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As Lloyd says, recession is in the air, so we are offering up some tips on tightening your belts. The weekly grocery bill takes up a lot of the average family’s income so here are some ideas about how to cut out some of the fat.
1. Ditch prepared meals right now: Consumers have been led to believe that they don’t have the time to cook and it simply isn’t true. You can have a healthy meal on the table within half an hour. Prepared meals have more fat, more sugar, more salt, more preservatives, and more garbage waste than anything you can cook yourself.
You will be paying significantly more per serving than if you cooked it yourself. Someone has to pay for executive salaries and television advertising, why should it be you?
2. Plan ahead: Yes, this is going to take a bit of effort, but once you get going it will be easy. Make sure you have a well stocked pantry. Canned or dry legumes, rice, pasta, canned tomatoes should all be on hand to make quick, nutritious meals.3. Plan your week: Take the time to work out a menu plan for the week. Most people grocery shop once a week and they toss things into their carts, without considering what they really need. If you know what you are going to eat, and you have the right ingredients, you’ll be less likely to call for takeout, or head out to the fast food joint.
4. Cook more meatless meals: Meat will consistently be the most expensive food item in your grocery cart. The ready availability of other protein sources allows you to expand your food repertoire and have a healthier diet.
5. If you do use meat, use less: As I pointed out in my weight loss post, no one needs a 10-ounce steak. Cut back on the amount of meat that you cook and increase the amount of vegetables for each serving.
6. If you do use meat, use a cheaper cut: There’s a reason why your mother or grandmother made stew-it’s cheaper. There are lots of recipes for braises and stews that use cheaper cuts of meat and cook for a longer time.
Take advantage of a snowy Sunday afternoon and get something cooking that will fill your house with a wonderful aroma. If you make a large recipe, you will probably get more than one meal from it.
6. Use your leftovers: If you are cooking instead of eating prepared foods, you are going to encounter leftovers. Don’t let them turn to mould in the back of your refrigerator. Add leftover vegetables to soups, toss them into that stew, make a stir fry ,or take them to work for lunch.
7. Plan meals that will stretch through the week: If you make a spaghetti sauce one night, make enough to use in another meal. Use it as a soup base or make an eggplant parmigiana.
8. Make friends with your freezer: I admit to being a total hypocrite saying this, because my freezer holds a bottle of gin and martini glasses and precious little else. I don’t work outside of the home, however, so I don’t need to “bank” any food in the freezer. If you are making that spaghetti sauce already, make twice as much and freeze some for another day.
9. Brown bag it for lunch: I sent my kids off to school with a hot lunch every day once they were in high school. Sometimes I made something new, but mostly I just made enough dinner the previous night that I could heat it up in the morning. You have to invest in a good thermos, but it is significantly cheaper than buying lunch in a cafeteria or a restaurant.
10. Forget the pineapple: Unless you live in Hawaii, of course. Buy local vegetables, in season. Support your local farm economy buy going to your local farmer’s market.
I’ll be expanding on some of these ideas in the coming days helping you become recession-ready.
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The blog Eight Square Metres documents the trials and tribulations of a Computer Science grad as he or she attempts to grow various plants and foods on the balcony which is eight square meters in size. In the blog, the author writes that the easiest food to grow is bean sprouts.
You don’t need a lot to grow sprouts. You don’t even night light, apparently. All you need is a pint glass, a rubber band, some muslin and sprout seeds. Soak the seeds overnight. Drain the water. Rinse the seeds everyday. Then eat them when they look edible. They should be done in less than a week. If you don’t grow the sprouts in the light, they won’t be green. So if you want your sprouts to be green, put them in the light so their chlorophyll will go to work. Otherwise, don’t complain about brown sprouts.
Growing sprouts is just one way of creating local food. And it just goes to show that people who live in apartments and other small spaces, can find creative ways to go green, help the planet and create tasty sandwiches.
Bottle Openers
- Keep it real
You know what they say about Mother knowing best? Well, Mother Nature never needed to steal sips from a chemical cocktail of pesticides, weed killers, and chemical fertilizers to keep her act together. Nix the poisons and layer on some all-natural compost, instead. Call in beneficial insect reinforcements to wrestle pesky garden pests to the ground. Who needs to play Command & Conquer when you have battlefield drama unfolding before you in real time?
- Make compost from kitchen scraps
Compost like a champ by throwing in your vegetable waste, instead of allowing it to be trucked off to the landfill. Known as “gardener’s gold,” compost enriches soil fertility by giving it a shot of high-powered, plant-loving nutrients. Aside from stimulating healthy root development, the addition of rich and earthy compost also improves soil texture, aeration, and water retention. Why waste your hard-earned cash on commercial products when the real deal is free for the taking? Speed up the process with the help of earthworms or go wriggle-free (if you’re the squeamish sort).
- Buy recycled
If your delicate aesthetic sensibilities balk at the idea of reusing yogurt or takeout containers to house your hydrangeas, check out the myriad environmentally friendly planters and raised-garden kits now available. It takes less energy to recycle something than to mine virgin materials, so whether you choose recycled copper, plastic, or even rubber to anchor your tender shoots, it’s all copacetic. Admire your handiwork and eco-smarts while lounging on recycled lawn furniture.
- Grow your own food
Buying organic produce can admittedly get pricey, so how about growing your own food instead of painstakingly manicuring that lawn for the umpteenth time? An estimated 40 million acres of the 48 contiguous American states are covered in lawns, making turf grass the United States’ largest irrigated crop. American homeowners apply a cringe-worthy tens of millions of pounds of fertilizers and pesticides to their lawns, often at many times the recommended levels. All that for little more than ornamentation. It’s time to return to the use of gardens as food sources—you won’t find fresher (or cheaper) eating anywhere else.
- Join a community garden
Urban dwellers bereft of a yard shouldn’t fret: You can still get in on the hoeing and growing action by signing up for a plot at your local community garden. Community gardens typically have a communal composting area, as well, so if you don’t have room for one of those triple-duty rotating barrel composters in your home, here’s your hookup.
- Go native
Now that you’ve learned some of the merits of “de-lawning” your home, consider replacing the ol’ putting green with native and indigenous plants, whether they’re cactus gardens in Arizona or bottlebrush grasses in Northern Michigan. Already adapted to local conditions, native plants are easy to grow and maintain, generally requiring less fertilizer and water, as well as less effort to rein in pests.
- Harvest rainwater
Adding a rain barrel is an inexpensive and effortless way to capture mineral- and chlorine-free water for watering lawns, yards, and gardens, as well as washing cars or rinsing windows. By harnessing what’s literally raining from the sky, you’ll not only notice a marked dip in water costs, but also a reduction in stormwater runoff, which in turn helps prevent erosion and flooding. Pop a screen on top of your barrel to keep out insects, debris, and bird missiles, and make frequent use of your water supply to keep it moving and aerated.
- Water with care
While we’re on the subject of water, adopting a few smart-watering habits will do much to stretch out your supply, especially during dry, hot spells in the summer. Adding mulch and compost to your soil will retain water and cut down evaporation. Plus, soaker hoses or drip irrigation only use 50 percent of the water used by sprinklers. Water early in the day so you can avoid evaporation and winds. And the best place to drench your plants? Directly on those thirsty roots.
- Bring on the butterflies and bees
Provide a pesticide-free sanctuary for our pollinator pals, such as butterflies and bees, by growing a diverse variety of native flowers they’re particularly drawn to, such as wild lilac, goldenrod, and lemon balm. (Gardens with 10 or more species of attractive plants have been found to entice the most bees.) If you haven’t already heard, we’re in the throes of a major bee-loss epidemic, which is causing beekeepers in North America and Europe much hand-wringing. Because pollinators affect 35 percent of the world’s crop production—and increase the output of 87 of the leading food crops worldwide—extending a little hometown hospitality could go a long way.
- The power of 4
Get hip to four “R”s of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenScapes program: Reduce, recycle, reuse and rebuy. You want to reduce your output of waste to ensure you’re using materials efficiently. Reusing compost and tree clippings for mulch, or rainwater for watering take up little time and energy, but offer plenty of environmental bang for your buck. Recycling saves resources, while rebuying means seeking products that meet your needs, but are more environmentally friendly than your usual purchases—take, for instance, solar outdoor lighting versus electric-powered fixtures.
Adsense Alternatives
Tomato Diseases This Spring and Summer
Avoid tomato disease with these tips.
By Sara Novak
I can already taste the yummy tomatoes, still warm from the sun because they were picked from the vine just minutes before the meal. But tomatoes can play host to a number of plant diseases as well. Anthracnose, caused by a fungus is a common fruit-attacking disease. Symptoms first become visible on ripe or ripening fruit as small, circular, indented spots in the skin. Another fungus that could attack is Fusarium wilt. This soil-dwelling fungus causes leaf yellowing and wilting that progress upward from the base of the stem. But these are only two of a host of issues that you could encounter. If tragedy strikes your tomatoes, fight back with these five tips for dealing with infested crops.
1. Solarize the soil.
Fight pests my moistening the infected area and covering it with black plastic for at least four weeks in the hottest part of the summer. It will make infestation much more difficult in the deadened soil.
2. Plant marigolds.
Select a French variety of marigolds to fend off nematodes. Plant the infected area full of marigolds. Grow for about three to four months and then till the area.
3. Rotate crops.
Tomatoes should only be grown in the same area every three to four years. If your crops are already infected, only transplant them when they are dry so as not to spread the disease.
4. Water in the morning.
Water tomato plants at the base of the plant in the morning rather than the evening to minimize the amount of time that the leaves are wet to avoid fungus infestation.
5. Harvest frequently.
Don’t leave already ripe fruit on the vine. Pick it immediately to prevent your beauties from getting attacked. This also prevents cracking which can occur if ripe tomatoes have to sit through a hard rain storm.
Home Interior Designer
London Escorts and nightlife scene is the most vibrant and diverse in Europe. It tends to be a trendsetter for other major cities. Not only do the city’s clubs have a great mix of music, they also play regular host to some of the world’s best (and hottest) DJs. It’s also an ever changing scene, as clubs open and close with regular frequency.
Whatever your musical tastes, be it trance, garage, techno, house, R’n'B or good old fashioned 70s/80s nostalgia, it’s easy to find a venue in which serious fun can be had. From the pulsating dance-floors of major nightclubs to the chilled intimacy of smaller DJ bars, London has something to offer both hardcore party animals and those looking for a quiet drink and conversation.
London nightlife has more to offer as any other large city in the world. It is world famous for its party vibe and non-stop nightlife and travelers will find that one vacation will hardly have enough nights to explore all that London nightlife includes. Dance clubs with all types of music, theatre, movies, shopping, pubs, live entertainment, Female London Escorts and Male Escorts In London are all on the menu when the sun goes down.
The city of London has five major orchestras. The London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony, and the BBC Philharmonic are the major orchestras, with the Royal Albert Hall as its most famous venue, but there are also smaller music groups and operas to be enjoyed as well. With all of these groups, there will almost certainly be a classical show to enjoy during your vacation.
London’s West End, is home to theater, musicals, ballet and opera. London theatrical life has more than a dozen West End musicals playing, many with matinees and discounted tickets.
Nightlife in London pubs is another popular way to spend an evening. Sitting near a fireplace, chatting up the locals or enjoying a book can be the perfect end to a long day of sightseeing or shopping. Some of the world’s oldest pubs can be found in London. Charming pubs with world class beer that have graced the London streets for centuries are a great way to take a peek at another side of life in London. Many of the pubs are also great places to find a bite to eat, with less expensive fare then some of London’s other restaurants.
Soho, for centuries the heart of London’s nightlife, teems with a glamour aura and thriving gay scene. The infamous Soho district should be experienced at least once by any visitor purely because of its history and the fact that it is the historic centre of London nightlife. The sex shops for which it once was known are now far less prominent with the trendies slowly taking over with up-market bars and restaurants. It remains however a wonderful mix of chic and trashy!
If London night clubs are more your style, there is a lot to choose from. Most of London’s trendiest night clubs are located in the West End, and London night clubs are constantly coming and going as the trends continue to change. One thing will however remain constant; you will always be able to find a dance club in the city. For the flashy clubs on the West End, expect a dress code and a hefty cover. Many London night clubs are members-only and tend to be celebrity night clubs. Sightings of famous stars are common at these clubs but entrance will come at a price (sometimes hundreds of pounds!).
London is a work hard - play hard city. As a centre of nightlife and entertainment, this city can really let its hair down. There is a scene for everyone on any night of the week somewhere in the city.
Gentlemen’s Clubs, table dancing venues, massage parlors and escort agencies are abundant in this city and it only requires a short internet visit, a single phone call and a few hundred pounds to meet up and enjoy the company of some of the most beautiful international companions this world has to offer. Even though you can find quite a few sleazy places in this town too, just like in any major capital, most adult venues and agencies are of very high quality, secure and are strictly controlled. The best clubs have a strict dress code and on-site security will ensure things do not run out of hand and remain in line with legal and club regulations at all times.
Whatever you are into, you are sure to find it in London!
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My thoughts on the book I just finished, ‘Why Evolution Is True’ by Jerry Coyne. First, I didn’t read this book on any political, ideological, or theological grounds. I read the book because I picked it up in a bookstore, flipped to a part explaining how wings may have evolved incrementally (addressing the ‘what good is half a wing?’ argument put forth by creationists) and thought it sounded interesting.
You see, I’d heard that argument before. Or rather, I’ve overheard that argument before. I say overheard because I don’t make it my business to debate evolution or creationism with anyone, but, if people are talking about the debate, whether on T.V. or in the next cube, I listen. The specific argument I heard being made wasn’t actually about wings, it was about eyeballs. And the position, as I recall, made by someone towards whom I didn’t have any malice and who, for all I know had no malice towards me, was something like, ‘No one’s ever explained how to make eyeballs to begin with.’
It was persuasive. Not persuasive enough for me drop any notion of there being merit to evolution at all. But persuasive enough for me to remember. I remembered this argument for years. It didn’t bother me. It didn’t feel like something that had to be immediately resolved. Maybe he was right. Maybe the Earth was made in seven days. If that’s the case, I’ve got no problem with that. I didn’t write a book called, ‘Why Evolution Is True’.
Of course, this wasn’t an argument for creationism. This was an argument against evolution. Maybe you can’t even call it an argument against evolution. It was a challenge to evolutionists. And, in this book ‘Why Evolution Is True?’ it looked like the statement might have been in error. The book does actually provide an explanation for how eyeballs may have developed incrementally.
The book was the right length. The book covered topics with the right depth. The book was actually pretty easy to read, not because, in my opinion, the material wasn’t insightful, but because the author had taken the time to present the material in a logical way that doesn’t leave the reader making conjectures about what the author may or may not be trying to say.
The only criticism I have is that the tone of the book was inherently confrontational. I felt like the book was written for some invisible ideological, irrational creationist in the room. I checked. There wasn’t. It was just me.
Having said that, and having read an entire book on evolution, it makes me think twice about what it means to actually accept that evolution is true. Accepting evolution means more than accepting whether the Earth was created 5,000 years ago or 5 billion years ago. Accepting evolution, in its most undiluted form, means accepting that everything I know is the cosmic result of dice games.
A quick trip through the geologic history of the red rocks of Sedona in Arizona with a bossa nova feel.
Cacti, aloes, and agaves at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. Also, the artwork of Dale Chihuly was on display.
Whenever anyone asks Natasha or myself how old Natasha it is, we always need to ponder the question for a minute which I’m afraid gives people the impression that either we’re really stupid or that we’re trying to deceive them. Neither is the case.
Problem 1: Chinese tradition. When you’re born in China, you’re immediately one year old not zero years old. I don’t know if they do this in any other country, but in China that’s just the way they do it.
Problem 2: More Chinese tradition. When Chinese New Year’s passes everyone gets a year older. It just makes things easier. On your birthday, nothing happens. Unless you’re born on Chinese New Year’s.
Problem 3: Bookkeeping. Natasha was born on June 20, but it was recorded as June 26. Now all her paperwork uses the 26th as her birthday.
So, between Chinese New Year’s and June 20, Natasha’s American age and Natasha’s official age is two years younger than her actual age. Between June 20 and June 26, her official age remains the same, but her American age increments one year to make her American age 1 year less than her Chinese age. After June 26 until Chinese New Year’s, her official age increments by one year. During that time her Chinese age is just one year more than her American age and official age.
I have taken into account neither the difficulty in figuring out when Chinese New Year’s is since it’s a lunar calendar holiday, nor have I taken into account timezones.
I hope that clarifies things if anyone ever notices Natasha casually ask me, ‘How old am I?’
Parallel parking, durian, and Chinese Sour Kraut.
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