Checking BACK In!

It's been brought to my attention four times this week that it has been more than a quick minute since I last blogged. I've had someone ask if I had a blog, 2 friends check in on me to see if I am okay because I have not blogged, and my loud mouth couldn't stop any thought coming from my brain and I splurged on how much I love my laundry detergent to a fellow mom that I am pretty sure thinks I am nuts because I don't have a pause or stop button on my rants, including shameless plugs about this said blog you're stuck reading. So to catch things up we've had company, finals for my husband getting his Masters, a week of play, good news from friends, and 'eh' news from my Dr. I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes and spent most of our week of play desperately trying not to blame myself but now that I've seen x amount of Drs in x amount of days I feel more than confident that this too shall pass! Now to really get into the good stuff.. I've got to get my camera and start uploading pictures but coming up are some yummy recipes I know you will L O V E!

Watermelon Juice

For the longest time I have wanted a juicer so instead of just sitting around pouting I have been putting my mesh strainer to good use! I saw on weelicious there was a watermelon juice post and of course it sounded delish, so I had to attempt it! Ben, my encouraging yet shakes his head at my new adventures honey bunny, went to Trader Joe's to pick up some seedless watermelons for me!

Bowl, Spatula, Mesh Strainer, Container for Juice, Knife, Cutting Board

All you will officially need is a watermelon, a blender, spatula, mesh strainer, container for juice, knife, and cutting board. Ben cut the watermelon and as he did, I noticed it was yellow. We have never had a yellow watermelon so before I decided to go all in on this juice, I had to taste it and sure enough it was just as divine as it's brighter, rosier cousin. So cutting away I went, well Ben first; after Ben halved it, he cut it into quarters for me *because I am pregnant and to call me clumsy would just be polite* then I just cut vertically until I reached the rind then held the piece over the blender and sliced down to knock off all the chunks I had just cut. 

Now it was tricky at 1st to get the batch going. This was just 2 of the 8 quarters and yes I could have cut them smaller but I was just ready for some juice. I added the most minuscule amount of water to get it going and from there it was a breeze. After this 1st batch I used the juice to "water" down my other batches. After the watermelon is pureed and all chunks are blended down you pour your mix through the mesh strainer into the bowl. 

With your spatula work the juice through the strainer and stir just to keep the flesh from sticking to the bottom of the strainer! After a few minutes you'll see your strainer contains just some fleshy paste-like pulp as this picture shows you-->

Now you can place your juice from the bowl into the container of your choice. From here just continue to blend the rest of your watermelon and use the juice to get the blending started! From start to finish it took me about 30 minutes and that included the clean up! Now because I am not one to want to waste a good thing, especially food, I saved the pulp and pureed it some more with the fruits that I was using to make fruit leather with that day as well. It turned out wonderfully and you would have never know I used watermelon pulp in the roll ups! 

It's still juicy meaning I could have worked it more, but I was ready for some juice! 

Here is the official picture of the juice from a medium sized watermelon! It was delicious and nutritious and I can't wait to make more!  

Here are some health benefits of the big H2OMeloN:

• Rich in electrolytes and water content, melons are nature’s gift to beat tropical summer thirst.
• Watermelons are very low in calories (just 30 cal per 100 g) and fats yet very rich source of numerous health promoting phyto-nutrients and anti-oxidants that are essential for optimum health.
• Watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamin-A, which is a powerful natural anti-oxidant. It is essential for vision and immunity. Vitamin-A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin-A is known to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
• It is also rich in anti-oxidant flavonoids like lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants are found to be protective against colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Phyto-chemicals present in watermelon like Lycopene (4532 mcg/100 g) and carotenoids have the ability to help protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen free radicals. Studies have also shown that lycopene protects skin damage from UV rays and from prostate cancer.
• Watermelon fruit is a good source of potassium; Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure; thus offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
• It also contains good amount of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), vitamin-C and manganese. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase.
  
  
  

Wash Yo Bed

I wish I could say I have a nesting thing going on here, but really it's Pinterest!! Today after DIY Detergent Earth and while I am waiting on my fruit leathers to dehydrate I naturally surfed Pinterest. Lately instead of pinning and obsessively checking out boards, I have been going through mine to actually DO some of the fun homemade, natural things I have pinned. Today I washed my mattress. Water-free washing? Yes. I found this website on Pinterest and did everything accordingly! NOW I have lavender scented laundry to fold on a clean mattress that all smells like glorious lavender!! What a day!

DIY Detergent Earth!

This is will be my 2nd batch of homemade laundry detergent aka DIY Detergent Earth! I call it DIY Detergent Earth because it sounds like an important mission and because it is! I did a lot of reading and poking about natural websites and products to find exactly what I thought would work for my family. I never used anything special for Avery except for when I washed her newborn clothes sans tags coming straight off the shelf. I didn't really even think twice about my laundry detergent until I started using vinegar in my fabric softener dispenser instead of dryer sheets (not recyclable or biodegradable). I found this blog from Bonzai aphrodite. I already used baking soda in my laundry for a boost and vinegar so I figured I would give it a shot!

My 1st attempt at making Detergent Earth was a disaster!! I waited too long in between mixing the items and didn't stir like she suggested and ended up with natural concrete. No. Lie. After spending about 10 minutes banging my empty coconut oil bucket on the steps out back the hardened concoction finally started to crack. So what's a girl to do? Try it again, right away. Immediately I began again, mixing and stirring, mixing and stirring, and stirring and mixing. To pass the stirring time I hiked up my pants and sat outside on the steps to soak up some Vitamin D! After I finally saw this goop turn into the 'cake-y' sponge Bonzai Aphrodite wrote of I kept stirring 5 more minutes just to be safe! 

My husband was skeptical but that was almost 3 weeks ago and I am just now making a new batch today. It has lasted several loads, the laundry comes out wonderfully clean and smelling heavenly! There were a couple of loads that my faith in Detergent Earth shuddered so instead of fretting I just added some extra Borax to the water and once again this earth friendly product became mom friendly as well!

As Bonzai's blog states Detergent Earth is literally 5 ingredients! FIVE!!!
Here is her explanation of them (*me):

• White Vinegar – Vinegar is simply acetic acid: diluted, mild, and edible, but acid nonetheless.  As such, it will dissolve dirt, mildew, mineral build-up, and soap scum.  Vinegar is something of a wonder cleanser, and you’ll be seeing a lot more of it around here in the near future.  Available everywhere.  (* I got 4 gallons for 2.99$ at Costco!!)
• Baking Soda – Baking soda is another amazing all-purpose cleaner, but it’s also an excellent deodorizer.  As well, it softens water and helps to maintain neutral pH so that detergent can work more efficiently.  It keeps your colored clothes from fading and also gets whites brighter.  Available everywhere, but check the bulk bins at your local co-op.  (*I did go to Costco and get a 13 lbs bag of Baking Soda for ... 4.99$!) 
• Washing Soda – Baking soda’s kickbutt cousin.  Washing soda is much more alkaline and cuts oils like a pro, so it’s great in the laundry.  It also helps to deodorize, but fighting grease and stains is the primary purpose.  Look for it in the drug store or supermarket, in with the laundry and cleaning supplies.  (*I had to go to three different stores to find this, but now that I know where to get it, the shopping will be easy! Arm & Hammer makes the one I bought and a whole box was 2.99$)
• Borax – Borax is awesome!  It’s a natural stain remover and an excellent alternative to bleach, because it’s an anti-fungal/anti-mold and all-around disinfectant.  Coupled with regular soap, it greatly increases cleaning power. Look for it in the drug store or supermarket, in with the laundry and cleaning supplies.  (*Found this in the regular laundry isle at SaveMart)
• Castile Soap – ‘Castile’ isn’t a brand, but a type of soap: one that is made using only vegetable oils (as opposed to most soaps which render from animal fat).  So not only is it vegan and cruelty-free, but it’s much easier on the environment as well.  Castile soap is a superior gentle cleanser, and quickly biodegrades.  I use Dr. Bronner’s lavender scented soap, and I absolutely adore it.  Available at most ‘natural’ stores, and many Trader Joe’s. (*I was lucky enough to actually HAVE the same soap she did so I used Dr. Bronner's Lavender soap as well!) 

Here is a picture of everything but the castile soap. I use an empty coconut 

oil bucket to mix and store my Detergent Earth!

Recipe:

1 1/4 cups white vinegar

1 cup baking soda

1 cup washing soda

1 cup borax

1/4 cup liquid castile soap

Mix in a large, non-metal bowl. I re-used (and decorated!) my previous soap tub, which worked great.  Start with the vinegar and continuously stir as you add each powder.  Try to stir out and break up any clumps.  Finish with the liquid soap.  It will seem wet, like a thick paste, but keep stirring and it will begin to flake and crumble into a moist ‘powdered detergent’.  KEEP STIRRING! If you quit too early, you’ll find a very hard mass the next time you go to use it. So use them biceps and stir it to completion. You’ll end up with a sort of soft clumpy cake-y ‘loaf’, that will easily crumble off for use.

If you use plain non-scented castile soap, you may add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Store in a lidded container and use about 1/4 cup per load.

(* Because the overwhelming power of Lavender has consumed and calmed me this whole pregnancy I added MORE Lavender scent to it with 100% Lavender Essential Oil!!) 


I also grabbed some eco-friendly natural fabric softener with lavender  essential oil in it to put in my fabric softener dispenser since the laundry detergent has vinegar in it. I truly have loved making and using my own detergent and highly recommend it to anyone looking to not only save some money in the end, but also do a little part in making this planet safer for your family and each other! I just recently discovered a new idea via Pinterest where you make your own long lasting dryer sheet! You soak a towel (like a baby burp cloth) in your favorite fabric softener, let it dry, then use it for up to 40 loads of drying clothes! Because we still have babies and baby clothes everywhere I know I would have to personalize the dryer towel so we wouldn't put it up. That adventure is a step that I am comfortable holding off of because I am truly happy with the results I have seen in the past 3 weeks! Now if my husband wants the ritual of the dryer sheet then that's a whole other post...

fast food = happy mommy

Hello you, blogger world. I have been frantically trying to figure out how to merge my blogger to my new email address and it's pretty much impossible and I am not savvy enough to do it, I'll just wait until someone graciously does it for me, or just have 3 email address... forever. Either way for all you the gals (&gent) that like the recipes I have quiet a few headed your way, so please be patient! I have broken out a dehydrator and started practicing with that and have been trying to craft and stimulate my growing toddler thanks to my new pinterest obsession! If you don't know what this is, click this link --> pinterest Literally it's the best place to keep an online "portfolio" of diy, wish i was there's, kid ideas, furniture loves, and pretty much well, whatever you want! Recipes, Ideas, Hacks.. it's all there! For my only trick today I will be giving you the most simplistic dinner trick I have besides crackers and cheese... Instant Stir Fry!

I usually buy a couple of frozen bags of organic brown rice from Trader Joe's, but most grocery stores have this! This is a quick and easy add to lots of meals, but when paired with steamable frozen organic veggies or even quick steamed of whatever you have in the fridge. A splash of fish sauce, tamari or soy sauce, maybe a pinch of garlic and boom. Veggie stir fry in less than 10 mins. This is a quick make if you have leftover meat you need to get rid of but there isn't enough for a full meal, or even a Smörgåsbord of vegetable leftovers from dinners throughout the week. Random as all this sounds, it works and it's good. You can always purchase some frozen edamame and have an appetizer too ( I add them into our stir fry's)! Stir fry to me is a blank canvas starting with brown rice, do what you want and have fun with it! Try something new every week! This is the only picture I remembered to take since it was so quick and we all were ready to eat!

Veggie Chili for the cold days of Monterey!

I am terrible sorry that it's 98-115 degrees back home, but to tell you the truth it's always a bit chilly here in our lovely coastal town of Monterey, CA which is why we get to eat chili year round! It's nomnominess is so versatile I could write out 7 recipes now and probably not stop there however today I am feeling a quick and easy meal with some good ole sweet corn bread :) see it even made you smile.

Ingredients for 6 servings (leftovers are best yummy!)
1 medium onion,chop to your preference
4 gloves of garlic, pressed or minced
2 medium carrots or 4 small carrots, chopped to preference (we just slice them or dice them)
2-4 medium tomatoes depending on how much you like tomatoes
30 oz bag of precooked black beans (lower sodium if you cook them right) or 2 15oz cans of organic low     sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
A pinch of cayenne pepper, chili powder, or chili seasoning (*most seasonings are sodium venus fly traps so reading labels iS KEY!) I use the cayenne pepper and chili powder together and a dash of smoked paprika
1 tbsp fresh or freeze dried organic parsley, chopped

Sauté onions and garlic in 1 tbsp of EVOO or Grapeseed Oil on medium heat just until you can smell the garlic. Then add carrots, tomatoes, beans, parsley, and then season with a few pinches of spices. Cook on medium for 15-25 minutes until carrots are tender and EAT!

THIS simple recipe is super quick and chunky and can be eaten with cornbread, on rustic hearty bread or on top of Quinoa or a Potato, Idaho or Sweet!! YUM!


Health facts of Quinoa via Whole Foods: Not only is quinoa high in protein, but the protein it supplies is complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. Not only is quinoa's amino acid profile well balanced, making it a good choice for vegans concerned about adequate protein intake, but quinoa is especially well-endowed with the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair. In addition to protein, quinoa features a host of other health-building nutrients. Because quinoa is a very good source of manganese as well as a good source of magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus, this "grain" may be especially valuable for persons with migraine headaches, diabetes and atherosclerosis.

healthier mashed potflowers/caulitoes

Forgive the amateur photos but you'll be able to tell when my camera/phone got an upgrade in upcoming posts. I found this idea about a year ago & have modified it SEVERAL ways (see I use uppercase when needed ). These pictures are currently the Feta Mashed Potatoes. Sometimes I change up the cheeses or add chopped turkey bacon via Trader Joe's (no additives or preservatives!) but the feta ones are our favorite because we do not add salt except from the feta & milk. Mrs. Dash and other salt free seasonings like Trader Joe's 21 seasonings are what we use to give it any extra 'ummph' if needed!

step 1. Make dinner plans. if you decide mashed potatoes is what you want, try this hidden veggie trick!

step 2. Use fresh or frozen, preferably local & organic, cauliflower (as much or as little as you want) and boil with  potatoes (as much or as little as you want) until all are tender. Here I used water, but since these were taken I use low sodium chicken broth to boil them in for a little extra nomnomnommmm :)

step 3. use fresh garlic & chop or mince or grate to your families desired texture

step 4: Add feta, seasonings, pepper, garlic, & organic milk (as desired). Here I made a hearty side with organic turkey bacon from Trader Joe's & it was served with Broiled Talapia & fresh green beans & salad! (so that's actually 3 veggies, a starch, and 2 proteins!,right?)

step 5. Using a potato masher or food processor, once again, COMPLETELY based on what your family eats, mash or blend to consistency and voilà a hidden veggie in a delish side dish! 

Health Fact: Cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates and thiocyanates which increase the activity of enzymes that eliminate carcinogens and decrease the activity of enzymes that activate cancer-causing agents. This makes cauliflower a great cancer-fighting food!

I also have this AMAZING baked version I found on Spark Recipes.. of course I'll the link! I've made it twice and once with a little extra paprika for a kick! Don't forget try to use your logic of how to make it healthier! I use organic cream cheese and depending on which brand has the lowest sodium & fat, etc.. I use that one. I also try to get fresh cheeses not pre-shredded & if I'm really feeling spunky a little Greek Yogurt Plain on top (tastes JUST like sour cream but SO MUCH BETTER FOR YOU!) 

Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=727515

because I'm lazy, a link to SOME healthy benefits of Greek Yogurt (now I use GY in replacement of sour cream. If you take a big bite thinking it's like regular yogurt you're going to be sadly disappointed! If you're interested in GY for a permanent switch we eat Chobani's flavors with low, natural sugars!) http://www.livestrong.com/article/86488-benefits-greek-yogurt/

Hope this inspires some GREAT dinners to go with a hidden veggie trick or a cheesy mash! 

long time no see, blog, log in or even care.

so hello me. the only one who really needs this blog. i got a new email, forgot this log in, & just spent 30 mins trying to remember it because yes. i really do have crapola i'd love to share, just never do. unless you're the handful of folks i send emails to! all this being said...the more i read other people's blogs and the more i keep my hidden posts on the blackboard in my head then i erase when i realize i forgot what i wanted to share and start all over with a blank slate. literally.

since my last log in, 10 months ago, i've gone home to tx to visit family, twice. i've gotten involved with a parents place playschool and gotten pregnant. i am currently 22 weeks and counting...the answer to my question of how i forgot my password. being this dumbfounded all the time makes me wonder how the duggard mother of 19 can survive let alone remember all her kids names. i know there were lots of things i had on my plate to discuss over the past few months but let's just start with that clean blank slate i was talking about... to be continued next, more delicious post!

jah people! dance!

yep, already on post #2. so excited & this feeling isn't worth fighting! so i'll elaborate more later, but i have been on a journey recently partaking not only with cosmic fish, but also with my celestial body! i have been educating and researching and growing on how to not just eat healthy or lose weight but to completely go jillian micheals on my assumption and consumption of foods. with my 47 days of bed rest i started reading it all. i was a dry sponge lapping in the tides of empowerment. it felt to good to wet my tongue of such knowledge of food & what society has become because of processed, salt lusted, sugar encrusted poo. since i began this 'recovery' of not just having a child, but also having a terribly difficult pregnancy, i still battle small things, hypertension per preeclampsia being one of them, however in my endeavor to be the "woman i've always wanted to be" i've come to learn patience in editing lifestyle. it is a process. it takes time. i recently went 0-90 starting a workout my body was not ready for. too bad, so sad. but now i have set out my 2 weeks of healing & now i am ready to patiently and tediously figure out a plan that will surely get me where i am going. have no fear my tubby little rear, you will see the light of low rise jeans again!

cherry pie goodness

So this is it. It's official. I am blogging! I've talked about it for a year now. I completely have enough material in notebooks & cookbooks to stay busy, let alone the crap that flies from ever running mouth & mind, yet it is kind of freaky? Freaky is not the word. Whimsical? Indifferently Whimsical. That's it. I am new bud amongst a raging forest of bloggers and just figuring out what template is almost stressful enough to just keep sending my select email group recipes && ideas (I like the && it's fun so get used to it... it is not "and" "and", just "and"). I seriously don't care if anyone even pays attention; it's just exciting to put it down. Get it out. Whatever IT is, it's coming out :)


I promise to stray from politics, unless it is college football, & if you decide to follow along there will probably be no logic, no pattern, and no rhythm; all like me except for the rhythm. So I guess for my first trick, I'll introduce the family! I married the sexiest smartest man & he didn't do so shabby I may say! We have one baby girl, Avery Lillian, who is 9 months old & growing faster than I am ready for. We are the Cantu's & the running joke is WE CAN DO IT! WE'RE CANTUS! Or I CANTU! Yes we are as dorkish as we sound but fahgataboutit. Welcome to my blog about the House of Cantu! CHEERS!

2010 Crawfish Fest Memphis, TN