Organic Budget Archives - Twitchetts

How to make naturally dyed heart pancakes for Valentine’s Day

Susie — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 11:59:26 +0000

Make these naturally dyed heart pancakes for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day breakfast. Use whole ingredients and a delicious homemade pancake recipe for a simple breakfast your kids will love.

Naturally Dyed Heart Pancakes

Nothing can beat homemade pancakes unless you add a cute little accent that your whole family will love. They don’t take too much extra time to make and it is totally worth it to make the morning extra special!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we may receive an affiliate commission.

What you need for naturally dyed pancakes:

Pancake Batter. (Make it from scratch with this recipe)
Frozen Blueberries and/or a Can of Beets.
Squeeze Bottle.
Pan.
Strainer.

Making Your Valentine’s Day Breakfast Pancakes:

To create your natural pancake batter dye, just reduce your berries and/or beets over medium temperature.

Add a little water to the berries if needed. It doesn’t take much juice to dye your batter.

Strain and let cool completely before adding to your batter.

Mix batter and juice together and then add into the squeeze bottles. I cut the tip off of my bottle to let out the thicker batter.

I use this all of the time to make fun pancakes even without using the dye.

Create your heart, let sit a moment, then add the plain pancake batter around the edges. Continue to cook like a standard pancake.

Your little ones are going to love these special heart pancakes! They aren’t just for Valentine’s Day breakfast either. You can do this to make a birthday or the first day of school special too!

If you don’t make your batter from scratch I highly suggest you give it a try. It is really quite simple and very inexpensive! Check out our recipe here!

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Almost Healthy Zucchini Brownies

Susie — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:00:10 +0000

I Love chocolate!! If it’s around I eat it… If it’s not around, I crave it! So when Mama H emailed me a recipe handed down from her mother for Zucchini Brownies I had to try them. I mean they contain veggies, that makes them almost healthy brownies…right?!?!

We all have those recipes. The ones that have been handed down. Some are hand written and some are in a cookbook with cute handwritten notes on the side. This one had a note, “great with a cup of coffee”. Oh boy was she right!

J ate around 3 before I told him what was hidden inside. He was shocked! I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a sign of them… Almost like they disappeared. Only on very close observation would you notice a spec of green here and there.

What you need to make your Zucchini Brownies:

Here is the Recipe… Or at least my version (I don’t use margarine) a minor substitution.

1 1/2C Sugar
1/4C room temp Butter
1/2C Apple Sauce
2 Eggs
2C Flour
1t Cinnamon
1t Soda
2T Cocoa
1/2t Salt
2 C Grated Zucchini
3/4C Chocolate Chips
1T Sugar

Cream first 4 ingredients – Add in dry ingredients – Mix well

Add in zucchini – Mix again

Grease pan (I used coconut oil)… I chose to make mini muffin zucchini brownies, you can make traditional brownies too.

Sprinkle the top with Chocolate chips and Sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees. For mini muffins check with a toothpick at 22mins. For full pan bake for 30 mins.

This recipe made 48 mini muffins… They lasted less than 48 hours…. Good thing they are Almost Healthy right???!!!

Sounds like a Grandma K type of healthy…like Crunch bars being healthy “because they have rice in them”!

Check out our other fun snacks here!

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Easy Princess Birthday Party Ideas

Kate — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 11:00:26 +0000

When I asked Little Miss what kind of birthday party she wanted, she answered without hesitation. A Princess Birthday Party!

Little Miss is your typical 3-year-old girl. She loves anything princess and dress-up. I wanted to save the Disney princess party until she was a little older, so I went with a more generic princess party. And she had a blast!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission.

Princess Birthday Party Food

When we party, we BBQ.

Hubby grills up some amazing chicken legs, including his own BBQ sauce.

The sides can be round-up from gardens and farmers’ markets.

Little Miss’ favorite foods are Mac & Cheese and Watermelon, so I made sure to include those on the menu.

Princess Cake

I used a crown-shaped cake pan for the cake.

To make the pink frosting, I added some beet powder to our go-to frosting recipe from Can You Stay For Dinner.

And what is a princess cake without sprinkles? The sprinkles that I used have been discontinued. But here are some other natural ideas.

Princess Birthday Party Activity

What is a Twitchetts party without a fun activity? After J’s amazing Minecraft party or V’s fabulous Summer Celebration, Little Miss had some high expectations. So I went big…Castle big…

Yep, that’s a cardboard play castle. Filled with princess dress-up accessories.

And it was a success!

Check out the step-by-step instructions for this giant cardboard castle.

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Trimming Your Organic Budget ~ Get Your Grow On

Kate — Fri, 08 May 2015 16:00:00 +0000

When trying to live on organic produce the price tags can get extreme. This time of year you have a few choices to really get that cost down. Go, well prepared, to your farmers market {tips here} or Grow your own!! If you are just catching up we started from seed, took care of our seedlings, & started some compost. Today we are sharing tips on transplanting seedlings to your garden.

If you have started anything from seed indoors, the most important step to take before moving them to your garden is hardening them off. This is the process of ‘tuffening up’ your plants. Bring them outside in a slightly protected place.

This way they get exposed to some wind. Let them sit out over night (unless it is supposed to freeze). You just want them to get used to the environment before moving them to your garden.

Once they are ready for the real thing, it’s time to get them planted! If you grew them at home, your plants might still have their first leaves. This is a good way to measure how deep to put your plant in the ground. Remove those starter leaves and put your plant in so the soil covers where those leaves were growing.

You always want to dig your hole in the ground wider and deeper than the plant. This way the soil that ends up around your plant is loose.

Add in some compost, fill in soil around your plant, and then water in well.

There are lots of fun things you can add around your garden to help your plants out.
If you want to add some flowers, Borage and Marigolds are great veggie companions.
Crushed eggshells can be used on the tomatoes for extra calcium.
Coffee grounds can be used around plants to detour bugs.

This year I am adding a couple praying mantis egg sacks!

They are supposed to eat all sorts of bugs that are bad for your plants!! They each hold around 200 little guys. I will update you with how that all goes. This is way out of my element so we will see…

Growing your own food is so exciting. Get the family involved, even if it is one strawberry plant in your back yard.

They will be so excited to get out there and pick one right off the vine.

I hope you have something in the works this year! It’s not too late to get something started!!

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Let the Compost Begin

Kate — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 16:00:00 +0000

So have you been planting? How are your seedlings doing? Have you started a compost yet?

Now I’m not going to pretend that I’m an expert on composting, but I have learned a few things over the past year. And the first thing you’re going to need is a place to compost.

I use this inexpensive plastic tote.

When you’re choosing your plastic tote, make sure to watch the plastic numbers.

You want to choose a plastic with the recycle codes 1, 2, 4, or 5.

Drill holes all along the sides, top, and bottom.

Composting doesn’t have to be overly complicated. You really just need to remember to add both brown and green items to your compost.

Start your new compost with a heavy dose of “brown” items then cover with some fresh dirt.

Then start adding some green items.

Keep your compost moist and stir it every couple of days.

It shouldn’t be smelly or overly wet. If either of these things happen add some more brown material.

When your compost is ready, go ahead and add it to your garden.

A great way to test whether or not your compost is ready is called the bag test. Put some compost in a bag and give it a sniff. Place the bag in a drawer for a day or so. Then give it another sniff. If the smell hasn’t changed, it’s good to go. If the compost started to stink, then give it some more time.

Compost is a great fertilizer for your veggies, lawn, or flower beds.

How do you compost? What do you compost in?

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5 Questions to ask at the Farmer’s Market

Kate — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 16:00:00 +0000

They’re Baaack!! No…not creepy ghosts coming out of the TV…(although I heard a rumor that those are coming back too…). It’s Farmer’s Markets!!!

I LOVE the farmer’s market. The sounds, the smells, the atmosphere. It used to be just a fun weekend activity.

When I decided that I would try to buy more local produce, the farmer’s market quickly became very overwhelming. Why does EVERY stand have to sell tomatoes?!?! Which stand should I be buying tomatoes from? Crap, I just bought tomatoes…and those look sooo much better.

Forget it! I’ll only shop at the stands labeled organic.Well, that’s well and good, but I knew that I was missing out. So I started reaching out and asking questions. You know what? Local farmers are really cool!

It took me a while, but now when I go to the market I know who I want to buy from. And if there is a new seller, I know that they are more than happy to answer any of my questions.

I’ve been asking them what kind of questions people should be asking when they’re discovering a new farmer. I learned a lot!

1 ~ What kind of pesticides and fertilizers do you use? Natural and Organic farmer’s have approved pesticides that can be used. Ask them what, if any, effects their sprays have on the soil and bees. If they are using conventional, synthetic, or “traditional” sprays, I thank them politely and move on.

2 ~ Where is your produce grown? You’d be surprised how many people do not grow the produce they are selling. That’s not always a bad thing. But if they do not grow it, they should at least know it. They should know where it comes from and how it is grown.

3 ~ How are your animals raised and what do you feed them? I buy eggs and meat at farmers markets. I want to know that the animals have been grass fed, not injected with anything, not fed any GMO grains, and humanely raised.

4 ~ Where do you get your seeds? I love finding a farmer who uses their own seeds. But any clean start is a good one. You might even get some great tips on saving your own seeds! My local grower taught me that if I find a tomato that I really enjoy, save the seeds and let them dry on a paper towel. Boom. Organic & local seeds…no extra cost!

5 ~ When was it picked? One of the perks of the farmer’s market is how fresh the produce is. Fun fact, the kale I bought today was picked at 4:00 yesterday!

The first few times you ask these questions might feel overwhelming. But the more you do it, the more comfortable you will become. Plus you’ll learn quite a bit about what you’re eating. You may even get some tips on how to cook, prepare, and store your groceries!A few more things to keep in mind when shopping.

Organic is not always necessary. Becoming certified organic is a process. You’ll find a lot of farmers would rather not go through the time or expense of getting certified. And that’s OK. These farmers are selling at a farmers market, not a grocery store. The only difference between their produce and the certified organic stuff will be the prices.

Know what’s in season. This week’s market didn’t have tomatoes or corn at every stand. But I walked away with some delicious lettuce, kale, asparagus, carrots and some herb seedlings.Make sure the person you’re talking to actually knows what they’re talking about. (which is another reason why I ask so many question) Last year, I walked up to a stand and asked if they used any sprays. The girl quickly replied no. So I started buying. The prices were amazing…I kept buying. I was so excited! I asked, are you sure none of this is sprayed with anything. This time…she hesitated. A man quickly jumped in and said that nothing was sprayed. But my confidence was shattered. I finished my purchase and left. Your farmer should answer confidently and intelligently any question that you ask. If you ask the right questions, you’ll walk away feeling happy instead of feeling ripped off.

I’m excited to see what’s on sale next weekend!

Make sure to keep a note of who you see so you can find them again! If you make nice they will remember you. After a few weeks they might even save you the best bunch of carrots!!

Check out these other great posts!

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Trimming Your Organic Budget ~ Keep Those Seedlings Alive!

Kate — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Whether you have been following along or just getting started, we started some veggies from seed. Keeping seedlings alive has been a learning process. We are sharing all that we have learned!

Like we said before we are learning as we go. Between Mama K’s tips and our own trial and error we are sharing how we have been keeping our seedlings alive.

Tip #1

Keep them happy. Good sun and moist well drained soil. Mine are everywhere…

Behind the couch, in windows, in J’s room, you name it they might be there.

Luckily at this stage they are pretty small.

Tip #2

Don’t let them get too tall. They will fall over and die off quick.

I started these Roma Tomatoes in tall cups since they wont be planted in the garden until May.

To keep them happy I just carefully loosened the soil using a fork, lifted out the seedling, stuck my finger in to make a deep whole, and placed the seedling back in.

These plants will get quite a bit bigger by the time they are going to go into the garden.

Tip #3

Give their roots a place to grow.

I started quite a few of each seed that I wanted… I knew they wouldn’t all make it, in fact I wasn’t too certain any of them would. Some of my cabbage and broccoli were outgrowing their little pods behind the couch, so it was time for them to get a little more space.

Make sure you make plenty of holes in the bottom for water drainage.

Tip #4

Be patient! Once the true leaves (the second set) grow in they are well on their way to becoming your next dinner… Getting them past the first few weeks might be the hardest part. I have to admit mine didn’t all make it.

and sometimes even once you think your in the clear, one just gives out on you… Still think one of the kids got to this one…

3 out of 4 isn’t too bad. I have plenty more going and I don’t even like cabbage that much…

Seeds are super cheap, even for organic so if a few don’t make it you’re only loosing out on some change. These guys will be going into the garden soon enough. It has finally been plowed!!

Next we will be going over composting for your garden. We touched on this in our Use it Don’t Lose it post a few weeks ago. So start saving your scraps!

Don’t get discouraged if you lose a few plants to damping off (when the plant dies where the stem meets the soil), it happens to even seasoned gardeners.

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Trimming Your Organic Budget ~ Starting From Seeds!

Kate — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Gardening can be intimidating, but with all of the tips and tricks all over the internet even Rookies can come up with a harvest well worth the time. We are both first time gardeners and we are starting from seeds this year! We have the advantage of having a great gardener for a mom, aka Mama K. She gives us tips and motivation along the way.

Growing your own food rewards more than just your wallet. Watching something start from a tiny seed into producing something that can feed your family gives you a sense of accomplishment too!

So grow along with us! Its not too late to get started for this season. Seeds are around every corner.

What we are starting from seeds:

Tomatoes

Peppers

Broccoli

Cabbage

Lettuces

Spinach

Cucumbers

Beans

Basil

Susie – Starting From Seeds Inside.

I looked for anything I could recycle to start some seedlings in. Here I used toilet paper tubes cut in half with a napkin on the bottom.

These are leftover cups from J’s MineCraft Party…

As long as there is proper drainage anything can be used to get your seeds started.

Make sure to cover your seedlings with a bag or a plastic egg carton top until you see green coming through. During this time make sure to keep your seedlings in a well lit place and keep the soil moist.

Kate – Starting From Seeds in Planters

If your itching to get outside and get into the dirt, lettuces don’t mind a little cold weather. I had to plant mine a few weeks ago…I couldn’t wait any longer!

I prefer planting in containers. My thumb is pretty brown, and I think they’re a bit easier to maintain than planting into the ground.

Plus it helps when you plant lettuce on a 70 degree day and then it drops below freezing a couple of weeks later…gotta love the Midwest!

Week 1

A few more weeks and we’ll be having home grown salads!

***

We love letting the kids help too.

Tip…don’t fill the whole watering can, if you’re letting toddlers help. This will help keep them from drowning your plants.

Mr Monster still needs a little work on his technique.

Or you can just use a spray bottle.

Have you started planting yet? Plant with us and we can grow our groceries together!

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Trimming Your Organic Budget ~ Bulking up the Freezer

Kate — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +0000

My tip today is simple…almost too simple. It’s Costco. Do it.

The savings on frozen veggies alone will make it worth it.

Buying the giant bags of frozen veggies at Costco is going to save you some serious cash. But it’s not that great of a deal, if you’re constantly moving the bags out of your way in your freezer.

That space is too valuable to be wasted by a giant bag of green beans.

So bag them up. See, I told you it was a simple tip.

I store my new mini bags in the deep freeze and only keep one or two in the main freezer.

This is the box that’s going down to the deep freeze. Can you imagine if all that was stuck in my little mini freezer? If you don’t have a deep freeze, then at least the mini bags are easier to arrange.

I never thought to do this, those big bags really do get in the way!

Check out these other great posts!

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Trimming An Organic Budget

Kate — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 11:00:00 +0000

This year we have a lot of things that we want to spend our money on. Finishing the basement, a family vacation, and paying off the rest of our debt. See what’s not on that list? Food.

I need to trim my budget.

Eating organic does not have to be more expensive than conventional eating. But you do have to change the way you eat. I like to think of it like this:

Conventional eating means your paying for convenience, not food. It is cheap.

Organic eating means your paying for food, not convenience. It is affordable.

Convenient Organic is expensive. This is were organic food gets it’s reputation for being expensive.

The past few months I have been pretty naughty about my budget. Mr Monster stopped drinking formula and Little Miss is no longer in diapers. You would think that I would be able to easily trim that money out of our budget. But it’s expensive to be lazy. I’ve been leaning more towards Convenient Organic and my checking account has been feeling it.

Last week I went back to my meal planning. This is one of the best ways to stick to a budget. And when I stopped doing it, that was the beginning of the end. Now I’m back on track. This week I planned on buying only produce and milk from the grocery store. In order to do this I had to really go through all the food that I had on hand.

So my next step in trimming my budget is to fix this…

Can you tell that I have rice? Because I had no idea!! It was hiding…

I took some leftover birthday money and headed to Home Goods. It was time to get organized.

45 minutes, a couple of mini helpers, and 3 bags of almonds later and I can actually see my food!!

I was able to plan three meals just from cleaning out my pantry. Lasagna Soup anyone?

Also, I’m totally in love with the extra large container I found for my flour.

The handle will be a life saver!

Next on my journey to a trimmer budget…Bread!

I baked bread for the first time!

I used a very basic sandwich bread recipe. It isn’t pretty, but it is delicious!

I will definitely need some more practice…and I may be asking Santa for a bread maker this year. The cheapest I have ever bought bread is 2.99 a loaf, and it was on sale plus a coupon. Normally I’m paying anywhere from $4.00-$5.50 for a loaf of bread. And our family likes sandwiches! So this will save us some serious dough…pun totally intended…

I have a few more ways I plan on saving money.

Butter. I cringe every time I have to buy more butter. At a minimum of $5.00 a lb, this could be a nice chunk of change put back into my budget.

Soup. I’m always buying cans of soup for quick lunches or simple dinners. My goal is to never buy a can of soup all winter. Now, this wont include soup for cooking, just the grab and go meal.

Pasta. I’m not going to guarantee this one. But I’m playing around with the idea of making our own pasta.

What are some of the ways that you cut your budget? Do they save you time along with money?

I will be starting a pantry from scratch… again next month. Going to try to make up baking mixes etc. to save money. Making your food from scratch really does save A Lot of money on organic, and if you can find the time, I have no excuse!

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