Soy Milk Recipe

Originally a recipe from The Zero Waste Home

Have now tried it! And made some adaptations. It passed Caia approval at first but then she changed her mind. It has a strong flavour. Seems like it was fine for cereal, making pancakes etc. But a little intense for coffee or drinking straight. I would like to try it again with different proportions of vanilla/ sugar. But before that I am going to test the almond milk recipe..

Rinse 2 cups of dry soy beans. Then soak over night.

Drain and rinse.

Cut old very light cotton blouse (has some stains) for cheese cloth. (Make sure it is clean.)

Place cheese cloth equivalent in strainer over large pot.

Liquify the soaked beans in a blender- proportion of 1/2 cup beans to 1 cup water.

Put each small batch into cheesecloth and carefully squeeze liquid out.

Place solids in bowl. And repeat till all beans used.

Boil soy milk for 10 minutes (watch out for boiling over- bubbles fast).

Add sweetener. I used 1/4 cup honey and 1 tbsp vanilla and it was quite sweet (but does balance strong soy flavour).

Let cool- strain one more time to remove skin.

This made at least 2 litres. I stored it in glass jugs (should last 1 week).

Note: not fortified with calcium- so make sure you are getting calcium elsewhere.

Cost: $2 from Whole Foods (plus a little for honey and vanilla) (lowest comparable purchased is $3, average though is $5). Savings $3.

Time: 2 minutes to soak and rinse, 15 minutes for main process, 10 minutes to boil (time to tidy), 5 minutes for additional work.

Waste tally: soy remains (can use for fertilizer or cooking).

Waste avoidance: 2 tetra packs at least!!

Thoughts on Waste and Recycling

I think we all know where most of our garbage comes from. And every family is different. So the point of this post is to look at our own behaviour and find ways to adjust it to decrease waste. You will notice that many things are recyclable. But it is important to refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle. Recycle is the last option because it is the least efficient option.

1) Yoghurt containers- to be used for frozen berries in summer. But also into idea of yoghurt maker.

2) Soy milk/ almond milk tetra packs- learn how to make my own.

3) Bags and tags and stickers for produce- start going to the farmer's market more often with mesh bags. Refuse veggies in plastic bags and containers.

4) Frozen berries and vegetables- use deep freeze (need to get one) and freeze my own.

5) Canned tomatoes- can my own.

6) Canned lentils and chickpeas. Buy dry and rehydrate.

7) Bread bags- make own bread.

8) Paper towel and kleenex- use cloth (cut more hankies from old baby blankets, bar rags).

9) Diapers and wipes- toilet train Caia!

10) Food waste (noncompostable in backyard)- convince city to finally get program going.

11) San Pellegrino bottles- get soda maker.

12) Wine bottles- collect corks for art projects and recycle (no refill wineries here).

13) Juice- we don't drink it much but Kevin would love a juicer.

14) Coffee- buy in big bags, buy Ethical Bean. Collect bags and bring to cafe for free coffee. Apparently will be used for earthbag construction home in Guatemala.

15) Chocolate- remember brands with tinfoil and paper. Need to recheck!

16) Batteries- replace with rechargeable ones. Have recharger in main sizes.

The Best Spelt and Dairy Free Pancakes

Note: these are not vegan and not gluten free. But they are wheat and dairy free.

Combine:

• 2 cups spelt flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Wisk 3 eggs, add 2 cups of any type of milk (we used soy), add 2 tbsp light oil (we used grapeseed), and 2 tsp vanilla.

Pour into dry ingredients and until just combined (should have small lumps). Do not overmix.

Cook on a medium hot griddle (splash a few drops of water on and should sizzle).

Serve with syrup, fruit or your favorite fixings.

Beneficials- Plants that attract birds, butterflies and bees

Ever wonder why the vegetables or fruits you plant aren't thriving? I think we often forget that supporting the local ecosystem is hugely important when trying to grow our own food.

Introduce beneficial plants to your garden to encourage wildlife- especially bees, birds and butterflies. And see your garden flourish!

Butterfly attracting plants:

• allium, azalea, dahlia, heliotrope, hollyhock, phlox, sedum, rhodos, thyme, verbena, wisteria

Birds:

• honeysuckle

Hummingbirds:

• dahlia, hollyhock, fuschia, phlox, snapdragon

Attracts pollinator bees:

• allysum, coreopsis, cosmos, sunflowers

This beautiful photo was found on Flickr.

Planting Bulbs

I just picked up some summer bulbs, but this should apply to both summer and spring (spring is the time to plant summer bulbs, fall for spring bulbs).

• Tulips then summer alliums do well under trees
• Do in clumps of 4/5 of the small, single varieties
• Bulbs need sun in early spring (spring bulbs)
• Plant at depth of 3x the height of the bulb
• Use a high phosphorous bulb fertilizer.

Frost Dates/ Preparing the Soil/ Garden timing

This is my personal plan for the garden with tips gathered over the years.

1. Generally in Vancouver it seems to be April 1 is safe for last and November 1 for 1st.
2. Add compost- 5cm spread on top or 19 litres per 100 sq feet (steer manure). Make sure manure is composted (cured). If steer etc manure make sure you let it dry. Easier to apply. Put some in compost bin. And sprinkle rest on garden or dig in where no planting yet. Don't put with existing food plants to be extra careful. Watch out that steer manure will likely add to salt levels. If you don't know how cured it is then apply only to food plants where you still have min 60 days to harvest. Perhaps avoid early spring plants like salads, carrots, radishes etc.
3. Save some manure, mix with water to add to plants indoors and out. (lost source)Manure Tea:
   Manure tea can be used for periodic feedings as a fertilizer or very diluted and used every time you water. Do not allow undiluted manure tea to come into direct contact with foliage. To make manure tea, simply place a shovel or two of manure in a large container (5 gallon bucket) filled with water, and after a week or so, strain out the manure. To make the straining process a little easier, you can tie the manure in a burlap bag before placing it in the water (like a giant tea bag).
4. Cover soil 2 weeks before you want to start planting.
5. Sew seeds indoors for late May transplant of peppers, tomatoes and eggplant.
6. April- plant thyme, peppermint, oregano, rosemary, parsley
7. Early May indoor seedlings of basil, chiles, cucumber, zucchinis, melons, squash.
8. May- plant basil, corn (seed), cucumber
9. June- plant edamame seed, squash, tomato, zucchini

General Cleaning

I desperately need to set up a cleaning schedule now that I no longer pay someone to do it for me. Check out caldrea.com and casabella.com for supplies.

Daily Regimen:

• AM- tidy up breakfast dishes, wipe kitchen counter, put away toiletries, wipe bathroom counter, put dirty laundry in hampers, make beds
• PM- clean after dinner, update grocery list, check coffee is ground, coffee maker is cleaned out, put away toys and books

Weekly Schedule:

• open windows to freshen rooms
• start washing (including towels, bed linens)
• clean bathroom
• dust furniture, decorations, lights
• clean floors (damp mop)
• clean out expired food from fridge, wipe inside
• clean exterior of appliances, remove crumbs from toaster
• clean stovetop and burners
• wipe surface of large appliances and cabinets
• empty recycling and garbage, clean out containers
• clean sink and floor, but sink plugs in dishwasher
• wash inside of empty dishwasher
• recycle old magazines and newspaper
• vacuum sofa and under furniture
• Clean interior and exterior of windows

Once a Month

• Polish wood furniture
• Clean tvs etc
• Dust bookcases
• Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners
• Wipe light switches and door knobs
• Clean interior of windows

June 2011 update: I now have a Numbers file dedicated to my cleaning routing. And it is actually divided into a 4 week plan with seasonal activities. The 4 weeks represent 4 weeks in a month and if there is a 5th week, then I get to mainly rest that week (only do what happens every week). When I get a chance I will update it and make an excel version and share it with you all.

Spring Cleaning

The sun is out today- it's lovely. But I totally get the urge to spring clean when I can see every piece of dust. So here are some old tips:

1. Toaster- wipe down tray, blast interior with a computer keyboard cleaner, use aluminum foil scrunched up to get rid of rust on outside (all with it unplugged)
2. Cooktops- saturate with cleaner, wait 10 min and then wipe clean.
3. Clean interior of oven. Use all purpose cleaner and scrape with old credit card.
4. Wash vent filter with hot water and detergent in sink (min 1x per year)
5. Fridge- wipe interior with solution of 3 tbsp baking soda and 4 cups water, dust condenser coils with coil brush (Whirlpool)- located at back and usually bottom
6. Clothes dryer- inspect vent outside to see if air coming out (while one), snack lint removal brush through vent, or call in professional (1x per year)
7. Wipe cabinets from top to bottom with warm water and dish soap.
8. Use a mild abrasive to clean the knobs.
9. Scrub tiles and grout (bathroom too). Use hydrogen peroxide with gloves on mildew and mold. Use lemon oil to remove lime.
10. Repair leaky faucets.
11. Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down clogged drain, follow with 1/2 cup vinegar, cover with wet cloth, wait 5 min, uncover, flush with steaming hot water.
12. Wash the shower curtain, replace lining.
13. Use Method O Mop solution or Murphy Oil Soap to clean wood floors (nonwaxed floors)
14. Vacuum drapes (on low setting)
15. Vacuum sofas.
16. Vacuum crevices in windows and any screens.
17. Spot clean walls with magic eraser (green alternative?) or with mild soap.
18. Clean decorative pillow covers.
19. Clean window sills, baseboards etc, lights, fixtures with microfibre cloth.
20. Wash windows inside and out.
21. Dust and wipe out the closets.
22. Check smoke detector, fire extinguisher works.
23. Bring in professional cleaner for drapes, sofas and rugs (1x per year)
24. Get ducts cleaned (1x per year).
25. Get chimney cleaned (every 2 years).
26. Service furnace etc. Check filter (1x per year).
27. Polish furniture (rub in direction of grain, after cleaning with Murphy's Oil Soap)
28. Polish silverware (2x per year).
29. Dry clean duvet, mattress pads, pillows.
30. Vacuum and flip mattress.
31. Wipe out drawers, line clothing drawers with lavender paper.
32. Clean out fireplace.
33. Remove clothes not worn over season and seriously consider donating.
34. Wash/ dry clean winter coats, sweaters, pants, skirts.
35. Clean winter boots.
36. Store winter clothes.

Decluttering

This is a personal list from before the blog went public.

1) Clothing

• go through every clothing bucket to get rid of anything worn out or have not worn in last year.
• go through closet and bedroom storage.
• ask hubby to do the same with the bedroom clothing.
• put worn out clothes in rag box.
• donate decent clothes.

2) Electronics

• transfer all music to a hard drive.
• ask hubby to check cords and divide into keep and recycle.
• organize electronics we are keeping, tag cords.
• recycle all computer related items and cds at FreeGeek.
• put any functioning electronics on freecycle.
• recycle any non-computer electronics if no one wants them.

3) Kitchen items/party supplies

• go through kitchen cabinets and remove any items not used regularly.
• divide into keep and donate piles.
• go through basement storage and divide as well.

4) Paperwork

• move all relevant paper work to basement storage
• organize into year and category (bills etc)
• go through old paper work and purge all 7 yrs +
• go through old magazines and get rid of ones not interested in
• go through Caia's art and choose favorites, use blank backs again, or recycle
• 1 folder of Caia's art per year
• update addresses and dispose of envelopes from Xmas cards

5) Toiletries and Medicines

• go through linen closet, bathroom and basement supply
• get rid of anything expired or that we don't use