Inflation Busters Part II: 3 Easy products to create to help beat the high cost of living!

 

In these uncertain times, there are some ideas that are tried and true and have been proven to work for years to help ease the pain of inflation. Some of them are ideas that will help you as you buy household supplies to clean and to use in the course of your everyday routines.

They include an easy-to-use spray cleaner for counters and as an all-purpose cleaning fluid. And in stocking up on a small supply of easy to find essential oils and other products, you will wonder why you didn’t try these tips before!

 Number One: Cleaning Products

 Number one is the all-purpose cleaner. All you need to begin to stock up is a simple spray bottle that holds at least 8 ounces, but preferably a 16 oz size. From there, the first thing is to add water.  The formula can vary as you work to keep a small stock of essential oils and natural products.

 

Ingredients for your All-Purpose Cleaner

 

•      Castile Soap-You can buy in larger size if needed to save money
•      Essential Oils: Watch for sales on Peppermint/Tea Tree Oil/Lemon or  Lime/
•      White Vinegar: Sprouts has a special home cleaning bottle that works well 

 The basic formula will begin with pure water that is filtered or bottled. Pour in at least 2 cups and ¼ of Castile Soap liquid to about ¼ to ½ cup of the vinegar. The oils are added with Peppermint and Tea Tree using at least 8 or 10 drops/ and the other by just 4 to 5 drops. Shake the entire mixture well before using and spray and test on an area such as kitchen counter. This is all-purpose and should be used as mild cleaner for all surfaces and parts of home you would use any all-purpose cleaner from store in your house.

 Number Two: Carpet & Room Powder

The cheapest way to make the room smell fresh is the baking powder x essential oils. This is an easy formulation once you find a container such as a Mason Jar; a glass jar with a screw top that can hold the formula. The correct formula begins with a basic 1 to 1 ½ cups of baking powder and then the essential oils. You may use the mixture of Peppermint and Tea Tree as the base. From there, add your preference of Lavendar or Lemon & Lime mixtures for different seasons or months. Use at least 8-10 drops of Peppermint and Tea tree, with a variation of 5-10 drops for the other oils.

 Always test a small area of the rug first! I have oriental rugs that are quite old. But the natural mix has never harmed them. If there is a specific notation about oils, or a personal preference or allergic reaction, you can always switch the types of oil used.

I prefer to put the powder down and then vacuum it out the next morning. But you may find a different cleaning pattern suits as well. 

Number Three: All Purpose Water Spritz

This is for use in washing the car, or in spritzing the face. I keep a bottle in the small outdoor fridge.  I keep it filled with filtered water for a variety of uses in the garden or yard and even to spritz off the car. In summer, it is a handy way to just get a quick pick-up when you are experiencing unusually hot weather! (We live in Florida.)

 Those are the essential items that will begin to make up the staples of your pantry and save money as well as time in your weekly routine. In addition to using simple, basic ingredients for your household cleaning, you will find that these items are the best ones to use for your own personal beauty routine.

 Our next installment looks at the different products to use to keep your face and skin looking younger, and to save money when you shop!

 Don’t forget to visit us online at Brown Bag Organics and to read more about “The Brown Bag Story” at 6 Degrees Writer!

 

 

 

Welcome to the Inflation Busters series for Brown Bag Organics! This week we are talking about the kinds of products that can serve dual purposes. When you buy and accrue a small working supply of products that can be used for more than one purpose, you will not only save money but you will find the house smells cleaner and fresher and you will not be spending as much on items that use toxic chemicals and harm the environment.

 

For example, when you stock up on a small supply of essential oils, they can be used as carpet fresheners as well as for your face & nightly routine in place of more expensive creams and lotions.

 

The Essentials

 

Essential oils are the basic staple in all of your house & cleaning supply stocks. And this brings us to one of the most important items in your cleaning arsenal. A simple spray bottle. Buy two sizes preferable, a smaller one for bathroom & kitchen, a larger one for baseboards or to use for outdoor spraying of plants.

 

As I learned within the past year, it pays to simply stock up on basic supplies such as essential oils, spray bottles, and mild detergent soaps like Castile to replace the more toxic chemicals that often don’t do the job!

We live in an older home, and around the baseboards and in some areas where there had just been a build-up of old papers or unused corners, we knew there had to be major cleaning efforts to get back on track. And in order to get the job done, instead of using a lot of toxic chemicals, I began by simply spraying with a bottle that was filled with my own mix of oils and soap and vinegar with pure water to create a mild but effective cleaning solution for everyday use.

 

My Magic Formula

 

I now use this same mix for the bathroom and kitchen areas, all the baseboard cleaning and any ‘spring cleaning’ jobs where cobwebs may have been found. Before even beginning to clean an area that is dirty and has been in need of attention for a while, I use the spray bottle mix to begin to clean the area before even tackling the dirt and grime that may have built up over time. It is so much easier to do in two to three simple steps to allow the worst to be soaked through with a cleaner that is not offensive to smell!

 

Back to Basics

 

For the list of different formulas to create, you can check out this site that uses a funnel with separate cleaning solutions. However, the one that I have used is much simpler. I prefer the simple solution* of:

 

·        ½ Cup White Vinegar

·        2 Tbsp Baking Soda (Optional)

·        ½ cup Liquid Castile Soap

·        1 Cup Pure Water

·        Add Oils: Tea Tree Oil; Peppermint/ Eucalyptus / Lemon or Lime

·        Mix the oils with no less than 2-4 drops each...

 

**If it is a surface that is wood or antique; try on a small area; otherwise safe for baseboards, counters, and other surfaces.

 

Use this cleaning solution in a spray bottle for a much easier and healthier (as well as less expensive over time!) way to clean the whole house and leave it smelling fresh.

 The Brown Bag Tip sheet for February is available here! Brown Bag Organics is an online magazine featuring new articles every week on healthy eating and healthy living! Spend less money and learn to feel better and live longer! Here's the Brown Bag Tip Sheet for February!

Brown Bag Organics: The Gluten-Free 'craze' is here to stay!

 

 In celebration of "National Gluten-Free Day"..., here's a post about gluten-free living: 

Let’s face it- the Gluten Free “craze’ is here to stay. And those of us who have lived and eaten and thrived on the gluten-free diet for years will say, “I told you so!” Because once you have had digestive problems or suffered from years of having doctors tell you that there is nothing to do but take pills, then the idea of eating any other way is not feasible.

 No Obstacles to eating Gluten Free!

There is no mystery about eating gluten-free these days. And because the amount of GF food in supermarkets and at restaurants has, thankfully, increased to the point where it’s easy to obtain, then there are no huge obstacles in eating gluten-free. And even when traveling, most places in the states and abroad will be able to accommodate a traveler who eats gluten-free.

 Some Helpful Hints: 

There are a few easy hints to follow when you are committed to planning a gluten-free lifestyle.

·         Plan your menus ahead

·         Realize that there are some foods that are not going to be gluten-free

·         Know your limits-for what you can expect and how you deal with it!

·         Also, realize that if there are some things you cannot eat that are made with gluten, there may be other restrictions that you need to be mindful of (You may be allergic to other things too!)

·         Finally, be flexible if you cannot find a suitable dinner...settle for sides and salads!

 

There are so many ways to learn more about eating and cooking gluten-free. And if you are not a great cook, or don’t have a lot of time, here’s a hint. I started going to health-food stores over 25 years ago. Now, with the advent of large chains, there is great food that’s ‘grab’n’go’ at these stores as well as in their deli section.

 Some mainstays to try...

You can never go wrong with grilled chicken or salads. These are a few of my mainstays as I go through the week. Stir fry is your friend, as well as rice. And even desserts are available, with gluten-free cookies and crackers to help stem the tide of hunger.

 When I first started this diet, there were few options for bread or for other department store staples. But with the advent of the super-stores, there are entire sections devoted to specialty diets.

 Along with expanding the grocery aisles, there are plenty of online sites that will help you to navigate the gluten-free way. The NationalCeliac.org site is for those who are strictly gluten-free, with no room for slip ups that could cause life-threatening reactions. But there are many sites that have sections for simply delicious gluten-free foods. Southern Living and Betty Crocker are two well-known websites to peruse when you are shopping for good GF recipes.

 Strictly Gluten-Free

Our Brown Bag magazine is “Strictly Gluten-Free’ and is found on Flipboard. In it you will find recipes from NationalCeliac.org as well as Health, Self, America’s Test Kitchen, Gluten-Free Girl, Celiac Chicks, No Gluten, No Problem & Delightfully Gluten Free. There are over 50 top sites listed that will give you sauces & desserts & entrees, as well as cookbooks like ‘The Gluten-Free Bible” and others that will get you started on your journey.

 Be thankful that we are light years ahead in terms of knowledge of diet and nutrition from the age when I first began experiencing stomach issues decades ago. And I have since learned that more people than we may think have experienced issues surrounding gluten and eating other wheat products.

To conclude, there is so much more that we know about digestion and nutrition in the 21st Century. And with that knowledge, there is a consensus opinion that affirms what we started this piece with: Gluten-Free living is here to stay!

Don't forget to sign up for "Gluten-Freebies" each month in your in box!

For National Stuffing Day: Two versions of homemade cornbread Dressing

 These are from the PC Cooks! Cookbook published in 2018 from Tampa, FL by the GF Writer

Johnson/Lee Cornbread Dressing

(I find Cornbread dressing tends to be dry, so the version that is topped with turkey broth is the one I use most often)

Mrs. Johnson’s Northern version of Cornbread Dressing

Use 1 cup self-rising corn meal

1 cup self-rising flour

1 stick butter

1 egg

3 tbsp of white Karo Corn syrup or

3 tbsp of sugar (Gan-gan did NOT use sugar...said it was “Yankee” cornbread when sugar was added)

1 cup milk

Mix at least 2 minutes. Pour in pan & bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

 

Gan-Gan’s Southern Cornbread Dressing

 

4 cups corn meal

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon soda

2 eggs

3 cups buttermilk

2 teaspoons salt

 

Make egg bread of above ingredients.  Bake in quick oven until light brown.  When cool, crumble thoroughly and add to it:

1 1/2 cups minced celery

1/2 cup minced onion

2 cups bread crumbs

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Bind together with turkey broth made by boiling the neck and giblets in salted water.  Oysters can be added to dressing if desired.

If cooked in a flat pan, grease. and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes or until 'set.'

 

On the Allure of Homemade Bread

 

There is usually no greater allure to any type of forbidden object or item than to tell someone they cannot use a certain thing or eat a specific food. That is the foundation of my belief; that it's a sure thing when it comes to the hypnotic effect of smelling homemade bread.

Most people love the scent of freshly baked bread.  That smell can attract people and animals for miles as it wafts through the air. In my city, there was a bread factory that was known from miles away as you drove by on the highway and suddenly got a deep sniff of the fresh homemade bread.

And for those who are on a celiac and gluten-free diet, there is even greater attraction to the forbidden scent of homemade bread. And it’s why there is a never-forgotten memory I will retain forever surrounding that lovely smell

It happened when I was on a cruise some years ago. The table was set and we were ready to give our orders, when the waiter appeared with a clean cloth over a small, homemade loaf of freshly baked, “Gluten-Free” bread! I remember carefully wrapping it and taking it to the depths of my small room in the ship, where I would lovingly savor some portion of the bread each morning thereafter.

And when I have been at home, there has been no greater treasure during the holidays than the one where I could actually make a loaf of homemade bread. Of course, I cheated. I used a bread maker! But the gluten free bread still held the smell that tantalizes and tempts all who were near.

There is nothing quite like the smell of homemade bread. But when the bread is something that is often so rare that it becomes a treat only a few times a year, then the homemade bread event takes on a legendary appeal.

Brown Bag Wellness: Your Fall Inventory

 Since the onset of the Coronavirus, Brown Bag Organics has been looking at the best ways to stay well and feel healthy during this prolonged Pandemic. As we are heading into Fall, there have been some outbreaks of the virus that will alarm almost everyone in the general public.

But the best recommended guidelines are still the ones we have learned from the very beginning. 1) Wear a mask or N95 Face covering to protect yourself at work and in public; 2) Keep a safe social distance; and form a pod of your friends and family that you will be in frequent contact with; 3) Wash your hands with a good hand sanitizer.

These things are common sense guidelines to follow for most businesses and places that we frequent such as grocery stores and offices. We offered some more tips that may help from our post in April. 

Here are some other suggested resources and links that may help as we go into the holiday season and hunker down for the 'long haul' of living with Covid-19!

• Tea Tree Oil: A wonderful antiseptic to use as a general addition to your daily facial routine; Buy this for about $13.50 a bottle
• CBD Balm: There are many different types of lotions and balms that contain CBD; we recommend this particular company: CBD Daily
• Argan Oil: Added to your regular shampoo, and also as a daily moisturizer, the one we recommend is only $8.00.
• Moringa Oil: Another skin care oil to add to your base of products; This sells for around $15.00, and all of these products should last you for at least 6 to 8 months.

Finally, here's the link to Brown Bag Organics Magazine, updated weekly to bring you the latest topics

for your health and diet questions. Stay safe, friends, and we'll chat again soon! BBO