Update: Homemade Green Tea
As I briefly mentioned in my first green tea post I really don’t like brewing my tea into/with plastic. Similar to my reasons for getting rid of our microwave over eight years ago, I just get the heebie jeebies these days about ingesting food or liquid which was surrounded by any kind of plastic especially if it was heated/cooked/brewed etc. in or around plastic. Because of my feelings on this matter, I am trying little by little to rid our kitchen of all plastic items which have inert alternatives.1 So when the plastic pitcher which came with my tea maker broke yet again last week, I was forced with a decision: obtain yet another plastic pitcher by means of ordering a new one online2, search thrift stores for a plastic pitcher with limited chances for success, buy a new whole machine at a poorly-lit discount store3 or search around for a glass or stainless steel alternative I could buy that day for the all important immediate satisfaction. I opted for trying to find a personally more preferable replacement.
- coffeemaker is next on the list [↩]
- waiting over a week for delivery [↩]
- all of which I have done several times [↩]
Yum! Homemade Pesto Bruschetta
At the end of April, Brian told me about the annual plant sale at the ASU Department of Biology Greenhouse. I had heard about this in the past and couldn’t wait to go so I could get some plants. I wanted a couple of ferns but mostly longed for fresh herb plants for my kitchen window shelf so I could spontaneously add fresh herbs while cooking. When I got there they had so much to choose from that I would have gone way overboard if I hadn’t stop myself from getting one of everything they had. I bought some basil, oregano, spinach, arugula, mesclun lettuce, and tomato plants as well as some ferns. I have from time to time added fresh oregano to spaghetti sauce, mixed in some arugula and mesclun lettuce with my salad and I can’t wait to enjoy some tomatoes from the tomato plants but by far my most favorite creation from the plants I acquired would have to be the pesto bruschetta I made one weekend afternoon.
Since a friend of mine had shared with me some pesto a while ago, I had been wanting to make some of my own. We needed an appetizer before lunch and decided I would try to make some pesto, which was similar to a traditional topping for bruschetta, to go with the last bit of yummy spinach feta bread we had leftover from our local bakery. I searched ”the g**gle” for a pesto recipe and decided to use this one.
I was a little surprised we actually had everything I needed to make it but that is beginning to be more and more common as I experiment more with cooking. To make pesto which looks more like a bruschetta topping, use chopped versions of all the non-liquid ingredients, instead of following the pesto recipe instructions.
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Olive oil
- 3 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
Place basil leaves in small batches in food processor and whip until well chopped (do about 3/4 cup at a time). Add about 1/3 the nuts and garlic, blend again.
Add about 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese; blend while slowly adding about 1/3 of the olive oil, stopping to scrape down sides of container.
Process basil pesto it forms a thick smooth paste. Repeat until all ingredients are used, mix all batches together well. Serve over pasta. Basil pesto keeps in refrigerator one week, or freeze for a few months.
While technically I may not have made textbook versions of pesto or bruschetta, it sure did taste good.
Filed under photography | Comment (0)Natural Dishwasher Soap
So, tonight I ran out of my regular dishwasher detergent unexpectedly. I loaded the dishwasher full earlier in the day but hadn’t realized I used the last of what was left in the box the day before. I usually use Seventh Generation brand which does a good job and they do provide coupons for their products but having run out and not wanting to go to the store for just one item I searched around for a natural dishwasher soap recipe. I found just what I was looking for at Nature Moms. This recipe calls for castille soap, water, white vinegar, tea tree oil and fresh lemon juice. I just happened to have all of these ingredients on hand except for the fresh lemon juice for which I substituted lemon essential oil. I really enjoy making other household cleaners and this one might just have to stick around. CAUTION: A low-sudsing soap like castille is the ONLY soap that should be used and NOT regular dishwashing liquid as it foams up way too much and you could end up with a mess on your hands (or rather all over your floor). I found several other recipes all using borax (washing soda) and baking soda and I plan to try these as well. I had no idea that such a simple and natural alternative to commercial dishwasher detergents lay inside my cabinets all this time.
Filed under coupons, environment, homemaking | Comment (0)
