Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Balancing Act


I want to make sure that readers of this blog know that I do not have it all together nor do I intend to portray such.  I am not the most organized person and I have been battling my procrastinative state since I was old enough to make my own messes.  I don't do well with following set schedules and I value the freedom in choosing my own daily responsibilities.  I have been procrastinating a bit less as I get older although I may always be labeled a recovering procrastinator.  I believe that being at home is the perfect place to grow and learn how to overcome my unsightly tendencies.  I am truly enjoying this growing time in my life, however when I am in learning mode or creating mode sometimes other responsibilities get placed on the back-burner.  I have come to realize that this is okay!  As a homemaker, I sometimes feel like I must present the perfect home and have the most perfectly behaved children because this is my job.  I am supposed to be constantly cleaning, teaching, organizing, etc. in order to validate being at home all day, right?!  No, I have once again been taught the importance of balance.  Balancing your duties as a homemaker is vital to finding joy in your home.  This means that sometimes the dishes will pile up in the sink, sometimes all of the laundry won't get put away, sometimes the weeds will be a little overgrown in the flowerbeds, sometimes creative projects must be put on hold.  Though the reasons for such neglect must be beneficial in other areas, a homemaker must rotate her responsibilities.  For example, when I am sewing a new project, I may not have a spick and span kitchen and when I am baking a bread that takes a few hours to prepare, I may not have the cleanest mirrors on the block.  This only means that I must rotate my creative days with my cleaning days and be happy that I have the freedom to set my own schedule.  I cannot neglect either area because I must create and I must clean or I will lose my joy in homemaking.  So, if you come to my house and the table linen has bread crumbs strewn about know that I was probably sewing, reading, or playing with my children that day.  If you come to my house and it looks especially tidy know that I was enjoying my responsibilities as a homemaker and in the next few days the house may look a bit unruly as I create once again.  I am still learning the balancing act of cleaning, creating, and teaching my children but as I continue to learn in these areas I make sure that I do everything joyfully.  No matter what I am doing that day, I know that I am trying my best to make my home a contented place for my family.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

These Things I Hold Dear



Recently, I have added two new ingredients to my baking ventures and I must say I have never baked anything so delicious in all my homemaking years. Never did I think that changing to a purer milk or a better oil would make such a difference and I must share with you my newfound culinary wisdom. The first ingredient is (get ready for a long title!): All Natural Farmers' Creamery Organic 2% Reduced Fat Milk. It is non-homogenized and low-temperature pasteurized thereby producing a creamy, nutritious milk that is simply amazing in coffee, baked goods, and homemade yogurt. Originally I purchased this milk to use in my yogurt making per request of yogurt makers worldwide. Supposedly ultra-pasteurized milk is not preferred because it is basically "dead" culture wise. This milk was the only option as all the other organic milks I have come across are ultra-pasteurized. Anyway, I used this milk in my pancakes one morning and I almost passed out, the pancakes were THAT good. I've also used the milk in bread and rolls which produced a smooth and fluffy product. I highly suggest you try it, or something similar. It is only found in natural food markets and it is worth the search.


The second ingredient that has made me one happy homemaker is organic extra virgin coconut oil. I bought this in order to make some homemade toiletry concoctions as well as for baking due to its high ranking in nutritious value and flavor. According to organicfacts.net, coconut oil has quite an array of benefits to the body including "hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.". My first attempt at using coconut oil was actually in my stove-top popcorn popper. I read this is a wonderful combination and it really does give popcorn a delicious flavor. My second attempt was to use it in place of butter or margarine in a cinnamon roll recipe. Let me just tell you, I think my husband ate four cinnamon rolls over the course of one night! I think that speaks for itself. My third attempt was last night, and my knees buckled when I tasted of its scrumptiousness. I used coconut oil in place of shortening in my tortilla recipe and it made the perfect tortilla. The dough did not stick to the parchment paper like usual, it held its shape, and the final product was soft and delicious. If you are interested in trying coconut oil in your baking or personal care, vitacost.com has the best price that I've found.



I am so excited about these two products and I have a feeling I will have much more to say about them in the coming months. I must warn you that if you do try them, you just might end up baking much more than you thought was capable, you just might have a house full of delectables, and you just might have one happy husband (and children!). Let me know if you try either ingredients and if there are any leftovers!

*The first picture is the milk, the second is a picture of hamburger buns made with said milk and the third picture is of my Noah with the pancakes.*

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Chemical Warfare in the Home


I am discovering that living "green" requires a total makeover of your initial instincts.  Right now I am reading Easy Green Living by Renee Loux but I don't quite agree with the title.  It is not easy!   When "green" first became the new hot word of the decade,  I was very skeptical and thought it was apt to say living "green"  was mainly for those crazy environmentalists and companies wanting to make more money in a new way (which I still believe is true in some cases).  As I have been researching, I have decided that I agree that there is an urgent need for our society to live more naturally but my motives are completely different.  As environmentalists are living a more natural life in the name of Mother Earth, I am striving to live a more natural life because I believe that is what God would have us do.  As I have stated before, I believe God created the earth in a beautiful way in which we are able to live without polluting our homes, bodies, and environment with a slew of chemical formulations.  There are amazing discoveries and advances that are pure genius and are perfectly safe but there are many advances in our every-day products that are not safe for us or for the environment.  We should care about this because it is God's earth and it is our duty to take care of it.  Yes, we live in a sinful world but that does not give us an excuse to knowingly live in a way that destroys God's creation.  With that said, here is the latest issue that is causing a serious renovation in my home life.
During and after World War II, the desire to find replacements for every-day products suddenly became essential in keeping the economy afloat.  During the war, people were struggling to keep up with the dire times therefore they began turning to new ways to make old products.  People and companies were running out of natural resources due to lack of workers and money.  After the war, when money was more abundant, people began thinking that "getting it now" was a sign of prosperity and economic boom.  According to Wikipedia, "at the end of the war, the United States produced roughly half of the world's industrial output".  Due to the sudden increase in the production of goods, chemists and companies were searching for ways to create products that didn't take much time to cultivate and mass produce.  Petroleum was one of the answers because of its "high energy density, easy transportability, and relative abundance" and it basically was just plain cheap.  It started showing up in everything from laundry detergent to pharmaceuticals thereby replacing the use of the earth's natural resources like vinegar, baking soda, and the like.  Companies began putting petroleum in products to give instant power and thus taking away the need to scrub, brush, and use a little elbow grease.  People were suddenly able to squirt a little of this and a little of that, wipe it off, and voila!  You have a sparkling clean house (with quite a strong "clean" smell).
So, why is petroleum in our every-day-products such a bad thing?  Well, just visit the Attorney General's website and read the potential hazardous effects of petroleum exposure (http://www.oag.state.ny.us/bureaus/environmental/oilspill/health.html).  Another government website states, "There are reported cases of lipoid pneumonia and deaths from aspiration of lubricants, including baby oil, a spray lubricant, chain saw oil, and trumpet valve oil". (http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr97/frpetdis.html)  Breathing in petroleum vapors can cause damage to your nervous system and getting petroleum on your skin can cause irritations and can be absorbed into the bloodstream.  Repeated exposure or exposure in vast quantities may cause certain types of cancer.  Other problems include reproductive and developmental toxicity/miscarriage, asthma, decreased progesterone production, damage to the immune system,  and other health troubles.  Children are even more at risk to develop problems than adults and even breathing in small amounts of petroleum can cause health problems.  You may think that perhaps a little exposure to  petroleum won't adversely affect you, but look at all of the products it is used in: motor oil, mineral oil, baby oil, furniture polish, degreasers, lighter fluid, spot removers, disinfectants, plastics, mattresses, paint, paraffin oil/wax, most mascaras (which are labeled with a highly moderate hazard), liquid foundations, body lotions/moisturizers, lipstick/lipgloss/chapstick, shoe care products, Vaseline, shampoos, conditioners, aerosols, and synthetic fragrances (traces of which have been found in breast milk, blood, and human fat; http://www.ecogreenbeauty.com/?tag=petroleum-based-cosmetic-products).  Wow!  I'm sure I didn't list everything and that list is a little overwhelming.  I would say that is a fair amount of exposure to petroleum!
Due to the recognition of petroleum's toxic qualities, one of the government's regulation ideas is to put a child-proof lid on some of the products containing petroleum.  Wow, I'm sure that does a lot of good since my kids will still be dropping things on the floor or coffee table, putting them into their mouth, and getting the product on them anyway.  And it's really great since they will be inhaling it either way.  Some products are required to state the dangers on the back of the bottle or can but who really reads those warnings and adheres to them?  I know that I have never thought twice about spraying air freshener or using furniture polish in my home.  Most household products do not list the ingredients on the packaging, only a simple warning to keep out of the reach of children.  Gee, I feel just fine slathering on the baby oil now.

While I do not think the government should place regulations on these products (because then where would regulation practices stop?!),  I do think that the public should be vastly aware of the potential health problems in using these every-day products (the European Union has banned the use of petroleum in their products).  Sure, the government may argue that this information is available but who really has access to this?  And who even thinks to research the household products they are using?

Thankfully, there are "alternative" cleaning products some of which are cheaper, readily available, and are probably in your cabinets right now.  I encourage you to find your own natural cleaning solutions because there are many recipes for several uses as well as new natural products on the shelves of many mainstream stores .  Many websites and books have their own concoctions for every solution that you need to replace (Easy Green Living includes many recipes which work wonderfully!).  Vinegar and baking soda can clean just about anything and everything with no worrying about how it will affect you or your family.  If you do not want to make your own, there are some wonderful natural products that are not toxic or carcinogenic.  Find all-natural or organic toiletry products and be aware of what you are putting on your skin.  Many products seem to work while really your body is just putting up a barrier against the product while absorbing some of the harmful substances.  Also, petroleum is not the only harmful substance we should avoid.  Shockingly, there are many toxic chemicals in the products we use every day that are not regulated.  For this reason, it is important to read labels, warnings, and research describing the products we bring into our homes.
 

I know it is simply not possible to get rid of every product containing harmful substances but you cannot have an "all or nothing" approach in life.  The point is to start now, slowly start replacing your regular products with natural alternatives, and buy with wisdom.  Unfortunately, it is not easy to live a "green" life but there are more and more companies offering all-natural alternatives.  If we begin buying these products, the need will rise and it will encourage other companies to do the same.  It begins with you and me so that we may be an example to our children and those around us.  I am striving to enjoy God's creation by living a life that enhances His beauty instead of one prevents it from flourishing.  I hope that you will consider doing the same, in your own natural way and in your own time frame. 


Websites to visit: 
 
http://www.positivehealth.com/article-view.php?articleid=621
 
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/non-petroleum-jelly-formula.html#
 
http://greenlivingideas.com/topics/eco-home-living/housecleaning/natural-cleaning-recipes
 
http://www.reneeloux.com/
 
http://www.nourishingdays.com/
 
and check out Easy Green Living by Renee Loux.  It has lots of wonderful recipes and resources for "green" beginners!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Wheat Crackers Recipe

It is the end of the week and the end of our groceries so I've been trying new recipes in an effort to extend the time between grocery trips.  This has provided me with an opprotunity to be more frugal and creative in my meal planning and has even provided me with a few new favorite recipes.  Today I tried making wheat crackers from a recipe I've had for a while now.  We're out of bread and yeast so this recipe was perfect for eating with cheese, tuna, or peanut butter and really would be great with any dip.  These are so simple to make and so addictive.  I love having a cracker recipe that doesn't have any sugar or preservatives and is healthy for the family.  My kids LOVE them so I'm sure I will be making these quite often.


Wheat Crackers

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups organic white flour
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
More sea salt for sprinkling

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, white flour, and 3/4 tsp salt.  Pour in the vegetable oil and water; mix until just blended (blend will be dry).
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough as thin as possible.  Place dough on an ungreased baking sheet, and mark squares out with a knife, but do not cut through.  Prick each cracker with a fork a few times and sprinkle with salt.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in preheated oven or until crisp and light brown. (My crackers were a bit thick so I had to bake them much longer.)  When cool, remove from baking sheet, and separate into individual crackers.

I baked one batch in the oven and one batch in my convection oven and both worked well.  The convection oven crackers were ready in much less time of course.  Next time I am going to try adding ground flax seed to the mix...about 1/2 cup.  You could also add dried herbs, garlic, or other seasonings to create a flavored cracker.  Cinnamon and sugar would be a great topping instead of the sea salt for a yummy sweet snack!  The options are endless!

*recipe found at www.allrecipes.com and submitted by Ray Anne

Friday, October 9, 2009

Making Your Own Yogurt


I decided to try my hand at making my own yogurt in order to cut down on the higher costs of buying organic yogurt as well as knowing what exactly is in my yogurt.  I bought a yogurt culture starter that was sent to me in powder form and I added it to some organic milk.  After 2 days, the yogurt was "set" and I was able to taste my very first homemade yogurt.  Honestly, the taste wasn't bad at all.  Obviously I had to add some vanilla extract and sweetener (organic agave nectar is perfect!) and Katelyn even enjoyed it.  It was very liquidy because I chose to use 2% milk instead of the recommended whole milk.  I have read that you may add powdered milk to the mix and it should thicken it up.  I may try that next time or I will use whole milk because the consistancy was way too liquidy to enjoy it as actual yogurt but it would do well in a smoothie.  I was trying to save on calories but I think the whole milk will be worth it.  It is so easy to make and much cheaper than store-bought organic yogurt.  I bought my yogurt culture from a website for $11.99 and you only need to buy it once as long as you continue making a new batch of yogurt every week.  From now on, I am only spending money on the milk and I have the option of adding whatever I want to the yogurt.  What a frugle way to have organic yogurt for the whole family!

The website for the powdered yogurt culture is www.culturesforhealth.com and I bought the Matsoni Yogurt Starter.  {I have read some yogurt recipes that use store-bought yogurt as a starter but I decided to start fresh and use this culture instead}  Let me know if you decide to try it!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Through Sweat and Toil

This weekend our family attended our very first Farmer's Market. I found a market that is only 2 miles down the road and they have several vendors providing an array of state-grown goods. I didn't have a plan as we walked into the market, but I did know that I wanted to buy some organic beef and vegetables. The kids were excited as we walked in and looked at the pumpkins lining the entrance. Katelyn enjoyed smelling a vendor's soy candles saying that the pink candle smelled like "pink". I think that made the vendor's day since I could hear him laughing as we walked away. Noah found a few rocks to put in our bag although I'm not quite sure if they were "organic" (hehe). Brenden and I were a bit confused as we tried to decide what to buy during our first trip. After purchasing a can of salsa, we made our way over to the organic beef vendor where we sampled some beef bratwurst that tasted amazing. The kids and I looked at pictures of the farmer, John, and his huge red tractor milling the organic wheat, pictures of the cows grazing in the wide open pastures, and the farmer's grandchildren helping grandpa on the farm and playing with the farm kittens. We even met the farmer in person and he told the kids about his grandchildren. It was incredible to meet the family who works the cattle ranch and know that we were all helping each other in some way. We bought a four pound brisket and four quarter-pound hamburger patties and I was already anticipating cooking a tasty, nutritious meal for my family. We then moved on to a lady's booth and picked out a few tomatoes and apples which Katelyn insisted on carrying the rest of the trip. Finally, we grabbed some onions and yellow squash on the way to the car and our first trip was complete. When we got home, we all tasted one of the tomatoes, two apples, organic beef jerky, and some salsa. Knowing that we are helping small family farms while helping our own family be healthier is something that I feel is another step in learning how to be a godly homemaker. Tonight I made organic brisket with organic carrots, farmer's market onions, organic garlic, and organic tomato sauce poured over the top served with freshly baked bread. It seriously was the best meal I have made yet. The flavor was amazing and it was all do to the fresh ingredients. I think cooking could be so simple if we only bought fresh ingredients that are organic and in season. We don't need seasoning packets or flavor additives to make our meals at home better. We are only covering up man's quest to gain control over our food sources and veer farther away from the wholesome goodness of God's creation. I am beginning to learn how important it is to eat organically through studying several books, documentaries, and websites. Even reading through Genesis with the kids has opened my eyes to the way God intended man to work the earth. God did not intend for man to create food in comfortable air-conditioned laboratories but said that man must sweat and toil for his food. As Christians, we should honor those farmers who still adhere to this important work ethic by supporting them and getting to know them through Farmer's Markets.