What vinegar can't do to help round the house isn't worth knowing about! Today I discovered a new use for vinegar in the laundry.
I had the experience of pulling out my washing only to discover that I had left a sticker on a t-shirt. There on the t-shirt was that horrible glue residue from the sticky part of the sticker. It sat for a few days till I had time to figure what to do. Well here it is!
Heat a small amount of white vinegar in the microwave till warm. Dab it on the sticky residue until it is all removed (I used my fingernail to help this process). Rinse in cold water then wash as normal. Easy!!
23 December, 2011
24 April, 2011
Palm Oil
Whilst holidaying over Easter in Hamilton I looked up Hamilton Zoo for their opening hours and discovered a 'Palm Oil Free Easter Goodie Guide' on the site. I was curious and quickly checked my Lindt and Guylian goodies and discovered they were safe. How nice that they list the good brands/products to buy rather than giving a list of products to avoid.
You might be wondering what the fuss about palm oil is? In itself it is not a bad product. The problem is that to grow this product companies cut down hectares of rain forest destroying the habitat of several endangered species. Indonesia and Malaysia are the two main sources of palm oil. Every year in Indonesia 340,000 hectares of rainforest is cut down to start new plantations. That's equivalent to the size of two Stewart Islands! Be wary buying wood products from these countries too as they choose to cut down young rainforest to sell wood such as kwila to make extra profits.
The Auckland Zoo has been running a campaign to encourage consumers to avoid buying products which contain palm oil. It is their belief that if the demand for palm oil decreases then production will slow down. We have seen the effects of such a campaign when Cadbury introduced palm oil in their products. Sales went down, people protested and Cadburys NZ no longer uses palm oil. Good on them!
At the end of the day it is consumer choice. However, I believe that we all have a moral obligation to be aware of the issues affecting our planet and do what we can to stop corporations exploiting our planet. Ignorance is not an excuse to contributing to destruction of precious habitats and species.
Do you really want to see these (and many more) animal species become extinct?
Thanks Auckland Zoo website for the photos. I'm sure you won't mind as I am championing your cause.
If you are interested in more information see the Auckland zoo website:
http://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/conservation/buy-palm-oil-free.aspx
The zoo website has a good summary of information, ideas for what you can do, and links to more indepth articles such as this one from the UK:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-guilty-secrets-of-palm-oil-are-you-unwittingly-contributing-to-the-devastation-of-the-rain-forests-1676218.html
You might be wondering what the fuss about palm oil is? In itself it is not a bad product. The problem is that to grow this product companies cut down hectares of rain forest destroying the habitat of several endangered species. Indonesia and Malaysia are the two main sources of palm oil. Every year in Indonesia 340,000 hectares of rainforest is cut down to start new plantations. That's equivalent to the size of two Stewart Islands! Be wary buying wood products from these countries too as they choose to cut down young rainforest to sell wood such as kwila to make extra profits.
The Auckland Zoo has been running a campaign to encourage consumers to avoid buying products which contain palm oil. It is their belief that if the demand for palm oil decreases then production will slow down. We have seen the effects of such a campaign when Cadbury introduced palm oil in their products. Sales went down, people protested and Cadburys NZ no longer uses palm oil. Good on them!
At the end of the day it is consumer choice. However, I believe that we all have a moral obligation to be aware of the issues affecting our planet and do what we can to stop corporations exploiting our planet. Ignorance is not an excuse to contributing to destruction of precious habitats and species.
Do you really want to see these (and many more) animal species become extinct?
Thanks Auckland Zoo website for the photos. I'm sure you won't mind as I am championing your cause.
If you are interested in more information see the Auckland zoo website:
http://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/conservation/buy-palm-oil-free.aspx
The zoo website has a good summary of information, ideas for what you can do, and links to more indepth articles such as this one from the UK:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-guilty-secrets-of-palm-oil-are-you-unwittingly-contributing-to-the-devastation-of-the-rain-forests-1676218.html
19 April, 2011
Bloomin' Brilliant Brownie
I have had a few requests for my brownie recipe of recent. This brownie is luscious and melts in your mouth. The secret is good quality chocolate and cocoa (see notes below). The recipe comes from Jamie Oliver's website. As always I have made a few adjustments to the recipe so have included these. Sorry Jamie - perfection can be added to!
Bloomin' Brilliant Brownie
250g butter
200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken up (save the rest of the block)
80g cocoa powder, sifted
65g plain flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
360g caster sugar
4 large eggs
In a large bowl over some simmering water, melt the butter and the chocolate and mix until smooth.
Add the cherries and nuts, if you’re using them, and stir together.
In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and sugar, then add this to the chocolate mixture.
Stir together well.
Beat the eggs and mix in until you have a silky consistency.
Chop the remainder of the chocolate block into chunks and stir these through.
Pour your brownie mix into the a 25 cm square baking dish, and place in a 180°C oven for around 25 minutes.
You don’t want to overcook them so, unlike cakes, you don’t want a skewer to come out all clean. The brownies should be slightly springy on the outside but still gooey in the middle.
Allow to cool in the tray, then carefully transfer to a large chopping board and cut into chunky squares.
Ingredient notes:
My favourite cocoa is Equagold organic cocoa. I have just started trying the Trade Aid fair trade organic cocoa as it is kinder on the pocket. I will let you know how that works out next time I make it.
I use Whitakers Dark Ghana (72%) or Dark Cacao (62%) The dark cacao has a sharper almost orangey flavour. Both are yum!
If you are an allergy sufferer this recipe can be made dairy free using above chocolate (these two have no milk products) and a butter substitute called Just Like Butter. Nobody has complained about my dairy free version!
Cocoa is usually gluten free, if you buy the good stuff, and the flour is such a small amount that replacing with rice flour is also successful. The baking powder can be omitted also, however, the Edmonds brand is gluten free (but does contain a warning about traces if you are hyper allergic).
Bloomin' Brilliant Brownie
250g butter
200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken up (save the rest of the block)
80g cocoa powder, sifted
65g plain flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
360g caster sugar
4 large eggs
In a large bowl over some simmering water, melt the butter and the chocolate and mix until smooth.
Add the cherries and nuts, if you’re using them, and stir together.
In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and sugar, then add this to the chocolate mixture.
Stir together well.
Beat the eggs and mix in until you have a silky consistency.
Chop the remainder of the chocolate block into chunks and stir these through.
Pour your brownie mix into the a 25 cm square baking dish, and place in a 180°C oven for around 25 minutes.
You don’t want to overcook them so, unlike cakes, you don’t want a skewer to come out all clean. The brownies should be slightly springy on the outside but still gooey in the middle.
Allow to cool in the tray, then carefully transfer to a large chopping board and cut into chunky squares.
Ingredient notes:
My favourite cocoa is Equagold organic cocoa. I have just started trying the Trade Aid fair trade organic cocoa as it is kinder on the pocket. I will let you know how that works out next time I make it.
I use Whitakers Dark Ghana (72%) or Dark Cacao (62%) The dark cacao has a sharper almost orangey flavour. Both are yum!
If you are an allergy sufferer this recipe can be made dairy free using above chocolate (these two have no milk products) and a butter substitute called Just Like Butter. Nobody has complained about my dairy free version!
Cocoa is usually gluten free, if you buy the good stuff, and the flour is such a small amount that replacing with rice flour is also successful. The baking powder can be omitted also, however, the Edmonds brand is gluten free (but does contain a warning about traces if you are hyper allergic).
Children's Art Apron
Ok so I am going to brag a little. Last September I promised some little friends of mine I would sew them an art apron for their birthday. I found the project in an apron book I borrowed from the local library. At long last I got myself organised, sat down and did it! It was fun and what's more I think it looks very cute!
It has got me on a sewing buzz now and i have ideas for future projects already. I am even tempted to buy my own machine so I don't have to keep borrowing Mum's from Hamilton. We will see. I might whip out a few more of these aprons first.
It has got me on a sewing buzz now and i have ideas for future projects already. I am even tempted to buy my own machine so I don't have to keep borrowing Mum's from Hamilton. We will see. I might whip out a few more of these aprons first.
Passion fruit Cordial
I was fortunate enough to have a few passion fruit hiding in the fridge waiting to be consumed. I decided to make some cordial. Cordial is relatively easy and it sure is impressive to visitors (if they come over before it is all gone). The taste is far superior to any bought stuff. Here is the recipe to try. I have slightly adapted the recipe from bestrecipes.com.au. Of course you may have to wait till next passion fruit season.
20 Passionfruit
2 tsp tartaric acid
3 cups water
3 cups of sugar
Scoop passion fruit pulp into a jug and add tartaric acid.
Boil sugar and water for 4 minutes and then add passion fruit.
Boil for several minutes until the pulp starts to separate from the pip.
Allow to cool, before straining and bottling.
13 April, 2011
Hot Cross Buns
I enjoy making several batches of these spicy delights every Easter. Yum, such lovely memories the smell brings back. In fact I even made these with my class today. Here is the recipe I use which I have tweaked a little over the years. It is very reliable and not too difficult. Of course I have a handy kenwood mixer with a dough hook for kneeding! You could pop it in a breadmaker on a dough cycle too. I have successfully made this recipe dairy free using soy/rice milk and olivani spread. Will try gluten free flour one day.
Dough
200 ml milk
100 ml boiling water
1 Tablespoon Surebake (yeast)
3½ cups (450 g) white flour
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 Tablespoon butter
1 cup (100-150 g) dried fruit (sultanas and currants work well)
1 Tablespoon mixed spice
1 tsp each of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg
Put 200 ml cold milk into measuring jug, pour in 100 ml boiling water. Dissolve Surebake in lukewarm liquid and leave while preparing dry ingredients.
Into large bowl measure flour, sugar and salt; rub in butter; mix in dried fruit and spice. Pour yeast liquid into dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Knead dough for 10 minutes. Return to warmed and greased bowl (grease bowl with 1 teaspoon oil); turn over once to grease top, cover with a clean teatowel and leave in a warm place to rest for 15 minutes.
After rest period, cut dough into 16 pieces (approx 65g). Shape into bun shape. Leave in a warm place to allow buns to double in size (1/2 to 1 hour). When buns are nearly finished rising pipe a cross on each bun.
Cross mixture
2 Tablespoons cornflour
2 Tablespoons white flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt
2 Tablespoons milk (approx.)
Mix together into a batter, adding a little more milk if necessary. Spoon mixture into corner of a plastic bag, snip off the corner to make a small hole. Squeeze mixture onto buns to make cross shape.
Cook buns at 220˚C for 5 minutes, then reduce to 180˚C for a further 10 minutes.
Brush with 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar dissolved in 1 Tablespoon hot water to glaze. Alternatively use 2 Tablespoons apricot jam dissolved in 1½ Tablespoons hot water.
11 April, 2011
Forgotten Cookies
There is a good reason these are called forgotten cookies but you certainly won't forget these! It is a traditional American recipe where you leave the cookies to cook in the heat of the oven overnight. This version comes from Healthy Food Guide. I find the recipes from there website very reliable, plus healthy which is a bonus! The recipe below is as it appears on the website. I have been experimenting with adding dried cherries. These are far superior to glace cherries and are actual cherries pitted then dehydrated. They are available at my local Pak N Save in the bins and are called Razz Cherries. You will never go back to glace cherries again! For those who are dairy free use 70% cocoa chocolate. It was my great delight to discover this is dairy free!
2 egg whites, at room temperature
pinch salt
120g (1/2 cup) castor sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
120g (3/4 cup) roughly chopped almonds
150g (3/4 cup) chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Beat egg whites and salt until foamy.
Gradually add sugar and continue beating until they hold stiff peaks and make a glossy, stiff meringue.
Add vanilla, almonds and chocolate chips folding carefully with a spatula.
Cover baking tray with baking paper.
Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture on the paper.
Put in the oven, then turn oven off.
Leave overnight in oven (or for at least 3 hours, until oven is cold) with the door closed.
2 egg whites, at room temperature
pinch salt
120g (1/2 cup) castor sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
120g (3/4 cup) roughly chopped almonds
150g (3/4 cup) chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Beat egg whites and salt until foamy.
Gradually add sugar and continue beating until they hold stiff peaks and make a glossy, stiff meringue.
Add vanilla, almonds and chocolate chips folding carefully with a spatula.
Cover baking tray with baking paper.
Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture on the paper.
Put in the oven, then turn oven off.
Leave overnight in oven (or for at least 3 hours, until oven is cold) with the door closed.
10 April, 2011
Dealing with the Great Mouse Migration!
This is not the first article/piece of advice I thought I would publish. The idea for this blog has been percolating for more than a month now with thoughts of recipes and other cleaning tips. However, the need has risen to deal with the arrival of mice in my house and so I offer my advice if you are experiencing the same problem.
Autumn brings colourful leaves, cooler weather, and the migration of mice from their nests outside into our warm cosy homes. Who wouldn't want to be there with soft fluffy insulation to sleep on, warmth and a good food source. How do they get in? A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a pencil! They are contortionists to match those of the circus! If you have an old character home like mine you are likely to find the odd gap (or several dozen) around. You will know if they are present by the tell tale droppings.
First step remove any possible source of food. Aside from the obvious food items, and be aware they will chew through packets, grains and seeds in any form will be attractive. Last year they went for my wheatie bag nibbling a hole in the fabric. This year I found a packet of milk powder being stored in the bottom of my linen cupboard with the offending chewed opening. Garden seeds are also susceptible. Package everything up in airtight containers. I have temporarily stored my 20 kg bag of flour in the oven till I can purchase a large plastic pail!
After cleaning out droppings you will want to carefully check for holes. There is one thing that mice can not chew through! Steel wool. Buy some cheap steelos and stuff those holes up.
Mouse traps are a personal choice. I don't recommend the friendly ones that preserve the invader. Why would you let it go outside only to scurry back in again and potentially breed in large numbers? Nor do I suggest using mouse poison. The mouse goes away to die but maybe somewhere else in your house leaving a nasty stench. Even if it goes outside it leaves a toxic carcass that another animal could eat and be affected by. A simple snap trap is best. Use peanut butter as bait as the stickiness means your intruders can't remove the food from the trap. Place the trap with open jaws facing a wall that the mice are likely to run past.
Check the traps in the morning. They are seemingly most active at night. Have a plastic bag handy to drop the mouse into and if it helps wear sunglasses to avoid a full view of the dead mouse!
Finally to deter mice place a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball in strategic places. Refresh the drops every few days. This is possibly not 100% fool proof but in my experience seems to deter them. If nothing else you will have a pleasant fresh smelling cupboard!
Happy mouse hunting!
Autumn brings colourful leaves, cooler weather, and the migration of mice from their nests outside into our warm cosy homes. Who wouldn't want to be there with soft fluffy insulation to sleep on, warmth and a good food source. How do they get in? A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a pencil! They are contortionists to match those of the circus! If you have an old character home like mine you are likely to find the odd gap (or several dozen) around. You will know if they are present by the tell tale droppings.
First step remove any possible source of food. Aside from the obvious food items, and be aware they will chew through packets, grains and seeds in any form will be attractive. Last year they went for my wheatie bag nibbling a hole in the fabric. This year I found a packet of milk powder being stored in the bottom of my linen cupboard with the offending chewed opening. Garden seeds are also susceptible. Package everything up in airtight containers. I have temporarily stored my 20 kg bag of flour in the oven till I can purchase a large plastic pail!
After cleaning out droppings you will want to carefully check for holes. There is one thing that mice can not chew through! Steel wool. Buy some cheap steelos and stuff those holes up.
Mouse traps are a personal choice. I don't recommend the friendly ones that preserve the invader. Why would you let it go outside only to scurry back in again and potentially breed in large numbers? Nor do I suggest using mouse poison. The mouse goes away to die but maybe somewhere else in your house leaving a nasty stench. Even if it goes outside it leaves a toxic carcass that another animal could eat and be affected by. A simple snap trap is best. Use peanut butter as bait as the stickiness means your intruders can't remove the food from the trap. Place the trap with open jaws facing a wall that the mice are likely to run past.
Check the traps in the morning. They are seemingly most active at night. Have a plastic bag handy to drop the mouse into and if it helps wear sunglasses to avoid a full view of the dead mouse!
Finally to deter mice place a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball in strategic places. Refresh the drops every few days. This is possibly not 100% fool proof but in my experience seems to deter them. If nothing else you will have a pleasant fresh smelling cupboard!
Happy mouse hunting!
Why Back to Basics?
Our Great Grandmother's generation and earlier were a hard working self-sufficient bunch. They didn't have the modern luxuries of appliances such as washing machines and microwaves or our fancy formulas of cleaners in a bottle. There is a way of life that is becoming lost to the modern convenience generation.
In addition to that we are surrounded by a plethora of cleaning and packaged products. How many bottles of cleaner do you have in your cupboard? You can get a specialised cleaner for almost every need. Are they really necessary? How good are those products for our health and the environment?
While being eco-friendly is becoming increasingly popular there is a lot of confusing and overwhelming information out there! My aim is to be kinder to the planet and my health one step at a time. Some what of an eco warrior like the Amazon Princesses forging my way through a jungle of information. Follow me on my journey as I discover household tips that are simple and beneficial. I hope to present helpful tried and tested information for you to use.
Perhaps our female predecessors were on to something good ...
In addition to that we are surrounded by a plethora of cleaning and packaged products. How many bottles of cleaner do you have in your cupboard? You can get a specialised cleaner for almost every need. Are they really necessary? How good are those products for our health and the environment?
While being eco-friendly is becoming increasingly popular there is a lot of confusing and overwhelming information out there! My aim is to be kinder to the planet and my health one step at a time. Some what of an eco warrior like the Amazon Princesses forging my way through a jungle of information. Follow me on my journey as I discover household tips that are simple and beneficial. I hope to present helpful tried and tested information for you to use.
Perhaps our female predecessors were on to something good ...
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