We found this adorable bowling set, made from 100% certified organic cotton.The cute pins are like giving your little one a gift of half-dozen new friends!
By MiYim, sold through Amazon.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Bowling Buddies
We found this adorable bowling set, made from 100% certified organic cotton.The cute pins are like giving your little one a gift of half-dozen new friends!
By MiYim, sold through Amazon.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Toy Hazard Recall List
As we approach the holidays, toy shopping may be a big part of your Christmas preparation.
Before diving into the stores, take a look at the list of Toy Hazard Recall, compiled by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Lead paint and choking hazard should be taken very seriously!
Source: cpsc.gov
Before diving into the stores, take a look at the list of Toy Hazard Recall, compiled by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Lead paint and choking hazard should be taken very seriously!
Source: cpsc.gov
Port Wine Gelée
Years ago when we lived in Michigan we went to a dinner party hosted by Peter, a bachelor friend. It's been a while, but what's remained in my memory is the excellence of the meal. Not one of us had a clue our old friend was such a talented chef. We were served a perfectly dressed tossed salad, individual filet mignons, a lovely spoon bread and Port Wine Gelée for dessert. And he did all the cooking, no help. Very impressive. Who knew? After all, he could have taken the easy way out and done his entertaining at a restaurant; most single guys did back then...we were a pretty big group.
Of course I just had to have the spoonbread and gelée recipes. Wasn't easy. Peter didn't want to part with the gelée recipe... turned out it was a very old family recipe, handed down from his grandmother. In the end he relented - I pestered him unmercifully. He had get an OK from his mother and sister too. There are lots of recipes that use port wine, but I've never found one like this.
For some reason it's very much a recipe for the holidays. Special. Festive. Unusual. Light. It seems to me that Christmas would be the ideal time to try this. You have to make it ahead - just whip the cream at the last minute. It serves a lot of people and your biggest problem will be finding a pretty tray on which to unmold it and some lovely fruit for decorating or perhaps even some holly. I used the biggest (unfortunately also the most boring) mold I own. Why I have never purchased a prettier one I can't imagine. I saw several colorful gelées in Gourmet magazine a few years ago made in elegant molds like this one:
A couple times I have cut the recipe in half when I didn't need quite so much. At a guess I would say this recipe easily serves 12-16 people.
Peter's Port Wine Gelée
Ingredients:
5 envelopes Knox gelatin (approximately 12 1/2 teaspoons)
1 1/2 cups cold water
2 lemons, rinds and juice
1 orange, rind and juice
4 cups water
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups sugar
2 cups good quality tawny port wine
2 jiggers whiskey
2 oranges, sections only
4 grapefruit, sections only
1 bunch of any small seedless grapes, halved
1 cup sliced almonds
2 cups whipping cream, whipped and lighly sweetened
candied ginger cut in bits, to taste
Method:
Soften the gelatin in the 1 1/2 cups of cold water for 5 minutes. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Sliver the rinds of the lemons and orange, add to the boiling water along with juices, cinnamon, gelatin mixture and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat, let the mixture steep for 5 minutes. Strain and then add the wine and whiskey. Set this mixture aside to cool to room temperature and then place it in the refrigerator. You want it to begin to get thick. If you add the fruit when it is thin, the fruit will sink to the bottom.
Section the 2 oranges and the 4 grapefruit. Halve the grapes. When the port wine mixture is very thick and syrupy, add the fruit sections, grapes and almonds. Pour into your favorite mold and refrigerate overnight.
Whip the cream, add a little sugar and then dice some candied ginger into the whipped cream. Unmold the gelée, surround it with fruit or holly and serve with the whipped cream.
Of course I just had to have the spoonbread and gelée recipes. Wasn't easy. Peter didn't want to part with the gelée recipe... turned out it was a very old family recipe, handed down from his grandmother. In the end he relented - I pestered him unmercifully. He had get an OK from his mother and sister too. There are lots of recipes that use port wine, but I've never found one like this.
For some reason it's very much a recipe for the holidays. Special. Festive. Unusual. Light. It seems to me that Christmas would be the ideal time to try this. You have to make it ahead - just whip the cream at the last minute. It serves a lot of people and your biggest problem will be finding a pretty tray on which to unmold it and some lovely fruit for decorating or perhaps even some holly. I used the biggest (unfortunately also the most boring) mold I own. Why I have never purchased a prettier one I can't imagine. I saw several colorful gelées in Gourmet magazine a few years ago made in elegant molds like this one:
A couple times I have cut the recipe in half when I didn't need quite so much. At a guess I would say this recipe easily serves 12-16 people.
Peter's Port Wine Gelée
Ingredients:
5 envelopes Knox gelatin (approximately 12 1/2 teaspoons)
1 1/2 cups cold water
2 lemons, rinds and juice
1 orange, rind and juice
4 cups water
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups sugar
2 cups good quality tawny port wine
2 jiggers whiskey
2 oranges, sections only
4 grapefruit, sections only
1 bunch of any small seedless grapes, halved
1 cup sliced almonds
2 cups whipping cream, whipped and lighly sweetened
candied ginger cut in bits, to taste
Method:
Soften the gelatin in the 1 1/2 cups of cold water for 5 minutes. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Sliver the rinds of the lemons and orange, add to the boiling water along with juices, cinnamon, gelatin mixture and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat, let the mixture steep for 5 minutes. Strain and then add the wine and whiskey. Set this mixture aside to cool to room temperature and then place it in the refrigerator. You want it to begin to get thick. If you add the fruit when it is thin, the fruit will sink to the bottom.
Section the 2 oranges and the 4 grapefruit. Halve the grapes. When the port wine mixture is very thick and syrupy, add the fruit sections, grapes and almonds. Pour into your favorite mold and refrigerate overnight.
Whip the cream, add a little sugar and then dice some candied ginger into the whipped cream. Unmold the gelée, surround it with fruit or holly and serve with the whipped cream.
Say It Proudly: I am a Frugalista!
Shopping spree at Macy's? No way. My bag of donations for the CATS Resale Shop. In the bag? A DKNY blazer I once spent more than $100 on. I wish had the money back.
Thrift stores like CATS are a great source for Christmas decorations. I've found everything from 10 cent cards to 25 cent ornaments. Shop also for donated gift items (think candles, beauty products, picture frames).
Adorable blue snow boots for the youngest frugalista in your life from the This-N-That Thrift Shop, 309 Broadway, Hillsdale, NJ, where we donated clothing swap items to.
I love shopping thrift as an environmentalist. "Green" marketed fabrics are typically expensive and it's buyer beware. With bamboo, The Wall Street Journal reported, "To create fabric, it's chopped up and dissolved in toxic solvents—the same process that recycles wood scraps into viscose or rayon. Indeed, bamboo fabric technically is rayon."
What I also love: all the budget bloggers on the web, like My Year Without Spending, Budget Confessions, and The Thrifty Chicks. Michael Stipe says in R.E.M.'s Begin the Begin, "The finest example is you." I wish we had more examples like them about how we can be smarter with our hard-earned money.
It was nice to see photos of a clothing swap in Paris. Check out stylish fashionistas swapping at a "la troc party" on Emily's French Life. C'est super!
Don't ever let anyone put you down for shopping thrift or using what you have. If people want to feel better about their purchases because they spent a large sum of money, let them go right ahead. I'm proud to say I have no credit card debt (never have), I've paid for my vacations to Italy, Mexico, Paris and beyond outright, and I don't panic for my paycheck to arrive.
From a 50 cent bin at a thrift store to high-end consignment shops selling top designer labels, you can find stylish clothes for every income and preference.
I stumbled upon a Revived Attire, a new consignment shop on 321 Broadway in Hillsdale, NJ, and it was filled with my kind of eco-fashion.
I loved the way this chic black evening dress was paired with a Cameo necklace. I didn't try it on. But, hmmm, maybe I should have?
Cute! I love romantic ruffles. I'd pair this with a cardigan, a skinny belt and a black pencil skirt. Done.
I love dresses. Mini, knee-length, long. All good.
For once, I wished my feet were just a tad bigger. These adorable shoes were just $10!
I like to stretch my spring/summer wardrobe into fall/winter. I have plenty of dresses like this. In warmer months, I wear with ballet flats. When the temperature cools, I put a long-sleeved top underneath, and tights and boots.
Over-priced vegan shoes are all over. My 'new' vegan ballet flats: $10!
Even more frugal than consignment shops and thrift stores: the library. In addition to books, DVDs, and music, I pick up all kinds of magazines. I checked out Glamour, where I read about Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson's new album, Break Up. Groovy! My library system owns several copies. I heart the library.
You can hear the influence of Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot. The legendary Bardot, of course: major friend of the animals. Check out the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
Thrift stores like CATS are a great source for Christmas decorations. I've found everything from 10 cent cards to 25 cent ornaments. Shop also for donated gift items (think candles, beauty products, picture frames).
Adorable blue snow boots for the youngest frugalista in your life from the This-N-That Thrift Shop, 309 Broadway, Hillsdale, NJ, where we donated clothing swap items to.
I love shopping thrift as an environmentalist. "Green" marketed fabrics are typically expensive and it's buyer beware. With bamboo, The Wall Street Journal reported, "To create fabric, it's chopped up and dissolved in toxic solvents—the same process that recycles wood scraps into viscose or rayon. Indeed, bamboo fabric technically is rayon."
What I also love: all the budget bloggers on the web, like My Year Without Spending, Budget Confessions, and The Thrifty Chicks. Michael Stipe says in R.E.M.'s Begin the Begin, "The finest example is you." I wish we had more examples like them about how we can be smarter with our hard-earned money.
It was nice to see photos of a clothing swap in Paris. Check out stylish fashionistas swapping at a "la troc party" on Emily's French Life. C'est super!
Don't ever let anyone put you down for shopping thrift or using what you have. If people want to feel better about their purchases because they spent a large sum of money, let them go right ahead. I'm proud to say I have no credit card debt (never have), I've paid for my vacations to Italy, Mexico, Paris and beyond outright, and I don't panic for my paycheck to arrive.
From a 50 cent bin at a thrift store to high-end consignment shops selling top designer labels, you can find stylish clothes for every income and preference.
I stumbled upon a Revived Attire, a new consignment shop on 321 Broadway in Hillsdale, NJ, and it was filled with my kind of eco-fashion.
I loved the way this chic black evening dress was paired with a Cameo necklace. I didn't try it on. But, hmmm, maybe I should have?
Cute! I love romantic ruffles. I'd pair this with a cardigan, a skinny belt and a black pencil skirt. Done.
I love dresses. Mini, knee-length, long. All good.
For once, I wished my feet were just a tad bigger. These adorable shoes were just $10!
I like to stretch my spring/summer wardrobe into fall/winter. I have plenty of dresses like this. In warmer months, I wear with ballet flats. When the temperature cools, I put a long-sleeved top underneath, and tights and boots.
Over-priced vegan shoes are all over. My 'new' vegan ballet flats: $10!
Even more frugal than consignment shops and thrift stores: the library. In addition to books, DVDs, and music, I pick up all kinds of magazines. I checked out Glamour, where I read about Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson's new album, Break Up. Groovy! My library system owns several copies. I heart the library.
You can hear the influence of Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot. The legendary Bardot, of course: major friend of the animals. Check out the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Eco Giveaway! Win a Stylish Patemm Pad
In October we posted a review for Patemm, a smart and practical solution for diaper bags. Our editors and readers loved it so much that we decided to give one away! The lucky winner will receive a Mare pad, a US$70 prize!Its round design allows you to place your little one in any direction. You can store diapers, wipes, and even a set of clothes in the pockets. The Mare print is one of Patemm's top sellers, made of 100% regular cotton and machine-washable.
Become a Fan of Eco.Logical.Mom on Facebook by November 28, 2009, and be entered to WIN this stylish pad!!
Don't miss this incredible opportunity!
Roasted Pumpkin Soup... Delish!
Most of us in the US are stuck with many pounds of pumpkins after Halloween festivities. Not a problem! We came up with this great recipe for pumpkin soup. The whole family is going to love it!Roasted Pumpkin Soup
6 servings
- 1 medium pumpkin (about 4 pounds).
- 1 tablespoon of butter.
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped.
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped.
- 6 cups of chicken stock.
- 3/4 cup of heavy cream.
- 1/4 cup of orange juice.
- Freshly grated nutmeg.
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- 3 tablespoons of chopped parsley.
- 2 tablespoons salted sunflower seeds.
Cut the pumpkin in slices from top to bottom, and place the pieces on an oiled baking sheet. Bake them for about 45 minutes, or until they can be easily skewered.
Remove the seeds with a spoon and discard. Scrape the pulp and reserve. Discard the skin.
Melt butter in a soup pot, add the onion and garlic, stirring occasionally until the onion is soft. Don't let it burn. Add the pumpkin and the stock, and simmer it until the pumpkin falls apart, about 30 minutes. Let it cool.
Puree the soup in batches, using a blender for 2 or 3 minutes, until very smooth. Place it back in the pot, add the orange juice, the cream and the nutmeg. Season it with salt and pepper. Correct the consistency with additional stock or water.
After serving, sprinkle the bowls with chopped parsley and the sunflower seeds.
Pumpkin is a good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.
Pumpkin
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Hold the Butter on My Toast Please, Snoopy
It's almost Thanksgiving!
While not a happy time for vegans, there are reasons to make one feel like a kid again. Waiting for your favorite balloon to come down the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade while on the couch under a blanket with a mug of non-dairy cocoa. In New York City, kids young and old can watch the balloons being blown up the night before. It's simply magical. I'm 34, and still never miss A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Snoopy and Woodstock even cooked a vegetarian feast of pretzels, popcorn and toast, much to the dismay of Peppermint Patty and the gang.
And I love the idea of an entire holiday devoted to giving thanks. Sarah Ban Breathnech, in her book Simple Abundance, encourages us on a path guided by six principles: gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty and joy. In a passage on gratitude, she quotes Melody Beattie, who stated,
"Gratitude...turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Not on my dinner plate this year, turkey. This beauty lives at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Flackback to my visit, and yummy vegan eats. My mouth still waters thinking about the cinnamon French toast.
This year, I also plan to give thanks over a Gentle Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by God's Creatures Ministry. Whatever your religious stripes, you can share a humane meal including Tofurkey, wine and desserts. The dinner takes place next Sunday, November 22nd at 3:00 p.m. in Lakeland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 231 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ. RSVP with a suggested $20 per person donation by November 18th. Learn more.
Not in the area? Find similar events all over the country on Gentle Thanksgiving. Find recipes including Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potatoes, Cornbread Muffins, and Vegan Pumpkin or Squash Pie.
If you're not a vegan or vegetarian, consider just trying to eliminate animal by-products from a recipe when it's possible. When I switched from lacto-ovo vegetarianism to veganism, it was eye-opening how animal products are in everything, when many times they don't need to be.
Here's to gratitude, awareness, great vegan food, and the joy of feeling like a kid again. Oh, my favorite balloon? Snoopy, of course!
While not a happy time for vegans, there are reasons to make one feel like a kid again. Waiting for your favorite balloon to come down the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade while on the couch under a blanket with a mug of non-dairy cocoa. In New York City, kids young and old can watch the balloons being blown up the night before. It's simply magical. I'm 34, and still never miss A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Snoopy and Woodstock even cooked a vegetarian feast of pretzels, popcorn and toast, much to the dismay of Peppermint Patty and the gang.
And I love the idea of an entire holiday devoted to giving thanks. Sarah Ban Breathnech, in her book Simple Abundance, encourages us on a path guided by six principles: gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty and joy. In a passage on gratitude, she quotes Melody Beattie, who stated,
"Gratitude...turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Not on my dinner plate this year, turkey. This beauty lives at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Flackback to my visit, and yummy vegan eats. My mouth still waters thinking about the cinnamon French toast.
This year, I also plan to give thanks over a Gentle Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by God's Creatures Ministry. Whatever your religious stripes, you can share a humane meal including Tofurkey, wine and desserts. The dinner takes place next Sunday, November 22nd at 3:00 p.m. in Lakeland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 231 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ. RSVP with a suggested $20 per person donation by November 18th. Learn more.
Not in the area? Find similar events all over the country on Gentle Thanksgiving. Find recipes including Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potatoes, Cornbread Muffins, and Vegan Pumpkin or Squash Pie.
If you're not a vegan or vegetarian, consider just trying to eliminate animal by-products from a recipe when it's possible. When I switched from lacto-ovo vegetarianism to veganism, it was eye-opening how animal products are in everything, when many times they don't need to be.
Here's to gratitude, awareness, great vegan food, and the joy of feeling like a kid again. Oh, my favorite balloon? Snoopy, of course!
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