Soup's On Captain

Chicken Nuggets

2011-09-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

Chicken nuggets are one staple most children love and want. You can buy them if you like, but they are RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Instead, make your own.

There are a lot of ways to do it, and I'll add one each recipe as I gather them. This first one is the one I use.

INGREDIENTS
All-purpose GF baking flour of your choice
Eggs
Potato chips
Chicken

DIRECTIONS

Wash and cut up your chicken. I like to pound each piece with a tenderizer to make them flatter and easier to cook through. It also makes them easier to eat, more like commercial nuggets.
Crush your potato chips by putting them in a plastic bag and whacking it with a tenderizer, then rolling it with a rolling pin. You can also put them in a food processor, but NOT a mixer.
Set up your assembly line: a bowl with 1/2 cup flour, a bowl with 1 beaten egg, and a bowl of 1 cup crushed up potato chips.
Get your frying pan hot on medium heat and pour in about 1-2 tablespoons olive oil.
Begin:

Cover each piece with flour.
Shake off excess and cover with egg.
Let excess drip off and cover in potato chips
Put directly into the pan

Once the sides are cooked, flip and cook the other side.
Put cooked pieces on a drying rack.
Add more flour, egg, and chips as needed.
Once cooled, put in a freezer bag and freeze for up to two months.

Soup's On Captain?

2011-07-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

That's right! Named after my favorite Day Job Orchestra Video: DATA KRUPA

Bento Supply Websites

2011-07-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

From Japan with Love
Laptop Lunches
CasaBento
Bento&CO
J-List
All Things For Sale
Amazon
Lunchbots
Eco Lunch

The Bento Box: plastic? metal? glass?

2011-07-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

Many families using the autism diet or biomedical or homeopathy avoid plastics: which means no cheap cute bento boxes! I personally only avoid BPA plastic, which is banned from being used on surfaces that touch food in Japan. We do not microwave or put plastics in the dishwasher. Handwash all plastic, and do not put in the microwave EVER. In fact, get rid of your microwave.

Alternatives to plastic bento boxes include wood, glass, and stainless steel. Do not ever use aluminum. Here are some resources for finding plastic-free bento boxes to use:

Lunchbots
Eco Lunchboxes
Pyrex Glass
Lock & Lock
Wooden bento boxes can be found in most regular bento sites.

Candy

2011-07-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

First of all, candy is not necessary to be healthy.... but neither is bread! The fact of the matter is that humans need more than simply what is adequate in order to encompass the entire human experience, and so we have to ask ourselves what we're going to do about candy.

Children on the spectrum cannot have artificial ingredients, and some cannot have corn. Most candy is made with artificial colors and flavors and high fructose corn syrup. These things are unhealthy to begin with but for the autistic child it can lead to tantrums, frustration, and craziness.

At health food stores you can usually find organic candy, but they may still be made with corn syrup. If you are avoiding corn or sugar, you will need to go further to find candy your child can safely eat.

I do not have all the answers for candy. Check out the link below and the make your own informed decisions about what kind of candy your child can have, if any.

Indie Candy

Soy and Gluten Free Soy Sauce

2011-07-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

You CAN get gluten and soy free soy sauce! If you are not avoiding soy, there is a gluten-free version that is not soy free.

Coconut Aminos

Kikkoman's Gluten-Free Soy Sauce

San-J's Gluten-Free Sauces

All of these sauces can be used teaspoon for teaspoon for regular soy or 'soya' sauce.

What to do with nitrite-free lunchmeat

2011-07-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

The first thing you can do is make deli meat flowers. Once made, put a toothpick through the base and freeze, then you can take out the toothpick and store in freezer bags. Here is another tutorial on deli meat flowers.

You can use cutters to make shapes and designs. Anything you can imagine you can make. I like to cut them into circles and then freeze in stacks of three with wax paper in between for easy removal. Most bento shops have super cute cutters you can use to make animals, shapes, and other designs. Many japanese mothers put ham shapes on rice balls to make bunnies, pigs, or frogs.

I especially like using bento sandwich cutters that have little imprints in them. You have to remove the imprint part and use it separately from the cutter, but it usually turns out well. If you do a lot of them at once you can freeze them.

Of course you can always

Store Bought Noms to Make Bentos Faster and Easier

2011-07-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

I only cook about half of my son's bentos, the rest come straight from pre-made products. Here's a list of my current favorites! You can always make your own and freeze it for the same effect (cheaper too!)

Ian's Natural Foods: a super wide selection of kid's favorites made gluten and milk free.

Mi-Del: Baked goods that are gluten free. But not all are milk free, check labels.

Udi's: Allergen free breads

Applegate Farms: all-natural meat products

So Delicious: shelf-stable coconut milk in small packs for lunches

All-Natural Candy: we buy these products at different stores, but this website allows you to order all at once

Bento 3

2011-07-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

mini-onigiri with plum jelly, all-natural black forest ham flowers, vanilla mochi cake with peanut butter frosting and all-natural sprinkles, alphatots, a grape, two jelly beans

Bento 2

2011-07-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

Four rounds of peanut butter sandwiches made on Udi's Sandwich Bread, 4 GFCF animal crackers, 3 grapes, and an octopus and crab hotdog.

Vanilla Cinnamon 'Mochi Cakes'

2011-07-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 cup sweet rice flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder (make your own)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

Mix together all dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls.
Add wet to dry and mix with a fork, it should be a bit runny.
Coat a mini muffin pan with coconut oil and fill each cup to the top with the batter.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. They are almost done once they ahve risen and the tops are cracking. Cook another two minutes after this happens.
Cool completely and enjoy!

First day of School

2011-07-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

mini-onigiri with mango jam inside, a piece of GFCF chocolate, a hard-boiled egg, two chicken 'flowers', 1 mini strawberry mochi cake, a small tub of feingold-friendly jelly beans and dehydrated strawberries, and a cute container of coconut aminos, for the onigiri

My first Bento

2011-07-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

Two chicken flowers, coconut aminos, a piece of fiengold-friendly candy, 1 mochi cake, and jasmine rice

Soy-Free Tamagoyaki

2011-07-05T20:13:00.000-07:00

You can freeze these for up to a month if you like!

Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar (or your favorite sweetener)
1/2 tablespoon raw coconut aminos
coconut oil

Directions

Whisk eggs, sugar, and coconut aminos together.
Get pan hot over medium heat and add a small amount of oil to the pan (use a towel or napkin to make sure it coats the pan well)
Pour enough egg int he pan to cover the bottom, but no more. Swirl the egg around and jab at it so that the egg doesn't bubble up.
Using your spatula, grab the edge of the omelette and flip it over a little bit (maybe an inch of so, see the video for more explanation) while the middle of the omelette is still runny.
Keep flipping until you're made the roll.
Take it out of the pan and put onto a baking sheet or plate.
Once they are all done, put them in the oven at 200 degrees for about 15 minutes. In Japan the eggs remain raw because it is safe to do it, but in America our eggs are--frankly--awful and you cannot eat them raw.

Square bento box cover

2011-07-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

Guage is not important, this pattern is customizable but requires some knowledge of how to crochet. Not a super great beginner project, but it can be done.

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch

SQUARE BENTO BOX
R1: ch 4 and use a sl st to create a loop.

R1: ch 4, 2 sc in the loop,
* ch 2, 2 sc in the loop, *repeat once more,
ch 2, 1 sc in the loop,
join to beginning of row with a sl st.

R2: ch 2, sc in next st.
* sc, ch2, sc in the "corner" (where you did the ch 2)
sc in the next two stitches
repeat from * three times
EXCEPT the 3rd time,
only sc in one stitch, then join to beginning of row with a sl st.

R3 ch 2, sc in stitches up to the "corner"
* sc, ch2, sc in the "corner" (where you did the ch2)
sc in each of the next sc's, to the next corner
repeat from * all the way around, as in R2, and join your row again.

R4 on
Keep up this pattern until your square is a little bit bigger than your bento box. When you place your bento box on the mat, the sides should at least reach the top of the box, then you can move on.

WINGS

R1 make a loop on your hook like usual, then insert the hook into the first sc stitch AFTER a "corner", yo, pull through, then insert into the second sc stitch, yo, pull through. Pull your hook through the first two sts, then the next two sts on the hook to do a sc2tog at the beginning of the row WITHOUT doing a ch 2 first.
sc down the row until you have reached the second to last sc before the next "corner"
do another sc2tog, then turn

R2 Once again, do a sc2tog WITHOUT doing the usual ch 2 first. This will make a nicer curve.
sc down the row until you have reached the second to last sc before the next "corner".
turn
repeat R2 again

Keep repeating R2 until you've the wing reaches more than halfway over the middle of the top of your bento box when you place the bento box in the center of the mat.

Tie off this wing, and begin another one adjacent, but not parallel, to the first one.

To make the other two wings, find out where you might need a buttonhole on these wings and make a mental note as to which row you'll need to do them on.

TO MAKE THE BUTTONHOLE ROW

Do the sc2tog without the ch 2
sc in the next st.
Ch 1, and do not do a sc in the 4th stitch (pass it over)
Continue down the row normally starting with st 5, until you have 4 stitches left.
Ch 1, sc, then sc2tog.
Tie off.

Add buttons in the appropriate place with whatever method suits you, then tie up loose ends however you like. I used a contrasting color to do a slip stitch boarder on mine, but it isn't necessary.

Have fun!

Your child CAN learn!

2011-02-13T21:33:00.000-08:00

You can create slideshows to help your autistic child to expand their vocabulary, learn academics, and even learn to read. Get the information you need to teach your own child using PowerPoint or a similar program right here. You should have PowerPoint and a microphone and speakers in order to do this.

Hyperlexia is the superability of autistic children to read long before they can speak or even be expected to speak, even if there is no comprehension of what they're reading. Somewhere between 5-10% of autistic children are hyperlexic.

To get ideas on how to help your hyperlexic learn comprehension, phonics, and to further their reading ability I highly recommend the following books:

But of course, using these slideshows opens up other possibilities as well! My child has finally learned his colors, three simple shapes, and how to count to 20. He has also learned how to sort.

To get started, please download the following things:

The Print Clearly Font (created by a teacher for correct handwriting)
The Audacity Program (to record sound bites)
A Sample Slideshow to Give You Ideas (the first slideshow we made)
Sample Slideshow in movie (avi) format (in case you don't have powerpoint)

Install the audacity program and the Print Clearly font onto your computer. There are instructions on each site to help you if you are having trouble.

Watch the slideshow (sampleslideshow) to get an idea of how it works. Using the audacity program to record your own voice, and the Print Clearly font in the slideshow itself, you can use PowerPoint to make slides that will teach your child academics and reading that will interest them in ways 1 on 1 time cannot.

If you don't understand how to use PowerPoint, google it or check out a book at the library.
When recording audio on Audacity, choose "Export as WAV" to save your work so you can use the sound bite in PowerPoint. Record and save ONE sound bite at a time ("one" and "two" not "one, two")
Read the books suggested if you can and have fun creating your own curriculum! Have your child watch their slideshow at least twice a day for full absorption.

Easy to read lettering and simple concepts are a great place to start!

Recipes

2010-09-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

These are recipes I've made up or modified from recipes I already knew and posted on food.com (formerly known as recipezaar.com)

Most are gluten and casein free, or can be modified to become so. They are ALL cheap and show you how to make good food without using boxed dinners. When you DO need to use pre-packaged foods I tell you which ones to use that are not poisonous: they are preservative, artifical color and flavor and sugar, and GMO-free.

Rosemary Potatoes and Eggs
Nutritious Food Enhancer
Mexican Rice
Sweet Refried Beans
Banana Almond Cinnamon Breakfast Cereal
Honey Ginger Tea
Taco Night
Easy Cornbread and Chili
Sweet Onions and Beans
French Fry Seasoning
13-Bean Chicken Chili
Bean and Meat Chili
Toddler Super Porridge
Sugar Cubes

Homemade Cloth Menstrual Pads

2010-04-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

I'm not new to using cloth over disposable: we used cloth diapers on my son for two years. I never washed a single diaper, though, since we had a service who came to pick everything up once a week and dropped off new diapers. I never even rinsed a diaper!!

Well, ever since using cloth on my son, I've been thinking about cloth menstrual pads. I don't have that initial "yuck!" reaction that I'm sure other women who aren't familiar with the practice would get---I'm more concerned with the logistics. What if I'm out and about all day with the baby? Can I handle going to the restroom, changing the pad, and storing the used one all while keeping a good hold on my three year old autistic toddler??? (of course, since my son's disabled, I can use the wheelchair stall without feeling guilty so perhaps just keeping him in the stroller will fix that problem?)

I don't know if it's going to be possible, but I'm going to try it. I bought one GladRag from New Seasons DivaCup because frankly I was shocked to see a cloth alternative sitting on the shelf! To my surprise, the was also there! I might try the DivaCup in the future, but for now I like pads over the cups.

I brought the cute little pad home (I choose the "little blue dots" theme) and washed it. Well, it was still cute when it came out of the dryer---and it didn't require anything more than regular detergent (although I'm sure to use soapnuts on any used pads that will actually be put in my underwear). Ok, washing it went ok....but how does it feel?? It felt pretty comfortable---I mean, it wasn't like it wasn't there, but the plastic ones felt horrible in comparison!

Next came those 'convictions'. I like homemade products, I like reusable products, and I like it cheap. Could I sew my own---maybe using my current gladrag as a pattern? When I googled "how to make your own cloth menstrual pad" I hit several sites that had more information on how to sew your own customized cloth menstrual pad than you could shake a stick at! I have listed the ones I found most helpful below.

Was it good for the environment? At first you might think "of course!", but then I thought about those arguments made against cloth diapers. The soap runoff from washing all of those diapers is also something to worry about. However, when I thought more about it I realized that we used a completely natural product for washing our clothes: soapnuts liquid. Not only is it not harmful to the environment, but it's cheap. So yes, it IS good for the environment (I also discovered that you can buy COMPOSTABLE diapers and menstrual pads).

Ms. Holland said it best on her website, CLOTH MENSTRUAL PADS:

Any time we throw away something after one use we are throwing away resources. The average woman will throw away almost 300 pounds of disposable menstrual products in her lifetime. That is 300 pounds of chemicals, processed wood pulp and petroleum based plastic. Not to mention the resources needed to haul all that stuff to a factory, waste created while the products are being made, packaging materials, and the fuel needed to haul those disposable products to a store - and the fuel and time needed to purchase them and take them home.

Tampons are no better than pads when it comes to the environment. Tampons clog plumbing (my brother is a plumber, he makes a lot of money off those "flushed away" tampons). Tampons also contribute heavily to the sewage sludge problem that cities are dealing with all over the industrialized world. Sewage overflows lead to tampons and applicators washing up on beaches, in fact, tampon applicators are one of the most common sources of beach debris!

Cloth pads require only an extra small load of laundry or two each month and can last 5-7 years or more. Compare a dozen reusable menstrual pads to the mountain of tampons or disposables necessary for 5-7 years!

Producing cloth pads also requires less resource investment as there is minimal packaging, much lower fossil fuel cost for transportation to buy disposables, and far fewer chemicals and waste produced in their manufacture. Did you know that the plastic used in disposable pads or tampon applicators comes from petroleum? Using cloth menstrual pads is a step in the right direction at a time when our oil supply is causing so many economic problems.
Health

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is still a risk for anyone using tampons. The risk is much higher with disposable products. This is why they are required to warn you on the label and on the instruction sheet inside the box. Experts agree that TSS is underreported, despite the fact that all states are required to report all cases.

Despite the bleached white appearance, tampons and pads are not sterile. They are not sterilized - no disposable menstrual products are sterile.
The FDA does not require disposable menstrual pad users to list the ingredients on the label so you do not know exactly what chemicals are being placed against your sensitive and absorbant tissues for several days each month.

Savings

If you have an average flow, you likely spend about $10 a month on disposable menstrual products. Using cloth pads will save you money and time. You will need from 6-24 pads in your stash, depending on your flow. Most women use 8-12 pads at a cost of about $120. With proper care, cloth pads will last from 3-7 years or more.

Average cost of 7 years worth of cloth pads: $60-240 dollars

Cost of 7 years of disposables at an average of $10 per month: $840

Savings of $720 average, or about $100 per year.

Cost of 30 years worth of cloth pads: $240-1,000

Cost of 30 years of disposables: $3,600

These savings can be much higher if, like me, you have a heavier than average flow or if you use panty liners daily. The savings for incontinence users are often much higher. I don't know about you, but I can think of lots of things I'd rather do with my money!

I certainly could use that money for something else! After reading this, I just couldn't argue: it was time to give cloth a try.

This upcoming cycle, I am going to go for it. I'll make some pads, and try them out. Fortunately, you can make them from anything---so all those flannel baby blankets I have no idea what to do with will finally become useful again! So will some of Riot's old diapers I found (unused).

We'll see what happens, but I am hoping for a successful, comfortable period with NO TRASH ACCUMULATED. Wouldn't that be so wonderful???

Make your own Cloth Pads - Sewing Instructions with standard sewing machine

Homemade Sanitary Pads

Adahy's Cloth Pad Patterns

Cloth Menstrual Pads

As usual, I think every woman should make their own decision regarding how to handle their monthly gift. There are several other options out there, including sea sponge tampons, cups, the baby sock method, and simply buying some dish towels and folding them up to use. Use your brain, your heart, and your wallet to make a decision that works for you!

Baby Foaming Soap

2010-04-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

I have to admit it: I don't make my own soap.

It's a ridiculously complicated and long process that I'd rather not go through (well, maybe it isn't long and complicated---but I most certainly don't want to!). So, I buy bars of soap from the health food store. I buy Camumu soaps, which are made locally here in Portland, Oregon. You can order these soaps online to be sent to you if you don't live around here. If you don't know any local soapmakers yourself, this could be a great option. Of course, look locally first!

To make BABY FOAMING SOAP, you will need an unscented version of soap. As baby gets older, a scent made from essential oils would probably be ok. A newborn should not have any scents at all.

Take the bar of soap and score it in the middle, and then in the middle of each side. You only need 1/4 of a bar for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
1 tablespoon oil (olive or almond are best)
1/4 bar unscented soap
1 8oz foaming soap dispenser
5-6 drops lavender

DIRECTIONS
Chop up the soap into tiny pieces and then push them into the dispenser. Add the other ingredients and then fill the dispenser with warm water. Leave a little room at the top for the dispenser, and also so you can shake the liquid around.

Once the liquid has sat around for about six hours, start shaking it everytime you walk by it. Brush teeth, shake it; use the restroom, shake it; take a shower, shake it. By the time you've done this 3 or 4 times, the dispenser will make foam when you press on it.

When using this soap, be sure and shake it before dispensing. It will help the soap to continue to 'disperse' and also mix the oils in evenly before pumping. When the water gets low, but there's still a lot of soap at the bottom, simply add more oil, glycerin, and lavender. If you are also a fan of chamomile for babies, boil the water in chamomile flowers before adding to the bottle.

Preemie and Newborn Knit Socks

2010-03-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

I first published this pattern about a year ago on my old blog, but I think it deserves a reprint! I took this picture back then too, before I discovered that the slip stitch heel fit newborns much better. For this sock, you will need a set of 4 dpns in either size 2, 3, or 4 (depending on your yarn). To make a preemie sock, use fingering weight yarn on size 2 needles; for a full-term newborn, use sport weight yarn on size 3 needles. I knitted the pictured sock on size 2 needles with sock-weight yarn.

Well, happy knitting!

k: knit
p: purl
sl: slip
st(s): stitch(es)
R: round or row
CO: cast-on

CO 24 sts, loosely

Spread sts evenly onto 3 dpns (8/8/8)

RIBBING
1. Work in single or double rib for 15 rounds
    Single rib: k1,p1 all the way around, all rounds
    Double rib: k2,p2 all the way around, all rounds
2. k 2 rounds even

HEEL
Separate for the heel
1. on needle 1, k6
2. purl back over these sts
3. continue purling the last 6 sts on needle 3 onto needle 1
4. Move the four unworked sts (2 each from needles 1 and 3) onto needle 2
5. You now have only two needles (1 and 2), with 12 sts each

Knit the heel
R1: sl1 purlwise, k1 (repeat to the end of the row)
R2: purl all sts
Repeat R1 and R2 5 more times

Turn the heel
R1: k7, ssk, k1, turn work
R2: sl1 purlwise, p5, p2tog, p1, turn work
R3: sl1 purlwise, k6, ssk, k1, turn work
R4: sl1 purlwise, p6, p2tog, turn work

GUSSET
1. Use a free needle to knit 4 stitches from needle 1
2. Use another free needle to pick up the last 4 stitches from needle 1
3. Using the same needle and a crochet hook, pick up and knit 7 stitches along the gusset side.
4. Use another free needle to knit all of the instep stitches
5. Using your last free needle and a crochet hook, pick up and knit 7 stitches over the other side of the gusset and knit the 4 last stitches from needle 1 onto that same needle
6. You now have 34 stitches, arrange them with 10 on needles 1 and 3, and 14 on needle 2 (10/14/10)

Knitting the gusset
R1: needle 1: k7, k2tog, k1
    needle 2: k1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1
    needle 3: k1, ssk, k7
R2: k all sts
R3: needle 1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    needle 2: k12
    needle 3: k1, ssk, k to the end of the needle

Repeat R2 and R3 until you have 24 stitches (6/12/6)

FOOT
Knit all stitches all rounds for about 10-12 rounds (or until work measure about 3 inches from heel to live sts).

TOE
R1: needle 1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    needle 2: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
    needle 3: k1, ssk, k to end of the needle
R2: k all sts

Finishing the toe
1. Repeat R1 and R2 until you have 12 sts (3/6/3)
2. Repeat R1 twice until you have 4 stitches left (1/2/1)
3. Cut yarn, thread through last stitches and pull, then secure inside sock
4. Secure and trim loose ends.

Homemade Protein-Rich Cereal

2010-03-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

You may recognize this recipe if you've ever made your child Super Porridge from Ruth Yaron's book, Super Baby Food. In her book, she explains how amino acids combine to form complete proteins. For vegetarians, this is extremely important since they don't eat animal protein which is already formed. These types of proteins are usually cheap, healthy, and eco-friendly. Grains and beans are the most widely used complete protein in the entire world. The fiber, vitamins, and proteins in this dish have served people well all throughout the world since the beginning of time. Here is a simple cereal you can make that resembles malt-o-meal and is far better for you than any fortified cereal.

Ingredients
2/3 cup grains
1/3 cup beans/legumes
4 cups water
blender or food processor

Directions
Grind the beans and grains into a powder. Grind for at least 2 minutes, even if you think it's done. Add the powder to the water and mix thoroughly with a whisk. Set the stove to medium high heat and bring the cereal to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

You can add anything you want to this cereal, from raisins and cinnamon to almonds and cherries. Try peanut butter and honey or molasses!

My son eats the entire Super Porridge recipe, which I have published on recipezaar:
Baby Super Porridge
Toddler Super Porridge

This stuff is extremely cheap! Even if you use only organic ingredients, it is still extremely affordable. It will keep in the fridge for a week and the freezer for two months.

Alternative and Raw Milk

2010-03-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Alternative Milks

my son drinking his hemp milk

What's wrong with cow's milk?

Well, nothing really. It's healthy, natural, and full of enzymes, fats, protiens, minerals, and vitamins that keep us healthy! However, the highly processed white liquid you buy at the store that is labeled 'MILK' has nearly none of these things. In fact, it's harmful to your body! To get more information and form an opinion of your own, go ahead and use google to see what others are saying. To get you started try: 'the secret history of milk', 'the truth about milk', or 'milk sucks'.

The greatest tragedy is, of course, the cows. They are fed corn, which they were never meant to digest, and are treated terribly.

Milk in Children's Diets

For the most part, humans past the age of three don't need any milk. Before three (and sometimes even older, if the child and mother wish), a child should be drinking breastmilk. If you object to nursing past a certain age for whatever reason, you can also pump and then put the milk in a glass. If you never lactated for your child, or you adopted or are fostering a baby, you can always find a human milk bank where other mothers who are producing extra milk sell theirs to other parents who need it for their children. If you happen to know a lactating woman, you can also ask her to be your child's wet nurse. Breastmilk is almost always better than formula for developing babies (especially preemies), and so it is worth it to go through the extra trouble and cost to obtain human breastmilk for your child rather than powdered formula.

If you are lactating and plan to breastfeed your child, please remember to do what comes naturally. Nurse when your child wants to nurse, and do not follow a schedule. Nurse all throughout the night, for as long as your child needs to. Co-sleeping is often the method of choice for mothers who do round-the-clock on-demand nursing. Exclusively nurse for atleast 1 year, longer if you can. This is where you must advocate for your child, since it is common in America to start feeding your child solid food as early as 4 months. Make it clear to all who care for your child that they are not to be offered food until you say it is okay. Unless the child is sick and cannot hold breastmilk down, do not supplement their diets with any other liquid (water or juice). You might find it helpful to google 'virgin gut' and see for yourself the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for as long as possible.

To enhance breastmilk, many mothers take oil and DHA supplements such a fish or cod liver oil, and Ocean's Mom Prenatal DHA. While breastfeeding, and for most of your childbearing years, continue to take a prenatal vitamin everyday. My favorite is Garden of Life RAW Vitamin Code Prenatal.

To get help, support, and information about nursing, please visit some of the links below:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Le Leche League
WIC: promoting breastfeeding
Mothering
breastfeeding.com
kellymom

Milk in children and adults' diets.

After five, absolutely everything that is in even raw milk can be consumed from other whole organic foods or whole food supplements. When someone becomes ill, malnurished, or is fighting allergies and asthma, raw milk can help. Although raw cow's milk is meant for a calf, it can benefit a human who specifically needs the high concentration of nutrition that is in the milk. If you want to learn more about the benefits of raw milk, please google 'raw milk and _____' and enter the issue/disease you are interested in. You might like to google 'raw milk and children' and hear how some children have been brought back from the brink of death by consuming raw mammal's milk.

Some people drink raw milk on a regular basis for the health benefits, and this is most definitely something you will have to decide for yourself. A note of caution, although raw milk that has been collected properly is perfectly safe to drink, those with severely damaged immune systems should not drink raw milk (just like they shouldn't eat ANYTHING raw--not just milk).

So what else is there to drink?

Humans need water, nuts, seeds, grains, fruits, and vegetables in order to live a long healthy life. Organically grown animals that have been humanely treated make excellent meat, and are a great source of protein, but please be careful in choosing which meats you buy.

Nuts, seeds, and grains can be used to make 'milk'. It is usually made by soaking and grinding the food in water, and results in a white liquid which has much of the same nutritional contents as a mammal's milk. This type of milk is healthy and in most cases a great source of proteins, fats, and in some cases, calcium. There will not usually be too many vitamins and minerals in this type of milk--but you can consume those things in other whole organic foods. If you must supplement a child's milk intake with nut/seed/grain milks, then be sure and use a vitamin and calcium/magnesium supplement daily. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium, so many supplements comes with vitamin D in it. Vitamin D can also be acquired by playing outside. Many alternative milks have added vitamins and minerals (usually vitamin D and calcium).

Nut/seed/grain milks are very simple to make at home. My favorite recipes for alternative milks are found at Delicious Wisdom. Recipes can be found all over the internet, just google the recipe you want like this "______ milk recipe" and you'll probably find more recipes than you know what to do with! Some of the most popular alternative milks are soy, rice, oat, almond, hazelnut, and hemp. If you have troubles with cow milk, you may have trouble with soy as well. Almost all of these milks can be substituted in cooking.

One milk that requires no recipe is coconut milk. Like other milks, it has the right kind of fat and proteins for humans. It is easy to digest and can be substituted in cooking.

In conclusion.

While I'm sure you were looking for me to write all about a specific milk, I feel it's better for you to explore on your own. Some people simply don't know that the processed milk on their supermarket shelves are actually making them sick. Others think that there's only soy or cow's milk for them; and they're intolerant to both! Most importantly, I feel like it's important to destroy myths about children and milk, especially how long a child should be nursed for and whether or not they should drink cow's milk once they're stopped nursing. Raw milk is not new, it's the processed milk that is. To find a raw milk supplier in your state, check out www.realmilk.com.

Well, drink up that delicious, creamy, white liquid (or yogurt, or kefir, or ice cream...) with the knowledge that you've made an informed choice about the milk your family consumes. And don't be afraid to try something new!!!

Shampoo

2010-02-23T22:17:00.000-08:00

We use Camamu Soap for our shampoo since it is easy and doesn't cost too much, but there was a time when I played around with shampoo recipes.

Recipes vary greatly, but the basics are always the same: 1 part water to 1 part liquid castile soap.

The "1 part water" can be an herbal tea. Chamomile and calendula are good for blonde hair (which I know because I have blonde hair), but you can do your own research on which herbs are best for your hair or hair type.

Again, the way to infuse water with herbs is to boil the water, take the pot off the burner, and then put in enough herbs to soak up most but not all of the water. Once cooled, squeeze the herbs until all the water is out of them and use the resulting water in whatever recipe you're using. You will have to use more water than the recipe calls for because much of it will stay in the herbs or evaporate.

Extras to add in are essential oils (10 drops are good for a 16 oz bottle), tea tree oil, vitamin E oil, and jojoba oil (1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon are good amounts for oils).

I always add about 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin. I love glycerin--it's soo natural and moisturizing!!!

Once you've gathered your ingredients together and infused your water with herbs (which is optional, of course), you can begin. Mix the water and soap together and then slowly stir in your 'extras'. Use a funnel to store the shampoo in a squirt bottle or whatever you have around the house to store it in.

Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, you may need to use more or less shampoo while in the shower. Of course, don't forget to use a hair rinse once you're done!!!!

Lip Balm

2010-02-23T22:02:00.000-08:00

I am still trying to perfect this recipe, but I have successfully made one batch, so I thought I'd go ahead and post it. I'll probably update it as I get better at it, but for now, this is what I've got!

INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons beeswax
7 teaspoons oil (any kind you like)
1 teaspoon honey (totally optional, but absolutely delicious)
essential oils (only 5 drops, and make sure it can go on your lips!)
vitamin E oil (substitute 1 teaspoon of this for 1 teaspoon of regular oil)
beet juice (I happen to have a juicer, so I made some, but you may be able to buy it)
set up a double boiler

DIRECTIONS
First, get the water boiling and put the beeswax and oil in the bowl. Use a whisk to stir rapidly once everything begins to melt.

Take the bowl off the pot and on the counter. Add any extras you want. If adding beet juice, I'd recommend starting with 1 teaspoon and going from there until you've reached the desired color.

Keep whisking until everything starts to cool off and starts to get creamy.

Pour into a lip gloss container (I wouldn't recommend a chapstick-like container, just a glass jar will do).

I keep having trouble with some of the ingredients separating from each other. Also, I don't know that I'm adding enough beeswax. However, since I'm not picky, I'm not going to worry about this until the next batch I make. Stay tuned for an update on that in a few weeks!!!

Bath Salts

2010-02-20T01:04:00.000-08:00

You will find many recipes for bath salts all over the internet. Let me simplify it for you:

BASIC RECIPE
2 cups of salt!

Hee hee, it really is that simple! 2 cups of salt in a warm/hot bath is all you need to relax and feel better. Now, different kinds of salt will benefit you different ways. My son is autistic and takes epsom salt baths because it not only detoxifies him, but it puts magnesium into his bloodstream (amazing, isn't it??). Epsom salts help with all sorts of issues with sore muscles and dry skin---but also is nutritional. Don't drink the water, though, or you'll get diarrhea (yeah, I know----why would she warn me not to drink my own bathwater??? I have a toddler who does, so I thought I'd mention it!!). Other types of salts will help your skin---like dead sea salt.

The extras are where things get a little complicated. You can add herbs, oils, essential oils, dried milk powder, instant coffee, oats, and clay. Let me give you a little overview of what each does for you:

HERBS: some herbs help with your skin, but many are for aromatherapy (or to be aesthetically pleasing). If you can't have a certain essential oil (because you're allergic), then the herb might work better for you. Flower petals look nice, but don't do much for you. 1/2 to 1 cup of an herb or herb mix is suitable. To keep the tub clean, put them into a reusable (muslin) tea bag. Squeeze the bag once in a while to release the herb's oils.

OILS: these moisturize your skin, but can also make the tub slippery, so be careful! I don't think I've ever used more than 1-2 tablespoons per bath

ESSENTIAL OILS: these are purely for aromatherapy--so please don't overdo it! 5-10 drops are all that should be used per bath.

DRIED MILK POWDER: the milk is food for your skin---ever since Cleopatra started using it, it's been 'all the rage' for women all over the world. 1 cup is standard for each bath.

INSTANT COFFEE: literally for getting caffeine into your bloodstream. Don't use at night! 1/2 cup per bath is recommended.

OATS: oats are moisturizing. Have you ever seen Aveeno lotion's 'ingredients'? It says COLLOIDAL OATS. Colloidal oats are oat powder and water. Yeah, and it's $9 a bottle!!! Whole oats are fine, but powdered oats will work better. 1 cup per bath of oat powder is a good amount to use.

CLAY: clay is for detoxification only. It is very powerful. It also clogs your drains if you use too much of it. There are people who actually bathe in mud to detoxify their bodies, and it's quite healthy, but it is not well suited for the modern bathtub. If you plan on using clay anyway, let the clay settle on the bottom of the tub, use a bucket to drain the water out of the tub (put it down the sink or the toilet), and then scoop out the mud and dispose of it in the trash. NEVER let a bunch of clay go down the drain! Clay aids in the detoxification, which is why it's added to bath salt recipes. If you truly want to detox using clay, though, just use a foot bath and keep it out of your tub. (I have successfully used only ONE type of bentonite clay in the tub without clogging the drain---Kids Clear).

Clay is dangerous if used improperly, so please research recipes before using to determine how much to use, what temperature the water should be, and how long you should stay in the tub (clay is most dangerous in large quantities in hot water that you soak in for a long amount of time). If you don't know what I'm talking about, then stay away from clay baths altogether!

I keep all of my supplies (salts, essential oils, other oils, oats, etc) separate. That way, when I want to take a bath, I can just take cup, mix the bath I want, and then go dump it into the bathwater. There are lots of recipes all over the internet you can use, or you can make up your own. Here are a few of mine.

TODDLER TAMER BATH
2 cups epsom salt
5 drops lavender essential oil

BEDTIME BATH
2 cups epsom salt
1 cup powdered milk
5 drops lavender essential oil

WAKE UP!
1/2 cup instant coffee
5 drops sweet orange essential oil
no salt needed, but can be used if you want

SORE MUSCLES AND DRY SKIN
2 cups epsom salt
1 cup oat flour
2 tablespoons oil

You can see that once you learn what everything is for, you can whip up the perfect bath for yourself whenever you need it. And when you know how to make your own lotion and massage oils, the after bath experience can be just as relaxing or energizing!

Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, and Dryer Sheets

2010-02-20T00:36:00.000-08:00

Laundry detergent is something everyone has to use. We just don't have much of a choice, do we??? Well, I've tried out a few things in my time that have worked well for me and my family; but let me tell you, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to laundry detergent!

One recipe we used for a nice long time is a combination of baking soda and borax. We eventually abandoned this because it was hard to mix in bulk (the borax was hazardous to inhale, and also IMPOSSIBLE to NOT inhale!), left tons of gunk and dirt in our washing machine, and over time left a gray dinge on all of our whites. In case you'd like to try it for yourself, here is the recipe:

1 large box borax
2 small boxes baking soda
Once mixed, use one tablespoon per load

I suppose if you're in a pinch, this formula would do for a few months. However, you'll have to get into the washing machine once a week with a Magic Eraser to get the dinge off of the sides and prevent it from getting onto your clothes. High efficiency washers may not have this issue.

After a year of using this recipe, we 'threw in the towel' and bought a container of 'all free and clear' and ran all of our clothes through with it until it ran out. Once that was done, we had to think of something else. We tried using castile soap, castile soap with the above recipe, and soapnuts.

Now, the soapNUTS were horrible and we weren't impressed. However, the 18x soapnut liquid worked well. A bit of baking soda (maybe a tablespoon) helps a lot. It only takes a half-teaspoon of the liquid, and the bottle has about 96 loads in it. To be fair, it won't help you out with stains. We put dish liquid on any stains as they come to us, let it sit overnight, and THEN wash it with the soapnuts liquid.

In my own opinion, soapnuts liquid is better than homemade laundry detergent. I can't believe I'm saying this---I'm so ashamed!!! :)

In any case, I have come to the conclusion that without saponified oils or lye (castile soap or soapnuts liquid), your washing machine won't work correctly. Soapnuts is about $0.20 a load, and frankly that's a pretty good price. I'd encourage you to look into it at NaturOli.

Now, as for fabric softener, that's easy! 1/2 to 1 cup of white distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle works wonders, especially for towels.

I don't like dryer sheets because they don't really do what they're supposed to (unless you're looking to reduce static cling, which isn't really an issue for us) and they leave lots of chemicals on your clothes. Instead, take 1 reusable teabag (generally made of muslin), fill it with 1/2 cup of dried lavender flowers, and leave it in your dryer for about 10 loads. Once the flowers are all used up, empty it out and fill with fresh flowers.

Conditioner or Hair Rinse

2010-02-20T00:13:00.000-08:00

After taking great care of wash your hair with a nice homemade shampoo, you might be wondering how to 'condition' your hair. Well, for the most part, you don't need to! That's right, your hair will do just fine without artificial lubricants when the shampoo you use doesn't totally strip it of vital oils.

However, there is something you can do to improve manageability and shine. Hair rinses are a great way to do this when you're on a budget or you want something that won't weigh your hair down or put all sorts of nasty chemicals in it!

BASIC INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
16 oz cup
water

EXTRAS
1-3 tablespoons raw honey
herbs
5-10 drops essential oils

First, put in your vinegar. Make sure it's unfiltered, raw, and organic! If you are using herbs, make a tea out of it and use the tea instead of water. Different herbs can do different things for your hair, so do some research to decide which herbs you might want. Fill the cup with the water or tea. Stir in honey and/or essential oils at the end. Again, be careful with essential oils---less is more!

In the shower, slowly pour the rinse all over your hair, rubbing it into your hair and scalp as you go. Some people like to use a squirt bottle for this---but any cup from your kitchen will do. Now, shave your legs or do something else for about 5 minutes. Rinse your hair thoroughly, and you're done!

Your hair will smell like apple cider vinegar until it dries. It takes some getting used to, but over time your hair will become softer and softer until you can't imagine ever putting 'conditioner' on it ever again!

You can use this hair rinse anytime you want, but it is only necessary two times a week.

Deodorant

2010-02-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

Commercial deodorants not only have yucky chemicals in them---most also have aluminum. Yikes! The skin under your arm is sensitive and absorbs whatever you put on it directly into your blood stream. It has been linked to breast cancer in both men and women.

There are some safe alternatives: crystals, sprays, and Tom's of Maine also makes a nice oil-based deodorant that works nicely. However, they're all very expensive compared to the following recipe.

Now, I can't take full credit for this recipe because, well, I got it from someone else! It is actually a very common recipe found all over the internet, but credit for me learning it has to go to Lindsay: who was one person who inspired me to start living frugally and making my own 100% pure bath and body products.

Well, here's the basic recipe:

BASIC INGREDIENTS
coconut oil (in its solid state)
arrowroot powder
aluminum-free baking soda

The ratio for mixing is: 7 parts oil, 4 parts arrowroot, 4 parts baking soda.

Place the powders in a bowl and plop in the solid coconut oil. Use a fork to mash the coconut oil into the powder until it is incorporated equally. I store mine in a small mason jar, but Lindsay says some people are pressing it into their old deodorant containers and using it like normal. I haven't been able to do that, since the coconut oil tends to melt during the summer.

If you wanted to add extras, you could use tea tree oil. I wouldn't recommend any essential oils, though there are recipes for it on the internet that use this basic formula. If you get some irritation from this recipe, read Lindsay's full blog on the subject of homemade deodorant as she has some ideas on how to make it less irritating. I have not had any irritation from this recipe at all, but some people might.

To use, grab a dollop from your jar and massage under your arm until it is absorbed.

That's all there is to it to be odor-free and aluminum-free all day!

'Intimate' Lubricant

2010-02-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

When it comes to bedroom time, you don't want to be let down right when you need it. You also don't want any burning, stickiness, allergic reactions, or...well, dryness. Commercial products you can buy (like K-Y) are full of chemicals that irritate women and men equally. Whether it's water or oil based, warming or tingly, it's not likely to be your best friend the next morning!

That's where having some oils in the bedroom can really 'help' things out! Oils that work well in the bedroom are olive, coconut, and almond. Of course, organic, extra virgin, and unrefined as they apply is best. Essential oils are best used in the diffuser or in a separate massage lotion or oil that won't be used intimately. If you use an essential oil for massage, please wash your hands thoroughly before becoming intimate. In fact, it's almost better to keep them off of your hands altogether!

In my earlier post, Lotion, you can learn how to make a pure lotion from oil and water that is also suitable for intimate use.

For best accessibility, keep in a clean dry shallow mason jar on or in the nightstand. Almond oil must be refrigerated for best life, but it warms easily on your hands.

Natural pure oils can compromise the strength of latex products. Please use polyurethane or lambs skin in the bedroom when using these oils.

Foaming Liquid Soap

2010-02-19T22:07:00.000-08:00

Ever wondered if you could make your own foaming hand soap? Well, it's super easy and YES YOU CAN!

Once again, buying products off the shelf at your local supermarket will give you lots of chemicals and almost nothing beneficial for you. It's a waste of money! Making your own foaming soap is the most economical way to use your liquid castile soap, old soap shavings, and leftover pieces of soap. Well, without further adieu, here's how to do it!

BASIC INGREDIENTS
1 foaming soap dispenser
water
soap

The soap can be liquid castile soap, or leftover bar soap.

ADVANCED INGREDIENTS
essential oils
tea tree oil

DIRECTIONS
The ratio of water to liquid castile soap is 1 part soap to 6 parts water (so for a small dispenser it might go 1/8 cup soap to 3/4 cup water). If you're using bar soap leftovers, just push the slivers into the dispenser and add water (try and guesstimate how much water it'll need); shake after each use until the shavings are all dispersed.

Do a few pumps to make sure it's working. If not, add more soap until it does. Once you have a good foam going, add any extras you might want. Remember, essential oils can be dangerous if used improperly, so do research on the oils you want to use before adding them.

TIP: foaming soap made from Dr. Bronner's Magic Baby Mild soap and plain water is a great baby soap---it goes where you put it and rinses easily!!!

Lotion

2010-02-19T21:53:00.000-08:00

The most economical thing you could make at home is lotion!

Just go and look around your house--you have a lot of lotion, don't you? Facial moisturizers, firming lotions, stretch mark lotions (didn't work, did it?), baby lotion, hand lotion, medication lotion, antibacterial lotion, etc.

While I think it's just fine to have different kinds of lotions for different purposes, it tends to rack up quite a large price tag in the end. On top of being expensive, most lotions don't have what you want in them and have a lot of stuff you don't want in them. Phthalates and parabens are really long 'p' words that I don't like -- and neither does your skin! Remember, if you can't eat it, you shouldn't put it on your skin!

Lotions are great for people who have extremely dry skin because lotion has both water and oil infused together into one product. Oils should be used on damp skin (not always possible), and is messier than lotion. Lotion stays where you put it, whereas oil will roll off the skin (and down your leg, to your carpet). Lotions enable the benefits of water and oil to be more easily absorbed by your skin, which is great for babies and tots.

It's time to make your own! Let's begin!

BASIC INGREDIENTS:
1 cup oil
1 tablespoon liquid lecithin
1 cup water
1 high-speed blender

ADVANCED INGREDIENTS
essential oils
vitamin E oil
other beneficial oils (jojoba, tea tree)
herbs

DIRECTIONS
If you are wanting to use dry herbs in your lotion, that's fine. Just take the water and boil it, then put the herbs in and let it steep for 15-30 minutes. Squeeze the herbs to get all the water out and use the resulting 'tea' for your 1 cup of water. You can also infuse the oil with herbs, but it takes much longer and I frankly don't think it works as well.

All of your 'extras' except for the herbs should be set aside for after emulsification.

Place oil, water, and lecithin in a high-speed blender and blend on its highest setting until it becomes lotion (3-5 minutes, sometimes much sooner). If after 5 minutes it is not coming together, you have either put in the wrong proportions or your blender is not fast enough. The 'magic bullet' is fast enough---in fact, the only thing I use it for is lotion and grinding grains and beans. As for other models of blenders, I have no idea. You may find that adding more oil or lecithin helps, you might not. Find what works best for your model and save the proportions you used for future use.

After it's come together, add your 'extras'. I have heard that vitamin E and tea tree oil make lotion last longer, but I haven't found it to be true. I keep our lotion in the fridge and it lasts for a week. If you need a moisturizer to last longer, try just using the oil and extras and mixing it together. Water and oxygen is what makes it go rancid---and even then, some oils won't last long unless refrigerated.

Oils that work well are coconut, almond, and olive. Make sure whatever you use is organic and, if applicable, extra virgin.

When my baby was young, I used almond oil with chamomile-infused water to make lotion. Now that he's older, I can put a few drops of lavender into his mix to help him chill out and feel great. If you have a newborn on your hands, only use pure oil and water to make lotion.

To make your lotion less heavy, put in more water. More oil will make it creamier. However, too much of either one might stop your lotion from coming together, so play around a bit.

Some essential oils are not suitable to be used on the skin. Do research on any essential oil you plan to use before you use it. Never put undiluted essential oils on your skin---and never ingest them. I would suggest googling "ESSENTIAL OIL SAFETY" if you have any questions. Opinions can vary greatly, so I suggest you do your own research before you start mixing!