Going Green At The Grocery

March 1, 2010

My perspective is changing as I attempt to “go green.” I don’t like to say that I’m on a “diet” (nobody likes to go on a “diet!”), but I don’t know what else to call it. I’m on an “energy diet.” In order to lose weight we must monitor how many calories we consume. We [...]

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Devilishly Delicious Eggs

February 24, 2010

What did an egg ever do to deserve “purgatory?” It never even had the chance to hatch into a chicken to fowl foul the barnyard! I saw a recipe called “Eggs in Purgatory” and had to investigate. I’m sure there is some kind of metaphor in the name, but I didn’t pay attention in Sunday [...]

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Am I Doomed To Trash This Project?

February 22, 2010

I forgot my shopping bags when I went on my shopping spree to “BigLots!” They spell it with that exclamation at the end, but don’t get excited if you have never been there. As my Papaw would say, “It ain’t much.” My mission had been to buy washcloths so I could be a Green Goddess [...]

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What Did We Do Before Paper Towels?

February 20, 2010

I’m thinking that before paper towels we did a LOT of laundry, but I’m about to find out for sure. I’ve decided that I’m going to take another step toward “green.” I’m going paperless in my kitchen. I’m determined to save the environment and save money. I know that most of y’all think that’s crazy, [...]

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Unless You Dwell In A Cave, There Are Things You Should Know

February 10, 2010

Reflex action caused me to answer that ringing land line, although I expected it to be a solicitor. It’s a good thing I did, because there was an emergency down the street. A plumbing emergency — and if you’ve ever had one of your own you know how dire it can be! “Shelly!” my neighbor [...]

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Garlic Is Indeed A Tuber, But Should It Be In A Tube?

December 9, 2009

Garlic in a tube? As little as a year ago you never would have convinced me to cook with this Gourmet Garden Garlic Spice Blend. Now, y’all, I love to cook with garlic (and I love eating garlic even better). I get that from my Daddy’s side of the family. My Mamaw claimed that garlic [...]

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Just Call Me “Scissorhands”

July 14, 2009

Or you can just call me “Eddie.” OK. I realize that these aren’t “scissors,” they are hedge trimmers. But, I feel as if I’ve been pruning a yard the size of a football field with a pair of scissors for years. Our old hedge trimmer was a piece of junk. It couldn’t even chew through [...]

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No More Excuses For No Grocery Bags

July 9, 2009

Down at the coffee shop this morning, I conducted an informal poll. Folks sitting at the tables there are accustomed to me dropping by and asking stupid questions and, thankfully, they put up with me. I asked ten people, “What is the easiest baby step that a person can take to ‘go green’?” Surprisingly to [...]

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Helping My Friends Go Green

June 16, 2009

This “shoe” dominates my kitchen. It once lived served its purpose as a display rack at a department store. However, I found it languishing at the bottom of a pile in a junk store and recycled it as a spice rack. It’s only one of the weird pieces of decoration at my house that people [...]

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Mahalo for Sweet Hawaiian Mini Burgers

June 10, 2009

It should have been simple, I mean I picked the least demanding of the five recipes offered to me to cook for the Texas Beef Council as part of their Grilling Experience. Y’all know I like easy, but most of the recipes sounded a bit frou frou for this Texas gal. However, they might be [...]

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Creative Recycling? Or, Has Their Taste Gone Down The Drain?

June 7, 2009

During the summer, my Spousal Unit and I often take tiny road trips across Texas. A recent stop in Riesel was a “photo op” for me. I love to recycle and re-purpose articles, but I’m wondering if this has perhaps stretched the boundaries of good taste. I’m sure there are folks who think that re-purposing [...]

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My Heavy Foot Leaves A Big Carbon Footprint

June 2, 2009

Furious! That’s what I was. I had been “stood up” for a date by the boy with whom I was “going steady.” Now, what’s the point of “going steady” if you aren’t going to go anywhere? I hopped into my little Toyota and drove like a bat out of you-know-where into town to find that [...]

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Holy Cow-I Love It! Only The Good Friday.

April 24, 2009

As I’ve been attempting to “go green,” my biggest difficulty has been giving up my cleaning products. I have assembled an arsenal of chemicals for cleaning over the years that would rival the shoe collection of Imelda Marcos. All of those bottles lining my shelf are filled with toxic chemicals that are harmful to the [...]

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Doubled Mint

April 21, 2009

My Mamaw had a lush bed of spearmint planted outside of her kitchen door. If company were coming to visit, she grabbed her broom and went outside to “beat” the mint. Bruising the plants caused their scent to fill the air, and it drifted into the open windows to make the entire house smell like [...]

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Being Good To The Earth. Only The Good Friday.

April 17, 2009

Was it thirty eight years ago already? Yes, it was! In fact, this year makes thirty-nine. On April 22, 1970, the modern environmental movement was born as the very first “Earth Day” was celebrated. The goal was a healthy and sustainable environment; and approximately 20 million Americans became involved. Are you ready to celebrate Earth [...]

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A Darned Good Feed Store. Only the Good Friday.

April 10, 2009

It’s really Good Friday, and not just because I say so! Easter weekend is here at last. For gardeners in Texas, that means we can finally feel comfortable about putting out our plants. Usually, there isn’t another freeze. Getting to plant means that I get to take a trip to my local feed store, which [...]

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Resurrected Rye

April 9, 2009

My name is Shelly, and I am a grateful, recovering Culinary Snob. The squirrel isn’t too happy about my recovery, though. That’s because it means that he isn’t going to get that hunk of rye bread that got “burned” in the freezer! “Culinary snob … what in thunder?” you ask. Well, ordinarily I would chunk [...]

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My Neck Of The Woods. Weston Gardens in Fort Worth, Texas

March 28, 2009

For those who love flowers, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has delightful gardens. The Fort Worth Botanical Garden claims to be the oldest in Texas. Dallas boasts the Dallas Arboretum. Both are a delight to the senses, and both can be found in guidebooks. There’s a little known jewel in Fort Worth … well, almost in [...]

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Getting Down And Dirty

March 26, 2009

I told my husband, “Whooee, baby! Let’s get down and dirty!” He didn’t know I meant, “Let’s work in the garden.” His enthusiasm waned considerably when I handed him a rake. But, Mr. Tucker is a trooper, and he helped me clear out my flower beds. I’m glad I had his help, because there are [...]

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Jumping The Gun

February 28, 2009

I don’t know what the weather is doing in all y’allses neck of the woods, but here in Texas it’s schizophrenic! One morning, I’m wrapped up in long johns and sweaters — by that afternoon I’ve stripped down to shorts and a “wife beater” shirt. It’s probably not politically correct to call those sleeveless shirts [...]

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