This has been a tough year for all of us. I think it’s been pretty clear on theNotice that I’m no exception: from bummed-out quarantine selfies to a bi-monthly posting schedule (can you believe that I used to put up 40 posts a month? Bonkers!), it’s been a big shift. So, it feels appropriate do something different for my last post of the year this year. Instead of a wrap-up of my favourite products and posts, here are some of my favourite energy-saving hacks of 2020.
Whether you’re a fellow spoonie or not, it’s always nice to have a little bit more time and energy. The focus of my favourite tips this year is time. What’s the easiest, fastest way that I can get things done without causing greater impact to my joints? These methods aren’t the most organic or eco-friendly ways to live, but that’s something I’ve been working on shedding — yes, shedding, not building.
The mere act goes completely against my Chinese heritage, but these “wasteful” lifestyle changes have had a great effect on how much energy I have to actually do something with my day. And, as just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions, I’m kind of over the idea that it’s our ~personal responsibility~ to make our lives harder in order to save the world. I do what I can, and for me, that’s enough.
Energy-saving lifehacks in the kitchen
I have a lot of feelings about two things: pre-cut parchment paper and pre-washed vegetables. Both were things that were absolutely not allowed in my household when I was growing up, but both make cooking way easier.
Pre-cut parchment paper is a godsend for someone (me; it’s me) who truly sucks at tearing paper. I buy mine from Canadian Tire or Superstore, where the Wilton sheets are $2-4 for rolls of 12-24. Just slam one of those babies on a baking tray or cookie sheet and you’re good to go! The pans come out lightly greasy instead of caked in food, so they wash up perfectly in the dishwasher.
Unsplash @louishansel
Pre-cut and pre-washed veggies have a similar effect on my life. They’re ready to go but more expensive, but as someone in their 20s with multiple disabilities, they’re awesome. Having all of the prep done ahead of time takes a good 10 minutes out of my cooking time, and makes it possible for me to get a full meal in the oven or on the stove in under 15 minutes. Plus, they cook from dry, so you often get a crispier result.
Pre-washed spinach is pretty standard, but I also love pre-washed broccolini and cauliflower florets. Pre-washed broccoli is riskier: for some reason, ours always tastes like corn??? It’s super weird.
Finally, bake everything. Just go for it. Baking is so much easier than frying. There’s less cleanup and less stirring, and everything just tastes better. It’s also easier to get a soft result that still tastes delicious, so it’s great for people with TMD, too.
When in doubt, bake everything at 420 for 20 minutes and adjust from there. Blaze it, baby.
My favourite quick, arthritis- and TMD-friendly snacks
Should I have planned this post out in advance and taken some great food photographs for it? Yes. Did I? No. Are you going to get some crappy iPhone snaps instead? Yup.
Here are my favourite TMD-friendly snacks of the moment: slow-baked sliced apples (on parchment paper for 30 minutes at 200 degrees, or left in a warm oven for an hour after you’ve baked something else), vermicelli noodles fried in oil (cook on medium for just a few seconds, then add salt and pepper), and pan-fried, salted mantou slices or naan bread, à la gold and silver mantou.
(Can you see my salty carb pattern yet?)
I’m also really loving canned wine right now, thanks to Georgia Hardstark of My Favourite Murder. It’s not any more or less TMD-friendly than regular Prosecco or champagne, but it is a lot easier to open and carry! The simple effort of popping a cork makes these cans an energy-saving lifehack for me.
Canned wine is still hard to find in Canada, but if you’re in Alberta, you might have luck finding the two I’ve been drinking. My favourite white right now is Babe Pinot Grigio, which is crisp and tart. I’m not crazy about it, but it’s easy to get at a safe distance with Superstore’s delivery option. (Also available at LCBO).
For reds, I love the Scarpetta Frico Lambrusco from Color de Vino. It’s wonderful: it comes in perfectly-sized cans, and is a rich, jewel-toned berry red. This is a Lambrusco with soft, generous bubbles; smooth and sweet with notes of raspberry and pomegranate and a delicious, dry finish.
The best, quick, energy-saving recipes in my arsenal right now
I am a super, super slow at-home chef. For some reason, recipes that should really only take fifteen minutes end up taking me hours. I have no idea what happens in the meantime; I just move a little slower and need to take more breaks, I think.
Here are my favourite mixes of the moment. Toss any of the below together, then bake on a parchment sheet in a pre-heated 420 degree oven for about 20 minutes (minus the pasta, of course.)
15 minute pasta: De Cecco noodles in boiling water, then a quick roux (1 Tbsp flour, 1 Tbsp salted butter) and a cup of broth or milk. Season with salt, pepper, and any mix of garlic powder, onion salt, and parsley. Toss in leftover sausage, chicken, steak, etc. and serve. Try this variant if you have a little extra time and energy, or serve on leftover cauliflower or rinsed NuPasta to save even more time.
Baked chicken or chicken wings: toss with avocado oil, then season with more or less the same spice mix (my favourite spice blend of the year). Some amount of salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, and chipotle.
Or… make baked chicken or salt and pepper wings with this simple blend: avocado oil, some local The Silk Road Old Chicago Steak Spice, and smoked chipotle or paprika powder. Their steak spice rocks. (I’m also really enjoying the line’s Bow River Spice Blend for my scrambled eggs and omelettes!)
Bacon-wrapped broccolini: as described. We get our broccolini from Save-On, and I’ll wrap 2-3 stalks with a single piece of bacon, then blaze.
Fibro-friendly cleaning tips and energy-saving lifehacks
I love Method cleaning sprays: Glass + Surface for a minty scent, All-Purpose around the house, and Heavy Duty Degreaser on the stove.
Consider a Roomba Mop (iRobot Braava Jet) instead of a vacuum if you have a nervous pet — they can’t do rugs, but they’re way quieter.(Links to my review for Best Buy, with a cute little video clip of Fern!)
Cascade Platinum Pods are a great way to get the dishes started without having to lift a big ‘ol jug of soap. We’ve tested a ton of different brands and variants, but find that these ones work the best and almost never leave any food residue or water spots behind. They’re a little pricier but truly work better than the non-Platinum versions, so I buy them when they’re on sale at Costco.
On that note, make sure you’re cleaning and washing your dishwasher filter on a monthly basis!!!! It makes a huge difference!
Tide Free & Gentle Pods in cold water. Toss ‘em in the laundry instead of eating them. They work just as well as the Tide Cold Water formula, and get clothes super clean with less wear and tear on each garment thanks to the cold water. Again, we get ours at Costco.
For greasy kitchen towels, we use our Tide Free & Gentle Pods with a hot water wash, heavy duty cycle, and a heaping portion of baking soda (which makes a world of difference). I don’t measure, but I’d guess I throw in about 20 towels with 1-2 Tide Pods, plus a half-cup of baking soda. My dish rags have literally never been so clean, or so easy to wash.
I leave you now with one of my favourite feasts of the year; the complete opposite of a quick and easy fibro lifehack, but plentiful enough that I want a second chance to brag about it before the year ends.
