Three Days of Organizational Bliss

You know your middle name is Martha when you lay out your plans for the next 72 hours and instead of planning a quick get-away you think, "I could clean all of the closets and go through those boxes." It may not be life changing, but it will be nice to start 2011 with some refreshing of the organization around here.

Mind you, I didn't wake up early to start this endeavor (there has to be some easing into the day, no need to rush). However, I now have what may be the cleanest fridge we've ever had and I even pulled it out and scrubbed the floor behind it. Yikes.

Off to the closets. Watch out Goodwill/Library/Recycling/Trash there's like to be something headed your way. Should you need any new reading material or miscellaneous kitchen items, just call, I am likely to have something to fit the bill.

Lacking Motivat...

Seriously, after demonstrating hyper productivity to prep and execute the holiday celebrations of the past weekend, I've hit a rut. Sure, I could lament some of the week being hijacked by actual work, work, but really let's be honest. I'm the picture of inertia at the moment. The boxes and paperwork are not going to sort themselves. I'd rather blog about a lack of productivity than say, be productive. With any luck, I will rediscover my sorting mojo and the house will enter 2011 clutter free.

These Teeth Were Made for Walking

Happily after my dedicated six month routine of flossing daily and more focused tooth brushing I have returned from the dentist cavity free. I'm sure cutting down on sugary drinks and general bad for you and your teeth stuff didn't hurt either.

However, my enthusiasm for no fillings is tempered by the fact that I'm breaking up with my dentist. No longer will the proximity to my office hold me hostage. For three years I've felt odd every time I sat in the chair. Perhaps I was spoiled by the brilliant dentists at the UMKC dental school we went to for three years. Perhaps it's the dentist we went to in Alexandria for more nearly eight years before we moved.

Hustling your patients to add on additional procedures, changing your answers when questioned and having no regard for their insurance coverage is not a way to keep patients/clients. This is a customer service business as much as retail or any other service-tied industry. If I don't trust you or don't like how I feel after interacting with you-- I'm not going to come back.

Mindful living means eliminating unnecessary negative experiences. So adieu dentist. I'll be taking my teeth and dental coverage elsewhere.

Beating Up Breakfast

Mornings and I are not friends. This is a long standing feud. Rare is the day that I don't feel like the sun rudely barged in on my pleasant night's sleep. Subsequently, my morning routine is anything but leisurely. Start to finish it's a 45 minute brisk rush.

Weekday breakfast as a result has been a long suffering step-meal. More days than not, I've skipped the "most important meal of the day." Often, when I toss something in my bag and eat it early in the day, I end up complaining that I'm hungry way before lunch. Whiny McWhine.

So, my recent meal planning has expanded to include more than just things DH will eat for breakfast, but items I am actually going to consume. I feel like I'm going into a fight with breakfast and it's going to give me a black eye and maybe a broken nose, but I'm going in swinging anyway. 

The first step has been the versatile apple. Also making an appearance are raspberries (when on sale), and clementines. I'm trying to steer clear of the nutrigrain bar, oats n' honey nature valley granola bar line of thinking because I've been down that road a lot and it never sticks. So, instant oatmeal has been purchased with the idea that I can eat it at home or work and dress it up a bit with the apple bits and raisins (a la MickeyD's but healthier).

Other quick morning breakfast options welcome, but let's be honest it involves cooking something on the stove in the AM, it's not happening.

Barefoot Brilliance

Start to finish dinner on the table in 45 minutes. Two new Barefoot Contessa recipes tried and devoured.  The pine nut couscous makes a lot, so I would half it or be prepared to have it for several days. For a veggie, I just chopped up green zucchini and cooked it with a little olive oil.

Of course, I packed up leftovers for lunch tomorrow before it occurred to me to take a picture. Trust me, it even looks good. An easy to impress the company kind of recipe. 

Barefoot Contessa Panko-Crusted Salmon (from her new book How Easy Is That?)

2/3 cup panko bread crumbs

2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
1 tsp grated lemon zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp good olive oil
4 (6–8 oz) salmon fillets, skin on
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
Lemon wedges for serving

Preheat oven to 425°F.

In a small bowl, mix together panko, parsley, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and stir until crumbs are evenly coated. Set aside.

Place salmon fillets, skin-side-down, on a board. Generously brush tops of fillets with Dijon mustard and then sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Press panko mixture thickly on top of the mustard on each salmon fillet.

Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or large, heavy, ovenproof pan. When oil is very hot, add salmon fillets, skin-side-down, and sear for 3 to 4 minutes, without turning, to brown the skin.

Transfer pan to hot oven for 5 to 7 minutes until salmon is almost cooked and panko is browned. Remove from oven, cover with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

Things Unsaid

You know the drive you have home after you've gone to visit family? The inevitable recap of the good, the crazy and the infuriating moments of the trip. Ritualistic therapy we all engage in, whether it lasts 15 minutes or 3 hours. A lot passes between spouses and siblings that you wouldn't dream of saying out loud to others and certainly not in mixed company. It's a relief, it makes us feel safe, it builds trust. After the venting we go on, no malice intended, no ill will meant.

The holidays are prime time for gathering together and letting many things go unsaid. Even I find myself tongue-tied in an effort to be polite. Perhaps it is an inevitable cycle that is we perpetuate through inertia of thought. Perhaps it's for the best.

I'm not proposing we go on a mass sharing bender this holiday season, offending your family left and right, but perhaps we could all be a little more adult. Stopping making excuses for those who are perfectly capable of being spoken to directly. Stop living in fear that saying what you truthfully feel out loud will cause the tides to flow in the opposite direction.

Maybe it's something uncomfortable, but maybe it's joyful.

One Less Gift

After the multi-month purge of our unused, not needed household belongings I thought for sure we'd be in good shape for the holidays. Yet as I scurried about the house the other night picking up the obscene amount of paper we seem to pile up week-to-week I looked around and suddenly saw at least 100 more things we don't need. Why is that one drawer still so full? Oh right, because I have a dozen versions of a spatula shoved in there.

The poor sagging bookshelves that are way past their prime, weighed down by books that we have no intention of reading again and frankly don't even pass the "hey they are smart, look at the books they have" test that we all pretend we don't do, but totally do.

I have two silver plated beverage buckets that are great for holding beverages at a party for 30. They've been in a box for going on five years now. So either I need to throw more parties or perhaps their peak usage during our 20s has past.

How is it that when I finished my last trip to Goodwill in September, I thought I had checked every corner, given away anything that wasn't necessary. Suddenly, my house once again seems overrun, full of the Crate & Barrel empire I thought I had at least thinned.

This was top of mind when we were asked about Christmas lists. For the first time, we can really say, we don't "need" anything. Seriously, enough with the stuff. We love you and we're sure it (whatever it is) is lovely, but really we'd rather just see you and not have one more thing to dust. Or as DH wisely said, add it to our down payment fund.

I've also been struck by how much we focus on filling up our trees and stockings with gifts for the pleasure of watching each other open them. Even if we know half the items will be abandoned or broken within the next year, we want to make sure we "buy enough."

So here's an idea. What if we each put one beautifully wrapped box under the tree that represented the gift not given to each other. Instead of buying one more toy or pair of cashmere socks, we instead donate that value, whether it's $5 or $100, to a family in need or charity that serves them in your local area. That box could be opened and used as a moment to remember how lucky we all are to have a tree and stockings to open on Christmas morning. Maybe it becomes an annual tradition and you can recall together who the box helped each year.

If we can spend the energy moving an elf from shelf to shelf for an entire month, the effort required to do a little less and help someone a little more is surely worthwhile.

P.S. My brilliant friend Danielle is tackling this same idea through her very cool project TooMuchToDo.

More On the Floor

After the last post on the frustrations of floor cleaning peaked an interesting discussion, I've been looking for a better solution. I still don't have a good definitive answer, but I am working through the suggestions in this book.

What I appreciate about this handy reference guide is it's practical and yet slightly neurotic. They suggest using murphy's soap up to twice a year year mixed with water to keep up the condition of the floor, with a good old fashioned hand washing. Argh, I just can't escape scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees.

But, more interestingly, they propose that any mild soap (sans any bleaching agent) mixed with water is likely the best weekly cleaner for your hardwood, whether real or laminate.

So, I'm working my way through the various options I already have on hand. Right now the Seventh Generation liquid dish soap is up. I'm still using just elbow grease as I haven't found a good mop I like, but the rubbermaid remains a contender. Anyone else had any further luck?

Welcome Winter

Dear Mother Nature,

We really loved the snow this last year. 

Let's go for just enough this season, okay?

P.S. Love your work.

Reframing Microfinance

If you give only what you do not need, it's not giving.

Harumph. This is an uncomfortable idea. One that may be easily dismissed, but caused me to sit bolt up right and grab a pen to write it down. Striving to consume less requires a prioritization of purchases, commitments and giving. Considering what you give to potentially be of limited consequence is not so pleasant.

I've been examining our spending and consumption habits to-date from a save more, consume less point of view. What if the whole point is to save more, give more?

Realistically, I'm going to reach a point where we've run out of books to give to the library; clothes and items to donate to Goodwill; dress clothes to give Dress for Success; unused pantry items for the food drive. These are all things we do not need. Sure we are giving it and others will benefit from it, but the greater sentiment is not moot.

What if the point is reframing our point-of-reference even further?

There's the much repeated story by various members of the Kennedy family about having cereal for dinner one night a week so that the money they would have spent on dinner could be given to charity. A similar sentiment was shared this past week, when our minister Charlie Parker remarked in his sermon, wouldn't it be great if we had to tell our kids, our families, we can't do this or that because we choose instead to give to the church?

Giving does not need to be framed in the context of Christianity or any other belief system for that matter to be meaningful or directed. It need only be authentic, purposeful, life changing.

And I guess that's it. What does that mean for us? How does giving to a cause factor into actual budgeting? After the mortgage, expenses, saving for the college fund, paying off the college loans, and saving for retirement...where's the line item for investing in change? On our own micro, maybe nano level.

Microfinancing isn't something we can do only for Africa. Microfinancing is what we should be doing with our own budgets. We could each be investing in the local, national, and international causes we believe in with the same discipline we pay our bills. That's meaningful, that would be amazing.

Open Table

In college we held a weekly dinner. Unstructured and largely unplanned, we'd stretch a dinner to feed 15 or other weeks just 5 or 6. I can't even remember why we started, but I do remember the friends, the laughter, and that there always seemed to be enough.

When we first got married we had a few friends over for dinner almost every single week the first year. It was a great excuse for trying out all the kitchen gadgets and serving platters from our generous friends and family. I can't remember what we served, but I can recall many of the faces that came to our tiny apartment.

We've shared Thanksgiving and Easter with dear friends and occasionally with others we barely knew. For several holidays my brilliant chef-talented friend Alicia and I would create elaborate plans for the menu; and yet it is the wine and tasty roasted rosemary nuts that we consumed while laughing late into the night that I remember most.

Growing up my mother always espoused an open table at the holidays. Friends from college stranded far from home were always welcome. Friends close by were always over the second their own gatherings were done. There was always enough.

We've gotten busier, our dinner party habits have been broken. We still share our table from time to time, but the invitation doesn't reach as far as it used to and the faces aren't as varied. In the spirit of convenience, we have narrowed our circle rather than widen it further. Traded conversation for Real Housewives; homemade for home quick.

There are plenty of reasoned excuses to not make an open table a part of lives. But it strikes me as significant void being formed instead of filled. It doesn't have to be scheduled with the frequency and consistency of an after school special, but I believe inviting friends near and far, known and unknown to the table is the making of a life well lived.

Commitment Issues

Travel is a part of our lives. Well, for at least half of us. Here is the conundrum. When one of you flies to far flung places for a living and the other stays put, where do you vacation?

Add to that your new found obsession with frugal and it creates perpetual list of  "well what about..." There are days I want to climb on top of a metaphorical chimney and shout "why don't we just go already? We're freaking kid free let's travel!" This is usually fueled by some sort of discussion that involved me saying, yet again, something about my new passport not yet having stamps. So classy. So thoughtful.

We've been to some great places, but with our new found responsible financial behavior, we're much more reluctant to just book a flight and go. I'm afraid we have vacation commitment issues.

First, we talked about taking out this nice girl Paris. Spend 10 days with her, rent an apartment, take advantage of great flights from Air France, shop the phenomenal January sales, see Versailles with snow, ooo la la.

Then we talked to a more outdoorsy chick Lake Placid. She has a killer lodge. Smores, roaring fires, hiking, down comforters, venison steak. Yum.

We flirted with the seductive Morocco. Oasis, sand dunes, history, the fez. Oh so spicy, but best enjoyed allegedly with a tour guide. We didn't want a chaperone.

There's always the venerable weekend trip, the one night stand of vacation relationships. We thought about picking up a few of those. New York, Charlottesville, Chicago, etc.

We've trolled jetsetter.com like it's going out of style. I discovered wanderfly.com and thought, yes! And then the ol' commitment issues crept back.

So outside the obvious (family obligated trips), how do you settle on where to travel and when?

Giving More By Giving Less

Presents piled high under the tree has long equaled a joyous, smile-filled Christmas morning. I too enjoyed plastic toy ladden holidays (I had a serious My Little Pony collection) and have had great fun being a part of holidays where kids and adults have received big gifts they didn't expect.

What if we restructured our giving and receiving expectations? Sure you could use the down economy or the handmade pledge as motivation, but dig a little deeper.

We start traditions in our own families based on what we experienced or wished we experienced as kids. So, why not start a tradition of less? Our children, friends, and family are not permanently hardwired to have to receive a certain number of gifts or a large scale item every year. Why does a dollar value have to equate to affection during the holidays?

And for the products we do purchase, why not consider leaving on the shelves the ones that have too much packaging. Manufacturers won't shrink their packaging and wasteful habits unless consumers vote with their dollars.

This year I'm continuing to make an effort at thoughtful gifts, so I thought I'd share a few shops and ideas that I love in hopes that others might be inspired to find just the right gift rather than a lot of so-so gifts to go under the tree or for eight crazy nights.

Paloma's Nest- Absolutely gorgeous ceramic work that can be custom made.

Belle & Boo- Great illustrator out of the UK with my absolute favorite images of late.

Nudo- Adopt an olive tree in Italy for a year and receive the olive oil it creates in return.

A Bushel and a Peck- Vintage bits used to make fab brooches (place a custom request for each).

Adagio Teas- Create a custom blend and gorgeous label for the tea drinker who has every flavor.

Matthew Stewart- Hand blown glass birds that you can custom order in just about any color.

Locality- these custom signs are awesome, a bit pricey, but so perfect for a special gift

Pennies for Peace- If you've heard of Three Cups of Tea (the book), this is part of the real organization.

Blurb- the best site for making photo books, and they have gift certificates.

And of course books. My favorites for kids this year include The Giant Jam Sandwich, Zen Shorts, The Pet Dragon (paired with a cool Buddha board), "Stand Back!" said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze", and Is Your Mama a Llama?

What do you love this season?

Fine Print

I have not read every word of the financial reforms that have passed Congress. I have also not read every word of every agreement ever mailed to me by a bank, credit card company or student loan department. I'm also not blindly obligating myself (to my knowledge) to any scams from a Nigerian king or bank or any other exploitative effort.

I would however still consider myself a fairly attentive consumer. I have read every term of every lease I've ever signed for an apartment. I do check to make sure there isn't anything glaringly wrong. I do read anything that requires my signature very carefully.

So when I recently went in search of a high-yield saving account I did my homework. I checked out multiple sites, I reviewed bankrate.com to see what their rates were holding at after the promotional terms end. I checked for hidden fees, easy access to money, ability to transfer between banks, etc. This was a multi-month process because I didn't want to commit and then have "deposit remorse" that I could be making more interest somewhere else.

This search ended with the opening of a high yield account with Capital One. Their 1.35% interest rate (I know, get excited) was far more stable and was higher than others on the market. I had long considered ING to be the right option for a liquid account, but their 1.1% and the continued decline of that rate took them out of contention. I looked at Sallie Mae, our own credit union, Ally, etc.

Cutting to the chase.They actively promote that funds transferred between external accounts and Capital One accounts will be available within 3-4 business days of the transfer. Sure fine. Technically I don't even need access right now, it's an emergency fund. It's principle people (wow, this soapbox is getting long tall).

Here's the fine print. On a separate website, in a separate section, three clicks down there's this language:

During the first 30 days following initial account funding, funds deposited into your account will be held for ten business days (available to you on the eleventh business day) after the day we receive and process the deposit.

For accounts opened and funded older than 30 days, funds deposited into your account will be held for five business days (available to you on the sixth business day) after the day we receive and process the deposit.

I only know this because I had to specifically ask why money I could see was deposited was not "available." Here is where as a marketer I cringe. They are using the word "post" in their ads, not "available." Thanks for the lesson in nuance banking world.

I read every word of what you sent me to sign and this was not in it. I'm guessing this was somehow referenced in a cloaked manner for me to deduce, but wow way to bury the fine print in a new and creative way.

So no, I don't have "deposit remorse", but I am irked as a consumer that the new "clear and easy terms" that we're supposed to be enjoying still aren't happening.

Roasty Toasty

Roast vegetables form a gloriously delicious bridge between grill season and winter's embrace. We happily crank up our ovens as the evenings get chilly, filling our homes with scents of the season and tastes we crave.

The unassuming butternut squash transforms after spending an hour at 325 degrees accompanied by an onion and a few heads of garlic (and a few brutal moments with a stick blender). Yes, butternut squash soup is a standard in the fall repertoire, but it's a satisfyingly quick soup that covers at least a few meals and is even better when reheated.

Here's the cream free option that I keep tweaking each time I make it. Easily doubled, but frankly I just make it again rather than stock up. It makes the house smell so yummy.

1 large butternut squash
1 large-ish onion (yellow or whatever is in the fridge)
3-4 cloves of garlic (this really mellows when you roast it, so if you want it more pronounced add more)
Olive oil or oil of choice
pinch of salt and pepper to taste
3-4 cups of vegetable broth
1 tbs fresh grated ginger

Preheat over to 325 degrees.
Cut squash in half, clean out seeds and goo (I use my melon baller for this).
Chop onion into very large slice/chunks and peel garlic cloves.
Place squash cut sides down onto baking sheet and sprinkle onions and garlic around the halves.
Roast 30 minutes. After 30 minutes I check the onions and typically sprinkle a little olive oil on them to keep them roasting down and not drying out. (or you can toss then in olive oil to start, works the same). Roast another 30 minutes (or if pre-oiled, just go 60 minutes).

Pull out, let cool a little bit or if you have hearty fingers dive right into scooping out squash into soup pot. Blend squash, onions and garlic with stick blender in pot, adding a touch of vegetable broth slowly until consistency you think you want (I prefer slightly thicker). Add in ginger and s/p to taste.

Allow soup to cook on medium to medium low for around 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Eat.

Garnish options:
-Dollop of sour cream or yogurt
-Cinnamon, nutmeg or cayenne pepper
-Ginger butter (brown 4 tbs of butter, add in fresh grated ginger)
-Bits of candied ginger

Miss the creamy? Add in up to 1/2 cup of heavy cream during the cooking/ginger step.

Yea for an easy Meatless Monday option.

Authentic What?

How much is enough? Do we always need to be making more? And if we do, do we have to consume it or should we give it back? How do you give it back and to whom? What about retirement and savings? Should  we travel more? Prep for kids college funds?

Often the idea of limiting a household's income is framed in the context of traditional major life changes. Buying a house. Having kids. But, what if it was framed as a conscious choice to consume less and give more.

After you purge the belongings you really don't need; eliminate consumption minded spending (or really limit it); create a core plan for savings for rainy days and retirement; anticipate necessary increases in your budget for the future...what about the job choice?

Can you walk away from readily available income because the idea means more? The opportunity to authentically contribute to a real change in the world?

Should the aspiration be to redefine career and life success on our own terms? We've said for years that we make our decisions based on the love of the job and not the money, but it's easy to say that with two stable incomes.

Should our legacy as individuals and a generation be our Pottery Barn decorated houses and our Target filled closets? What if we cut back or walked away entirely? How could we alter the consumption economy?

Our tendencies for societal defined roles is not limited to domestication, we readily embrace a manner and style of consumption based on our station in life. We might feel better about it because it's organic or from lululemon, but it's still just consuming.

Where's the balance? How do we balance? Making money isn't evil, buying beautiful things isn't either. But I feel like it's easy to subscribe to a lifestyle of consumption based on convenience. We specialize in justifying our choices without hesitation.

Over cocktails this is always a favorite topic of conversation and it often comes (in recent years) with a "well, you feel that way now, wait 'till you have kids." Perhaps I'll eat my words some day, but for now we're trying to figure out how to live more authentically with less and what that really means when applied to every aspect of our lives.

Well Laid Plans

Last weekend I planned and shopped for a week of eating at home, getting back on track with meal planning and staying focused on budget. On Monday, I found out a beloved colleague was tragically killed and our university community was thrown into grieving and shock. Meals didn't get cooked this week, floors weren't vacuumed. The few hours not spent at the office were spent sleeping. This weekend I finally had some time to unplug and hang out with DH. Hold 'em tight. It's really all that matters.

Happiness is Dinner Cooking Itself

Cold weather means crockpot season at our house and one of the best quick stews I discovered last winter was this yummy beef stew. Less than 10 minutes to prep, eight hours to cook and we're set for at least a week or I freeze a few pints as soon as it's done for later. Healthy, simple and completely organic.

• 1 1/2 pounds cubed beef stew meet (I substitute buffalo)
• 2 cups water
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (16 oz.) package frozen mixed vegetables (I double this)
• 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed (I use two of whatever I have around, usually golden or red)
• 10 cubes beef bouillon, crumbled (I use Penzeys Beef Soup Base, way less sodium)
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon dried basil 

 Put the meat on the bottom of the crockpot; toss in everything else; give it a quick stir; set it to eight hours on low and walk away.... tasty. I made it up on Sunday night and we are set for lunch and dinner on Monday, plus a few other lunches later in the week.

Related aside, I'm totally hooked on Penzeys Spices (I use the California basil in the stew). It may sound crazy, but their dried spices, spice mixes, etc. really do beat anything I've picked up at the store. We've got two shops locally, but they are coast to coast. I'll have to work up an ode to their adobo seasoning.

I'm hoping to include at least one slow cooker meal in my weekly meal planning to save on time and cut down the likelihood of eating out. I would love additional suggestions.

Crisp and Delicious

Apple crisp tastes like fall. The brisk, fresh crunch of the apple paired with the sweet, crunchy topping heralds the beginning of the season for me. On a quick trip up to Thurmont, MD for apples straight from the orchard I grabbed a peck of staymen apples.

Sidenote: When do you actually get to use "peck" as a means of measurement? Never, that's when.

I settled on this new unknown variety of apple by finding the eldest member of the family that owned the orchard and asked what she would use. It was described as tart, but firm making it a strong candidate for baking.

Rather than falling back on the very butter heavy crumble topping of childhood, I explored new recipes to come up with just the right option. My new love of Cook's Illustrated led me online to see what they were proposing. Even though I subscribe to the hard copy, I couldn't figure out how to get online access. But luckily, they offer a one-day pass for free and I dove into their various options (the 14 day will come up, try to close the window and a free one-day pass will pop up).

Merging two possible recipes I made a test batch in a 8 x8 pan.



Here's my slightly tweaked version of what they called their "master crumble" topping (which they did recommend making in volume, freezing and breaking it out as needed).

Topping Mixture

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup oats

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon table salt
4 tablespoons butter (chilled) chopped into small pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening chopped into small pieces


In a bowl mix together all dry ingredients, then add butter and shortening and mix together into a crumble consistency until you can't see any bits of butter/shortening. Set into the fridge to chill for at least 15 minutes. While chilling, prep the fruit as outlined below, tossing into a large bowl with all of the ingredients.

Fruit
2-2.5 lb. apples (go tart, really) peeled, cored, sliced thinly or cubed 1/4 inch or so
1/4 c granulated sugar
1/5  tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (heavy handed)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In an 8x8 container layer in all of the apples. It will seem like a huge amount. It will all fit and will cook down a bit. Pull the crumble out of the fridge and sprinkle on top. This will cover, but not drown the apples. If you want to drown the fruit in crumble, considering doubling the above topping and using a slightly larger dish so it won't bake over the edge of the pan.

Cook for 15 minutes at 425, lower oven temp to 350 degrees and cook for another 30-40 minutes until apples are fork tender and crumble is golden brown. Serve with ice cream or milk. Yum.

Cook's Illustrated proposes if you double the fruit and topping into a 9 x 13 pan, cook it 30-40 minutes at 375 degrees. After the test batch, I made two 9 x13 pans for an event and they were delicious.



Before Baking.





After baking 40 minutes.



So Fresh and So Clean

The ammonia based glass cleaner from our neighborhood co-op is horrible. Our windows and mirrors this summer were a horror of streaks and smears from cleaning them. I think the dog nose prints actually made them cleaner. So I finally caved (even with a half a bottle to go) and picked up the new Nature's Source windex and while I was at it the bathroom cleaner too (it said it fights soap scum).

I am frankly relieved that they both actually work and I am ignoring the bottle of the offending product still under my sink. I have not managed to break up with my Clorox toilet bowl scrubbers. I know the little scrubby uses more product that if I used a brush and cleaner, but swear I still get better results.

The wood floor swiffer is also still in my life. Yes I vacuum my base boards ( I heart my dyson) and try to get up excess before I swiffer, but it sure beats being on my hands and knees cleaning the hardwood every week. I feel like I'm channeling my mother when I'm on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor for extended period of times. Shudder. The issue of course is that each time I use the swiffer on the hardwood, it takes three refill pads to do the whole apartment and probably every other month I have to refill the special hardwood floor cleaner it uses. Lots of wasted non-recyclable product being created. Other hardwood cleaning options welcome.

Focused on Savings

There's been an ongoing debate at our house (not just in my head) over how to save effectively for the future. Not just retirement, but emergencies and futures wants as well. Faced with the pleasant, but somewhat intimidating reality of moving from a "just get it paid off" mode to "hmm, where do we put $$ when you're planning for the next 60 years."

Not shockingly, after reading everything from Dave Ramsey to Mint.com, I wandered back over to my Motley Fool roots and started reading their personal finance materials again. There I rediscovered my confidence to not have to pay someone to manage my money (at least at this point).

The strange side effect of finally digging in and becoming an adult about our finances is that I'm slightly paranoid now about spending money at all. Brilliant you say, but not really. I can talk myself into going out for tex-mex for dinner faster than you can say queso, but I'll put off buying say work shoes because I don't want to spend the money.

I'm also more aware of how much less we could be living on. The statistics about the majority of the country living on or less than $50,000 a year keeps rolling around in my head. In DC you'd have to have two roommates and keep to a strict budget to really make that work for one person, it would be heroic for two.

So I continue to evaluate how to consume less in an effort to save more. But more importantly, I'm realizing living with less is possible.  Things on the savings block as of late:

• broken myself of a serious Crate & Barrel habit.
• cut out my high end spa trips for the occasional nice, but not nearly as swank pedicure.
• stretching a few more weeks between haircuts.
• always checking for coupons online before making an online purchase.
• using what's in the pantry to plan menus (having it overstuffed is pointless)

Not exactly saving the planet here, but it's a start.

Why I'm Glad There Aren't Life Grades

I could blame my lack of go-getter attitude on the heat. It has been crazy hot in DC this summer, but that would be pretty much BS. Yes, August has arrived and as I have a small mental freak out that I have squandered away my summer I'm taking stock in what I have and haven't done well or done at all this summer. Here's to hoping "writing this out loud" makes me a little more honest and productive as we sprint to fall.

-Training: Bah! Don't make me laugh. My two gym memberships (one for swimming, the other for everything else) have barely been used and I think my trainer is starting to get testy. I will be running in the Marine Corps 10K so I do need to get my act back together.

-Debt Free: Check. Short of Dear College. We officially owe no one or entity. It's awesome and I'm totally geeking out on increasing our retirement savings and all other sorts of rainy day savings options.

-Eco Products: Very little improvement here. Still working through using up other things, but then when I've run of say make-up, on the fly I've punted and bought drugstore something in a hurry to make up for it and yet to make a full transition to a Greenista suggested brand.

-Eco Friendly Commute: I didn't take up the bike, but we've been doing a little carpool of two in our household and while not the most efficient, it definitely beats out having the old two cars. Bus use still in rotation.

-Dressing Like a Grown Up: Work in progress. It pains me to spend money on clothes because I've fallen hard for not spending (which says a lot because I love clothes and shoes. Oh how I love shoes). I just added a few small items and I'm going to have to force myself to spend a little more to not look homeless.
-Feed the Brain: Went to Seth Godin and I have been reading more, but still more progress required. For the record, Godin was interesting, not mind opening. Still noodling on why.

-Creative Self: Still wait listed for glass blowing, thinking about painting.

-Eat Local: Total fail, unless you count restaurants. My trips to the farmers market (other than at work) have been nonexistent and I am determined to remedy. There's still plenty of tasty things to eat through late summer and fall.

That's enough navel gazing. Sorry about that, but I have to purge it from my head to move on. With more travel on the horizon for the other half again I need to find balance between projects and busy work because I'll need a little bit of both. But did I mention we're financially balanced? That's priceless people. Priceless.

Brain Exercises Required

Feeding my intellectual curosity is a part of mindful living for me. As a result, I've done three things in the last two weeks to try and push my brain around a bit more:

-Started reading Eat, Pray Love. Yes I know everyone dove into this when it first came out, but I held out not sure how I felt about the author. So before the movie comes out and even more people start talking about it, I wanted to dive in. I love this book and I'm only in Part II.

-Signed up for an introductory glass blowing class. I'm on the wait list, but I'll make it into the next session or the one after it.

-Signed up to go to Seth Godin's day long seminar next week so I can geek out on marketing stuff for a full day. I need to fill my professional creativity tank.

Cold Flossing

It took decades for my dentists' advice to finally take, but I've started flossing. Daily. Over the last six months I've tried diligently to floss at least once a day, but not freak out if I miss. As a result at my last check up the dentist proclaimed that my teeth and gums were in far better shape, but that my lower flossing technique was lacking (well done on the uppers she said). So of course, my poor lower teeth have been getting a daily flossing detail like they were some high end luxury car. I'm just hoping this 30-something intervention will help me keep my pearly white shark teeth later in life and I won't been applying denture cream to my tortured gums in my 70s.

However, my dental hygiene superiority is a bit tempered as a I stand in my very comfortable 70-72 degree apartment. I like cold people. I hate being hot. Except at yoga and right after the gym, but then I rush to take a cold shower so it's really a fleeting fancy. I am completely incapable of turning up the thermostat. Despite the record breaking heat we're having out here and the calls for conserving energy, I just keep on keeping on in my little igloo.

The power company rep is calling for people to set their thermostats at 78. *@$#% 78! I can't possible be cool with our window units chugging away at 78 degrees. I relish the feeling of my skin being cold and sleeping under a light sheet or blanket. 78 would mean pretending I'm back in Sienna only to look out my window and see a parking lot instead. Not happening people. I am totally failing mother nature on this one. Energy conservation fail for sure.

Sweet Rainforest Destruction

As we were racing northward in our mini carpool to PA this past weekend, my globally minded other half mentions an article from The Economist about palm oil. Collectively, we all turned and muttered some version of, "what are you talking about?"

Well, it turns out that palm oil (enjoy the lobbying arm link) is a very useful ingredient that happens to be the reason Indonesia's tropical rainforests are being destroyed, locals and their land are being exploited, species are dying and corruption is abounding in the region.  Great you say, why should I care?

At a minimum, 50 percent of the products we purchase at the grocery store are likely to contain palm oil. Directly supporting the ongoing supply chain issues that the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil is trying to address. There's also the Green Palm initiative that consumers and manufacturers can be involved in.

Researching what contains palm oil takes time, so is it fair to just boycott products that you hear about containing palm oil? There's a handy short list I found about some candy products: plain M&Ms okay, but put down that Snickers. But what about all the other products?

More research required.

Blocking Out the Sun

Still straining to smells wisps of the salty ocean breeze, I sit just barely tanned from our recent beach excursion. Gone are the days of seeking long hours in the sun, barely reapplying sunblock and never thinking I had enough of a tan.

This time we were armed with sunblock (reapplied at least every two hours), a large umbrella (that we actually made a point of staying in the shade as it moved), and a large beach hat. A huge shift in behavior from my years of entrenched sunning-at-the-beach habits.

But, I failed to choose an organic or less chemically damning sunblock. As I looked at the Badger sunscreen at Whole Foods selling for $16 for 2.9 oz. I froze. The Target Up&Up sunscreen was $11 for two 6oz. containers. Yet, Badger was really the only sunscreen I was prepared to buy, but six days at the beach meant a lot of sunscreen and suddenly the math in my head was telling me we could be looking at close to $100 for a week's worth of sunscreen for two people. So I folded. I bought not just sort of toxic, but a full 7 on the Skin Deep scale spray screen of Up&Up and Coopertone.

So now I sit here, less than tan, but full in the knowledge that I failed to follow my own guideline of using my power as a consumer to drive demand for better, safer products. Sorry skin, I'll go buy you some less toxic options this weekend.

Breaking Up with McDonalds

Sitting on the back porch of a good friend's house a new acquaintance remarked they were coming up on six years of being McDonald-free. Huh I thought at the time, how random.

I mean, I get not being all Super Size Me about eating there, but breaking up with fast food giant and its road side convenience seemed a little unnecessary.

Having a balanced diet means making a stop at McDonalds the exception, not the rule. With the plethora of summer produce available it should be no problem to skip it all together. We go months without consuming a morsel of golden arches anything and our household doesn't feel deprived.

But, as summer has arrived and the lunch choices on campus have gone from few to almost none (with McDonalds being one of the few places open), I've suddenly found myself tempted more often by the wafting smell of fries and the new snack size McFlurry.

The argument in my head about abstaining or just one bite fluctuates from day-to-day. So, I'm over it. No more excessive calories in a burger, special sauce, oreo mix-in tastiness. My willpower is too weak and we have to part ways. The healthier salad, oatmeal, fruit options do not appeal. No offense MCD marketing, I don't exactly think fresh when I think of you. It's not you, it's me.

I could turn this into a argument about the fattening of America; or the disincentives we've created in the food supply chain to access cheap, healthy food easily; or about the cost wasted on meaningless meals out, but I won't. You already know about that.

Bring on the packed lunches (better for the waist and wallet) and the planning ahead when traveling. Here's to a small step in being more mindful about what I eat.

Ode to Summer Fruit-Wish You Were Local

Peaches, cherries, watermelon. How I have missed you. True summer fruits, you never taste the same in other seasons or plucked from the freezer. Nothing seduces me into summer-style cooking like cherries. Suddenly, my interest in the oven wanes. I want to subsist on caprese and fruit for pretty much every meal. Throw in grilling just about anything and everything and I'm good to go.

Since diving head long into summer eating in the last week or so, I've been noting where the fruit is coming from... news flash, eating local is hard.

We didn't get into a CSA for the summer (too much travel to know that the food would always be used), so local farmers markets and stores are my go-to sources. In DC, we have wealth of markets to choose from, so its more about effort and organization to take advantage of them.

Exploration of the markets (new and familiar) is still to come, but for now I'm debating Whole Foods and how "local" they really are. As I searched for peaches yesterday, I noted they had two sources, South Carolina and Mexico, $1.99/lb. and 2.99/lb. respectively. I opted for a blend of both based on my need for really ripe fruit, but wondered if the price difference was a reflection of the longer distance the peaches traveled or something else. Of course, peaches don't grow right around DC, so there's no true "local" source for me. So should I not buy them at all?

But what about cherries? Whole Foods and Trader Joes both are carrying "USA" cherries, but when you inspect the packaging they both come from California. Now, I have nothing against farmers and orchards in CA, but it's not exactly even close to local. Should I skip until Michigan or Pennsylvania cherries arrive?

What about blueberries? They're not from Maine, not even close.

So what am I willing to NOT eat because it comes from too far away? And what's too far? The Mississippi? The Mid-Atlantic? The eastern time zone? I'm torn. What's local to you?

Fetching Organic for Fido

Woof. Owning a dog, a large dog in particular, introduces you to a whole series of products and choices you really didn't care to ponder previously. Up front, let me clarify that our dog (all 75 lbs.+ of him) does not wear clothing, get massages, or ride in a stroller. He's a dog. We love him and his long, blue ears, but we are not trying to turn him into a toddler. (Not sure what toddler goes to the spa, but somewhere, someone is totally thinking about this.)

However, our four-legged friend has continuously presented us with a series of challenges as it relates to his diet over the past few years. During one of his training classes we were guilted into changing his food from Iams to Nutro because it was a healthier choice. He lost all of his hair along his back a week later. Turns out after a frantic trip to the vet, he's allergic to lamb. Awesome. After special pulverized, centrifuge food- the kind you can only buy from the vet, we eventually settled on Blue and Mason's been enjoying the sweet potato and fish for a couple of years now and still has all his hair.

Now, there are far more organic choices out there, including the raw food diet that I flat out refuse to entertain for my dog. By some accounts, this makes me a bad owner. I'm willing to deal with that. I don't think the pup is deprived.

Separate from food, I've recently begun evaluating the other products we buy for him. Take treats for example, if the product has too much excessive packaging, it's off the list. If it contains artificial coloring or superfluous processing forget-about-it. And then there's the dog bed. The reason I thought this post was worth writing at all.

We've been perfectly happy with his dog bed from L.L. Bean for the past four+ years (I can't speak for the dog, but he seems agreeable). We even ordered a replacement cover at one point. But a few months of listening to the dog turn, and turn, and turn, to try and nest in the bed made us realize maybe the stuffing is a bit worn out.

But what to buy? Crazy daisy, there are a lot of beds out there. We were inspired by our hip friends in KC to look at eco beds. We ended up with a West Paw Organic Bumper Bed that is 100 percent recycled plastic soda bottles. It is currently en route from Montana to our door step. Was it worth it?

Does my buying organic dog products really matter? How large can that supply chain be anyway? Well, at least I know our weim won't be poisoned by his own bed. Now his polyester chew toy that he can't live without is a whole other matter.

Sandwich Bags Are So Last Year

Naively my PBJ has been going to work in a passé plastic sandwich bag. Tucked neatly into my reusable lunch bag, I was so pleased with myself for taking and not buying my lunch. Then, my super chic friend Jen rolls in with a cool shark lunchskin. Suddenly my celery sticks look claustrophobic in their little bag.

Every day 20 million plastic bags go into landfills. Every day. Holy plastic bag batman. That's massive waste. Remember when we all started cutting the rings up from soda six packs to save the dolphins?  I kept a manatee from choking, but have been contributing to Kilimanjaro-sized landfills. Awesome.

For those still pondering the paper vs. plastic debate, here's a great article/blog I found that spells out both sides.

Needless to say, I'll be ordering a few lunchskins come pay day.

Four Less Wheels

I could pretend that we sold our second car because we are that committed to reducing our carbon footprint. I could then piously write about how many pollutants we've kept out of the air as a result of our choice. But, you would be reading a complete line of BS.

The reality is, we sold our SUV this past year because we wanted to get the money out of a depreciating asset before Saturns had absolutely no value on the market. Yes, we did sell the newer, bigger car and held onto our 10 year old little compact. But let's be honest. It has a lot more to do with our race to eliminate debts and save for tomorrow than any environmental soap box.

Yet, the return to a single set of wheels has absolutely changed a lot about our habits. Sure, we are lucky that we live in a large metropolitan area. Yes, I have six bus lines within less than two blocks of my house (and still none of them run when I need them). Yes, those buses can get me to the metro that can whisk me to all various corners of the city.

Now my SmartTrip card is always loaded (except for this evening when I found out I had -.95 cents when I exited the metro). I have a running list of bus schedules in my head, and I am reaching master status of knowing which buses connect where in NW DC. These are all things that before a single set of wheels, I would have never prioritized.

The impact on my/our schedule is sometimes acute. We shuffle carpooling and car possession daily. Who needs to be where and when. We end up carpooling in the morning a lot more. So I guess you could say reducing our carbon footprint is helping us spend more time together...

So while my increased reliance on public transportation has come about in a none purist fashion, it has made me more aware of how many cars really could come off the road. Planning the time to take the train is worth it. Yes, it's a bit of pain, yes you have to plan ahead, but taking one more car off the road at least a few days a week is meaningful.

The EPA estimates that the U.S. consumes 26% of the world petroleum. As a country 43% of our petroleum use is for our cars. Yuck. Gas near or over $3, double yuck.

Cars impact more than the air. Water pollution, noise pollution, solid waste, land use, and wildlife are all impacted by our car use obsession. The EPA also believes that driving a car is the single most polluting activity a private citizen can undertake in a given day.

According to the APTA, "If an individual switches a 20-mile round trip commute to public transportation, his or her annual CO2 emissions will decrease by 4,800 pounds per year, equal to a 10 percent reduction in a two-car household’s carbon footprint."

But, come on. We need to get there when we need to get there. The time saved now is more valuable to us.
This, this is the argument I'm having to rework in my head as I am standing in line waiting for the bus or jockeying  my schedule to catch a train (while fighting the urge to hail a taxi).

May 13 was Bike To Work Day. I did not. I contemplate it often and always stop short when I start thinking about the showering, getting ready at the office logistics. Way too complicated and I'm paranoid I'm going to get clipped in traffic by a @$#* driver. Baby steps people. I did think this one BTWD site had some interesting points though,

"During its lifetime, on the road, each car produces another 1.3 billion cubic yards of polluted air and scatters an additional 40 pounds of worn tire particles, brake debris and worn road surface into the atmosphere."

It's worth mentioning we certainly are saving additional cash by having lower insurance, buying less gas, etc (although those savings may be going to SBUX). However, we also have been using the little organic market next door to us more. We pop down to grab milk or avocados rather than rush off to Whole Foods.

So while it's not always enjoyable, we are starting to adjust to our return to four wheels. Any chance you'll be letting your wheels rest at home soon? Or does having them make it too easy to not have to choose?

Washing the Toxicity Out of My Hair

Knowing brilliant people makes the task of learning new things infinitely easier. This often means gaining knowledge you had no idea you were missing. This would one of those times. My brilliant friend Sarah pondered aloud on her blog awhile back the fact that hair/body care products could be toxic and the choices she made to replace the products she and her family use.

No it wasn't just her masterful spidey-sense that caused her to evaluate, she pointed to a nifty database. Where you too can go and enter your various products and contemplate the level of chemicals you're cool with ingesting.

Up until that moment, I had  not considered the possibility that my shampoo might be bad for me. This has gnawed at me now for more than two months as I wash my hair with the Tresemme Natural jumbo bottles I bought on sale at Target. It may or may not be bad for me. I've submitted it to the Skin Deep database to receive a rating. Other products by the same brand are between 5-7, moderately hazardous. What? My shampoo is hazardous?

Now, I'm not running down the block fearful that my hair is going to fall out of my head, but does give me pause that more than one-third of personal care products contain at least one product linked to cancer.

The Skin Deep Database provides a list of worrisome ingredients: Placenta, Fragrance, Mercury, Animal Parts, Lead, Hydroquinone Skin Lightener, Nanoparticles, Phthalates and Petroleum Byproducts.

Now sure, I don't actively buy products with these ingredients, but I'm also not checking every single label of everything I buy. We went fragrance free awhile back with our laundry detergent and dryer sheets without any thought of the environmental impact, but now I'm wondering about the other ingredients.

So, I'm slowly working through an inventory of the various products we have and deciding if I would buy them again when they run out based on their toxicity level. Right now I'm thinking a five or below...maybe a four? Is that even possible with readily available, affordable products?

I've also decided that I'm through with my current makeup, Prescriptives. They have not signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics (see signers). Sarah wrote an interesting post on her makeup on this same point as well. Taking each product through the paces of the database. I'm not sure yet what I'll replace it with, but I'm using each of the products until they're gone and then hoping to make a wholesale change. Suggestions welcome.

So it's an evaluation in progress. I'll let you know what I find out along the way.

Eating that Cow is Like Driving an SUV or Be More Friendly with Veggies

Let's be clear. I am an Omnivore, but I have not finished the copy of The Omnivore's Dilemma that's been on my side table for more than a year. Nor have I consumed In Defense of Food, the Caveman Diet, or the myriad of other writings on healthier, organic eating. (I do plan to make my way through at least Pollan's work as a start). So at this moment, I am not yet scarred by the horrific images of our food chain.

My Midwestern roots currently keep me firmly comfortable with consuming most meats and veggies. And no, I do not know 100 ways to prepare corn just because I know how to detassel it.

I also have no aversion to vegetables. With very few exceptions (sorry lima beans and collard greens) I am friendly with produce. Bring on the roasted brussels sprouts, steamed or grilled asparagus, peas by the pound, and so much more.

Yet, when putting together a dinner menu for the week, I am always following the unspoken triangle in my head: meat, veggie, starch. This does not mean only pot roast and pork chops. We eat a lot of fish (a potential problem and separate post) by way of tilapia, salmon, and sea bass. We also tend to use ground buffalo now more than ground beef thanks to the Buffalo Lady at the Kansas City farmer's market. (Note: Only Whole Foods and Wegmans in our area consistently carry Buffalo and even then, very little variety.)

So, when the idea was presented that eating one additional meatless meal per week could have a real impact on the environment, I was intrigued. After all, I'm pro-veggie, so why not consciously make a choice to eat a meal entirely built around them (fruits too, but I am not a fruitarian).

The environmental cost of meat. Eating one pound of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving an SUV 40 miles. It's the supply chain and the product itself that hurts us on this one.

An interesting piece in NewScientist reviews new research on this issue:

• Cutting back on beefburgers and bacon could wipe $20 trillion off the cost of fighting climate change.
• The livestock sector receives surprisingly little attention, despite the fact that it accounts for 18% of the greenhouse gas emissions and for 80% of total anthropogenic land use.

"The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. These are generated during the production of animal feeds, for example, while ruminants, particularly cows, emit methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global warming agent than carbon dioxide. The agency has also warned that meat consumption is set to double by the middle of the century."

Many of us could argue, we already eat at least one meal a week that doesn't contain an animal protein. So, why not add another? That is the question I am pondering as I plan my weekly meals.

The easy solution of course is stir fry (I know, you thought I was going to say cheese pizza). This past year I have started to embrace wok cooking. For the record, the wok is genius. Why on earth I didn't bother before and why I don't use it more is a perfect example of why we cook what we know. I didn't grow up with wok cooking, I didn't have an early exposure to wok cooking, so I just didn't do it.

Between a trip to China and a trip the Philippines our household suddenly became intrigued enough by the capable piece of cookware to ask for one (thanks mom!). But let's be honest, cooking veggie stir fry takes a lot of prep. Seriously look at all these veggies:

It is going to take some serious re-prioritization to get me to chop that many veggies more than once a week, so I think additional veggie dinner choices are going to have to be explored (again, beyond pizza).

In case you're wondering, all those veggies cook down in about 10 minutes and are delicious on  rice (in this case jasmine, it's what I had on hand).

So, I'm in pursuit of non-pasta, non-carb heavy meat free options to take our house from one meal meat free a week, to at least two.