I quite often make a double batch of Rissoles, one night we have them with potatoes and salad and the next as Burgers. However, my husband insists on fresh burger buns and this puts our 'one shop a fortnight' system into disarray.
His brilliant idea was for me to make them, and it really was easy, although my misbehaving toddler made my afternoon, one of those that needed a gin after!
I'm very proud of myself, they were an absolute triumph!
Whats in the basic breadroll dough?
This makes 16 rolls, which for a family of 3 is excessive, I would tend to 1/2 the recipe or par-bake half of them and pop them in the freezer, and then next time we're having burgers I'll just pop them into the oven for 71/2 minutes and viola! Fresh burger buns!!
400ml Spring or Filtered Water
2 Tbs Oil (Olive or Rice Bran)
1 Tspn SeaSalt
4C High Grade White Flour (or wholemeal or a mix of both)
2Tbs Manuka Honey or Sugar
2 Tspns Bread Machine Yeast
2 Tbs Milk Powder
How do you make them?
Throw everything in the order of ingredients into the breadmaker and switch on to a dough setting, once its risen (and I usually forget it about and by the time I've got to it, its risen nearly to the top!) Take out of breadmaker, divide into 16 balls (this mixture is quite wet) and I kneaded in quite a bit of flour so that they weren't so sticky. Bake in a moderate oven 180 degrees C for about 15 minutes.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Free Computer Recycling Event E-Day Tommorow Saturday 06 November
New Zealand is kicking off its first E-Day event tomorrow, Saturday 06 November, where all unwanted PC's, computer peripherals, mobile phones, game consoles and digital cameras can be disposed of to help divert part of an expected 80,000 tonnes of e-waste from the landfills.
Check out the link for places where you can drop off your unwanted waste!
http://www.eday.org.nz/
Check out the link for places where you can drop off your unwanted waste!
http://www.eday.org.nz/
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Its the small things you do....
The thing about thinking greener is, it really is a state of mind and a way of life, just a total awareness. It means that everything that we do, the thought goes through my head 'Is there a better way of doing this?', 'Can I use less?', 'Do we really need this?'
From when looking for a job making sure I could walk to work, buying a car that was incredibly fuel efficient (and no its not a hybrid!), being a 1 car family, saying no to plastic bags! (If you can carry it to the checkout, why do you then need a plastic bag to take it to the car?!) Hanging the laundry outside and not using the dryer, not using the heated towel rail for more than is needed, composting, worm farming, living very close to amenities so I can walk with the pram, the list is endless! In every way if we can just stop for a moment and be aware of what we are doing and aware that there may be a better, greener and cheaper way.
Not long ago I read an article saying that we (as in the world) have 100 months to make changes to the way we do things before there is no turning back, we will have damaged this earth to the point of devastation (its actually down to 74 months now). And remember there is no Planet B, this is it! You have choices every single day, will you be uninformed or lazy or think that what I do won't count or will you think about small changes you can make?
I know what I'm going to do! I hope you'll join me......
Here is the link for 100months.org with some great ideas.
http://www.onehundredmonths.org/
From when looking for a job making sure I could walk to work, buying a car that was incredibly fuel efficient (and no its not a hybrid!), being a 1 car family, saying no to plastic bags! (If you can carry it to the checkout, why do you then need a plastic bag to take it to the car?!) Hanging the laundry outside and not using the dryer, not using the heated towel rail for more than is needed, composting, worm farming, living very close to amenities so I can walk with the pram, the list is endless! In every way if we can just stop for a moment and be aware of what we are doing and aware that there may be a better, greener and cheaper way.
Not long ago I read an article saying that we (as in the world) have 100 months to make changes to the way we do things before there is no turning back, we will have damaged this earth to the point of devastation (its actually down to 74 months now). And remember there is no Planet B, this is it! You have choices every single day, will you be uninformed or lazy or think that what I do won't count or will you think about small changes you can make?
I know what I'm going to do! I hope you'll join me......
Here is the link for 100months.org with some great ideas.
http://www.onehundredmonths.org/
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Its a lovely day to dry the laundry!
The weather is just beautiful and I always say on days like this 'its a great day to dry the washing!' I absolutely hate using the dryer and only do so if absolutely necessary.
When we sold our old cottage we took our retractable washing line with us and put it up and our new/old leaky garage, needless to say the washing just doesn't dry in there in winter, so off we went and bought a 2nd hand rotary line off Trademe, brilliant!
With the renovations we are building a back porch and will put the retractable clothes line up there, not pretty but our back yard is north facing so it gets all day sun and will be perfect for our cloth nappies as a friend says 'sunshine is like natures disenfectant' and it is brilliant at getting stains out.
Looking for green solutions in the laundry we've found a few different options. For washing nappies we use a nappy soaker from either Ecostore or Next Generation, only 1/2 a scoop as this can degrade the integrity of the cloth over time (don't soak nappies for long periods as this also can eat away at the fabric and render them useless) Another favourite is Next Generation Stain Remover Spray, and I honestly have to say this is better than the chemical alternatives. Ecover or Ecostore Wool Wash are both both great options for your woollens and delicates.
Code Wash Laundry Balls are superb, I've once again found some on Trademe at $30 for 2 sets and they last for approximately 100 washes. Each set comes with replaceable balls to insert so you should get at least 400 loads for $30, which works out at around 7c a load, not bad at all! They have excellent washing power to clean most dirt, the only thing they will not clean is grease because they do not contain toxic enzymes, optimisers, and other heavy duty poisonous grease cleaners (but that's what the Next Generation Stain Remover is for) Here are some questions answered:
How do the Laundry Balls work?Activated molecules (ionised oxygen) are released during the wash; these molecules will raise the pH level of the water and soften the water and fabric. This allows for the movement of water in the machine to penetrate the fabric and lift the soil.
Are they Natural?
It is environmentally safe and the ingredients are derived from natural components and inorganic rock. There is no Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) or Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES) in the product.
Do they clean well?
It is just as good as any environmentally friendly product on the market. It does not contain bleach or whiteners so don’t expect luminous whites. If you have stains the Multi Purpose Stain Remover can be applied. You can also pre soak the clothes with the balls in a bucket first.
I have allergies and eczema, can I use it?
It is hypo-allergenic and safe to use for sensitive skin. It has been approved by Action Against Allergies in the UK. Our little one gets eczema and I have not had any problems since changing to the Code Wash Laundry Balls. The main reason I use this product is for my children’s skin problems - the money and time saving is an added bonus!!
Can I wash nappies and baby clothes?
It is perfectly safe for babies and contains an anti-bacterial agent and natural softener.
Are the balls fragrant?There is no smell they just give your clothes a ’washed’, but not scented smell when you get them out of your machine. When you take your clothes off the line, they smell clean but not scented. If you want a scent just add a few drops of essential oil to the machine when you load it. I find the best is lemon scented Teatree, as not only does it smell nice it has all the antimicrobial qualities of a Teatree without the nasty Teatree smell. Or better yet is to use Global Soaps Essential Laundry Blend which is a blend of Lemon Teatree, Lemon Myrtle and Lemon oils RRP $16 for 20ml. I only do this for my nappies as its nice to get rid of the 'nappy' smell and has the antibacterial properties as well to get rid of any nasties.
Here are some links if you are interested in getting your hands on some of these products:
http://www.globalsoap.co.nz/soapnuts.htm
http://www.ongalea.co.nz/Ongalea/SPECIAL_OFFER.html
http://www.nextgeneration.co.nz/
When we sold our old cottage we took our retractable washing line with us and put it up and our new/old leaky garage, needless to say the washing just doesn't dry in there in winter, so off we went and bought a 2nd hand rotary line off Trademe, brilliant!
With the renovations we are building a back porch and will put the retractable clothes line up there, not pretty but our back yard is north facing so it gets all day sun and will be perfect for our cloth nappies as a friend says 'sunshine is like natures disenfectant' and it is brilliant at getting stains out.
Looking for green solutions in the laundry we've found a few different options. For washing nappies we use a nappy soaker from either Ecostore or Next Generation, only 1/2 a scoop as this can degrade the integrity of the cloth over time (don't soak nappies for long periods as this also can eat away at the fabric and render them useless) Another favourite is Next Generation Stain Remover Spray, and I honestly have to say this is better than the chemical alternatives. Ecover or Ecostore Wool Wash are both both great options for your woollens and delicates.
Code Wash Laundry Balls are superb, I've once again found some on Trademe at $30 for 2 sets and they last for approximately 100 washes. Each set comes with replaceable balls to insert so you should get at least 400 loads for $30, which works out at around 7c a load, not bad at all! They have excellent washing power to clean most dirt, the only thing they will not clean is grease because they do not contain toxic enzymes, optimisers, and other heavy duty poisonous grease cleaners (but that's what the Next Generation Stain Remover is for) Here are some questions answered:
How do the Laundry Balls work?Activated molecules (ionised oxygen) are released during the wash; these molecules will raise the pH level of the water and soften the water and fabric. This allows for the movement of water in the machine to penetrate the fabric and lift the soil.
Are they Natural?
It is environmentally safe and the ingredients are derived from natural components and inorganic rock. There is no Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) or Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES) in the product.
Do they clean well?
It is just as good as any environmentally friendly product on the market. It does not contain bleach or whiteners so don’t expect luminous whites. If you have stains the Multi Purpose Stain Remover can be applied. You can also pre soak the clothes with the balls in a bucket first.
I have allergies and eczema, can I use it?
It is hypo-allergenic and safe to use for sensitive skin. It has been approved by Action Against Allergies in the UK. Our little one gets eczema and I have not had any problems since changing to the Code Wash Laundry Balls. The main reason I use this product is for my children’s skin problems - the money and time saving is an added bonus!!
Can I wash nappies and baby clothes?
It is perfectly safe for babies and contains an anti-bacterial agent and natural softener.
Are the balls fragrant?There is no smell they just give your clothes a ’washed’, but not scented smell when you get them out of your machine. When you take your clothes off the line, they smell clean but not scented. If you want a scent just add a few drops of essential oil to the machine when you load it. I find the best is lemon scented Teatree, as not only does it smell nice it has all the antimicrobial qualities of a Teatree without the nasty Teatree smell. Or better yet is to use Global Soaps Essential Laundry Blend which is a blend of Lemon Teatree, Lemon Myrtle and Lemon oils RRP $16 for 20ml. I only do this for my nappies as its nice to get rid of the 'nappy' smell and has the antibacterial properties as well to get rid of any nasties.
Here are some links if you are interested in getting your hands on some of these products:
http://www.globalsoap.co.nz/soapnuts.htm
http://www.ongalea.co.nz/Ongalea/SPECIAL_OFFER.html
http://www.nextgeneration.co.nz/
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Feed the Worms!
We love the three R's - reduce, reuse and recycle. So much so that when our new kitchen was built I finally got my large double rubbish bin drawers! The front one is our recycling because we have so much more recycling than rubbish. I think the key with recycling, composting and worm farming is make it easy for yourself, if its not easy you aren't going to do it!
Under our sink we have our compost container. Into this goes all food scraps, any paper towels or tissues that have non-toxic substances on them (worms love these!). When you have a compost container, make sure its not too large - 2L is a great size. You don't want it sitting around for a week, getting all stinky before you empty it. We have two of these and after we empty one, we spray it out with the hose and into the dishwasher it goes. Then out comes the next one use as the other is cleaning.
What we shouldn't put into our compost container is meat, citrus and anything from the onion family, however, my poor worms get it all, as I cant stand the thought of putting food scraps into the rubbish. And in case you think that food scraps will decompose your rubbish and at the tip, think again. Rubbish at the tip is so compacted and deprived of oxygen that it takes decades to break down. The other thing thing that is as bad for the environment are waste disposals, our waste water systems were not meant for munched up food!
I love our Can-o-worms Worm farm but you get all sorts of worm farms off Trademe for a really reasonable price. Our Earthmaker compost bin is brilliant too, its a continuous cycle 3 stage compost bin, so you are continually making compost and not having to haul the bin over to another site. For more information check out their websites:
http://www.earthmaker.co.nz/
http://www.wormsrus.co.nz/canoworms.html
Under our sink we have our compost container. Into this goes all food scraps, any paper towels or tissues that have non-toxic substances on them (worms love these!). When you have a compost container, make sure its not too large - 2L is a great size. You don't want it sitting around for a week, getting all stinky before you empty it. We have two of these and after we empty one, we spray it out with the hose and into the dishwasher it goes. Then out comes the next one use as the other is cleaning.
What we shouldn't put into our compost container is meat, citrus and anything from the onion family, however, my poor worms get it all, as I cant stand the thought of putting food scraps into the rubbish. And in case you think that food scraps will decompose your rubbish and at the tip, think again. Rubbish at the tip is so compacted and deprived of oxygen that it takes decades to break down. The other thing thing that is as bad for the environment are waste disposals, our waste water systems were not meant for munched up food!
I love our Can-o-worms Worm farm but you get all sorts of worm farms off Trademe for a really reasonable price. Our Earthmaker compost bin is brilliant too, its a continuous cycle 3 stage compost bin, so you are continually making compost and not having to haul the bin over to another site. For more information check out their websites:
http://www.earthmaker.co.nz/
http://www.wormsrus.co.nz/canoworms.html
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Think about what you put in and on your body (even if you aren't pregnant)
There was an article the other day on 60minutes about Phthalates and how it may be causing birth defects in boys genitals, low sperm counts in adult males and low testosterone levels. It was fascinating and just reiterated to me why we need to become so much more aware of what we use on our body but in our body as well.
Most of the Mums out there will be aware of BPA's and know how it should best be avoided. What you may not have heard about is Phthalates which is the new nasty also found in plastics to make them softer and more flexible.
The problem with plastics is that they leech the Phtalates into our FOODS, HAIRCARE, SKINCARE, DRINKS, TOOTHPASTE, but they are also found in GLADWRAP, GREASEPROOF PAPER, KIDS TOYS the list goes on and on - just think about what you use that comes wrapped in plastic.
So not only are we ingesting Phthalates but we are spreading them onto our biggest organ (our skin) which is in turn being absorbed into our systems. Pregnant women have to be extra careful but even if you are not pregnant, maybe take a moment to think about if there is an alternative to what you are currently using.
Look at using foods or skincare that come in glass or metal, wooden toys for your children and stop and think about using super nasties like Bio Oil which is a petrochemical in a plastic bottle, it doesn't get much worse than that, especially for pregnant women! A really nice alternative to Bio Oil is Absolute Essential Maternity Care Stretchmark Oil $39.95 for 100ml, Absolute Essential only use the highest quality oils, this is delicious and comes in a lovely blue glass bottle. I will be stocking this along with their Maternity Care Massage Balm $29.95 which not only helps with strechmarks but also will help to alleviate discomforts of pregnancy that especially affect the lower back, legs and feet. Another wonderful product that I currently have in stock is Verite Spa Nourishing Belly Balm 65ml $19.90 with nutrient rich Shea Butter, Rosehip, Marula and more to help prevent stretch marks.
Avoid BPA and Phthalate ingestion by not using and re-using plastic water bottles. These are probably the worst culprits of all, as the longer you use and refill the worse the integrity of the plastic gets. Look for a stainless steel water bottle or just a cheap alternative is a glass bottle that you can refill.
Most of the Mums out there will be aware of BPA's and know how it should best be avoided. What you may not have heard about is Phthalates which is the new nasty also found in plastics to make them softer and more flexible.
The problem with plastics is that they leech the Phtalates into our FOODS, HAIRCARE, SKINCARE, DRINKS, TOOTHPASTE, but they are also found in GLADWRAP, GREASEPROOF PAPER, KIDS TOYS the list goes on and on - just think about what you use that comes wrapped in plastic.
So not only are we ingesting Phthalates but we are spreading them onto our biggest organ (our skin) which is in turn being absorbed into our systems. Pregnant women have to be extra careful but even if you are not pregnant, maybe take a moment to think about if there is an alternative to what you are currently using.
Look at using foods or skincare that come in glass or metal, wooden toys for your children and stop and think about using super nasties like Bio Oil which is a petrochemical in a plastic bottle, it doesn't get much worse than that, especially for pregnant women! A really nice alternative to Bio Oil is Absolute Essential Maternity Care Stretchmark Oil $39.95 for 100ml, Absolute Essential only use the highest quality oils, this is delicious and comes in a lovely blue glass bottle. I will be stocking this along with their Maternity Care Massage Balm $29.95 which not only helps with strechmarks but also will help to alleviate discomforts of pregnancy that especially affect the lower back, legs and feet. Another wonderful product that I currently have in stock is Verite Spa Nourishing Belly Balm 65ml $19.90 with nutrient rich Shea Butter, Rosehip, Marula and more to help prevent stretch marks.
Avoid BPA and Phthalate ingestion by not using and re-using plastic water bottles. These are probably the worst culprits of all, as the longer you use and refill the worse the integrity of the plastic gets. Look for a stainless steel water bottle or just a cheap alternative is a glass bottle that you can refill.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
What you don't know about your favourite brand of Pawpaw Ointment.......
This is a great lesson on what is not on the outside packaging. A very popular Pawpaw Ointment that I used all the time was in a red tube or pot. What I didn't know was the main ingredient apart from Pawpaw was petroleum jelly which is a petrochemical, as there was nothing on the outside label to state this. If you have a jar at home take a quick look at it!
I have used Pawpaw Ointment for chapped lips, nappy rash and eczema, its also recommended for cuts, grazes and dry and cracked skin. Now how many nurses or doctors have told you that the ointment in the red tube is great for nappyrash? I'm sure it is, but I will do all I can to avoid putting a petrochemical on my baby. As soon as I found this out, I made it my mission to find an alternative with either vegetable or nut base, and I found a great one!
Look for a product called Phytocare Papaya Ointment (previously called Pure Neutraceuticals Pawpaw Ointment) Its in a black tube, and comes in 2 handy sizes 30g and 100g.
Phytocare contains 48% Papaya, also known as Pawpaw and has a far higher percentage of Pawpaw than the red tube. It also contains Calandula Flower extract in a base of Shea Butter, Macadamia Seed Oil and Vitamin E with an absolutely divine fragrance derived from Coconut. They have just reformulated it so it goes on really smoothly and squeezes out of the tube easily. So not only does it smell delicious it is way better for you than the red version.
This is a product I will stock at Rejuvenate 30g tube will be $10.00 and the 100g tube will be $19.50
I have used Pawpaw Ointment for chapped lips, nappy rash and eczema, its also recommended for cuts, grazes and dry and cracked skin. Now how many nurses or doctors have told you that the ointment in the red tube is great for nappyrash? I'm sure it is, but I will do all I can to avoid putting a petrochemical on my baby. As soon as I found this out, I made it my mission to find an alternative with either vegetable or nut base, and I found a great one!
Look for a product called Phytocare Papaya Ointment (previously called Pure Neutraceuticals Pawpaw Ointment) Its in a black tube, and comes in 2 handy sizes 30g and 100g.
Phytocare contains 48% Papaya, also known as Pawpaw and has a far higher percentage of Pawpaw than the red tube. It also contains Calandula Flower extract in a base of Shea Butter, Macadamia Seed Oil and Vitamin E with an absolutely divine fragrance derived from Coconut. They have just reformulated it so it goes on really smoothly and squeezes out of the tube easily. So not only does it smell delicious it is way better for you than the red version.
This is a product I will stock at Rejuvenate 30g tube will be $10.00 and the 100g tube will be $19.50
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