365 Days, 365 Ways...To Go Green

Let's not waste a minute and get started with some FUN green changes for 2008

The first my popcorn dilemma. I got rid of my microwave (more on that in another blog) so how do you make good popcorn without a microwave and popcorn in a bag where you only have to worry about which side goes up? I experimented and discovered:

1. Pan on the stove, hot oil method - popcorn was tough not fluffy like the microwaved version
2. Buying organic already popped corn from Whole Foods - too costly
3. Airpopped popcorn (my daughter bought me an airpopper for Christmas) - salt doesn't stick - no taste
4. Airpopped popcorn with spray butter so the salt will stick - couldn't find an organic spray butter

Finally I stumbled on a great, healthy solution. As the popcorn is popping into the bowl I spray it with olive oil spray followed by a sprinkle of sea salt. Repeat and mix until all of the popcorn is popped. The olive oil gives the popcorn a light earthy taste and the salt now sticks to the popcorn. It was a hit and no one is whining any more that we don't have a micorwave.

Another great popcorn recipe - instead of salt sprinkle the popcorn with cinnamon sugar.....yummm! We like the canola spray for this recipe.

P.S. Be sure to use organic popcorn

It rained in Phoenix today - Ok if you're from Phoenix that's a BIG eco-deal. I had purchased 10 boxes of organic broth, on sale, over the holidays so I knew it was going to be a soup day and it was going to take all of 15 minutes to make - including doing the dishes!

Into the pot went 1 box of broth, all the leftover veggies I could find - broccoli, carrots, green beans, and corn, a bag of frozen veggies and some onions and celery. I added a can of organic white beans and a handful of brown rice for fiber and additional protein. Can't forget a pinch of salt and pepper and chicken bouillon to taste. In 10 minutes I was enjoying the sweet smell of homemade organic soup faster than I could have picked up fast food. Or maybe it's s-l-o-w food simmering on the stove all day.......

I also have an even faster organic onion soup recipe.

Pour a box of organic onion soup broth in a soup pot, add 3 onions sliced and simmer....5 minutes to make and it is delicious serve with mozarella cheese and a loaf of multigrained bread. I add beef bouillon if I want it to be really flavorful.

Both of these recipes are not only organic and fast they are cheap. About $4.00 for the pot of veggie soup and $3.00 for the onion soup.

and in with the new. I woke up on New Years day and decided it was time for a serious declutter. A bold move delcutter. I knew I had to give away the pink fuzzy socks I hadn't worn in 5 years and all 5 pedometers because they annoy me and it was time to admit it. I piled up clothes that I have always hated, magazine articles that I was waiting to read or file, t-shirts that I was saving for dirty work but did I need 20 of them? My only rules were that if it didn't fit, if it didn't work or if I hated it, it was out. I did not follow the rule that if you haven't used it in a year toss it. If I had I would only own one pair of sweats:-)

I am not finished. There is still the garage to deal with but this is a New Year and I want a new lean and mean start. Oh, yes, what was the 'new' I replaced everything with? Space - wide open breathable space thanks to a little bit of boldness and Freecycle!