Life Without Plastic - Day 20 (Happy Belated Chinese New Year)

[siglinde99]

Making my own stuff takes a lot of time. Even for someone like me, who cooks virtually everything from scratch, this challenge is a time killer. Last night's homemade dumplings for Chinese New Year took over two hours from start to finish. I got about 60 amazing dumplings, though, and not a scrap of plastic from pre-made wonton wrappers anywhere. Sadly, my Chinese girl bailed on me and went to bed even before I had the first batch in the pot.

I still haven't gotten around to making that shampoo, conditioner or deodorant because all three recipes require heating, if not actual cooking. Now I'm also starting to think about toothpaste recipes that aren't actively vile. I have unpleasant memories of Mom giving me baking soda and salt mixtures to brush my teeth with as a kid. Happier food projects include making my own yellow mustard. I'm really good at stuff that rivals Dijon, but every once in a while I want something cheap and cheery.

In the fail department, I can add a Styrofoam container for leftover pizza (thanks to Mom and Dad, who treated us to an oversized pizza on Sunday night). I forgot to count it earlier. Speaking of forgetting, I also forgot to dig out the pathway to the garbage bin, and forgot to tell the kid about the no plastic garbage bag plan (but at least she collected the trash), so I have to add another garbage bag to the pile of plastic not avoided. I also forgot to use the electric razor before hopping into the shower. I suppose I could have left the pits, but I swim first thing tomorrow morning; I can cope with hairy legs at the pool, but that's my limit.

Comments

[one-raido.livejournal.com]

Now that I'm not teaching swimming to the kiddos 3-4 days a week I am shaving less and wearing mascara.

Huge props to you and your cooking. I have to dust off my stove when I use it ;)

[siglinde99.livejournal.com]

Yay for mascara! Cooking is one of the things I do for fun, as you will discover. I post about my cooking adventures at least once a month.

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

I really admire your commitment to life without plastic. I try to minimize my use of plastic as much as possible, but there is still too much of it in my life.

Regarding cheap and cheery yellow mustard, I know what you mean. Sometimes, that really is the ticket. Sometimes the palate is all like, "I am tired of all this sophistication. Let's skip the amuse bouche and get to some yellah mustard.

[siglinde99.livejournal.com]

Yep. I used to be a bit of a mustard snob until I tasted a friend's mustard soup. I asked her what the secret was, and the answer was "tons of cheap yellow mustard". Since then, I have grown to appreciate it a lot.