Repurpose to Recycle

Ran out on a quick errand and snapped up this fab find at an estate sale!  It will be my new recycling bin! Reminds me of the song, "Momma's little baby loves shortnin', shortnin'...."

Hannah's Mango-Pineapple Chutney Recipe - watch out, it has a kick!

I made up this delicious recipe to go with Black Beans and Brown Rice Burritto's, the chutney along with some lettuce and fat free sour cream and a little mild cheese sprinkled in there make a really wonderful and healthy dinner!

 

 

1 mango - diced

1.5 cups of pineapple - chunked

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 quarter inch slice of fresh ginger or 1.5 tsp powdered ginger

1 tsp chili powder

1 small onion (or 1 tbsp of onion flakes)

1 tsp curry powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (may omit if you do not want the heat)

1 diced bell pepper

1 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp vinegar

1/4 cup water

1 tsp cinnamon

1 crushed clove

Throw everything into a saucepan - and bring it to a simmer for 5 minutes.  Then either cover and turn to low for 20-30 minutes or place in a small crockpot for a couple hours.

This makes more than two people can eat in one meal and does not last long enough in the fridge.  So, I freeze it in ice cube trays then store in a container in the freezer, then I can take out one to two servings at a time.

Grilled Apple and Spinach Salad

Last Friday night I ate out and had a salad similar to this one.  It was very good, but I did not care for some of the flavors.. So, I changed it up a bit and LOVE IT!!  We had it for dinner last night and my husband said to me today, "Let's have that salad again for dinner tonight."

Ingrediants/Directions

1) Fresh Spinach - washed and the little stems cut off

2) Apple - sliced however you want to slice them - I think they are best sliced very thin, but you can chunk them or slice them depending on the texture you prefer. Then grill them, it brings out the flavor, but if you prefer not to, it is just as good. We had a bowl of non-grilled apple slices on the side and ended up using those too and it was really good. Also, use the apple of your choice I used Braeburn because they are my favorite.

3) Walnuts - toasted under the broiler for about 3-5 minutes on each side - YUM make extra they are just so delicious you have to sample a few while assembling!!

4) Gorgonzola - spinkle a generous amout over the salad

5) Raisins - again sprinkle over the top

6) Balsomic Vinegar and Olive Oil - drizzle over top

7) Fork - DIG IN!!

ENJOY!!

99.7% Recycled Icicle Ornaments!

We both grew up in old farmhouses, one in Upstate NY and the other in Upstate MI.  Seeing icicles forming on the eves was one of the first signs that Christmas was near!

In deciding what to make for our ornament, we saw these icicles. Not only do these icicles remind us of Christmas, a favorite holiday, they remind us of being earth friendly, and oddly enough, a recent episode of food poisoning.

Because we strive to be as green and earth friendly as we can, we typically try not to buy one time use plastic bottles.  However, after a hectic Thanksgiving we did not want to face leftovers and decided the next day to go out for dinner at a local Indian restaurant.  A few hours later, faced with food poisoning, we regretted that decision!  The only thing we felt like ingesting was Gatorade and Pop. So, these icicles are made of recycled Pop and Gatorade bottles!!

May your holidays be blessed with good health and peace!!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Trumbles

This just doesn't cut it!

Okay, so I did not have any scissors, so I picked up a package of them....the problem was I needed scissors to get to them...hmmmm.... :)

Homemade Taco Seasoning

This is the recipe I use for to make my own taco seasoning.

6 tsp chili powder
2.5 tsp garlic powder
4.5 tsp cumin
5 tsp paprika
4 tsp minced onion
1 tsp of cayanne pepper (may be omitted or halved if you do not like it spicy)
dash of salt and pepper

Mix it and store it in an air tight spice jar.

To use, brown the meat and add 2 Tablespoons and a half a cup of water per one pound of meat.

We actually use 1/2 lb of meat and 1 cup of cooked oatmeal - brown it up and add the spice mix.  The oatmeal is healthier, cheaper, and you can't tell the difference! Seriously, try it!

This must but be what it's like to have kids!

Our Great Dane, Marlee-Sue spent the night in the ICU last week.  It was so sad to see her so sick that she did not even want to hold her head up.  She was so stoic we had no idea she was so sick, we called our vet and made and appointment for 9am.  But then we noticed she was really sleepy so I went to the bedroom to lay down with her and it hit me like a ton of bricks, something was not right.

Called a friend who has an SUV, loaded her into the back and off to the Doggie ER we went! 

Stort via FB posts below:

Not even a sparrow falls that the Father does not know about...Beave and I are clinging to this verse knowing our heavenly Father hears our cries tonight as we left our Great Dane, Marlee Sue at the vet. She has developed a fever of unknown origin and is very very sick - we pray Marlee's fever comes down tonight and her organs are not damaged. She is OUR kid - we sick with worry - but trying to rest in knowing God loves her too!  October 17 at 8:00pm

Thank you all - I am feeling a little numb and I have to remind myself to stop clenching my jaws - my face hurts! Anyway, just talked with the vet and her fever is down slightly by 8 tenths of a degree!! That kinda a baby step in the right directions! keep praying!!
Home again, home again, wow, long day so far and looks like it will be a long night. I think this is what is it like to have sick kids, but I am pretty sure the hospital does not send you home with a kid with an IV in place, IV Fluids/Tubing/Antibiotics/Pain meds/and a thermometer!?! I guess they are taking advantage of Marlee's "mom" being an ER Nurse! :) I am so glad they are.  We are glad she's home. She's sleeping and I am hoping it's just exhaustion and that when she wakes up she'll be peppy and ready to go again! Please - continue to pray over her for the next 24 hrs! MANY THANKS!!!!  · October 18 at 12:28pm

aww, thanks for asking. She is laying right here next to me. Just took her temp a little while ago and it is 101.6, which is good. She drank some water when we first came home several hours ago but is not interested in it now. I have one more bag of IV fluids I am going to give her in a little while.

She is on antibiotics and pain meds. They do not know what the deal is, could be anything. But since she responded well to the antibiotics (lowering her fever and perking her up) we have decided to not pursue testing and just keep going with the meds. October 18 at 9:04pm ·

UPDATE: Marlee is a bit better this am! She is still moaning and groaning from time to time and not really eating much but she has not fever, she got up and went out this am, drank some water, and gave kisses before going back to sleep! PROGRESS!! Thanks for the prayers!!· October 19 at 8:36am

Eating, drinking, peeing, pooping, and a spring in her step = Marlee Sue!!

Happy, relieved, hopeful, and grateful for the power of praying friends =  Me & The Beave!

Thank you Lord, thank you ALL!! October 19 at 2:21pm

YAHOOOO!!! She finishes up her antibiotics tomorrow and is back to herself!!!  

October 17 at 9:54pm

 

Marlee's fever came dow slowly in th night, as of a couple hours ago it was 103. we will be headed out to see her soon and transfer her from the animal ER to our vet's office. we hope to pinpoint the infection and bring her home!! thank you for praying. October 18 at 6:09am

 

Lookin' good...on the way to the vet from the Doggie ER!

 October 18 at 8:49am