Kale Cubes

So, with this whole watching my money thang, I really am trying to better about the food I buy.  Sometimes I forget about it and it goes bad and I throw it out. HUGE waste of money.  I had a large container of kale.  This happens quite often since Joe cannot eat a lot of fresh greens, I try to eat them all, but sometimes I just can't. Enter freezing it!

I put enough water in the bottom of the pan to cover {ok I used more but I recommend using less} and then brought it to a boil, dumped my kale.

I let it cook down a bit, about 2 minutes and turned it off.

The water will have a murky green color--USE it! It is full of antioxidants and nutrients. Carefully, pour it into a blender. I poured mine in the sink, thankfully!

Blend until it is a liquid.

Grab an ice cube tray, pour, and freeze!

Now I have frozen kale to add to smoothies or soups or whatever!  How smart is that?! I was pretty excited.   I plan on doing this with spinach or any other green too if I have a bit of surplus and it starts to go bad.

But I thought cooking kale loses its nutrients?  Well, after reading a lot, I always go back to, EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.  I read that cooked kale is great for cholesterol levels.  I also read that raw kale is great for cancer fighting properties.  So, both are great! Enjoy!!

Pop them out and throw then in a ziploc bag.

My frozen kale smoothie!! 

How do you Go Green?

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 One of my goals this year is to be more mindful of the environment.

I'm usually fairly conscientious, but I have implemented a few extra

everyday tricks to help out Mother Nature.

Obvious tips I've been doing all along:

• turn off lights when we're not in the room {even if you don't pay for your electric, don't be wasteful!}
• Recycling all things, paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, etc. {I overfill 2 bins each week!}
• Don't leave water running while brushing teeth OR doing dishes
• Purchase & use re-useable grocery bags
• Re-use plastic grocery bags if you forgot your 'green tote'
• Bike or walk {library, store, etc}
• Carpool with friends/family {I pick my MIL up for lunch--bonus--we get to chat to and from lunch, saves her on gas & only one vehicle on the road!}
• Try to use my nook or hubs Ipad for magazines books, but if I don't I'll always recycle them with friends!
• Buy from local farmers {preferably organic}

New Green Tips:

• I read a disturbing statement about how many toilet paper rolls end up in landfills because they don't get recycled. I realized I wasn't recycling ANY of my bathroom products; they just got tossed in the garbage! I know keep an extra bag under the counter to catch all the recyclable items and then toss them into the recycling bin come trash day.

•  We gave up buying the small plastic water bottles and we only use ones that we can re-fill.  The husband prefers glass, so I bought some VOSS water at Marshalls, and throw them in the dishwasher and use like we would any other glass. I fill them and keep them in the fridge so we can grab & go!

• If I am in the kitchen {which I usually am} I love having the Food Network on.  Joe suggested I turn off the TV and just leave the sound running through the system. It works well, since I'm not actually watching, just listening!
• For Christmas I purchased a few coffee cozies as prizes for my cookie party {and one for myself!!} and whenever possible, I use this instead of the cardboard one that usually ends up in the garbage.

• We only use cloth napkins.  I don't even have paper ones! I have paper towels, but everyday we use cloth napkins. I love Target, Pier One, Kohls for those goodies!  It adds some sophistication to your meal and there's nothing to throw away!



On days off, hubs gets breakfast in bed. =D

• And of course when possible, we buy Organic foods...but that's really an entire post {or several} on its own!!

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• We usually eat in.  Like I've shared before, it's better to know where your food is coming from, what's going into it, and it tends to taste a lot better!  Try making pizzas at home. No delivery charge, no wasted cardboard box.  Tastes way better too!



Mom & Dad D's Pizzas mmm

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We're not perfect, but I believe every little bit helps.

Hopefully we can add more green practices to our every day lives.

 What "GO GREEN" tips do you have?

I'd love to hear them!!