Do you know or care what you eat??

I know that so many of us out there are trying to switch from our normal standard of food to the organic lifestyle. I know it is not easy. Even for me and my family but I do know that I will continue to try my best. Even if it means I bake my own home made bread and cakes from scratch. I did want to share this little bit of information with you all though because shopping for True Food is not so easy these days. When you buy organic you are guaranteed that you are not eating genetically engineered (GE) food. However, with the increasing amount of GE food out there it can be trick and the labels can be deceptive. So if you are curious or just flat out want to know what you are buying the great folks at Tue Food Now! have written a handy printable shopping list.

You can download it here http://www.truefoodnow.org/shoppersguide/guide_printable.html

Teaching Jade to sew?!?!

So this week has been full of excitement for me. My daughter finally decided that she wanted to learn to sew! She had been talking about it for about a month now so a couple of weeks ago I bought her a used Singer off of craigslist. Mainly because I keep mine set up for quilting. I suppose I could have shared but why when a practically new machine could be purchased for $30. Plus, then we can sit and so side by side. Well that was my hope anyway. After spending a week with her picking out just the right fabric and a super easy pattern we were ready to start. To make a long story short...We finished the shorts. She didn't realize how long it would take. I reminded her that this was only her first project and she chose a satin fabric. Which I always find difficult to work with. She also has been blessed and cursed with my lack of ability to correctly follow the recommended pattern directions. So seeing her modify something is going to be a challenging blast! I can't wait!

Weekend Bargains!

Here are some pictures of weekend bargains. I purchased them at the best little "general" store called Prairie Piecegoods. I actually know the owner and her husband so I always like to go down for a little visit. There is always plenty of vintage items to be found and the prices are always so cheap. I can't hardly wait until they open their antique store, which will be right across the street!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Yesterday Jade and I made the most scrumptious cake. I know at first thought some of you may be thinking "chocolate and zucchini?...I don't think so!" but trust me when I say this is a great little cake. It turned out so rich and chocolaty. Of course I think it would have been just as good without frosting but Jade insisted I make some chocolate buttercream for it.
Here is the recipe just in case any of you would like to try it!


Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups sifted naturally white flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 stick butter (1/2 cup) at room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 cups unpeeled grated zucchini
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour 2 8-inch round cake pans. Beat together sugar, butter and oil in a large mixing bowl until blended well. Add eggs to the mixture one at a time, being sure to beat well after each one. Add the vanilla. While you are mixing the ingredients together sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Once all of the wet ingredients, except the buttermilk, are incorporated start mixing in the dry ingredients alternating between the dry and the buttermilk. Mix in the grated zucchini. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and nuts over the top of each pan.

Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. It took ours about 40 minutes.

Stawberry Babies

I was blessed to receive in the mail this week a package of little baby strawberry plants from a sister Farmgirl in Idaho. Lisa Marie had gone to all of the trouble to ever so carefully wrap up the little bundles of crowns in wet paper towels and plastic wrap. All in the hopes that they would survive their 3 day journey. Well when they arrived one bundle looked as though it had just been picked and the rest were a little worn from the journey; but after soaking them overnight in a bit of fresh water the crown looked great. I am afraid the weather is way too hot right now for them to be outside. So I "planted" them in an old enamelware roaster filled with organic compost and that is where they will spend the next several weeks indoors where they can be monitored and cared for on top of the fireplace mantle . I have never grown strawberries before but I have high hopes for these little babies. I can't hardly wait till I can harvest fresh berries for jam! Thanks again Lisa Marie.

Caterpillars in the gardens...

While I was out watering in the garden yesterday I happened upon this huge green caterpillar on my tomato plant. Not knowing what was stuck/suctioned all over it I broke off the branch it was located it on and moved it to another area. After doing a bit of research I found out something interesting. The little white things suctioned to my green caterpillar are actually wasps!! Here is a link to see what I found out. http://goodbugpage.com/wonderful_wasps1.htm.

The other little caterpillars in my southside flower bed have been hard at work eating the plants that were specially planted for them. These plants were given to me so I am not quite sure what they are; but I was guarenteed that they would bring me some butterflies.