Life at a "Swell's" pace

Shucking Corn!

Since the summer season is slowly coming to a close and fall is creeping up on us, we wanted to take advantage of all the corn that is for sale along the roadways here in Oregon. Oregon seems to grow some of the best corn I have ever tasted and there are a lot of farmers in the Willamette Valley that grows the corn organically which is definitely a plus.

The ears were pretty good looking ears. We picked up about 10 ears for $4 from a local farmer.

We had another of husks left and decided to make corn husk necklaces and bracelets with the leftovers. You can make them too by stripping the husks to three thin layers and then doing a simple braids and knots along the length of the bracelet. Once it dries it will hold the knots and the braids. For the necklace, strip the husks to thin layers and knot them together.

Pretty simple, but a fun craft for the fall season.

A bag full of bracelet and necklace fun!

Look how great this corn looks!

We froze some of the ears for later and cooked a few up that night for dinner. They were yummy!

Eco-Tip: Recycle your used eye glasses to programs that can restore and clean them up to send to less privileged countries and areas that could put them to good use for workers and children to have sight. Look for organizations like OneSight and The Lions Club to donate today. For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

Stuffed Green Peppers

Although I am completely against anything involving a green pepper, I just had to share this recipe passed along to me from my chef friend Brandon Plotner. I substitute the peppers for tomatoes instead and they come out just the same, but with a bit of a saltier taste. I have a weird, deadly allergy to all the 'Bell' Pepper varieties so the tomatoes work great as a substitute. I have even used large, green tomatoes that didn't completely turn red, straight from my garden.

What you'll need:

6 green peppers washed & hollowed out. (save tops) (Or use red, yellow, orange, or even tomatoes if you have an allergy to green peppers)
1 Onion
1 box of Zatarain's dirty rice mix
2 pounds of ground beef
Minced garlic
Lea and Perrins thick Worcestershire sauce
Verole' Queso Mexican style melting cheese
Kraft Mexican four cheese
Oregano for garnish if desired

What to do:

After washing and hollowing out the green peppers, submerge them in cold water. Blanch over medium heat, until they become soft. Dice the tops of the peppers that you saved and your onion (These will be used to season the meat). Place your ground beef into a skillet with 2 tbsp. of butter, 4 tbsp. of Worcestershire and 1/2 tbsp. of minced garlic. Add in the green peppers and onions, stir and cook thoroughly. While your meat is cooking, make the Zatarain's dirty rice according to the directions on the box.

When the peppers are soft, the meat is cooked and the rice is done, drain the meat and mix the rice in with it. Remove the peppers from the hot water and submerge them in cold water until they cool. After they cool down, place them in a baking dish. Fill them up half way with the meat and rice mixture and then add the Kraft Mexican Four Cheese. Then top them off with the Queso Cheese.

Place the peppers in the oven on 400 degrees until the cheese is a golden brown (see picture above.)

For a different variation to this recipe see Grilled Talapia and Stuffed Tomatoes.

Enjoy!

Eco-Tip: Spread Hugs like wild fire! Hugging someone can brighten their day and getting a hug can do the same in return to you, so spread them around everyday of your life. For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

Quick Tips 102: Things you can't go without knowing

Quick tips 101: Things you can't go without knowing.

Cutting a potting soil bag into triangles and opening it up completely in order to use the soil. This method is a lot better than dipping into the top of the bag (less mess too!).

Using freehand scroll patterns to decorate a wall. This would look amazing in an entryway or high ceiling above a staircase. (Photo credit: Tip Junkie)

Using egg shells for seed starts. This is something I just started this past growing season and I will say, they work wonderfully!

Continuing your growing season through the winter with window farming.

(Photo credit: Daily Press)

See more ideas for a window farm HERE!

Using an upside down Command Hook on the back of a door to hang a wreath on the other side.

(Photo Credit: Pinterest Pinner Michelle Florio)

Using two shower curtains in your bathroom to create a different look altogether.

(Photo Credit: Pinterest Pinner Cassie Shoemaker)

Using Painter's Tape to help guide you as you caulk a bathtub or shower.

(Photo Credit: This Old House)

Wrapping your shoes in a shower cap before packing.

(Photo Credit: Pinterest Pinner Ava Kodama)

Using a wooden spoon to prevent boil-overs.

(Photo Credit: Little Miss Imperfect)

Or use this pot lid from Sur La Table.

Using a glow stick in a jar of water for a cool lighting effect. This would be great for walkways during the holidays.

(Photo Credit: Brandy's Crafts)

For more Quick Tips look to the right hand side of the main page for Stories in a Series: Quick Tips 101.

Eco-Tip: Get involved with your local National Park Society. Nothing is more green than getting outdoors! This group of current or retired park rangers and guides will give you a full educational experience on the destination of your choice. They will give private tours or even group tours for family or groups of any size. To learn more about these tours and get to know the outdoors near your home better visit the National Park Society webpage. For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

October is Mind Challenge Month and the Month of the Flexagon

Did you know that October is the month to challenge your mind? Did you also know that October was the month to honor the Flexagon?

You may of said yes, or you may be like many and say, "What the heck is a Flexagon?"

Photo Credit: Loki3

Flexagons are mainly flat and made out of paper, strips of paper to be exact. And what sets a flexagon apart from other flat paper models of shapes is the fact that a flexagon can be folded and turned to reveal more than just a two-sided dimension. Cool huh?

They are a ton of fun and a great learning tool for kids and adults too!

I hope you aren't completely confused, but remember the old saying? "MATH IS COOL!?" Well, honestly it kind of is when you view it in a fun way.

October 21st is a celebration to the flexagon, but more importantly it is the celebration of Martin Gardner's birthday. (The pioneer to the comeback of the hexaflexagons)

Unfortunately, Martin Gardener passed away last May (2010)at the age of 95, but he didn't leave this world without making a mark on all of us. His hexaflexagons are still going strong and offer us a great education on shapes and how much we can learn from just a basic form.

Is your mind blown yet? HA! I love it! MATH IS SO FUN!

To read more about Martin Gardner visit the Mathematical Association of America.

Here are ways to celebrate Martin Gardner's Birthday:

Make hexaflexagons with your kids and place them in peculiar places all through your home.
Place a hexaflexagon in your child's lunch box with cute messages written on every flex of the shape.
Use hexaflexagons and make bunting to hang.
Draw pictures on all the flexes and do a seek-n-find!
Make a bunch of flexagons and color them all different colors. Place them in a bowl and put the bowl on your coffee table for a neat and unique conversation piece for all who come over.

Pick up Martin Gardner's newest book HERE!

Eco-Tip: Instead of throwing out torn or ripped clothing consider repairing the holes and tears into creative patches. Pinterest is a great application that allows you to find everything you need to live a more organized, healthy, and more green lifestyle. Here are some of my favorite hole-patch repairs so far.