Fluff Talk Thursday

Since I've begun using cloth diapers for my kiddos, I've had a few people ask questions about them: why, what kind, how many, how do you wash them, etc. And since Beth over at Happily Domestic is starting to host Fluff Talk Thursdays, a weekly meme all about cloth diapering, I thought I would join in sometimes for any of my readers that are interested in learning more about it! After you are finished reading my post, click the Fluff Talk Thursday button at the top of my post to head over to Beth's blog and read what she and others have to say for the week.

This week's question is: Why Cloth? What made you decide to go the cloth diapering route? Who introduced you to the idea?

With my first 2 kids I never even thought about cloth. I just assumed it was pins, plastic pants, and saggy, bulky diapers. After I had L, I found taking 3 kids to the store was not the easiest thing to do and started looking for ways to not have a reason to go to the store. Since we get our milk from the farm, eggs from the chickens, and most of the veggies from the garden, diapers were one of the few things I still needed to get from the store all the time. I looked online and was amazed at the diapers that were now available! I found a site called The Cloth Diaper Whisperer with a ton of info and 2 of the article on it gave me a few more reasons to switch to cloth: How much money can you save? and 10 benefits to using cloth. However, I was pretty overwhelmed with all the options and wasn't sure where to start. I ordered a few FuzziBunz one size diapers, but when I got them on L, I really didn't like how bulky they were and was about to give it all up. Then I noticed on Facebook a college friend's kids were wearing cloth in her pictures! I asked her to recommend a few brands to start with. She said Bum-ware and Blueberry were her favorites. I tried them and loved them! The Bum-Ware are sized so they are very trim and the Blueberry one size ones are so absorbent because they use hemp, and are still fairly trim.

I am so glad I stuck with it and switched to cloth. I wish I had looked into it when I had J and saved all the money we wasted on disposables for him and S! And cloth diapers are definitely a lot cuter than disposables!

Tasty Tuesday - Fresh Blueberry Pie

Fresh Blueberry Pie

I always have way too many blueberries and spend a ton of time picking them every summer, so I make this pie quite a bit. It has become one of our favorites and is very easy to make!

Ingredients
Crust:
1 1/3 cups flour
1/3 cup oil
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp cold water

Mix flour, salt and oil and then sprinkle with water, 1 Tbsp at a time, mixing until all the water is absorbed. Make it into a ball and press it into the bottom and sides of a pie dish. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork and then bake a 475 degrees for 10 minutes.

Filling:
3/4 cup sugar
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup cold water
5 cups fresh blueberries, divided
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp lemon juice

In a large saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, and water over medium heat until smooth. Add 3 cups of the blueberries. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and add butter, lemon juice, and remaining berries. Stir until butter is melted and then put into pastry shell. Cool and refridgerate until serving.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Linked to: Smockity Frocks

Tasty Tuesday - Zucchini Bread

We still have zucchini coming out our ears, so I have been making a lot of zucchini bread this week. A few years ago I found a recipe for the best zucchini bread. It is so good! And it freezes really well, so you can make a ton and stick them in the freezer for later. Enjoy!

Ingredients
3 eggs
1 cup veg oil
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup crushed pineapple, well drained
1 cup chopped walnuts

Beat the eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla until thick. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and spices together and stir into first mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into two 5x9 greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Tasty Tuesday

Since it is WAY TOO HOT to cook around here, I thought I would share a new favorite snack of ours. It always seems like I am at the grocery store just before lunch, and of course the kids beg for candy the whole time. I hate giving them junk food and ruining their lunch, so I am always looking for something better for them. Last time we were there, I found yogurt covered raisins in the bulk food section, and the kids LOVE them. They think they are getting candy and I don't have to feel so bad if they don't eat as much lunch when we get home.

Tasty Tuesday - Zucchini Pizza

Zucchini Pizza

Zucchini is one of those vegetables that anyone can grow and if you try to, you always get WAY more than you need! Mine has started producing its overabundance, so I am looking for ways to use it up. Last year I came across this great zucchini pizza recipe. It is a good way to get your kids to eat zucchini, my kids LOVE it!

Ingredients:
4 cups shredded peeled zucchini, drained and squeezed dry
2 cups cooked rice
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1-1/2 cups prepared spaghetti sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Directions: In a bowl, combine zucchini, rice, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and eggs until well blended. Press mixture into a greased 15-in. x 11-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until the crust is set and lightly browned. Meanwhile, brown ground beef and onion; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce, oregano and salt. Mix well. Spoon beef mixture over zucchini crust. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Hope you like it as much as my kids do! Enjoy!