This week I’m offering 10 tips for a green kitchen. Come back tomorrow for a review of Alice Water’s new book In the Green Kitchen: Techniques to Learn by Heart
- Vinegar in your rinse aid cup in the dishwasher is an economical and eco friendly alternative to purchased rinse-aids. It works great!
- Make your own spice mixes.
- Menu Planning will help you make the most of what you already have.
- Invest in paper towel alternatives. You may need to experiment to see what works best for you.
- Use cloth napkins. (See this week’s Food & Faith Challenge to win some!)
- Prep your veggies as soon as you get them home from the market or CSA so you are more likely to use them. They will also take up less room in the frig.
- Grow something! Even if you don’t have a garden, try some herbs in a pot.
- Share a common meal with another family once a week. This not only builds community and reduces the amount of time that you need to spend on dinner, but encourages you to clean your house 😉
- Find friends to barter with. Know someone who is great at baking bread? Offer to give them some eggs in exchange.
- Stock up on dishes at rummage sales and thrift stores to avoid using paper plates for large groups.
What are yours?
This post linked to Top Ten Tuesday and Kitchen Tip Tuesday.and Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Friday
Hi Wendy! I’m stopping by from the Lady Blogger’s Workshop-this is a very fascinating blog! I’m always looking for ways to keep the kitchen green & I have recently discovered that I actually enjoy cooking. So I’m looking forward to getting to read your blog more & “meet” you with the workshop! I’m also doing UBP! Hope you’re having a great Tuesday!
.-= Kate´s last blog ..HAPPY EASTER! =-.
Wendy,
I love the tip for using vinegar in the dishwasher rinse cycle. I alway buy Jet-Dry and it’s so pricey–thanks for the alternative!
A question about prepping veggies. Do you have any tips for keeping cilantro fresh and making it last? We always need “just a little,” but the stores sell it in bunches which inevitably go bad before we use them up. We do grow our own when the winter is finished, but buy it during the cold seasons (it’s an absolute must for green chili!) Any ideas?
Hi there! I have heard of this method and found a site that gives a really good explanation :http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_store_parsley_cilantro_and_other_fresh_herbs/ I have not however tried it myself. I will this summer though. I hope to grow cilantro at home – I LOVE it but our CSA doesn’t usually have it.
Very great tips—I like the plate idea so you dont use paper. And real plates are just so much more…fancy!
I’ve been thinking about cloth napkins for awhile now…off to check out the challenge!!
Thanks so much for linking up to Top Ten {Tuesday}!
.-= oh amanda´s last blog ..Top Ten {Tuesday}: Yummiest Food I’ve Had in a Good Long While =-.
I love the tip about the vinegar… and I Love to make my own spice mixes.
.-= Crystal’s Cozy Kitchen´s last blog ..Menu – April 5-11 =-.
Great list! We do not use paper in the kitchen, at all. By using cloth, glass, and pottery, we save money and reduce waste. So often the green choice is also the frugal choice.
P.S. Just tweeted this.
Great tips! Thanks.
I never thought to prepare my veggies as soon as I get them home. This is a great idea. I purchased my first CSA this year so I’ll have to use this tip.
Another I didn’t think of that you noted above was to share a common meal with another family. This makes so much sense.
The rest I’m eithter doing or working on (like meal planning). Great tips and thank you for sharing 🙂
.-= Sarah @ Mum In Bloom´s last blog ..Recipe: Warm Sweet Potatoe Salad =-.