Whenever the soul needs a good comforting, few do the trick better than homemade chili and apple crisp. I got some recipes from Mom when she was here. She inspired me after making my mouth water with her menu from the night before. I have always loved a good crisp and the fall is calling me to try new crumble, crisp, and pie recipes. I really want to make pies. I love the movie Waitress where there is a montage of pies, hands whisking together delicious ingredients.
Here is the recipe for the crisp:
4 granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced covered with lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick salted butter cubed
For crumble:
combine all ingredients other than the apples and crumble together either using knives or fingers so that no butter is visible and there is a coarse texture
Cover crumble over apples in baking dish and cook on 350 for 30 minutes. So simple! Add vanilla icecream if you're feeling naughty.
image credit:myrecipes.com
Thank you Jodi for a lovely morning out with my girls!
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My friend Jodi was interested in green cleaning and suggested I do a post on that. As we all know our favorite cleaning products aren't always so great for us or the environment. I found a great list of concoctions you can make out of regular household staples. You can see them all here!
Not only are homemade cleaning supplies better for the earth, but they are cheap! A fun Martha type project would be pre making them, putting them in pretty spray bottles from the Container Store and labeling them...
Martha's suggestions:
These basic products have more than one purpose; use them in place of chemical-based cleansers for a healthy and less-expensive alternative.
Dishwashing Liquids
Mix 2 cups water with 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. Use solution to clean countertops and other household surfaces. Rinse with plain water.
Baking Soda
Combine 3 parts warm water with 1 part baking soda. With a damp sponge, rub the paste on laminate countertops, then rinse. It will also polish chrome and stainless steel.
Borax
To remove marks on stained toilet bowls, add 1/2 cup borax to the water, swish it around, and let soak overnight.
Washing Soda
For extremely soiled surfaces, such as oil-stained garage floors, mop area with a solution of 1/2 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate) mixed in a bucket of warm water.
Soda Water
Pour a small amount of soda water onto a fresh carpet spill, and blot with a towel. Don't rub, as you may mat the fibers. If the stain is set, try hydrogen peroxide: Pour some onto a clean, white cloth, then press cloth to carpet. Wait about 15 minutes, blot with a clean cloth. There should be no need to rinse.
Water
Boost the cleaning power of ordinary water by presoaking a soiled spot, flushing away dirt or grime with a stronger spray, gently scrubbing, or using warmer water. For protein stains, such as egg or blood, cold water still works best.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is safe to treat stains on delicate colorfast fabrics. Place stained area in a bowl, and pour on peroxide. Let soak at least 1 hour, then launder as usual.
Distilled White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Place paper towels or sponges soaked in full-strength vinegar or lemon juice over crusty buildup around faucets. Leave for about an hour, then scrub deposits away.
Tea-Tree Oil
Mix a few drops of the oil in a spray bottle filled with 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid to create an effective general-purpose cleaner. (Handle cautiously, and consult a doctor before using if you are pregnant.)
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So, I am so tired of the massive amounts of junk mail that I get that I got angry today at my mailbox. It is absurd...trash, trash, trash! Not only do I just toss them, but it gives me a sense of guilt at all of the waste that ensues. I signed a petition to help stop junk mail. I became a vigilanty of sorts and sent the petition to everyone on my email list (which I never do) in a moment of sheer desperation.
Do Not Mail.org
My husband didn't get quite as fired up as I was after reading the petition:
Spammer! By forwarding this email you have contributed to the latest Pandemic, the "global spam crisis."
Every year spammers are responsible for bajillions of spam emails which have been linked to the decline in habitat of the baby seal and the yellow creasted owl parrot. Spam emails are also proven to cause pigeon toes, club foot, and male pattern baldness.
Please join me and the countless others who are fed up with all the Spam. Take back your inbox! Keep Spam at the grocery store and off your computer! Ask not what your country can do for you! I have a dream! Four score and seven years ago! We the people! No new taxes!
I love you!
He had me laughing until tears were streaming down my face. Guess I'll take off my cape for now.
I did talk to Jodi about the epidemic and she sent me here:
GreenDimes.com
Greendimes has been featured on Ellen, Good Morning America, and in the New York Times. There is a free basic package available, a premium package at $20, and a bundle package at $36. If you pay a nominal fee they will also plant atleast 5 trees on your behalf. Amazing! I totally plan on doing this and you should do!
She said after about 6 weeks she had noticed a dramatic difference.
I also heard about Catalogchoice.org from my friend Osayi. It is a free service that helps you cut down on the millions of catalogs you receive.
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