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!

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How to be a dork and prepare for Television

As you may know, yesterday I was on Fox23’s morning show, Great Day Green Country showing off my fancy Homemade Household Cleaners. Ok, so they’re not really “fancy”, but I like to jazz things up a bit.

After all, Fox23 did give me a ridiculous title of “DIY Diva”.

 

If I may, I’d like to keep myself grounded (now that I am a big t.v. celebrity) and show you what I dork I am.

 

It may be no big deal to people accustomed to television debuts–however, I thought about the day of my appearance far in advance, then I over-thought it, then I over-thought my over-thoughts-again. I even looked for a new outfit, but reverted back to one of my favorite classics-this brown little ditty.

Now, for the behind the scenes nitty gritty.

I did buy new shoes that were never seen on air. But, they made me feel sassy and classy and that helps a girl when her pits are sweating because she’s so nervous.

The day before, I decided to have a bit of a dress rehearsal. First, I dug these curlers out of retirement and got busy making my hair “vintagey”.

I prayed to God that no one would knock on the door while I looked like this.

I fished my small collection of lipsticks out of retirement. Biceps isn’t into lipstick-for me or for himself, which works out fine since I usually end up with it all over my teeth anyways.

However, to be vintage-one must have red lips…

…and short red fingernails.

And also a cat named Maxwell that helps run lines.

During set up, I realized that not wearing anti-perspirant has its downfalls. Here’s the inside of my head during the live taping:

“Don’t lift your arms too high. They’ll see your pit sweat.”
“Look at the camera with the red light on. No, not that one. That one.”
“Look at the host, but not for too long.”
“You’re looking at him too long.”
“Don’t worry he called you Rebekah Gree-man. Forget it.”
“Should I correct him?”
“No.”
“Why am I here?”
“Did he just call me a ‘Shaman’?”
“What’s a Shaman?”
“I should look that up when I get home.”
“I wonder if Biceps will take me out to lunch when this is over.”
“Don’t lift you arms.”
“You lifted your arms.”
“It’s over already. What the heck did I just say?”
“I hope no one saw my weird mouth things that I do.”
“Put your arms down.”

Now you know that I’m a serious, Grade-A dork. With sweaty pits.

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!

I’m on Fox23 News Tomorrow!

Dear Readers,

My body temperature has been on the rise for the past few days. Here are three reasons why I have been sweating profusely:

1. I am naturally a hot body, unlike most chicks.

2. And it’s over 100 degrees outside today and I refuse to wear toxic antiperspirants.

3. Oh, and also because I have been asked to be on a live, televised morning show called, “Great Day Green Country” on Fox 23 News.

I’ll be sharing live on the show four of my Non-Toxic Homemade Household Cleaning Recipes, which I will highlight for you tomorrow here on my blog.

Oh-and the show is live (did I mention that?)…which means no mistakes, no accidental pirate talk, and no blunders will be tolerated.

Pray that I will not embarras my mother and father, would you?