Summer Drink Round-Up

With temperatures reaching 114 on a frequent basis, it’s no wonder that summer drinks are on my mind. I’ve had a lot of fun coming up with Low-Cal or No-Cal summer drinks over the past couple of months.

Here are all the recipes for my Summer Drinks in one simple post. I hope you enjoy!

Skinny Orange Julius (for step by step with pictorial instructions, go here)

This Recipe makes a Pitcher of 4-5 Servings:
4-5 Peeled Fresh Oranges
4-5 Cups of Ice
1-2 Cups of Water
1/4 tsp Vanilla Creme Stevia

This Recipe makes one serving:
1 Orange
1 Cup of Ice
1/4 Cup of Water or as Needed
2 Drops of Liquid Vanilla Creme Stevia

In a blender, combine the peeled oranges, adding 1/2 of the needed ice on top. Add the water and pulse until the ice is broken up into chunks. Add to this the other half of ice. Next, add the Stevia. Puree everything until it’s blended, but still a bit chunky. Pour in a chilled glass and enjoy!

No Calorie Sweetened Iced Coffee (for step by step with pictorial instructions, go here)

2 TBS Decaf/Caffeinated NesCafe-more or less depending on how strong you like your coffee
8 drops Liquid Stevia-more or less depending on how sweet you like it
Milk
Water

Fill a tall glass of water (heh) with the 2 TBS of NesCafe. Stir and add ice. Add the 8 drops of Liquid Stevia and milk, depending on your taste.

No Calorie Sweet Green Tea (for step by step with pictorial instructions, go here)

Tea Kettle
Glass Tea Jar
10 Green Tea Bags (I use 5 Caffeinated and 5 Decaffeinated Tea Bags)
6 + 4 Cups of Water
1/2 tsp Liquid Stevia

Using a clothespin, use the tab at the end of the string to corral your tea bags. Clip the tea bags to the side of your glass tea jar. Boil 6 cups of water in your tea kettle. After the water in the tea kettle whistles, pour the boiling water into the glass tea jar. Aim for the tea bags as you pour. Steep for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, pull the tea bags from the liquid but still inside of the tea jar. Slowly squeeze out any remaining water from the tea bags using a wooden spoon. Add the 1/2 tsp Liquid Stevia. Add 4 Cups of cold water to the tea jar. Stir, chill for several hours and serve.

No Calorie Fresh Lime “Gritzer” (for step by step with pictorial instructions, go here)
(makes 1 Liter):
1 Liter of Diet Tonic Water (sweetened with Splenda)*
1 Lime
1/4 tsp Liquid Stevia
*here’s my disclaimer, Tonic Water contains quinine. Some people cannot consume this product. I have yet to find an alternative.

Fill a pitcher with the Diet Tonic Water. Wash one whole lime first, then cut into wedges and squeeze into pitcher. Throw the limes into the tonic water if desired. Add 1/4 tsp of Liquid Stevia (more or less depending upon your sweet needs). Stir a couple of times, pour into your favorite “fancy glass” and garnish with another lime wedge.

That’s all for now, but I’m sure I’ll come up with more. I hope you’ve enjoyed the Summer Drink Round-Up!

If these parties are up, I link to them! (Here’s my complete Linky Party Page):
Monday: Crafts Keep Me Sane, The Better Baker, Skip to My Lou, DIY Showoff, Say Not, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Etcetorize, Sew Chatty, Brassy Apple, Flour Me With Love, Creating my Way, Mad in Crafts, Our Delightful Home, Sew Can Do, It’s So Very Cheri, Craft O Maniac, Polly Want a Crafter, Tuesday: Craft Edition, Inspiration Board , New Nostalgia , Lettered Life , Coastal Charm, Tip Junkie , Ladybug Blessings, Hope Studios , Todays Creative Blog, Wednesday: Someday Crafts , Day2DayJoys, Jillify It , Junk in the Trunk, We are that Family , Frugally Sustainable, Sew Much Ado, Fine Craft Guild , The Thrifty Home, My Girlish Whims , Quick, Easy, Cheap & Healthy, Trendy Treehouse, Thursday: Somewhat Simple, No Minimalist Here , A Glimpse Inside, The Mommy Club, The 36th Avenue, Cheap Chic Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans , House of Hepworths , The Shabby Chic Cottage, Friday: My Repurposed Life, It’s a HodgePodge Life, The Shabby Nest, Just Wingin’ It, One Artsy Momma, French Country Cottage, Finding Fabulous, Passionately Artistic, Petals and Picots, Simply Designing, Little Becky Homecky, My Romantic Home, Bacon Time, Simply Living, Saturday: Polkadot Pretties, Tatertots and Jello, Create and Inspire, Be Different, Act Normal, Craft Envy, Funky Junk Interiors, Petites Passion, Sunday: Under the Table, Natural Mothers, Mopping the Floor

Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

I have had bags full of tomatoes in my refrigerator. I don’t mean a couple of puny sandwich bags full. I mean at least 4 gallon-sized ziplock bags full.

And, this is after making 14 jars of salsa, canning 8 jars of whole tomatoes, eating bruschetta until we were sick of it and throwing as many as I can on every salad, every day.

Thus, the need to find new uses for aging tomatoes. I decided to try my hand at Oven Roasting Cherry Tomatoes. A slight gorge-fest happened when these puppies were pulled from the oven. Even Biceps couldn’t quit.

Here’s all that you’ll need to make Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes:
Prep time: 5 minutes, Cooking Time: 1-1 1/2 hrs, Skill Level: Easy
Basil
Garlic
Cherry Tomatoes
Cooking Spray
9 x 13 pan

Uses: Garnish crackers with tomatoes and “Laughing Cow-light” spreadable cheese. Top a pizza with them, eat on a salad, a sandwich or by themselves.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Spray the 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray and pile in the cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle basil and garlic on top.

After about 30-45 minutes, when the tomatoes are becoming soft, carefully turn the tomatoes over once.

Place back in the oven for another 30-45 minutes, or until most tomatoes have turned brown on at least one side.

These are amazingly delicious and oh, so simple. It’s getting hotter, it’s a burning love, I just can’t get enough, I just can’t get enough…(thank you, Depeche Mode).

Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

If these parties are up, I link to them! (Here’s my complete Linky Party Page):
Monday: The Girl Creative, Crafts Keep Me Sane, The Better Baker, Skip to My Lou, DIY Showoff, Say Not, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Etcetorize, Sew Chatty, Brassy Apple, Flour Me With Love, Creating my Way, Mad in Crafts, Our Delightful Home, Sew Can Do, It’s So Very Cheri, Craft O Maniac, Polly Want a Crafter, Tuesday: Craft Edition, Inspiration Board , New Nostalgia , Lettered Life , Coastal Charm, Tip Junkie , Ladybug Blessings, Hope Studios , Todays Creative Blog, Wednesday: Someday Crafts , Day2DayJoys, Jillify It , Junk in the Trunk, We are that Family , Frugally Sustainable, Sew Much Ado, Fine Craft Guild , The Thrifty Home, My Girlish Whims , Quick, Easy, Cheap & Healthy, Trendy Treehouse, Thursday: Somewhat Simple, No Minimalist Here , A Glimpse Inside, The Mommy Club, The 36th Avenue, Cheap Chic Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans , House of Hepworths , The Shabby Chic Cottage, Friday: My Repurposed Life, It’s a HodgePodge Life, The Shabby Nest, Just Wingin’ It, One Artsy Momma, French Country Cottage, Finding Fabulous, Passionately Artistic, Petals and Picots, Simply Designing, Little Becky Homecky, My Romantic Home, Bacon Time, Simply Living, Saturday: Polkadot Pretties, Tatertots and Jello, Create and Inspire, Be Different, Act Normal, Craft Envy, Funky Junk Interiors, Petites Passion, Sunday: Under the Table, Natural Mothers, Mopping the Floor

Good Morning with Food Faces

Good Morning, dear Readers! I have been working on a story about farming for my paper, therefore-food has been on the brain.

So, if it’s ok with you, I’d like to welcome you inside of my strange world where food talks to me.

“Rise and shine!”, said Mr. Over Easy.

“I’m not sure that I’m ready for the day,” said Mr. Turkey Bacon Lips.

“But it’s time for you to go to work,” said Gilbert, the produce manager.

“I think I’ll play hooky instead and go have coffee with a friend,” said Mrs. Squash.

Do what you want, little vegetables. In the end, we all know what’s going to happen to you.

Yeah, we get it, Mr. Spicy Peppers. We get it.

You just had to have the last word, didn’t you, Banana Pepper Triplets?

My food seems to have quite the attitude. I suppose they learned it from their caretaker. Hm.

At any rate, have a great morning and a good rest of the day!

Non-Toxic Homemade Household Cleaners

Today, I was a guest at Fox23’s “Great Day Green Country” on Fox 23 News morning show. I was asked to highlight the Non-Toxic Homemade Household Cleaners that I use around my home.
Here’s the video from this morning. Please, be gentle. I know I look like an idiot-I didn’t know which camera to look at.

I was quite nervous, but, you’ll be able to tell that. And apparently, I am a DIY Diva. What?!

The ingredients in these cleansers are so safe that you cannot only clean with them, but go ahead and eat them! I don’t know of many store-bought products that can say the same thing.

With just four simple ingredients (Vinegar, Baking Soda, Olive Oil, Tea Tree Oil), you can safely and effectively clean your entire house-without rubber gloves and a gas mask. And then, make a snack for later with the same ingredients.

I wanted to give you the recipes that I highlighted this morning on television. (I also have a few links at the bottom of this post with more Homemade Household Cleansers and Beauty Recipes.)

All Purpose Cleaner:
1 Part Vinegar
1 Part Water
Place the ingredients in a spray bottle and get busy.

This is the perfect combination for cleaning. Here are just a few things that can be cleaned with Vinegar and Water (but the list is really endless):
Cabinets
Tile
Sinks
Tubs
Toilets
Walls
Stainless Steel
Mirrors
Chrome
Counters

Now-you may ask, “Why Vinegar?”.
I’ll tell you why: Vinegar is a natural organic bi-product of fruits, vegetables and grains-meaning it’s both edible and biodegradable. It’s safe for the environment, for family members, and especially for those with asthma. There is no fear of your kiddos being poisoned. It is also a very effective and amazingly versatile household cleaner that is inexpensive to use.
It doesn’t contain harmful toxic chemicals, so if you pour it all down the drain-its impact on municipal sewer and water treatment systems is just like any food product.
Throw away those rubber gloves! It’s gentle on hands, so there is no need to wear rubber gloves. It cleans mirrors, chrome, stainless steel and more streak free, so there is no need to rinse after cleaning. Vinegar has been prized for generations for its usefulness as a stain remover, mildew eliminator, soap scum dissolver, chrome polisher, lime descaler, fabric softener, room deodorizer and as an unclogging agent.
So, I say back to you, “Why NOT Vinegar?”.

Anti-bacterial Cleaner:
1 Cup Vinegar
1 Cup Water
1/8 tsp Tea Tree Oil
Put ingredients in a spray bottle and use when needed.

This smells fantastic, you should know. Secondly, it gets rid of those nasty germs on just about everything but mirrors and t.v. screens. Because of the tea tree oil, it will leave streaks on glass, chrome or stainless steel.

Tea Tree Oil can cure almost anything that you might have. It is a natural antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-infection oil. It can be used in a variety of applications to cure and heal a host of ailments and conditions.It’s been called the “medicine cabinet” in a bottle. For example, Tea Tree Oil can help with:
Acne
Athletes foot
Bad breath
Body oil
Boils
Blisters
Colds
Dandruff
Dry skin
Germs
Fleas-even on pets!
Head lice
Insect bites and more

Furniture Polish/Cleaner
3 Parts of Olive Oil
1 Part Vinegar
Put the liquid ingredients into a jar, seal tightly and shake until mixed. Apply to a microfiber cloth and get busy on the wood in your house. Remix before every use. This polish restores life to sun-baked, old, vintage or neglected wood.

If you have any leftover, make a salad and pour over the top as a dressing. Olive Oil has amazing benefits both for the inside and the outside of your precious little body.

If you use extra virgin organic olive oil, you will benefit from higher levels of antioxidants, especially vitamin E and phenols, the same compounds found in grapes, because the olive oil is less processed. You can also use Olive Oil:
Replace Butter when cooking
Use it as a Body Oil
Control Frizzy Hair with a little bit on your palm and run it through your hair
Moisturize Dry Cuticles & Nails
Control a Nagging Cough or Scratchy Throat by swallowing a teaspoon full
Shine Stainless Pots & Pans by rubbing on after cleaning
Use as a Lip Balm
Or as a Bath Oil.

I love Olive Oil. It’s marvelous.

Toilet Bowl and Drain Cleaner
These two little ingredients can be used in two different ways.
For the Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
Spray the bowl with Vinegar and then sprinkle the bowl with Baking Soda. Use the toilet brush and scrub away. Look at your fancy, clean toilet.

For the Drain Cleaner:
Pour about a 1/2 Cup of baking soda down the clogged drain. Pour boiling water on top of the baking soda. Follow this with 1/2 Cup of Vinegar, then stand back and watch the bubbly magic happen. For really stubborn clogs, add 1/4 Cup of Salt in between the baking soda and the vinegar.

Baking Soda is able to get things clean and sparkly, but without scratching and scouring. It is soluble in water, which means it is easily rinsed away after it has done the job of cleaning. It also cleans:

Refrigerators
Ovens
Microwaves
Sinks
Baths
Toilets
And even your teeth!

It is not so suitable for cleaning glass, howevever, since it is mildy abrasive.

Now that you armed with your arsenal of cleaning products, it’s time to get busy and get rid of the dirty in your house. I hope you enjoyed these recipes. I love knowing that I clean my house without sacrificing quality!

Here are links to my other Homemade Household Cleansers and Beauty Products:
Easy Laundry Soap
DIY Brass Cleaner
Organic Vegetable/Produce Cleaner
Organic Face Cleanser
Organic Face Moisturizer
Organic Eye Makeup Remover
Simple, Organic Lip Balm

And here are a few Homemade Food Items to easily replace store-bought items:
Simple, Tasty Granola
Easy Crockpot Yogurt
Simple, Homemade Butter
Cooking and Freezing Beans, avoiding BPA
Homemade Hummus
Garden Fresh Salsa

It may seem overwhelming at first, to rid your home of toxins. If you want to learn a little bit more about toxins in your home, how they affect you and the environment, I have an educational team website called the “No Toxin Zone“.

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending time with such a weirdo. Make sure you become a Facebook Fan or a Linky Follower to keep up to date with what this weirdo comes up with next. Have a great day!