Inexpensive Reusable Snack Holder

Having a toddler means you cannot leave the house without snacks and a sippy.  Since I am anti-plastic it also means reusable snack bags.

If you have reusable snack bags you know they are expensive.  While they are well worth it to not have plastic carrying your child's food, if you loose one it can become costly to replace.

I was at my local craft store the other day finding something for my daughter when I saw these little cotton canvas bags in the craft aisle.  They have drawstring closures and are the perfect size to pack snacks.    At $.60 each I had to give it a shot.

I washed them when I got home and they didn't fall apart.  I put my daughter's organic cheddar bunnies in one and grapes in the other for a car ride and she was able to open them "all by herself".

Reusable, inexpensive and easy to use.  I am going back for more and may get some non-toxic paints and decorate it!

Till next blog.........

My Wish for One Day, "Green Clean Day"

As I cleaned my house today I had a thought, what if everyone took just one day and cleaned their house using non-toxic products.  What if everyone took a day off from all the chemicals that pollute our water and air supply.  If they just used vinegar, baking soda and water to clean.  Boiled lemons with cloves for air freshener instead of a chemical spray.

If I could afford a national campaign to encourage people to do this I would do it.  It would be amazing to see the impact that just one "Green Clean Day" would have on our environment.  My wish is to see people realize that you don't have to use toxic chemicals to get your house clean or make it smell good.

It is a dream for that to happen I know, but maybe if someone reading this tried it one time it might make a difference.

I think of the current impact all these chemicals have right now and then I look at my almost 2 year old and think, "My God, what will happen in her time with all of these chemicals in the system".

Till next blog....

Another Secret Shared, My Bread

I've already let one secret out so I may as well share another, my homemade bread.  I love making bread and it is really so easy to make.  It is so great when I see we are running low on bread in our house I just pop another loaf in the oven and there you go.  No running to the store for bread. Another great thing is that I KNOW what's in my bread.  I KNOW every ingredient and that there aren't any preservatives in my bread.

I like to do my bread loafs French Bread style.  You can do them in a loaf pan if you want that shape and style, I just love the french bread style.

You will need:

1 1/4 Cup room temperature water
3 1/3 Cups Bread Flour, I like King Arthur unbleached
2 Tablespoons sugar, Organic of course
1 1/2 Teaspoons salt
2 1/2 Teaspoons yeast, not quick rise

(Sometimes I add a handful of a dried spice mixture like thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary to give it an Italian taste)

I mix all the ingredients in my Kitchen Aid mixer until the dough is nice and moist.  I then put it into a bowl that I grease with oil.  Cover and let it sit till it rises.  Take the dough out and put it on a floured surface and "punch out" the air.  I work it and then put it on a greased baking sheet, shape it into a french bread loaf, and cover it and let it rise again.  (If you are using a loaf pan just put it in the loaf pan and cover) Preheat oven to 400*.  Before putting it in the oven make 3 to 4 cuts along the top of the bread, for french bread style.  Bake for about 12 minutes or so depending on your oven.  Once it has a pretty tan color to it, it's ready.  Take it out and let it cool on a rack.

That's It!!  That's all it takes to make amazing fresh baked bread.  Easy huh?  Not to mention the money you will save.  The best part is knowing exactly what is in the food your eating, well and the reaction your family will have to how great the bread is.

One other tip, put a celery stalk in with the bread when you store it and that will keep it fresh for days.  No need to refrigerate.

ENJOY!!!

Till next blog........

OK, I Am Sharing My Secret

I haven't seen the bread aisle of a grocery store in well over a year.  I bake my own bread, make my own pizza dough, rolls, but the one item that everyone wants the recipe for are my bagels.

I have decided that I would share the recipe.  It will shock the people I have made them for who thought it was so difficult, but I really feel the time has come to share.

This recipe is for my cinnamon raisin bagels, but if you omit the cinnamon and raisins you have plain bagels that you can add any ingredient you love on/in your bagels.

Ingredients:

2 Teaspoons yeast
1 Tablespoon brown sugar (I use organic)
1 1/2 cups room temp water
1 Tablespoon salt
4 Cups bread flour  (I use King Arthur unbleached)
2 Teaspoons baking soda
About 1/2 cup cornmeal & flour
About 2 tablespoons cinnamon
About a cup of raisins (I use organic)


Mix the yeast with the brown sugar and warm water in a large bowl.  I use my KitchenAid mixer and use the mixing attachment.  Stir in the salt and then add the flour one cup at a time to let it hydrate.  For the cinnamon raisin bagels I add one cup of flour and then add the cinnamon and raisins before adding the rest of the flour.  I then put on the dough hook and let it go for about 5 minutes.  Cover the bowl and let it sit for about 2 hours.

Turn the dough out onto a flour dusted cutting board.  Cut a 4 oz portion and mold into a ball.  I use my half cup stainless measuring cup to cut and measure it.  Let the dough balls rest for about 5 minutes.  Pierce the ball with your fingers and rotate them until you get the right size hole and bagel shape.  Put the bagel on a cormeal-flour dusted tray.  Cover them and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 425 to 450, depending on how hot your oven is.  Dust a new baking sheet with the cornmeal -flour mixture.

Fill a large pot 3/4 full and bring water to a boil, add baking soda.  Drop bagels in batches into the water.  Boil one side for 2 minutes, turn the bagels and boil on the second side for 2 more minutes.  The should firm and puff up.  Remove from water and drain on a rack for a couple minutes.

Place the bagels on a prepared baking sheet.  Put in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, rotate the tray 90 degrees and cook another 5 minutes or until the bagels are tan.  Remove and let cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes.

There it is. NO preservatives, NO food coloring, and I get to use organic ingredients.  I feel great knowing exactly what goes in them.  The best part my family and friends love them!

Once you make them you will be shocked how easy it is and how much more delicious they are.

Enjoy!!!!

Till Next Blog.......