I'm feeling some miscellany coming on.
1. The PDF recipe picture question
Lots (and I do mean lots!) of you weighed in on this, and unfortunately, the opinions are split more evenly than I'd hoped.
I would say, though, that those of you on the "yea" side are more firm about your preference than those on the "nay" side. And there is the fact that you can take a picture out, but you can't add one in.
If I were brilliant at coding, I could probably figure out a handy-dandy way to offer multiple print options. But the fact of the matter is that code is basically Greek to me (only worse, because I do actually know a little bit of Greek).
So, when I offer printable PDFs, I have to make a document in Word, convert it to a PDF, save it, and then upload it here. I could make two PDFs and upload them, but recipe posts are already pretty time-consuming, and adding another task is not that appealing to me.
(though maybe if I'm posting a recipe and I've got some extra time on my hands, I'll upload two PDFs)
All that is to say that I'm thinking I'll keep the picture in, but I'll definitely make it on the small side.
I'll also try to be very mindful of making sure the PDF is one page. I always try to format it that way, but perhaps when I'm converting it to PDF, strange things are happening. I do want it to be one page!
For those of you that are firmly anti-picture, I have two suggestions to hopefully make this work better for you.
- set your printer to black and white/draft mode. The small picture won't take a lot of ink this way.
- copy and paste the text of the recipe into a Word document. That way you'll have the recipe without the picture.
Oh, and for anyone that was confused, please know I am NOT considering leaving pictures out of recipe posts altogether. That would be...sad.
The picture issue we've been discussing is just the one on the printable PDF version of the recipe. The regular posts, they will still be picture-ific.
Mmm-hmm.
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2. Compostable Toothbrushes
I got a few of these WorldCentric toothbrushes in the mail the other day to review.
The toothbrushes come in a reusable plastic case that is actually compostable, and the toothbrush is compostable as well, except for the bristle section (no one has yet figure out how to make decent compostable bristles).
Now, the toothbrush won't compost in a normal home compost bin or pile...it needs the heat of a commercial compost operation in order to break down.
So, people who have access to commercial composting facilities can simply break off the top of the toothbrush (there's a notch to make this easy) and send the toothbrush off with the rest of the compost. For the rest of us, WorldCentric will actually send us a prepaid envelope so that we can send our toothbrushes and cases off to be composted.
These toothbrushes aren't as fancy as the regular sort, but they do get the job done. At first, I thought the bristles were too tough (I have sensitive gums), but after a week or so of use, they've softened up nicely, and they're not bothering my gums at all.
Both the brush and the travel case are really sturdy, and it's kind of hard to believe they're made from plants.
I think these toothbrushes make the most sense if you have local commercial composting services because I'm a little unsure of how wise it is to mail toothbrushes. Shipping requires oil, after all, so if I was going to send mine off, I'd probably wait until I had a small collection to send.
I think the concept behind this type of product is pretty great, though. I like to stick with reusable products whenever possible, but since no one has ever invented a toothbrush that lasts forever, there's definitely a place for compostable toothbrushes.
And hopefully, down the road, composting facilities will be all over the place and these types of products will be practical for everyone.
You can check to see what stores near you carry WorldCentric products and you can also order their products online.
(I got three toothbrushes for review purposes, but I was not otherwise compensated. All opinions are my own, thankyouverymuch.)
3. A Frugal Girl birthday cake
We celebrated my birthday and my brother's with my extended family a few weeks ago, but I never showed you the cake my mom made for me. Check out my logo, in frosting!
My mom's pretty good at this cake-decorating thing.
Unlike me.
Ahem.
She does occasionally have a cake disaster, though. She was making one for my brother as well that day, and it stuck to the pan. We didn't waste it, though. 😉
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Today's 365 post: Because you don't get to pick what comes in a side of beef
Joshua's 365 post: Goblins and Elves (of the paper variety)
That's some serious decorating-fu. And a great way to work with a broken cake.
Happy late Birthday! I love the shape/depth of your cake!
Also, once your family transitions into your summer routine, how about an updated day-in-the-life post? 🙂 I love those!
Hey William - is that like kung fu? Decorating-fu by hand chopping a cake into pieces?!
Kristin - I am so impressed with your desire to satisfy your readers - the latest example being photos/no photos on recipes. You are providing us with a free service and I am grateful. Thank you.
Libby - it's a riff on the word kung-fu. It started with google-fu, describing great skill in finding information online (not just with google) and spread from there. Now it's a geek's way of saying "you're good at this thing!" But you're interpretation is even more applicable for that poor cake.
Thanks for the elucidation, William! So that must mean Kristin is frugal-fu!! I wonder if she can say that 10 times without messing up?!
I love that she was still willing to use the broken cake! I would've been all beside myself and baked another cake. (not that I would've thrown the broken one away, it would've just stayed hidden) I did a cake for my sisters baby shower and had thoughts of this very thing happening...she wouldn't have been graceful about a broken cake. As it was, she still had to have a store bought cake for her shower.
A belated happy birthday to you! I love that your mom did your logo in frosting. Such a cool idea. I'm going to remember that idea for the messed up cake, too. I have some fun cake decorating in my very near future!
Another idea occured to me: cake pops. Not sure how they're made but I know one ingredient is cake crumbs/mushed up cake.
Mom always put parchment paper in the bottom of her cake pans (cut to fit) and it made getting the odd shaped cakes out of the pan so much easier. I think she still greased & floured the cakepan.
Love the broken cake. Ideal for divorces.
Your mom has awesome cake-decorating skills! Even the broken cake looks great. 🙂 Very cool.
Happy belated birthday and thank you for the bottom picture of the cake. I really needed the laugh today.
I have an unrelated question...I have made Kristen's yogurt recipe a couple of times now. I'm wondering if I need to heat the milk as high if I'm using pasteurized milk? Is the purpose of heating the milk initially just if you are using unpasteurized? Thanks for any help!
Nevermind. I just googled it!
Next time you can use the broken cake and make them into cake balls. Perfecto!
I still taste good...love it...
Thanks for the laugh--your mom gets extra-no-food-waste points! And you cake is lovely.
Love your Mom's cake and THANK YOU for the pdf's!
HUGE fan of the second cake C:
I got some of these brushes too and really like them. We have a city wide compost program here but I was still thrilled with the prepaid envelope that was sent.
Reminds me of Flor products.
Maybe you can use the photo of the "broken cake" for your Food Waste Friday posts? A great example of how not to waste food!
In any event, it gave me a laugh. Thanks to your mom for that.
Yay for the broken cake!
Broken/less sightly/somewhat less than perfect cakes always ended up as dessert in our house - dished into a bowl and covered with custard, no-one is the wiser and it is delicious. Now I miss my Gran.
Though I know there are ways to fix/salvage a broken cake that would disguise the fact that it was ever broken, I LOVE your mom's solution. How can you not smile when you see that cake?
Your cakes are beautiful, Frugal Mom!
Or just highlight what you want to print, and check select before you print out the recipe.
Wonder if that toothbrush is made from corn? I have a corn allergy and would hate to brush my teeth with a corn product.
Moe
hee hee hee! The frugalgirl cake is adorable and I LOVE the second one! (Great sense of humour frugalmom!)
Alice.
P.S. I like the recipe PDF's to have photos too!!