Garden Gremlins and Tacos

Food From Scratch - Spices

A lot of people think that making the types of prepackaged mixes we get at the grocery store is difficult, or has exotic ingredients that makes it complicated. Most people have never thought twice about making taco seasoning from scratch. Why bother, it’ so easy to open a pre-measured packet and dump it in. People cook from scratch for all sorts of reasons; allergies, curiosity, cost, avoiding certain ingredients, necessity, or because they are foodies.

I found chalkboard labels and a chalk pen at the dollar store.
I label the lids too because my jars are in a pull out
drawer and all you see is the tops.

At one point or another, those were all reasons for us.  I’m allergic to cilantro and coriander, which are ingredients in a lot of ethnic food. I just like knowing how things are made, I have taken cheese making classes, soap making classes, kombucha making classes…  Whenever you buy that packet of taco mix, you are paying for the convenience, for the same cost you can make a lot more. I found that the premade pouches had a weird metallic after taste. I don’t know if it was the foil lined packets or preservatives, but I really didn’t like it and my family loves taco salad. For seven years we lived up North and it was a 90 minute drive to the grocery store—one way. If you don’t have an ingredient, you make do because you are only going to town once a month. As for being foodies, one of the highlights of going to Canmore is the oil and vinegar store. I have put both saffron and truffle salt in my husbands Christmas stocking. We just might be foodies...

Not only is it quick and easy to do, for most things, you will already have the ingredients in your cupboard. I have been using taco seasoning as an example because it was my first homemade blend. These days you can find recipes for just about anything on the internet. So that’s what I did. A quick search, and I picked a recipe that the author said her children loved because it’s not too spicy. I’m a spicy wimp, I admit it. I took it as a starting point and adjusted it to what we had on hand and what I didn’t want to include. Sometimes I have been surprised at ingredients. Oregano in tacos, who knew? 

When I try out a new blend, I make a single serving, to make sure we like it. Once we find a winner, we make it in bulk. Spice blends are about ratios, so they are easy to up-size. If the original calls for teaspoons, use tablespoons and you automatically have 3 times as much (3 teaspoons in a tablespoon). 

I save glass salad dressing jars. The plastic labels come off nicely, and they have straight sides, so they stack in the cupboard nicely, and I like their size.  I really like having a jar big enough to get a measuring spoon in. I keep a supply of regular spice bottles on hand too, and fill them from the big jars for camping.

Taco Seasoning

1/4 c Chili powder

1 1/4 tsp Garlic powder

1 1/4 tsp Onion powder

1 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes

1 1/4 tsp Oregano

2 1/2 tsp Paprika

2 1/2 T Cumin

1 1/2 T Sea salt

1 1/2 T Black pepper

It’s handy if you have a coffee grinder for the red pepper flakes. I have also used it to make onion powder from dehydrated onion flakes.  It’s not necessary, if some of the mix is powdery and some is chunky, just give it a stir before use to make sure it’s evenly distributed. It’s not written in stone. If you don’t have dry onion, doesn’t matter. You probably cook an onion with your meat anyway. I have often used this mix in place of plain chili powder in recipes. Adjust the ratios to your taste. I often add more chili powder. If you like spicy, add more red pepper or throw in some cayenne.  Use 2 T of mix per pound of meat.

Italian Seasoning

We use this so much that the jar from the store seems to be always empty. Making it from scratch seemed the only option!

2 parts Basil

2 parts Marjoram

2 parts Oregano

2 parts Thyme

1 part Rosemary

Curry

I love Indian food, but it often contains ingredients that don’t love me, or packages just say “spices” which makes it impossible to know.

3 tsp Turmeric (this is the stuff that makes yellow mustard stain, be careful!)

1 1/2 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Ginger

3/4 tsp Dry mustard

1/2 tsp Fenugreek (it can be a little harder to find, don’t worry if you don’t have it)

1/2 tsp Cardamom

1/2 tsp Cloves

1/2 tsp Cayenne

1/4 tsp Black pepper

This isn’t a spicy blend (wimp, remember), so feel free to adjust the spice to your taste.

Yard Work

I always know when February hits, because I’m suddenly dreaming about planting and all my conversations are about gardening. Alas, there are still 3 long months to go...

Spring is now upon us! Whether you are an avid gardener or just do the bare necessities to avoid citation, if you have a yard, it’s time for yard work! As a massage therapist in a rural community, I can track the seasons by the injuries I see. From Easter to beginning of May is fraught with should strain. Raking, digging, fence repair, painting and building all involve repetitive movements. In the spring, we are jumping in with both feet, after a winter of mostly sedentary activities. Even if you are a winter enthusiast, most winter activities (except snow shoveling) don’t strain our shoulders.

Spring is especially injury prone, not only from our out-of-shape muscles, but our enthusiasm for warm weather and sunshine tend to make us over-do it. Or the desire to get to the “fun part” makes us power through the more tedious chores.

Remember back at the end of March when we learned about the rhomboids? Now that it’s time to rake your lawn, you’re going to be so happy that you did those strengthening exercises. You did do them, right? 

We have all done a job, like painting a fence, when our arm gets tired so we switch hands. That lasts for about 30 seconds, and we switch back. Unless you are ambidextrous, it just feels weirdly awkward. Those big jobs do have to get done, but they don’t have to get done all at once. The single best way to avoid repetitive strain injuries, is to avoid repetitive and have the right tools for the job.

Warm up before you start. Go for a walk, play with the dog, whatever you like to get the blood moving. Increased circulation gets blood to the muscles and warms them up. Warm, oxygenated muscles are less likely to get injured. A walk around the neighbourhood also can provide landscaping inspiration. 

Almost done spring yard clean-up!
Don't worry, we're OK, this is normal
behaviour at my house!

Break it up. If you have a big task ahead of you, break it into more manageable chunks. Rake for awhile, then clean out a flower bed, the prune some branches, etc. Different jobs use different motions and muscle groups. It’s the same concept as having a “legs day” and “arms day” at the gym. Or divide the job over several days, or between several people. “I’ll help you clean out the garage, if you help me paint the fence.” Mentally, it’s also good to intersperse some fun jobs in with the ones we don’t like so much.

Keep it fun. If someone is being a little silly, or making a game out of a chore, have a chuckle instead of cracking the whip. In the long run, it's more important that everyone works together nicely than being super efficient. So let them set a trap for a garden gremlin or pretend they have lobster claws with the leave rakes.

Good tools. My very first lesson about good tools was at Peavy Mart (maybe it was Co-Op), I was about 5. I wanted the chunky, colourful plastic toy garden tools. My Dad got me the wooden handled tools with the metal heads, pint sized.  He told me that if you are going to buy tools, buy good ones. Tools that are too heavy for you cause muscle strain. Tools that are too short cause back pain. Using the right tool for the job, makes the job easier. I have raised garden boxes, so I have shovels with kid length handles, it's perfect.
Good Shoes. I may have mentioned this once or twice. It's tempting to wear flip flops, but not only are they not safe if you are mowing, tilling or weed whacking, but you are far more likely to slip or turn your ankle.

Smarter not harder. Some simple additions to your tools can make a difference. A stool or kneeling pad can reduce a lot of back strain. It doesn’t have to be fancy, I have often swiped the wood chopping stump to use as a stool, because it was just the right height for the raised garden bed! Before I had a garden cart, I used the kids’ wagon to haul heavy pots or bags of soil around.

Slip, Slap, Slop. Don’t forget to wear a hat, use sunscreen and drink lots of water. We have become unaccustomed to sunshine over the winter! There is no leafy shade right now. I have ended many spring gardening days with a killer headache because I got over-heated and dehydrated.

Dress in layers. The difference between the shady side of the house and the sunny side can be more than 10 degrees.  From 8 am to noon could be 20 degrees and then back down in the evening. Remember the unnecessary neck tension from acting like a turtle when your neck gets cold?

After Care After a long day of physical work, take the time to have a warm bath with epsom salts, if you have them. Be sure to drink some water so your muscles don't cramp.

After the annual May Queen fundraiser, when the high school
kids work their tails off doing everyone else's nasty spring
jobs, they chill out around the fire pit.

Pat yourself on the back. If you behaved yourself, and prevented injury, you will be able to! After you are done for the day, allow yourself a few moment to sit and enjoy the yard. Put up a hammock. Set up a coffee nook with a comfortable chair.  A few solar lights or lanterns transform even a tiny yard into something special.

Now is when you put on the flip flops. Appreciate the hard work you put into it. Even if gardening isn’t something you do for pleasure, you can take satisfaction that it looks tidy and well kept. Give yourself a mental gold star!


Conscript Help and Reward Everybody. I love my garden. I get a lot of satisfaction and joy from working in it, from crossing things off the list. (ahhh, lists!) Intrinsic satisfaction isn't necessarily enough for every family member. For my oldest, it's the promise of an evening fire in the fire pit. My kids get to split the bottle recycling money when we do the recycle and dump run. A little ice cream is also appreciated! In turn, we help Dad with the garage or his projects. When I was growing up, every year my Mom asked for the same thing for Mother's Day. One whole day of everyone helping her with her yard work.

Look for ways to move outside. A few years ago the boys and I started a tradition of morning coffee in the garden. We have a selection of blankets and afghans that live on the deck. Until July and August (and even sometimes then) the hours before school in the foothills can be quite chilly. We would take coffee and hot chocolate, sometimes our breakfast, out to the garden and just enjoy it. Its a great way to start the day as a family, without all the frantic running around or people in their own personal tunnel vision with ear buds in. I refuse to spend all that time, and all that work, to have everyone sit inside!

Over the years we have invested in some outside games; bocce ball, croquet, horseshoes, ring toss. Sometimes we have to get creative with layout or rules to make it fit our small yard, but there is no backyard game police.

A few years ago we got giant wooden dice from my brother that we use outside to play yatzee and other dice games. We did an internet search for a ton of dice game rules and printed them off. We have a small chalkboard with the outdoor games for score keeping.

Some board games can go outside, checker, backgammon and chess pieces won't blow away. 

You could make a bean bag game with a big piece of cardboard and some baggies of rice. Ring toss can be made with jar lids and a stick. Use golf balls or tennis balls to play bocce. It doesn't have to be fancy to go out and play. 

Make a round robin tournament or backyard Olympics of the games you have.

I've heard that sidewalk chalk is hard to find right now. You can make sidewalk paint with equal parts cornstarch and water, divide it in a  muffin tin and add food colouring to each cup.

Get an old sheet or blanket and take your lunch outside to have a picnic.

Set up a tent in the yard and camp out. 

Set up some "Sunday School Picnic" games. Water balloon toss, egg race, tug of war.

What do you do to get outside?