PB + J Monday

Here's a great video about plastic...

http://vimeo.com/11064723

I find it hard to consider completely eliminating plastic.  It's been a part of our lives for so long it's hard to make such a radical change.  I think part of the challenge for us, and I hate to blame them, is having kids.  It's easier and cheaper to use plastic and yet plastic is certainly not better for our bodies and our planet.  I am happy to say that we do follow the majority of these tips.  The only one we need to work on is #6.

This online store has some fabulous and creative ways to reduce and replace your everyday plastic items with non plastic alternatives.  Even plastic wrap!

http://lifewithoutplastic.com

Do you have any creative or unique ways to reduce plastic in your lives?  I'd love to hear it.  I'm always looking for new things we can try in our home and lives.

So Exciting!!!

I was on the Front Page of Etsy today!!  First time for me and my little shop!!  Very exciting!!

Here's the treasury if you'd like to take a look...

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTg2MjY1NTd8MjcyMzk1NTExMg/treasuries-undiscovered

I enjoy skimming through Facebook

I really do enjoy seeing what interesting things people have posted on Facebook.  Things that I never would have found on my own.  Sure, it "wastes" time but it also gives me a way to interact with my friends and other people that doesn't drain my energy, as explained in this oh-so-clever Guide to Understanding Introverts from www.lolsnaps.com

So if you want to learn something very important about me, read on....

(for a bigger version click on the picture)

Foodie Friday

Happy Friday!

Is it warm where you are?  We have had crazy weather here.  One week it's unbearably cold and the next it feels like Spring is coming.  It is so hard to know what to wear.

But I do know that when the cold temperatures are upon us it brings out the deep desire to be warm and cozy and enjoy our favourite comfort foods.  Last week I shared Oven Fried Chicken and this week I will share my absolute favourite homemade Mac and Cheese ultimate comfort food recipe.

This is so delicious you won't be able to stop yourself from having more than one serving.  I'm serious!

This recipe makes a lot and is great for freezing so you can save it for those days when you just don't know what to cook and you want something easy and tasty.   Just make sure you use a large pan!

Homemade Mac and Cheese


Mac & Cheese

1 lb macaroni
1 can tomato soup
1 can diced tomatoes, drained well
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
3 cups shredded or cubed cheddar (or mixed cheese)
1-2 cloves garlic
8 Tbsp butter, divided
¼ cup dry bread crumbs (or other favourite crunchy topping)

Heat oven to 350F

Cook pasta.  

In very large bowl, combine pasta, soup, tomatoes, cream cheese and 6 Tbsp of butter.  Make sure cream cheese is mixed in well before baking.

Pour into 9x13 baking dish.  Top with bread crumbs and dot with remaining butter.

Bake 30-40 minutes until golden and bubbly.

All ingredients combined in a very large bowl.

Almost ready to go in the oven.

Bread crumbs and wheat germ with butter for topping.

This is all you need for a complete and satisfying meal.  Enjoy!

Do you have a favourite comfort food?  I'd love to hear what it is in the comments.

Wordless Wednesday

A complete 180 from last week's Wordless Wednesday post.  This was taken at the beach near our home on Sunday...

PB + J Monday

Not our house, but one on our street.

I've got some fun and interesting things coming up for PB + J Mondays.  But since they're not ready yet I thought I'd share some Eco-Friendly ideas to save on heating...which will only work for you if you live in a colder area like we do.

Easy ways to cut your heating bill:

~When you feel chilly, warm yourself first, instead of the whole room.  Put on a sweater while watching TV (or get up and exercise).

~Put an extra blanket on the bed at night; don't turn up the thermostat.  "Experts suggest that the optimal room temperature for sleeping is between 60 and 70 degrees F."

What could be better than wrapping yourself in this cozy quilt
on a cold winter's day?
This one, and more, are available at
www.marylandquilter.etsy.com  

~When you are asleep or out of your house, turn your thermostat back 10-15 degrees for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills.  A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature.

~Take advantage of heat from the sun: Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at ight to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

~Cover drafty windows: Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on frames or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during he cold winter months.   Or install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

~Maintain our heating systems.  Furnaces: Replace your furnace filter once a  month or as needed.  Wood and pellet burning heaters: Clean the flue vent regularly and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your home is heated efficiently.

That's just a few suggestions for this week.  I will be sharing more green ideas and tips every Sunday, on my Facebook page.  Until next time, stay warm!

Foodie Friday

I am continuing with comfort food recipes and this week I am sharing…..drumroll please…..the magnificent…..

MEATLOAF  

Need I say more? 

Ok, I will, just cuz that’s who I am.  If you know me you know I can talk your ear off if given the chance.

Meatloaf is hands down one of the best comfort foods around.  It is so delicious when it’s fresh and hot right out of the oven but it is also great in a sandwich the next day.  You can’t go wrong with meatloaf.  It’s cheap, easy, contains ingredients that most people already have in their kitchens and generally doesn’t have leftovers that last more than a day or two.

Ok, that’s all.  I think you see my point.  Here’s the recipe so you can go and enjoy your own yummy, comfort food meatloaf tonight...

Meatloaf

1 ½ lbs ground beef
1 can condensed tomato soup, divided
1 pkg stuffing for chicken
1 egg, beaten
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp dried thyme
¼ cup chili sauce

Heat oven to 350F.

Mix meat, ½ can of soup, stuffing, egg, onion and thyme in bowl.  Don’t be afraid to use your hands to mix it up completely.  

Press evenly into 8x4 loaf pan.

Bake 55 minutes, or until meat is fully cooked.

Heat remaining soup and chili in small sauce pan.  Spool over meatloaf just before serving.

We don’t normally have chili sauce in our home so I substitute that with BBQ sauce.  It works great and gives it a nice tang!

6 ingredients in a bowl.

Ready to bake.

Baked and smelling yummy!

On a plate for one of my boys.