Dry herbs in the microwave

Yes. You read that correctly. I said microwave.

I had two sets of herbs I needed to do something with. Some cilantro I bought at the farmer's market that was going to go bad and some oregano I grew in my garden.

But I live in the place where they invented humidity. So hanging them to dry was NOT an option. So I microwaved them. Serisously. The whole process from start to finish took maybe 10 minutes. It was great. When I was done I still had time left over for a cup of coffee.

What you'll need:

Herbs

Paper Towels

Plate

Microwave

Containers in which to put your herbs. (I reused an old spice container and a yogurt container.)

Let's get started.

First you need to make sure your herbs are clean, clean, clean. Wash them and dry them with a paper towel.

Then strip the leaves from the stems.

Layer a couple paper towels on a plate and lay the herb leaves flat on the paper towel.

Then place the plate with the herbs in the microwave for 30 seconds on the highest setting.

After the first cycle the leaves will be mushy. They obviously aren't done.

You will put them in for 30 seconds more and check them again. You will do this for a total of 2 minutes - 4 cycles. Does that make sense?

After the last cycle the herbs will be totally dry and crumble at your touch. That's how you know you're golden.

Put them in container and label them.

A garden of repurpose

Three facts about me:

1. Every year I try to start a vegetable garden. Every year I kill a bunch of vegetables. But this year I am trying once again. I am nothing if not consistent (or stubborn). Isn't that the definition of insanity?

2. I love yogurt.

3. I struggle with guilt.

So how are these all related? You see, when I eat yogurt I am left with a carton made of number 5 or 6 plastic that can't be recycled locally. It goes in the trash and stays there. Guilt!

This year I decided if I am going to kill some plants maybe I could ease my guilt and use some things that would have gone straight to the trash. Yes, eventually they will end up in a landfill, unless someone can tell me a better option, but  at least they had a new life first.

Isn't that the point of recycling? Reusing something and giving it a new life? Now there is a trendy word for it - repurposing.

So this is my repurpose driven garden. Everything from yogurt cups to old bottles (that will be recycled) to egg cartons have become containers to start my seeds. And everything is resting nicely inside old diaper boxes. Diaper boxes that will be covered in fabric in an idea made by the brilliant Amy Bell. 

So here we have everything from tomatoes to beans, to peppers to herbs and beyond. This year I will keep these plants alive. (Until I don't. Then I won't feel guilty.)

Put a hurtin' on the dirt - not the people

As I mentioned before I am trying to use fewer chemicals to clean my house. (**Snickers at the idea that I actually clean my house.)

Okay, okay. On the occasion I get a hankering to clean I don't want to use anything that could hurt my baby.

I have made all kinds of things from safe products like baking soda and dish soap. I have made washing machine soap, all-purpose spray, a tile cleaner and now this, an all-purpose wipe for a quick clean up on a busy day.

What you'll need:

1 tbsp Castile soap

4 tbsp baking soda Baking soda

1 cup Warm water

A roll of paper towels cut in half

An old plastic container- I used one that used to contain disposable wipes.

First I had to cut the paper towel in half using a serrated knife and remove the cardboard roll. This was hilarious.

Next, pour your warm water, castile soap and baking soda into your plastic container and shake to mix. Then drop your paper towels into the container and shake again. Then pull one paper towel through the center of the roll. This will make it easier to grab a wipe in a pinch.

Viola. A super cleaner that lets you put a hutin' on the dirt, not the people you love.

Peel your own tomatoes! Way better than a can.

Is there anything more gross than a winter tomato? Well, sure, but let's not get in to all that.

We have been trying to eat fewer things from a tin can, and more things grown closer to home. I hope to grow and can my own produce soon, but until then I have fallen in love with my farmers market. The only problem is... tomaotes. No matter how great your local veggie stand is, winter tomatoes are awful.

However, Roma tomatoes remain their wonderful, glorious self.

Here is a quick Tuesday tip on how to peel tomaotes for making sauce (recipe to follow later this week).

What you'll need:

Tomatoes

Boiling water

Ice water

Set some water to boil. After it has come to a rolling boil, drop in your tomatoes (CAREFUL!). Let them boil about a minute until the skin begins to split like so:

Then place them immediatly in the ice water for another minute. Remove from icewater and peal. The skin will slide right off and you will have a beautiful tomato.

My love don't cost a thing....

... but if it did it would be like $.75 a $1 max.

I wanted my little boy to have a cute Valentine's outfit for a small party we were invited to. But I wasn't about to shell out $10 or more on an outfit he would wear once. So I hit some sewing supplies I inherited from my grandmother. I sewed them on a onesie I got out of a three pack on sale at the Dollar General. (Yeah, I am that cheap.)

In total the outfit costs me around $.75. For those who don't have buttons just lying around you can get about 200 for around $3 on Amazon.

I grabbed a needle and thread from an old sewing kit and took about 10 minutes to sew the buttons on. I did this with my baby in my lap.

Full disclosure: I wanted to make a heart but I a terrible crafter so I made this button cloud instead. Eitherway Mama's little muffin is going to look super cute.

You're gonna make it after all

 

As a new mom I worry about exposing my little fella to chemicals in cleaning products. So I hit the internet hard in a search for some non-toxic (or less toxic) cleaning products. But I am cheap, so I learned how to make my own.

This is what I have been using to clean my kitchen and bathroom. It is cheap- around $.15 a bottle- and it works.

What you will need:

An empty spray bottle

Dish soap

Distilled vinegar

I measured out 1 1/2 cups vinegar and then I warmed it up in the microwave for about 1 minute. I am not sure why this step is necessary. It just is. Don't complain. You'll only have to do it once.

Then I poured the warm vinegar into a spray bottle with 1 1/2 cups dish soap.

Shake like your life depends on it. Voila! You have a scum busting, grease fighting, power house cleaner that is super cheap.