Happy Memorial Day!!

Today we honor those who have fought to protect our freedoms.  Thank you to each and every man and woman who has served, is serving, and who will serve in the protection of our great and blessed country.

May God bless you and your families.

Thank you to my little sister (serving Marine) and little brother (active Army Reserve) for defending my rights and freedoms. Love you both!!


GOD BLESS AMERICA

Sangria

Need a refreshing drink to take to a Memorial Day Cookout?  Well it isn't too traditional in the Memorial Day sense but this was pretty amazing!!! Here is a recipe and of course, like all Sangrias, everyone's will be uniquely different but this is my go-to-base recipe

INGREDIENTS:
*Red wine, or wine you would never drink. I used two bottles with varying amounts in them which added up would be about 1 bottle
*Rose wine also known as blush (not pictured)
*1 medium naval orange
*1 plum
*1 diced asian pear or 1/2 can of pears with juice
*1/2 can tart cherriespacked in juice, use all can's juice
*1/2 cup blackberries
*24 oz V-8 Splash (hey why not get a serving of veggies too)
*1/2-1 cup Ideal sugar

***optional 1/2 cup brandy, I didn't have any so I used whiskey & peach schnapps (not pictured) to equal 1/2 cup or more *evil laugh*

DIRECTIONS:

• I use a mandolin slicer to have nice, thin, evenly cut oranges and plums.
• Mix everything together, except fruit.
• Add in fruit and refrigerate, should sit for at least a few hours and overnight is fine too.

Beautiful and delicious!!

If you want you can always add in a little sparkling water to give it a nice bubbly effect

Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY

Homemade Fabric Softner & Wrinkle Release Spray

I recently made some silk like curtains for our bedroom but the fabric was a bit, well wrinkled is putting in mildly.  I was tempted to leave it as it was at tell everyone it was ruched fabric, but it wasn't quite wrinkly enough to pull that off!  I tried the lowest setting on the iron and it ruined my test patch of fabric (it did come with a do not iron label in the fabric's defense, but I often disregard labels like dry clean only, do not tumble dry...total sinner- I know!)

So I went to the store and about fell over when I saw that wrinkle release spray was over five dollars a bottle and not knowing if it would even work I decided against that option.

I got home and began to look up homemade remedies for non-ironables, if that is even a word.  I did run across several recipes for homemade wrinkle releasers some being more in depth than others.  Here is what I chose...

• 1 tsp fabric softner
• 1 cup water

Even me, the B- chemistry student could figure that one out.

I have to say I wasn't like over the moon with the results but bottom line there were favorable results.  I think I just picked the worlds WORST fabric option to make nine foot long by 4 foot wide window coverings for.


I would definitely make this concoction again and think it would work on more regular fabrics and besides it cost about 25 cents compared to over 5 bucks.  If you are wondering what fabric softner I used *quietly and while embarassingly hiding* Gain detergent. GASP...I know a 'green' person using very non-green product.  Well if you remember I did post earlier on that I have went green in all cleaning, makeup, cleasing, soap, etc products EXCEPT my laundry (and occassional perfume use), just can't leave that good scent, albeit chemical filled aroma.  I figure I have eliminated a vast majority of the in-house chemicals we come into contact with so that is a great start, right?

On another note I wanted to provide a homemade fabric softner that is non-toxic and I used when L was a baby along with Method Free detergent (I kept her baby skin away from chemicals)

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 3 cups white vinegar
• 4 cups water
• 5-7 drops essential oil

1. I used an old BPA free gallon pitcher with lid that is no longer pretty enough for beverages.
2. Mix baking soda and water together, this is a must, otherwise, well I let you figure it out if you don't follow this directions *snort*.
3. Slowly, SLOWLY add in vinegar.
4. Add in your essential oils.
5. Give a gentle shake prior to using to remix anything that has settled.

Add in your softner bin or during the last cycle if you use a top loader without dispenser.  On a personal note I used lavender oil, it was great for a calming effect, but you can use any essential oil or mix thereof that you want.



OK I am still feeling guilty about my Gain usage...come on make me feel better, what areas of your life/routine have you had the hardest time going green?

FRIDAY....GIVEAWAY REMINDER!!

Have a great weekend and don't forget to enter the

GIVEAWAY!!

I have decided to change the requirements a bit so we can speed up the giveaway!!! Check out the page for more info!!

Apple Salsa

APPLE SALSA

SO delicious, good for you, and did I mention.....DELICIOUS

 Super, super easy to make.

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 apples, you can use whatever I use a mix of golden delicious and gala apples
• cinnamon, don't skimp
• Ideal sugar (about 1 cup)
• Lemon juice (either juice from 2 lemons or equivalent of bottled lemon juice)

...seriously that's it

DIRECTIONS:

• Wash and core your apples

• I use a mandolin slicer with a dicing blade, but just finely chop you apples into thin matchsticks

• Add in sugar, lemon juice, and be heavy handed with the cinnamon. (At this point you could add in other fruits...I have done sliced strawberries, blueberries, peaches etc...but overall I get the most yums and "OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS GOOD" with just apples)

• Stir well and refrigerate for at least a few hours or overnight

EXTRA NOTES:

• Serve alongside cinnamon sugar pita chips
• Add in other fruits if you wish, be wary of berries, they stain and make it look ewwww
• IF you have leftovers
• Great over oatmeal or cream of wheat
• Make an apple pie or turnover
• Make spiced apple muffins
• I made an apple crisp a la mode using this as the filling and an oatmeal crumble topping and it was good...

Don't Forget about the GIVEAWAY

About to welcome the newest Gilliver...

I am about to be an auntie once my sweet brother becomes an official daddy this morning. Any second Grace, my SIL, who is just as sweet as southern iced tea, will part with 9 months of 'adventure' and become a mama, marking an entrance into the biggest adventure of her and Ryan's life and what a sweet, awesome, amazing adventure it will be.

Praying for all three and can't wait to proclaim the good news that "HE'S HERE!!"





In the meantime don't forget to go enter the $10 Burger King gift card GIVEAWAY!!

Friendly Friday & Giveaway!

Remember to check out my Wednesday's post that has a challenging giveaway!!

Can you eat healthy Fast Food?.......Giveaway!!

When I tell people I know or meet about the point of my blog, (taking recipes or restaurant meals and making them healthy & easy green living) I often hear "well too bad you can't make fast food healthy".



WELL YOU CAN!! You can even eat at fast food places and eat health.  It is about your choices in menu selection.  There is no magic way to excise fat and calories out of french fries but most chains are offering healthier options.  The problem is in consumer choice!! And I am going to see if you will try to make a good choice by offering up a $10 gift card.

SO my challenge...

1)  Help me gain more readership and at that time I will randomly draw for a $10 gift card to Burger King. When I reach 45 GFC followers I will use a random number generator and one lucky poster will recieve their 'challenging' giveaway!

MANDATORY:

• Subscribe to me via GFC and leave me a comment telling me so. (one entry)
• Invite other to subscribe to Healthy Lantern via GFC.  Tell them to leave me a comment on this post stating who referred them, they must leave a comment to have a chance to win too! Remember I have to double my GFC contacts before I will select a winner!

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

• For each referred friend, leave me a comment stating their name. REMEMBER-each friend you refer and follows me via GFC is an additional entry for you but you have to leave a comment for EACH friend! (as many entries as you can refer readers)
• Go to Burger King's Nutrition Page and make a meal for one with under 500 calories. (one additional entry)

Green Resorts....The Homestead Review

 Recently I was afforded, via company trip, the luxury of staying a weekend at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA.  I am writing this review to brag about the ways hotels and resorts, including historic resorts are going green.

We all have seen the lovely plastic signs in the bathrooms stating they will only take and replace towels left on the floor.  In addition to that they do not wash/change sheets except for new guests and every three days if you have a longer stay.  Of course the option exists to have your towels and sheets washed and exchanged daily if you prefer.

I was impressed that a historic facility offered recycling, yes on site recycling.  They had bins near most of their entrances/exits and one on each floor.  How often do you see a hotel that was built in 1766 offer green cleaning and recycling?  Well it was a first for me, thus this post.

Now a bit about this resort, they offer a first class spa, a mineral water feed indoor pool that is just beautiful and they have preserved it so well.  A great fitness facility, shops, and the dining, oh the dining.  We had dinner at their two main restaurants-both amazing, lunch at their cafe-fantastic, breakfast buffet-HUGE, and I must add their prices are not for the faint of heart of thin walleted.  Unless you are a rolling in the dough, I would suggest not getting the minibar key, a snickers bar cost $3.50 and a pack of M&Ms $2.50 and I can honestly say most of the adult beverage offerings were cheaper than the other snacks and juices. 

This picture does NOT do the pool justice, it is stunning!

They offer a wide variety of activities, historical and behind the scenes tours, horseback riding, kid's playground, awesome golf (according to my husband), shuttles, hiking, biking, FALCONRY...no I am not kidding, and they offer Kids Camp Monday - Friday and Parent's Night Out on Saturday night.  Our child had an in-room sitter one night and did the Parent's Night Out and had a blast.

If you are looking for a beautiful historic hotel with tons to do....this is the place...again, not for the budget conscious.

About four miles away you can find the Jefferson Hot Pools which are two spring fed, hot mineral pools. One is for men, the other women, and if you don't go during family hours you will see that clothing is optional.  The Homestead offers shuttling services to the springs but like all their activities the price is not included in the stay.

I don't know personally if I would want to go spend another weekend there, I am more of a beach bum if we are going somewhere for more than a few days, but this is a great weekend or for a few days. For me it was an 'OK, I have been there, seen that' type place but most of the people I talked to and overheard had been there multiple times with future visits intended.  The staff was amazing and most had worked there for ages.  Definitely worth at least one night stay to say you've been there and seen it.


Coming Wednesday...a challenge AND a giveaway!!!

Light summer salad & Friendly Friday

INGREDIENTS:

• cherry sized heirloom tomatoes
• reduced or fat free feta cheese
• cucumbers, sliced in half, seeded, quartered and chopped
• fat free vinaigrette

DIRECTIONS:
Just dump in a bowl and mix...pretty simple but the results are amazing...so amazing I will call it magic.

You make this-then put it in the fridge to set and marinate. While waiting for dinner to finish baking, you decide to shower and when you come back THIS is what you have left...

...3 tomatoes.  I don't even like tomatoes so I had nothing ( well I did scrap some marinated feta off the bottom as best I could to try and savor what my husband and three year old DEVOURED ). Perhaps I should make more next time, or not shower HA HA

Counting Calories-REVIEW

Not necessarily green but healthy, this post is about being accountable and having an easy way to do so.  My Fitness Pal is a great website that offers a free calorie counter and support site.  I currently use the My Fitness Pal app on my android and am just IN LOVE with it.  It has many food options including restaurants in it's database and a UPC scanner so you can scan the box/bag to easily input your serving of what you are eating. Seriously over 160,000 options...and more added daily. Most sites and apps have only pre-packaged, therefore mainly processed foods and in trying to eat more organic and less processed I was thrilled to find MFP and discover I could add in non-processed foods.


I will say that I am shocked how many calories I was consuming prior to be calorie conscientious.  I have eaten healthy for years and years, watching saturated fats, overall fats, not eating fried foods except on random occasions and always choosing whole wheat or unbleached flour options in breads and pastas...but I never considered the caloric amount of what I was taking in until about 4 months ago.  My fitness pal also keeps track of your weight, exercises, and water consumption.  I put in my height, weight, and age, weight goal, and when I hope to reach that, and it tells me how many calories I need to eat each day to reach my goal.  I am at my goal...so YAY me HA HA.

It truly has helped me to further my fitness and health and that is why I am sharing it with you!  I know a lot of calorie counting programs fail for people and this one may not be for everyone either, but I love that I can add in fresh fruits and veggies and whole wheat and grain options.


Try it out and let me know what you think!

My Review of Bird's Custard Powder

Originally submitted at Cost Plus World Market

The original homemade custard, Bird's Custard Powder is a quick and easy way to make traditional British custard on the fly. This is the original thickening agent of custard invented by Alfred Bird in 1837 because his wife was allergic to eggs. Mix two tablespoons of powder with sugar and milk ...

Bird's Custard Powder

Brings back sweet childhood memories!!

By Christin from Richmond, VA on 5/3/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Delicious, Good Value, Easy To Prepare, Flavorful

Best Uses: Anytime

Describe Yourself: Health Conscious

My best friend's father is British and used to (and still does) bring back Birds from his trips back to England but when I run out and he isn't taking a trip to the UK I love being able to grab this at my World Market. It can be tricky to avoid lumps, my suggestion, keep a whisk handy and don't stop whisking!! Growing up I ate this alongside cake, berries, bananas, and just plain. I love it with strawberries and a few chocolate baking chips added in...sooo heavenly! And if you are like me and a calorie counter you can make this with skim milk and it still turns out perfecto and since it has no eggs it is really low calorie for such a good sized portion!

(legalese)