Oct

29

BPA Free Thanksgiving?

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Food Safety | 14 Comments

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    pie(Re-posted from a while ago but a good one to revisit!) Since all this started I’ve been trying desperately to come up with alternatives to the old family favorites that require a can of this or that.  So here’s a few solutions I’ve come up with that replace those cans that plague our meals with BPA.  No one wants hormone disruption with their dinner do they? (Yes I’m being cheeky.)

    Cream of Mushroom Soup

    Many recipes during the holidays require cream of mushroom soup.  Finding it not in a can has proven to be next to impossible. Thanks to the magic of Twitter I’ve heard of a few solutions.

    Use Cream of Celery Soup: Swap this in its place… can be found in box form in the natural foods aisle of many grocery stores.

    Make it yourself: A little more time consuming but you could do a large batch and freeze 10 oz. portions for use later.

    Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe

    1 lb. fresh mushrooms
    2 c. onions
    1 1/2 tsp. sugar
    3 tbsp. flour
    1 c. cold water
    15 oz chicken soup
    1 c. all purpose cream
    Salt & pepper to taste
    2 tbsp. butter

    Grate mushrooms and onions. Melt butter and saute onions and sugar until brown. Add mushrooms and saute for 3 minutes. Stir in flour until smooth. Add cold water and stir until blended. Add can of soup and simmer for 15 minutes. Just before serving, stir in cream.

    Or: Make a roux with butter and flour. Add milk and veggie broth to desired thickness then add sauteed mushrooms.

    Pumpkin Pie

    What’s Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie?? But what about those pesky convenient cans of perfectly spiced pumpkin? I’ll be the first to admit that going the DIY route sounds unappealing with as much preparation Thanksgiving dinner requires.  But if you’re ambitious then here’s a DIY idea for you I found on the Mother Nature Network:

    Do It Yourself:  Buy a little, tender, organic sugar pumpkin at the farmers market, cut it in eighths, scrape out seeds, and steam or boil it. Cool, remove skin, and blend until smooth like a puree. Should result in roughly 15 oz. or so you’ll need to fill a deep dish pie recipe.

    Edit to Add: A reader commented about this method and since she’s done it before she had some better tips on cooking pumpkin:

    They are still very watery squash and will make a bland, soggy pie if used in the way you describe. Instead, what you should do is cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out seeds, roast it face down on a cookie sheet (about 1 hour at 375 should do it) and then once it’s cool peel the skin off. Now you still need to get rid of the excess water. Wrap the pumpkin flesh in cheesecloth and squeeze the heck out of it repeatedly until it is about 1/4 the original volume. Finally, puree the condensed flesh until smooth. Because so much of the pumpkin is water I would actually recommend using 2 sugar pumpkins to get the 15oz usually called for in pumpkin pie recipes.

    As the article says, many pie recipes call for a can of condensed milk, which you can substitute heavy cream (or soy milk for vegans).  Great tip!  The article also has a great egg-free, soy recipe.

    Make Sweet Potato Pie Instead: I’ll admit I didn’t grow up eating sweet potato pie. But it is a great alternative to pumpkin and doesn’t require the can of pumpkin to make. You can cut up and steam sweet potatoes and blend until smooth to get the puree you need.  No can required. It’s just as festive and delicious as a pumpkin pie.  Here’s a delectable recipe from Alton Brown (I love him!) on the Food Network:

    Sweet Potato Pie

    • 1 pound 3 ounces sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
    • 1 1/4 cups plain yogurt
    • 3/4 cup packed, dark brown sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
    • 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
    • 5 egg yolks
    • Salt
    • 1 (9-inch) deep dish, frozen pie shell
    • 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

    Directions: Put cubed potatoes into steamer basket and place steamer basket into a large pot of simmering water that is no closer than 2 inches from the bottom of basket. Allow to steam for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender. Mash with potato masher and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place sweet potatoes in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment. Add yogurt, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, yolks, and salt, to taste, and beat until well combined. Pour this batter into the pie shell and place onto a sheet pan. Sprinkle pecans on top and drizzle with maple syrup. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until the custard reaches 165 to 180 degrees. Remove from oven and cool. Keep refrigerated after cooling.

    Green Bean Casserole

    Ok… I didn’t grow up with this dish at my family table.  I never even heard of it until I moved to Philadelphia.  I also think it’s a vile vile food.  But my husband and family love it and think of it as a staple on Thanksgiving day. Problem is it requires not only a can of cream of mushroom soup (se above for alternatives) but it alse requires canned green beans.  Solution?  Buy bags of frozen, cut green beans instead.

    Cranberry Sauce

    You are either one of two kinds of people.  You’re the homemade cranberry kind of people, like me.  Or you’re the gelatinous can of cranberry kind who is ok with a round disc of cranberry on your plate.  Which is who I was until I tasted my grandmothers homemade cranberry sauce and I converted.  Some people can’t have Turkey day without their green bean casserole and can of cranberry.  But if you are the adventurous type and want to eliminate the need for the can of BPA cranberry here is the recipe I use every year.  Trust me its easy and delicious:

    Nana SafeMama’s Cranberry Sauce

    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1/2 cup water
    • 1/2 cup orange juice (and zest)
    • 1 package of cranberries  (looked over and washed)

    Directions: In a large saucepan, mix water, orange juice & sugar.  Stir until dissolved over medium heat.  Dump in cranberries and zest an orange into the pan.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and then boil gently, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and pour into a glass bowl.  Let cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate.  Best made the day before (says Grandma… and its actually true, plus its one less thing to do on Turkey Day).

    Need some original recipe ideas? Check out my friend at the Craving Chronicles who has some beautiful cranberry and pumpkin treats listed for Thanksgiving.  You can apply the ideas here to any of her recipes.  I really want those Orange Cranberry Rosemary  muffins!

    Have any BPA free holiday tips of your own? Share them in the comments!

    Oct

    21

    Green Toys Pizza Parlor

    Filed Under Product Reviews, Toy Safety | 1 Comment

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      I’m not going to even mention the H word around here until after Halloween (the other H word… the one I’m talking about rhymes with Shmolidaze).  But I am going to start posting some reviews of toys that will most likely appear on my Safer Toy Guide for this year.  I always include something from Green Toys for a few reasons.  Their toys are great.  They are made well.  They are cute, and my kids always like them. They are also a great company… made in the USA and of safe recycled materials.

      So when my mother came for a visit and brought the Green Toys Pizza Parlor set for my kids as a gift I was thrilled.  The set comes with enough pieces to make a pie with 4 slices.  Your kids can customize the pie any way they like with sauce, cheese, onions, peppers, pepperoni and tomatoes.  The set also comes with a little pizza box for delivery, a pizza cutter, and an order pad so your kids can take your order like a real pizza shop.  We spent a good 2 hours playing “pizza store” as my son likes to call it and combined with the Sandwich Shop pieces, he had a full fledged restaurant going on with reservations and a hostess (that was me).  We had a blast! They’re revisited these toys several times and they still have fun with them.  I found a tomato slice wedged under the couch and I wish it came with a more solid “case” or keep all the pieces in.  But the things I like about this toy and other Green Toys outweigh that factor.

      All the pieces are sturdy, like all the Green Toys products.  They can also be used in the tub when they get tired of the pizza game. Every toy is more interesting when you move it to the tub!   All Green Toys products are free of BPA, Phthalates and phthalates and are made from recycled milk jugs.  This set would make an awesome gift for a boy or a girl!  I think the Sandwich Shop set is equally as cute (we have that one too!)  Watch for these toys to appear on my 2012 Safer Toy Guide coming after Halloween.

      Where to buy: You can purchase the Green Toys Pizza Parlor set and other Green Toys at Abe’s Market or other online retailers.

      Sponsored by Abe’s Market

      Oct

      17

      New Cheat Sheet – Baby Wipes

      Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets! | Comments Off

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        Normally I’d just publish a post for a cheat sheet but I’m trying to convert them all to actual pages so that the url’s are tidy and you can find them easier from one central location, which is the Cheat Sheet Shop.  From there you can find all my cheat sheets and when they get updated they will update on the same page so if you bookmark a list it will always be current.

        The one that most badly needed updating was the Baby Wipes Cheat Sheet, which I haven’t visited in a couple years. New brands came out, some brands reformulated and some discontinued so it was high time to check it out.  I also decided to streamline it and not even bother listing the brands I know are full of junk you all try to avoid.  It’s a waste of time for me and you.  So I focused on the more “natural” or “green” brands so you can compare your options side by side. (Or vertically, whatever.)

        This list features the most recent formulas, a Skin Deep rating, my notes  on the ingredients list and the performance if I’ve tried them.  I also included a basic price and a link to purchase them (if I approve).  The list also features alternatives to disposable wipes and some DIY tips from me and other sites that have great ideas.

        You can find the most up-to-date Safer Baby Wipes Cheat Sheet here, and you can look through my other cheat sheets on the Cheat Sheet Shop.  Enjoy!

        Oct

        9

        Laundry Done Naturally With Soapnuts

        Filed Under cleaning products, Healthy Home | 10 Comments

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          I was just discussing the implications of Tide with a reader recently.  She asked me “Is it really that bad?”. I’ll be the first to admit that my laundry detergent was one of those things you had to pry out of my hands (and then I cried a little at the thought of dingy clothing).  There are safer alternatives to use on laundry that are better for both you and the environment.  We could all live without the habitual exposure to fragrance phthalates and chemicals.  (Do it for the fish, man.) In fact I even have a cheat sheet with an entire list of options.  Some work better than others and some are safer than others when it comes to ingredients.

          But one product will forever stand out as the most natural option out there and tons of people swear by it’s effectiveness. That product is Soapnuts.  If you are not familiar with these little gems, they are Sapindus Mukorossi shells which contain sapindus – a natural surfactant.  Surfactants are what product makers use to make a product create “suds”.  This surfactant is inherent in the Sapindus Mukorossi seed shell. They are hypoallergenic, biodegradable, antimicrobial, cruelty-free and ideal for HE washers. Soapnuts clean just as good as a commercial chemical detergent. 1 lb is enough for more than 160 loads of laundry as you can reuse each Soapnut up to 5 times..  You can reuse each nut up to 5 times.  To use them all you do it put 5 Soapnuts in a little cloth washer baggie and toss it in with your clothes. That’s it.  Lay them out to dry after and reuse.   You can put them in your compost pile when you’re done. So cool.

          Some people might this this is a crazy way to wash your clothes but it’s really cool and your clothes stay clean and don’t smell like an over-fragranced flower field. (I can no longer stand the smell of regular laundry detergent.)

          Where can I get these wonderful things? You can buy Soapnuts in Abe’s Market (160 loads of laundry) or you can get a smaller 1/2 pound bag of Soapnuts (80 loads).

          Sponsored by Abe’s Market, one of my new favorite places to shop for natural products.

          Oct

          8

          Eco-Friendly Patagonia Shoes from OnlineShoes.com (Giveaway!)

          Filed Under Eco-Mama, Giveaways Coupons, Healthy Home | 199 Comments

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            Finding eco-friendly fashion can be somewhat of a challenge, especially if you don’t want your wardrobe to look eco-friendly. So when I was introduced to Patagonia Shoe Company, I was really impressed with the quality of their shoes.  I have one lone pair of eco-friendly sneakers I bought 2 years ago that I love, but a girl has to have options!

            Patagonia Shoes makes comfy functional footwear and uses recycled materials when they can, as well as working to reduce their environmental footprint.  They accept all clothing and shoes back through their Common Threads Initiative program that either recycles or repruposes the materials.  You simply ship your items back to the company.  They even encourage customers to buy or sell their shoes second hand to extend the life of the product.  What company does that? One that actually cares, I think.

            Right now, in conjunction with OnlineShoes.com, Patagonia is donating $10 to Healthy Child Healthy World (an organization dedicated to creating a less toxic world) for every pair of shoes sold from now until October 17, 2011.  So what’s a girl to do? Buy shoes of course. It’s for a good cause…. RIGHT?    I am currently sporting a super cute pair of short boots for fall – The Patagonia Addie Ruffle Boot in Peat Moss.  They’re constructed of 70% natural hevea latex in the sole and heal and 70% recycled polyurethane footbed.  They are stitched from the outside to reduce the need for solvents and adhesives. They are comfy and look adorable with jeans.  (That’s the most important part, right?).

            How About a Pair Of Patagonia Shoes for You?

            OnlineShoes.com is giving one of my lucky readers their very own pair of Patagonia Shoes, along with a copy of the Healthy Child Healthy World Healthy Home Book.

            Here’s How To Enter (Required):

            Visit OnlineShoes.com and tell me in the comments which pair of Patagonia Shoes you like! (I think the trail shoes are awesome too – love!)

            For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

            • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
            • Fan/Like  Online Shoes on Facebook (first name, last initial)
            • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
            • Follow @OnlineShoes_com on Twitter (Twitter name)
            • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
            • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
            • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Enter to #WIN Patagonia Shoes from @OnlineShoes_com on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 10/17 http://tinyurl.com/5shhe33

            One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until October 17, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!

            Congratulations to commenter #51 Lisa!

            Oct

            7

            Green Halloween Tricks and Treats

            Filed Under Healthy Holidays | 3 Comments

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              I know Halloween is synonymous with candy, candy and more candy.  And sugar. It’s just the nature of the beast.  I deal with it and get over it. But if you’re looking to make your spooky holiday a little less traumatic for your green side, there are treat options that cater to those of us who want to stick to something more organic and natural… even if it is just for once a year.  It’s not easy to find this stuff, and most of the time, not cheap.  But I know some of you are looking for options so here’s my picks:

              Divine Chocolate 70% Dark Chocolate Fair Trade Bites – These are as good as it gets with non GMO soy emulsifiers, real vanilla, and fair trade ingredients from Kuapa Kokoo, a cooperative of small farmers in Ghana. (I swear I’m not being sarcastic, that’s what the description says!) These individually wrapped chocolates are the perfect size for treat bags, parties or just for yourself when you need a chocolate fix. They are $14.99 per half a pound bag (about 50), not cheap like the high fructose corn syrup stuff at Walmart but if this is your thing, this is the way to go.  For an organic version they also carry these Equal Exchange 55% Dark Chocolate Bites  which are Organic & Fair-Trade and they cost a tiny bit less at $13.49 per 1/2 pound bag.

              Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops in Bulk - This is usually what I use… its a little more affordable, more natural and every kid likes lollipops regardless of their organic status.  $12 gets you 2 pounds of these and that yields quite a few lollipops.  I use leftovers for trips to the bank (so I don’t feel bad turning down the nice lady behind the drive through window) or for airplane travel (keeps them busy). I usually have enough leftover for the Valentine’s Day celebrations that come later on.  Yummy Earth also makes hard candy which you can buy in bulk amounts as well.  Surf Sweets used to make lollipops that I actually liked better but I can never find them anymore.  Surf Sweets does have individual bagged candy that includes gummy worms which would be fun too.

              Glee Gum Minis – These tony boxes of natural gum are so cute! No high fructose corn syrup or dyes.  It’s still a sugary treat but better ingredients overall.  Each little box contains 4 pieces of gum and they come in a variety of fun flavors: Bubblegum, Tangerine and Triple Berry. You can get a bag of 21 boxes for about $6.  These are also great for birthday party goodie bags and Valentine’s day. Glee Gum is: Vegetarian, Additive Free, Lactose Free, Dairy Free, Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Casein Free, Egg Free, Yeast Free, Nut Free, Soy Free, and Peanut Free.  I think that covers all the bases.

              Endangered Species Milk Chocolate Halloween Treats - Individually wrapped squares of milk chocolate .  $6.99 gives you a bag of 24 pieces of 48% cocoa containing deliciousness. These treats are certified gluten-free and kosher and the company boasts ethical trading practices.  They are the perfect size for trick or treater bags and should be enough for all your visitors.  I don’t think this costs much more than what you would spend at Target buying their bulk candy this time of year.

              What If I Don’t Want to Give Out Candy?

              That’s totally reasonable (just hope no one eggs your house … kidding… sort of). My son has been just as happy receiving Halloween pencils, erasers, little notebooks, bouncey balls, etc.  None of those are particularly earth friendly but it won’t rot their teeth.  (Unless you opt for eco-friendly pencils!)

              Don’t forget to try out some safer face paints for your kids costumes this year too.

              What are your ideas for a safer, greener Halloween?

              Oct

              5

              Takeya Glass Water Bottles: My New BFF

              Filed Under Healthy Home, Product Reviews | 1 Comment

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                I am always on a quest to find the best reusable containers for just about everything.  One thing I refuse to do is buy bottled water.  It’s wasteful and unnecessary and I just can’t bring myself to spend money on a case of plastic bottles. It pains me.  So I rely primarily on my reusable water bottles to get me through work outs, work, and whatever else I’m doing.  I try to keep a bottle of water near me at all times.  After using a couple different ones I really fell in love with using glass.  But it wasn’t always the most convenient (especially at the gym.. have you tried using a wide mouth bottle while working out? It’s not fun.).

                I saw on the MightyNest Facebook page not long ago they were introducing the Takeya glass water bottle and I had to try it. It was imperative because it looked so cool.  MightyNest sent me one to test out.  I was head over heels immediately.  Here is what I love about it:

                The smaller opening makes this much easier to use at the gym.  I really like my Life Factory glass bottle too since you can fit lots of ice in the wide mouth opening.  But it makes it hard to use on the go.  I spill on myself pretty frequently if I’m not sitting down at my desk.  With the Takeya, it’s a better size so I don’t spill half the container down my shirt.  The opening is just large enough so that I can put ice in it too.  I have an ice maker that makes those moon shaped ice wedges which fit in nicely.  I don’t know if big cubes would fit but you could certainly try shoving them in there.

                The silicone sleeve is a really nice feature.  It prevents slipping and breaking and provides some mild insulation. It comes with a carrying loop and a screw on cap which keeps this puppy leakproof.  I’ve had it banging around in my gym bag with no problems with leaks.

                It looks cool!  I loved the look of this bottle from the start and since I seem to be on a purple/plum color kick right now the purple Takeya fits right into my color scheme. (That’s so superficial but it matters, right?) The Lime green and Blue are pretty snazzy too.  I won’t be getting rid of my other water bottles, they still get used.  But this one is my little companion for now. It’s just too cute!

                I probably don’t need to say it but glass is really one of the best materials for storing liquids.  It doesn’t leach any harmful chemicals into your water and is safe to toss in the dishwasher (though I haven’t had to.  I just hand wash it and refill). The other materials are all BPA and PVC free too.

                Get One: You can purchase a Takeya glass water bottle from MightyNest.com… they have other glass water bottles too in their selection.  Use “Safe10″ for 10% off your purchase.

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