My Favorite Stuff: Crock Lunch Warmer

Initially, I was looking at thermoses to bring my lunch to work. For several reasons, I am trying to avoid the microwave. I am not concerned at this point in my journey the health impacts of standing too close while it is running. What I am concerned about is my food. I work hard creating nutrient dense food for my body and hate the thought of losing any of the benefits because I "nuked" my food. The timing also worked out well because work is remodeling the cafeteria, which means higher traffic for the microwaves on our floor.

I thought the thermos would be a good idea. Warm the food at home on the stove, into the thermos, hot and ready for lunch. But then I can across the 20-ounce Lunch Warmer from Crock-Pot and its brilliant!

Mornings are difficult trying to get myself and the kids ready for out-the-door by 8am. I certainly don't have to do as much as most. Kids get breakfast at daycare, I don't have to pack them lunches or snacks. But like most households with kids, there is always something to veer a morning routine into a ditch.

My point is, this crock has some great advantages over the thermos taking this into consideration.

1. I don't have to pre-heat my meal! I simply pack my breakfast (usually some sort of scrambled egg, cheese, veggie combo) into the crock! When I get to work, I plug it in and my breakfast is ready in 30 minutes. It might be ready sooner, haven't checked. Usually it takes me 30 minutes to settle in, checking email and crafting some quick responses to emails or running off to a meeting. This will not cook the food, simply reheats it! Great for those days with back to back meetings when I might not get back to my desk for an hour.
2. I can also pack a lunch that will need heating! All I have to do is clean the stainless steel insert, throw in my lunch and BAM! another hot meal without having to buy another thermos! 2 hot meals, 1 piece of equipment!
3. It has a nice handle, its light, and fits into my daily bag of holding. I really hate carrying a bunch of stuff into work. 1 bag to rule them all and it fits.

A word of caution though, the insert has a "lid", I say this loosely because it does not screw on. There is also an outer lid that does screw on, but not really as a seal. What this means is that liquids will leak if you have it on it side...why would you store it like this? No clue, but just sayin...don't.

The two lid system is also nice because it contains the smell of your heating food. Which I guess your cube buddies will appreciate.

I have taken this to work and over to a friend's house...how courteous is that, no dishes to clean up afterwards! I love it and can't recommend it enough!

My Favorite Stuff: Canning Jars

After making my first batch of bone broth, I realized that I was going to need more storage containers…a lot more. Both for storing in the refrigerator and for freezing. Typically, I use some version of Tupperware. A lot of opinions have been traveling around about plastics…which ones are safe…under what conditions. Well, I will let the world sort that out. I decided to invest in glass. Canning jars specifically.

·         Wide mouths for easy access with measuring or dinner spoon

·         Glass, so no leaching concerns into food

·         They now make ones that can be frozen

·         They can be microwaved, yes…sans the ring and seal

·         They can be used to actually can foods! Brilliant!

·         Glass is preferred when using essential oils for health/beauty products

For my storage needs , I purchased the following:

4 ounce wide mouth canning jars – these are perfect for storing the golden flax seed and Spirulina that I use for Elora’s smoothies everyday,  and to store the flour I use for preparing Adam’s oatmeal. Since I purchase in smaller quantities for these ingredients, they are the perfect size!

8 ounce wide mouth canning jars – these are great for storing serving sized portions in the refrigerator or the freezer

Pint and a 1/2 wide mouth canning jars – I love these to be able to freeze stuff like chicken broth and beef broth. Little more capacity, but not obnoxious and not serving sized.

Quart size wide mouth canning jars – These are for high capacity storage. These cannot go into the freezer, but for bulk dry goods and broth that will be used for a higher serving recipe these work great

So far, I have stored bone broth both in the freezer and in the refrigerator using these. I froze the beef and mushroom stew in single serving portions. This is fabulous because I just grab it out of the freezer as I walk out the door to work. It doesn’t leak in my bag, like I experienced with the Tupperware so many times. And I can throw it in the microwave to heat up. They are also a conversation starter, because how often to you see someone throwing a canning jar into the microwave for lunch?! Not only have they started conversations of “what are you doing”…but, ”what are you eating”? Total opportunity to share the love and some recipes to boot!

My Favorite Things: Bathtub Overflow Cover

SERIOUSLY, my most favorite thing of 2013! If I were Oprah, all of my friends and family would have one! I read about it on one of the blogs that I follow.

I love the concept of baths, but I don't own a soaker tub. If I am going through the trouble and water to bathe, I want all my important parts covered. I want to be soaking in that tub, chin deep in water so hot that it makes your scalp sweat...but that's another topic.

This soft plastic cap attaches to the tub with little suction cups and covers your current overflow plate. I was skeptical at first. But for $7.24, I was willing to take the risk. It totally works! I was able to fill the tub all the way up to the ridge of the tub (Only recommend this if you are in it first! Water displacement baby!). I was up to my chin in hot Epsom salt water, no lights, and door locked. All important parts covered!

Here is the link to the item on Amazon: Better Bath Deep Water Bath

For all you bathers out there or those that potentially could be ... this is totally worth the investment!