Stock the Pantry for Clean Green Cleaning for Under $50

I have written before about cleaning without chemicals. It is something that I started out of necessity after I got tired of my sensitive skin being irritated by harsh chemicals. At first I thought, Wow this is going to be expensive! After investing in a short list of ingredients and testing their potency I was incredibly happy with the results. Many items I needed where things I already bought, so I started buying in bulk. 

Here is a list of easy to find ingredients to keep on hand for a clean and healthy home! I have listed where you can find them and about what it should cost you. 

Check out my posts All Purpose Cleaner and Laundry Detergent for full recipes. All prices are based on my local grocery store, prices may vary in different locations.

Baking Soda ($1.62/ 32 oz.)

• Can be found in the baking aisle, often a generic brand can be a huge price saver. 
• The most ESSENTIAL of all the clean green ingredients. 
• Ingredient in All Purpose Cleaner
• Mix about a cup with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and sprinkle over the carpet. Let sit for 5-10 minutes. The baking soda absorbs the smells in the carpet. Vacuum it up and the carpet will smell fresh. 
• A tip from Martha Stewart (she knows about good things) http://www.wholeliving.com/134227/tub-scrub. Tub, tile, and counter scrub: One Cup of Baking Soda,  1 tsp. Of liquid soap, a few drops of lemon essential oil, and enough water to form a paste. Scrub with a cleaning brush and be amazed. When I tried this my tub foam up a gray sludge that I didn’t know was there! (Thanks million plus people who post this to Pinterest it is a great tip!)
• Unclog a drain. Wait till the sink is empty and preferably dry. Pack the drain with baking soda using a butter knife. Chase with white distilled vinegar for a foaming effect.
• Got a pan that needs to be scrubbed and you don’t feel like scrubbing it? Leave it over night with a nice layer of baking soda and most of it will come right off. Baking soda absorbs the grease, preventing it from hardening. 

White Distilled Vinegar ($2.99/ gal.)

• Found in salad dressing aisle of grocery store
• Major bargain for cleaning.
• Uses:
• Spray onto windows and wipe with coffee filters for maximum clean. 
• Spray onto bathroom fixtures to shine.
• Fill a plastic sandwich bag and tie around faucets and shower head to clean off buildup.  (Thanks Mom!)
• Warm 2 cups and pour down drains weekly to keep them unclogged. 
• Veggie Wash (1 part vinegar to 1 part fresh lemon juice to 11 parts water)
• All Purpose Cleaner

Liquid Castile Soap ($14-$17/ 32 oz.)

• Found in Natural Cleaning or Natural Health and Beauty Aisle
• A little bit goes a long way.
• Uses:
• Ingredient in All Purpose Cleaner
• Amazing face and body wash. Great for sensitive skin , acne prone skin, and some claim it can prevent wrinkles!
• Can be used as a shampoo.
• Great all around liquid soap for cleaning floors, counters, etc. 

Borax ($4.29/ 76 oz.)

• This can be found in the laundry detergent aisle at the grocery store.
• Uses:
• Ingredient in Laundry Detergent
• Ingredient in All- Purpose Cleaner
• Leave about ½ Cup in toilet over night to break up that nasty water ring.
• Stain removal booster.

Washing Soda Crystals ($3.15/  55 oz.)

• Made by Arm and Hammer and found in the laundry detergent aisle. 
• Similar to baking soda, but stronger for cleaning.
• Uses:
• Ingredient in Laundry Detergent
• Ingredient in All Purpose Cleaner
• Stain removal booster. 

Fels-Naptha Bar Soap ($1.29/ 5.5 oz. Bar)

• Found in laundry detergent aisle. 
• Used mainly in Laundry Detergent and fabric stain remover. 

Tea Tree oil  ($8/ 4 oz.)

• Can be found in skin care aisle of grocery store and in any health food store. 
• An antiseptic essential oil, great for cleaning.
• Great for skin, clears up acne and other blemishes. 
• Uses:
• All-Purpose Cleaner
• Scent/ Antiseptic for any homemade cleaning product

Orange or Lemon Essential Oil. ($5/ 4 oz.)

• Can be found in skin care aisle of grocery store and in any health food store. 
• An antiseptic essential oil, great for cleaning.
• Scent gives a reassuring feeling that the kitchen is really clean.  
• Uses:
• Ingredient in All-Purpose Cleaner
• Scent/ Antiseptic for any homemade cleaning product

Olive Oil ($3.69/ 17 fl. oz.)

• Can be found in baking aisle of grocery store. 
• Can be used as a furniture polish.  Ten drops lemon essential oil, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, and 3-4 drops olive oil.  Use a soft cloth to rub on. Test first on a small spot that won’t be seen if the finish has a bad reaction. 

Fresh Lemons ($.50/ ea.)

• Can be found in produce section of the grocery store. 
• Highly antiseptic.
• Uses:
•  Cut in half and use to scrub wooden cutting boards. 

Toasted Quinoa Salad with Roasted Garbanzo Beans

So, until recently I was unaware of an amazing ‘super food’ called quinoa. First I want to spare anyone else the embarrassment of mispronouncing this goodness of nature. When you are at the grocery store and need direction please, please, please don’t asked for “Quinn-oha” say it “Keen-wa”. As someone who had only seen the word in print I made the mistake of uttering the first pronunciation. On a side note most grocery stores keep quinoa in the gluten free or grain section of their natural selections aisle. 

What is the food that I regard so highly? I would describe it as having a nutty flavor and an orzo like texture. Like rice it has such a versatile place in recipes. Sweet, spicy, and salty can be achieved in this miracle food. One thing I really like about it is it can make an endless amount of different one-bowl meals. Who doesn’t love a dinner that doesn’t require an entire load of dishes?

You probably now want to know why it is so good for you. It is a rare food that it a complete amino acid making it a complete protein that is essential to the human diet and rare in a plant based diet. As I mentioned before quinoa is found in the gluten free section of the grocery store because it is and always will be gluten free. Quinoa is also one of the most vitamin rich foods I have ever seen. As a plant food it also lacks cholesterol as long as you don’t add any animal product in the preparation (duh!). People have claimed it helps reduce risks and effects of diabetes, heart disease, migraine headaches, and cancer. 

For more info http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=142&tname=foodspice

I bet you are all waiting for a recipe now so you can cure what ails you. This one is so easy and makes plenty of left overs!

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Toasted Quinoa Salad with Roasted Garbanzo Beans

1-12 oz. Box of Quinoa 

2 cups water

1-15 oz. Can of Garbanzo Beans (aka Chick peas) drained and rinsed

2-3 Roma tomatoes seeded and diced

1-12 oz. Bag of frozen Corn kernels thawed

1 medium red onion diced

Olive Oil as needed

4 Tbs. Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper

Dressing

½ cup lemon juice

4 Tbs. Olive Oil

4 cloves of garlic finely minced

2 Tbs. Italian seasoning

1 Tbs. Fresh cracked Black Pepper

Fresh Basil for garnish (optional)

Heat about 2 tbs. Olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat for the quinoa and preheat the oven to 350° for the Garbanzo beans.

Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer to removed any debris, like you would rice. Shake the strainer to remove excess water. Place the rinsed quinoa in the warm skillet and use a spatula to make an even layer. Stir  occasionally to prevent burning for about 5 to 8 minutes or until a few are brown.

Another great use for my cast iron! See link below to get one for yourself. 

       Add 2 cups of water to the toasted quinoa in the skillet and raise the heat to high. Allow all the water to absorb or evaporate out and remove from heat. Take off stove and allow to cool.

This is what it will look like after cooking. Each grain should be swollen and a few 'squiggles'.

While the water is evaporating drain and rinse the canned Garbanzo beans. Place them on a baking sheet and coat them with 4 Tbs. Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and olive oil. Place in the preheated oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until a nice, rich brown color. Remove for the oven and allow to cool. 

Nice and brown roasted Garbanzo beans. 

After removing the quinoa and beans from the heat dice the vegetables and make the dressing. For the dressing warm 4 Tbs. Olive oil in a shallow pan and add ½ cup lemon juice. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Saute until garlic begins to brown. 

Combine cooled quinoa, beans, and veggies in a large serving, mixing, or storage bowl (my favorite is all three! see link). I recommend using a rubber or silicone spatula to give a gentle touch. Pour the lemon dressing over the top and stir until combined. Fluff with a fork and add a little basil garnish before serving. Great served hot or cold, I actually prefer it cold. 

So easy and fast! My husband and I usually can get two dinner servings and about 3 or 4 lunch servings out of this recipe. It’s a real time and money saver. I usually make some sort of quinoa salad on Sundays to ensure we have something for lunches early in the work week.

Special thanks to Very Culinary for getting me hooked! Here is a link to the recipe that inspired me. http://veryculinary.com/2011/08/09/toasted-quinoa-salad-with-cumin-lime-dressing/

So good even Chief wanted a bite. Served in a roasted poblano pepper.

A few helpful links from Amazon:

Farmers Market Marinara Recipe.

If you read my previous post My Super Labor Intensive Marinara Win you know about my first attempt to satisfy my craving for home made pasta sauce. I spent some time this week studying up on how to make this time consuming idea a little easier. The fact of the matter is a good fresh marinara sauce takes time, there are not really any shortcuts. I have in the past used the recipe Marinara Sauce by Ina Garten on FoodNetwork.com with canned tomatoes. It is really simple, quick, and tasty when good tomatoes are hard to find. If you are pressed for time I highly recommend it.
Now knowing (or thinking I know) how to stream line the process of making sauce I spent Saturday at the farmers market in search of ingredients. For a moment now I must climb up on my soap box and talk about the importance of shopping at your local farmers market. The money you spend there will go directly back into your community, there is no corporate headquarters getting a cut elsewhere. Also, less travel time equals less carbon footprint. While you are purchasing you also have a great opportunity to ask if what you are buying contains any GMOs or pesticides. That is all the preaching I will subject you dear readers to this time.

Check out my last post on Garlic Wheat Bread to add to the plate.

Here is the recipe and don't forget to visit your local farmers market!

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Farmers Market Marinara

6 Large Tomatoes

1 Medium Yellow Onion

1 Regular Head of Garlic (½ Head Jumbo)

6 Fresh Basil Leaves + more for garnish

1 tsp. Kosher Salt or Coarse Sea Salt

1 ½ tsp. Fine Sea Salt

1 and ½ tsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper Divided

½ C Red Wine (I recommend Chianti, see if you have a local winery) 

4 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil Divided

2 Tbs. Balsamic Vinegar 

Parchment Paper

Baking Sheet

Stock Pot or Dutch Oven

Large Spoon and Laddle

Mixing Bowl

Spatula

Paring Knife

Chopping Knife

Cutting Board

Fork

Preheat oven to 400º F

Slice and remove seeds from tomatoes. Place in mixing bowl with 2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil and 2 Tbs. vinegar. Sprinkle the kosher salt and 1 tsp. ground black pepper over tomatoes. Gently mix with a spatula until all the tomatoes have a little flavor on them. 

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and layout all the tomatoes. Try to get as many tomatoes as possible with the flesh down and skin up. Trim away all the excess paper to avoid smoking. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the skin starts to pull away from the flesh. They should look a bit wrinkled. 

Before Cooking

After Cooking

While the tomatoes are in the oven chop the garlic and onions very finely. Place the stock pot over medium heat with 1 Tbs. olive oil and let the garlic, onions, sea salt, and  ½ tsp. ground black pepper ‘sweat out’. Once the garlic and onions become translucent pour in the ½ cup red wine and simmer until the wine becomes syrupy. 

Once the tomatoes come out of the oven use a fork to pull the skin off. Place the remaining flesh in the pot with the wine. Now chop and stir in the 6 basil leaves. Cook on medium until the tomatoes start to fall apart, this should take about 30-45 minutes. Stir about every 10 minutes to avoid burning at the bottom. Turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer until the desired thickness. For a chunky and runny sauce leave on for about an hour, for a thick smooth sauce about two hours. Continue to stir about every 15 minutes to keep the consistency even. Add a little more basil before serving and add a leaf or two to the finished plate. 

If you make this in advance and plan on reheating it I highly recommend warming it in a sauce pan with a little more seasoning and not a microwave. The microwave tends to zap some flavor. 

This recipe makes about 2 of these jars.

Garlic Wheat Bread

My name is Alice and I am a bread addict....

I wanted a nice simple bread recipe to use as a 'staple' in my cooking regime. This White Bread Sandwich Loaf Recipe courtesy of FoodNetwork.com has served well. It can be altered to just about anything you can think of. Naturally, I used it to create a garlic wheat bread to add to Italian Night at home.

Here is the recipe and links to the brands I recommend.
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Garlic Wheat Bread

2 C + 2 Tbs. Milk (Almond Milk)

3 Tbs. Unsalted Butter (Earth Balance)

2 Tbs. Sugar (Pure Cane Turbinado)

1 (¼ oz.) Packet of Fast Rising Yeast

5 Cups (+ about 1 C for kneading) Whole Wheat Flour

1 Tbs + 1 tsp. Sea Salt

Extra Virgin Olive Oil as needed

4 Cloves Garlic

2 Tbs. Fresh Ground Pepper

Small Sauce Pan

Spatula

Pot Holder

Baking Sheet

Large Mixing Bowl

Mixer with Dough Hooks

Cutting Board

Plastic Wrap

Serrated Knife

Combine milk, butter, and sugar in sauce pan over medium heat. Stir often and take off heat once butter is melted. Place pan on a pot holder on your counter. Sprinkle entire packet of yeast over the warm mixture. DO NOT stir, this is a rookie mistake I already made for you. Let sit for at least 10 minutes and until the yeast starts to foam.

Whisk salt and 5 Cups of flour together in large mixing bowl. Add in the chopped garlic and pepper. Once the yeast mixture is ready pour slowly into dry mixture. Use the dough hooks on the mixer at a low speed. Once a dough ball is formed pull from bowl onto a cutting board. With clean hands and the extra flour knead for about 7 minutes. Rub a little Olive Oil in the mixing bowl. Place the kneaded dough in bowl and roll over to cover dough in Olive Oil. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for about 2 hours in a warm dry location. If your oven or dishwasher is in use place it nearby (make sure it is a safe spot).

Remove from the bowl and knead again. Use a little more flour if necessary. Form two even loaves and place an oiled baking sheet. Cover the loaves with a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm dry location. Let rise for another hour. 

Preheat oven to 400º F.

Once the loaves are ready for the oven use a knife to make ‘vents’ in the top. Cut across about 2 inches apart ¼ inch deep. Brush a little more olive oil over the top. Bake for 45 minutes at 400º F on center rack. Let cool before slicing with a serrated knife. 

Enjoy!

All Natural All-Purpose Cleaner for $1.50 a Bottle

As someone who spends a lot of time in my kitchen I use a lot of cleaning products. Until I started researching natural foods and the green movement I had never thought twice about the name brand cleaning agents I routinely use in my home. After reading the labels I decided that, much like the food I eat, these chemicals that my husband and I come in contact with daily need to be as close to natural as possible. I scoured the internet and came up with a recipe for a multi-purpose cleaner that is safe and cheap. The ingredients for this cleaner can also be used to make laundry detergent, dish detergent, and just about anything else to clean up your home. Currently I am working out the kinks to these other cleaners, which will make buying other cleaners a thing of the past. My goal is to build an arsenal of natural ingredients to clean every room in the house without breaking the bank. I have listed the recipe below with links to Amazon.com to help guide you. Every ingredient was available at my local grocery with the exception of the essential oils. Feel free to browse around for the best deals and save yourself some money and chemicals. Speaking of saving money one recipe makes about 16 ounces for $1.50.

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All-Purpose Cleaner

1 tsp. Borax Powder

½ tsp.  Washing Crystals

2 Tbsp. White Distilled Vinegar

½ tsp. Liquid Castile Soap

2 Cups  Distilled Water

20 Drops Tea Tree oil

10 Drops Orange or Lemon Essential Oil. 

1 24+ oz. Spray Bottle

1. Mix Borax, Washing Soda Crystals, and Castile Soap in a 2 Cup glass measuring cup. (I prefer the glass measuring cup because of the spout. If you have a funnel this isn't such a problem pouring the mixture into the spray bottle. Which ever you prefer or is handiest to you.) 

2. Slowly add vinegar, this will bubble over like a science fair volcano. Caution it may get warm. While this is settling down warm 2 Cups of  distilled water. Using distilled is incredibly important because of the fluoride in tap water, filter such as Brita and Pur do not remove it. 

3. When mixture settles pour the mixture into spray bottle. Slowly pour the hot water into the bottle. 

4. Let the spray bottle cool down. Once the bottle is cool to touch add the essential oils.  Close bottle and shake. 

5. Ready to use!