Tin Can Speakers

Have you ever wished you had a set of speakers that were a bit louder than what you're used to, but also cool and handmade?  Well, tin can speakers are amazing and they are so easy to make too.  Here's how it's done:

Starting with two similar tins of the same style and size, you want to cut a small hole in the back of the tin.  A hole small enough to be covered later, but large enough to fit a wire through it.  I used a hammer and a nail and beat the nail through the metal from the inside out.

Take apart headphones (make sure they aren't ear buds).  I went to local shops and yard sales till I found the right ones.  You then want to dismantle them completely and set the pieces aside.  Be sure and save the foam padding too.

Line up your speakers on the back of two playing cards.  Trace the outline of the speaker with a pencil or marker and poke a few holes into the playing card where the speaker will be laying against the back of the card.

Glue the speakers to the back of the playing card where the holes match the sound output on the speakers, similar to the image above.  I used super glue just around the very edge of the speakers and allowed it to dry completely.

Once you glue is dry, thread the wire through the back of the tin where you made the hole.  If you have to you can make the hole a bit bigger to fit the equipment through completely then cover with electrical tape once everything is put back together.  

Place the foam padding into the tin first then follow with your speaker cards.  You may have to cut the card a bit on the edges to fit into the tin properly without looking too messy.  You may also need to add a bit of electrical tape around the hole of the tin in the back so it won't damage the cord as you use it.  

Once you tin speakers are all put together, you can plug them into your iPod, phone, or even your radio at home.  We like to take our camping with us and allow everyone around the hear the groovy tunes it lets out. Remember, you can use just about any tin you want from an Altoids container to a cookie tin too!

Eco-Tip:  Repurposing a candy tin into speakers is a great way to keep waste out of landfills, but you can also repurpose them into other things like, a sewing kit, tackle box, a little tin wallet, or even a first aid kit.  The possibilities are really endless with these little tins.  For more tips visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Sassy Water with Mango

There's a lot of blog posts out there right now of every one's version of Sassy Water, so I thought I would bring my own version to the table and add it to the many others being posted.  What you'll need is, coconut water, all natural lemonade, ginger tea, fresh lemons, and fresh mango.

Start with all natural lemonade.  I like to use Newman's Own because of the quality taste.  You want a ratio of equal parts coconut water to equal parts lemonade.

Add slices of real lemon.

Next add chunks of whole mango straight from the fruit.  You could used canned or frozen mango, but fresh is always best.  Follow that with a tea bag of REAL ginger tea.  You can just place the tea bag straight in the lemonade before adding it to your refrigerator.

Place in the refrigerator overnight and enjoy all day the following day.  Ginger is a nice addition because it helps remove toxins.  Mango and lemon add a bit more flavor to the water combination and coconut water will help keep you hydrated all day.

You can also try this sassy water with a sprig of mint, lavender, or even cucumbers added.

ENJOY!

Eco-Tip:  Harvesting your own rain water is such a great way to conserve water and cut down on your energy use from outside sources.  To learn how to harvest your own rain water visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Grilled Tilapia with Stuffed Tomatoes

Grilled tilapia is one of my favorite cooked fish and I LOVE that it doesn't have a "fishy" smell when it cooks like some other types of fish.  When it comes to summer months, the one thing we love the most is firing up the grill and going at it with just about anything we can throw down on the hot grates.  I love how awesome and quick it is to cook just about everything on it, including pizza.  Pairing up certain side dishes to go with fish is a fun adventure in itself too.  I love stuffed tomatoes the best and it really pairs well with grilled tilapia.

Stuff tomatoes are a great replacement for stuffed green bell peppers.  If you don't care for the taste of green bells or you are allergic to them, like me, this recipe will surely be a taste addition to your dinner plates.

Be sure when you grill the tilapia you add you seasonings while it's cooking.  Add a few slices of lemon while it's cooking to give it that added flavor from the lemons.

For the stuffed tomatoes here's what you'll need:

2 tbs. Worcestershire Sauce

1 tbs. Garlic Powder

1 tbs. Rosemary Leaves

1-8ox. can of Tomato Sauce

1/2 to one full jar (3 oz.) Real Bacon Bits

Also you will need, 2 cups white rice, 1/2 cup brown rice or more brown to white rice if you like and 4-5 whole tomatoes.

Picking ripe tomatoes that are semi-soft are the best.  They will cook a lot better than a tomato that is harder on the inside.

You want to core out your tomato to prepare it for the stuffing.  I like to use a melon baller because it wastes less of the tomato that way.

Cook you rice according to the package directions and then combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl.  

Stuff a generous amount into each tomato.  I used a muffin tin to keep the tomato upright, but a small backing pan would work just as well if the tomatoes were snug against each other.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the tops turn brown. 

While your tomatoes are cooking, prepare your tilapia with a butter glaze of rosemary and lemon pepper seasoning.  Grill on aluminum foil/parchment until the internal temperature is at 145-148 degrees.  

Don't forget to add your lemon slices while it's cooking!

Top the cooked tomato with a few slices of sharp cheddar cheese right out of the oven and allow the heat from the stuffed tomatoes to melt on top.  

Once the cheese has melted, serve with the tilapia.

ENJOY!

Eco-Tip:  Having your own livestock is a great way to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle.  If you aren't sure where to start, start with chickens.  Chickens provide a lot of eggs for a family and can really help you appreciate a better tasting egg, as well.  For more tips visit The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Skylar and the Multicolored Sidewalk

We always have a blast with sidewalk chalk and we always seem for find the most colorful addition to add to the boring, gray, cracked, and otherwise plain sidewalk in front of our house.  This time it was a bit of a different take and it made the sidewalk come to life.

Skylar colored away till the whole sidewalk was covered in all sorts of different colors.

He had so much fun!

Our hands were super chalky.

  

Such a pretty, colorful sidewalk!

We even colored the stepping stones from the house to the driveway.

Such a fun day!

And I think we will leave it there till the rain of Oregon washes it away.

Eco-Tip:  Growing your own Aloe Vera plant is not only great for your family when it comes to burns and scrapes, but also great for the planet too.  It can help clean your in-home air quality and give you long lasting aloe vera instead of using something processed in a factory.  For more tips visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Quick and easy breakfast treat called PAP

This recipe seems a bit odd, but it's been passed down from generation to generation in my family for quite some time now.  It falls under the category of "porridge" and taste great with cinnamon and apples, or even just plain with strawberries.

It's a fast breakfast alternative to oatmeal, cream of wheat, and grits.  It has a flavorful taste and it made with only three ingredients:  Sugar, milk, and flour.

Seems simple enough, right?  It really is and it's a treat for sure.  It reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom would prepare this for us before school.  It's not quite a breakfast you would want to have everyday, but it is a great recipe to add to your breakfast menu and prepare for your kids on a cold, frosty morning this fall before school.  

ENJOY!

Never fail Hors D'oeuvres

These are really simple and very easy to make. If I can make them and they taste good, anyone can!

You will need either, tortilla chips that are shaped like scoops or the like, or make them yourself with flour tortillas. To make them yourself you simply cut the tortilla in the shape of a circle and wrap it around the bottom of a muffin pan and bake in the oven for a few minutes until solid.

To fill them use one of the following tricks:

1. Black Bean and Avocado: 1/2 cup black beans, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 jalapeno, chopped fine, and 1 tsp. olive oil. Mix together and fill the scoops with the filling and sprinkle the top with a little black pepper.

2. Goat Cheese and Corn: 1 medium to small cucumber, 1/2 cup, fresh cut corn kernels and 2 tbs, crumbled goat cheese or the like. Mix together and fill the scoops with the filling and sprinkle the top with a dash of black pepper.

3. Shrimp and Lemon Pepper: 12 peeled and de-veined cooked shrimp, finely diced. You can buy these already packaged or do it yourself. The ones already packaged saves a lot of time. 1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning. Mix together in a small bowl and fill the scoops with the filling. Sprinkle the tops with a bit more lemon pepper and server.

Eco-Tip:  Always eat better than you did the day before.  Try out farmers' markets when you can and don't fall victim to the fade foods that come and go.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are always better than anything in a box.  For more tips visit The Earth and Me Go Green.