Without a Diaper

So, at home Nolan wears cloth diapers.  Easy way to save money, the environment, blah blah blah.  BUT today for a brief period of time Nolan wore neither disposable or cloth... :)

P.S.
It was a clean diaper. 

Book Love

Yesterday I started to see how much like my mother I am.  I called her about canning jars and we got talking about our newest library books.  Before I go, on let me give some background.  Growing up we would make fun of my mom because she would get a book from the library, fall in love with the ideas in said book and suddenly want to implement them.  At one time our entire family was not allowed to eat pork or catfish, which was a shame because bacon is sooo good! 

Now I find myself with a similar vigor.  Which is why yesterday's conversation was too funny.  My mother and I had a who's book is better competition.  It went something like this:

Me: "Hi mom, do you have any large canning jars I could barrow?"
Mom: "Yeah, I think I have some in the attic.  What do you need them for?"  (Normal people who ask for a canning jar understand that it is for canning but I use jars for pretty much everything.)
Me: "I got this new book and it mentions the best ways to stock your pantry and using canning jars or just glass jars in general is the best way to keep goods fresh."
Mom: "I have a new book too! And it tells you how to make a number of  pantry essentials that I originally thought we could only get from the store."
Me: "Yeah, my book has a lot of recipes that are not only thrifty and less wasteful but make a better meal all the way around.  Like using dried beans instead of canned, and making your own vegetable stock or chicken stock." 
Mom: "That is great and so useful, but MY book has..."

We spoke on the phone for 30min about our treasured books, and since she was planning on coming to KC yesterday to watch N we decided it best to show each other the grandeur of our "books".   Her book (whose name escapes me), did have some really useful recipes.  I even asked if she could copy them down for me (If they turn out I'll post about them!), and I'm sure given the chance I would really like to sit down with her book and dream of the opportunities that implementing its ideas would bring.  But for now I would like to talk about "Urban Pantry".

Just given the look of the book you are wooed by its gorgeous pictures and old world romantic ideas.  "Pantry"  you mean canned goods right? wrong & right.
" 'Pantry' simply means, 'a room or closet used for storage from which food is brought to the table.' it doesn't make a distinction between dry and fresh goods." (Urban Pantry pg 17).  Pennington goes further in how to build your own pantry and then how to keep it stocked so that you can make a meal on a moments notice. 

From homemade bread crumbs to herb staples to homemade ice cream and what to do with the leftover egg whites! 
Though, some of the recipes sound a little too foodie for me (like Tomato & Cinnamon Chickpeas) there are a number of very inspiring thrifty tips and recipes that make saving money and food fun.  Plus, I would love to have a pantry filled with beautiful cans such as these. 

Without a camera

Have you ever started cooking a meal only to find that you don't have one or two necessary ingredients? It's really bad when you are also super excited about whatever your making only to find out that you can't make it any more or you'll have to run to the neighbors/ store.  Well, for three or more days I haven't had a camera... which means when I would see something that I would like to share I couldn't.  But no more! I got my camera back and just look at how cute N is with his boots!

N inspecting his new boots.

Good Morning Baby!

N with only one boot on...he was wearing both of them at one point.

Yeah for cameras!

Lunch w/ No Dishes To Clean

There is just something about not doing dishes after a meal that just makes the meal taste better (I think it is also the reason eating out tastes so good too. Even if it is fast food).  So, for lunch Nolan and I had sweet potato fries, apples and grilled cheese.

Baked both the grilled cheese and sweet potatoes on foil in a 400 degree oven.

Had time to enjoy N playing with his magnetic letters.

After 5-10 min flip and bake on the other side.  Perfection!

  This was a wonderful lunch and no dishes to wash! (I don't have a dishwasher)  Do you have any tricks to avoid a chore?

Fasting Starting Today

I'm starting to notice something about how I spend my time...I love to read blogs and magazines too much.   It all started as research; how to decorate my house, how to cook/bake, or just craft inspirations.  But now I find myself wanting what those bloggers have instead of enjoying what I have; I want the pretty picturesque life in the magazine even though it may not be what God has for me.  It doesn't mean that blogs and magazines are evil, obviously I'm still writing on this blog, but for me they have become more than just research which is why I'm fasting.  So, starting today and going for two weeks I'm going to not read blogs or magazines... Pray for me.

 

Good Things On A Bad Day

Today has been so tough.  I don't want to drag you down with a sob story, but I just want to say that at the Anderson home we are implementing the "Cry It Out" method for our son who hates to sleep.  If you don't know what that method is here is a link with the details.  But enough about that.  Let's change the mood with some of my favorite things and pictures.

Basement Renovation

As of three weekends ago our family has taken it upon themselves to renovate the basement and make it a place of many talents.  As of right now we only do our laundry down there (just wash and dry no folding or hang drying...too many spiders..yuck!), store our stuff, and as of late use the treadmill.  What I would like it to be:

• Crafting/ tool area
• Laundry area
• Pantry
• Organized storage 
• Seasonal clothes, Toys to be rotated, sports & camping equipment, etc. 
• Play and exercise area

Here are some ideas for the basement:

Pictures of Nolan

Wanting to be held while I'm cooking

Yum Marshmallow!

Listening to VeggieTales on the ear buds.

Marshmallows & Book Review

Ever wonder how the food that you eat so regularly is made?  Yeah, milk comes from Cows and bread come from wheat but what about those other things that you eat like marshmallows, ketchup, and oreos?  How do you make them?  Well, all is answered with Karen Soloman's book Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It.

The recipes that I have tried in this book are easy, well written and the pictures are inspirational.  She gives you how much of a time commitment you will need to make the desired recipe, variations on some recipes and the much needed "How To Store It" which comes in handy especially for things that you are use to lasting forever such as ketchup (homemade, though better, only lasts two months un-canned).    
One of  many great recipes in this book is how to make marshmallows.  I've always heard that homemade marshmellows are ten times better than what you can buy at the store so I had to try to make them. Here is the recipe:

Homemade Marshmallows
2/3 Cup Water, divided
3 (1/4 oz) Envelopes Unflavored Gelatin
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Cup Light Corn Syrup
Pinch of Kosher Salt
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1Cup Confectioners' Sugar, for dusting

Equipment that you will need:
Standing mixer or something that can be used to whisk the candy mixture
8x8in pan  (lightly oiled and lined with parchment paper)
Saucepan
candy thermometer
and a really sharp knife

Instructions:
Lightly oil the inside of your pan with vegetable oil.  Generously coat with confectioners' sugar; set aside.
Pour 1/3 cup of water into the bowl of the mixer. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water, and let stand for about 10 min, or until the gelatin has softened.
In a saucepan, off heat, combine the remaining 1/3 cup of water and the granulated sugar, corn syrup, and salt.  Place the pan over medium-high heat.  Clip a candy thermometer to the inside of the pan and make sure it doesn't touch the bottom.  Cook the mixture without stirring until it reaches 240 degrees F.  Brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush (or clean paintbrush reserved for kitchen use only), dipped in water, to gently wipe away any residual sugar crystals.

With the mixer on low speed, very carefully add the hot syrup to the softened gelatin. Add vanilla increase the speed to medium-high, and beat for 8 to 13 min, untilil the mixture becomes very white, stiff, and sticky.
Spread the mixture into the prepared pan using a lightly oiled spatula.  With wet hands, press the batter evenly into the corners of the pan. Set aside for at least 1 hour, or until the mixture is firm and cool.

Sift  the confectioners' sugar into a shallow dish or bowl.  Run a wet knife around the edge of the cooled pan to loosen the marshmallow sheet (this step is not needed if you use parchment paper).  Remove the marshmallows from pan.  Cup into 16-36 squares, wetting the knife often to keep it from sticking.  Toss each marshmallow in the confectioners' sugar until completely coated. 

How to store:
Store in a single layer or in layers separated by wax paper.  They will keep for at least a month. 

Variations:
Substitute sifted unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon, or toasted shredded coconut for the confectioners' sugar to coat the marshmallows, or fold 1 cup finely chopped cocoa nibs, toasted almonds, mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries - or any combination thereof - into the stiff marshmallow mixture before spreading.

I did classic confectioners' sugar, cinnamon and sugar, and cocoa.

Enjoy!

Bike routes

Bikes are so romantic.  Just the idea of not having to find a parking spot or feeling the air flow through your hair as you quietly go from library to grocery store intrigues me.  Prior to purchasing our Ford Escape I rode my bike to work every morning (5 hilly miles one way).  The only problem was that when I got to work, I was sweaty and definitely not something you would want to look at.   Which makes this blog all the more interesting.  It is called Cycle Chic, and on it you will find a number of stylish bike commuters.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

 

 

I'm interested in the kid's seat here.

Okay, so I see that is possible to commute via bike and still look great, but like any great commute you need a quick (not so hilly) safe route.  So, Google it!

GoogleMaps has a number of route planning options. ie walking, vehicle, bus, and now the have bike routes!!

Now, I just have to get the nerve to ride my bike in 15 degree weather...I'm still working on that.