Best dishwasher detergent

I became concerned some time ago that my dishes always have a film of soap/residue on them when I unload the dishwasher.  Not sure I want to be eating that?

I am using this recipe to make my own and I like it 200% better.  The dishes come out squeaky clean and it costs much less than buying Cascade.

Ingredients in Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Your environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent is going to have four main ingredients.

– Washing Soda—This stuff has been around forever. It is a natural substance, made from salt and limestone. Scientifically it is known as sodium carbonate. It cuts grease on anything and can be used for many (if not most) of the cleaning projects in your home. Arm and Hammer puts it out in the United States. If you can’t find it at your grocers you can find it on Amazon and other places online.

– Borax—Borax occurs naturally in the environment and can be mined as well as created in a lab. It is toxic in concentrated amounts, and you should keep it out of the reach of children. You can find it by the laundry detergent; Borateem is one brand.

– Kosher Salt—Kosher salt is a pure salt. I use it for cooking because the food tastes cleaner. I have also used regular salt, when I was out of the kosher salt.

– Citric acid—You can buy food grade citric acid like Fruit Fresh.  You can also use unsweetened lemonade packets (like Crystal Light); the main ingredient is citric acid.

– 1 T rice (prevents clumping)

Recipe for Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

– 1 cup Washing soda

– 1 cup Borax

– ½ cup salt

– ½ cup citric acid

Mix together and store tightly covered in a Mason Jar. Use one tablespoon per load. Add white vinegar to the rinse dispenser as a substitute for rinse agent.

Buying organic – EWG Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce

My boyfriend buys most things organic.  But I shriek when I get to the register and see the bill for organic items.  So, I try to pick and choose what I buy organic.   The Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a list every year of the worst offenders as well as the cleanest fruits & veggies.  You can lower your pesticide intake substantially by buying organic for  the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables.  An example – celery tested positive for 57 different pesticides.

These are the Dirty Dozen.  You should consider buying these organic:

• Apples
• Celery
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Nectarines (imported)
• Grapes – imported
• Sweet bell peppers
• Potatoes
• Blueberries (domestic)
• Lettuce
• Kale/collard greens

These are the Clean 15 and tested lowest in pesticides.
I buy these in the regular grocery section.

• Onions
• Sweet Corn
• Pineapples
• Avocado
• Asparagus
• Sweet peas
• Mangoes
• Eggplant
• Cantaloupe 
- domestic
• Kiwi
• Cabbage
• Watermelon
1
• Sweet potatoes
• Grapefruit
• Mushrooms

Saving Money for Better Things

This post details how I’m changing how I watch television – goodbye cable bill!

1) I am streaming TV thru the Roku LT – cost, $50 ( I used my Amazon Visa rewards points, so did not actually cost me anything).

CNET reviewed the Roku 5 days ago and here is their summary:

The Roku LT earned our Editors’ Choice Award for two major reasons: price and content. Roku’s $50 streaming box has a truly impressive lineup of content, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Pandora, HBO Go, MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter, Epix, Crackle, Picasa, Flicker, Mog, Rdio, TED Talks, Revision3, TWiT.TV, NASA, and CNET. You can see a full list on Roku’s site, and the company has been aggressive about continually adding more content sources. YouTube is strangely missing from that list.

All of the content sources are great, but the Roku LT also gets many of the little things right that competing products don’t. The user interface may be a little bland, but it’s simple and easy to navigate, plus you can customize the layout of the channels. The same goes for the remote, which keeps only the essential buttons. (Roku’s remote now includes direct-access buttons for Netflix, Pandora, and Crackle.) The separate Channel Store is also a great way to offer a ton of content from partners without cluttering the main home screen.

Roku also offers several pricier models, but we think the Roku LT is easily the best value. The core streaming functionality is what makes Roku great, so most buyers don’t need to pay extra for a Bluetooth remote, microSD card slot, or USB port.If your main goal is to stream video and music from a ton of high-quality content sources, there’s no better value than the Roku LT.

2) I have a subscription to Hulu Plus (less than $9 a month) and to Amazon Prime ($79 per year; includes streaming TV/movies & ebooks).

3) I bought a HDTV indoor TV antenna – Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception.  It’s $38.79 on Amazon (I used my Amazon Visa reward points for this too) and it ships free with 2-day delivery … another perk of the Amazon Prime membership.  It has received 1582 reviews and a 4-star rating.

It’s small in size (inconspicuous) and will allow me to view all local TV free.  To see what stations you should be able to get with the antenna in your area, go to http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps.

I absolutely hate paying for cable and this will net me about $600 the first year (due to equipment purchases) and a higher amount in year two.  Hmmm … I wonder what shoes Valentino has put out for Spring.

Best tuna salad I’ve ever had

I am making my fav tuna salad for lunch today.  The recipe comes from Cook’s Illustrated – they test literally hundreds of recipes for the same item and declare the one that is best, and this is their choice.  I have made it for several people and everyone remarked that it is exceptionally good tuna salad!  The texture is perfect, not watery, and the lemon juice gives it a nice fresh flavor.

What Cook’s Illustrated did differently:

•  It is important to use the best tuna you can find.  Cook’s Illustrated tested numerous brands, and they preferred Starkist solid white tuna.  I sometimes mix one can of the really expensive Italian tuna (about $6.99 a can) with the Starkist albacore, and that takes the gourmet factor up a notch.
•  Most cooks simply use the top of the tuna can to press against the tuna to drain the water.  Cook’s Illustrated took the time to drain thoroughly in  a colander and they believed that made a difference in the texture.
• While many cooks break the tuna apart with a fork, they used their fingers to thoroughly break apart any lumps.
• The seasonings they used were chosen carefully.  Salt & pepper are often skipped but really helped bring out the more delicate flavors of the tuna.  Here’s the entire recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 (6 ounce) cans solid white tuna packed in water
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 stalk celery , minced (about 1/4 cup)
• 2 tablespoons red onions , minced
• 2 tablespoons dill pickles or 2 tablespoons sweet gherkins , minced
• ½ clove garlic , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1/8 tsp.)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves , minced
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard

Directions:

1. Place the tuna in a colander and drain well.
2. Shred the tuna with your fingers, breaking up any clumps until it has a fine and even texture.
3. Put the tuna in a medium bowl and mix in the lemon juice, celery, onion, pickles, garlic, salt, pepper, and parsley until well blended.
4. Fold in the mayonnaise and Dijon until mixture is evenly moistened.
5. Salad can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
   

The Ideal Cookware Set (a la carte)

Cook’s Illustrated (they test hundreds of different items to come up with their final recommendations) has named the ideal cookware set.  I have purchased the Lodge Logic cast iron skillet and love the product.  It cooks so evenly!  Here are all of the recommendations:

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	Lodge Logic 12-inch Cast-Iron SkilletNothing can top cast iron when it comes to creating a thick, deeply browned crust on steaks and other foods. Also our first choice for cornbread and fried chicken.	$26.95
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	All-Clad Stainless 2-quart SaucepanA 2-quart saucepan is just the right size for smaller jobs like heating milk, melting butter, or warming soup.	$139.95
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	Cuisinart Chef’s Classic 12-quart StockpotMost home kitchens have room for a single stockpot, so it must handle a variety of big jobs, from steaming lobsters to boiling bushels of corn and cooking pounds of pasta; 12 quarts is the most useful size. Since we use our stockpot mainly for these simple operations, we prefer a good but inexpensive brand.	$69.99
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	All-Clad Stainless 4-quart SaucepanIn the test kitchen, we use our 4-quart saucepans for making rice and oatmeal, blanching vegetables, and cooking small amounts of pasta, soup, and stew. Since we also use it for making sauces, a traditional finish that allows fond to develop is essential. A stay-cool handle is a must.	$199.95
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	All-Clad Stainless 12-inch SkilletA kitchen workhorse large enough to sear, roast, or sauté a family-sized meal. The traditional finish allows food to stick slightly, developing the crusty brown bits, known as fond, that contribute to great flavor.	$134.95
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	Le Creuset 7¼-quart Round French OvenIf we had to single out the pot we use more than any other, it would be our Dutch oven. This incredibly versatile vessel is thicker and heavier than a saucepan or stockpot, and it conducts heat more efficiently. It is ideal for soups, stews, stocks, braises, and even deep-frying and baking.	$269.95
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
	Wearever Premium Hard Anodized 10-inch Nonstick Sauté Pan* This is actually a skillet in shape, if not in name Nonstick is terrific for delicate, quick-cooking foods such as omelets, flaky fish fillets, and stir-fries—but don’t spend big bucks, since the coating wears off within a few years. The best nonstick pans boast a thick base that distributes heat evenly.