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Bye Bye Halloween, Hello Thanksgiving, Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, and Simplify Your Cleaning Routine

It's true Halloween is over (and the kids are no doubt already missing their favorite holiday), but Thanksgiving is only three weeks away, which is always an exciting holiday—if not for family, then definitely for the food. :)

The three weeks leading up to it is a good time to scour the internet for fun, new holiday recipes, hopefully leaving you time to try them out before the big day. I'll be sharing some of the favorites I've tried over the years, including a wonderful main if you're planning on going turkey-less. Also, don't miss out on a fun farm and turkey-loving afternoon for the kids taking place on Sunday, Nov. 20 if you are in the Los Angeles area. Go to Animal Acres to find out more about the free event.

Recipe:

Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

It's not very truthful to say that cookies are healthy, but these are about as healthy as cookies can get, while still being soft and delicious. They are a perfect after-lunch treat or snack for kids or adults!

Ingredients
1/4 cup butter or Earth Balance
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg or 3 Tbs. water + 1 Tbs. flax seed meal
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 - 1/2 C applesauce
1 cup oats
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 teaspoon salt
3/4-1 cup choc chips (optional)


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter or Earth Balance and peanut butter. Add the brown sugar, egg or water and flax seed mixture, vanilla, and applesauce; mix well.

2. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt; add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips, if using.

3. Drop by the rounded teaspoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake about 12 minutes, or until lightly brown on top.

Project:

Simplify and Green Your Cleaning Routine

What You Will Need:

Giant jug of white distilled vinegar (*Smart & Final sells big ones)
Giant box of baking soda*
Empty spray bottles of your old products
Sponge/green scouring pad

Note: Germaphobes can rest easy knowing that a 5% solution of vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses).

When you finish the current products you usually use like bleach, Windex, and Lysol, all of which contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to you, your children, and the earth, have the vinegar and baking soda on hand to try them instead. You will see that they work quite effectively, and do not leave you with any nauseating and harmful fumes to inhale.

Countertops - Spray on straight vinegar that you have poured into your old spray bottle, after it is emptied and washed out. Use a towel or sponge to wipe off just like you would with your other countertop cleaner.

Sinks - Sprinkle on a thin layer of baking soda and let sit for 20 minutes or more. Then scrub with a scouring sponge. Your sink will feel and look just as if you used bleach, but without the caustic smell.

Windows - In another emptied bottle combine 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap. Shake or stir to combine ingredients before using.

Toilets - Pour in straight vinegar and let sit to kill bacteria. Then sprinkle in some baking soda for a bleaching and scouring agent. After 30 minutes or more, scrub with toilet brush or scouring pad.

Floors - To a bucket of water, add 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/8 cup liquid soap.

Now you can breathe easy and have a shorter shopping list!


"Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." -Phyllis Diller

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