding salt and water to your ice. The drinks will be cold in a matter of minutes; saving your party and making you look smart all at once.

45) Scotch Tape: Prevent Wall from Chipping When Nailing
The wall can leave unsightly chips when hammering in a nail. Prevent this by simply placing a piece of scotch tape over the area you’re going to nail. The wall will be held tighter, preventing chips from occurring.

46) Alka Seltzer: Soothe Insect Bites
Dissolve two tablets into a glass of water. Then use a cloth or cotton ball to apply it to the affected area. The red will go down and most importantly, the itchiness will vanish usually in fifteen minutes.

47) Lemon: Whitens Whites
Add about half a cup of lemon juice to your load of whites to makes them extra white. You can use lemon juice with bleach or detergent, so don’t worry about mixing chemicals with the acidic lemon.

48) Banana Peel: Whiten Teeth
This may sound a little odd, but rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth twice a day for two weeks and you will receive the same effect from a teeth-whitening kit. Plus, you’ll save yourself money and the hassle of using chemicals.

49) Hair Dryer: Free Photos Stuck on Pages
If you have a photo stuck on a page that you can’t get free, try using a blow dryer on the back of the page. It will loosen the photo from the page and the adhesive holding it there.

50) Banana Peel: Heal Most Skin Problems
Bananas are the magical fruit, because they heal many common problems on the skin. By rubbing the peel on your skin, you can heal bruises and cuts and eliminate rashes, itching and warts. Basically if you have a common skin problem, it can be cured by this fruit.
 http://on.fb.me/ZH7GVa FOR MORE AWESOME TIPS!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

DIY Natural Room Scents













DIY Natural Room Scents

Ingredients
Citrus, sliced -- lemons, oranges, limes (may use peel only, if preferred)
Herbs -- rosemary, thyme, & bay leaves
Spices-- whole cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice (optional), anise (optional); may substitute ground/powdered spices
Ginger (fresh or powdered)
Extracts--vanilla, almond, mint
Pine twigs (or other fragrant twigs)
Directions

Use a pint (2 cup) jar, container, or pot to combine scent waters. Add ingredients to container, cover with water, and choose from these options:
simmer on stove top, topping off with more water as it evaporates
add heated mixture to a slow cooker, fondue pot, or something similar that will keep mixture heated.
Preheat waters to a boil (in microwave or on stove top). As water evaporates, always top it off with HOT water to keep the temperature as high as possible. Higher heat = more fragrance.


FRAGRANT COMBINATIONS:

1. Orange, Cinnamon & Spice. 1 orange, 2 cinnamon sticks (or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon), 1/2 tablespoon whole cloves (or 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves), 1/2 tablespoon whole allspice (or 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice), 1 anise star (optional)

2. Lemon, Rosemary & Vanilla. 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary, 2 lemons, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

3. Lime, Thyme, Mint & Vanilla. 3 limes, 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme, 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, 1 teaspoon vanilla.

4. Orange, Ginger, & Almond. 1 orange (or peel from 2 oranges), 1 4" finger of ginger, sliced (or 1 tsp ground ginger), 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.

5. Pine, Bay Leaves, & Nutmeg. Handful of pine twigs or needles, 4 bay leaves, 1 whole nutmeg, outer layer grated into mixture.

Scented waters may be refrigerated between uses. Reuse for 2-3 days, or as long as they still have a pleasant fragrance.

Cost saving tips

You can save, use and reuse a number of fragrant ingredients. These scents don't need to be expensive.

Leftover ginger -- If you ever cook with fresh ginger and end up with leftover pieces , this is a way to use them up...

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Chocolate Pudding - No Cooking Required


Whole Living, July/August 2011  Photo & recipe.              

Chocolate Pudding    

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 3 avocados
  • 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup raw honey
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Sea salt

Directions

  1. Puree avocados, cocoa powder, honey, and vanilla in a food processor until smooth. Sprinkle pudding with salt before serving.

Whipped Sorbet - No Cooking Recipe


Whole Living PHOTO & Recipe


                           Whole Living, July/August 2011              

Serves  2

Ingredients

  • 3 bananas, peeled and frozen
  • 1 cup frozen berries

Directions

  1. Puree ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Serve immediately.

Ceviche Spring Rolls-No Cooking Required


MarthaStewart.com photo & recipe.

Ceviche Spring Rolls
Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces black cod, skin removed, thinly sliced
  • ****blogger used Albacore or Salmon****
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • Sea salt
  • 1 head tender lettuce, such as Boston, leaves separated
  • 1 mango, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 avocado, thinly sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and julienned
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

  1. Pour lime juice over cod in a glass baking dish. Season with salt. Cover and refrigerate until fish is opaque, about 30 minutes.
  2. For each roll, stack two lettuce leaves and top with some cod, mango, avocado, pepper, and cilantro. Season with salt. Roll and slice in half.

Strawberry Oat Bars No-Cook Recipe


MarthaStewart.com photo credit & recipe.


Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups pitted dates
  • 1/4 cup raw macadamia nuts
  • 2 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 1 cup strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced

Directions

  1. Pulse dates, nuts, oats, and salt in a food processor until combined.
  2. Press the date mixture into the bottom of a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.
  3. Mash half the strawberries and spread on top of date mixture.
    Top with remaining strawberries. Slice into rectangles.

Eco Shopping Bag Directions


MarthaStewart.com photo credit.


Take a recycled pillowcase bag OR shirt to the store or farmers' market and cut down on plastic.

FROM:   Body+Soul, October 2008

Directions
1. With pillowcase inside out, stitch the open end closed.
2. Cut off bottom third of case (which will be your strap).
3. From the strap, cut off 1/2 inch of one side and the bottom and discard.
4. Holding the open side of the bag, fold over the fabric 4 inches, making sure to turn under the raw (or cut) edge. Press and hem (be careful not to stitch through or you will seal the bag closed).
5. With two hands, hold the bag on both sides, pull out, and lay flat. (You will have a triangle on each side.)

6. Sew along the base of each triangle (about 3 inches below the corner).
7. Grab the strap piece. Unfold it with the seam facing out, so you have one long strip. Fold over the top and bottom edges about an inch and press. Fold the top and bottom edges again so they meet in the center and press. Stitch each side down the center.
8. To connect the strap to the bag, fold under the raw edges of the strap 1/4 inch. Match one edge of the strap to the seam of the bag and stitch in a square. Sew other end of strap to the bag the same way. Turn the bag inside out and enjoy!



COMMENTS FROM MARTHA WEB READERS:


  •                  msp_123
    21 Jul, 2012 Great article! It's also important to use cloth sandwich/snack bags. My favorite brand:
    http://www.alloit.com/search?search=lunch&x=0&y=0

  • sawitri
    19 Jul, 2011 Thanks for the inspiration! I got a little bit confused after step 5, so I made the bags a slightly different way, using the hem of the pillowcase as the straps http://sewtoronto.blogspot.com/2011/06/simple-recycled-pillowcase-tote-b...

  • jeanneduncan
    9 Sep, 2010 I have made about six of these, with a slight variation: I make an identical lining out of a second pillowcase, usually one that contrasts (or just white). This makes the bag stronger and more substantial, and it's also more elegant. There isn't room here to provide instructions, but following directions for any lined bag works (in place of step 4).
  • Glass vs. Plastic


    MarthaStewart.com photo credit.

    USE glass containers, stoneware dishes.
    Avoid plastic if possible.
    GO GREEN when you can. THX!

    Plastic Wrap vs. Covered Containers



    Plastic wrap VS. Cover containers. THINK GREEN.....

    Go Green Cooking




    There are a few simple guidelines to follow to make microwave use safer,
     including avoiding certain plastics when reheating.

    Use the microwave infrequently, if at all.
    Cook and reheat foods on a conventional stove or in the oven.
    Microwave ovens do leak radiation, but at very low levels that the FDA and most scientists believe are harmless.

    ***BUT the government also supports GMO!!!!! HomeMadeIsEasy****

    GO GREEN - Natural Silver Polish




    Natural Silver Polish

    A frequently recommended, nontoxic trick is to fill an aluminum pan
    or one lined with aluminum foil) with hot water, add salt and baking soda,
    and stir to dissolve.
    When you add the silver pieces, a chemical reaction occurs, removing tarnish.

    Go Green Visit Your Local Farmers Market


    MarthaStewart.com photo credit.

    By eating locally, we could cut our carbon footprint
    (no long-haul trucking or air travel required),
    potentially support sustainable growing practices,
    and help out our own farming community.
    On a more basic level, food simply tastes better freshly picked.
    (You can find at localharvest.org.)