Mumbai Meatballs with Yogurt-Chutney Dipping Sauce

Mumbai Meatballs with Yogurt-Chutney Sauce and Whole Wheat Naan

Generally, I find cookbooks disappointing.  However, I recently stumbled upon some winners:

Below you will find a sample recipe from the Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue.  In the last few months, I have made this recipe for Mumbai Meatballs 5 times.  It is easy and absolutely delicious.  Serve it up with toothpicks during the Super Bowl for a yummy yet somewhat sophisticated finger food.  I use the Costco ground turkey package, which is closer to 1.5 lbs than 1 pound, so I bump up all the other ingredients (especially the spices!) a bit too. Like other Goldfarb recipes, its easy, fast and forgiving.  Don't skip the yogurt-chutney sauce.  It's simple, fast and delectable.  Make your own naan (I'll post about this eventually) or pick up some at Trader Joe's (where you will also find a good mango chutney) and you have one awesome Indian meal.  Try it, you'll love it!

Read More

How to Potty Train a Baby

Recently I picked up Diaper-Free Before 3 at the library.  The book advocates a positive, early start to toilet training (ideally between 6-12 months), so that your child can be out of diapers and finished with potty training as early as his or her 2nd birthday. 

This post is Part 3 of my discussion of Diaper-Free Before 3.
Click HERE to read Part 1:  A Brief History of Potty Training.
Click HERE to read Part 2: The Benefits of Early Potty Training.


So how do you practice early potty training?  As it turns out, I have been following Lekovic's method pretty closely without knowing it.  

Read More

Disposable to Reusable: Durable Grocery Bags

Inventory Clearance - Save up to 70%

Now, I don't usually engage in blatant advertising, but this is an AMAZING SALE.  Since I purchased several things myself, I thought you readers might also be interested.  I think prices last until the stuff runs out.

Recycled cotton dual-handled tote, $2.95 (70% off)

Read More

Meet Nisha: She Switched to Cloth Diapers

This is a Q & A post with Nisha Riggs, one of Eco-novice's regular readers, and a recent convert to cloth diapers.  I hope reading about her experience with cloth diapers will help you figure out if cloth diapers are for you!   

Nisha Riggs with her 2 kids, who now wear cloth diapers.

Read More

From Disposable to Reusable: BYO Food Containers (plus 10 More Ideas)

BYO plastic cup to Jamba Juice

Although I am a serious Eco-novice in this area, I am trying to keep an eye on my waste and to take small steps from disposable to reusable whenever possible.

One recent success:  take-out food containers. 

Read More

Ants

Please leave.

Yes, folks, it's that awesome time of year again, at least where I live.  The time when the ants get tired of being wet and/or cold and decide to have a party in your house.  Please note that my ant invasions both this year and last year coincided with the arrival of my in-laws for an extended stay in December. As if I didn't already feel like an ultra-lame housekeeper/ hostess.  I am, in fact, aware that ants are looking for food (my mother-in-law likes to remind me of this), but I will never ever ever be able to keep all crumbs off the floor with small children.  Even keeping food and crumbs within the kitchen and out of the rest of the house is completely beyond my reach. 

Read More

10 Benefits of Early Potty Training

This post is Part 2 of My Bloggy Discussion of Diaper-Free Before 3. 
Click HERE to read Part 1:  A Brief History of Potty Training.

A few days ago, my 16-month-old pooped in her diaper.  Normally she poops on the potty.  We changed her diaper immediately, but a day later, her bottom was still flaming red.  Although some children may have heartier skin, I'm quite convinced that humans were not meant to be in contact with their feces at all, and certainly not to sit in it for an extended length of time. Although sometimes I get tired of taking my toddler regularly to the potty, these accidents are good reminders of why I do it.  We didn't begin potty training with my first child until after 2, and he constantly had horrible blistery diaper rashes from being in contact with his poop for even a few minutes.

Recently I picked up Diaper-Free Before 3 at the library.  It was an interesting and informative read and reinforced my desire to practice early potty training.  The book advocates a positive, early start to toilet training (ideally between 6-12 months), so that your child can be out of diapers and finished with potty training as early as his or her 2nd birthday.  Lekovic argues that early potty training is more effective, healthier, cheaper, realistic and a happier process for you and your child.

Lekovic's 8 Benefits of Early Potty Training 

Read More

A Brief History of Potty Training

This post is Part 1 of My Bloggy Discussion of Diaper-Free Before 3. Click HERE to read Part 2: The Benefits of Early Potty Training and HERE for Part 3: How to Potty Train a Baby
Recently I picked up Diaper-Free Before 3 by Jill M. Lekovic at the library.  The book advocates a positive, early start to toilet training (ideally between 6-12 months), so that your child can be out of diapers and finished with potty training as early as his or her 2nd birthday.

Perhaps the most interesting information in the book is about potty training throughout history.  According to the author, information about toilet training practices have been recorded since antiquity. Apparently humans have always been obsessed with where their kids pee and poop!  Here is a quick timeline for you (from the book):

Read More

Cookbook Review: SOS! The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue

Inside you'll find recipes that are simple, yummy, and green.

[To read my review of the first Six O'Clock Scramble cookbook, click HERE.]

Although most cookbooks I check out from the library are not worth buying (I always try before I buy), The Six O'Clock Scramble was a huge hit at my house, and I ended up purchasing my own copy.  So when I heard that there was a new "Earth-Friendly" Six O'Clock Scramble! Cookbook, of course I wanted to try it! 

What makes SOS! The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue: Earth-Friendly, Kid-Pleasing Dinners for Busy Families earth-friendly?  Here are 10 things:

Read More

Cookbook Review: The Six O'Clock Scramble

 

I love cookbooks.  I love reading through the ingredient lists and looking at the pictures.  Sadly, most cookbooks turn out to be duds, in my opinion.  I always check out cookbooks from the library before buying them now.  I learned my lesson after buying several cookbooks by a Food Network Star at Costco.  Several years later I was finally able to accept defeat and donate them to Goodwill (I couldn't sell them).

Read More