Tag: recipes

Practicing Ecofriendlty Consumerism

Posted on by Jordank

#Holiday shopping is in full swing, and that may have many readers spending not-insignificant amounts of money in an attempt to check everyone off their #gift lists. While getting with the spirit of the #season is a worthy goal, buying all of that #stuff has an impact.

U.S. #holiday spending is expected to grow to nearly $1 trillion in 2024 — a truly staggering amount. And while some of that spending will result in great #gifts and cherished memories, Americans generate 23% more waste in December, according to the Center for Biodiversity.

Many of those gewgaws you select take considerable resources to manufacture and ship, and most will eventually wind up in landfills. Many will contribute to household #clutter. That’s why it’s important to practice #ecoconscious consumerism.

Consider buying (and requesting) secondhand gifts, Business Insider suggests. Buy Nothing groups can help locate quality used toys and clothing, and the #thrift stores stocked by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org are overflowing with one-of-a-kind finds.

Another way to spend sustainably is to give experiences rather than hard goods. Tickets to sporting events, concerts and the theater make thoughtful gifts, and add to the excitement by creating a whole new outing. A gift certificate for a personal care service such as a massage or manicure pampers without creating a lot of trash. Many of these services are local, meaning that you’ll support your community with real dollars and limit the carbon footprint required to manufacture and ship merchandise.

Even a gift card is an ecofriendly gift idea when you don’t know exactly what to get and don’t want to give something that will just get tossed. Americans wasted an estimated $9.1 billion on holiday gifts that were exchanged, sold or thrown away in 2023, according to Finder. Another way to limit your environmental impact is to limit the use of disposable gift wraps. Although festive, they contributes to waste; consider reusable bags or get creative with fabric wraps instead.

You can have a fantastic holiday while creating less #trash. It take a little forethought, but your efforts will pay off with less indoor clutter, a healthier #earth, and good cheer among family and friends.

Make Your Favorites for the Holidays

Posted on by Jordank

While Thanksgiving has a number of traditional must-have dishes, #Christmas, #Hanukkah and the other December #holidays are more open to interpretation. Town & Country suggests a range of “iconic” recipes for main courses such as glazed ham, prime rib and Beef Wellington, as well as sides such as candied yams, roasted Brussels Sprouts and glazed carrots. Not feeling a feast? Just make a variety of finger foods, a charcuterie platter or a crock pot of hot soup; there’s bound to be plenty of visiting and gift-giving going on to keep the family busy, not to mention numerous platters of cookies. There’s really no wrong way to do the holidays! #HomemadeHolidayFavorites

Thanksgiving in 30 Minutes or Less

Posted on by Jordank

#Thanksgiving recipes don’t need to take all day to be delicious, says Taste of Home. In fact, there are plenty of sides and desserts that can be made in less time than it takes for a Domino’s pizza to arrive — and they will taste a whole lot better! Quick takes on the classics include skillet stuffing, green beans and bacon, mashed potatoes with horseradish breadcrumbs, and more. You can make multiple sides and appetizers in the time it takes to roast a turkey, or just use the time you save to do something else — take a fall hike, watch a movie or #declutter the basement, for example. Keep your #holiday simple! #EasiestThanksgiving

Set Your Thanksgiving Table at the Thrift

Posted on by Jordank

Hosting a #holiday feast but don’t have the proper table settings? Never fear — #thrift and #secondhand stores are overflowing with previously owned serving dishes, dinnerware and glassware that can lend your #Thanksgiving table a hint of seasonal elegance without a lot of money. Dishes and platters “don’t have to match exactly but should go together,” says Jane’s Distractions. “Here is where you can start to design the table with colors, textures or shapes.” For a great selection, visit a thrift store that’s supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org; the proceeds from #resale will go toward programs that help #veterans during the #holidays! #EasiestThanksgiving

How to Have a No-Cook, No-Clean Thanksgiving

Posted on by Jordank

Everyone has had at least one year in which cooking for #Thanksgiving was just too much hassle to contemplate. If you have more money than time this year and are just too #stressed to host a meal or contribute to a potluck, you have options. You can outsource the cooking to a local grocery store and buy ready-made sides, or order an entire turkey with all of the trimmings for the family. Another option? Go out! Chain and local restaurants offer Thanksgiving meals, and dining out eliminates #cleanup, too. “Heading to a restaurant to indulge in ham, turkey and the sides is a perfectly reasonable way to spend the holiday,” says Good Housekeeping.