Holiday Upcycling Event Pictures

Thanks for everybody who came! We had a great time!

Holiday Upcycling Event - Directions and Recipes

Homemade Detergent Recipe:

Each batch yields approximately 32 ounces (between 32-64 loads based on how many Tbsp used per load).

• 1 bar (or 4.5 ounces) of shaved bar soap (Ivory, ZOTE, Fels-Naptha)
• 1 cup of borax
• 1 cup of washing soda

Thoroughly stir together for 5 minutes and enjoy the results! 
Use 1 Tbsp per load (or 2 Tbsp for heavily soiled loads).


Karen's No Streak Window Cleaner Recipe:-1/2 TEASPOON BLUE LIQ DAWN DETERGENT -A SPRAY BOTTLE FULL OF WATER

Valeri's Winter Fruit Salad

1/4 c white sugar

1/2 c fresh lemon juice

2 t diced onion

1 t Dijon mustard

1/2 t salt

2/3 c vegetable oil

1 T poppy seeds

1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

½ red onion, cut in slivers

4 oz shredded Swiss cheese

1 c roasted pecans

1/4 c dried cranberries

2 apples -- peeled, cored and diced

2 pears --peeled, cored and sliced

In a blender combine sugar, lemon juice, 2 t. onion, mustard and salt. Process until well blended.  With machine still running add oil in a slow, steady stream until mixture is thick and smooth.  Add poppy seeds and process just a few seconds more to mix.

In a large serving bowl, toss together the lettuce, cheese, pecans, cranberries, onions, apples and pears.  Pour dressing over salad just before serving and toss to coat.

Adele's Chicken Tortilla Soup:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut up or shredded

2 cans Rotel (I use one mild and one original) depends on how "hot" you like it!  

    (The one I made for the lunch was 2 milds as I did not know everyones preference!)

2 cans cream of chicken soup

one box (2 envelopes) Lipton noodle soup mix

1/2 chopped onion

1 tsp cumin

5 cups water

Add all ingredients together in pot, stirring occasionally, do not boil, it will thicken as it cooks

Serve topped with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, sour cream, avocado, etc.

Freezes great!!!

Allyson's Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

2 cups flour

½ cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter (cold)

2 T sugar

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

¼ cup orange juice

1 pkg. cream cheese (softened)

 ½ cup sugar

1 T flour

 2 eggs (slightly beaten)

1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 350°.  Line 9x13 baking pan with foil, extending over the edges. 

For the crust, in a large bowl, using a pastry blender or knives, combine the 2 cups flour, powdered sugar and butter until well mixed.  The mixture will be crumbly, but press evenly into the bottom of the pan.  Bake for 20 minutes.

In a small saucepan, combine the 2 T sugar, cornstarch, blueberries and orange juice.  Cook on medium-low until thick and bubbly, stirring frequently.

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, ½ cup sugar, and 1 T flour until smooth.  Add the eggs and vanilla.  Pour over the hot crust.  Put the blueberry mixture in “blobs” over the cream cheese mixture.  Using a knife or toothpick, swirl the blueberry mixture through the cream cheese mixture.  Bake an additional 20 minutes or until center is set.

Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.  Chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

Upcycling Ideas

 

I could not figure out how to download instructions on some of these things, so if you want instructions beyond what you see here on the blog, send me an email (mmedcalf@utah.gov) and I will send the instructions to you be email.

How to make Plastic bag crafts - Instructions on this link:

http://www.plasticbagcrafts.com/

E-Team Undercover Strike Again

E-Team strikes again! This time we discovered Taylor Bradley from Corporations recycling an ink cartridge. Way to Go Taylor and Congrats for your win! 

Keep recycling! You might be the next winner.

E-Team Goes Undercover

It pays off to recycle in the office. We are randomly rewarding some Commerce employees who we catch recycling.

Our first lucky winner is Thad Levar from Administration. Congratulations Thad and thanks for recycling!

Please recycle- you could be the next winner! 

Great flashmob recycling video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYnd5JRu86E

 

Mia & the awesome E-Team

Winners!

We have winners for our recycling themed contest! Everybody who submitted their word search puzzle won a prize. Thanks for participating.

Here are Amy, Tyler, and Sheila showing off their winnings.

Recycling Reminder

I want to remind everybody about what we can recycle here in Commerce. Each Division should have a paper recycling bin. In addition, there are boxes/bins marked for plastics and cans. The smaller bins are for your convenience and everybody is invited to take part in emptying the bins into the bigger containers that are then collected by Columbus Shredding.

Locations for the blue containers for plastics recycling:

-DOPL break room (4^th floor)

-Next to 4^th floor vending machines

- Corporations (2^nd floor)

-Lunch room (2^nd floor)

**Please remove and save coke product lids for the charity program (My Coke Rewards)

Large bins for can recycling:

-Next to 4^th floor vending machines

-2^nd floor kitchen area by the service elevator

-Corporations (2^nd floor)

**Please remove and save tabs for Ronald McDonald House

Cardboard Recycling bins:

-Corporations (2^nd floor)

-DOPL (4^th floor)

-DPU (4^th floor)

There is also a smaller Gray container in Administration for batteries, small electronics, and powerstrips.

Please ask Mia Larson or Masuda Medcalf if you have any questions.

If your Division’s “recycling center” needs new signs, please feel free to use the attached posters and hang them near your bins.

Don’t forget to check out the E-Team blog for some fun videos about recycling:

http://utahcommerce.blogspot.com/2012/08/recycling.html

It is also time for another CONTEST! And you don’t have to be an Olympic qualifier to be able to participate. For a chance to win some cool prizes you can either send me a list of the words you find in the attached word search puzzle or bring me your puzzle and you will be entered into a drawing! We will have the drawing on August 20^th.  Also, please feel free to share your ideas of how to make our recycling program better.

Thanks for all of your help making our office GREEN!

Mia & the Commerce E-Team

Recycling

Thank you for your support of our recycling program!

Do you ever wonder what happens to your recyclables after they are picked up?

Recycling Aluminum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOpGhAdQFEY

Recycling Plastic Bottles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL_qH1ra7J0

Recycling Plastic Bags

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6hzhKmw4EY