Freezing Herbs

I had some leftover rosemary from a recipe and before it went bad I decided to freeze it in olive oil. 

All you need to do is put rosemary into empty ice cube trays and cover it with olive oil. Pop the trays into the freezer and wait for them to completely freeze. Pop them out of the ice cube trays and put them in a freezer safe bag for future use in recipes. 
This can be done with any herb you have on hand! 

Super simple. Super frugal. 

DIY Frugal Floor Cleaner

If you're anything like me, you hate spending money on unnecessary things. 

I hate buying floor cleaner. 

I feel like floor cleaner is basically a combination of the other cleaners I already purchase, but in a bottle labelled 'floor' just to get you to buy it.

So, I decided to make my own.

And let me tell you. 

It works wonders. 

Living in an apartment has its perks, but what is the most annoying about our apartment is that the entry way leads right into the kitchen. 

And this is Canada. 

We get a lot of snow. 

So we are constantly tracking in snow, slush, dirt, salt, and who knows what else!

I needed a super cleaner that was going to get the job done the first time.

Ingredients;

4 cups hot water (*if your tap water doesn't get hot enough, boil some or use water directly from the keurig!)

2-3 tablespoons of Dishsoap (I prefer sunlight for this!)

1/2 cup of vinegar 

1/8 cup of baking soda

the juice of 1 lemon

Produce 101

We've all done it. 

Lets be honest. 

There are always produce items that go to waste in our fridges at the end of the week. 

I get so angry at myself when this happens. 

I buy that item for a specific meal, or to have on hand for snacks or sides. 

So why is it going to waste when it had a purpose to be placed in my shopping cart?

I personally can track this careless act of wasting produce down to two separate things.

1. Forgotten Item in Fridge

2. Leftovers never used

One of my 2014 goals is to be more frugal in the items I am purchasing, and to get more out of that particular item. 

Forgotten items in the fridge - there are many ways to make this occurrence less frequent. I have found that the produce that is placed in my crisper drawer gets forgotten about very easily. The drawer is completely opaque and I find that because we can not see into it, we forget what we have put in there. A solution might be to open the drawer more often, but I have always found that out of sight out of mind often happens with me. I recently went to the local dollar store and purchased a large plastic basket that now sits on the fridge shelf with all our produce on it. Now every time we open the fridge we can see all of the produce we have on hand. What do I now do with the crisper drawer? I put extra milk bags, extra condiments, or things I want to hide from J so he doesn't eat it before a particular meal! 

Leftovers Never Used -  There are many produce items that I buy on a regular basis; bananas, apples, oranges, pears, kiwis, etc, where there are certain produce items I may purchase for the use in a particular recipe. After making that recipe there are usually left overs of that item depending on how much the recipe has called for. After pooping the item back into the fridge I find that I often forget about these items and then they are going to waste. What I have started to do over the last few months is either freeze these items for the next recipe it calls for, or finding a new way to use that item. As you've probably already noticed, I think freezing is amazing. It is so easy! All you do is clean the item, pat it dry, throw it in a freezer bag or container, label it and pop it in the freezer for the next time you plan on making that recipe. I have also found that finding new ways and recipes to use items is also a way to reduce waste. For example, if I am making mushroom and spinach fettuccine alfredo that week, I will find other recipes that week to incorporate leftover spinach or mushrooms. By doing this I am getting the most out of the item I possibly can.

Freezing Fruits and Vegetables

 

 

When you grocery shop once a month you have to find ways to make your produce last as long as possible.

Freezing is a great way to do that.

There are certain fruits and vegetables that I have found very convenient to freeze and I wanted to share them with you.

 

 

Carrots, peeled and chopped

Bell Peppers, washed and chopped

Green Onions, washed and chopped

Asparagus, washed and ends snapped off

Zucchini, washed and chopped

Snap Peas, washed and ends cut off

Green Beans, washed and ends cut off

Broccoli, washed and chopped

Brussel Sprouts, washed and cut

Celery, washed and chopped

 

 

 

Raspberries, washed and patted dry

Strawberries, washed and patted dry (whole or sliced)

Blueberries, washed and patted dry

Blackberries, washed and patted dry

Grapes, washed and pulled off vine

Bananas, just as they are (perfect for using in banana bread)

 

 

 

I highly reccommend using freezer bags for this to prevent freezer burn from ruining your produce.

I also recommend washing, peeling, chopping and doing anything else your produce needs before you freeze it. If you take the time to prepare the items before you throw them in the freezer it will save time later on.

It is very convenient to open a bag of sliced frozen carrots, grab a scoop and throw it in with the meal I am preparing.

It seriously cuts down on prep time for meals.

The day I come home from shopping I place all the produce items that need to be cleaned and froze onto the counter while I put away the rest of my items. I then crank some tunes and get to work.

I will also chop soft produce that can't be put in the freezer at this time; lettuce, cucumber, herbs, spinach, etc. I will also leave out some carrots, peppers, and a portion of fruits for snacking on.

 

Freezing your produce will ensure that you will have fresh vegetable and fruits all month long.

Even if you aren't up for freezing everything, try freezing a couple things and see how it goes for you and your family.

 

 

 

 

 



Cleaning Caddy How To

With one of my new years resolutions, to be on top of the household cleaning, starting these past few days, I found it very beneficial to create a cleaning caddy.

The purpose of this caddy was to have all the items that I use in every room of the house in one easy place so I can just grab it and go. 

It is very easy and a great way to keep myself motivated in completing my cleaning fast. 

This is the end result of my caddy. 

I purchased this caddy months back and it was previously used for different storage, but works very well for these items. 

This caddy was bought from Giant Tiger for $3.00. 

I have recently saw similar caddies from Walmart ranging in price from $2.00 - $4.00.

I suggest looking at both Walmart, and Giant Tiger for similar items. 

What's In Your Caddy? 

• Sponges 
• Rags 
• Roll Of Paper Towels 
• Trash Bags (Small Ones For Small Trash Cans) 
• Plastic Brush 
• All Purpose Cleaner 
• Dry Swiffer Cloths 
• Duster 
• Air Freshener 
• Rubber Gloves (Not Pictured) 

These are all items that I have found I use in majority of the rooms in my house on a regular basis. It was such a pain to cart them around individually from room to room, but now it is super easy and convenient. 

Of course there are other cleaners that I use when cleaning specific rooms, such as toilet bowl cleaner, but I find that items like this are best kept in their specific room. 

I also keep glass and window cleaner under my kitchen sink because the bottle is large and doesn't fit into my caddy. 

 Keep in mind that these caddies can be set up for every families individual needs. There may be some things you add to your caddy and other things that you find you don't use enough to keep in them. Set up your caddy for you. Hey, you are the one doing the cleaning right?!

Creating A Daily Cleaning List

With 2013 already starting, one of my resolutions has been for both of us to keep up on our household chores more regularly. In the past, Mondays were usually my cleaning day. I would spend a good majority of the day doing all my cleaning, and by the end of the day I would be so exhausted. 

After browsing Pinterest and see some pins about daily house cleaning schedules, I decided to create my own to fit the needs of our household. 

Keep in mind that the schedule that works for us, might not work for you. Every family is different and has different needs. I am sharing my schedule to show you how we do it. 

• Dishes 
• Make Beds 
• Put All Laundry Into Hampers 
• Swiffer Floors 
• 10 Minute Speed Clean 3 Times A Day 

• Laundry Day (Slowest Day In Our Apartment Laundry Room) 
• Bathrooms (Shower, Toilet, Sink, Counters, Mirror, Trash, Floors) 

• Bedroom & Spare Room (Dust, Change Sheets, Vacuum, Put Away Any Clothes)

• Kitchen (Change Stove Liners, Wipe Down Counters, SOS sink, Clean Dish Rack, Clean Out Fridge, Mop Floor) 

 

•  Living Room (Dust, Vacuum Floors and Couch)
• Dining Room (Dust, Mop Floor) 

•  Closets (Hangup Any Clothes, Wipe Down Anything, Reorganize if Need Be) 
• Cupboards (Wipe Down Doors and Insides, Reorganize if Need Be) 

•  Grocery Shopping & Run Errands 

•  Windows (Clean all Windows in Apartment) 
• Sort Laundry (Get it Ready For Mondays Laundry Day)

Shopping For The Seasons

I find that knowing what is in season in the produce department when you are out shopping helps you to find good deals on certain things. It also helps with meal planning, because if produce is in season the price will be lower than if it is off season. 

Here is a general guideline I like to follow ; 

December; 

- Sweet Potatoes 

- Mushrooms 

- Broccoli 

- Cauliflower 

- Pears 

- Oranges 

- Grapefruit 

- Tangerines 

- Papayas 

- Pomegranates

January;

- Cabbage 

- Leeks 

- Broccoli 

- Cauliflower 

- Oranges

- Grapfruits

- Tangerines

- Lemons

- Papaya

February;

- Broccoli

- Cauliflower

- Oranges

-Grapefruits 

- Lemons

- Papayas

March;

- Broccoli 

- Lettuce 

- Pineapples

- Mangoes 

April; 

- Zucchini

- Rhubarb 

- Artichokes 

- Asparagus 

- Spring Peas 

- Lettuce 

- Pineapples 

- Mangoes 

May; 

- Okra 

- Zucchini

- Rhubarb 

- Artichokes

- Asparagus 

- Spring Peas

- Broccoli 

- Lettuce 

- Cherries 

- Pineapples

- Apricots 

 

 June; 

- Corn 

- Lettuce 

- Watermelon 

- Strawberries

- Cantaloupe 

- Cherries

- Blueberries 

- Peaches 

- Apricots 

July;

-  Cucumbers 

- Tomatoes 

- Summer Squash 

- Corn 

- Green Beans 

- Lettuce

- Watermelon

- Strawberries

- Cantaloupe

- Blueberries 

- Peaches 

- Apricots 

- Kiwi 

- Raspberries

- Plums 

 

August; 

- Cucumbers 

- Corn

 - Eggplant

- Tomatoes 

- Summer Squash 

- Green Beans 

- Lettuce 

- Watermelon

- Strawberries 

- Cantaloupe

- Blueberries 

- Peaches 

- Apricots 

- Kiwi 

- Raspberries

- Plums 

September;

- Eggplant

- Pumpkins

- Tomatoes

- Spinach 

- Lettuce 

- Grapes 

- Pomegranate 

October; 

- Sweet Potatoes

 - Pumpkins

- Winter Squash

- Broccoli 

- Spinach 

- Cranberries

- Apples

- Pomegranates 

- Grapes 

November; 

- Pumpkins

- Winter Squash 

- Sweet Potatoes 

- Broccoli 

- Mushrooms

- Spinach 

- Cranberries

- Oranges

- Tangerines 

- Pears 

- Pomegranates