Thanksgiving Leftover Cooking: Cranberry-Orange Muffins

This recipe is from my great-grandmother. Great-grandmother recipes need no introduction because they are always good. My favorite thing about these muffins, aside from the taste, is that the batter is such a pretty pink!

• 2 cups flour (gluten free flour should work too!)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 - 3 cups leftover cranberry sauce (puréed) or raw relish. If you have no cranberry sauce or relish, finely chop 4-6 oz cranberries and add 1/2 a cup sugar.
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• one large egg
• 1/3 cup sugar (optional, muffins will be nice and tart without it)
• orange juice as needed to moisten batter

1) Preheat oven to 350
2) Purée cranberry sauce (if not using a relish)

3) Mix together ingredients, no particular order necessary.
4) Spoon into a greased muffin tin.
5) Bake for 18-20 minutes

Delicious with pumpkin cream cheese!

Creative Gift for a 5 Year Old

I was "Jake's" first babysitter when he was an infant. Even though we don't see each other very often anymore, I have yet to miss one of his birthday parties, and this year is no exception. Sticking with my theme of "on a budget," I wanted to give him a gift that let him know how special he is to me, without breaking the bank. He has plenty of toys, books, and stuffed animals. So I opted to wrap up a little something to remind him of one of our favorite things to do on a rainy day: make cookies.

The box contains all the ingredients, plus instructions, to make chocolate chip cookies, our favorite. Of course he'll need mom's help, but I feel good about giving a meaningful gift that won't just pile up in a toy basket, be outgrown, or end up in a landfill.

Eco-Fireplace

Last week I decided to have our first fire in our fireplace since we acquired one in July. For the first two hours, everything was going smoothly. The wood was crackling away, smoke was going up the chimney, and all was well and cozy.

And then the smoke started coming back down the chimney. I know, I know, check the flue... I did and it was open. It's been a week and I can still faintly smell the smoke. So rather than risk a repeat (that was a LOT of laundry to do!), I decided to opt for a cheaper, less-smelly, eco-friendly fireplace solution. This trick is far from original, and I think Martha Stewart started it, but I'm not sure.

The candles I got from Ikea for $10, and will probably last most of the fireplace-using season. Way cheaper than buying wood! Better for the earth, less smelly, less dangerous, and just as cozy.

If you don't have a fireplace, you could still create a fireplace-like effect by designating a certain counter or table as the candle area. I suggest putting a plate or tray down, as these candles will drip beautifully. Just be safe, and make sure your pets are smart enough to stay away.

Mint Facial Mist

 
My mint plant is very happy on my deck, and now that summer is over there are fewer food recipes that call for it. I could make tea, but I'd rather start making Christmas gifts. And it's been awhile since I posted something that wasn't about food!

Mint Facial Mist
-1 c. witch hazel (available at most drug stores for about $5)
-1/2 c. fresh mint
-1/2 c. fresh rosemary
-Peel from 1 orange, 2 tangerines or a lemon

1) Combine ingredients in an 8 oz. glass jar or other container you can tightly seal.

2) Cover with a lid and shake well.
3) Leave in a cool, dark area (such as a pantry or cabinet) for at least one week.
4) Strain off solids using fine muslin or a paper coffee filter.

5) Put solution in a pretty misting bottle.

Courtesy of Design Sponge.

Save Some Green and Stay Clean

Most of us are concerned with saving the planet. So here are two of my favorite cleaning tricks to help you keep your house clean and green.

Cut up old t-shirts to use as cleaning rags. These are reusable, free, and better for the planet than paper towels. Tired and stained bath towels and washcloths work too. Keep them in a special drawer, basket, whatever.

Dilute your chemicals. Most bathroom/surface/everything cleaners are much more potent than they need to be. So don't be afraid to water it down -- your Clorox spray will still get the job done, and be less stinky, and the bottle will last longer. If your bottle is new, try pouring some into a reusable spray bottle and diluting both bottles. You can keep one in the bathroom, and one in the kitchen. Look, that just saved you 30 seconds walking back and forth to get cleaning supplies! Everybody wins.

If you're cool without harsh chemicals, use natural cleaning aids. Diluted vinegar is great for disinfecting bathrooms and kitchens, and water with a bit of lemon juice is a great all-purpose surface cleaner.

Knitting Cake

It's been a while since I've had a non-food post... so here ya go.

I come by my craftiness naturally; my mother is a musician, knitter, cook, crafter, and most remarkably, an amazing calligrapher* (she does wedding invites, if you're in the market...). She is also hard to shop for. So when her birthday came around in May, I lucked out when I stopped by a yarn sale in Oakland, and the saleslady suggested I make a "cake" out of a giant skein of yarn she was trying to get rid of. So I bought the skein and some ribbon, and picked up some cake toppers with candles at the drug store, and 15 minutes later I had this:

She loved it so much she refuses to knit with it, and it sits perched in her living room 4 months later. Good thing it's not a real cake!