I've had a few weeks of posting informational type posts but I'll be getting back to posting mainly recipes starting tomorrow.
If you are interested in meal planning software, I'd consider looking into this one.
Questions about homemade laundry detergent being safe for HE washers: Here's the scoop. Front loading washers can't have suds. Top loading washers CAN have suds. So, when front loading washers got popular, the laundry detergent companies had to come out with laundry detergent that didn't have a lot of suds in them. That wasn't difficult to do because laundry detergent doesn't actually have suds. Suds have been added to the detergents to make them "look" to the consumer like the detergent is working and cleaning our laundry. So, all they had to do to make HE safe detergent for front loading washer machines is REMOVE the sudsing agents that have been added to their detergent. And, boom, now you have HE safe detergent. So, this homemade recipe is totally safe for your front loading washer machine because there is no sudsing agent added to it. It produces very little suds if any at all. I don't work for a washer machine company so this is only what I've researched on my own. I hope that explains the difference between HE and top loaders...clear as mudd?
I've recently read 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life and Nourshing Traditions. Both of which I highly recommend reading! They are listed on my sidebar bookshelf, which is quite full so if you don't see it on the list be sure to flip to page 2 of the bookshelf.
You Buy Mail Order Food?-
Yes. I've been wanting to tell you about this and it probably deserves it's own post so be sure to read this since it's being posted here....In my venture to eat healthier and to also keep our food budget as low as possible, I've recently been ordering several of our groceries through Azure Standard. Not only is the quality amazing but the prices are great (cheaper than health food stores and cheaper than organic products even at Walmart).
I wasn't sure at first how I would feel about ordering food online so I just tried it once to see how it was and it was wonderful! We've been ordering now for a few months and have switched almost all of our grocery shopping (aside from Costco) over to Azure Standard. You can pay the shipping to have it shipped to your house OR you can pick it up from your nearest drop off site.
When you sign up, call and they tell you where your nearest drop off site is. The drop off site usually charges a few dollars as a flat rate for shipping which is really cheap compared to UPS. There is a minimum order amount of $50 per order which I don't seem to have a hard time meeting! If you think you want to just try it out first but don't want to order $50 worth, maybe find a friend who is willing to go in on just one order with you to try it out. That's what I did.
-no tax charged (I assume that they charge tax in Oregon where the company is based)
-no walking up and down grocery isles
-shop from the convenience of your home
-don't get charged till you pick up your purchase
-pay with credit card, debit card, or cash upon pick up
-no standing in line at the check out
-no wasting of grocery bags
-no tired kids hanging on the grocery cart
-no temptation to buy extra stuff you see at the store
-buy in small quantity or bulk if you want to
-I'm pretty sure that they deliver in most of the USA
-order when you want to...there is no required ordering
-deliveries are every 2 weeks
-not happy with part of your purchase, leave it at the drop off and you won't be charged
Want to learn more?
Azure Standard
Getting Started
Want A Catalog
View the Catalog Online
You can't view prices until you set up an account. The account is free and has no strings attached. Just log in and you can see prices.
I had toyed with the idea of buying my groceries this way for years and I finally took the plunge after reading another blog that encouraged me to try it. I wish I had started this YEARS AGO!
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Comment: Thank you for adding the Local Harvest link to your sidebar. After viewing the website, I have been in contact with two local farms (one run by a Christian homeschooling, home churching family!) and we are learning a lot of information from these experienced agrarians. I never would have known they were nearby if I had not seen the link.
Question: Have you tried sprouting seeds? Successfully? I really want to grow my own alfalfa sprouts, but my first attempt failed. The sprouts were coming up beautifully, but they started getting a little fuzzy within a couple of days.
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" Right? :)
Hi Jessica,
Glad to hear that the link was helpful! Isn't that a cool website!
Sprouting- I have been itching to sprout for about 2 years now! But I haven't taken the time to go make the purchase of sprouting seeds. I actually was planning on sprouting in about a month. Isn't it funny how you and I think so much alike. So, even though I haven't tried it yet, I have done a ton of research so these tips might be helpful but maybe not. I have a feeling that in a month or so I'll be emailing you for advice on it!
-this book (MaryJane's Idea Book) has a well laid out explanation with incredible pictures about sprouting. You should see if you can check it out from your library.
-this blog The Nourishing Gourmet The Nourishing Gourmet has some posts about her success on sprouting and so I would recommend reading her posts.
-Azure Standard has seed sprouting kits that make sprouting seeds simple if around the house jars and tools and methods aren't working so well. I'm sure that these kits can be found in other local health food stores as well.
-My kitchen is very dark with no outside windows in it so if your kitchen is fairly dark this may be contributing to mold.
-Some methods have you rinse once every couple of days but MaryJane's method has you rinse twice a day which may have an effect on the mold when sprouting happens.
Side note- I read somewhere that alpha was the worst seed to sprout for digestion...I think it was in Nourishing Traditions? Thoughts?
Others- If you are reading this and think you might be interested in sprouting, do know that you need to buy seeds that are made for sprouting (can be found at most health food stores). It's my understanding (unless I'm misinformed) that canned and dried beans, sees, and legumes at the regular grocery store are not "alive" and will not sprout.
Yes, I will post about sprouting once I get to it! =0)
Hope this was helpful Jessica and sorry I couldn't give you more experienced advice.
Thanks for all of the feedback. I will look at the Nourishing Gourmet blog. If I remember correctly, I think the Nourishing Traditions book might also touch on this subject.
Our library does not carry the MaryJane book that you mentioned. Too bad... I love the cover.
I've read conflicting information in the past about sprouting. The instructions that I was using said that the sprouts should be kept in a dark place. Oh well, I'll try again in a brighter spot.
The first seeds that I tried to sprout were sold in bulk at the health food store and they were specifically listed as sprouting seeds. They were all out of the alfalfa so I tried broccoli seeds. I have plenty more to try for a second batch.
I'll let you know if I have more success next time :)
Hi Jen,
Thanks for sharing the info about Azure Standard!! I made an account so I could see the prices & I was shocked, I'd expect them to be higher. This might be something I should look into after I move!!
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