This week, as will be the case for every first week of the month, the blog will focus on a recipe that is good for you and yummy. This week's recipe is a meat recipe but it is super simple, very easy to make, and great for the summer months. I've always used a Crockpot for this but it can work with just a pot on the stove too.
I call it "Maria's Easy as Salad Chicken Salad" and here it is:
1 whole chicken
4 - 6 stalks celery
4 - 6 carrots
1 - onion
4 - 6 cloves garlic
1 large jar Light Miracle Whip
1 6oz bag chopped Walnuts (NOT finely chopped)
1 bag green seedless grapes
salt, pepper to taste
Put chicken, celery, carrots, salt, garlic, and onion in your Crockpot. Cover chicken COMPLETELY with water and add salt and pepper. Start off on high heat for four hours. Turn to low and cook for six-eight more hours, until the chicken is falling off of the bone. Turn it off and let it cool. When completely cool remove skin and bone and set aside. Reserve the cooking liquid.
(If you're cooking this on the stove the cooking time will be A LOT less. Bring the water to a boil uncovered then simmer it all the way down and cover it. Check it every 30 mins for water level and doneness. Look for it to be falling off the bone. I will check a few "chicken in pot" recipes and update the post next week.)
Halve the grapes and add them and the chopped walnuts to the chicken. Taste for seasoning and add as needed. Mix well. Add Miracle Whip, mix and refrigerate. Refrigerate the cooking liquid as well.
This recipe can feed anywhere from six to twelve depending upon how it is served. One good idea is on a light "salad" of baby spinach. Another good option is simply with potato (or kale) chips. Of course the recipe makes a great chicken salad sandwich. This style of cooking the chicken guarantees the most flavorful, moist, and delicious chicken and is the best chicken salad ever. It is a light and cool meal perfect for summertime and goes well with a glass of lemonade.
The cooking liquid is chicken stock which can be used as a flavor component to many dishes (add a little to a stir fry, for example), can be used as a soup base, and can be used for any recipe that calls for stock, chicken bullion, etc. and keeps very well in the freezer.
After it has been refrigerated over night the stock wil have a thin layer of solid fat on top which you can slide right off in most cases or break with a fork and remove in chunks. The actual liquid can be poured into ice cube trays (a great way to use it a little at a time without having to defrost the whole batch) or any other sturdy and clean container that can expand. Some people microwave the whole thing when they're ready to use it, refrigerate it and skim it again, and refreeze. I have never tried this method so I can't recommend it. People have also told me that they feed the leftover skin, bones, and vegetables to their dogs but I have not tried that either.
This is, however, a recipe that's both simple and multipurpose and I hope you enjoy your finished products as much as I have. A lot recipes will follow that make use of the chicken stock.
*Check back next week for the regularly scheduled housing post.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Bare Essentials: Housing
Do you know what things you really need in life? Have you figured out just how necessary the bulk of your material things are?
There are several ways to start the process but some may find that the more conventional means of letting go of the materialistic are lacking. And there may be only one thing left to do.
Daniel Suelo found that, for him, the only thing left to do was to reject the foundation of the materialistic lifestyle: money. So for the last nine years Suelo has lived a life without money. He lives in a cave in a canyon in Utah, eats what he forages, finds, or is offered, and uses the things others throw away to supplement his lifestyle. He also has a blog that he uses to spread his message that money is what keeps people poor, or put another way, money represents lack. Suelo is no easily ignored "street prophet" or drug addict. He has the life and professional experience (think Peace Corps and living in a Buddhist monastery) to back up his claims. In fact he holds a degree in anthropology from the University of Colorado. (As a side note, isn't it interesting how we need to know the credentials even in cases such as these?) Yet Suelo, approaching 50, has chosen to live a hard life to some and an impossible life to others. The article, a really good read, is here.
So maybe that's too far for you but you do want to make a major change. How about drastically reducing the size of your home? For a variety of reasons from aesthetic, to economic and environmental, some people are choosing to live in cabin-like houses that are 300 sq ft and smaller. These incredibly tiny houses can be built to order, prefabbed, or you can simply get blueprints depending upon the company. As the grow in popularity even major chain retailers such as Lowe's sell kits to build such homes. And if you know someone with the skills, have experience yourself, or want to deal with a contractor who works on a by-square-foot basis, you can save A LOT of money. The Star-Telegram of Texas has a good article here.
Okay, so maybe you don't want to live in a cabin but you do want a very small house with a modern style sensibility that offers some environmentally-friendly options. You're in luck! Next week we will discuss - at length - the options for small, sensible, sturdy, and very cute, housing. So check back next Saturday or subscribe to the blog to be notified when the article is updated. The site will also be updated next week to include several of the categories and links associated with topics we have discussed here on the blog.
There are several ways to start the process but some may find that the more conventional means of letting go of the materialistic are lacking. And there may be only one thing left to do.
Daniel Suelo found that, for him, the only thing left to do was to reject the foundation of the materialistic lifestyle: money. So for the last nine years Suelo has lived a life without money. He lives in a cave in a canyon in Utah, eats what he forages, finds, or is offered, and uses the things others throw away to supplement his lifestyle. He also has a blog that he uses to spread his message that money is what keeps people poor, or put another way, money represents lack. Suelo is no easily ignored "street prophet" or drug addict. He has the life and professional experience (think Peace Corps and living in a Buddhist monastery) to back up his claims. In fact he holds a degree in anthropology from the University of Colorado. (As a side note, isn't it interesting how we need to know the credentials even in cases such as these?) Yet Suelo, approaching 50, has chosen to live a hard life to some and an impossible life to others. The article, a really good read, is here.
So maybe that's too far for you but you do want to make a major change. How about drastically reducing the size of your home? For a variety of reasons from aesthetic, to economic and environmental, some people are choosing to live in cabin-like houses that are 300 sq ft and smaller. These incredibly tiny houses can be built to order, prefabbed, or you can simply get blueprints depending upon the company. As the grow in popularity even major chain retailers such as Lowe's sell kits to build such homes. And if you know someone with the skills, have experience yourself, or want to deal with a contractor who works on a by-square-foot basis, you can save A LOT of money. The Star-Telegram of Texas has a good article here.
Okay, so maybe you don't want to live in a cabin but you do want a very small house with a modern style sensibility that offers some environmentally-friendly options. You're in luck! Next week we will discuss - at length - the options for small, sensible, sturdy, and very cute, housing. So check back next Saturday or subscribe to the blog to be notified when the article is updated. The site will also be updated next week to include several of the categories and links associated with topics we have discussed here on the blog.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
What should we do with our poo?
Two of the main issues in the green and eco-conscious community are the amount of water we use to flush our toilets and how our waste pollutes the environment. The poop question is one that I have seen answered in a variety of laughable, interesting, and sometimes quite simple ways. I wanted to write a bit about two ways, one an old classic and the other a new and wildly interesting perceptual treatment of poop. Spreading the word will hopefully make these simple and useful world-changing ideas more widely recognized and therefore more widely used.
I think my personal favorite - and one I hope gains steam - is using our poop as fertilizer. As compost heaps become more popular and people understand which waste can be used for what, it is becoming less disgusting to the non-farmer to consider poop of all sorts as the great fertilizer it is. Yet the difference between "poop" and "manure" really lies in who pooped it. Buying a nice bag of not-too-stinky horse manure is a lot less stomach-turning than scooping up Spot's poop to put on the azaleas, much less considering human poop for the job.
New technologies are creating ways in which we may not have to deal with our poop in order to use it. Well, the technology isn't quite new in most cases but it is novel to some of our sensibilities. There are several different types of composting toilets to choose from but the basic concepts are that they are waterless (or very low water) and dehydrate our defecation and turn them into good ole fertilizer. There are self-contained units that allow the toilets to be placed almost anywhere (though some need some small extras like a hole in the wall for venting and a place to hook up the overflow hose), units that are waterless but are hooked to a larger composting area directly below the toilet, and units that use very little water and consist of a central composting unit with several toilets. There is a type of composting toilet for families of any size of households of any type.
Of course the price can be major. We're talking about $1000+ (more like $2000 in many cases to be realistic) per system and a per-toilet fee of around $300 for the large units with add-on options. So for many people with working septic systems and toilets such an expense (and basic overhaul of system) may not be ideal. But as more people buy the units the prices will go down so least we can do is spread the word and our higher-paid friends may be interested.
If you do want to own a system and you're not sure if you can afford it, make it a goal. Give yourself a year or two to save or check with dealers to see if payment plans are provided. Bug your local Lowe's or Home Depot about stocking them (or write to the main offices of the businesses) and they will be subject to the sales and promotions at those stores. Actually, some toilets are already offered as a special purchase from these retailers. Refurbished options of some toilets are also available here. Trim some things from your lifestyle to save extra money and let it be a challenge to get rid of a bad habit to pay for a good one. Also, check with your county and state to see if there are green initiatives or tax breaks that may help make the systems more affordable.
The other topic on the subject of what to do with our poop is the brainchild of Virginia Gardiner. Virginia created the LooWatt, a toilet that turns poop into gas for cooking. This demo toilet requires a bit more interaction with your poop than some are probably willing to go through but the toilet is waterless and energy-less and it solves two problems. Of course this product will also be expensive (quite, I'm sure) when/if it becomes something found in the marketplace but it is an entirely novel idea which could definitely make a heavy imprint on the way we rid ourselves of waste. It is the poop circle of life (or the circle of poo for the South Park/Mr. Hankey fans reading this).
I tried to put a lot of hyperlinks in this post to make it easier to learn more but here are some extra links for composting toilets and the poop discussion in general. Any novel ways you've learned to deal with poop? What about conserving water in toilets or "gray water" usage? Do you own or have you tried a composting toilet? What did you think? I'm not editing this one so excuse any grammar and spelling mistakes. I will edit it at a later date hopefully. All of this talk about poop has stimulated my bowels...
Composting Toilets
http://sun-mar.com/index.html
http://www.biolet.com/resources/id/Composting-Toilet-Overview
http://www.clivusmultrum.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/07/pop-a-squat-would-you-use_n_226619.html
I think my personal favorite - and one I hope gains steam - is using our poop as fertilizer. As compost heaps become more popular and people understand which waste can be used for what, it is becoming less disgusting to the non-farmer to consider poop of all sorts as the great fertilizer it is. Yet the difference between "poop" and "manure" really lies in who pooped it. Buying a nice bag of not-too-stinky horse manure is a lot less stomach-turning than scooping up Spot's poop to put on the azaleas, much less considering human poop for the job.
New technologies are creating ways in which we may not have to deal with our poop in order to use it. Well, the technology isn't quite new in most cases but it is novel to some of our sensibilities. There are several different types of composting toilets to choose from but the basic concepts are that they are waterless (or very low water) and dehydrate our defecation and turn them into good ole fertilizer. There are self-contained units that allow the toilets to be placed almost anywhere (though some need some small extras like a hole in the wall for venting and a place to hook up the overflow hose), units that are waterless but are hooked to a larger composting area directly below the toilet, and units that use very little water and consist of a central composting unit with several toilets. There is a type of composting toilet for families of any size of households of any type.
Of course the price can be major. We're talking about $1000+ (more like $2000 in many cases to be realistic) per system and a per-toilet fee of around $300 for the large units with add-on options. So for many people with working septic systems and toilets such an expense (and basic overhaul of system) may not be ideal. But as more people buy the units the prices will go down so least we can do is spread the word and our higher-paid friends may be interested.
If you do want to own a system and you're not sure if you can afford it, make it a goal. Give yourself a year or two to save or check with dealers to see if payment plans are provided. Bug your local Lowe's or Home Depot about stocking them (or write to the main offices of the businesses) and they will be subject to the sales and promotions at those stores. Actually, some toilets are already offered as a special purchase from these retailers. Refurbished options of some toilets are also available here. Trim some things from your lifestyle to save extra money and let it be a challenge to get rid of a bad habit to pay for a good one. Also, check with your county and state to see if there are green initiatives or tax breaks that may help make the systems more affordable.
The other topic on the subject of what to do with our poop is the brainchild of Virginia Gardiner. Virginia created the LooWatt, a toilet that turns poop into gas for cooking. This demo toilet requires a bit more interaction with your poop than some are probably willing to go through but the toilet is waterless and energy-less and it solves two problems. Of course this product will also be expensive (quite, I'm sure) when/if it becomes something found in the marketplace but it is an entirely novel idea which could definitely make a heavy imprint on the way we rid ourselves of waste. It is the poop circle of life (or the circle of poo for the South Park/Mr. Hankey fans reading this).
I tried to put a lot of hyperlinks in this post to make it easier to learn more but here are some extra links for composting toilets and the poop discussion in general. Any novel ways you've learned to deal with poop? What about conserving water in toilets or "gray water" usage? Do you own or have you tried a composting toilet? What did you think? I'm not editing this one so excuse any grammar and spelling mistakes. I will edit it at a later date hopefully. All of this talk about poop has stimulated my bowels...
Composting Toilets
http://sun-mar.com/index.html
http://www.biolet.com/resources/id/Composting-Toilet-Overview
http://www.clivusmultrum.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/07/pop-a-squat-would-you-use_n_226619.html
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Worth is in the Eye of the Beholder
I was reading an article the other day about "worthless" items, one of those "top twenty" features on AOL, and found a lot of stuff on the list to be totally useful in my opinion. Two of the items on the list included rice cookers and hobby kits. While the article said rice was the easiest thing in the world to cook and that the idea of needing a cooker was absurd, I suspected the author was the sort who cooks Minute Rice or the equivalent. REAL rice is a headache to cook (don't even get me started on brown rice) and a rice cooker, in my opinion, is one of those "Oh thank you!" inventions. And hobby kits? Two words: doll houses. There is a real joy in building a dollhouse and if you don't know where to start, a kit is a major help. The article, here if you'd like to read it, made me think of how relative "worthless" is. One of the first steps in simplifying your lifestyle is to know what is important to you. What things are you attached to and why?
Your personal stash of faimily pictures is an example of an obvious category of "stuff" with emotional attachments to many people. But how many of those pictures do you need? Do you love the original black and white photographs of older and deceased family members or do you love the daily photo documentation of your firstborn child? Now that personal computers are all the rage, scanning photos to save the most precious might be a good idea. The rest can be sorted and either put on display or vaccum sealed for protection and stored in the attic or basement; treasures for years to come.
What about your trinkets? Trinkets can be a real bother. Something that was so cute at a garage sale or discount store (especially something considered a real bargain) can become a haven for dust and a pain to keep clean, shift when new treasures are bought, and/or find places to put. Get rid of them! Giving some items that you find special for whatever reason but have begun to weigh you down to people for wedding, graduation, and housewarming presents can make a gift much more personal. Of course, don't simply unload junk to people. Really think about who would enjoy your "treasures" (as I call my miscellany that I love for silly reasons). Then think of what your top three trinkets have in common, use that as a theme, and only collect the best of that theme. If you find you like frog items, only buy the top-of-the-line frogs when you see them on a good sale. Don't buy mass-manufactured frog items unless they are particularly beautiful to you and limit yourself to two trinkets (or less) per year.
What are your favorite "worthless" - by some people's standards - items? I for one love crockpots, and a lot of the recipes I am compiling for the site take advantage of that particular invention. (Did you know you can "bake" cakes in crockpots?) Have you ever decided to get an "As seen on TV" product? What's your most and least favorite? If you were stranded on a desert island what one "worthless" item would you need? Knowing what you really love, want, and/or require to be happy is a great way to get started on the path. This week's homework is to make a list of the top ten items you have to have. It can be anything besides your bare necessities.
Your personal stash of faimily pictures is an example of an obvious category of "stuff" with emotional attachments to many people. But how many of those pictures do you need? Do you love the original black and white photographs of older and deceased family members or do you love the daily photo documentation of your firstborn child? Now that personal computers are all the rage, scanning photos to save the most precious might be a good idea. The rest can be sorted and either put on display or vaccum sealed for protection and stored in the attic or basement; treasures for years to come.
What about your trinkets? Trinkets can be a real bother. Something that was so cute at a garage sale or discount store (especially something considered a real bargain) can become a haven for dust and a pain to keep clean, shift when new treasures are bought, and/or find places to put. Get rid of them! Giving some items that you find special for whatever reason but have begun to weigh you down to people for wedding, graduation, and housewarming presents can make a gift much more personal. Of course, don't simply unload junk to people. Really think about who would enjoy your "treasures" (as I call my miscellany that I love for silly reasons). Then think of what your top three trinkets have in common, use that as a theme, and only collect the best of that theme. If you find you like frog items, only buy the top-of-the-line frogs when you see them on a good sale. Don't buy mass-manufactured frog items unless they are particularly beautiful to you and limit yourself to two trinkets (or less) per year.
What are your favorite "worthless" - by some people's standards - items? I for one love crockpots, and a lot of the recipes I am compiling for the site take advantage of that particular invention. (Did you know you can "bake" cakes in crockpots?) Have you ever decided to get an "As seen on TV" product? What's your most and least favorite? If you were stranded on a desert island what one "worthless" item would you need? Knowing what you really love, want, and/or require to be happy is a great way to get started on the path. This week's homework is to make a list of the top ten items you have to have. It can be anything besides your bare necessities.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Declare Independence!
Today is Independence Day and it also marks the day of this blog's inaugural post. Of course, the date for this post was deliberate. Today we ask that you declare independence from the materialism and consumerism our society has been overwhelmed by. We ask that you consider the variety of ways you can accomplish you goals and reach your dreams. Define them. What do you need? What do you want? Why do you want those things and what are the differences? What makes you happy and why?
This is a short post but will be the beginning of a fruitful relationship. In order to bear fruit we must plant and nurture the seeds. The next several weeks will be spent laying the groundwork for the mission before us. For now please go to www.lifestylesimplicity.INFO to learn more. Make a change. Declare independence!
Love, Luck, & Blessings
This is a short post but will be the beginning of a fruitful relationship. In order to bear fruit we must plant and nurture the seeds. The next several weeks will be spent laying the groundwork for the mission before us. For now please go to www.lifestylesimplicity.INFO to learn more. Make a change. Declare independence!
Love, Luck, & Blessings
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