by Wonder Worman | Feb 3, 2011 | Worman Cooks
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2.5lbs of Chuck
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Mixture of flour, pepper and salt
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Bacon grease in the pan
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I seared the meat on all sides
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Carrots, celery and onions in the crock pot
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This is good stuff!
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Really awesome crock pot! Don’t look at the smudges!
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Carrot peels and celery ends are off to feed the Red Wigglers!
Yesterday, I made pot roast in The Original Slow Cooker…Crock Pot. Carlos bought this for us 2 years ago. Unfortunately, I don’t use it that often maybe 4 or 5 times a year. The recipe booklet it came with is limited so I need to explore some others. That may be why I don’t use it that often because other than the limited recipes, the pot is AWESOME. Using a crock pot is sooo easy. Just throw everything in, set it to low, let it cook for 8-10 hours, and you’re done! If that’s too much time, you can blast it on high for 4-6 hours!
This recipe is taken directly from the booklet. I modified it a bit because my kids don’t like the potatoes cooked this way and would prefer them mashed! I need to clarify that: Max loves them and Little a not so much!
So here goes:
2-4 pound beef chuck roast
1/2 cup flour
salt and pepper
3 carrots, sliced
3 potatoes, quartered (I left this out and saved them for mashed potatoes)
3 onions, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 cup mushrooms (I omitted this…kids hate mushrooms..I kinda do)
1 cup beef broth (I didn’t have any so I used chicken broth)
This part is so cool because it’s SO FAST and SOOOO EASY…I love fast and easy! lol
1. Coat roast with the flour, salt and pepper. Sear roast in a pan on the stove. They say this is optional, but I do this to seal in the flavors and make the meat moist! This is funny! I cooked bacon this morning and left some of the grease in the pan, hoping it will make the meat more flavorful :^)
2. Place all veggies in the crock, except the mushrooms. Add the roast and spread the mushrooms on top. Pour in broth.
3. Cover and cook on Low for 10-12 hours or on High for 6-8 hours, or until tender.
There aren’t a lot of scraps for the Red Wigglers, but they’ll be happy with the carrot peels!
by Wonder Worman | Feb 2, 2011 | Less in the Landfill
Intro: This is Part 2 of the 2 Part series.
Yesterday, I dropped off this trunk load of paint cans at the Bend Garbage and Recycling Center. When I left, I felt good. I was happy that these cans were not going directly into the landfill. But on the drive home, I started thinking…. I had no idea where they would be off to next. What would happen to the rainbow of colors?
So this morning, I called Bend Garbage and Recycling and chatted with a really informative, Mr. Brian. He actually told me he had to conduct some research because he didn’t know all of the answers. I listened intently as he shared what he learned.
They are really off on an adventure. An adventure to save the earth and be put to good use!
1.The cans are sent to a Metro Facility in Portland where they are sorted into Latex and Oil Groups.
2.The latex paints are recycled into more latex paints and some of those paints are used to paint over the graffiti…Good Job!
3.The oil paints, like linseed, are made into Bio Fuel….Very God Job!
4.The metal cans are shredded and then used as scrap metal.
5.The plastic cans are recycled into more plastic cans, tubs or containers.
There’s one bummer to this recycling program, though! The shredded scrap metal from the metal cans is sold over seas. Fossil fuels are being burned to transport these metals to countries who will produce a product that will then make it’s way back to the U.S. Just wish we could keep it on our soil.
At least there is less in the landfill.
by Wonder Worman | Feb 2, 2011 | Less in the Landfill
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Sign at the Recycling Center. They actually let you bring in more than 10 cans!
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My old cans of paint from various projects in the house.
Intro: This is the first entry to a two part post! I am waiting for the Bend Garbage and Recycling to return my call because I’ve got some questions?!
After painting Little a’s room last week, I decided to go through our mega collection of paint cans in the garage. We had about 30 cans stacked on the top shelf. Most were completely empty, some were old samples, and others were colors that we used years ago on the walls which are now covered with a new color. Our house is full of color and every room is different!
As I was inspecting each can, I was overloaded with memories. Canary Yellow and Muted Orange were used to paint Little a’s room when she turned 2! Gun Metal Gray draped our bedroom when we moved to Bend, making it a dark and cozy master. Lime Green coated Max’s big boy room when he was 4 and then quickly changed to Ralph Lauren Blue once he decided he loved the Solar System. Our dining room and formal living room were transformed into a dark Forest Green. That lasted about 2 years! We then decided to go with a bit more funk and pizzazz. Three of the walls were painted Cappuccino and one wall was Teak (a dark orange). Our great room, kitchen and kid’s bathroom have been the same color for about 8 years. I couldn’t find the name of the color on the can, but it’s a blend of green and tan. We are due for a change. Any recommendations? I loved sorting though the cans and letting the memories flow.
A majority of these cans went to the Bend Garbage and Recycling Center at Knott Landfill and some of these were left on the shelf …saved for the needed touch up from nicks and scratches. I was happy to see they were accepted free of charge. I would have dropped them off any way but after a wild weekend in Vegas money is tight for the month! LOL!!
It is cool to see there is an alternative method of disposal for these cans rather than going directly in the land fill. I am not sure where these cans are off to next. I was unable to reach the person in charge and left a message. I am anxious to learn about the rest of their journey! hmmmmm……Anyone out there have any ideas?????
by Wonder Worman | Feb 1, 2011 | Red Wiggler World
I love the fact that Red Wigglers munch on toilet paper rolls! They can eat many non food items like coffe filters, coffee grounds, egg shells, shredded moist newspaper, shredded moist computer paper, tea bags, paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls. The paper products provide the carbon which the Red Wigglers need in order to survive in the worm bin. “Out in the wild” the decaying leaves and plants will provide the carbon. Since I am controlling the Red Wigglers environment, it is important for me to balance the amount of browns and greens that the worms are eating. When these non food items are in the worm bin, I will usually find the Red Wigglers in and around the toilet paper rolls. I do get a kick out of finding them nestled in between the rolls. It must be cozy and secluded…a place to nuzzle with each other. Maybe they need to find that special place “to get the job done”. hmmm? Yes? No? Maybe So?
I just put a roll in this morning and will take some pictures to show you how cute they look all snuggled together! First, I am going to let them get settled in and comfy.
by Wonder Worman | Jan 28, 2011 | Red Wiggler World
I am heading to Vegas to meet 4 of my college girlfriends and to celebrate the Year of the 40! Good times will be had by all and there will definitely be lots of eating, drinking, dancing and laughing. Everything will be in excess! Which is all Vegas Style, right?!
Vegas is the land of excess. It’s full of non stop lights, sounds and sights. It’s an overload for your senses. There are All You Can Eat Buffets, restaurants which are open 24 hours, lights that never shut off, lights that flash, ringing sounds, dinging sounds, thumpin’ music, rotating doors, spinning doors, elevators, and escalators and the list goes on…. The place is just on fire!
I have mixed feelings about Vegas….. America’s Crazyville, America’s Place of Indulgence and in my opinion, One of America’s Most Wasteful Places. Yes, I realize I am participating in this waste and supporting Vegas with my cash. This isn’t my first rodeo either. This will be # 4. #1 was when I got married to my Carlos! #2 was a get away with my Carlos and #3 was another get away with my Carlos. My Carlos loves VEGAS!
This visit will be a bit different for me. Of course, I am going to party my butt off, but I am also going there with a mission….a Worman Mission. I am going to record a few things…things like trash cans and restaurants. I may even ask the hotel manager how much they pay for utilities and if they compost! lol….Geez, I can’t even begin to imagine the cost to keep the lights on and the water running! Now, I am really curious and really excited to get my butt there! Wooohoo! 30 min and ticking, dinging and ringing………
