Tag Archive for 'organic'

St. Patty’s Day Sugar Cookies

Published on March 14, 2012 in Organic and Recipes. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , .

I know, I know, this photo is from Valentine’s Day. And clearly I had my act together enough to get this recipe out in time for Valentine’s Day. ;) So…rather than wait until St. Patty’s Day has come and gone, I wanted to publish this recipe because it is SO perfect for St. Patty’s Day cookies! I’ll be making these with my girls to celebrate our Irish roots.

I usually use organic flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. And for the icing? I mix organic powdered sugar with milk and mix in a little canned beet juice. For St. Patty’s day cookies, you could mix in a little juice from a can of asparagus or puree a few spinach leaves in water and mix into the sugar/milk mixture. Sounds gross, but with the tiny amount you’ll use, you won’t be able to taste the veggies. Try to avoid those food dyes!

St. Patty’s Day Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

2 3/4 c all-purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1 c butter, softened
1 1/2 c white sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll dough into rounded balls (using a teaspoon), and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet for two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Weekly Highlights (2/22/2012)

Published on February 22, 2012 in News. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

We hope you had a fantastic long weekend! This week’s highlights was delayed a bit so I could devote some time to the arsenic and rice news that came out late last week. Here’s a little more of what I’ve been reading this past week. - Jasmine

In the News:

Johnson & Johnson Recalls Infant’s Tylenol - In case you missed it on our Facebook page, Johnson & Johnson has issued a nationwide recall of all infant tylenol on the market due to reported difficulties using the new dosing syringe.

You may recall that manufacturers of infant’s tylenol were in the process of changing the concentrations and dosing systems to make administering easier and safer. Unfortunately, back to the drawing board for J&J.

No adverse events have been reported, but if you’d like a refund you can visit their website or call for a refund. Consumers can still use the product if the flow restrictor remains in place. The instructional video below issued by McNeil demonstrates how to use the syringe.

Maine Groups Press for BPA Ban After Chemical Found in Baby and Toddler Food - 11 out of 12 major brands of jarred baby food tested positive for BPA in the lids, and tests also showed that the BPA had been found in the baby food. Levels were 1 to 3 parts per billion, but the physiology professor cited in the article says that’s enough to be concerned. Levels in toddler canned foods were found up to 134 parts per billion. Just one of the many reasons I chose to make my own baby food. If you’re interested, you can find tips here: Homemade Baby Food - As Easy as 1-2-3.

EPA Issues Long-Awaited Dioxins Report - After working on the report for decades, the EPA has released the first half of its assessment on the toxicity of dioxins, the most toxic of all man-made chemicals. The first release addresses the noncancerous effects, while the second half of the report is expected to address evidence of the chemical’s cancerous effects.

While the report concludes that dioxins are seriously toxic at low levels, it says that exposures have declined so much over the past few decades that most people should not be concerned. As one scientist put it, though, that statement is “very odd” as it ignores people who are exposed to higher levels or more sensitive to the effects, like fetuses and young children.

FDA Will Not Allow More Fungicide in Orange Juice - Back in January, the FDA halted imports of orange juice and began inspecting them after they received notification that Brazilian growers had been using a U.S.-banned fungicide. Now Brazil has requested an exception for the fungicide until they can phase it out, but the FDA has denied the exception. As a result, Brazil will have to stop exports of concentrated OJ until they can meet EPA limits for the fungicide.

New Research:

BPA’s Obesity And Diabetes Link Strengthened By New Study 
To date, studies have suggested a link between BPA and metabolic problems, but no one was really sure why until now. A new study released last week has determined that BPA fools a specific receptor into thinking that it is estrogen, an insulin regulator, and triggers the release of almost double the insulin actually needed to break down food. When that specific receptor was removed from the subject mice, the effect disappeared.

According to the author of the study, Angel Nadal, “When you eat something with BPA, it’s like telling your organs that you are eating more than you are really eating.” And surprisingly, the effects were seen at very low levels of exposure - a quarter of a billionth of a gram was enough to do the trick. What is most concerning is the impact on pregnant women and developing fetuses, who are particularly sensitive - ”The fetus is not only exposed to BPA but also to higher levels of insulin from the mother, making the environment for the fetus even more disruptive,” says Nadal. “This is a very delicate period.”

Children at Risk for Ingestion of PAHs from Pavement Sealant
Coal tar sealants, commonly used in the Central, Southern, and Eastern U.S. to refresh driveways and parking lots, are a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, some of which can cause cancer. Researchers from Baylor University and the U.S. Geological Survey have found that children living next to driveways or parking lots coated with coal tar are exposed to 14 times the amount of the chemicals than those living near untreated asphalt. Exposure is primarily through contaminated dust tracked into the home, rather than food as once thought. Coal-tar-based pavement sealant has PAH concentrations 100 to 1,000 times greater than most other sources.

A History of Kids and Sleep: Why They Never Get Enough
I wouldn’t say that the article explains why children never get enough, but a recent review of about 300 studies on sleep duration in children found some interesting results:

  • Over the 112 years the study covered, age-specific recommendations for sleep and actual sleep duration of children has declined at similar rates.
  • Over that same period, children have lost about 75 minutes of shut-eye with overstimulation and modern technology to blame.
  • There’s not much evidence behind sleep recommendations; they’re pretty subjective. Kids consistently get at least 30 minutes less than the recommendations.
  • Different countries have different standards, but American children sleep less than nearly all other children.

Fantastic Finds:

How to Get Rid of Facebook Timeline, Bring Back a Simpler View - Anyone else struggling to get used to the new timeline view? It seems cluttered and messy to me. LifeHacker just published an article with a plugin that can be used to adjust your browser’s Facebook view for a cleaner look. I’m definitely going to try this out.

Clean Protein & Organic Foods, Does it Matter? - An absolutely fascinating read on why it’s important to look beyond the organic label and really understand where your food came from and how it was raised.

4 Health Reasons to Eat Chocolate (and Cons to Consider) - With Valentine’s Day behind us and chocolate floating around the house, this article is timely and informative.

From Playdate to Parliament: Mom Takes Tot to Work - Adorable. Little Victoria Ronzulli conducts important business at the European Parliament alongside mother and Italian politician, Licia Ronzulli.

Recalls, February 14 – February 21:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls

No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it to jasmine@purebebe.com.

Planning Your Thanksgiving Meal? PureBebe’s Top Holiday Side Dishes

Published on November 17, 2011 in Food, Health & Safety, Organic and Recipes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Many of you have asked us for recipes for the upcoming holiday, so we thought we would share our absolute favorite holiday side dishes. While some are heart healthy, others would be considered naughty list-worthy. As far as we’re concerned, the holidays should include a little bit of indulgence. Everything in moderation, right?!

We would love to know what you think and whether you decide to try any of these recipes this holiday season!

Easy Breezy Ginger & Pear Cranberry Sauce

This has been a family favorite in my house for the past 3 years. I never liked cranberry sauce until I tried this one and fell in love. It makes a beautiful side dish on the plate, and is a much healthier alternative (especially when made with low glycemic “Agave” sweetener) to eat with turkey than a ladle of gravy. It is also scrumptious by itself. –Heather

Ingredients:
16 oz. fresh cranberries
2 c brown sugar (or you can substitute the Agave Syrup, and you’ll need less)
1 c orange juice
2 TBL finely chopped ginger (I found mine in the nuts section; it’s covered in sugar and looks like candy)
Finely grated zest of 1 orange
1 finely chopped pear

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients (except pear and ginger) in saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 10 mins or until berries pop. Skim and remove foam. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate. Once cool, add chopped pear and ginger. Mix well with cranberry sauce and eat immediately or store in refrigerator.

I read online that you could store this cranberry sauce in your refrigerator (without the pears) for up to 3 months, covered. It usually doesn’t make it past day 2 in my house. My hubby gobbles it all up.

Savory Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Courtesy of Elusive Cat, Flickr

I have made this salad for many a potluck and always get compliments from friends and family on how delicious this salad tastes. I can’t believe I’m giving away all of my trade secrets, lol. ;) –Heather

Ingredients:
1 lb spinach
1 pt strawberries, sliced

Dressing
3/4 c sugar (or 1/2 c Agave syrup)
1/3 c vinegar
1/4 c poppy seeds
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp grated onion
1 tsp dry mustard
1 c canola or olive oil (regular vegetable oil is made from soybeans, which we try to stay away from)

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients for dressing in blender. Pour on salad. NOTE: I have never used the entire amount of salad dressing on 1 lb of spinach. I usually use about 1/3 of this dressing and then keep it in the refrigerator to use on salads for the following week or two.

Kael’s Candied Carrots

My hubby and I had these carrots at a friend’s house and I had to have the recipe. This is a holiday and everyday staple in my house. In fact, I have some of these carrots in my refrigerator right now. –Heather

Ingredients:
1 pound of baby carrots (less boiling time for peeled and chopped carrots)
2-3 small pats of butter
1/8-1/4 c brown sugar
Splash of vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
1/2 tsp caraway seeds (optional)

Preparation:
Boil carrots for 12-15 mins (check to make sure that the carrots are tender). Place 2-3 small pats of butter (less than 1/4 stick of butter!) on top. Add sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and stir.

Pepper and Parmesan-Crusted Green Beans

I have made these green beans countless times. They are de-LISH! You can also add slivered almonds for extra flavor. I usually keep them out because I have not given any nuts to my 15 month old per her pediatrician’s recommendation. –Heather

Ingredients:
1 pound of green beans
1 pat of butter
Small drizzle of olive oil
3/4 c Fresh parmesan or romano cheese
Fine sea salt and coarse pepper to taste.

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place green beans on cookie sheet and separate as much as possible. Drizzle with olive oil, a pinch of fine sea salt and fresh pepper corn flakes. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 mins (until tender). Drizzle cheese on top of the green beans for the last 2 minutes while they’re in the oven. Place small pat of butter on top of hot green beans and place in serving dish. Enjoy!

Here is a photo of what your beans will look like before placing them in the oven for the last 2 mins to melt the cheese.

Parmesan-Crusted Green Beans

Vicky’s Crescent Rolls

You may remember my post about Thanksgiving memories in which I mentioned my mom’s fabulous crescent rolls. Well, these are they! I just can’t get enough of these sweet, buttery, dense rolls. –Jasmine

Makes 32 rolls

Ingredients:
6 tbsp. warm water
2 yeast cakes (4 1/2 tsp)
1 tbsp. sugar
4 eggs
2 c. water
1 c. minus 1 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
8 c. flour
½ c. melted butter

Preparation:
Combine yeast with warm water and sugar, and set aside for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

Mix all remaining ingredients except for butter into the yeast mixture, using enough flour to make a smooth dough. Form dough into a large ball, and put it in a greased bowl to refrigerate overnight.

Remove dough at least 4 hours before serving. Let the dough come to room temperature (it can be a little cooler, but as it comes to room temperature it becomes easier to work with). Divide dough into 4 parts, and roll out each portion in a circle (approximately 12” in diameter). Brush melted butter onto each circle.

Cut each circle into 8 pie-shaped wedges, and roll each wedge into a crescent. Place the rolls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Let rise 2-3 hours in a warm place. Bake at 375° F for 8-10 minutes, until light golden. At about 7 minutes in, brush crescents with melted butter.

Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

So I was always a candied yams kinda girl – you know, the ones with brown sugar and toasted marshmallows on top – that is, until my mom introduced me to this recipe. This sweet potato dish with a pecan streusel crust is to die for! –Jasmine

Ingredients:

Crust
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans preferred)
1/3 stick butter — melted

Sweet Potato Mixture
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs — well beaten
1 stick butter — ( 1/2 cup) melted

Preparation:
Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in a mixing bowl, and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and butter in a mixing bowl in the order listed. Mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish. Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with the crust mixture. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.

Related Articles:
Getting Through the Airport This Holiday Season With Your Kids and Your Sanity
Operation Gingerbread House Complete
3 Ways to Thank Your Child’s Teacher This Holiday Season
Winter Activity: Use Your Child’s Artwork to Make Greeting Cards
How Meeting Warren Buffett Means Less TVs In My Household

Organic Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Published on November 8, 2011 in Food, Health & Safety, Organic and Recipes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

I made this recipe for the first time this Fall, and have since made it several times. It is my new favorite homemade bread. It is unbelievably moist, with the right touch of sweetness, and is incredibly delicious with a cup of coffee. This recipe makes 2 nice size loaves, and can be easily wrapped and frozen for later use as well. And of course, you can make this recipe without using organic ingredients, too.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree*
4 eggs*
1/2 cup vegetable oil*
1/2 cup apple sauce*
2/3 cup water
2 cups sugar*
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour*
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

*Denotes organic ingredients used

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two medium-sized loaf pans.

In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, applesauce, water and sugar until well blended.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until blended. Pour into the prepared pans.

Bake for about 1 hour, 15 mins in the preheated oven. Check loaves after 1 hour in the oven. Loaves are done when toothpick (or knife) inserted in center comes out clean.

This loaf also makes a fabulous gift! Enjoy!

Potato-Leek Soup

Published on November 2, 2011 in Recipes. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Sometimes the idea of cooking with a new or unusual vegetable is a little bit intimidating. I’ve had some amazing soups made with leeks in my lifetime, but I’ve never cooked with them until now and I have to admit that I was a little intimidated. But I really had no reason to be. A leek is pretty much a large scallion, though the dark green leaves are typically discarded as they are tough and often bitter. The white and light green part, on the other hand, have a mild onion flavor that are perfect for adding flavor to stocks and soups. Potato soup is no exception.

Now, if you’ve never used leeks before, there is a technique to cutting and washing them. When you purchase leeks, you may notice that they’re quite dirty. This is because they’re grown in very sandy soil. The best way to wash them well is to cut then soak them in a bowl of ice water. Here is an excellent, quick tutorial on how to cut and wash leeks.

The recipe below is a cross between several recipes, but for the most part is a take on my Mom’s potato soup, a favorite of mine growing up, with a few twists inspired by Emerile Lagasse’s version. It is thick and hearty and perfect for Fall. My husband loved the flavor but affectionately referred to it as “mashed potatoes”. He would prefer a soupier consistency, which I have promised him the next round. Whatever your preference, the consistency of this soup is easily adaptable when milk is added in the last step.

And if you’d like to freeze some for later, reserve some or all of the soup before adding the milk and freeze. Then add the milk later when reheating.

Potato-Leek Soup

Yields about 8 cups.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
2 strips bacon, diced
2 leeks, about 3/4 lb, sliced
1 1/4 lb potatoes, peeled and diced
3 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 bay leaves
4 sprigs thyme
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper (I use 1/2 for a more peppery taste)
1/2 to 1 cup milk, for desired consistency
Salt and additional pepper, to taste
Fresh chives, snipped

Preparation:
Saute bacon in butter, 4-5 minutes.

Add leeks, and sweat 5 minutes until wilted.

Add potatoes, chicken stock, bay leaves, thyme, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes. I tied my bay leaves and thyme together with some kitchen twine to make it easy to remove after the simmer, but feel free to just toss them in if you like.

Remove bay leaves and thyme. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher, or blend with an immersion blender or food processor. Add milk until you achieve your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Top with fresh snipped chives and serve hot. Enjoy!

 

 

Black Beans and Rice

Published on October 19, 2011 in Food, Organic and Recipes. 6 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Looking for a delicious meatless and healthy recipe that you can whip up in 30 minutes or less?

And the best part? This recipe can be made with ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

Black Beans and Rice

Ingredients
1 t olive oil
1 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 c uncooked white rice
1 1/2 c low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 t ground cumin
1/4 t cayenne pepper
3 1/2 c black beans (canned or dried black beans that have been prepared)
Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Fresh cilantro (optional)
Sour cream (optional)

Preparation
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the onion and garlic and saute for a few minutes. Add the rice and saute for a few minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Add the spices and black beans. Top with cheddar cheese, cilantro and/or sour cream.

If your child loves wraps, you can also serve the black beans and rice in flour tortillas and wa-La!

Weekly Highlights (8/7/11)

Published on August 7, 2011 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, a weekend post that will recap important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the week but also give us an avenue to share some of the other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels. Happy weekend reading!

In the News:

Insurance Coverage for Contraception is Required - New standards issued this week require insurance coverage for contraception and other preventative services for women.

China Arrests 2,000 in Food Safety Crackdown - Serious punishment coming to those who mess with China’s food system as the country tries to overcome numerous contamination scares.

How Safe is Your Soil? - Lead and other heavy metals may exist in your soil. Consider soil testing, remediation and/or raised beds before growing fruits and vegetables at home.

New Research:

Flame retardants and other chemical additives found in children’s car seats
A review of over 150, 2011-model car seats found that more than half contained one or more “chemicals of concern”, including brominated flame retardants, chlorine (indicating the presence of PVC), arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. However, the 2011 results show a 64% improvement over 2008 test results, indicating improvement in manufacturing. Click through the link above to see healthystuff.org’s list of the best and worst car seats based on level of contaminants.

Favorite flavors may be programmed in early infancy
Recent research shows that flavors consumed in early infancy impact later food choices. Other research noted in the article indicates that many processed baby and toddler foods are loaded with excessive calories from simple sugars and too much sodium. Introducing healthy, unprocessed foods in infancy could promote healthier eating habits later in life.

Good Reads:

For Three Years, Every Bite Organic from The New York Times - For three years, Dr. Greene, a pediatrician, embarked on a 100% organic diet and learned a few things…

I Love Giving Birth from Hello Giggles: The best birth advice – “There is no one perfect way to have a baby…Do whatever feels right to you in that moment”

How to Win Over Stubborn Children from Parenting.com - Excellent tips for “negotiating” with your young child.

Recalls, July 30 – August 6:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

We’d love your feedback! What did you like? If there is anything you’d like us to add or change, we’d love to hear it! We hope you’re having a lovely weekend! XOXO, Jasmine & Heather

Weekly Highlights (7/30/11)

Published on July 30, 2011 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, a weekend post that will recap important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the week but also give us an avenue to share some of the other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels. Happy weekend reading!

In the News:

CPSC Adopts Testing Requirements for Phthalates in Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles – Beginning December 31, 2011, third party testing should begin to ensure compliance with current federal phthalate limits.

What the USDA Doesn’t Want You to Know About Antibiotics and Factory Farms – A summary of recent academic findings addresses the growing problem of antibiotic resistant infections and their link to factory animal farms. Why have we been so slow to follow the lead of other countries? I take that back. I know why – $$$.

Casey Anthony Reportedly Seeking $1.5 Million for First Interview – That woman shouldn’t get a dime!

Americans, Demand Organic! – A new survey out from Thompson Reuters and NPR Health says 58% of Americans in every income range want organic food. Promising news!

FDA tests for Arsenic at US Mott’s plant – In response to last week’s news of arsenic in Mott’s apple products, FDA is collecting and testing samples.

CDC Still Listening to Youth Vaccination Debate – For the first time, the CDC asks for public input over a new meningitis vaccine which has been approved for babies as young as 9 months. Nice to see one government agency listening to the people.

Cadmium Limits Coming – Cadmium limits coming in Canada. EU and 5 US states have recently moved to do the same.

New Research:

Furniture linked to PBDE (flame retardant) levels in pregnant women
A study of pregnant immigrants in California, where flammability standards are the strictest, found increased exposure to PBDEs in the U.S. relative to Mexico and evidence that the source of exposure is furniture in the home. For each year the women lived in the U.S., the level of PBDEs in their blood increased 4%. Higher levels were also found in the women who had 3 or more pieces of furniture in their homes.

A mother’s stress while she is pregnant can have a long-lasting effect on her children’s genes
A study of teens aged 10 to 19 years and their mothers involving a psychological study found that women abused during pregnancy were significantly more likely to have a child with dampened glucocorticoid-receptor gene activity, which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, depression, and auto-immune diseases. These genes relay signals from stress hormones in the blood in the regions of the brain that control behavior.

Good Reads:

The Secret Ingredient in Your Orange Juice from Food Renegade: Industry practice brought to light

Good Old-Fashioned Playtime from Real Simple: 15 ways to bring back the art of fun (without electronics)

5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do from TED: Video

Recalls, July 23 – 29:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

We’d love your feedback! What did you like? If there is anything you’d like us to add or change, we’d love to hear it! Have a lovely weekend! XOXO, Jasmine & Heather

Which Potato Would You Rather Eat?

Published on July 14, 2011 in Food. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

If you haven’t seen this astonishing video, you must see this…

Bud Nip (chlorpropham) is a weed/bud killer, and is also sprayed on blueberries, carrots, cranberries, snap beans, garlic, onions, spinach, tomatoes, beets, and soybeans (as well as a bunch of other fruits/veggies). According to Cornell’s research website, bud nip is “moderately toxic” by ingestion. The site goes on to say that “Symptoms of poisoning in laboratory animals have included listlessness, incoordination, nose bleeds, protruding eyes, bloody tears, difficulty in breathing, prostration, inability to urinate, high fevers, and death. Autopsies of animals have shown inflammation of the stomach and intestinal lining, congestion of the brain, lungs and other organs, and degenerative changes in the kidneys and liver.”

In addition, long-term exposure to bud nip can cause adverse reproductive effects and tumors, and may even cross the placenta in pregnant women.

Workers must wear protection when dealing with bud nip, it absorbs into the food, yet it’s okay for us to eat?

I don’t know about you, but suddenly organic foods seem a lot less expensive, and worth the investment, than ever before. Who wants a dose of toxic bud nip in their potatoes?

Which potato would you rather eat?

7 Non-Edible Easter Basket Ideas

Published on April 20, 2011 in Food and Holidays. 9 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Last weekend we were in Boston to celebrate the recent wedding of my husband’s brother and his beautiful wife. During the party, my children took full advantage of the endless array of goodies and the fact that I wasn’t monitoring everything that they put into their mouths.

That being said, I’m pretty sure they single-handedly devoured most of the grapes in the house, as well as one too many brownies, cupcakes and other desserts. One of my family members joked that my girls were filling up because they don’t get many sweets back home.

And she’s right.

They get homemade ice cream from time to time. And once in while we do give them traditional desserts when we have company over for dinner, or we eat out somewhere. But every other night in our house, we either have no dessert after dinner, or we have fruit (cut apples, pears, strawberries, kiwi, etc.) for dessert.

So it probably comes as no big surprise that my kid’s Easter baskets this year won’t be overflowing with candy. For one, I try to avoid food dyes whenever possible. And I also try to limit their intake of high fructose corn syrup.

I’m not against giving them candy on Easter. However, when you start looking for non-toxic candy, the options are, well, limited. I will probably give them some Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops and gummy bears, which are a big hit in our house. But I have given up on my quest for organic jelly beans.

Instead of focusing on candy in the Easter basket this year, below are some fun, non-edible ideas, several of which will be in my own children’s Easter baskets:

1. Rain gear: umbrellas, rain boots and/or rain coats.
We have been pummeled with rain on the East coast recently. And with Spring in full swing, we still have many rainy days ahead. There’s nothing more fun to do on a rainy day than to throw the rain gear on your child and head outside to splash around in the puddles.

2. Make-your-own jewelry accessories.
This doesn’t apply to girls only. Little boys love making things just as much as little girls. In fact, I still own a bracelet that my baby brother made for me 15+ years ago. I found great inexpensive materials for making jewelry at Walmart. You can also find them at craft stores (Michael’s, etc.), and Target.

3. Toddler apron, spatula and/or other cooking accessories.
Since my three year old has owned her own apron since she was one, I figured it was time for my other daughter to get her own apron, too. Kids love to help out in the kitchen. Williams Sonoma outlets usually carry the toddler size aprons, and I’m sure you can find them at many other big-box retailers or online as well.

4. Tickets to a movie, show or event.
I recently took my oldest daughter to see Disney Princesses on Ice. We went with her two best friends and their moms and had an amazing time. Tickets to a show would make an excellent Easter basket gift. If you really wanted to go ‘all out’, you could get a doll to match the event (for example, Rapunzel doll if you bought movie tickets to take your child to see “Tangled”).

5. Games, puzzles.
Family-friendly games and/or puzzles are a great way to spend a Friday or Saturday night with the kids. You could make yourself a large bowl of homemade popcorn and settle in for an evening of Chutes and Ladders.

6.  Books.
New books are always a hit in my house.  In fact, rather than sleeping with teddy bears or other soft, furry animals, both of my girls are adamant about sleeping with a book or two in their beds at night.

7.  Stainless steel sippy cups.
I bought my girls bpa-free, 12 oz stainless steel sippy cups last Valentine’s Day, and they have become my kids’ beverage holder of choice.  In case you’re worried about dents, Walmart sells the soft koozies that you can buy, for less than $1, to protect your investment.

-How do you celebrate Easter?
-What will be in your child’s Easter basket this year?

Heather

Related Articles:

Is Your Car Seat Installed Correctly?

Is Your Baby Protected in the Water?

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

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