Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Here at Knobby's Acres I'm wanting to reduce the amount of trash generated around the homestead and thus reduce the amount of trash that we put out in the world environment, so for this week I will be posting things about the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

First few posts will be kinda like a guide about how one gos about Recycling anything - -

A

Aerosol cans: These can usually be recycled with other cans, as long as you pull off the plastic cap and empty the canister completely.

Antiperspirant and deodorant sticks: Many brands have a dial on the bottom that is made of a plastic polymer that’s different from the plastic used for the container, so your center might not be able to recycle the whole thing (look on the bottom to find out). Tom’s of Maine makes a deodorant stick composed solely of plastic No. 5.


B

Backpacks: The American Birding Association accepts donated backpacks, which its scientists use while tracking neotropical birds (americanbirding.org).

Batteries: Recycling batteries keeps hazardous metals out of landfills. Many stores, like RadioShack and Office Depot, accept reusable ones, as does the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (rbrc.org/call2recycle). Car batteries contain lead and can’t go in landfills, because toxic metals can leach into groundwater, but almost any retailer selling them will also collect and recycle them.

Beach balls: They may be made of plastic, but there aren’t enough beach balls being thrown away to make them a profitable item to recycle. If a beach ball is still usable, donate it to a thrift store or a children’s hospital.

Books: “Hard covers are too rigid to recycle, so we ask people to remove them and recycle just the pages,” says Sarah Kite, recycling manager of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, in Johnston. In many areas, paperbacks can be tossed in with other paper.


C

Carpeting (nylon fiber): Go to carpetrecovery.org and click on “What can I do with my old carpet?” to find a carpet-reclamation facility near you, or check with your carpet’s manufacturer. Some carpet makers, like Milliken (millikencarpet.com), Shaw (shawfloors.com), and Flor (flor.com), have recycling programs.

Cars, Jet Skis, boats, trailers, RVs, and motorcycles: Even if these are unusable―totaled, rusted―they still have metal and other components that can be recycled. Call junkyards in your area, or go to junkmycar.com, which will pick up and remove cars, trailers, motorcycles, and other heavy equipment for free.

Cell phones: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fewer than 20 percent of cell phones are recycled each year, and most people don’t know where to recycle them. The Wireless Foundation refurbishes old phones to give to domestic-violence survivor calltoprotect.org. For information on other cell-phone charities, log on to recyclewirelessphones.com. In some states, like California and New York, retailers must accept and recycle old cell phones at no charge. There are also companies out there that will buy cell phones from you, which is great if you want to raise a little extra money - PhoneIsCash

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs: CFLs contain mercury and shouldn’t be thrown in the trash. Ikea and the Home Depot operate CFL recycling programs; you can also check with your local hardware store or recycling center to see if it offers recycling services.

Computers: You can return used computers to their manufacturers for recycling (check mygreenelectronics.com for a list of vendors) or donate them to a charitable organization (log on to sharetechnology.org or cristina.org). Nextsteprecycling.org repairs your broken computers and gives them to underfunded schools, needy families, and nonprofits.

Crayons: Send them to the National Crayon Recycle Program (crazycrayons.com, which melts down crayons and reforms them into new ones. Leave the wrappers on: “When you have black, blue, and purple crayons together without wrappers, it’s hard to tell them apart,” says the program’s founder, LuAnn Foty, a.k.a. the Crazy Crayon Lady.

Crocs: The manufacturer recycles used Crocs into new shoes and donates them to underprivileged families. Mail them to: Crocs Recycling West, 3375 Enterprise Avenue, Bloomington CA 92316.


D

DVDs, CDs, and jewel cases: If you want to get rid of that Lionel Richie CD because “Dancing on the Ceiling” doesn’t do it for you anymore, you can swap it for a disc from another music lover at zunafish.com. But if you just want to let it go and not worry about it ending up in a landfill, send it (along with DVDs and jewel cases) to greendisk.com for recycling.


E

Empty metal cans (cleaning products): Cut off the metal ends of cans containing powdered cleansers, such as Ajax and Bon Ami, and put them in with other household metals. (Use care when cutting them.) Recycle the tubes as you would any other cardboard.

Empty metal cans (food products): Many towns recycle food cans. If yours doesn’t, you can find the nearest steel-can recycling spot at recycle-steel.org. Rinse out cans, but don’t worry about removing the labels. “Leaving them on doesn’t do any harm,” says Marti Matsch, the communications director of Eco-Cycle, one of the nation’s oldest and largest recyclers, in Boulder, Colorado. “When the metal is melted,” she says, “the paper burns up. If you want to recycle the label with other paper, that’s great, but it’s not necessary.”

Eyeglasses: Plastic frames can’t be recycled, but metal ones can. Just drop them into the scrap-metal bin. However, given the millions of people who need glasses but can’t afford them, your frames, broken or not, will go to better use if you donate them to neweyesfortheneedy.com (sunglasses and plastic frames in good condition can also be donated). Or drop off old pairs of glasses at LensCrafters, Target Optical, or other participating stores and doctors’ offices, which will send them to onesight.org.


F

Fake plastic credit cards: They’re not recyclable, so you can’t just toss them along with their paper junk-mail solicitations. Remove them first and throw them in the trash.

Film canisters: Check with your local recycling center to find out if it takes gray film-container lids (No. 4) and black bases (No. 2). If not, many photo labs will accept them.

Fire extinguishers: There are two types of extinguishers. For a dry-chemical extinguisher, safely relieve the remaining pressure, remove the head from the container, and place it with your bulk-metal items (check with your local recycler first). Alternatively, call fire-equipment companies and request that they dispose of your extinguisher. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are refillable after each use.

Food processors. Some communities accept small household appliances for recycling―if not in curbside collection, then in drop-off locations. (New York City will even pick up appliances left on the sidewalk.) “If an appliance is more than 50 percent metal, it is recyclable,” says Kathy Dawkins, director of public information for New York City’s Department of Sanitation. Most appliances are about 75 percent steel, according to the Steel Recycling Institute. So unless you know something is mostly plastic, it will probably qualify.

Formal wear: Finally, a use for that mauve prom or bridesmaid dress: Give it to a girl who can’t afford one (go to operationfairydust.org or catherinescloset.org).


G

Gadgets: There are many ways to recycle PDAs, MP3 players, and other devices so that any money earned from the parts goes to worthy causes―a win, win, win scenario (for you, the environment, and charity). Recycleforbreastcancer.org, for example, will send you prepaid shipping labels, recycle your gadgets, then donate the proceeds to breast cancer charities.

Glue: Many schools have recycling programs for empty containers of Elmer’s glue and glue sticks. Students and teachers rinse out the bottles, which are then sent to Wal-Mart for recycling. Find out more at elmersgluecrew.com.

Glue strips and inserts in magazines: Lotion samples and nonpaper promotional items affixed to glue strips in magazines should be removed because they can jam up recycling equipment (scented perfume strips, on the other hand, are fine). “One of the biggest challenges we get is pages of promotional stickers and stamps,” says Matsch, “which can adhere to the machinery and tear yards of new paper fiber.”

DINNER; while you're figuring out all your recycling stuff you can put these in the crock pot for dinner:


STUFFED GREEN PEPPERS

1 package (10 oz) frozen corn kernels
1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans drained and rinsed
1 can ( 14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cups shredded reduced fat Cheddar cheese, divided
6 green peppers. tops removed & seeded

Combine all ingredients, except 1/4 cup cheese and green peppers.
Stuff peppers. Arrange peppers in Crock Pot. Cover, cook on low 6 - 8
hours (high 3 - 4 hours) Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese during the last
30 minutes. - - Makes 6 servings

NOTE: for you meat eaters, you can also add some ground beef to above ingredient mixture

Quick and Easy Week Cooking

Fruity Barbecued Chicken Casserole

1 can Pork and beans (16oz)
4 Chicken Breast pieces
1/4 c Catsup
2 tablespoons Peach preserves
2 teaspoons Onion,instant minced
1/4 teaspoon Soy sauce
1/4 cup Brown sugar

Place beans in a 2-quart casserole; top with chicken breasts. Mix together remaining ingredients; pour over chicken and beans.
Cover and bake in preheated 325 deg.F. oven for 1 and 3/4 hours.


Knobby's Acres Chicken Rolls

1 container of Crescent Rolls (8 rolls)
2 chicken breasts
1/2 cup Pizza Quick Sauce
8 slices of cheese of your flavor

Boil the chicken breasts for 20 minutes, let cool a little and than cut up in small pieces. Separate the 8 crescent roll triangles. Mix the sauce and the chicken, and divide the mixture equally among the triangles. Pinch closed the triangles so that chicken filling is completely surrounded. Bake for 20 minutes at 375. Top with cheese slices during the last few minutes of baking.


Easy Make Chili

1 can Kidney beans
1/2 lb Hamburger
1 can Tomato soup
1 tablespoon Chili powder
1 sm Onion, chopped
Dump all into a pot. Bring to a boil. Turn down and simmer about 30 minutes.


Easy Knobby's Acres Soup

1 lb Hamburger (this is optional)
1 Chopped onion
Salt and pepper
1 can (10.75-oz) tomato soup
1 can (16-oz) mixed vegetables (drained) or use 1 pkg of frozen variety
1 can (16-oz) kidney beans
1 Box (14.75-oz) spaghetti (Three quarters of the way cooked)

Brown hamburger and onions, drain excess grease and transfer mixture into large saucepan. Add tomato soup and half a can of water. Stir in vegetables. Chop spaghetti up into like 3 or 4 inch pieces and add to soup mixture. Bring to boil, then simmer uncovered 15 minutes. Add water as needed to make more liquid


Quick Chocolate/Peanut Butter Fudge

1 Bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 oz)
1 Jar smooth or crunchy peanut butter (12 oz)
1 can Sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)

In a 1-1/2 quart microwave-proof bowl, melt chocolate and peanut butter on HIGH (1000 watt units) for about 3 minutes. Remove from microwave; stir will. Add condensed milk, stirring until well blended. Pour mixture into 8 x 8 inch cake pan, lined with waxed paper. Refrigerate to chill

You all have fun now!

Thursday Tid-bits from the ol' farmstead

Came across a few things on the ol' web that I thought I would throw out at ya all...

#1 - Canada Becomes First Nation to Officially List BPA as Toxic - Poisoning ourselves left and right or letting others do it to us...

#2 - Is Urban Gardening Getting More Creative? From Vertical Spirals to Lampposts, to Facebook - Gardeners everywhere, will we even need big mega farms 20 years from now?

#3 - Seed Sprouters: Easy to Use & Simple Designs - Cute!

And as usual one of Knobby's Acres recipes -

Knobby's Acres Breakfast Stir-All

Makes enough for 7 to 9 people

Main Ingredients:

8-10 eggs
2-3 cups grated cheddar cheese (your choice of whether you use Sharp, Mild or Medium)
6 slices white bread, cubed into like 1 or 2 inch pieces
2 cups milk

Optional Additions: add what you like

1 cup corn (fresh, cooked or frozen)
1/2 cup chopped broccoli (cooked or raw )
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 cup cubed ham and/or cooked/browned Polish/Smoked sausage
A few slices cooked bacon, chopped
1 TBSP of chopped chives

Instructions:

1 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2 - Beat eggs in large bowl and then mix in milk and cheese.

3 - Add any additions you want.

4 - Carefully stir in the bread cubes until just moistened (don't over stir)

5 - Oil (preferably some good olive oil) a 13 x 9 inch glass casserole dish and pour your mixture in.

6 - Bake in oven for 50 minutes to an hour, until the top is browned and the center springs back when touched.

7 - Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

The World is rushing by

Everywhere I go lately people are rushing - rushing while driving down the street, rushing in stores, rushing at work, etc. It's like some of them are thinking to themselves; My life is totally messed up and I need to rush all my everyday mundane stuff so to have time to un-mess it later.

The ones that get me laughing the most are the ones that speed around me driving and then at the stop light I end up right behind them, but I guess in their thinking they won something, HaHaHaHa...what a wacky society we have become


Time to kick back, do a little laundry, read a book and let some modern conveniences do the cooking...


Creamy Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 can cream of celery soup

Directions:

1. Steam broccoli and cauliflower over boiling water for ten minutes, or
until just tender. Drain thoroughly, if required, and place in a baking
dish.
2. Combine mayonnaise, cheese and soup and spoon over vegetables.
3. Bake uncovered at 350 F for 45 minutes or until nicely browned on
top.
Serves 6


CHICKEN A LA KING

* 1-1/2 to 2 pounds boneless chicken tenders
* 1 to 1 1/2 cup matchstick-cut carrots
* 1 bunch green onions (scallions) sliced in 1/2-inch pieces
* 1 jar Kraft pimiento or pimiento & olive process cheese spread (5oz) (optional)
* 1 can 98% fat-free cream of chicken soup
* salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in the slow cooker/Crock Pot (3 1/2-quart or larger)and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours. Serve over rice, toast, or biscuits.
Serves 6 to 8.

Have a great day and remember, keep your planter lubed...

Slow, dumpy week recipe

Been a slow dumpy week, as my head cold gos back and forth, one day I'm pretty good and then 2 days I'm miserable, etc. etc.. I hate being sick!

but I did find this amonst my some 4 million recipes i have -----

PUMPKIN BREAD in a Crock Pot

* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
* 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
* 2 Tb vegetable oil
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup pumpkin (canned)
* 4 Tb raisins or dried currants, finely chopped

In small bowl combine flour, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice;
set aside.

In med. mixing bowl combine brown sugar and oil; beat till well
combined.

Beat in eggs. Add pumpkin; mix well. Add flour mixture.
Beat just until combined. Stir in raisins.

Pour pumpkin mixture into 2
well-greased and floured 1/2-pint straight-sided canning jars. Cover
jars tightly with greased foil.

Place a piece of crumpled foil in 3-1/2 or
4 qt. crockery cooker with liner in place. Place jars atop crumpled foil.
Cover; cook on high setting for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours or until a wooden
toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean.

Remove jars from
cooker; cool 10 minutes in jars. Remove bread from jars. Cool
thoroughly on wire rack. Makes 2 loaves.

Anyone who tries this let us know how it turns out, thanks...

Have a good one my friends...

Sunday Head Cold Recipes

Somewhere over night I picked up a super head cold and feels like my head is in middle of ocean, sloshing around in a life raft..

Here's something all of you might try;

Crock-Pot Baked Caramel Apples -

using a 6 qt oval crock pot/slow cooker you should be able to fit in 4/5/6 medium sized apples, Granny Smiths work real good.

Ingredients;

2 t vanilla
1/2 cup water

Stuffing items -

Caramel cubes
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries or chopped up dates
1/2 cup walnut/pecan halves or pieces

Brown sugar

Directions;

Pour the water into the bottom of your crock pot & stir in the vanilla.

Wash and core your apples and maybe using a knife make the core a little larger

Put the apples into the vanilla water.

Stuff the apples with 1 cube of caramel and some of the stuffing items and shove a bit of brown sugar into each core also.

any extra stuffing items and sugar can be used to top off the apples.

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-7, just make sure the apples don't get to soggy to handle.

And while all that is cooking you can put together this main dish -


Cottage Cheese Manicotti

"Simple to fix - the manicotti shells do not need to be precooked!"

Tomato Sauce:

1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
2 (8 oz) cans unsalted tomato sauce
2 (16 oz) cans unsalted tomatoes
1-1/2 teaspoons oregano leaves
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Filling:

2 cups non-fat cottage cheese OR
1 cup non-fat cottage cheese and 1 can drained cooked spinach
3 tablespoons freshly grated non-fat cheese
2 egg whites
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Dash pepper
8 oz uncooked manicotti shells (15 pieces)
1 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Sauté garlic in olive oil. Add tomato sauce and tomatoes; stir in oregano and parsley.
Bring to a boil and simmer covered for a minimum of 20 minutes, up to 2 hours, stirring
occasionally. Makes 5 cups of sauce.

Combine filling ingredients and stuff uncooked manicotti shells using a small butter
knife or a spoon.

Fill bottom of a 9"x13" casserole dish with 2 cups of tomato sauce.

Arrange stuffed manicotti shells in a single layer over sauce, side by side.

Cover shells with remaining 3 cups of sauce and pour 1 cup of water over all.

Tightly cover dish with foil and bake for 50 minutes.

Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Makes 5-6 servings.

Dreams and Live - Simple -- Part 1

"People like to dream of escapes they won't ever live" - KK


We all have dreams and most of us have dreams of doing something spectacular with our lives away from the normal everyday existence.

Here's a tip --the whole purpose behind simplifying your life is so you can live your dream... you have to arrange your life and clear out its clutter, so that your dream can have room to live and grow.

Do you know what your dream is? What would you love to do with your life if you had the time and resources? Travel? Volunteer work? A craft or hobby? Become a Movie star? Play Professional sports? Be a Musician? Do you secretly want to be with someone? etc.etc...

Problem is most people do not know what their dream is and when I say dream what I am referring to, is your heart's desire--what you truly want to do in the short time frame we are allowed here on Earth. So, first step is to discover and find your TRUE dream/heart's desire.

One way is to asked yourself what you would honestly and truly do in the case of certain supposed happenings;

Like what would you truthfully do with your life if by chance, you won $3 million dollars? or $500 a week for the rest of your life? How about if you woke one morning and had a disability that prevented you from walking? What if you actually only had ten months to live? Or if you had a the chance to get a masters degree, would you do it? and what would you get it in? etc.etc...

By answering these questions you should see a pattern/ outline of what your true hidden motivation in life is. You have to dig deep though to do so and possibly end up asking yourself other deeper sub-questions.

Another way I have found is to take a long, hard look back in your life and remember all the things you have done (work, fun, friends, school,lifestyle,etc.) and see if you can spot a pattern in some area that you always seemed to return to again and again.

Another process is to look at your priorities; an example would you be like, are you willing to skimp, save and struggle with very little money or material things to pursue a dream? Or would you rather just work in a dead - end job that means nothing to you in order to have all kinds of material and pleasureful comforts? Do you let others influence your thoughts and actions everyday? Can you or are you willing to put partner and/or children aside for the moment in order to pursue your dream? Would you change your career/job if that new career/job had to with part of your hearts desire?

The answers to these questions should reveal more about what you want to do or are best suited for. Your answer also should tell you if you are willing to sacrifice? or how you are willing to live in order to follow your dream?

Part 2 coming Sunday

In the mean time enjoy this;


CHEESE AND POTATO CASSEROLE

2 lb. pkg. frozen hash brown potatoes (partially thawed) or fresh
2 (10 oz.) cans cheddar cheese soup
1 (13 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 can French fried onion rings, divided
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine potatoes, soup, milk, and half the can of onion rings; pour
into greased slow cooker/Crock Pot and add salt and pepper.

Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or high for 4 hours. Sprinkle the rest
of the onion rings of top before serving.

Take care and Live - Simple!

Knobby