Monday, August 17, 2009

Make an Inexpensive and Simple Fruit and Vegetable Wash [Food Hacks] . The washing sprays stashed around the vegetable and fruit stands in the supermarket are a rip-off. Use this simple recipe instead to make a concoction that keeps your produce looking clean and crisp. Photo by trekkyandry. At the home-centric blog Re-Nest, they've shared a recipe to make your own produce wash. Why would you want to use a wash instead of just running water over your produce? Most chemicals used on produce won't be washed off with a simple application of water—if they were, they wouldn't be very effective in the face of growing season rainfall. A produce wash, however, has just enough kick to it to more effectively cleanse the surface of the fruit and wash away contamination. The recipe below relies on some basic staples like vinegar and baking soda to get your fruit and veggies extra clean. 1 cup water 1 cup distilled white vinegar 1 tablespoon baking soda 20 drops grapefruit seed extract (available at Whole Foods or your local health food store or you can substitute lemon juice in a pinch) Combine all ingredients in a large container. Then, transfer to a spray bottle with a pump. Spray mixture on produce (avoid using on mushrooms), let sit 5 to 10 minutes and rinse. When it is time to rinse, you can rinse the entire pile of produce all at once in a large bowl or colander to cut down on water use. Have a handy kitchen trick or two? Share them in the comments. How-To Make Your Own Fruit and Vegetable Wash [Re-Nest] [Lifehacker] 5:01:35 PM     Book Reviews from Master The Art of Reading participants Night before Thirty by Tajuana Butler: It was a good book. You never know how people will affect your life after just one weekend. Super stitches crochet by Jennifer Campbell: Really interesting, there were a few different patterns and techniques that really caught my eye. Mrs. Lincoln by Catherine Clinton: Excellent! One could re-read many times and still find something new from an historical perspective. Beyond-the-square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman: There were some really fun patterns in the book. I was albe to make a blanket using one of the patterns that I learned from it. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford: Good reading-a touching story about the Japanese internment camps during World War II. A love story and history lesson in one! ASPCA Complete Cat Care Manual by Edney, A. T. B.: Very informative and helpful. Easy to read. 4:40:45 PM     News from Master The Art of Reading Summer Reading Program During week 9 22 people read 70 books, for a summer total of 181 people who've read 1187 books! The winners for the week will be announced later. Muskegon Reads! Author Title Anonymous Teenager It Happened to Nancy Archer, Jeffrey 12 red Herrings Birch, Dwayne Beneath the bruises Bretten, Barbara Once Around Cambpell, Eddie Black Diamond Detective Agency Carter, Chris Eve/the X-files Cornwell, Patricia At Risk Deaver, Jeffrey Bodies left behind Evans, Peter Landscapes of the night Fielding, Joy See Jane Run Foster, Lori Double the pleasure Gardner, Lisa Neighbor Godek, Gregory 1001 ways to be romantic Golding, William Lord of the flies Green, G. Dorsey Lesbian Couples Hama, Larry Classic G. I. Joe Jance, J. A. Damage Control Jeffries, Sabrina Let sleeping rouges lie Ketchum, William American Beetles Kinsella, Sophie Shopaholic and Baby Knopf Guide Thailand Lackey, Mercedes By the sword Lackey, Mercedes Take a thief Lackey, Mercedes Winds of Fate L'Engle, Madeline Moon by night Lescroart, John Plague of Secrets Lewis, Sinclair Buffalo Gordon Matyszan, Philip Sons of Caesar McDaniel, Lurlene Angels watch over me McDaniel, Lurlene Don't die my love McDaniel, Lurlene For Better For Worse Forever McDaniel, Lurlene I'll be seeing you McDaniel, Lurlene Let him live McDaniel, Lurlene Reach for tomorrow McDaniel, Lurlene She died too young McDaniel, Lurlene Telling Christina Goodbye McDaniel, Lurlene Till death do us part McDaniel, Lurlene Time to Die McDaniel, Lurlene Until Angels close my eyes Miller, Emma Waking your dreams Miller, Linda Lael Montana Creeds: Logan Moore, Alma How to clean everything Morton, Andrew Tome Cruise Oates, Joyce Carol Missing Mom O'Brien, Tim In the Lake of the Woods Oyeyemi, Helen Icarus Girl Palmer, Catherine Sunrise Song Palmer, Diana Before Sunrise Palwick, Susan Fate of Mice Peterson, David Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Peterson, David Mouse Guard Winter 1152 Phillips, Marie Gods behaving badly Phillips, Susan Natural Born Charmer Picoult, Jodi My sister's keeper Roberts, Nora Black Hills Rofheart, Martha Fortune made his sword Schraff, Anne Matter of Trust Schraff, Anne Secretism in the Shadows Schraff, Anne Someone to save me Scott, Michael Alchemist Sfar, Joann Professor's Daughter Small, Beatrice Twilight Lord St. John, Yahrch Risky business of love Stewart, Mary Rose Cottage Sun Bear Dreaming with the Wheel Trondheim, Appollo Bourbon Island 1730 Walters, Barbara Audition Wicks, Robert J. Riding the Dragon' Wilson, G. Willow Cairo Zane Succulent Chocolate Flava II   How to clean everything table producing by T2T 4:30:43 PM     News from Master The Art of Reading Summer Reading Program During week 8 32 people read 149 books to bring the summer total to 178 people who've read 1117 books! The winners for this week will be announced later in the week. Muskegon Reads! author title Abbott, Jeff Black Jack Point Anderson, Susan Cutting Loose Applegate, Katherine Tan Lines Armstrong, Kelley Bitten Armstrong, Kelley Personal Demon Ashley, Jennifer Immortals-the redeeming Bagwell, Stella Courtsey and Debutante Bagwell, Stella Millionaire on her doorstep Barkley, Brad Dream Factory Barnes, Stephen Cestus Deception Benway, Robin Audrey Wait Bond, Stephanie No peeking Bowen, Judith Home on the range Bradley, Shelley Strip search Bretton, Barbara At Last Bretton, Barbara Day we met Briggs, Patricia Iron Kissed Briggs, Patricia Moon called Brockmann, Suzanne All through the night Brockmann, Suzanne Breaking Point Brockmann, Suzanne Dark of Night Brockmann, Suzanne Force of Nature Brockmann, Suzanne Gone too far Brockmann, Suzanne Hot Target Brockmann, Suzanne Into the Fire Brockmann, Suzanne Into the Storm Butler, Tajuana Night before thirty Cabot, Meg Airhead Cabot, Meg All American Girl Campbell, Jennifer Superstitches crochet Card, Orson Scott Treasure Box Clinton, Catherine Mrs. Lincoln Davidson, Diane Mott Dark Tort Davidson, Diane Mott Sticks and Scones Davidson, Mary Janice Undead and uneasy Delinsky, Barbara Looking for Peyton Place Denning, Troy Joiner King Dickey, Eric Jerome Dying for Revenge Eagle, Kathleen Mystic horse man Eagle, Kathleen Ride a painted pony Eckman, Edie Beyond the square Evanovich, Janet Finger lickin fifteen Evanovich, Janet Metro Girl Ewing, Lynne Goddess of the night Fairstein, Linda Lethal Legacy Ford, Janice Corner of Bitter and Sweet Fredericks, Mariah Crunch Time G, Steve ASPCA complete cat care manual Gabriele, Lisa Almost Archer Sisters Garabedian, Helen Itsy Bitsy Yoga Gibson, Rachel Not another bad date Griffen, Lynne Life without Summer Handel, Gloria Cutting your family's hair Hart, Carolyn April Fool Dead Hart, Carolyn Death of the party Hickman, Welsh Dragons of the Hick Higgins, Jack Dark Justice Hill, Sandra Cajun Cowboy Hill, Sandra Down and dirty Hill, Sandra Lovescape Hill, Sandra Rough and Ready Hill, Sandra Tale of two Vikings Hill, Sandra Wild Jinx Hunt, Chris Gaveston Hunt, Curits Bisley Boy Hunt, Diann Hot topics and cold feet Irwin, Terri Steve and Me Johanson, Iris Silent Thunder Johnstone, William Code of the Mountain man Johnstone, William Last Mountain Man Johnstone, William Triumph of the Mountain Man Johnstone, William Vengeance of the Mountain Man Johnstone, William War of the Mountain Man Keller, Timothy Prodigal God Kenyon, Sherrilyn Fantasy Lover Krakauer, Jon Into the Wild Lee, Julianne Knight Tenebrae Loeb, Jo You can train your cat Macomber, Debbie Almost home Mallery, Susan Delicious Mallery, Susan Tempting Margolin, Philip Lost Lake Margolin, Philip Sleeping Beauty Martin, George Hunter's Run Martin, Kat Deep Blue Martin, Kat Desert Heat Martin, Kat Midnight Sun Mazer, Harris Snowbound McCafferty, Megan Perfect Fifths McDaniel, Lurlene Angel of Hope McDaniel, Lurlene Girl death left behind McDaniel, Lurlene How do I love thee McDaniel, Lurlene Time Capsule McDaniel, Lurlene Time to let go Meyer, Stephanie Breaking Dawn Meyer, Stephanie Eclipse Meyer, Stephanie New Moon Meyer, Stephanie Twilight Michaels, Kasey Dial m for mischief Miller, Frank 300 Mindell, Jodi Sleeping through the night Monroe, Mary Alice Skyward Morgenstern, Julie When organizing isn't enough Murdock, Catherine Off Season Nelson, Jane Positive Discipline Phillips, Susan What I did for love Plath, Sylvia Bell Jar Sands, Lynsay Immortal Hunter Sands, Lynsay Vampire Interuppted Shannon, John City of Strangers Shannon, John Dangerous Games Shannon, John Dark Streets Shannon, John Devils of Bakers Field Shannon, John Streets of Fire Shay, Kathryn Someone to believe in Shayne, Maggie Fairy Tale Shinn, Sharon Fortune and Fate Showalter, Gena Catch a mate Skye, Christina Bride of the mist Spencer, Sally Dangerous Games Spencer, Sally Death watch Spencer, Sally Dying Fall Spencer, Sally Long time dead Spencer, Sally Sins of the fathers Spencer, Sally Stone Killer Spindler, Erica Copy Cat Spindler, Erica Last known victim Starling, Belinda Journal of Dora Damage Steel, Danielle Mirror Image Steel, Danielle Silent Honor Steffans, Karrine Confessions of a video vixen Stroud, Jonathan Amulet of Samarkand Turner, Jamie No dark valley Twain, Mark Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Watson, Jude Legacy of the Jedi Watson, Jude Star wars: secrets of the jedi Weis, Margaret Amber and Ashes Weis, Margaret Guardians of the Lost Weis, Margaret Master of Dragons Weis, Margaret Mistress of Dragons White, Timothy Nearest Faraway Place Wick, Lori Perfect Storm Williams, Walter Rift Wittuston, James Marine One Wolff, Gene Knight Wolff, Gene Wizard Woods, Sherryl Flowers on Main Woods, Stuart Mounting Fears Woods, Stuart Mounting Fears table producing by T2T 4:29:03 PM

© Copyright 2009 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 9/1/2009; 11:46:51 AM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien