Caring for your Bamboo Utensils and Cutting Boards

According to my dad, who is in his 70's, we live in the throw-away society.  Many of the younger members (age 40 and under) of society buy expensive toys on credit, misuse and abuse said toys, and then throw them away just to turn around and repeat the whole process.  Sadly, I think he might be right.  I look around and see people buying things they can't afford and then not even taking care of them properly.  This can apply to expensive things like homes, cars, furniture or technology and less spendy items like small appliances, tools, or clothes.  I'm not sure of the reasons behind this phenomenon, but I am thankful that my mom and dad took the time to instill in me the joy of caring for what I have, be it much or be it little. 

 

All that to say, I want to teach you how to take care of your bamboo utensils and cutting boards so that they last for years and years.  I LOVE my bamboo.  It isn't excessively expensive, but it holds up so well, especially considering how much I use it.  Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial, which is fabulous for the cutting boards that are used for meats. 

 

The first rule of thumb when using bamboo is to NEVER put it in the dishwasher.  The sanitizing hot water is great for your glass ware, but not for bamboo.  The drying cycle is even worse for bamboo and can cause splitting and cracking.  To wash, simply use warm water and mild soap.  Allow to air dry.

 

In addition to hand-washing, it is necessary to oil your bamboo regularly.  When bamboo is brand new it is important to "season" it by conditioning it once per week.  After a month of weekly oilings you should only need to oil them once per month. 

 

I have read several websites suggesting the use of food grade mineral oil. As a rule, I generally don't like mineral oil as it is a petroleum product.  It is also difficult to find and expensive.  I decided to try coconut oil and the results were amazing! 

 

The process was simple:

 

I melted a scoop of coconut oil in a hot water bath. 

  

Using a paper towel moistened with the melted oil I gently rubbed all of my bamboo. 

 

I left everything to absorb and soak in for 24 hours.



 

Lastly, I rinsed everything in luke wark water and allowed it to air dry.  The result?  Naturally conditioned bamboo utensils and cutting boards.  I love knowing that I can use them for years to come and won't have to run out and buy new ones every few months because of cracks.  My dad would be so proud!  Natural, Healthy, Well-Cared For Bamboo!  

 



Homemade Sugar Scrub {Christmas Gift Idea}

Tis the season for making lovely gifts to give away!  I like to get all of my Christmas gifts taken care of in October and November so that in December we can focus on Christ and spend time with family instead of running around like chickens with our heads cut off at the mall.  It requires a little planning, but it is well worth it!  A lovely gift to give at Christmas time (or anytime) is Homemade Sugar Scrub.  I gave this last year and it was a hit with my girlfriends.  It's simple but luxurious and is something most ladies won't spend the money on at the Spa, which makes it a nice gift.

My first recipe came from pinterest and didn't call for olive oil.  However once the coconut oil solidified, the sugar scrub was SOLID!  So, I tried a new batch using half coconut oil and half olive oil.  Problem solved.  The texture is perfect and it does not solidify.

Here is the recipe:

Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

1 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup olive oil
10-15 drops of essential oil (I recommend lavender, vanilla, lemon or peppermint)

 Directions:

 

Slightly melt coconut oil, blend with olive oil add sugar and make paste.  
 

 

Put in mason jar.  Decorate the lid, add a pretty ribbon, and give away :)
**You can half it or double it depending on what size mason jar you use or how many you want to make**

 

 

See, I told ya it was simple!  Natural, Healthy, Beautiful ~ Gift Giving!

From Scratch - Bread

Fall here has brought a winter like chill to the air.  My favorite kind of weather for hot soups and delicious, fresh baked bread.  I started baking my own bread about a year and half ago and haven't turned back.  My husband prefers store bought bread for his sandwiches, but the rest of the family likes homemade.  When my husband made my daughter's lunch he would just use the store bought bread.  I later found out that my daughter had been throwing away her bread and just eating whatever was in the sandwich.  When I asked her why, she responded, "it's just not as good as yours mama."  Now how could I be mad about that?

My recipe comes from the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg MD and Zoe Francois.  It is a fabulous book full of wonderful recipes and very detailed instructions.  I would highly recommend it.

As with most recipes I have changed it to make what I consider the best end product.  I will include the original recipe with my changes to it italics and in blue.  This can also be made into a peasant loaf, but I usually make mine in a bread pan for sandwiches.  So I changed the directions for use of a bread pan.  At the end I will include the instructions for a peasant loaf, which is super yummy with stews and soups.


Light Whole Wheat Bread
 
Ingredients:

3 cups lukewarm water

1 ½ tablespoons granulated yeast
1 tablespoon salt or 1 ½ tablespoons of kosher salt
1 cup whole wheat flour  (2 cups whole wheat PASTRY flour)
5 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (4 1/2 cups unbleached BREAD flour)

Directions:

1.      Mix the yeast and salt with the water in mixer.  Make sure the water is only lukewarm, hot water will kill the yeast.

2.      Mix in the remaining dry ingredients, using the dough hook attachment.

 

3.      Transfer to a large container, that has been lightly greased with olive oil, and has a lid (NOT airtight) and allow to rise for 2 hours.

 

 

 

4.      Split the dough in half, leaving half in the container and put it in the refrigerator for later use (within 5 days).

5.      With the half you are going to bake dust that piece with flour and quickly shape it into a ball by stretching the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four sides, rotating the ball in a quarter-turn as you go.

 

6.      Stretch to an oblong shape that will fit in a bread pan.  Place in lightly greased (with olive oil) ceramic bread pan. Allow to rest for 40 minutes.  If it has been in the refrigerator, it may need up to two hours to rise again.

 

 

7.      Twenty minutes before baking time, preheat the oven to 450°,  Place an empty broiler tray (or an empty muffin tin) on the bottom rack.

8.      After the bread has risen again sprinkle liberally with four and then slash the bread three time or make a tic tac toe slash. 

9.      Place the bread pan in the oven.  Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the broiler tray or muffin pan, and quickly close the oven door.  Bake for about 30 minutes, or until deeply browned and firm.  (If you use the original recipe you may need to lengthen baking time to 40 minutes.)

10. Allow to cool before slicing or eating.

 

 

Changes in directions for a peasant loaf in numbers 6, 7, and 9:

6.      Allow to rest on a cornmeal-covered cutting board for 40 minutes (if it has been in the refrigerator I find that it needs about 2 hours to rise again.)

7.      Twenty minutes before baking time, preheat the oven to 450°, place a baking stone on the middle rack.  Place an empty broiler tray (or an empty muffin tin) on the bottom rack.

9.      Slide the loaf directly onto the hot stone.  Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the broiler tray or muffin pan, and quickly close the oven door.  Bake for about 30 minutes, or until deeply browned and firm.   (If you use the original recipe you may need to lengthen baking time to 40 minutes.)

 

I hope you enjoy this delicious bread as much as we do!  It is really difficult to eat anything other than homemade now :)  Here's to Natural, Healthy and Homemade!

  

Favorite Beauty Products

 

Unfortunately I have not mastered making all of my own beauty products.  I have tried to go "poo" free and ended up with a frizzy, straw like mess on my head.  I tried making my own shampoo and that wasn't much better.  I also tried the oil face wash method which did not work for me.  After some severe break outs, my dermatologist suggested that may not be the way to go.  Instead of making my own of these products I purchase natural alternatives.  What should you look for when purchasing natural products?  Actually, it is what should be missing from the ingredients list that you should be aware of.

 

Parabens - Parabens are used as a preservative in many cosmetic and hygiene products.  On the ingredient list they may show up as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. 

When products containing parabens are used, they absorb into the skin, blood and digestive system.  Research has shown that breast cancer tumors often contain intact parabens.  Parabens are also known to imitate estrogen and can disturb hormone function.  For me, there is enough research available to dissuade the use of products containing parabens. 

 

Propolyne Glycol(PG) - While Propolyne Glycol has not been found to cause cancer it can cause allergic reactions, especially for people with eczema.  Three of our four family members (including myself) have eczema.  I have noticed since replacing our beauty and hygiene products with PG free options we have very few flair ups of eczema.

 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate(SLS) - SLS is often found in products that foam, such as: shampoo, soap, toothpaste etc.  There is varying research on SLS and its effects.  As a harsh chemical detergent it has been found to be a skin irritant.  With sensitive skin issues anyways, we have found it better to steer clear of SLS.  There are much less harsh options on the market.

 

Also, I try to avoid artificial fragrances and dyes if at all possible.

As always, I encourage you to do a little research of your own and see what you learn.

 

With all that information in mind, here are a few of my favorite beauty products.

 

For myself and my hubby, I love Giovanni Shampoo and Conditioner.  My favorite is Tea Tree Triple Treat.  It helps with dry scalp and leaves my hair soft and manageable (which really is a feat).  It is free of SLS, PG and Parabens.  It does have some wonderful natural stuff in it, like: aloe, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, and much more. 

 

For my children we just started using Jason All Natural Shampoo.  It does not contain SLS, PG or Parabens.  It is tear free and has a nice light scent. 

 

I would highly recommend either of these products.



 

 

For skin care I really like Neutrogena Naturals.  Again, they are free from SLS, PG and Parabens.  They are non-comedogenic, meaning they won't clog pores and cause breakouts.  My skin is soft and moisturized without being greasy.  It has all of the natural ingredients listed on the back and what they are used for.  Great product, I hope they don't stop making it anytime soon!





 

Since I haven't learned to make soap yet, our favorite is Sappo Hill brand soaps.  These soaps do not contain any of the ingredients I like to avoid and there are a variety to choose from.  Our favorites are oatmeal, aloe, almond and occasionally lavender.

 

 

 

I hope this post gave you some insight into the world of natural beauty and hygiene products.  Start checking your ingredient lists when you go to replace products that you have run out of.  Research and try out some natural options, you might be surprised by the results!  I have found for me that Natural, Healthy and Beautiful go hand in hand.  

 



From Scratch - Pesto

Tonight we had crab ravioli for dinner, which I did not make from scratch.  On mine I had wonderful, delicious pesto, which I did make from scratch.  I LOVE pesto and eat it on pasta, pizza, fresh baked bread, in salad and more.  It can be pricey if you buy it at a health food store, so I grow my own little basil garden in the summer and then prepare enough to last for the winter. 

Here is my recipe(with variations) which, in my opinion, makes a delicious pesto.

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh basil
    Variation:  1 cup basil, 1 cup carrot tops
    Variation 2:  1 cup basil, 1 cup fresh spinach
1 garlic clove
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup pine nuts (or walnuts)
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (you can add a little more if you like your pesto less thick)

Directions:

Process all ingredients in the food processor.  Place serving size spoonfuls into an ice tray.  Place in freezer until thoroughly frozen.  Pop them out of tray and store in freezer bag or other sealable container.

When I want some pesto I usually just thaw it in a hot water bath and spread it on my hot pasta.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.  Natural, Healthy, Pesto!

Gardening - Heirloom Seeds and Seed Saving



Gardening season is officially over in our neck of the woods with several inches of snow now on the ground. But I am already preparing for next spring. This year I decided to use heirloom seeds instead of the typical hybrid seeds you see at all the big box stores. I had to order them online and found a company that I really like - www.mypatriotsupply.com They have a great variety of seeds along with planting and seed saving instructions.

The beauty of heirloom seeds besides being non-GMO is that you can save the seeds and replant year after year and can expect the same plant. In contrast, hybrid seeds will not produce the same plant if seeds are saved and replanted. Hybrid seeds can also be sterile and may not produce any plant at all. Hybrid seeds may or may not be genetically modified. For a quick overview of the difference between Heirloom and Hybrid seeds check out this short article: http://www.libertyseedcompany.com/blog/heirloom-seeds-vs-hybrid-seeds

This year I planted spinach, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, peas, and beans. I decided to save the seeds of my peas and green beans since that seemed like it was the least complicated process. The directions on the website said to simply earmark a couple of the plants and let the peas or beans grow and stay on the plant until the are completely dried up and the beans/peas rattle inside the pod. Easy enough.

 

 

The hardest part of the whole process was not picking those beautiful green beans!  As soon as they were dry, and I could hear the seeds shaking in the pod, I picked them.  I saved about 10 green bean pods and have about 80 seeds for next spring.  I saved around 25 pea pods and have at least 100 seeds for next year.  Since I won't need nearly that many, I kept what I would use next year, some for a reserve, and shared several with fellow gardeners. 

 

 

 

Seed saving has been a fun experiment and I am looking forward to planting my saved seeds next spring!  I know the process is a little bit more extensive, but next year I am going to learn how to save seeds for my spinach and lettuce.  I am also going to increase my garden by adding several herbs, blueberries, peppers and potatoes. If you like to garden, I encourage you to try heirloom seeds and seed saving.    

From Scratch - Granola Bars

I love oats.  Not the slimy gray instant version, but the golden, steel cut oats.  They take longer to cook, but when I have time that is what I love for breakfast.  My hubby never has time to wait for oats to cook, so I started making him homemade granola bars.  They keep him full until lunch and the honey gives him a little boost of energy first thing in the morning. 

I have given out the recipe many times over and everybody I know who makes them seems to love them.  So I thought I would share a healthy, homemade breakfast option here.  You might be wondering why we don't just buy granola bars and save the time, effort and energy.  We used to but then I started reading the ingredients and researching the preservatives used, not only in the bars but also in the packaging.  Too many chemicals and too much corn syrup for us!  I don't know where I originally found this recipe, but as always I have modified it many times over to get what I feel like is the perfect end result.  I encourage you to do the same, play with recipes until you are happy with the outcome!

Ingredients:

2 cups oats (not quick)
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg (you can leave the egg out, the bars will just be slightly denser)
1/2 cup add-ins (sliced almonds, chopped pecans, coconut, dried fruit, chocolate chips, etc)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a stand mixer or mixing bowl, stir together dry ingredients.  Then add the oil, honey, vanilla and egg and mix on medium speed until all ingredients are well combined.

Press the mixture into a lightly oiled 9X13 glass baking dish.  You will really have to use your hands to spread the thick mixture into the dish.



Bake for 25 minutes.  Remove and cut into serving sizes before they cool completely.  They should hold together well and come out of your dish fairly easily.



 

Enjoy a breakfast or snack you can feel good about!  Natural, Healthy, Delicious!

It's Not About Perfection, It's About Effort

As I am writing this blog and posting new posts, I am hoping that those who are reading are not getting overwhelmed.  I know when I first started learning about all the harmful stuff in our household I just wanted to do a complete and total overhaul.  But unless you have unlimited resources that would be an impossible endeavor.  We have been making our changes over the last five years.  If something runs out or wears out and we know it contained unhealthy chemicals, we replace it with or make a healthier version. 

In an effort to save money in this healthy transformation I have tried to make several beauty and cleaning products myself.  And you know what? Some of them worked.  But some of them didn't.  The homemade shampoo and conditioner made my hair look like a bad Halloween wig.  No matter how much I modified it, my hair was still scary.  My husband refuses to use my homemade deodorant and doesn't like homemade bread for his sandwiches (gasp).  And I confess, I still use plain white sugar when I bake...I am working on finding a healthier substitute that won't completely change the recipes, but I haven't yet (and I still have a big bag of sugar to use up).

So, being healthier isn't about perfection, it's a process and it's about the effort.  If you are trying to make little changes here and there to create a healthier environment and life, you are doing great!  If you have you have tips or suggestions of things that have worked for you, feel free to leave them in the comments, I would love to hear from you...

Natural Vapor Rub

Cold season has arrived early at house this year.  Anytime  I get a cold it goes straight to my chest.  In the past Vick's Vapor Rub has helped, but this morning I couldn't find any.  I did however have on hand coconut oil, eucalyptus essential oil and peppermint essential oil.  I had purchased the essential oils in hopes of diffusing them during one of my chest colds.  I did diffuse them in a essential oil warmer in my room today, but I also whipped up my own batch of ointment for my chest, back and the bottom of my feet.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops peppermint oil

**Make sure your oil is 100% pure essential oil**

Please note**Eucalyptus and Peppermint can be dangerous to young children.  Please do some research about these oil before using them on or with your children.**

Directions:
Place coconut oil in a small container and the place it in a warm water bath to melt it.  Once it has completely melted I add my essential oil.  I stir well and then place in the freezer to solidify.

It is solid once it is completely white again.  This is a wonderful rub for chest, back and the bottoms of feet.  It seemed to really help in calming my breathing and coughing.  It worked every bit as well as traditional drug store vapor rubs, cost less, and is chemical free.  I think this rub has found a permanent home in our natural medicine cabinet. 

If you try making this vapor rub, I hope it will help you breathe easier too!

Soothing Lip Balm

We live in a harsh dry climate, especially in the winter.  I am constantly finding myself and my children with dry, chapped lips.  With our cold, windy months coming up quickly I decided to whip up a batch of my homemade lip balm.  It is so easy and the balm is silky smooth and even a little glossy.  It keeps my lips soft and moisturized and is completely chemical free. 

 

Ingredients: 

3 teaspoons coconut oil

2 teaspoons shea butter

1 teaspoon bee's wax

Directions: 
First I cut off a small chunk of bee's wax.  I melt that, by placing it into a glass bowl and then boiling that bowl in a shallow pan of water.  Once it is melted it is much easier to measure.  While my bee's wax is melting, I place the shea butter and coconut oil into a small pot on the stove and set it on the lowest setting possible.  Shea butter can become very grainy if it is not melted at low temperatures.  As soon as my bee's wax is melted and measured, I add that to the pot of melted shea butter and coconut oil. 

After all ingredients are combined, I pour them into the containers that I want to keep them in.  You can use small glass containers, plastic chap stick tubes or stainless tubes.  Normally you can find empty containers at your local health food store (which is also where I found my bee's wax).  This time I put mine in stainless tubes.  You are going to want to work very fast as the bee's wax hardens fairly quickly.  After I have poured the lip balm into the containers, I place them in the refrigerator to harden completely.  They will stay solid at room temperature and should go on smoothly. 

Soothing Lip Balm - Natural, Healthy, Beautiful!





From Scratch - Salsa

 

Who doesn't love the taste of fresh salsa?  With all the tacos we eat at our house, salsa is almost a staple.  My favorite is restaurant style salsa, but it is hard to find in stores and never tastes quite right.  We had some recently that tasted like spaghetti sauce.  I actually double checked the jar to make sure it was indeed salsa.  Homemade with garden fresh ingredients is definitely the best.

 

My amazingly generous neighbor has been giving me tomatoes and peppers from her garden all summer.  I had one sad tomato this year and my darling daughter picked it and took it right over to her to share.  A great demonstration of generosity on my daughter's part, but I was a little sad to see that tomato go.  But my sweet neighbor has repaid me a 100 fold or more.  

 

 

I canned and froze tomatoes, made pasta sauce, and salsa.  I canned salsa for the winter and I have made it to eat immediately.  And it does get eaten immediately.  My family finds a fresh jar in the fridge and it is gone before I even know that they found it.  I guess that means they like it :)

 

 



 

 

Salsa Recipe

 

Ingredients:

 

10 Roma tomatoes (or any tomato will work)

1 jalapeño pepper (seeds removed for mild, a few for medium and all for hot)

1/4 cup finely chopped onions

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon of homemade taco seasoning (see the following post for recipe)

 http://naturalhealthybeautiful.blogspot.com/2013/09/from-scratch-taco-seasoning.html

 

Directions:

 

Roughly chop tomatoes, pepper and cilantro.  Throw everything into the food processor and process until it is as chunky or smooth as you like.  I use the pulse so I can control the texture a little easier.

**a word of caution, be very careful handling the pepper and do not touch your eyes, mouth etc if you touch any of the seeds** 

 

Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!  We also eat ours on salad with avocado, with tacos, on mac and cheese, and more!  Natural, Healthy, Salsa!

 



From Scratch - Taco Seasoning

At our house we love tacos, crunchy tacos, soft tacos, taco salad...you get the point, and now I am hungry!  But were having a problem with our meat.  I never have been able to eat taco seasoning, because it gave me terrible stomach issues.  (Most likely due to the added chemicals so common in season mixes.)  So, we always just sprinkled our meat with salt and pepper.  That was way too bland so I started throwing in some cumin and cilantro, then a little chili powder and some garlic powder.  Suddenly the meat wasn't so bland anymore.

Rather than pulling out all the spices each time I make tacos, I now premix my seasoning and store it in a mason jar.  I found a recipe on pinterest, but it only made enough seasoning for one pan of meat and I didn't like how it tasted at all.  I eliminated some of the ingredients, added some others, adjusted all of the measurements and then multiplied the whole thing times eight.  The mixture makes enough seasoning to fill a pint sized canning jar half way.  This amount normally lasts us about 4-6 months, but we eat a lot of tacos!  I will share my recipe and encourage you to do some experimenting of your own to end up with the perfect seasoning for your tacos.

Taco Seasoning Mix

Ingredients:

1/2 cup chili powder (I like Hatch mild or medium chili powder)
3 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon oregano


Place all ingredients into a small mixing bowl and stir until well combined.  Store in an airtight container.  OR you can put all of the ingredients into a pint sized mason jar, filling it halfway, put on the lid and then shake until it is mixed.



When I make tacos I just sprinkle a tablespoon or so over the meat and we are ready to go.  I also use it on grilled corn on the cob, in my salsa, in my chicken enchilada mixture, in chili, and sometimes sprinkled on top of cornbread before I bake it.  It's a great little mix, whenever you want to add a little kick.  What's even better is that there are no added chemicals.  No tummy aches and yummy, zesty tacos.  Natural, Healthy, Delicious!

Simple Homemade Eye Makeup Remover

I love to save money.  Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love to sale shop and use coupons and usually at the same time.  75% off minus an additional 20% and a $5 off coupon -- Yep that's me!  Sometimes I go "free" shopping.  No, I'm not shoplifting.   "Free" shopping is when I have so many coupons that I get the item for free, or pretty darn close!  I once came home from Kohl's with a beautiful skirt originally priced at $39.  I paid $0.25 for that skirt. That was a happy night.

So what does that have to do with eye makeup remover?  Well, in my effort to remove chemicals from even my beauty products, I started purchasing my cleansers and moisturizers at our local Natural Grocers.  (I LOVE this store!)  One drawback to chemical free living is that it can be pricey especially in the area of beauty and hygiene.  Chemical products are much cheaper to make and mass produce than natural ones are and therefore, you end up spending a little bit more for the natural products.  I found that my eye makeup remover kept running out very quickly.  Too quickly when it was almost $8.00 per bottle. (This is where my thriftiness ties in.) 

I decided that it couldn't be that complicated to make and found that I was correct.  I came across a recipe online and tried it out.  It called for distilled water, castile soap and olive oil.  This combination was a little too greasy.  So I tried leaving the oil out and that created to much drag and pulling.  I had a little bottle of jajoba oil that I had purchased for something else and tried that in place of the olive oil.  And viola!  It was perfect.

Here is my recipe:

1/2 cup distilled water
1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. (I like Doctor Bonner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap)
1/2 teaspoon jajoba oil

Use a funnel to put the ingredients into a small container. Remember to shake before each use.  Put a little remover on a cotton ball, eye makeup should come off easily with no scrubbing. 

I love this stuff and it costs pennies to make.  Here's to being natural, healthy, beautiful and thrifty!

From Scratch - Hot Cocoa and Homemade Whipped Cream

The last week has been chilly and rainy and I found myself drinking lots of hot tea.  Tonight though, I wanted a treat.  I decided it was time for homemade hot cocoa and whipped cream.  I learned how to make this last year after I read the ingredient list on a packet of premade cocoa and it definitely broke one of my food rules (if I cannot pronounce an ingredient I probably shouldn't be consuming it!)  I was shocked by how amazingly simple both hot cocoa and whipped cream are too make and felt like I had been deprived of this deliciousness and settling for a very poor substitute for my entire life.  I tweaked the recipes until I felt like they were perfect and now, I must share both recipes with you so you can enjoy them throughout the long cold winter.

Hot Cocoa for Four

Ingredients

1/4 cup baking cocoa

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

4 cups milk (Although most recipes say skim, I prefer whole milk, it makes the drink a little thicker and richer)

A couple of splashes of vanilla extract  

Directions

In a saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and water, heat thoroughly but do not boil.  Stir for 2 minutes. Add in milk and vanilla; heat to serving temperature. Again, do NOT boil.  Remove from the heat. Whisk until frothy.  

 

 

Now for the whipped cream.  Let me just say that this stuff is so good that I will NEVER buy whipped cream in a tub or can again.

 

 

Ingredients

 

2 cups of heavy whipping cream

 

1/4 cup sugar (most recipes will say confectioners sugar, I prefer regular)

 

1-2 teaspoons Vanilla

 

 

 

Directions

 

Dump everything into your mixing bowl and using the wisk beater, beat on high until you see stiff peaks form.

 



 



I usually make a lot and then freeze it in dollops so that they are ready to just plop into a cup of cocoa.  Place a piece of parchment in the bottom of cake pan or onto a cookie sheet.  Scoop serving size portions of whipped cream onto sheet and freeze.  When they are frozen I put them into a freezer bag for storage.  With the above recipe I got around two dozen servings.  Another added benefit of frozen serving sizes is that they melt slowly and last for the entire cup of cocoa.  Yummy!

There you have it, homemade hot cocoa and whipped cream.  Simple and delicious ~ Enjoy!

Little Changes - Food Storage

Our second small change in ridding our lives of unnecessary chemicals was to replace all of our plastic food storage containers with glass ones.  We bought a wonderful set of Pyrex glass storage containers with lids and then decided that one wasn't enough and bought a second.  These bowls come in a variety of sizes and even shapes.  They have held up so well through tons of use and washings.  I think we have broken one, and that was dropped out of the freezer onto a concrete floor.  You can get a great set for about $25 or less if you shop around.  And Pyrex is made in the USA.

We also use canning jars to store food.  They are handy, fairly inexpensive and they look pretty in a vintage sort of way.  I also lucked out when my mom gave me some beautiful Italian glass jars that measure about 1 gallon.  I store my oats and coffee in them and keep them right on my counter because they are so lovely.

 

 

So why did we decide to toss all that plastic?  Mainly because of BPA content.  In it's report on BPA the FDA states:

 

"Studies employing standardized toxicity tests have thus far supported the safety of current low levels of human exposure to BPA. However, on the basis of results from recent studies using novel approaches to test for subtle effects, both the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health and FDA have some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children. In cooperation with the National Toxicology Program, FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research is carrying out in-depth studies to answer key questions and clarify uncertainties about the risks of BPA."

http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm

There have been many reports of plastics releasing higher levels of the BPA chemical into food when used in the microwave.  Who wants chemicals leaching into their food as it is cooked?  I think of all the hundreds of times microwaved my food in those little plastic containers and I cringe.  (Now that we no longer have a microwave, this wouldn't really be an issue). See my post on Goodbye Microwave - http://naturalhealthybeautiful.blogspot.com/2013/09/goodbye-microwave-i-dont-miss-you-at-all.html

Many plastics now say BPA free on the packaging, but what other chemicals have they used to replace it and how safe are they?  We probably won't know the answer to that until further studies come out several years from now.

So, for our family this little change from plastic to glass was a great one and not terribly expensive. 
We are taking simple steps to a more natural, healthier life.