Hot Cocoa

Posted on December 23, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

There’s something about a rainy winter day that just begs for a cup of hot chocolate. I grew up with the store-bought hot chocolate packets, but in my quest of going homemade many years ago, I started making our hot cocoa mix and have never looked back.

Why homemade?

Hot cocoa mix is ridiculously simple to make. It’s also cheaper, healthier (I don’t even recognize some of the ingredients on store-bought packets), and way less wasteful in terms of packaging. I also love that once I make a batch of this, I put it in a large Mason jar and it lasts for such a long time; it’s rare that I suddenly run out. (And, an added bonus, I don’t have to support companies like Nestle.)

How?

There are a ton of recipes online. Some use powdered milk in them, so you can just add water. This mix might be really good if you’re on the move or on a camping trip. At home, I tend to like the recipes with just cocoa, sugar, and salt that can be mixed with cow milk or alternative milk. Someday, I’d love to do a taste test comparison, but so far I just stick with the first one I tried, which I found in Jennifer Reese’s book Make the Bread, Buy the Butter. I make a big batch and store it in a Mason jar with the “recipe” written on a label on top. Her recipe also suggests adding vanilla extract after everything has been mixed.

Gift Ideas

Homemade cocoa mix is a very simple gift, but also a very welcome one. Small Mason jars of cocoa mix would be great for neighbors or co-workers or even party favors. A larger jar could stand on its own as a gift, especially when decorated with ribbon or a nice label. Cocoa jars could be a fun addition to a homemade food basket. And, you could even make your own Hot Cocoa Basket and include jars of crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows, vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks or spice, measuring spoons, mugs, or anything else that might be a tasty complement to the cocoa.

Hope you enjoy!

Homemade Rocks!

Posted on December 23, 2020December 23, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Here’s a quick little list of what I LOVE about homemade!

Why Homemade?

Homemade items are almost always:

—More affordable

—Healthier

—YOU have control over the materials and/or ingredients, which means you can avoid unnecessary additives, toxic materials, and so on.

—Custom options

–With homemade items, you get to customize the look, taste, or feel of your project to meet your preferences

—Better for the environment

–-less packaging

–-less transport

– -better materials/ingredients (see above)

–-less waste overall

—One-of-a-kind!

More benefits usually seen with handmade:

—Item is treated with more respect and better care

–-You KNOW what went into creating it

—Item is more likely to be repaired when needed

–-You know how to fix it and care about it enough to fix it

—Self esteem is boosted!

–-Rather than the numb feeling behind shopping or click-and-buy, you have invested your time and creativity, which will more likely make you feel positive and empowered!

Thank you for being here! I hope you enjoy the homemade crafts and recipes I post on here!

Leftovers

Posted on December 23, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Reducing food waste can happen at many stages in a food’s journey, but with the holiday season in full swing, I thought I’d talk a little bit about leftovers today.

I know some people who are very clever and creative with their leftovers; I am not one of those people yet. But, I do have some tips to share that have helped our family cut down on the leftovers food waste.

One of the best ways to reduce waste for us is to label our leftovers. I tend to be one of those who is overly careful about how old food is. So to counteract this, I keep masking tape and a Sharpie in the kitchen. Most of our food goes into Pyrex containers to be stored, and that is when we label it. By simply marking the date on the food and designating a shelf for leftovers, I find that our food waste is greatly reduced. Another option we like to use is our freezer. Not only do we mark the date in this case, but also the food item. If we know we won’t be enjoying the food in a timely manner, then the freezer is a great place for it. This also gives us bonus, easy meals, whether it’s days or weeks down the road.

When you’re planning a big meal for a holiday, it might help to have a plan ahead of time for leftovers. And while I know that leftovers are seen as a great bonus of holiday meals for many people, this doesn’t always include all the parts of the meal. So, be sure to have a plan for the side dishes as well as the main ones. The Internet is, of course, a good source for ideas. By simply typing in “leftovers ideas” and the name of the holiday you might be celebrating, you’d be surprised by the number of posts.

Another way to cut down on food waste is to do your best to plan for how much food you really need. Especially at holidays, I know many people get wrapped up in the idea of a huge meal or cooking certain items because they feel those are expected or traditional items. Be sure that what you’re cooking or buying really matches what people will want to eat in the first place. It might help to ask yourself or those around you which foods are actual favorites versus which foods just seem like they should be on the table.

Another way to reduce leftover food waste is by sharing with others, whether it’s guests you have over for a meal (in non-Covid times), neighbors, or whoever you think might benefit from the food, if you know you won’t be able to eat it all.

Foods go through so much to get to us. The amount of water and time and labor and transportation and packaging is staggering. By trying some of these suggestions or others you might have, hopefully we can reduce the leftovers waste.

Quick review:

-Create or buy foods that match your preferences and the amount that will most likely be eaten.

-Have a leftover plan in place ahead of time.

-Find recipes for leftovers.

-Store and label leftovers in a visible location.

-Freeze leftovers if they won’t be eaten soon.

-Share with people who will enjoy the leftovers, if you won’t be able to.

Thank you so much for being here. I am grateful for you. Your actions can and will make a difference!

Microwave Popcorn

Posted on December 23, 2020December 23, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

I stopped buying microwave popcorn years ago when I began reading a bit more about the health risks linked to the perflourooctanoic acid that lines the bags. I know the Internet has scores of information that we all must sift through to find the truth, but when I repeatedly read about links to diseases, infertility, and cancers, it was quite easy to stop with the microwave popcorn. No matter how healthy the packaging looks, no matter any “organic” labels, I decided it just wasn’t for me.

The great news is it’s SUPER easy to make your own homemade popcorn. AND, not only is it healthier and way cheaper, it’s also so much better for the environment. Instead of purchasing a box of individually-wrapped bags, you’re either buying a single plastic bag FULL of kernels and the bag can then be recycled with plastic grocery bag recycling, or better yet, you can get in a bulk section using or reusing your own bag. You’ve also got way more control over your popcorn when you make it yourself. You can control the amount and the ingredients. You can spend the little bit extra and get organic kernels, which I highly recommend. And you can often choose if you’d like yellow or white corn kernels. It’s so many pluses that it really is hard to justify continuing with the packaged kind.

Remember, if you are going to be using pre-packaged microwave popcorn, reuse and recycle the cardboard box. You also should be able to add the individual clear plastic wraps to a grocery bag recycling station. If you’re popping your own bulk corn, it’s very likely you can recycle that clear plastic bag as well with the grocery bag recycling.

Popcorn Ideas