The Awkward Teen Years

I've been referring to the last couple of weeks as the awkward teen 'years' where our chicks are concerned. They're certainly a far cry from their former, fuzz-ball selves, yet their feathers haven't all come in and they're looking a bit, well, awkward!

They're still living indoors, but an especially warm week has allowed us to treat them to some sunshine here and there. I really think they're going to enjoy life in the back yard.

Pesto Pasta Salad

I threw this pasta together today with the ingredients I had on hand. It was so yummy, I couldn't help but share. Just after it was made, we ate it warm for a late lunch. Tonight, I'm snacking on the cold leftovers. My point? It makes a tasty warm meal and a great make-ahead salad.

There are no precise measurements for my recipe, only a general idea. Consider it a starting point, and make this dish your own.

Ingredients:
Gluten Free Pasta
Chicken {thinly sliced; feel free to omit for a vegan dish}
Onion {I used half of a sweet onion; sliced}
Mushrooms {sliced}
Green Peas
Pesto {I used store-bought vegan pesto, so that it would be free of cheese}

Directions:
Boil pasta, drain, and set aside.
Heat a bit of olive oil in a skillet, and add chicken. Season with salt and pepper, and saute for several minutes.
When the chicken is nearly cooked, add the onion and mushrooms and stir to mix.
When the chicken is done and the onions and mushrooms are tender, add a good-size scoop of green peas. Mine were frozen, so I stirred them in and allowed a minute or two for them to warm.
Add a big scoop of pesto, stirring it into the warm chicken mixture so that it 'melts' and coats the chicken and veggies.
Add cooked pasta, and mix once more.
Serve warm, or tuck it in the fridge for a cold treat later on.

This recipe has been shared at... Allergy Free Wednesdays, Summer Salad Sundays

Gluten Free, Vegan, Soy Free, Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies

Yum! This recipe was so last-minute, it isn't even funny... and I'm thrilled with the way they turned out! I helped to put on the Great Cloth Diaper Change here in our city this year {more on that later}, and wanted to have an allergy-friendly treat available. They were a hit!!

So many people asked for the recipe, I couldn't help but post it here right away. 

Ingredients:

3 Cups Gluten Free Oats {I used two cups old-fashioned, and one cup quick-cooking.}

1 1/2 Cups Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour

1/2 tsp. Xanthan Gum

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/4 tsp. Salt

1 Cup Maple Syrup {the real stuff!}

1/2 Cup Oil {grapeseed, canola, another neutral oil}

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 1/2 Well-Mashed Bananas {for very small bananas, use two... very large, maybe just one.}

1/2 Cup {or so} Mix-In's, such as raisins or other dried fruit, nuts, chocolate... 

Directions:
Combine oats, flour, xanthan gum, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir thoroughly.
To the flour mixture, add maple syrup, oil, vanilla, and mashed bananas. Mix well to combine.
Add your mix-ins, and don't be afraid to experiment! This batch used raisins and just a few mini chocolate chips. {Keep in mind that some mix-ins may add a touch of sugar to the recipe.}
Place rounded spoonfuls of dough on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake at 375 degrees for about ten minutes, until the edges are golden and cookies have a nice 'puff' to them.
Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack.

Note: this is a sticky, messy dough! Don't be alarmed {I was!}, the cookies will bake up nicely and with a dense, chewy texture.  


I've shared this recipe on... Allergy Free Wednesdays, Simple Lives Thursdays, Fresh Bites Friday, Allergy Friendly Friday, Made from Scratch Monday

How to Care for your Cloth Diapers

Wondering how to care for your cloth? Start here!

These are the ideas I most commonly recommend. Of course the same thing doesn't always work for everyone, but I consider this a good starting point. Please feel free to ask questions!

Storing wet and soiled diapers:

Store your diapers in an open, dry pail. A cloth pail liner (made of PUL) stretched over a kitchen-style trash can is perfect! Avoid a lid of any kind, as the air circulation will actually *help* keep stinkies away. 

Wet bags are great for a day trip, or even an overnight at grandma's, but not recommended for routine dirty-diaper storage. There isn't enough air circulation, which will cause your diapers to "stew" a bit before you're able to wash them.

Additional Tips:

Shake solids into the toilet before storing soiled diapers.

If you're using a wet bag to store diapers at home, consider leaving the bag unzipped for better circulation.

Wash wet bags and pail liners with your diapers. No need to wash them separately. 

Washing your diapers:

This is, by far, my most effective wash routine. It is what I recommend to all cloth diapering families that I visit with and sell diapers to.

Top Loader:

Wash diapers in warm water with 1/2 sccop Country Save detergent.

Wash diapers again in hot water with 1/2 scoop Country Save detergent.

Wash diapers again in warm water without detergent.

Front Loader:

Wash diapers in warm water with 1/4 scoop Country Save detergent.

Wash diapers again in hot water with 1/4 scoop Country Save detergent.

Wash diapers again in warm water without detergent.

Additional Tips:

Wash every two days.

Aim for about 20 items in your washer. Too many, or too few, can result in poorly washed diapers. (A pocket diaper qualifies as two items. The pocket, and the insert. Feel free to splurge a bit where cloth wipes and fleece liners are concerned :))

Always select the highest water level possible.

If you have a front-loader, contact your manufacturer to learn which setting provides the most water.

Consider adding up to 1/2 Cup Calgon or White King water softener each time you add detergent.

Country Save, Tiny Bubbles and Bum Genius detergents may be used interchangeably. 

Refer to the following images if you're unsure of the detergent measurements or the size of your scoop.

Stripping your diapers:

Occasionally, you may find that your diapers need to be stripped. This could be due to detergent build-up, a yeast infection, forgotten diapers stashed into a wet bag... or a whole other slew of reasons! Whatever your reason, one of these methods should help reset your diapers to their original condition.

Hot Water Strip:

Wash your diapers repeatedly in hot water. This is the most basic form of stripping, and can actually be quite effective! Continue washing until you no longer see any sort of scum or bubbling in the water. This method works in both front and top-load machines.

Blue Dawn Strip:

To poo- and pee-free diapers, add 1 tsp. Original Blue Dawn dish soap. Wash the diapers on hot, and then continue rinsing until you no longer see any sort of scum or bubbling in the water. This method works in both front an top-load machines.

RLR Strip:

Soak your diapers in hot water and RLR Laundry Treatment overnight. If you have a top-load machine, you may choose to do this in your machine. If you have a front-load machine, soak in the bath tub or in a large basin of some sort. Once the diapers have soaked, repeatedly run warm-water wash cycles until you no longer see any sort of scum or bubbling in the water.

Additional Tips:

You may soak your diapers in Rockin' Green detergent by following the package directions.

If you simply wish to strip a couple of inserts, consider boiling them on the stove top. DO NOT boil PUL, snaps, elastic, or any other questionable material.

PUL (covers, pocket shells, etc.) should be left out of the stripping process most of the time. Inserts and other absorbent items are what likely need to be stripped.

Some manufacturers recommend the occasional use of bleach. Follow package/diaper label directions, and be sure to rinse well after using bleach with your diapers.

As always, please post your questions here and I'll do my best to answer them. I love to help trouble-shoot diaper laundry troubles.