The Kitchen... Where We Make Food (Intelligent Title of the Week)

Originally this post was titled "The Kitchen... Where The Magic Happens", but I didn't want you to think this was a disturbing tie-in with the "Green Baby Making Guide".  Seriously, though, I recently got into cooking and have been playing around with different recipes and ideas lately and have been loving how I can now create a whole meal out of almost nothing.  A little bit of flour, eggs, butter, and garlic salt suddenly becomes a whole pizza crust!  A yummy pizza crust, too!  So now here's a more intimate look at my kitchen.

Since "Going Green" I have tried buying better foods.  This includes organic flour, organic raw sugar, fair trade coffee, locally grown produce and meat, and free-range eggs.  There are some things still hanging around from my pre-green days that I don't want to waste by throwing away, so we are keeping them around when they are gone and replacing them with eco-friendly options at that point.  But my favorite changes so far has been discovering Coconut Oil (and Tropical Traditions in general), raw sugar (so yummy, seriously!), and really learning to cook. 

I think cooking is important for everyone to know how to do.   It makes it easier to control what you eat and how you eat, and gives you a sense of pride.  At least it does for me anyway.  In true "Julie and Julia" fashion I have decided to cook my way through the box of family recipes I was given on my wedding day (it's that blue box seen next to the microwave), which features such wonderful recipes as "Aunt Rosemary's Ham Balls", "Grandma's Butterscotch Pie", "Mom's Holiday Sugar Cookies", and "Our Family's Corn Flakes Caserole".  Maybe I'll post about this.  Maybe I won't.  I know I'm not giving myself a deadline... I'm not that ambitious!

Besides my undying love of Tropical Traditions I am really not brand loyal with anything so there's nothing that specific to share here.  My frugal self tends to buy whatever is on sale.  I can tell you that since making my switch I buy most of my groceries at Trader Joe's and Henry's Farmer's Market, which luckily for me are located practically next door to each other and therefor really easy to shop at both in one trip to get all of my grocery needs covered.  However, I will admit that from time to time I will shop at that evil super store known as WalMart.  BUT my WalMart does carry organic, locally grown produce.  So that's how I justify my once a month or so trip there.  To me that's a better option then my local grocery store which does not carry any organic or locally grown produce at all.  Please don't hate me!

We have quite an interesting mix of plates.  Some we got for our wedding, some my husband has had for years that he got for free, and some given to use by my MIL.  I love that our dishes don't match at all, but when you mix and match them together they do look like they belond together.  This is a look I plan to continue when we need to replace them.  Mostly by buying dish sets at Good Will!

For cleaning we do use mostly vinegar and baking soda.  But as time has gone on and I've had the chance to get to know some wonderful EF companies and products I've really started loving some awesome cleaners that are safe for me and safe for my family.  Seventh Generation is one that is extremely popular, but with good reason- their stuff ROCKS!  In fact, in a just a few moments there will be a Seventh Generation giveaway on The Green Living Community, so if you've been wanting to check them out, now is the time to enter this great giveaway for a chance to win a whole collection of Seventh Generation Cleaners!  Dr. Bronner's, EcoStoreUSA, and EcoSmart (which I am hosting a giveaway for soon!) are also prominent under my sink. 

So thank you for spending some time with me in my kitchen.  It ain't much, but we like it enough.  :)