Our Lunch Box
Ramblings and rantings about kids, food and life.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Make your own deodorant at home
My old brand's label shamefully reads: "Ask doctor before use if you have kidney disease." I don't think one should have to consult a medical professional on their deodorant/anti-perspirant choices. Besides, your body was designed to sweat out toxins; why block a main outlet for the toxins to exit your body? I don't like the idea of using chemicals to get my body to stop sweating.
Since I've shunned anti-perspirants, my only option has been deodorant, which only masks the stink. I've been using a great brand, Kiss My Face - Peaceful Patchouli, for at least a year now and have been very happy with it. However, I love homemade recipes for common cosmetic products. I came across a great one from my friend's blog: Homemade Dutch Apple Pie. Since it's going to be in the 90s all week here, I thought it'd be a good time to try out this recipe.
Here's my take on it:
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon baking soda
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon corn starch
5 tablespoons coconut oil, liquified
10-15 drops essential oil (I used lavender and orange)
Mix baking soda and corn starch in a bowl. Add coconut oil and combine, then add your essential oil. Press into an old deodorant container. To use, hold against skin and allow for the mixture to soften a bit before applying. It's recommended that you also use your hand to spread it around your entire pit.
**UPDATE** I wasn't unable to get my mixture to set properly into a deororant container, so I scooped it out and put it in a glass jar. I took about 1/2 teaspoon out with my fingers and spread it around. It was in the upper 80s here yesterday with very high humidity (felt like 99 degrees out!) and this stuff held up very well.
What's your favorite homemade cosmetic recipe?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Coconut Butter
Solid at room temperature but with a low melting temperature, coconut oil is primarily a saturated fat. However, it contains medium chain fatty acids and is considered one of the good fats.
I usually just use the coconut oil straight from the jar. This coconut butter recipe from Heather Eats Almond Butter uses finely shredded coconut. I found some organic shredded coconut from Harvest Health Foods for $3.50/lb.
Here's what to do:
Take approximately 12 oz. of organic shredded coconut and place in a food processor. You'll need to process it for about 15 minutes to make sure you really get all the oils out of the shreds - it will basically liquify. Pour into glass container and let set at room temperature. No refrigeration necessary.
Check out Heather's Web site for variations on coconut butter, including Chocolate Coconut Butter.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Juice!
I'm on day two right now and have drank my breakfast for the past two mornings. I find that it keeps me full and peps me up a bit more than the heavier granola or whole food bar that I usually eat.
This is a very basic recipe that I used for this juice, which changes each time I make it.
The basics:
6 stalks celery
4 medium apples
1 whole beets (including stems and leaves)
6 carrots
1 lemon
1-2 inches of fresh ginger (gives it an extra kick!)
Juice, drink and enjoy!
I've had a Breville juicer for just about a year now and I really love it. Easy clean-up and massive juicing power.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Homemade fresh pesto
I served this on toasted cibatta bread with grilled chicken, mozzarella, paremesan and fresh lettuce. Later in the week, I made some quinoa and used the leftover pesto as a sauce. It was fantastic!
Fresh Pesto
4 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 to 1/3 cup of toasted pine nuts
3 cloves fresh garlic
1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (add more if your pesto is too dry)
1 hot pepper (optional)
1/4 cup heavy cream
Put everything in a food processor and mix until you have a sauce thickness to your liking. Pour sauce into saucepan and heat until it's warmed through. While the sauce is heating, whip the heavy cream. Add 1 to 4 tablespoons of the cream to the sauce, depending on your taste (I used about 2 tablespoons). The sauce should remain somewhat thick.
Add to your favorite al dente pasta, toasted cibatta bread sandwiches, quinoa. Another great dish with pesto is cooked penne pasta, and lightly steamed veggies like broccoli, asparagus, shallots, carrots ... and whatever other favorite veggies you have on hand. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Kale chips
This healthy snack was gobbled up by my kids and me within 15 minutes.
If you can, use organic kale. It's number eight on the Dirty Dozen list for pestacide use.
Preheat the oven to 350. Take one head of kale and remove leaves. Wash and dry thoroughly. In a large bowl, massage kale leaves with 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Season lightly with sea salt and spread out in one layer on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake in oven for 20-30 minutes, or until crisp. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
The final result is a very light and crispy chip that tastes incredible. Be careful, though, the chips can be messy because of how flaky they are. My kids ate these straight off the cooled baking sheet and asked for more right away. We'll be having fun this summer experiementing with different flavors, like adding nutritional yeast, tahini, soy, chipotle, cajun, etc. Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Vegan tortilla soup
I've made it several times since the first try and it's always been a hit with the whole family. It also freezes well. I make two batches at a time to make sure I have plenty on hand.
In a medium size pot, sauté the olive oil, onion, Anaheim pepper and garlic over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Add the tomatoes, beans, chili powder, cumin, water and soy sauce. Cover and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes or so while you prepare the avocado and cilantro.
Ladle the soup into bowls and top with a handful of tortillas and a sprinkling of avocado and cilantro.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Fresh tomatoes, basil and asparagus
Friday, May 14, 2010
Grilled pesto and parmesan sandwich
I love sandwiches, and grilled sandwiches are some of my favorites. Here's a very simple recipe for a grilled pesto and parmesan sandwich that can be made in minutes.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Walnut, gorgonzola and cranberry salad made with lettuce from VP Farms in Caledonia
Spring is just around the corner! That means local farmers markets, roadside produce stands and greenhouses are going to start popping up all over the place. This is my favorite time of year!
One such place that opened a couple of weeks ago is VP Farms on 76th Street in Caledonia. Local home of the Vertical Garden Kit, VP Farms focuses on proving fresh fruits and vegetables as well as helping people grow their own using innovative methods of growing.
Since they also supply local restaurants with their produce, including The Green Well Gastro Pub and Bisto Bella Vita, picking up some fresh lettuce to make my favorite simple go-to salad from them is always a good bet.
Here's the recipe:
2 cups lettuce
1 tablespoon gorgonzola cheese
1 tablespoon cranberries
1-2 tablespoons raspberry balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon raw walnuts
1 tablespoon olive oil (I use a sprayer and spray the top layer of the salad)
Mix together and enjoy! This is a very versatile salad, and you can pretty much throw anything in there that you want. I've added: avocado, grilled tilapia, dulse flakes, sugar peas, red pepper slices, chicken - the possibilties are endless.