I think for a lot of us, this weekend is summer's last hurrah. And I think a lot of us also will be planning to cook out at some point. Who doesn't associate summer with grilling and barbecue? With the rise of food intolerances and the growing popularity of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles though, this old American past time needs an update.
This is the most basic version of an apple butter barbecue sauce that I use pretty regularly. It's free of gluten, dairy, and onion, which are all common gastric irritants for people on medically restricted diets. It's low acid, for people who have gastro-esophageal reflux disease. And it's a lovely blend of tangy and sweet that works with most anything you want to dress it on-- grilled veggies, tofu, chicken, pork, you name it.
One note before I start on the basic recipe-- I prefer to use a locally produced, unsweetened apple butter. If you're using one from the supermarket, it probably has more salt and sugar in it than what I'm starting with, and you'll need to adjust your recipe accordingly.
1 cup apple butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Now there are a lot of additions you can make to this base, depending on who you're feeding and how you like your sauce. The base I've started from here should be safe for almost anyone-- not those with fructose intolerance, unfortunately-- but just about everyone else, though it's really not spicy at all. Here are a few more additions to the base I've come up with.
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons tomato paste if acidity is not a dietary issue.
Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic if garlic is tolerated. Alternatively, add 1 tablespoon garlic infused olive oil if garlic tolerance is questionable. Many people who don't tolerate garlic will tolerate infused oil as long as it contains none of the garlic solids.
Add 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder if GERD is not an issue. Other chile powders will work, but I prefer the smokiness of ancho. If you like a really spicy sauce, you'll want to add more than a teaspoon.
Add 1/2 teaspoon black or white pepper if GERD is not an issue.
Add 1 teaspoon onion powder or 1 tablespoon minced onion if onions are tolerated.
Add 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce if GERD is not an issue. Check to be sure it's a gluten free brand if you're feeding GF people.
Keep in mind also, if you're feeding gluten free people, you'll want to check to be sure all the spices you use are gluten free. Wheat based products are commonly used by some companies to prevent clumping in their spices.
Whatever you're doing for Labor Day this weekend, I hope it's a good one! Happy holiday, everyone!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday Eye Candy
It's hump day again. Feels like an even bigger hump this week, as it's my first week back in school. I'm only auditing this semester, but it may make me quiet for a while as I try to find my stride again. Still, there's always time for a little eye candy! This week I'm featuring supplies for your own craftiness. Sometimes the right material is the only inspiration I need.
From Cool Climates.
From Bead Nutters.
From Sunny Day Dreams.
From Borealis Sea Glass.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Weekend Project
I don't happen to have an old yoga mat that needs a new life right now, but when I do, I will be borrowing some of Kelleen's fabulous ideas on what to do. Check it out:
I'm especially in love with the yoga mat sandals. That's gotta be on my to do list, and maybe it will even motivate me to give my yoga mat some extra love and attention until it wears out!
If you'd like to see some of Kelleen's upcycled creations, check out her Etsy shop, Pay Per Planet.
If you'd like to see some of Kelleen's upcycled creations, check out her Etsy shop, Pay Per Planet.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Hump Day Eye Candy
More hump day eye candy for you all to help you through the mid week blahs. Today I'm featuring upcycled fashion.
From Pondhopper.
From smArtville.
From FoxnLily.
From Deconstructika.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Edible, Home Made Hair Gel
Now I have to admit before I get into the how of this, I started doing it purely because I'm so in love with my dog. He's got a little bit of the devil in him though, which even his trainer in puppy class acknowledged. And of course, he looks like a dog version of a teddy bear-- no hint of the will and iffy attitude that lurks under the dewy eyes and shaggy coat. So for graduation from puppy class, I gave him a blue mo-hawk. It was that or a pair of red devil's horns, and the mo-hawk seemed like a better choice for many reasons.
Now I'm sure it makes sense why it had to be edible and entirely non-toxic.
So if you're nutty enough to style your dog, this is an easy win for you. It would also work well on children of all ages, since you don't have to be worried about toxicity, even if they lick it.
Here's how to do it:
Poof! That's it.
Here's Max's picture from this experiment.
Now I'm sure it makes sense why it had to be edible and entirely non-toxic.
So if you're nutty enough to style your dog, this is an easy win for you. It would also work well on children of all ages, since you don't have to be worried about toxicity, even if they lick it.
Here's how to do it:
- Warm one cup of water in the microwave or kettle.
- If you want to have a colored gel, add your coloring to the water at this stage and mix thorougly. I used food coloring, but natural, food based colors should work well also. Just be careful of anything red on light hair! Red has a tendency to glom on and last longer than you might want.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of gelatin and mix thoroughly. If you do not have the desired consistency, add another 1/4 teaspoon of gelatin at a time until you get there.
Poof! That's it.
Here's Max's picture from this experiment.
Wasn't he a cute little guy?
It should wash out easily, though I've never had a chance to test it. Max's doggy friends chewed all of his out of his do.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Hump Day Treats
Little bit of eye candy to help you through the middle of the week. Everything here is upcycled today.
From Pink Flamingo Crafting.
From the Moab Bag Company.
From Sugar Garnish.
From The Elephant Pink.
Monday, August 12, 2013
If it's good enough for Issey Miyake...
Just a short post today, as it's been a busy one. But good! I sold one of the rugs out of my shop today (hurrah!) and got that shipped out. The second one will be going to a good home as a prize for a Flash Mob prize, and with that, I'll be out of the rug business.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how to try to focus my work (something I am definitely not naturally good at), and getting rid of the rugs is part of that. I've also been trying to build a cohesive look to the fashion items I make and planning a photo shoot and look book. Part of all this thinking and planning has been re-examining the idea of upcycling and looking for ways to make it not just responsible, but drool worthy.
At any rate, I stumbled across this quote from Issey Miyake: "The purpose-- where I start-- is the idea of use. It's not recycling, it's reuse." And that actually clarified things for me a good bit. I don't need to focus on the why of recycling or upcycling. I just need to collect materials that speak to me and happen to also fall in line with my thinking on consumption and recycling. Once I have the materials, it's just a matter of determining their best use. I don't need to bend over backwards trying to find ways to integrate recycling into an overarching collection or theme. I can work from a collection of fabrics and findings that have a few things in common: ethnic accents, rich jewel tones, vintage detailing, great drape. Identifying those things that I love most in my materials will create cohesion in my collection, and let me do it in the most responsible way I can.
And by the way, if you don't know who Issey Miyake is, he's (arguably) one of the most innovative fashion designers around. He did this:
I've been thinking a lot lately about how to try to focus my work (something I am definitely not naturally good at), and getting rid of the rugs is part of that. I've also been trying to build a cohesive look to the fashion items I make and planning a photo shoot and look book. Part of all this thinking and planning has been re-examining the idea of upcycling and looking for ways to make it not just responsible, but drool worthy.
At any rate, I stumbled across this quote from Issey Miyake: "The purpose-- where I start-- is the idea of use. It's not recycling, it's reuse." And that actually clarified things for me a good bit. I don't need to focus on the why of recycling or upcycling. I just need to collect materials that speak to me and happen to also fall in line with my thinking on consumption and recycling. Once I have the materials, it's just a matter of determining their best use. I don't need to bend over backwards trying to find ways to integrate recycling into an overarching collection or theme. I can work from a collection of fabrics and findings that have a few things in common: ethnic accents, rich jewel tones, vintage detailing, great drape. Identifying those things that I love most in my materials will create cohesion in my collection, and let me do it in the most responsible way I can.
And by the way, if you don't know who Issey Miyake is, he's (arguably) one of the most innovative fashion designers around. He did this:
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Life Free of the Phone
I don't have a cell phone.
Well, that's what I usually tell people anyway, because it's too hard for most people to grasp the full story. They get seriously boggled by the fact that I don't have a cell phone permanently attached to my hand and/or ear and just get stuck there. Telling them I don't have a cell phone lets me off the hook on the full explanation and gives them permission to sit there being astounded for however long they need without trying to understand my stance on cell phones in any more detail.
The full truth is this: I have a cell phone and it spends 99% of it's time in my desk drawer. Turned off. By choice. I will very occasionally get it out and turn it on if I'm going to be traveling or perhaps if it's required for fieldwork for school, but that's about it.
Once upon a time we had cell phones and we used them just as much as anyone else. Then I lost my job, and a little after that we got foreclosed. Cell phones went from being a necessity that we just took for granted to a luxury that we couldn't afford.
It was a little strange at first to not have one any more, but I got used to it quickly and came to enjoy it a great deal in just a few weeks. The sense of being always available was gone. If I left my home, I would be out of touch for however long it took me to get my errands run or walk the dog, or whatever else I might be doing. It was freeing to know that my time was my own and that I could focus solely on the task at hand without the extra interruptions a cell phone inevitably provides.
If you have any sort of mindfulness practice, you'll appreciate this quickly. If you don't, giving up your cell phone even for a few hours each week might be a good way to start. We find ourselves pulled in so many directions, with so many distractions all day long, every day. It's stressful and it makes us lose our sense of our true selves. The cell phone is just one way that we choose to be constantly connected to a hundred little demands on our time and attention. At times, for many people, this is absolutely necessary. It is also essential though, that each person have a reprieve, a chance to disconnect from the rest of the world for a bit and recenter. A chance for the stillness inside to reassert itself and bring calm to our lives, without the shrill interruption of a phone.
These days, we keep one prepaid cell phone that we share the use of, as we each need it. It cost us all of I think $10, and about $100 per year to keep it active with more minutes available than we're likely to use. We'll keep it until it just can't be used any more, and then we'll recycle it.
And this leads me to the other thing I've come to realize about cell phones-- really, about technology in general. Gadgets become outdated so fast these days. The technology is just moving forward at a breakneck pace, and while that's thrilling, it's also greatly increasing our consumption and waste. Your cell provider will always be trying to encourage you to buy a new phone at the earliest opportunity. They want your money. But I would urge you to consider if you really need a new phone, or if the one you already have will continue to serve for a year or two more. It's a simple way to reduce our consumption and waste.
Sometimes you will need a new phone, of course. You have options on what you can do with your old phone. If it's not functional, there are a number of large chain stores that offer cell phone recycling bins. I know I've seen them at Best Buy, and some Whole Foods will also offer cell phone recycling. If you do a little internet search for your area, you should be able to find a place to recycle your dead phone pretty easily. There are ways to recycle them that are as simple as printing a free mailing label and tossing it in a mail box. Theaters will also often accept donations of broken electronics as props, and if the value of your device is arguably good enough, you might be able to get a tax write off for the donation. At the very least it will help you get your charitable giving closer to the annual minimum to see tax benefits from it.
Now if you're a technofile, you might just really want a new phone, even though the one you have now is working just fine. I'll resist the urge to wag me finger at you and frown, and instead suggest that you donate your working cell phone to charity. There are a number of organizations for battered women that actively solicit donations of cell phones. Here are a couple:
http://www.ncadv.org/takeaction/DonateaPhone.php
http://aboutus.verizonwireless.com/commitment/community_programs/hopeline/
Also, Volunteer Guide offers a very good outline on what to do to donate your phone and how your phone can help others as a donation: http://www.volunteerguide.org/minutes/service-projects/cell-phone-recycling?gclid=CMzI9om45rgCFbFDMgodXXEAFQ
I'd love to hear from others how you reduce your consumption and waste, or how you simplify your life.
Well, that's what I usually tell people anyway, because it's too hard for most people to grasp the full story. They get seriously boggled by the fact that I don't have a cell phone permanently attached to my hand and/or ear and just get stuck there. Telling them I don't have a cell phone lets me off the hook on the full explanation and gives them permission to sit there being astounded for however long they need without trying to understand my stance on cell phones in any more detail.
The full truth is this: I have a cell phone and it spends 99% of it's time in my desk drawer. Turned off. By choice. I will very occasionally get it out and turn it on if I'm going to be traveling or perhaps if it's required for fieldwork for school, but that's about it.
Once upon a time we had cell phones and we used them just as much as anyone else. Then I lost my job, and a little after that we got foreclosed. Cell phones went from being a necessity that we just took for granted to a luxury that we couldn't afford.
It was a little strange at first to not have one any more, but I got used to it quickly and came to enjoy it a great deal in just a few weeks. The sense of being always available was gone. If I left my home, I would be out of touch for however long it took me to get my errands run or walk the dog, or whatever else I might be doing. It was freeing to know that my time was my own and that I could focus solely on the task at hand without the extra interruptions a cell phone inevitably provides.
If you have any sort of mindfulness practice, you'll appreciate this quickly. If you don't, giving up your cell phone even for a few hours each week might be a good way to start. We find ourselves pulled in so many directions, with so many distractions all day long, every day. It's stressful and it makes us lose our sense of our true selves. The cell phone is just one way that we choose to be constantly connected to a hundred little demands on our time and attention. At times, for many people, this is absolutely necessary. It is also essential though, that each person have a reprieve, a chance to disconnect from the rest of the world for a bit and recenter. A chance for the stillness inside to reassert itself and bring calm to our lives, without the shrill interruption of a phone.
These days, we keep one prepaid cell phone that we share the use of, as we each need it. It cost us all of I think $10, and about $100 per year to keep it active with more minutes available than we're likely to use. We'll keep it until it just can't be used any more, and then we'll recycle it.
And this leads me to the other thing I've come to realize about cell phones-- really, about technology in general. Gadgets become outdated so fast these days. The technology is just moving forward at a breakneck pace, and while that's thrilling, it's also greatly increasing our consumption and waste. Your cell provider will always be trying to encourage you to buy a new phone at the earliest opportunity. They want your money. But I would urge you to consider if you really need a new phone, or if the one you already have will continue to serve for a year or two more. It's a simple way to reduce our consumption and waste.
Sometimes you will need a new phone, of course. You have options on what you can do with your old phone. If it's not functional, there are a number of large chain stores that offer cell phone recycling bins. I know I've seen them at Best Buy, and some Whole Foods will also offer cell phone recycling. If you do a little internet search for your area, you should be able to find a place to recycle your dead phone pretty easily. There are ways to recycle them that are as simple as printing a free mailing label and tossing it in a mail box. Theaters will also often accept donations of broken electronics as props, and if the value of your device is arguably good enough, you might be able to get a tax write off for the donation. At the very least it will help you get your charitable giving closer to the annual minimum to see tax benefits from it.
Now if you're a technofile, you might just really want a new phone, even though the one you have now is working just fine. I'll resist the urge to wag me finger at you and frown, and instead suggest that you donate your working cell phone to charity. There are a number of organizations for battered women that actively solicit donations of cell phones. Here are a couple:
http://www.ncadv.org/takeaction/DonateaPhone.php
http://aboutus.verizonwireless.com/commitment/community_programs/hopeline/
Also, Volunteer Guide offers a very good outline on what to do to donate your phone and how your phone can help others as a donation: http://www.volunteerguide.org/minutes/service-projects/cell-phone-recycling?gclid=CMzI9om45rgCFbFDMgodXXEAFQ
I'd love to hear from others how you reduce your consumption and waste, or how you simplify your life.
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