How to Make Authentic Old Fashioned Egg Nog | eHow.com

How to Make Authentic Old Fashioned Egg Nog | eHow.com.

How to Avoid Harmful BPA Plastics in your Food Supply

Personally I do not think the FDA is doing enough to control the use of  Bisphenol A (BPA), a common plastic used in baby bottles, water bottles, food packaging, other drink bottles and especially canned goods.

Should you be worried? The simple answer is Yes! And rightly so.

Canada is already on the band wagon disallowing said plastics to be used, why shouldn’t the good US of A not follow along, eh?!?

OK, now you ask, ‘why should I be any worried?’ Normally, I am not one to warn people like this, but as I lay down last night after reading an article on the subject of harmful plastics in our food while simultaneously catching the Food Network’s popular TV Show, “Food Unwrapped”, I watched the show whose topic was all things ‘orange’ and caught site of thousands of plastic bottles being filled with orange creme milk which were then fed to school children who readily drank the stuff. Yikes!

It lead me in deciding to write an article about this very subject. Immediately, I knew I should rethink what is even in my own refrigerator and what would I do to help avoid this plastic. Are these plastics well labeled that they contain BPA? No, not always…how so very nice for us unassuming consumers.

What is Bispherol A (BPA) and how does it harm us?

When the plastic bottles are exposed to boiling water for sterilization and even for pasteurization, BPA is released – and get this, can be released as much as 55 times than that of normal exposure of simply drinking from a plastic bottle that contains BPA, since the heat releases the toxins. Exposing the plastics to our dishwashers doesn’t necessarily make the cut either, as some scientists hesitate to say that this is safe, since the plastics are heated up so during the washing process.

And what does it do to our body? Frankly you really do not want to know – but it has been linked to many illnesses and diseases. Want to know a few? Obesity, diabetes, cancer, ADD, and premature onset of puberty just to name a few.

I quote, “The fear has been that exposure to BPA can cause birth defects and developmental problems. In addition, exposure to BPA has been blamed for a variety of other problems, including cancer, diabetes, obesity and attention-deficit disorder.”  – a recent article from the US News.com site (links below).

Now just think about the jump in numbers for ADD, diabetes, obesity and its correlation to the increasing use of plastics in our food supply. Hmmm, makes you think, yes? Well it should!

Here’s another quote from the NY Times: “While most of the focus is on products for children, including clear plastic bottles and canned infant formula, the chemical is also used in food-storage containers, some clear plastic pitchers used for filtered water, refillable water bottles and the lining of soft-drink and food cans.”

What seems to make the exposure or releasing of the harmful toxins greater is the heat. Scrubbing your plastic bottles makes it even worse as studies show.

Here’s another quote from the NY Times that shows you how wide its exposure hits our population…”The 2003-4 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found detectable levels of BPA in 93 percent of urine samples collected from more than 2,500 adults and children over 6.” WOW!!!! – Now you see why I was so concerned when I saw the multitude of kids drinking the orange creme milk from the plastic bottles. I am not saying that these plastic bottles that the kids were drinking from contained PBA – but do know those bottles were pasteurized with the milk in them…just saying.

How to Avoid PBA in your Food:

Start first of all to rethink how your foods are contained. Do you buy ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressing? Most of us do… switch to glass. Most of these food items are available in glass containers. You just have to look for them on your store shelves.

What about storing foods already cooked? Well – rethink that too…Check the plastic containers and bottles on the bottom…”Any product made of hard, clear plastic is probably made from polycarbonate unless the manufacturer specifically states that it’s BPA-free. One way to check is to look for the triangle stamp on or near the bottom: polycarbonate plastics should have the numeral 7 in the triangle, sometimes with the letters PC.”  – NY Times (link below)

Rethink your canned goods as well….

Plastic bottles are not your only concern…rethink your canned goods in addition…Canned Goods you ask? Yes! “While much of the focus is on plastic bottles, most human exposure occurs through the lining of canned foods. Canned beverages appear to contain less of the chemical than canned foods like soup, pasta, fruits and vegetables, which are often processed at high temperatures. Virtually every canned product, even those labeled organic, has a liner with BPA. One brand, Eden Organic Baked Beans, says it uses a BPA-free can.” – NY Times (link below)

Now before you start throwing food away, simply rethink your future purchases. Switch to fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. For storing your food, select glass, porcelain, and stainless-steel containers.

Some useful links to learn more that I think you may find of interest…

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080130/heating-plastic-bottles-releases-potentially-harmful-chemical.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/health/22well.html

http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/plastic-containers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26723119/

Now that you have learned a little, to help yourself and your family more, do not be afraid to make your own soups, grow your own vegetables, eat foods in moderation and certainly always eat a large variety of foods ( i.e. don’t stick with the same thing everyday) – serve up fresh fruits and vegetables since, as studies continuously show us that these foods in particular can really help you staying as healthy as possible due to their phytochemicals and antioxidants contents being readily available.

And come to think of it, let people know about this issue, spread the word in anyway you can. The more you know, the more you are forewarned and can do something to help not only yourself, but all those you care about.

~Chef Maven

Spring Cleanup Update

St. Francis Statues - Photo by Leah Quinn

For those following my ‘adopted garden’ posts, I finally took some photos of the garden as it stands now. I am most impressed with the lilacs whose buds are finally showing, the forsythia is almost spent, and the tiger day lilies are really starting to shoot up. Ahh, the wonders of spring. I also show here the statue of St. Francis that sits square in the middle of the garden that grows around….

A friend of mine is starting their own ‘blue’ garden – so I have provided you with links to help you choose a blue garden should you too wish to have an area in your garden where only blue flowers are present – a most unusual display gives way to a most interesting arrangements in vases inside your home and office.

Blue Flower Links:
http://flowergardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_blue_flower_garden

http://www.gardening-tips-perennials.com/typesofblueflowers.html

http://www.rose-gardening-made-easy.com/types-of-blue-flowers.html

The Garden, in the beginning

I will certainly be adding some herbs and flowers which can be added to foods – cannot wait!

Have a great day all!  ~chef maven

Huge Benefits of De-Cluttering – A New Life, Really

I am like most people here in the United States, in that we are likely the biggest group of people in the world who really know how to hoard. We will even hoard the strangest of things or shall we call them ‘collections’, but frankly got to tell you, today I really felt the joy of getting items out of my home with the use of freecycle.org.

One part of me actually wishes not to even tell you about this great global website, since then I will have to compete with you all when something good comes up, but frankly, good stuff comes up all the time. You can even place a post for an item you would like – and that is where I really struck gold recently.

So with the New Year upon us, I have been reading this Feng Shui De-cluttering book and again, I am entranced, re-energized and most importantly goal-oriented once again in getting my place back to what I would call organized. One of the main points in this little book, is that you will get your life back. By removing your unwanted items and only keeping that which is working, is beautiful and loved by you, you create your dream home and environment that encourages only the good in you and for only good to come into your life. It is that simple.

How many times, have you walked into a room and instantly feel down due to the large piles of paper, boxes, and stuff just sitting there? What about that over-packed closet? Ok, and when was the last time you say space on your desk or kitchen counter? We all have good intentions, but I must say, starting small in getting rid of items really helps you feel instantly satisfied that you have accomplished something. It then only gets your even more motivated, that you just may not stop.

I tell you this, since this is exactly what happened to me. Not only do you feel your insides getting energized, it helps you continue with your global plan in organizing your room or home. The overall feeling is so immense I can barely even describe it. This only took me maybe three hours over 2 days – and that’s with loads of breaks. Can’t wait to start on an even larger project tomorrow which I have been gearing up to do: my art room.

But really the most important thing to note, is that by removing this unwanted and un-used stuff from your abode, it allows for good to come into your life. Case in point? I had a large lounge chair that ever since it came into my home, my dog and cat seemed to have a severe case of fleas. Other things happened too. I kept spending money, cleaning continuously while washing my quilts and any fabric items till they were being torn from the constant washing.

I had been wishing for a day bed to use as a couch instead of this large chair – so, I threw out the chair, I put a ‘wanted’ post on freecycle.org, and voila – the day bed appeared, as did the new twin mattress, as well as a queen bed frame I needed to replace my old broken one with.

Within two days, I was able to rid my home with many bags of garbage filled with items of no good use to anyone, and gave away on freecycle.com a scanner, golf club cleaning set, sculpty clay, a pc flat monitor, a wicker rocking chair, office supplies, jewelry making supplies, a brand new juicer, among many other items. Not only is there room now where there wasn’t any. My place feels lighter. And furthermore, these items, no longer ‘loved’ by me are now loved by someone else who needed them more than I. To give it to receive, right?

I have written countless articles on de-cluttering, you can find many at theluckyzendog.com and the-divaliscious.com should you want directions on how to get started. One thing is for sure, there is really something to say about de-cluttering and its many benefits.

As for me, tomorrow, while I start baking homemade muffins, and making a strong batch of freshly grounded coffee, I will be attacking my art room with vigor, it only makes me more anxious for the day to begin already!

~Chef Maven