Vegan sushi-How to make sushi at home

Earlier today, I posted about Vegan Fried Eggplant. I mentioned that it was meant to be used in sushi. 

Here's the sushi. 

Yum. Sushi.

First- definitions.

Sushi does not = raw fish. At all.

Sashimi is raw fish. Sashimi is sometimes used to make sushi, but not always. 

Sushi is a broad term which refers to a variety of tasty little morsels, usually (but not always) including rice, Nori seaweed papers, and fish, shellfish, egg, fruit and/or vegetable toppings/fillings. Some are cooked, some are not. Soy paper or thinly sliced cucumber (or, I'm sure, many other alternatives I haven't seen yet) can be used in place of the nori. Nigiri does not require any wrapper at all. Nigiri is essentially a block of rice with a slice of fish (usually raw) or some other topping, on top. 

The rolls that we often refers to as sushi, and which I show above, are called Maki, meaning log. Maki can be filled and sometimes topped with any number of ingredients and sauces varying widely depending on where one lives. In Japan, choices are limited and deeply traditional. In the US, we can get a little crazy.

The title of this post is Vegan Sushi. I used only nonanimal-derived ingredients. Sometimes we use cooked seafood, or eggs. I NEVER use raw fish. Never. D eats sashimi. I try not to watch.

Later in the post I will make grain-free, low carb, and raw sushi. Sushi can easily be gluten free. Just check your ingredients before you begin. Soy sauce is the big offender here. 

All right. Now that we know what we're doing, let's get started.

First, we set up our assembly station. 

The rice isn't here yet because it's still cooking. We'll handle that in a minute.
Clockwise from top left, we have a serving tray, cucumber ribbons, steamed asparagus, halved, carrot ribbons,the fried eggplant from earlier, nori,a sushi mat in a zipper bag, avocados, a small cutting board and a small, sharp, serrated knife.

You can use anything you like here. Real Japanese sushi is limited to seafood, pickled vegetables, eggs, and a few soy products. But we aren't in Japan, so we can use whatever we want. Here in Louisiana, some popular choices are fried crawfish, fried shrimp, cream cheese, crab, krab, local fish, strawberries, pineapple, oranges, jalapenos, cucumber, carrots, and fried tempura breading, called "crunchies". No joke.

Let's talk rice. 

Sushi rice that you can buy in the store is NOT Japanese sushi rice. It is illegal to import or export rice to and from Japan. Rice is sacred and traditional and not to be played with. At all. It is serious business. 

Sushi rice in the US is probably from California. It's an imitation, and in my opinion, not a very good one. So pretty much, use whatever rice you want. It doesn't really matter. Technically, sushi should be made with short grain rice, but I use local medium grain rice, and it works okey doke. Minute rice or anything out of a box should NOT be used. Cook some real rice. 

Traditionally, hot sushi rice is dumped into a large, flat, wooden bowl and paddled and fanned with paper fans to cool. I don't have a wooden bowl, so I use a stainless steel one. Use what you have. 

Woo wee! Look at that steam coming off that rice. 

Sushi rice should be seasoned with palm sugar, soy sauce and rice vinegar. I like to squeeze in a little wasabi paste, as well, but that is cheating. It should be added to the finished rolls. I don't mind.  Adding it to the rice lends the flavor without burning my children's lips off. 

Wasabi is a root, similar to a horseradish. If you can get fresh wasabi, grab it up. Store it in the freezer. Grate it into your rice. Lucky you.
For the rest of us, wasabi comes in powder or paste. Powder can be reconstituted into paste. I buy paste.
Check the package for the word "sauce". If it's there, put it back. It's mayonnaise that has been seasoned with wasabi. You don't want that.
If you can't find wasabi, or don't care for it. no loss. Just don't use it. 

Black soy sauce or sweet soy sauce is soy sauce which has been sweetened with palm sugar. I keep some in the house because it's dangerously delicious. Regular soy sauce and brown sugar will work, too. 

Rice wine vinegar has a light, clear, sweetish flavor. This one is diluted to 5% concentration. If you buy it from a regular grocer, it will probably be stronger. Use less. You don't want your rice to be acrid. 

If you don't have rice wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar is ok. 

This was 4 cups of uncooked rice. It's a really big bowl. Use about this much sauce. You can't see the vinegar, but it's in there. A little less than the other two.

Fold the rice over and over until sauces are evenly distributed and rice is cool. 

Now it's time to assemble the rolls. 

Sometimes we assemble at the table. I let the kids take turns choosing what goes into each roll. This is great fun for the kids, and wholly exhausting for me. Today, I preassembled. 

My production assistant

This is my sushi mat. It's made of little bamboo rods woven together with string. The zipper bag keeps it clean. When we're done, I wash the bag, and put it back in the drawer till next time.

The sushi mat is nice to have, but not necessary. I only use it when I'm having trouble. You can make rolls without one if you don't have one. If you do, use it. It might make it easier. 

I don't know my nori is half sheets instead of the usual square, but well, there it is.

Lay a single sheet of nori out rough side up. 

Use a rice paddle or large, flat wooden spoon to spread the rice on the nori in a thin layer. This is where the long-vs-short grain rice varies. Short grain rice is softer and stickier. 

Pro tip: Slice the avocado in half. Twist it like an oreo. It will come apart cleanly. Score the flesh all the way to the skin. 

Use a spoon to scoop out one slice at a time. 

To remove the seed, stick the tip of the knife into the seed and pop it out. 

Back to sushi making. 

Layer up some fillings in the center. 

Flip one side over the top and squeeze gently, tucking the end in on the opposite side. 

Open it up, and you should have something like this. 

Flip it around and do it again with the other side. You should now have-taa-daa!- a maki sushi!

Slice it carefully. Press the two ends towards each other and lift the whole thing. Place it on the tray. 

Repeat with lots of fillings. 

Cucumber

Asaparagus

carrots

A word about fillings: 

Keep it small. Thin slices, julienne, shreds, matchsticks, ribbons. Smaller is better.

Sushi is meant to be eaten in one perfect bite. Be mindful that your rolls are not over filled. 

Looks good.

Now, lets talk about gluten free, grain-free, low carb, raw sushi. This is easier than you think. 

Nori is generally considered to be raw because it is cooked at a low temperature. If you would rather, substitute raw kale leaves in their place. Use raw fruits, veggies, nuts and butters for you filling. 

For everyone else, leave out the rice. 

No rice

The process is the same, except that the rolls won't stick quite as well. The sticky rice does that. 

We don't slice these. Pick them up and eat them whole. For these, I do prefer the smaller nori sheets. I find the extra fillings...filling. I can only eat one or two of these and I'm stuffed. 

Pretty

Wasn't that easy?

Hands-on Studies: Playdough Labyrinth

By the kids' request, we have been studying ancient Greek mythology. We used a variety of picture books, but the bulk of our study comes from D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths. 

I can't say enough about this anthology. It is beautifully illustrated, simply and appropriately presented for children, thorough and complete. 

I have found that my children sit and listen better when their busy little hands are busy. I often hand out art supplies and have them recreate or illustrate some aspect of the story. Reading during mealtimes is a popular choice, as well. 

They have painted Heracles' feats, drawn the hydra with markers, watercolored Aphrodite rising from the sea, and now, built a labyrinth-complete with Minotaur and Theseus waging battle and Ariadne waiting by the door- of homemade playdough .

Each kid made his own version. I love seeing the variations in their individual interpretations.

Gemini's is a bit more abstract.

Giving them something to do that relates directly to the lesson engages different parts of their brain, creates new information pathways, holds their interest, makes the lesson more enjoyable for everyone, preserves mom's sanity, provides inspiration and an outlet for their creativity, and knocks out 2 subjects at once. Everybody wins!

A Quick Lesson on Perspective

Perspective is everything. 

Here's a quick lesson I gave my 10 yr old on Thanksgiving, as I was trying to get him to take a decent picture of me. 

Here is a picture taken from waist height. He's two inches shorter than me. This perspective makes him look huge. 

This is the same picture, taken from a high angle. He looks teensy. 

Here's the final picture he took of me. Actually, it's supposed to be a picture of my dressy clothes. My head wasn't critical, I guess. 

We'll keep working on it. 

Hi.

Easy Homemade Scented Play Dough

Play dough is so easy to make, smells better, feels better, and costs almost nothing. You can make it with items you already have in your pantry. 

The ingredient list is out of order, because the ratios are easy to remember- 2: 1: 1/2: 1/2.
2 cups flour- all purpose or bread flour work well
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cooking oil
a few drops of food coloring of your choice
Scents listed below (optional)

In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients. 

Add oil, boiling water, color and scent (if desired). Stir until a soft dough forms. Knead until smooth, adding a pinch of flour if needed. 

Dough will be very soft and warm. It will firm a bit as it cools. 

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Because there are no preservatives, dough is not shelf stable. 

Scents:

You can any essential oil, extract or candy flavoring that you like. Here are some of our favorites.

Tangerine Essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Peppermint essential oil or extract
Rose essential oil
Lemon essential oil
Orange essential oil
Grapefruit essential oil
Spice blend scented oil
Blueberry scented oil
Cinnamon scented oil
Chocolate scented oil
Citrus spice scented oil
Vanilla extract
Almond extract
Coconut extract
Lemon extract
Butter flavoring
Chocolate mint flavoring
Apple flavoring
Grape flavoring
Cherry flavoring
Watermelon flavoring

Beach Towels Are Better Than Bath Towels

In my house, we don't have bath towels. We have beach towels. Beach towels are FAR superior. I started buying beach towels soon after I got my first apartment, and I've never looked back.
Here's why. 

1. Beach towels are WAY cheaper. 

I think these towels cost me about $3 each. 
Beach towels always go on super clearance at the end of the summer. Watch and wait, then snap them up. Grandma and I found these towels at Kmart a couple of years ago. I bought 6 for under $20. A week later Grandma went back and go 6 more for $10 or $15. Great deal! 

2. Beach towels are huge.
I's a curvy girl. I like a towel that makes it's way all the way around my womanly glory. Nothing ruins a nice relaxing bath like fighting with a towel that leaves your bits and pieces exposed. 
My 2 littlest boys often call out at the end of their bath, "Two boys in one towel!" I can easily wrap my 2 year old and 3 year old up together in one towel. That's always good for a giggle or three. 

The largest sized bath towel is a "bath sheet". Bath sheets are far more expensive and still a little smaller than a beach towel.

3. Beach towels are thin, but sturdy.
Like all things, you can find good quality beach towels and poor quality beach towels. Look for a good quality towel and it will last forever (or at least a very long time). Beach towels are made to hang to dry quickly. If you are into reusing towels, these are your best bet. 

4. Beach towels are more absorbant.
I found that my bath sheets were not so very absorbant. Although they were thick and soft and luxurious, they weren't so great with the sucking up of water. Which is a fairly important job for a towel. 

5. Beach towels come in fun colors and prints. 

I stuck mainly with stripes because I LOVE stripes. But look at all the fruity colors! I love colors. Super fun for mixing and matching with other decor in the bathroom. 

6. Beach towels DO NOT look weird hanging in the bathroom. 

They look surprisingly like towels.


7. Pool, beach and splash park trips are a breeze. 
Need towels? Grab them. Go. 

11 ways to make your time work for you

"Organized" and "organization" have become some of the most used and most highly valued words in our modern vocabulary. In spite of my free-spirited nature, I'm good with organization. I want to give this topic a little general discussion before we get into specifics of how I run my household. 

First a little back ground. 
I am a homeschooling mom of 4 boys. We do not have a hectic lifestyle. In fact, right now, 3 boys are playing in the back yard, most of their school work is finished, their chores are done. The baby is playing in the playroom. I am sitting on the couch drinking my coffee. It's 9 am.

Muddy babies.

Everyone had a nice, home-cooked breakfast and soon, I will get up, and cook a hot lunch. We will finish school, little ones will take naps, we will play a game, I will cook dinner, D will come home, we will all sit down and have a nice family dinner. Then bedtime and evening time for the older boys and then couple time and/or alone time for D and me. 

Working diligently.

This is a typical day for us. One day a week, we sell homemade goods (most appearing in this blog) at a local farmer's market. Once a week we have Park Day with our home school group. In the spring and summer, there will be sports and arts and crafts classes. I shop twice a month and rarely make trips in between. For the most part, our lives are simple and smooth. 

My house is not immaculate. If you glance through the pictures on this blog, you can see that toys are strewn about the playroom, dishes are in the sink, clutter forever lives on the desk. I try to keep a certain level of cleanliness and tidiness, but I have 4 muddy little boys outside whatever room I'm cleaning, just waiting to get in and mess it all up. 

And that's ok. 

We live here. We are a real family. Our house is small, and it's old and it is in dire need of loving care and a major overhaul. We have been here 5 years and we are slowly rebuilding it from the subflooring on up ( I would say "the ground" but it doesn't actually sit on the ground). 

My handyman, fixing the roof.

My laundry is done, my dishes are washed (well, not yet, but I will wash them before I make lunch), my bathroom is scrubbed, my house is cute, my kids are educated, and our meals are hot and made from scratch. I sleep at night. I eat regular meals. I sit with my coffee everyday (sometimes at 2 pm, but still), I have time for myself and my interests. I have hobbies. I have no childcare outside of myself, my husband, and 2-3 weekends a year at grandma's house for the older 2. 

We live on a very tight budget. We are fixing up our house, raising a large family, and getting out of debt on one modest income. 

How do I manage everything?

I have a system. Actually I have many, many systems. I am organized. Our house is organized. I'm not a naturally organized person. I'm a flighty artist at heart. But, I like to get things done and flying by the seat of my pants is not going to cut it. 

Lists, charts, calendars. Blah.

I am at home full time now, but, over the years, I have worked outside the home, taken my children to work with me, worked from home, for a short time, we had no home, been a full time student with a child, and sent my kid to daycare. I have walked in a lot of shoes. Maybe yours. Whoever you are, I'm sure you'd like to make more of your time.

First, let's talk about what organization is NOT.

#1. Organization is not a virtue. 

We talk about organization as if it is something to aspire to. It isn't. 
I have heard so many times, "I wish I were more organized." "I can't do ... because I'm not organized enough." "Wow, you are so organized!" 

Ya'll. I did not just wake up one day and find lists had magically appeared on my walls while I slept. I needed to learn a better way to handle my life, so I learned. You can, too. 

Being organized does NOT make you a better person. It does not mean your life is perfect or easy. It is a tool and a skill that makes things work better for you. 

That is all. 

Don't give it more power than it deserves.

#2. Organization is not about being pretty. 

It can be pretty. But it isn't always. Sometimes it looks a mess. But it's a mess with a purpose and a plan. 

All those pictures on Pinterest are lovely. But that isn't always realistic. I know. Some of those pictures are mine. I carefully fold and stack everything for those pictures and I crop out the parts I don't want you see. I lock my kids out of the room for a few minutes so that I don't have little hands in the frame, or messing up my perfect arrangement of whatever. 

Real organization is work. And work is sometimes messy. Life is messy. That's a fact. No matter how many lists and shelves and baskets you have. Nothing stays perfect for long. 

Pretty is important. But practical is essential.

NOT pretty. But very practical.

#3. Organization does not have to be expensive. 

It sure can be. But you do not need a bathtub full of money to organize your house and especially your life. 

The Pins on Pinterest that irritate me the most (well, actually the ones about being skinny irritate me the MOST, but that's a different post) are the hyper-expensive, super lavish, extra fabulous organizational posts. You know the ones. The closets that are bigger than my bedroom. The kitchens with built-in everything. The custom-crafted whatever. 

That's nice. And if I were having a house built with a sizable budget, I'd be ALL OVER those things. 

But I'm not. And probably, neither are you. 

Our budget for most projects is close to $0, and certainly under 3 digits.

My favorite posts are the ones that show you how to organize using cereal boxes, or soup cans, or free printables. Because ANYONE can do that. Anyone.  

Cereal boxes covered in children's artwork. 

#4 Organization is not a hobby.

It's a tool. It should SAVE you time and energy. If your system is TAKING more time than it is GIVING you, you are doing it wrong. 

Now, let's get started. Here are my tips. 

#1. Think it through. 

You wouldn't build a house without a blueprint. You can't run a house without a plan. 

Identify your trouble spots. 

Laundry piled to the ceiling? Dishes overflowing the sink? No family dinners because no one can find the table under all the detritus? Hitting the drive-thru 4 times a week because there's no food/no time/no plan for dinner? 

Make a list. Prioritize it. Start with one thing that makes you the craziest. Research how other people are SUCCESSFULLY handling it. (Tip for life: Don't take advice from people who failed at whatever challenge you are facing.) 

Make a REALISTIC plan. One that makes sense to you. One that fits your life. Not the one that fits the life you wish you had, or the one that fits the life you think you should have. Those plans are for someone else. They will fail you. (Notice I said THE PLANS will fail, not that YOU will fail. There's a big difference there). 

Follow the plan. Either it will work or it won't. Adjust it as needed, but DO NOT QUIT. 

#2 One step at a time. 

I can guarantee failure, 100%, if you try to tackle everything at once. I promise. It will not work. It cannot work. It's not possible. 

Address ONE problem. Make a step-by-step plan. Take it one step at time. Baby steps if you need them. Just keep chugging. 

It feels overwhelming at first, but it will snowball. Once you get the laundry under control, it will free up so much time, energy and mental anguish, dealing with the dishes will be far more do-able. By the time you get to the 45th item on your list, it will be a breeze. Don't think about #45. Deal with #1. Only #1. 

It may take you all day to accomplish a single goal. But it will be done, eventually. 

When my first baby was born, I started dinner first thing in the morning. I knew it might take all day to make dinner, so I started early. The most important thing I needed was a hot, home cooked meal on the table. That was often the only thing I did all day (besides nourishing and caring for my baby), but that one thing always got done. 

#3 Don't quit. 

Quitters never win and winners never quit. Don't be a giver upper. One foot in front of the other. 

If it becomes apparent that something isn't working, make adjustments. But don't give up. 

My systems are in a constant state of flux. My kids are growing, my life is changing. We add things and we outgrow things. But the bones of the operation remain. I might move the chairs around the table, but I don't serve dinner on the floor. 

#4 Do not wait until you "have time".

You will never have time. There will always be something more important, more interesting, more relaxing, more enjoyable than folding laundry. Fold the laundry anyway. Do it now. Or better yet, make a schedule, and fold the laundry during laundry-folding-time. 

#5 Do not wait until life is easier. 

Life is never easy. Work is work, and life is full of work. In fact, the more crazy and hectic your life is, the more desperately you need a plan.  
Take a deep breath and jump in. We make more work for ourselves by trying to avoid it. 
When you have to dig through the laundry to find your kid a pair of pants (like I did this morning), don't just move the clothes from one pile to another. Fold as you go. Then, put it away. Now. Not later. Now. Protect your work. You might just fold 3 items, but those 3 items are done. Put them away so they don't end up back on the floor in the pile to be folded again. And again. And again. 

#6 Less is more. 

The more stuff you have, the more stuff can pile up. Get rid of the stuff. "Have nothing in your homes that you do not believe to be beautiful or know to be useful," William Morris. 

KNOW to be useful. Not think might be useful someday. 

Just because it's beautiful, doesn't mean you have to own it forever. You do not have bring everything that you see and like into your home.  

If you aren't using it on a regular basis, if you don't love it, ditch it. You won't miss it and your life will be lighter. Someone else will use it and love it. 

I loved this statue, so I took a picture of it. I get to enjoy the image and I never have to dust it.

#7 De-crazy your life. 

We complain all the time about our hectic schedules. It's the modern-day dilemma. How can we be everywhere all the time? 
Who makes our schedules?

We do. We do it to ourselves. 

Why are we so overscheduled? Why are we so busy that we can't feed ourselves and our families healthy meals and make sure everyone is getting enough sleep?
Busy=valuable. If we are busy, we must be important, worthwhile human beings.

Stop doing this to yourself. Yes, you have to work. Yes, some things are unavoidable. Some obligations are worthwhile, or necessary. 
But I'm SURE that there are some obligations that you could drop. Trim it down. Give that time back to yourself and your family. 

Find more time for this, and lose some time in the car.

#8 No one has more time than you do. 

"You must have a lot of time on your hands." I hear this all the time. Stop saying it. It's insulting. The unspoken message is "I have more important things to do than you. That's why you can accomplish all the things that I'm not."

This whole line of thinking is BS. Everyone has 24 hours every day. I don't sit on my ass all day playing and having a great time. I work very hard to get my life in order. I'm sure you are working very hard as well. We just aren't working at the same things in the same ways. Let's stop judging each other and deal with our own affairs. 
If you find yourself saying, "I don't have time for that," ask yourself why? Why don't you have time for that? 
Is it because you don't want to do it? Great. Don't do it. Problem solved. 
Is it because you are spending your time elsewhere? Is that where you want to spend your time? Great. Problem solved again. You're doing great here ;)
Is it something you really WOULD like to be doing, but you just can't squeeze one more blasted item into your bulging to-do list without snapping? Uh oh. Sounds like you have a problem. You might want to look at the rest of this list and make a change or 2. 

#9 Streamline your process.

When you make your plan (Step #1), cut it down to the basics. Don't color code your closet unless you really think that is going to help you choose an outfit in the morning. It may look nice, but it isn't worth the extra work if it isn't going to pay off.
Plan your time. Map out your route, combine errands, rearrange your work space so that you have ready access to the things you need most often. Save yourself precious seconds. Those seconds add up to your life. How many hours of your life have been spent moving laundry from one pile to another? Take those hours back. 

#10 Be kind to yourself. 
Change isn't going to happen all at once. You won't be able to revamp your entire life in one day. Or 30 days. Or a year, maybe. Take it day by day, moment by moment. Be patient with yourself.
If you are going through a difficult time-illness, pregnancy, new baby, job change, a move- you are going to have to let some things go. Focus on the important things and don't waste your precious energy on things that aren't essential right now. 
Take time for yourself. Make sure that you are eating well and regularly. Carve out time for exercise, relaxation, quiet time to reflect on what is going well and what needs improvement. Time spent on yourself is NOT wasted. It is highly valuable. Use it. 
Be realistic about your own capabilities. Some people are high-energy multitaskers. Some people move at a slower pace. Know who you are and work WITH yourself, not against yourself. A large degree of honesty and humility is necessary here. 

#11 Enlist help. 
The world does not actually rest on your shoulders alone. Everyone in a home MUST contribute in some way. Children can be trained to do chores. Spouses can give a hand wherever possible. Even if it's just respecting your space so you can take a bubble bath. Your children and your spouse love you. They will be willing to help take care of you if you ask. I promise. Don't be afraid to ask for help. 
If you have a friend, mother, mother-in-law, neighbor or other kind soul who is willing to help you in any way, take them up on it. Let them give you the gift of service. Give them the gift of usefulness and time with your children. Everyone will benefit. 

I hope that everyone who reads this takes something helpful away from it. 
Future posts will detail the routines, schedules and systems that I mentioned. Please come back and read those posts later.  

Freezing in Canning Jars

Canning jars are amazingly useful. They are heat and cold resistent, have an airtight seal, and are vitually indestructible.
Dry goods stored in canning jars stay fresh and bug-free. Leftovers in the refrigerator are safe from leaching chemicals. The jars are easy to clean, non-staining, inexpensive, readily available and microwavable.
The best part, is that food frozen in canning jars can be stored for months and still tastes absolutely fresh.
The picture above is of 3 different soups stored in quart sized jars in my freezer. there are 3 more jars behind each of those, all containing a different soup or stew. Every evening, I put the leftovers from dinner in the freezer in a jar, write the name of the dish on the top with a sharpy and pop it in the freezer. I select a jar from my stash and leave it on the counter to thaw. At lunchtime, I warm it up and serve it. Voila, fast, healthy, yummy food in second.
Tips:
#1 Use clean jars and fresh lids. Unlike canning, you don't need to sterilize you jars and lids can be reused. But the lids do wear out after a few uses. If the rubber seal is feeling dry, stiff or rough, toss the lid. You can buy boxes of replacement lids for a couple of dollars. Rubbing alcohol will remove sharpy from
#2 Leave a bit of room at the top. Liquid expands when it freezes. If your jar is too full, the glass will crack. Leave at least an inch of airspace.
#3 Cool it down before popping it in the freezer.
#4 Never mix cold water and hot glass. It will shatter.
#5 Label your jars, either the tops or the glass, with a sharpy marker. Rubbing alcohol will remove it. Sticky labels and chalkboard paint are unnecessary. You can see clearly though a room temperature jar, but once it freezes, everything looks pretty much the same. Avoid surprises. Label everything.

Freezer Bag Stock

Homemade stock adds an extra burst of flavor to soups, stews, pasta and many other dishes. Unlike the stuff in the can or box, you can control the flavors that go into it, the salt content, and it's free of artificial additives and preservatives.

Stock has to simmer for hours, but actually takes very little effort from you. This method is hassle-free, and costs nothing.

While preparing your meals, instead of tossing vegetable scraps in the trash or compost bin, place clean, well-scrubbed peelings, ends and cores of your veggies in a freezer bag. Freeze between meals.

When your bag is full, place the contents in a crockpot and cover with water. Add herbs of your choice. I like rosemary and thyme. Season lightly with salt if desired. For beef or chicken stock, add a few reserved bones-kept in a separate freezer bag until needed. Cook on low heat 8 hours.

When finished, allow it to cool. Strain out the bits and pieces, reserving the yummy stock.

Freeze in quart or pint-size canning jars, or in ice cube trays. If using ice cube trays, transfer to a freezer bag when well frozen and store in the freezer until needed.

The One-Dish Method

Washing dishes might be my least favorite chore. After ironing. Which I don't do. The only thing I like less than washing dishes, is having them piled up in my sink and on my counters. In the heat of the Louisiana summer, dirty dishes can lead to very bad nastiness in an absurdly short time.

I cook all of our meals and with a family of 6, dishes pile up at light speed. Some days, I felt like I never got more than 3 feet from the sink all day, and they just kept coming!

I had a couple of problems:

#1. No dish washer. No where to hide the dirties, and all the labor is manual.

#2. A huge sink. I love my triple sink, but it can hold an enormous number of dishes.

#3. Very little counter space. Real estate is so limited that a single stack of plates takes up half my workspace.

#4. An almost unlimited supply of dishes. We have over 3 dozen plates alone. We won't even discuss my collection of antique glass bowls, platters and bake ware, all of which see regular use. And, of course, there are cups, glasses, jars, plastic storage, pots and pans, and so on and so on and so on. You get the idea.

I triple sparkly heart love my dishes. Truly. Sometimes I just gaze at them in admiration.  We don't use paper products, even for guests and holidays. Our friends tend to have as many kids as we do. We really do have a use for all those dishes. So those are staying. I may not add any more (many more?) but I'm not not giving them away.

I'm not adding more counter space. I don't need MORE mess.

I love my sink. I would like it to be usable.

I don't like dishwashers. I would rather wash by hand.

I needed a solution to tame the insanity without a major overhaul of our lives.

So, I devised the One Dish Method.

I started off with the cup problem. I sat down with the 2 oldest kids and we did a little math. Our family was using more than 40 cups each day. A bit excessive, wouldn't you say?

I assigned each family member a reusable water bottle. ONE. They are washed and refilled repeatedly throughout the day as needed, and live next to the water dispenser. No more lost cups. Ever. Each person has his own color or name written on the bottle in sharpie. Everyone is responsible for their own bottle. Even the 1yr old keep track of his own bottle.

Juice, soda, coffee, etc, we do use a regular cup. These are for water only. But, we are almost exclusively water drinkers, so this has nearly eliminated the cup problem.

Here are a random sampling of bottles, hanging out in their home, waiting to go to work.

The water bottles worked so well, I decided to expand this program to include dishes.

I pulled out one plate per person-2 adult sized dinner plates for myself and my husband, 3 divided plates for the kids, and one enamelware plate for the baby, one bowl each-ceramic cereal bowls for the grownups, small glass bowls for the kids, and an enamelware bowl for the baby, and one appropriately sized fork, spoon and set of chopsticks per person. Actually, I used generic chopsticks. I didn't want to deal with matching them. I stacked everything neatly in middle of the table, with the utensils in a mason jar. Done! These are all the dishes we need for any given meal.

When it's time to eat, the kids hand out the necessary items. After dinner, everyone carries their own stuff to the sink. The kids wipe down the table. I wash and replace, and that's it.

AH. So much better!

We still have access to all of the dishes. I didn't pack anything up. They are available if we need an extra plate of whatever. I did sift through all of the chipped and cracked dishes that I had been hanging on to just in case. We no longer need them.

Sometimes less is more.