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I post fun reels showcasing my recipes along with me in the garden & local small businesses! Everyday I share the things that will inspire you to do something special!
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Be sure to eat fresh, shop local, & have a happy day!
Jean
“Deciding what NOT to do is as important as deciding what to do.”— Steve Jobs
Welcome to the next article in my Organization 101 Series. In my last entry I shared organization tips & tricks for the Bedroom, Bath, & Closets. There are two parts, one here at my blog, and one at my Podcast.
If you missed it here are the links: Blog & Podcast!
I have always enjoyed doing laundry. It’s actually one of my favorite domestic tasks to be honest. As many of you know, we recently moved into our new home this past December. My laundry is in the basement which I don’t mind. After all, I still have a couple helpers around the house, LOL!
My basement is fully finished and acts as our Fan Cave and my Office. I’ll be touching on my organization techniques in my office in the last but not least post in my Organization 101 Room by Room Series.
The laundry room however is the one area which isn’t finished. It is also home to the furnace and water heater. I have a few wonderful shelves. I store totes filled with party supplies and linens on them. I also have a wonderful wall shelf unit I purchased which holds more of my party supplies and holiday dishes. I have a lot of stuff… Dave keeps telling me I need to downsize for our final move down south when we retire in six short years! I’m slowly doing it…
I believe a laundry room should be a functional space, however it can quickly become cluttered and disorganized. With some planning and effort, it can be transformed into a clean and efficient area.
Sort and separate laundry by color and type. This will prevent colors from bleeding and protect delicate fabrics. Keep a laundry hamper or basket in the room for dirty clothes and a separate basket or bin for clean clothes that need to be folded or ironed.
Invest in storage solutions. Use shelves, cabinets, and baskets to store laundry detergent, fabric softener, and other laundry essentials. Keep frequently used items within easy reach and less frequently used items in higher or harder-to-reach places.
Utilize vertical space. Install a hanging rod or hooks to hang clothes that need to air dry. You can also install a pegboard or a command strip to hang tools, such as a lint roller or a stain remover.
Keep it clean. Laundry rooms can quickly become dirty and cluttered, so make sure to regularly clean the room and keep it tidy. Wipe down surfaces, sweep the floor, and keep the room free of debris.
Create a folding and ironing station. Set up a folding table or a designated area where you can easily fold and iron clothes. Keep an ironing board and iron nearby, along with a basket for clothes that need to be ironed.
Make use of the laundry room as a multi-functional space. If you have a spare room or area, you can use it as a laundry room as well as a craft room or a home office. It is a great way to make the most of the available space and also keep the area looking neat and tidy.
Keep a schedule. To avoid letting the laundry pile up, create a schedule for doing laundry. For example, you can set aside time every weekend to do laundry and keep your clothes organized throughout the week.
By following these tips, you can easily organize your laundry room and keep it clean and functional. With a little effort and planning, you can create a space that is both efficient and visually pleasing. Remember to regularly maintain and update the organization to keep it functional. Happy organizing!
If you enjoyed this episode , please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!
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Happy Day,
Jean
All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content without written permission.
“Being organized isn’t about getting rid of everything you own or trying to become a different person: it’s about living the way you want to live, but better.”
— Andrew Mellen
Organize Your Life With P.M.S. – Prioritize, Minimize and Simplify!
Many of the topics I discuss in this series I learned from an incredible lady named Marla Cilley, A.K.A. The Flylady. Her book, “Sink Relections” taught me how to incorporate all this lessons. It was from the inspirations from her book how I developed my P.M.S. concept! So now lets get into today’s topic!
Whether we work away from home or in a home office, disorganization can get the best of us. The goal in using my P.M.S. program is to create and maintain routines through lists that will aid you in organizing your home and work life. We all want to provide a peaceful, relaxed home environment for our families… and with P.M.S. we can!
On this weeks Podcast, I discuss exactly how YOU can create a positive mindset about P.M.S in your home! Your family will be so happy!
Click on this LINK to go on over to my Podcast & listen to me explaining how to implement P.M.S. into your life and utilize this spreadsheet. Here is the LINK to the spreadsheet promised on this weeks Podcast.
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to me here & there so you don’t miss a beat!
If you enjoyed this episode , please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!
If you aren’t following me on Facebook, go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!
Happy Day,
Jean
All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content without written permission.
“You are also far less likely to waste food when you have nurtured it from a seed into a plant.” — Darina Allen
Comfort foods come in all shapes & flavors… including a bit of spice. After all, something with a zip is sure to warm you up!
This is a recipe Dave & I came up with after picking up some Portobello mushrooms from my friend Dave, a mushroom vendor at The Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market.
If you like some spicy Mexican style goodness in the kitchen, you will love this recipe!
Ingredients:
1 pound plain ground pork, beef, or chicken
1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 fresh clove of garlic minced, OR 1 tsp jarred
1- 1.25 ounce package of Mild Chorizo seasoning mix
4 to 8 Portobello mushroom caps- quantity depends on how large.
1 cup shredded Mexican style cheese
2 TBSP shredded Mexican style cheese per mushroom cap
½ cup Queso Blanco Dip- I use Tostitos
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Pro Tip: You can purchase a ready made Chorizo mix, or make your own!
See recipe below!
1. In a large skillet, add oil, ground pork, Chorizo seasoning mix, and garlic; mix thoroughly; fry until done; drain off any excess grease.
2. Place meat into a large bowl and add shredded cheese & Queso; mix until well blended.
3. Place mushroom caps open end up in a baking dish; scoop ¼ to ½ cup meat & cheese mixture into each mushroom cap; sprinkle with 2 TBSP shredded cheese.
4. Cover and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Ingredients:
1 TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP paprika
1 TBSP onion powder
1 TBSP garlic powder
2 tsp Mexican oregano
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp pink Himalayan salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp coriander
¼ tsp cumin
¼ all spice
Easy Recipe Add On Ingredients:
If you enjoyed this blog & bonus recipe, please LIKE, Follow & of course Share! Let me know what you think, I love your feedback!
Added bonus tip: To find recipes like the ones you’ll find in my posts, you can go to my blog at www.fordragonfliesandme.com to purchase my original cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats. The cookbook has almost 1000 recipes on almost 500 pages! Check out the Cookbook Testimonials while you’re there!
If you aren’t following me on Facebook go on over & give it a like & follow me for daily tips & tricks for the home and garden! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049613212778
Happy Day,
Jean
All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content without written permission.
Do you enjoy admiring beautiful things?
Would you like a plethora of ideas & inspirations at your finger tips?
If you said yes, then head on over to my Pinterest page and follow me there.
You won’t be disappointed!
Happy Day Dragonfly Friends,
Jean
It’s amazing how the garden produces with just a bit of tender loving care, some sunshine, and of course water. This summers garden produced an abundance of tomatoes & peppers. This recipe is for sure one of our summer time favorites, & I sure hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do!
Pro tip: You can use canned tomato juice, but making your own is soooo easy if you have extra tomatoes! Read below for a quick how-to!
Ingredients:
5 peppers, halved
1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound lean ground pork
2 cups Jasmine rice, cooked
2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cups PLUS 3 ½ cups tomato juice
1 cup mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ cup minced red OR yellow onion
2 fresh cloves of garlic minced OR 2 tsp jarred
1 tsp salt- divided
1 tsp pepper- divided
1 tsp Italian Seasoning- See link for the recipe on how to make your own!
Home Made Tomato Juice
Here’s a simple how-to make homemade tomato juice!
Wash your tomato’s; cut off any bad spots and stem ends.
Cut the tomato’s into large chunks and blend in a food processor.
Once they are blended, measure out how much you will need for the recipe. Anything extra you can freeze or can.
Pro tip: There is no need to remove seeds as they will never be noticeable once processed. I have done this for years & no one has ever noticed!
1. Cut your peppers in half & clean out all seeds & white membranes.
2. In a frying pan add oil and minced onion; sauté on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes until golden, and then add minced garlic; sauté for an additional 5 minutes.
3. In the meantime while your onions & garlic are sautéing, cook rice according to package instructions. Set aside until ready to use.
Pro tip: You can add a TBSP of butter to the rice to prevent it from sticking.
4. Once the onion & garlic are finished sautéing, add both pork & beef, Italian seasoning, ½ tsp each salt & pepper to onion garlic mixture; fry while cutting into the meat until crumbly and done, about 20 minutes; drain grease from meat mixture in a colander.
5. In a large bowl add meat mixture, cooked rice, 2 cups of the tomato juice, remaining salt & pepper, and parmesan cheese; mix until well blended; add the remaining 1 ½ cups of tomato juice reserving the additional 2 cups.
6. Pour remaining 2 cups of the tomato juice into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish, spread until covering the entire bottom.
7. Take ½ cup of meat and rice mixture and fill each pepper half; place in the baking dish side by side until all are filled. Use the remaining meat and rice mixture and fill around the peppers.
8. Divide mozzarella cheese evenly across the tops of each pepper half.
9. Bake at 350 degrees covered for 45 minutes; uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until sauce is bubbling and peppers are soft enough for a knife to go through.
I really enjoy making things from scratch, which is why I wanted to share a super easy how-to make your own tomato juice.
Here’s the link to my blog post with my recipe for homemade Italian Seasoning. https://fordragonfliesandme.com/2013/09/28/dry-spice-blend-recipes-easy-to-make-salad-dressings-and-dips/?preview_id=2324&preview_nonce=61871f6394&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=2325
If you enjoyed this post, please LIKE & Follow me for more great recipes and home & garden tips. Be sure to visit me at my Facebook page for more informative & fun posts! Be sure to say “Hi!”. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049613212778
Happy Day,
Jean!
“Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are.”
Alfred Austin
There are two types of garlic, hardneck & softneck. Generally hardnecks tend to be more flavorful, where softneck varieties have a more mild flavor. These flavors are determined by the location & temperatures in which they were grown. Hardneck garlic grows best in Northern climates and can withstand cold winters down to zone 0. Softneck garlic prefers hot summers and mild winters from zone 8 to 12.
Here are my top picks for each variety.
Hardneck: Music is a delightful and pungent flavored white bulb.
German Red, a beautiful variegated bulb of white and red hues sporting a wonderful garlic spice to the pallet.
Softneck: Corsican Red originated in the Mediterranean island of Corsica and has a mild, complex & fruity aroma. Inchelium Red has a medium spiciness with a mild pungent taste.
Step 1: Choosing the perfect garlic bulb is essential. Make sure there are no defects, rotten spots, and find the largest bulbs. Whatever qualities the bulb you choose has will be developed in it’s next generation.
2. Once you’ve selected the best bulbs, divide them into separate cloves. Leave the skins on.
3. Make a hole in loosened soil about 4 inches deep. Placing the flat root side down put one clove into the hole; cover with dirt and tamp lightly; I cover with mulch, which happens to be grass clippings here.
Step 4. Repeat this process, planting your cloves about 4 to 6 inches apart. I recommend you place a stake in the ground marking it as garlic and the date you planted it. Despite our best intentions, we will forget! I even go as far as to take a photo & put it in my garden journal/ planner for the following growing season. If you plant in raised beds it will definitely be easier to remember, but still jot it down!
If you don’t keep that kind of information, I highly recommend you start!
Garlic is not for the faint of heart, it takes patience but the reward is worth the wait!
…now walk away and dream of spring, because this is where the patience starts.
Click this link for my recipe for Garlic- Thyme Infused Oil. It’s wonderful to toss in pasta or baste on fish or any meat. https://bit.ly/3R4b8dm
If you enjoyed this post please like, share, and let me know your tips & tricks for planting garlic. What’s your favorite variety?
Please follow me on Facebook for fun & informative posts!
Happy Day,
Jean
Several years ago my good friend Kate Lawson, former food writer for The Detroit News shared her Italian Wedding soup recipe with my daughter. It quickly became one my families favorites. I have of course altered it to be my own & to suit our taste buds over the years. Hers was of course dynamite, but I love to be creative in the kitchen.
Pro Tip: I always use fresh veggies from the garden or the farmers market if in season & if not I purchase them. Fresh veggies always give a much fresher flavor to this delicious soup!
Meatballs:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 small red onion minced- about ½ cup
1 egg (farm fresh are best)
¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 fresh clove of garlic, minced
1 TBSP Italian Seasoning- see my recipe here: https://bit.ly/3dRCzIW
½ tsp Himalayan sea salt
½ tsp fresh ground pepper
While the meatballs are setting, start soup.
1 TBSP butter
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1 cup sliced baby carrots- cut into ¼ inch coins
½ cup minced red onion, packed
1 fresh clove of garlic, minced
1- 48oz container of beef broth
4-6 tomatoes pureed to make 2 cups OR 1- 16 ounce can of diced tomatoes or sauce
(I like to use either a variety of Heirloom tomatoes or Roma’s)
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ tsp Himalayan sea salt
½ tsp fresh ground pepper
1- 16 ounce bag of 5 cheese tortellini
1 cup baby spinach, packed
This is a hearty soup and is delicious served with fresh Italian bread. Sprinkle a bit of freshly grated parmesan cheese on top & enjoy!
What’s your favorite soup? Tell me in the comments!
If you enjoyed this blog, please LIKE it & Follow me for weekly posts!
Happy day friends,
Jean
One of my favorite things to do is attend area farmers markets. Whenever I travel I immediately look up any surrounding farmers markets, and you better believe if we can attend, we do!
Here are my Top 5 reasons to support our local farmers markets.
1. Support your local economy by supporting your local farmers & entrepreneurs!
As educated consumers we want to know where our food is coming from. We’re tired of food being mass produced on assembly lines with labels sporting names of ingredients that can’t even be pronounced. We
want clean & healthy food locally sourced & grown.
Where do you get this great stuff you ask? You get it at your local farmers market!
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market https://bit.ly/3AHViQd
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Released August 17, 2020,
“On an average market day, 916 households shopped across markets in the U.S. and spent $14,547 per farmers market. Farmers Market Managers served as paid employees in 4,321 markets, while in 3,162 they served as volunteers. On average, the paid Farmers Market Managers earned $18.40 per hour. Managers worked an average of 19.4 hours per week. “ Taken from https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/pz50hd694/gx41n598k/jd473j98z/nfar0820.pdf
2. Support your local farmers & entrepreneurs!
Direct marketing of farm products through farmers markets continues to be an important sales outlet for agricultural producers nationwide. Small businesses can get their product out to a fresh target market at a very reasonable cost. Markets can eliminate the need for a brick and mortar facility and all the expenses associated with it. Most importantly, it allows customers to build relationships with producers. You can see the positive impact of supporting local from this infographic for the Kalamazoo Michigan Farmers Market.
Kalamazoo Farmers Market Metrics http://pfcmarkets.com/
3. Explore new varieties of fresh fruits & veggies, & other healthy foods!
I’ve often been asked, “What’s an Heirloom?” or told “I’ve never seen a purple carrot!!!” Well, you’ll find a plethora of Heirloom varieties including purple carrots at most farmers markets!
Tomatoes are by far the hottest item in the Heirloom market, but there are several varieties of eggplant, squash, carrots, beans, and so much more.
Besides providing a wide range of fresh fruit and veggies, you’ll be dazzled by a slew of delicious baked goods, dairy, egg and meat products, honey and maple syrup, body care products, both fresh and dried herbs, along with all types of artisan products. Some of these include handcrafted baskets, wooden bowls and cutting boards, as well as beautiful pottery, jewelry and several forms of art media. Pricing is typically very reasonable when compared to brick and mortar stores. Everything at the market is fresh from that day or the day before, unlike grocery store produce which has been shipped and transported for days.
4. Education- Kids programs, Cooking demos, & More!
Many markets incorporate kid’s programming, cooking demos, health fairs, & live music, to name just a few! The reason is simple: it is every market’s mission to provide healthy, nutritious, reasonably priced food to all people.
The farmers market is an ideal project for every community to incorporate. It promotes healthy eating, and enables community members to build relationships with their local producers.
One incredible program many farmers markets offer is The Power of Produce Club (POP Club). The POP Club provides both an educational & entertaining opportunity for children to engage in their market with the opportunity to discuss produce with the market farmers while exposing them to new & unique fruits and vegetables. ” In addition to participating in educational activities, POP Club kids receive vouchers to spend at the market, allowing them to make their own shopping decisions at the market.”
Ask your farmers market manager if this is available, if not tell them how to participate!
5. Connect with your community!
Farmers markets provide a place where the community can come together, meet and shop locally. The market is a gathering place for friends and family. Markets offer fresh products locally produced, face-to-face interaction with producers and artisans, live entertainment, family activities, all the while supporting the local economy.
Infographic taken from Farmers Market Coalition
Check out this great video https://youtu.be/uUm6coaRKBQ
“According to the USDA, Farmers Markets are an integral part of the urban/farm linkage and have continued to rise in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. Farmers markets allow consumers to have access to locally grown, farm fresh produce, enables farmers the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with their customers, and cultivate consumer loyalty with the farmers who grow the produce.
Direct marketing of farm products through farmers markets continues to be an important sales outlet for agricultural producers nationwide. USDA celebrates National Farmers Market Week, view the Proclamation (pdf), (the first full week in August) each year and as of 2019 estimates, there are 8,140 farmers markets in the US.” Taken from https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/research-publications
Thanks for taking the time to read my article. Please like it & leave me a comment!
Let me know what your favorite farmers market is, and where it’s located! I’d love to visit if I’m ever in the area! Maybe we can meet up for a coffee!
Please share this blog if you found it informative, and follow me on Facebook for fun & informative content!
Happy day,
Jean!
Yep you’re reading that right…Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats will be available for purchase by mid to end of September.!
Please feel free to pre-order. All orders paid for by September 1st, 2022, with receive a $5.00 credit towards of future purchases.
Click this link to purchase:
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Tina Marshall
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