Flu Fighters From Your Kitchen

Some of the best flu germ fighters can be found in your kitchen:

Recycle Coffee Grounds

Don’t toss out those used coffee grounds! Below are seven ways to recycle coffee grounds and protect the environment.

1. Refrigerator and freezer deodorizer: Place ground in a small cup and in the fridge or freezer much as you would baking soda.

2. Organic fertilizer: They would be considered a "green" or nitrogen source. C/N ratio is about 20:1. Use coffee grounds as a plant fertilizer. Sprinkle the grounds around the base of the plant. They can also be sprinkled directly on your lawn. Roasted coffee is fairly acidic, but it appears that almost all of the acid is water-soluble and is extracted during brewing.

3. Compost input: Coffee grounds smell good and they are one of the few sources of nitrogen and potassium that is widely available year-round to people in urban and suburban areas. They absorb and hold moisture, which is critical to the compost pile. The grounds should account for no more than 25 percent of the composting matter and a teaspoon of lime or wood for each 5 pounds of grounds can be added to balance out acidity levels.

4. Wood Stain: Allow them to soak in a small amount of water overnight (or hot water for a shorter period), and then drain off. The amount of water you use will determine how dark the stain is.

5. Furniture scratch remover: Use a Q-tip and coffee grounds to fill in scratches on wooden furniture. 

6. Watercolor paint: Steep grounds in hot water and get ready to paint.

7. Face mask: An egg white mixed with 1/4 cup grounds makes a great exfoliating facial.

Recycling your coffee grounds helps you go green because...

It reduces waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill and limits your reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Recycle that Pumpkin

Every year, one billion pounds of pumpkins are produced in the U.S. and many end up in landfills shortly after Halloween.  A pumpkin is 100% natural and there are several ways to recycle or reuse your jack-o-lantern.  Here are 4 ways to recycle your pumpkin.

1.  Make a bird or squirrel feeder with your pumpkin. Fill it with corn, seeds, nuts, and fruit pieces. 

2. Pumpkins make great planters for flowers. 

3. Convert your pumpkin into compost. A compost pile can be as simple as a shallow hole, or you can build or buy a compost bin. You mix in kitchen waste, like fruit and veggie scraps, with yard waste, like grass clippings and dead leaves. Add water, give it some time and you will be rewarded with a rich compost. Here is a simple bucket method of composting. Cut the bottom out of the bucket. Dig a hole larger than the bucket to a depth that allows the cover to go on close to ground level. Put kitchen waste in the bucket, keeping the lid closed while the waste digests. The lid is important to keep moisture in the materials. After about 10 weeks pull the bucket and start another one in the garden. 

4. One favorite in our household is roasting the pumpkin seeds. Separate the seeds from the membrane and rinse. Soak in salt water overnight. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick vegetable oil.   Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, turning once. Allow to cool. Enjoy!

Check out these fabulous flavors from UnassumingFoodie.com:

Italian Style Pumpkin Seeds: Italian Seasoning Blend, Parmesan Cheese, Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper

Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin Seeds: Cinnamon, Ground Ginger and Pinch of Nutmeg, Butter

Greek Style Pumpkin Seeds: Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend, Oregano, Salt, Olive Oil

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