Showing posts with label d.i.y.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label d.i.y.. Show all posts

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Terrariums: A How To

What is a Terrarium? A terrarium is a miniature landscape with living plants (and even sometimes small animals like lizards or turtles) like the ones below.



Terrariums are perfect for small apartments and people who perhaps aren't equipped with a green thumb. They are self-sustainable ecosystems that need little care and a whole lot of admiration.

You can create your own in about an hour. All you need are the right materials. Here's a list of essentials. Just to let you know there are different terrariums you can make, so get creative!
  • Glass containers with tops - this can be ANYTHING you have around the house or a great find
  • Gravel, sea glass or beach stones
  • Activated charcoal (found at a nursery or pet supply store)
  • Plants (best to go with ferns, moss, bamboo or you can make a topless terrarium for succulents)
  • Sterile potting mix
  • Moss (optional)
  • Decorative elements (optional)
Depending on what type of plants and container you selected, start with the gravel and charcoal for the first layer, this serves as drainage. Next step is the soil / potting mix, followed by the optional moss and plants. Last step is place decorative elements amongst the plants. There you have it!

Here are some resources for various terrariums:

Martha Stewart on Succulent Terrariums
About.com on Terrariums

Moist Terrariums
Inhabitat on Terrariums

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Ensalada de Nopalitos

image via imelectric

The benefits of cactus (plural is cacti) are far and wide. Cactus, also known as nopales or nopalitos,
contains beta carotene and helps with hangovers (!!!), glucose (anti-diabetic!), metabolic, cardiovascular and digestive disorders. It's an anti-inflammatory and it tastes gooooddd...

Here's an excellent recipe via fabulous foods:

Ingredients: Salad:
1 jar (15 ounces) nopalitos (prickly pear cactus)
2-3 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
1/2 bell pepper (green, yellow or red), diced
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1-2 serrano or jalepeño chiles (or to taste)
1/4 cup crumbled Mexican queso cheese or feta cheese

Dressing:

1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions: Mix all salad ingredients together. Whisk together dressing ingredients and pour over salad, toss well to coat. This salad can be made a few hours ahead of time and refrigerated until needed.