Alternative to commercial dog food

My animals are very much a part of my family. Currently we have 2 dogs (Jack is a black Labrador and Stella is a yellow Labrador) and 4 cats (2 are outside - Mister and Zoe and 2 are inside - Olivia and Mittens). When Jack started developing skin problems, I started looking for alternative ways of feeding my dog. Since I believed it had something to do with all the recalls regarding processed dog kibble,  I began researching the internet for homemade dog recipes. This site ilovedogs seemed to have a variety of recipes. So I tried them. Now I have created my own dog food and will be on the look out for more adaptive food. 

Here is what I currently do to feed Jack. Every 3 weeks I soak a bag of each: dried black beans, dried red kidney beans, dried split peas, dried lentils, dried barley in a giant bowl.

After it has been soaking for at least 12 hours, I rinse it off and put it in a big soup pot with more water (cover the beans) after a couple of hours I either add white rice or quinoa, stir and cook some more. I probably cook it for a total of 3 to 4 hours. I make sure everything is cooked through and through, it will look like a gray smush. Jack loves it. I add about 1-1/2 to 2 cups of the bean/rice mix, add left over veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, etc). If I have left over smoothie I add that to the top or like below, a sliced banana. Drizzle a little olive oil. Feed him.

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Banana Cake and Thunderstorms!

What do you do when thunderstorms present themselves? Today in Western Washington, during the intermixed thunderstorms, I decided to bake, since I had 3 very, very ripe bananas. I made Roundabout Banana Cake (Better Homes and Gardens Kids' Snacks, 1985) . This is a recipe to use ripe bananas - it's almost a bread but made in a round jello mold. Here's the recipe and I just threw everything into the mixer bowl (I rarely separate like the directions say):

1-1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt (which I don't add)
1/4 tsp baking soda

2 beaten eggs
2 medium bananas, mashed (I cut them up)
1/3 cup cooking oil
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla (I used a capful)

3-4 handfuls of chocolate chips
 
Like I said above, I just threw everything in except the chocolate chips and turned on my mixer to blend, while still on I added the chocolate chips. I let it sit a bit while I sprayed the jello mold. Turned on the oven to 350.  Put the mix into the mold and placed in the oven for 35 minutes (normally mine takes about 55 minutes to bake - depending on your oven.) I periodically check it after the initial 35 minutes and then 5-10 minutes after until golden brown or a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let it cool before cutting. This freezes well also, if you have any left.

  
  

3 FREE samples of Twinings Tea

 

3 free samples of Twinings of London tea 

        Thanks, onehundreddollarsamonth

FREE Science Curriculum

Nutrients for Life Free Science Curriculum

 

Download for Plant & Soil Curriculum

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FREE Prewriting printables

 

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Free Constitution Day Printables

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Colored Shaving Cream

Bath time around our house means bring out the shaving cream and design on the walls of the tub and ourselves. When cruising through Pinterest I found a cool idea about coloring the shaving cream and creating a colorful palette. At bath time yesterday I placed a muffin tin on the counter and K. sprayed dollops of shaving cream (which I got free at Target for using the Gillette coupon in Red Plum 8/11/13, expires 9/30. It is for $6/3 shaving preps) into each muffin area. Then I squeezed a little food coloring into each pile of shaving cream. After we stirred each one with a chopstick to make sure they were evenly mixed, headed upstairs and into the tub where the fun began.

 Do your children have a favorite bath toy or art product?

REPURPOSE A WINE HOLDER

One of the things I enjoy doing is going to the Goodwill and finding items I can change or incorporate it differently. I bought a 2-tiered wine bottle holder. I know you are asking me how I use this in my classroom. Good question!

I took 8 - 20 ounce plastic cups and placed them in each of the wine holders and they fit perfectly. Then I decided I was going to put regular pencils in the bottom and colored pencils in top. And a pencil holder is born! 

Freezing fruits in season

Saving money by freezing fruit while in season is the way to go. Not only are you getting a good price for the fruit but it is a good way to savor the frozen fruit delights in another season when prices have sky rocketed. It's so easy. I just buy the fruit I like in the summer at a good price, wash it, either slice it up (I take the seed or pit out first before I freeze it- easier when I'm throwing all my fruit into the blender to make a smoothie not to worry if the pit was still inside) or keep it whole; also I keep the skin on, since a lot of the nutrients are in the skin. My favorites are red grapes, blueberries (both high in anti-oxidants), strawberries and nectarines.

After washing and taking the pit out, place on a clean cookie sheet and pop it into the freezer for a couple of hours. Once your fruit is frozen, take it out of the freezer and put into baggies of your choice (I have found I like the quart size freezer ones; the gallon are too big to fit comfortably into my inside freezer). Label and place again into freezer. VOILA! Until I need them to make a smoothie, muffins or just to eat them out of the bag. Have you ever tried frozen grapes-YUM, it’s a nice treat and great for toddlers who are teething.