Waste Less- Part 2

Mint Syrup--Makes a very refreshing glass of tea!

• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped fresh mint
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water

• Tie mint in a cheesecloth bag, and place in a saucepan. Add sugar and 2 cups water; bring mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves.
• Remove from heat; cover and let cool. Remove and discard cheesecloth bag.

Note: I did not have cheesecloth, so I steeped the mint in the sugar water and strained it after it was cool. Also, I used less than 1 bunch of mint.

Wasting Less--Post 1

image courtesy of Google images

I have been trying to waste less, which is hard for me with two little girls and the abundance of produce we have had. Our garden is almost done for this season, though, and we are going to cancel our CSA box for now. We are going to start shopping the farmer's market instead, and come home with only what we can eat!

The Frugal Girl does a really great job of not wasting food, and I would love to waste as little as she does!

This post came just in time, because I had 4 cups of milk in the refrigerator that was just kinda...yugghh. Not quite sour and curdled, but not quite drinkable either.

So I made a double recipe of The Frugal Girl's chocolate pudding, and YUM! We all agreed that this would be made again, sour milk or not!

Homemade Chocolate Pudding

2 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
pinch salt
2 cups milk, divided
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon vanilla

Measure cocoa powder into a saucepan. Whisk in enough water to make a smooth paste. Stir in sugar and salt. Add 1 1/2 cups milk, reserving 1/2 cup.

Heat cocoa/milk mixture over medium heat, stirring regularly, to boiling. Meanwhile, mix cornstarch and milk together.

When cocoa/milk mixture reaches a boil, whisk in cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly. Bring back to a boil and cook and stir for 1 minute.

Remove pudding from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour pudding into individual dishes or a large bowl. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Makes 2 cups.

I don't really have a title....

We were gone to Newfoundland for a couple of weeks, and a few days after we got back, the hurricane hit. It didn't do much damage, just bent some plants over. After the storm was over, we pulled out the tomato plants and staked up the brussel sprouts, peppers and stevia that were falling over.

Some of our produce: purple carrots and a red bell pepper.