Year: 2020

Christmas Gift Guide

On the hunt for eco-friendly Christmas presents? Get comfy, put your feet up and window shop from home this year with our gift guide full of wonderful gifts for everyone.

Thank You gifts

For the Little Ones

For the Beauties

For 'Chat over a Cuppa' types

For those that like to get out and about

For a Greener Home

Just a few ideas to get you inspired!!

Much more available in-store and online.

Find it at your local store here


Iced Tea

Iced Tea is simple to make and makes a refreshing, lower sugar beverage option for warmer days.

3 cups of water with 3 teaspoons of loose jasmine green tea and 1 teaspoon of peppermint tea (both from WP) brewed in a pot then strained into a jug with 1 cup sugar (adjust to taste), 5 cups cold water and 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice. Serve over ice and garnish with mint leaves and lemon wedges.


Shortbread Biscuits with flowers

These are perfect for a high tea or even just a cute little snack!

Ingredients

– 250g butter, softened

– 1/2 cup of caster sugar

– 3 cups of plain flour

– 1 tbs of dried flowers, we have used lavender & rose petals

Method

1. Place butter and sugar into a bowl of an electric mixer. Mix on a medium speedier 5-7 mins or until it is light and creamy

2. Reduce the speed of the mixer and gradually add flour 1/2 a cup at a time. After the flour is all added mix for 30 seconds or until the mix looks like a dough.

3. Spoon the mixture onto a lightly floured bench and roll to form a ball

4. Roll the dough until it is ~5mm thick and cut into the desired shape with a cookie cutter. Put the shortbread on a lined baking tray. Sprinkle on dried flowers and lightly press them into the dough.

5. Bake for 10-12 mins @160C or until lightly golden

Happy baking 😊


Overnight oats recipe

Ingredients

– 1/2 cup of rolled oats

– 1 tbs chia seeds

– 1 tbsp maple syrup

– 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

– 1/4 cup of yoghurt

– 1/2 cup of milk ( I used almond milk)

* I also added 1 tbs of choc hazelnut butter

Method

– Combine all the ingredients and stir until combined

– Leave in the fridge overnight

– Top with extra yoghurt, strawberries, choc bits and nuts 😍


Cinnamon Lip Scrub Recipe

Lip scrubs have become an essential part of skincare routines, gaining popularity for their ability to effectively remove flakes and old dead skin cells from the lips. By incorporating a lip scrub into your routine, you can improve the texture and appearance of your lips, making them smoother and more radiant.

Properly exfoliating your lips is crucial as it allows the moisture from lip balms to deeply penetrate the skin instead of just sitting on top of a flaky surface. This means that by exfoliating first, you can maximize the hydration benefits of your lip balm.

Regularly using a lip scrub can also help prevent chapped lips and keep them soft and supple. It can remove any buildup of dry skin, allowing your lips to better absorb the nourishing ingredients in lip products.

Furthermore, exfoliating your lips can promote better lipstick application. By removing dead skin cells and creating a smoother surface, lipsticks can glide on more evenly and last longer. This can enhance the overall look of your makeup and give you a more polished appearance.

Incorporating a lip scrub into your skincare routine is simple and can be done once or twice a week. Gently massage the scrub onto your lips using circular motions, then rinse off with warm water. Follow up with a moisturizing lip balm to lock in the hydration and keep your lips smooth and healthy.

By regularly exfoliating your lips, you can enjoy the benefits of improved texture, enhanced hydration, and better lipstick application. So why not add a lip scrub to your skincare arsenal and give your lips the pampering they deserve?

 

Ingredients

2 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tbsp of honey ( or you can use aloe vera)

1 tbsp olive or coconut oil

4 tbsp brown or raw sugar

 

Method

Mix all the ingredients until they form a grainy paste. You can make the scrub courser or softer depending on the liquid-to-sugar ratio, to suit your needs. Store in an airtight container.


Chickpea Omelette recipe

✅Vegan ✅Gluten-Free ✅Nut-free ✅Soy-free

Ingredients

– 1 tbs (7g) ground flax seeds

– 3 tbs (45ml) water

– 1/2 cup (45g) chickpea flour (besan flour)

– 1/2 cup (120ml) unsweetened plant-based milk

– 1 tbs (10g) nutritional yeast

– 1/4 tsp onion powder

– 1/4 tsp garlic powder

– 1/4 tsp salt

– 1/8 tsp black pepper

– 1 tbs (15ml) olive oil

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together the ground flax seeds and water, set aside to thicken up.

2. When the flaxseed has thickened (about 5 mins) add to a bowl with the chickpea flour, milk, nutritional yeast, onion and garlic powder, salt and pepper, mix until combined.

3. Heat up a large pan over medium heat, add olive oil, and when hot add about two tablespoons of the omelette mixture to create a small, thick omelette. When the omelette bubbles on the top flip and then cook until golden. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.

4. Serve with your favourite breakfast toppings or sides. I have used mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, garnished with parsley.

ENJOY😋


Dark chocolate almond bar

Ingredients

– 2 1/2 cups of dry roasted almonds

– 300g dark chocolate buttons

– A pinch of salt

Method

– Put the chocolate buttons in a heatproof bowl (glass) over a small pot of boiling water. Once the chocolate has melted, add in the almonds and stir until completely covered.

– line a baking tray with baking paper (reusable of course 😉 ). Spoon the chocolate and nut mixture into the tray and smooth out until it is an even thickness.

– Let it cool at room temperature or in the refrigerator until the chocolate has set. Sprinkle with salt and serve!

So delicious and easy! Great for gifts or just a cheeky snack for yourself.


Vanilla Chai Protein smoothie

If you are looking for a delicious, healthy treat after your workout you have to try this one!

Ingredients 

– 1 1/2 cups of almond milk

– 1 large frozen banana 

– 1 tbs protein powder ( I used our whey protein powder)

– 1-2 tbs chai tea powder or loose leaf tea

– 1/4 tsp vanilla extract 

– Ground cinnamon 

– Chopped banana 

Method 

1. Heat up 1/4 cup of almond milk either in the microwave or on their stove, heat until steaming. Mix in the chai powder or the loose leaves in a tea strainer until combined/ remove the tea strainer

2. Combine chai tea milk, remaining milk, banana, protein powder, and vanilla extract into a blender

3. Blend until smooth and top with fresh banana and cinnamon 

Enjoy 🙂


Gluten-Free sponge cake recipe!!

This recipe is super easy, delicious and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

500g gluten-free sponge cake mix

225ml of water

2 eggs

Method

Add the sponge mix to the liquid ingredients in a bowl. Mix for 1 minute on low speed using a whisk. Mix for a further 5 minutes on high speed. Pour mixture into a cake tin and bake at 190C until cooked all the way through. I baked the cake in 2 round tins for 20 mins @ 190C and topped with whipped cream and fruit.

TIP Add cocoa to the mix to make it a chocolate sponge!


Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips & Tricks

eco friendly cleaning products for the laundry

Using eco-friendly cleaning products isn’t the only way to be sustainable!

Great ways to lighten your load…

👚 Firstly, buy clothes made with natural fibres so that microplastics don’t end up in our oceans.

👖 Wash clothes less often (not your socks and jocks though!) I love anything that tells me to do less laundry 😆

🌿 Use eco-friendly cleaning products (like the ones we stock at Wasteless Pantry). If you refill your containers you get bonus eco points!

☀️ Opt for a clothesline for solar and wind-powered drying.

These tips will help you save money, get more wear out of your clothes, reduce your carbon footprint, and reduce microplastics in our oceans. Therefore, you’re winning! 

Okay, so let’s circle back to those eco-friendly cleaning products.

Not everything that has organic, eco, environmental, or natural on the label is actually friendly to the planet. Do a little research and reading to find the best options you have available to you. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just the best you can access.

The zero-waste laundry options we have at WP include:

​Refillable laundry liquids (top loader, front loader and wool wash/delicates options) – add 30ml to your wash for regular loads

Fabric softener – put 13 to 25 ml in your wash

Laundry powder and presoaker – 25g is used as laundry powder and a bit more (100g) as a stain remover/presoaker

Stain remover bars – the great all-rounder for rubbing on stains or for handwashing, especially when traveling, always apply to wet cloth

Organic Castile liquid soap – add 30-60 ml to your wash

These have all been locally made in WA, and are palm oil free, vegan, and greywater safe.

Soap nuts – add 4-6 half shells in a little bag or old sock to your wash (replace every 3-6 washes depending on how hard your water is and how heavily soiled your washing was to start with)

Once everything is clean, pop it out to dry on a clothesline or airer using wire pegs or bamboo pegs that will last for years!

Feel like you have the eco friendly laundry and cleaning sorted? How about checking out how to create a waste free bathroom next…