Hummingbird nectar recipe

My mom gave us a hummingbird feeder, and I stopped at the store to buy the nectar and was shocked by the price.  I did a little google search and found that it is simply sugar water.  (All the bird sites say to not use any coloring, as it may harm birds, and isn't needed to attract them.)

So to fill your feeder, boil 2 cups water and then whisk in 1/2 cup sugar until dissolved.  Let cool, and then fill up your feeder.  We have had a huge gathering of hummingbirds since we did this last week.  (Unfortunately, the quickest way to make them disappear is to grab a camera.)

Meal Planning

Here's my new meal-planning process...
1. Print blank monthly calendar off the internet
2. Sit down with cookbooks, internet etc. and plan meals for 2-4 weeks.
3. Each week before major shopping trip, sit down with menu and recipes again, making the shopping list.
4. Check off each meal in the corner of the box so you know which meals you have ingredients for (if you want to swap around later in the week)
5. Know that every night dinner is already planned and shopped for!
This has been helping me a ton, especially planning around the days I work vs. the days I'm home. And I never have that 5 pm panic of what's for dinner!?!?

Recipe for homemade laundry soap

I know this is supposed to be a site for food recipes, but I just tried making this homemade laundry detergent tonight and it turned out really well. Here's the quick reicpe. For further details on the process plus lots more pictures, check out:

http://partyintukwila.blogspot.com/2009/02/homemade-laundry-detergent.html

1. Using a food processor, grate 1 bar ivory soap

2. Add 1 cup borax and 1 cup washing soda

3. mix together in food processor.

4. Use 2 tablespoons detergent for a large load of laundry

Half the price of discount detergent!