Welcome Summer! (Vacation here I come!)

For those of you in the northern hemisphere, it is officially summer (did it seem like we skipped spring to anyone else?)!  Our family has some fun activities planned to make the most of the nice weather, including a couple of road trips and day excursions.

The only thing I don't look forward to about family vacations is the stress of packing- I am one who frets either about forgetting something vital to the success of the trip -and wind up not forgetting anything too important, or I am confident that I couldn't have missed a single thing -and I end up forgetting something like my husband's socks, or deodorant- of course on the trip where we are out in the boonies camping or something, no store nearby!

I started making packing lists for my family about a week before our scheduled vacations, so that when I had a brilliant idea ("Oooh, wouldn't it be fun if we brought _____!") I could just put it on the list and be confident that I would remember it along with all the essentials.

This summer I got tired of hand writing the packing lists over and over, so I finally sat down and typed it out.  I love feeling organized!

If you could use a decrease in your vacation planning stress, click the link below, and download the packing list (Go to File, Download As, then choose Excel or Open Office- whatever spreadsheet program you use); this will enable you to customize the list with your family member's names, and add or delete items to fit your family's needs.


Packing List



Happy Summer!

Another Laundry Tip

Yes, here is another laundry tip.  I am beginning to feel like I do little else but laundry.  I mean, I felt that way with just one baby, and now with two, I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be caught up on laundry again.  I keep hearing echoes of a radio commercial from a few years back in my head:

Announcer: "What are you doing this Friday night?:

Girl 1: "Movie!"

Girl 2: "Pizza!"

Girl 3: "Laundry?" 

(Anyone remember that commercial? What was it for, anyway?)  Is there any question which Girl I am?

Annnnnnyway.... I have been having the dreaded stinky washer problem.  And I have the old fashioned top- loading kind (the front loaders are the ones you usually hear about having stinky-type problems).  I know there are products you can buy to run through your washer that are supposed to remove the smell, but I didn't want to spend $15- $20 on one little bottle (that's more than I spend on several month's worth of laundry detergent!).  I occasionally run a load through with bleach, and that sometimes helps, but it seems like the mildewy smell is getting stronger. 

Enter my friend Google.  Just moments after submitting my query "how to clean a stinky washer" I am soaking in page after page of (mostly) useful advice.  It seems there are a few main suggestions that come up again and again.  None of these require purchasing fancy products- you more than likely have everything you need on hand already.  I will share:

1. Try to remove clothes from washer as soon as they are done washing.  This is rather elementary, but how many times have we all left a load in the washer all weekend long and come back (to our horror) to a reeking laundry room?  Try setting a timer or a cell phone alarm if remembering to switch the laundry is an issue for you.
2. Clean the lint trap.  Ok, I'll be honest, I didn't even know there was a lint trap in washers.  But there is.  Look in your user's manual or do a Google search to find out where it is and how to clean it.
3. Run an occasional load on the hottest setting.  Hot water helps kill germs and keep odors to a minimum.
4. Add bleach to a load of whites about once a week.  Bleach also kills bacteria which can stink your laundry up.  Non- chlorine bleach may not help with this though.  If you are worried about chlorine bleach doing damage to your clothing, run a wash cycle with water only.
5. Wash your load with vinegar and baking soda.  From what I read, 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda should do the trick.  If that doesn'tt work, try running it again but without any towels or clothing in the washer- just hot water
6. Flip the lid up to let the inside air dry between washes.  This prevents mildew and mold from having a damp place to grow.  (Use caution if you have a front loader and children or pets around- I probably would not do this as it could be a safety concern.)
7.  Cut back on the amount of detergent and/or fabric softener you are using.  Using too much can contribute to the stinky smell.  In most situations you can probably use less than the suggested amount on the measuring cup that comes with the detergent (remember, the detergent companies want you to use more so you have to buy again soon).
8. Use powdered detergent instead of liquid.  This is especially true for front loading washers.  The powdered detergent is somewhat more abrasive.  Also, it may not build up in the washer the way liquid detergent can. (Also note: if you have a high efficiency washer, not using HE detergent will cause stinky buildup.)

 

You may need to try a combination of these things and repeat more than once for the smell to go completely away.  I have noticed a reduction in the musty smell as I have done many of these things today, and I am going to try a few more things tonight.  Maybe in between movies and pizza.

(Almost) Sinless No-bake Cheesecake

Last night, we had a dinner party - everyone brought part of the meal, and I got to do dessert! I always jump at the chance to make dessert for any occasion... it is my FAAAVORITE part of meal preparation - maybe because I know it is what everyone will remember after the meal, and if it turns out well, people make a big deal about it. Ok, so I just really like receiving praise and recognition...I can't help it!
Last night was one of those nights where I got to bask in the glory of everyone else's praise and recognition for my dessert. I was just so proud and so flattered that everyone liked it! I thought maybe you guys would like to try making it too, and have a little taste of the glory! I got the recipe from a mini cooking class I took a few years ago, and this time, I put my own twist on it to make it lighter and a little more guilt-free. Here is the recipe, enjoy!


No-Bake Cheesecake

Crust:
3/4 c. Graham Cracker Crumbs (about 4 1/2 - 5 full graham crackers)
3 TB packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 TB butter, melted

Cheesecake:
4 oz. neufchatel cheese
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. plain lowfat yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 oz. lite frozen whipped topping, thawed

Strawberry topping:
1 1/2 c. strawberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c water
2 TB frozen juice concentrate

Directions:
Combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter. Divide into 4 individual custard cups (I divided it into 8 cupcake liners in a muffin pan) and press to form a crust. Set in fridge to chill.

In a large bowl, beat the neufchatel cheese until smooth, gradually beat in the sugar. Blend in the plain yogurt and vanilla extract. Fold in the whipped topping until well mixed. Spoon the mixture into the crust. Chill to set until served. I put mine in the freezer for about a half hour before we ate it, and it was perfect.

For the topping, mix sugar, water and juice together, then add sliced strawberries to the mixture.

To serve, unwrap cheesecakes and put on a plate, then top with the strawberry topping.
Makes 8 mini cheesecakes (but probably serves about 4 people...its that good, you'll want more!)





Oh, and if you need a meal idea, here is what our meal was composed of

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Whole wheat bread sticks
Steamed veggies - broccoli, cauliflower, carrots
No-Bake Cheesecake

DE-Licious!

Zucchini Bread- a Healthier Twist

I used to think of zucchini bread as a wholesome snack (it is, after all, named after a vegetable...), but after making it many times this past year (lots of frozen zucchini from my garden last summer) I have come to realize that it is mostly just a delicious dessert (with lots of chocolate-yummmm) thinly veiled as healthy.

I try to be fairly health- conscious in general, and should probably pay better attention to what I'm eating now as I start trying to shed baby weight.  I have been making a slightly healthier version of my mother-in-law's delicious recipe that I would love to share with you!

Here is the original:

Zucchini Bread
3 eggs
1 c. oil
2 c. sugar
2 c. grated zucchini (not peeled)
3 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
3 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Beat together eggs, oil, and sugar.  Add zucchini and vanilla; mix well.  Add sifted dry ingredients. Mix well, add nuts.  Grease two loaf pans and dust lightly with flour.  Bake 1 hour at 325* F.  Makes two loaves.

My changes:
I reduce the oil to 1/2 c. and the sugar to 1 c., adding in 1/2 c. or so of chunky applesauce.  I used homemade applesauce with no added sugar.  I do not add nuts.  I usually make one large loaf of plain zucchini bread, and a smaller loaf that is more dessert-ish, with chocolate chips.  I like to pour the chocolate chips on top, and bake it without stirring them in- less of a mess to clean out of the pan, and I like the texture better.

Zucchini bread muffins are very convenient for anyone who likes to take their breakfast to work with them.  These will be perfect for my husband- easy to grab, and no chocolate, just the way he likes them.  Just reduce the bake time to about 45 minutes or whenever a toothpick comes out clean.

Has anyone ever tried making zucchini bread with whole wheat flour?  That's where I'm headed next.