Green Your Life!

Honoring our veterans--Past, Present & Future

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:54:00 +0000

Thank you to all our veterans who have served in the past,
who are serving now,
and who will be serving in the future.

Toxins in Make-up You Tube Interview With Stacy Malkan

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:17:00 +0000

Celeste interviews Stacy Malkan here

Check the safety rating of YOUR beauty & personal care products here.

Soap Nuts: the Green Clean Detergent

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:48:00 +0000

Author: James J Clarkson

The North American consumer is moving towards becoming an informed buyer. An average American is now aware of facts that previously went unnoticed such as the presence of Triclosan in anti-bacterial soaps, bisphenol-A in plastics and that air fresheners are abuzz with phthalates. In simple words, the above describes the various harmful chemicals that are present in items that a person uses on a daily basis. People are now coming to realize that such chemicals are not just harmful to human health but also deplete the environment. The shift towards plant based and natural products is evident.

Why not regular laundry detergents?

Cleaning and washing laundry are a regular household task. There are various options in the market in the form of cleaning aids and commercial laundry detergents. These detergents contain a blend of many toxic chemicals that are present in the form of residue on clothes after they are washed. The skin may absorb these chemicals into the blood stream or they may evaporate and be taken in by children causing potential health effects.

Regular laundry detergents contain ammonia and phosphates which is why many people experience itching, rashes and allergic reactions ,such as eczema, to these detergents. A better, safer, ethical and environmental friendly option would be to use Soap nuts as a detergent and cleaning aid.

Soap nuts as detergents and cleaning aids

Soap nuts are a type of berry native to India, Nepal and other South Asian countries. The larger variety of soap nuts (Sapindus Mukorrosi) is widely used as a natural detergent and cleaning aid all over the world. The saponins in soap nuts make them an excellent detergent and cleaning aid.

Saponins are nature’s cleansing agents that act like soap when they come in contact with water. The saponins dissolves in the water and function as detergents. The soap nuts allow water to penetrate well into the fabric thereby washing and cleaning them. The dirt is attached to the surfactant which is then drained along with the water.

How to use soap nuts for laundry?

In order to use soap nuts for laundry purposes, 4-6 soap nut shells will be required. The soap nut shells should be taken and tied together in small muslin bag (supplied with most soap nuts orders), and tossed into the washing machine. Now you can add your clothes and do your normal laundry cycle. This set of soap nuts can be used for 4 to 5 loads of laundry. The soap nuts should be changed when they become grayish or mushy. It is advisable to allow the soap nuts to dry between successive loads of laundry. The soap nut bag should be removed before running the clothes in the dryer.

To make a liquid solution, 100 grams of soap nuts, (or approximately30-35 whole soap nuts) should be boiled in approximately 3L of water for about 20 to 30 minutes. A liquid will be obtained which is a chemical free, concentrated soap nut solution; a natural aid to all your laundry detergent needs. The shells that are left over may be added to your compost. Then 45 ml of this solution (approximately 3 tablespoons) can be used for a load of laundry. The solution made with 100 grams of soap nuts can be used for washing approximately 40 loads of laundry and will cost you less than $10!

Benefits of using soap nuts as laundry detergents

Soap nuts help maintain the bright colors of the fabric and prevent fading with each wash. Soap nuts can be used to wash the most delicate fabrics such as silks and woolen garments without causing any harm to them.

Clothes washed with soap nuts come out feeling very soft eliminating the need to use additional fabric softeners.

The use of soap nuts does not cause any allergic reactions as it is completely natural and chemical free. They are ideal for people with allergies, eczema, dermatitis and sensitive skin.

For more articles on soap nuts visit http://www.HotterThanHealth.com/Newsletter.html

For pricing & to purchase soap nuts visit http://Stores.HotterThanHealth.com/StoreFront.bok

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/soap-nuts-the-green-clean-detergent-376954.html

About the Author:

http://Stores.HotterThanHealth.com/StoreFront.bok

Ten Terrific Superfoods That Will Enhance Your Wellbeing

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:17:00 +0000

Author: Roger Wakefield

Athough many people think of the term 'superfood' as a modern phenomena, records show that the term has been in use since at least 1945, and possibly early if we allow the hyphenated version, 'super-food'.

So what are they, and are they really all that 'super'?

In modern times, the term is generally used to indicate that a food has nutritional properties that are above and beyond those needed just to sustain life - usually that they contain vitamins and nutrients that have been proven to reduce the risk of disease and promote good health.

The claim is that 'Superfoods' are jam packed with nutrients and have great healthgiving properties. They are also supposed to boost our energy levels, prevent illness, boost brain power and repair cell damage.

If you want to test this theory out for yourself, look for ways to get the following superfoods into your diet.

1. Brazil nuts – These contain selenium which helps to protect the body against certain cancers, Alzheimer's disease and depression. Nuts help to reduce our risk of heart disease and can help to control our appetites. Look for free recipes online which make use of this wonderful nut.

2. Olive oil – Olive oil is a mono-unsaturated fat which helps to lower cholesterol. It is a source of antioxidants which help to fight the signs of ageing and protect us from damage caused by free radicals like smoking and pollution. Olive oil is a main ingredient in the healthy Mediterranean diet so look for Mediterranean diet free recipes online.

3. Apples – The humble apple is high in Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant, and high in pectin, a soluble fibre which keeps the digestive system in good working order and helps to lower cholesterol.

4. Seeded Wholegrain Bread – The fibre in the bread keeps the digestive system healthy, the seeds are a source of essential fatty acids and phytoestrogens in linseeds and soya can help relieve symptoms of the menopause. These high fibre breads also help to control appetite.

5. Baked beans – Baked beans are brilliant. The tomato sauce is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant which protects the body from prostate cancer and heart disease. Insoluble fibre in the beans helps to keep the digestive system healthy. Beans are also rich in calcium, iron and protein. Serve baked beans on seeded bread toast for a great superfood meal!

6. Tea – Both black tea and green tea are rich in antioxidants. An antioxidant in tea, catechin, helps to keep our arteries healthy and stops blood clots forming.

7. Bananas – Bananas are high in potassium which is essential for healthy hair and skin and also helps to lower blood pressure. Bananas are also high in antioxidants and are a great source of energy. Bananas can be used in low fat recipes to replace half the fat content in cake recipes.

8. Yogurt – Yogurt is a great source of calcium which is essential for healthy teeth and bones. Bio yogurts also help the digestive system by topping up the amount of friendly bacteria present in the intestines. Make your own yogurt – find free recipes online.

9. Salmon – Salmon is an oily fish and oily fish are often known as “Brain food” because eating oily fish regularly helps to prevent dementia and depression. Eating oily fish also reduces the risk of heart disease, build up of plaque on the walls of the artery and lowers triglyceride levels.

10. Broccoli – This vegetable is high in folic acid which is thought to lower the risk of heart disease and phytochemicals which help to prevent cancer. Broccoli also contains the antioxidants Vitamin C and lutein which is thought to delay the onset and progression of AMD, age related macular degeneration.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/ten-terrific-superfoods-that-will-enhance-your-wellbeing-480372.html

About the Author:

Roger Wakefield works for for the Recipe File site, (http://www.recipe-file.co.uk), one of the best established recipe sites online. The Recipe File website contains more than 40k recipes which cover recipes as diverse as appetizer recipes to stew recipes. Home cooking can be simple and fun if you have some great recipes to start with. The Recipe File makes sure you will never have trouble finding a scrumptious recipe whenever you want.

Top 10 Reasons to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Your Health

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Author: Hope Pope

Copyright (c) 2008 Hope Pope

Here are top 10 reasons to use Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for your health. (However, don't use anything but "Raw apple cider vinegar. Braggs is a great brand.)

1. Energy. Take 1 tablespoon, 2 times a day in 8 ounces to 16 ounces of water. This is especially helpful if you have a baby or little children... and you need the energy to keep up with them.

2. Bug bites. To take away the itching and the bites quickly, dab the bites with straight ACV or mix it with half water, half vinegar.

3. Slows down bleeding during menstrual cycle. To lessen the bleeding each period, take 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in a glass of water... 2 times a day.

4. Cuts. Hippocrates used raw apple cider vinegar to treat cuts. It was helpful years ago and it is helpful now. It stops the bleeding rather quickly and heals cuts as well. Put a compress of straight ACV or mix it with half vinegar and half water. Does it sting? Yes, it typically does... just like any other treatment would. But it will only typically sting for a few seconds.

5. Shiny hair. Use apple cider vinegar after shampooing for a beautiful shine. Mix one half of a cup of ACV with one half of a cup of water... and then rinse the hair with this. Then rinse again to get it all out of the hair.

6. Fever. Put 1 cup of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR in the tub and soak in it for 10 to 20 minutes. If the fever is extra high, it is recommended to do this two times a day. This is the only thing that worked to bring my child's fever down... on more than a few occasions.

7. Cysts. Dab ACV on the cyst for a few minutes (if the cyst is really big, a longer time is suggested... such as 10 minutes). Putting ACV on a bandaid ... and applying a bandaid on the cyst all night ... is often helpful.

8. Earache. Using ACV in the ear has shown to help an earache. Make a mixture of ½ tsp ACV and ½ tsp distilled water... and put a few drops in the ear.

9. Toothache. Swish the Vinegar in the mouth... especially the area where it is affected. Keep it in the mouth as long as possible. ACV has a very strong smell ... so some people might not be able to do this... but if it is possible, it can be very helpful.

10. It's cheap! It costs less than $6 (in most health stores) and it cures so many things.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/top-10-reasons-to-use-apple-cider-vinegar-for-your-health-643666.html

About the Author:

Hope Pope is the Owner of www.provennaturalcures.com ... a web site that includes natural cures for warts, yeast infections and more. To read another article on the benefits of apple cider vinegar, click here... ezinearticles.com/

Author Interview: Elizabeth Henderson-Sharing The Harvest, A Citizen's Guide To Community Supported Agriculture

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I had the opportunity to do an e-mail interview with Elizabeth Henderson, author of Sharing the Harvest, A Citizen's Guide To Community Service Agriculture. Elizabeth started one of the first CSAs in 1988 and has been an organic farmer for 25 years.

*************************

Celeste: What are the health benefits of eating organic produce?

Elizabeth: There are clear health benefits to eating organically grown foods. Recent studies show that organic foods are much less likely to contain residues of chemical pesticides and are denser in essential vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidents. Interested readers can find the research studies on the Organic Center website – www.organiccenter.org.

The food from local, family-scale organic farms is fresher, richer in nutrients, and grown with greater care than the industrialized organic food shipped from California or elsewhere that appears in supermarkets. Knowing your farmer is the best way to assure the safety of your food.

Celeste: If a consumer can afford a limited number of organic items, what fruits and veggies should they start with?

Elizabeth: The fruits and veggies with the highest level of chemical residues are peaches, strawberries, potatoes, lettuce, and spinach.

Celeste: How is the consumer helping the environment when buying organic?

Elizabeth: One’s own health is very important, but many people also want to contribute to reducing the likelihood of severe climate change. Eating organic:

Uses less energy.
Is good for the health of the planet.
Organic farms use 30 to 60% less energy than conventional farms.
By using cover crops and composting, organic farmers stock carbon in the soil, which helps to reduce the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
Buying from local farms cuts out the huge energy expenses for transporting food from distant places.
And when you buy directly from farms at farmers' markets, farm stands or through community supported agriculture, you cut out the middlemen and spend less money on your food.

Celeste: Do organic farmers use botanical pestides? Chemical residues on soil and crops? How about sodium nitrate?

Elizabeth: Organic farmers sometimes use botanical pesticides, but these break down very quickly and have not been found to leave residues on the food. Organic food is not guaranteed to be free of all chemical residues since these are so pervasive in our environment that even mothers’ milk has residues. But organic farmers do not make things worse by using synthetic, toxic materials in growing food. Sodium nitrate is allowed in limited amounts in organic production. Personally, I have never used any in 27 years of organic farming.

Celeste: What are some important things a person needs to consider when choosing a CSA?

Elizabeth: Every CSA is different! You should select the CSA that offers what you are looking for. Some CSAs give you the opportunity to participate in growing the food or helping with distribution. Others simply deliver the food to a convenient place near where you live. Every CSA provides information about how your food is grown, shares recipes and gives you the chance to connect with a special piece of the earth and to share the risks and benefits with farmers whom you get to know.

What Steps Has Your Family Taken To Go More Green? Linked In Members Respond!

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:22:00 +0000

What steps has your family taken to go more green?

Dave Maskin wrote:
"If we all do a little bit, it will add up BIG TIME!"
http://www.WireNames.com

The one big thing we've done is to change out our regular light bulbs for compact fluorescent ones.
Also, completely unplugging cable boxes and TVs when not in use, as well as computers and modems.

Hans Chung wrote:
"I think that helping more people go green by focusing
on greening business has the most impact."
http://www.mokugift.com/

I went green by starting my own company to help other people and companies go green while saving money or driving revenue.

We let you plant a tree for $1. Consumers can send them to each other or companies can use them as rewards.

Taylor Ellwood wrote:
"It comes down to making little choices, but those
little choices can have a big effect on how you live your life."
http://www.imagineyourreality.com

We've changed our lights to flourescent bulbs
Started composting
Even making sure not to throw out a paper bag we use to collect paper for recycling...

Susan Shwartz PhD wrote:
http://www.sff.net/people/susanshwartz/

I buy mostly fresh foods with as little packaging as I can manage.
I turn off all lights that I am not using.
My apartment is cooler.
I watch water consumption.
Although I use plastic bags, I recycle them.
I repair, rather than throw out, and buy most clothes on e-Bay.
I do not own a car.

Shane Wyatt McCartney wrote:
http://swmccartney.blogspot.com/

Recycle
Changed out lights to LEDS
Down to one car and plan our shopping drives better
Composting
Green roof and siding ( Started not complete )
Turned off room lights when not in use

Beate Bouwman wrote:

In a family with five young kids we don't use a tumble dryer or dishwasher,
Buy either very good clothes or second hand
In business, I promote low energy houses (wood - frame-construction with use of loam products (very high insolation), regenerating energy from sun and water etc.).
My husband is also into MPC.

Aurora Bramble wrote:
"If everyone lived simply maybe everyone could live a decent life. I don't want to be one of the small % of people to use the great % of resources."

I now buy all my personal and cleaning products green
I look for organic cotton and bamboo fabrics in clothes bedding towels
I got the electric company to come out and put in free insulation for the top floor of my apartment building
I sat in on my city's green committee came up with a plan for green incentives for businesses in my city and gave it to the chairman
I got the city to include the end of my block a triangular shape included into the city's beautification project. They made a beautiful little park lush and full of flowers and some picnic tables
I ride my bike pretty much everywhere
I consume as little as possible i am big time into simplicity
I buy all my produce from a farmer's market and i am a vegan the rest I buy at whole foods organic
X-mas lights this year LED
Cards recycled paper
I rarely use lights in my apartment because it is bright here so i get up when it's light and wide down when it gets dark and i use candles for atmosphere made.
If everyone lived simply maybe everyone could live a decent life. I don't want to be one of the small % of people to use the great % of resources. I live in an apartment so it is tricky to grow vegetables and herbs but I'm trying.

Get $5 off your iherb.com order when you use Code CEL445.

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:17:00 +0000

Some of my fave iherb products:

New Chapter Woman's One Daily
Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
100% Natural Vanilla Oil
Spry Gum
XyliWhite Toothpaste
Giovanni Shampoo
Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap
Krystal Salt
Hemp Seeds

Just use CEL445 at iherb.com to get $5 off your first order!

Author Interview: Stacy Malkan: Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of The Beauty Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Stacy Malkan

Author of
Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry

CELESTE: What is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics?

STACY: A national coalition of health and environmental groups working to shift the beauty industry away from toxic chemicals and toward safer ingredients.

CELESTE: How can consumers find out if their favorite beauty item contains harmful chemicals?

STACY: Check out the Skin Deep database at www.CosmeticDatabase.org. You can look up your favorite products, find out how toxic they are, and identify the safest alternatives in every product category.

New Book Reveals Ugly Side of Big Beauty

Lead in lipstick? 1,4 dioxane in baby shampoo? How is this possible? Simple. The $50 billion cosmetics industry is so powerful they’ve kept themselves unregulated for decades. Stacy Malkan’s new book, Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry (New Society Publishers, 2007), follows a group of health and environmental activists as they knock on the doors of the world’s largest cosmetics companies to ask some tough questions:

Why do companies market themselves as pink ribbon leaders in the fight against breast cancer, yet use chemicals that may contribute to that very disease?

Why do products used daily by men and women of childbearing age contain chemicals linked to reproductive harm and infertility?

As doors slammed in their faces, the beauty myth peeled away and the industry’s toxic secrets began to emerge. The good news is that while multinational corporations fight for their right to use hazardous chemicals, scientists are developing non-toxic technologies and entrepreneurs are building businesses based on the values of health, justice and personal empowerment.

CELESTE: Are cosmetics regulated as to what can or cannot go into making them?

STACY: Most people are surprised to find out that companies can put nearly any chemical into personal care products with no required safety testing. Cosmetics are the least regulated product at FDA. It’s up to the companies to decide what’s safe, and companies are making decisions all over the board – some are making products safe enough to eat, while other companies regularly put carcinogens, reproductive toxicants and other hazardous chemicals into products.

CELESTE: Tell me about phthalates.

Phthalates are a set of industrial chemicals that are toxic to the reproductive system. We all have phthalates in our bodies. For 30 years, scientists have known that certain phthalates cause birth defects of the penis, infertility and testicular tumors in animal studies. These same health effects have been increasing in humans in recent decades and many scientists suspect phthalates. Unfortunately, many personal care products contain phthalates, but the chemicals are not listed on labels because they are part of the fragrance.

CELESTE: What steps should consumers take before they purchase health and beauty products to make sure what they are buying is safe and environmentally friendly?

STACY: A good rule of thumb is, simpler is better. Choose products with fewer synthetic chemicals, shorter ingredient lists, and try to avoid synthetic fragrance. Also check out the Skin Deep database to research your products and find the safest brands.

CELESTE: Do you think women are aware that what they spend their dollars on in the health and beauty department does have a HUGE effect on their health and the health of our environment? Please explain.

STACY: We’ve all been trained through millions of advertisements to put our blind trust in companies; but unfortunately, we’ve seen over the past few years that the world’s largest beauty companies can’t be trusted. All the major conventional brands have been unwilling to discuss legitimate concerns about toxic chemicals, and they continue to make excuses that “a little bit of poison is OK.”

The fact is, the beauty industry buys huge amounts of carcinogens and other toxic chemicals from the chemical industry, and they put these chemicals into products and into the environment. The poisons are adding up. The $50 billion beauty industry should be at the front of the line offering to reduce their contribution to the toxic load; unfortunately, many of these companies are at the back of the line. They continue to use and defend old polluting technologies and toxic chemicals even though safer alternatives are available.

CELESTE: Let's talk about 'eco-friendly' perfumes. In this case, how do I know the product is truly environmentally friendly?

STACY: Look for “natural fragrance” or essential oils, or choose products that have no added fragrance. Synthetic fragrances often contain toxic chemicals and there is no way to know for sure what’s in them because the companies don’t have to tell us.

CELESTE: What are some harmful substances that consumers should stay away from in:

STACY--

SHAMPOO: Sodium laurel sulfate (toxic to the skin); sodium laureth sulfate, PEG compounds (often contaminated with 1,4 dioxane); synthetic fragrance

LIPSTICK: See the report, A Poison Kiss for list of lead containing lipsticks, http://www.safecosmetics.org/your_health/poisonkiss.cfm

LOTIONS:Parabens, fragrance

MASCARA: Petroleum distillates, thimerisol/mercury

DEODERANT: aluminum, parabens, fragrance

CELESTE: Stacy, would you like to add anything?

STACY: This topic can be overwhelming, but I see a lot of reasons for hope. Change is happening fast.

Consumers are demanding safer, greener alternatives in all product categories.
Scientists are discovering new information about the toxicity of chemicals on an almost daily basis.
Many beauty companies in the natural sector are reformulating out toxic chemicals and creating safer alternatives.

The big companies will be forced to change too, it’s only a matter of time. We are working toward the day when all products on the shelf are as safe as they can possibly be.

What’s in your products? www.SafeCosmetics.org
Read the Toxic Beauty Blog: www.NotJustaPrettyFace.org

About the Author

Stacy Malkan is co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of health and environmental groups working to eliminate hazardous chemicals from personal care products. Stacy is a former journalist and newspaper publisher, who now works as a leading media strategist for national and international environmental health campaigns.

Be A Green Giant today! Q&A with Brad Doan from Steelcase,Inc.

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:51:00 +0000

www.BeAGreenGiant.com

Q&A with Brad Doan
Manager,North American Brand Communications & Advertising
Organization: Steelcase, Inc. (www.steelcase.com)

CELESTE: Tell me about www.BeAGreenGiant.com.

BRAD: In February 2008 we decided to kick off a U.S. campaign that we called, “GreenGiants”. It consisted of a series of events and initiatives that culminated in a website: www.BeAGreenGiant.com. This campaign (one of the largest in recent Steelcase history) intentionally put our own marketing messages on the back burner. From the onset, this campaign wasn’t going to be centered around us. Our approach to advertising sustainability, had to mirror our approach to sustainability.

We wanted to elevate the conversation beyond simply being “green”.
The campaign says, “Sustainable environments begin with sustainable communities” – that’s been our company’s approach to sustainability since the beginning – a holistic approach that considers people and the planet.
We believe that the social component (helping people) is critical when talking about and doing sustainable initiatives. We believe that social component is the difference between just being “green” and being a “GreenGiant”.

So GreenGiants don’t really need to be “giants” at all… it’s anyone that believes in or is practicing a broader approach to sustainability – one that considers people and the planet. And we believe that’s a message that resonated with people – as far away as India and other guests to the site from 116 countries.

CELESTE: What were the goals of the campaign?

BRAD: The campaign had three goals:

1) To educate others by providing comprehensive resources and information on sustainability,

2) Inspire others through stories of great works of sustainability and

3) Provide a platform for others to celebrate sustainable acts that have inspired them (friends, themselves, organizations, companies, projects, etc.) – elevating their visibility and giving them a global stage from which to share.

GreenGiants has been a rally cry within the corporation and has taken on deeper cultural significance than we could have imagined. Employees have committed to being GreenGiants and are looking for ways (big and small) that they can personally make a difference.

CELESTE: What does Steelcase specialize in?

BRAD: Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, helps people have a better work experience by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. The company designs and manufactures architecture, furniture and technology products. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase (NYSE:SCS) serves customers through a network of over 600 independent dealers and approximately 13,500 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2008 revenue was $3.4 billion.

Background:

You can’t pick up a magazine or a newspaper these days and not see a company touting how “green” they are or celebrating their environmental achievements. And that’s a good thing, because it’s a sign that companies are starting to recognize the importance of being more environmentally conscious. The bad thing, is that a lot of companies don’t take the time or make the investment to do the things that really matter – choosing, instead, to celebrate small achievements for self-promotion.

At Steelcase, you could say sustainability is in our DNA, dating all the way back to our founding family members. We’ve been helping the environment and the people that live in that environment for many, many years. We’ve done that and continue to do it, because it was important to us… it’s one of our company’s core values.

www.BeAGreenGiant.com

How Are Your Reducing Your Environmental Footprint?

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:14:00 +0000

Homemade Four-Seed Crackers-recipe here.

One way to reduce our environmental footprint is to eat less processed foods. This includes boxed crackers, pre-packaged snacks, and junk food.

Did you know many packaged snacks (including crackers!) on the store shelves contain sugar, HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), salt, additives and artificial flavors? For example, look at the ingredients in Nabisco Ritz Crackers and then check out the Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup.

This is reason enough to make homemade snacks and crackers at home!
Get the recipe for the seed crackers photographed above here.

Eating Unprocessed in a Processed World.

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Follow me on my whole foods journey!
Visit me in the kitchen to see what I'm eating, baking, and cooking here.

Oprah isn’t the only one loving S teel Cut Oats for breakfast!

ABOUT OATS: Unlike quick rolled oats, steel cut oats haven't been steamed, rolled, or toasted. Nor have they been pre-cooked, dried, or sweetened, like instant oatmeal. Steel cut oats are whole grain goodness->the innermost part of the oat kernel. The most natural, least processed, making them the healthiest oat choice.

Can I just say that when this is baking, your whole house will smell devine.

How I made it:

I preheated the oven to 400 degrees F. Put *2 cups of Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats in a large baking dish. Added 7-8 cups of water. Sprinkled some sea salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stirred. Covered with foil and baked for 35 minutes. I then checked and stirred it and put it back in the oven for additional 10 minutes, or until done.

*SERVINGS:

I like to make enough oats to have a muffin size portion every day for a week. This works with 2 cups of oats. If you prefer fewer servings, use 1 cup of oats and 4 cups of water.

WHAT TO ADD TO STEEL CUT OATS once it's cooked? When you are ready to prepare your individual serving, anything goes! Fruit, spices, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, natural sweeteners. Experiment and find your fave mix.

WHAT DO I LIKE IN MY OATS? When I pop the muffin size serving out of the freezer (see HOW TO FREEZE below), I throw on a dollop of organic peanut butter and heat it in the microwave. Once it's ready to eat, I'm heavy on the spices (I stir in some pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg), add some nuts (walnuts, pecans or almond slices) and seeds (hemp or ground flax) and sliced banana.

HOW TO FREEZE: Put the cooked oats in a muffin tin to freeze. Once frozen, pop them out and transfer to small freezer bags. That way you can take one out at a time to enjoy for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

COUNTING CALORIES: If you are counting calories, a 1/4 cup of dried Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats is one serving and is 140 calories.

Go Green With Chocolate: Chocolate Banana Pops

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:25:00 +0000

Ever had a chocolate banana on a stick?
This is an easy & quick activity fun for kids of all ages!
Recipe here

Be Gone! Natural Cold & Sore Throat Remedies

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:05:00 +0000

With school back in session and the Fall season on it's way, we are getting into the cold, sore throat, and flu season. Boost your immune system now! Learn about natural solutions to ward off symptoms.

Try the following homemade remedies on this list. All of them are super simple to make! The recipes can be found here.

Chicken Soup My Comforting Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup recipe here
Ginger Tea
Green Smoothie
Natural Cough Syrup

DIY Natural Coconut Lip Balm

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:03:00 +0000

DIY Natural Coconut Lip Balm
This is a fun easy project that you can do with your children, friends, or family.
Creating your own healthy lip balm has never been so easy.

According to naturally savvy.com, it's estimated a woman will ingest about four pounds of lipstick and lip balm in her lifetime just from wearing it! Did you know that some well known brands of lipsticks contain lead in them? Yes!

To check the health rating of your lip balm or lipstick, click here.

This recipe makes 5 lip balm tubes.
What you need:

3 tsp white beeswax beads
5 tsp non-hydrogenated coconut oil
6-7 drops of essential oil of your choice (I like orange)
5 lip balm tubes
small funnel
spoon
2 small bowls that you can put aside and use just for your balms

What you do:

Melt beeswax in microwave.
Melt coconut oil in microwave.
Once the coconut oil and beeswax are liquified (they will look like a clear liquid), stir them together. Mix well.
Add essential oil.
Stand up lip balm tubes on your counter.
Put the funnel in your first tube and using a spoon, spoon the balm mixture into the funnel. Go slowly--it doesn't take much to fill a lip balm tube!Gently take out the funnel and spoon in the last few drops into your lip balm tube until the balm mixture is at the top of the tube. Leave caps off until they fully cool.
Once they cool, put the caps on and store balms in refrigerator for a few hours to set. Because these DIY balms can melt or soften in hot or very warm setting (sitting in a hot car), I sometimes store them in the refrigerator when they aren't in my purse.

Natural Soy Candles- The clear natural candle choice

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Author: Funmi Ogboye

Soy Candle- New kid on the candle/gift block

Have you discovered soy candles?

Natural candles handmade from a renewable resource sound good – just wait until you hear the benefits of soy wax and you’ll be truly converted by this new kid on the block in the candle market.

Q. Where are soy candles sourced from?

A. Soy candles are made from soy wax which is made from hydrogenated soy bean oil.

Q. Why are soy candles said to be environmentally friendly

A. Soy candles can be said to be environmentally friendly because it is made from soy wax which is derived from soya bean a natural, renewable and biodegradable resource it also does not produce toxins when lit.

Q. What does soy wax burning cooler and longer mean?

A. Soy wax burning cooler lessens the risk of serious burns from melted wax, this is particularly important for users with children and pets where accidental spillages may happen.

Soy wax burns 50% longer than paraffin wax candles which makes them more economical.

Q. I have a love: hate relationship with my candles, I love my candles, but I hate the stains they leave, is there any solution?

A. Switch over to soy candles, they are clean-burning, that is they do not produce soot that stain your walls and interiors.

Q. I like re-using my candle glass holder but it takes so long to clean is there a solution for that?

A. Yes, one of the advantages of using soy wax candles is that they are easier to clean. Soy wax is water soluble which makes cleaning almost effortless.

Q. Aren’t all natural wax candles, such as beeswax, the same? What makes candles made from soy wax different?

A. Unlike beeswax, soy wax doesn’t have a powerful fragrance of its own, so it is a better “blank” base for all fragrances and essential oils. You can also buy soy wax candles in lots of colours and shapes.

Q. Soy wax is described as having a “wonderful scent throw”. What does this mean?

A. This means that scented soy wax candles fill the room with a strong, lasting fragrance. Candles made from soy are also natural and clean burning and have a purer fragrance than say paraffin wax candles, which contain added chemicals and have been known to give people headaches.

Q. Paraffin wax scented candles are so much cheaper than soy wax scented candles – why should I pay more for soy?

A. In a nutshell, the atmospheric and sensual benefit of scented soy candles is far greater than any other type of candle. To start with, they are made from a natural base that doesn’t conflict with the fragrance. By comparison, paraffin wax scented candles are derived from petrol, which blots out the fragrance just an hour after lighting the candle. Soy wax candles also last 50% longer than paraffin wax candles. So, if you’re looking for a quality, long lasting candle with a great fragrance, soy candles are the best choice.

Q. I have heard that inhaling the fumes from paraffin wax candles is just as bad for your health as breathing second hand cigarette smoke. Is this true?

A. Nothing has been proven on the health front, but it is true that the smoke from paraffin wax candles contains 11 toxins, two of which are carcinogenic. Soy wax candles, by comparison, don’t produce any toxins – so you can be assured you are not breathing toxins as you relax in your candlelit bath.

Q. But surely any candle that contains essential oils will have a positive effect on my health and wellbeing?

A. Not if it contains paraffin wax. Aside from the toxins, paraffin wax candles produce soot, which pollutes the air you breathe and leaves nasty black smears on walls and furnishings. It’s true that essential oils have therapeutic effects, but using a paraffin candle as the carrier is a contradiction. If you are going to pay a premium for aromatherapy candles and wish to enjoy the benefits, choose candles made from 100% natural products.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gifts-articles/natural-soy-candles-the-clear-natural-candle-choice-865374.html

About the Author:

After spending 10 years in the research and development departments of top companies in the cosmetic industry working with skincare, colour cosmetics and fragrances I founded Sentelle. Sentelle is a London based Lifestyle company that specializes in unique soy candles.
To see our range of scents and candle types please visit http://www.sentelle.co.uk/soy-candles.asp
To sign up for our newsletter which comes to you loaded with articles and special offers exclusive to newsletter subscribers please visit http://www.sentelle.co.uk/newslettersignup.asp

Real Purity Cosmetics. Real & Pure. Clean Natural Make-Up.

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:46:00 +0000

My cosmetic goodies from Real Purity just arrived so I immediately sampled everything. On a scale of 1-10, with 1o being the best, this line gets a 10+ rating from me. Real and pure, just like the name implies. This company is the real deal and when they say "natural", they mean it.

What sets Real Purity apart from all the rest of the cosmetic lines? They are: truly all NATURAL, environmentally friendly (for us & Mother Earth), cruelty-free (no animal testing), in addition to full size products->they sell sample sizes so you can find the colors/products that best suit you, reasonable prices (they put people before profit), fast shipping, no mega marketing hoopla or advertising hype, and Real Purity was founded by Virginia Easterling Jenkins.

FOUNDATION: I've been wearing mineral powder foundation but wanted to try a chemical-free liquid foundation (very hard to find) and alas, here it is, the Health Glow Foundation! I like a clean natural look and this rice bran foundation is perfect. It's lightweight, evens out skin tone with full coverage. To learn about the benefits of rice bran oil, click here.

LIPS: Did you know that some name brand lipsticks have unsafe levels of lead in them?
YES! Hard to believe, but true. We ingest our lipsticks and lip balms so make sure they are all natural and non-toxic! Normally, I'm a DIY lip balm wearer but after discovering Real Purity's natural lipsticks, I'll opt for color on occasion. They are moisturizing like a lip balm and come in fun colors that will brighten anyone's day. Order a few samples to check out the colors. Mix and match to create your own color.

BLUSH: Enough of bronzer, already! I chose Golden Pink, a big pot of beautiful powder blush.

EYE SHADOW: Lots of colors to choose from. Available in sample sizes as well as regular sizes here. Have fun!

To see all the products that Real Purity offers,
click here.

How do you say? Pronunciation Tool Has Arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:08:00 +0000

For those of you who don't know how to pronounce my name (Celeste), click here.

My New Eating Blog...

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:51:00 +0000

Hey, Friends!
Be sure to check out my new eating blog
here!

Healthy Spicy Hummus & Colorful Slaw. My Way!

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:38:00 +0000

I can't resist homemade slaw and hummus, how about you?
My lunch-> Joseph's Flax Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Pita Bread filled with colorful slaw, hummus, alfalfa sprouts, and a few shakes of Rice Vinegar over the top of the heap. YUM!

Colorful Slaw Recipe: 1/2 head purple cabbage shredded, 5-6 carrots, grated; 6 oz package of broccoli slaw. Mix well. For a tasty dressing recipe, click here.

HUMMUS RECIPE

I mix the following in a food processor until the consistency & taste is the way I like it.

1 can of organic garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
garlic cloves, minced
Sprinkle of Cayenne Pepper
Sprinkle of Ground Cumin
Few shakes of Hot Sauce
1 tomato
few large dollops of natural peanut butter
few squeezes of fresh lemon
1 green or red jalapeno pepper
Sprinkle of fresh ground peppercorn
Broccolli florets (sprinkle florets in food processor)
freshly ground peppercorn
little water

No more refined white sugar, white flour or aluminum!

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:21:00 +0000

Because I love to make a tasty quick bread, I looked closely at the ingredients to see how I could make a healthier loaf. Here are a few changes I'll be experimenting with...

SUGAR: Replacing white refined sugar with Sucanat or Organic Agave Nectar.
WHY? 76 Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health

BAKING SODA: Replacing baking soda with Bobs Red Mill Aluminum-Free Baking Soda.

BAKING POWDER: Replacing aluminum-based Calumet Baking Powder with Bob's Red Mill Non-Aluminum Baking Powder.
WHY? Aluminum Health Risks

FLOUR: Replacing white refined flour with King Aurther's 100% Organic White Whole Wheat flour.

WHY? Ugly Truths About White Flour

Let me know if you've been experimenting with any of the above ingredients!
How were your results?

Crockpot Black Eyed Peas

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:39:00 +0000

Have you ever made black eyed peas before?
Here's my recipe for making them using dried black eyed peas.
Black eyed peas on a bed of brown rice garnished with
pear slices. Tasty!

Recipe here...

Step 1) Rinse, sort and wash peas.
I usually cook up 8 oz-1 pound at a time and freeze the extra.
How to refrigerate or freeze black-eyed peas

Step 2) Soak peas overnight in cold water. I soaked these for 12 hours.

Step 3) Rinse and wash peas again after overnight soak.

Step 4) Set crockpot on HIGH and add peas with mixture of fresh water & 1 can of beef broth.

Step 6) Use food chopper to mince 1 onion and 4-5 garlic cloves. Add to crock.

Step 7) Add rest of ingredients to crock. Sprinkle of chili powder, Adobo seasoning, and cumin.
Cook in crock for a few hours or until peas are tender.
Optional: Sprinkle the Spanish Rice Seasoning on peas after you dish it up.

RICE: I use Lundberg Organic Long Grain Brown Rice.
Replace water with Beef Broth.

Visit my cooking blog here to see more recipes!

Do you use the Magic Microfiber cloth?

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:39:00 +0000

HOW TO DUST YOUR HOUSE WITH NO CHEMICALS: Simply dust with a slightly damp reusable microfiber cloth. No more dusting with chemicals!

These colorful cloths are my favorite!

Replacing conventional items for safer/healthier products!

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:51:00 +0000

How can you go green in the kitchen? By replacing conventional items with safer/healthier products. Here are a few things I've done...

COOKWARE-->>Replaced non-stick cookware with stainless steel. Why? Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE, the chemical name for the coating on non-stick cookware can be toxic to humans.

POPCORN-Replaced microwave popcorn with stainless steel stove-top popper-> Why? A chemical coating used in microwave popcorn bags breaks down when heated into a substance called perfluorooctanoic (PFOA). The EPA has identified PFOA as a “likely carcinogen.”

PLASTICS-> Replaced plastic storage containers with Pyrex glass storage sets
Why? Source:http://www.sprig.com/7_Everyday_Environmental_Causes_of_Breast_Cancer
"Bisphenol-A, a chemical used to make plastic stable but also leaches out of the plastic and into the food or drinks you ingest. The danger: "Sustained exposure over time can effect your estrogen system to disrupt your normal hormone function of your breast cells to possibly feed and promote cancer," says Janet Gray, Ph.D., director of the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center at Vassar College."

SPORTS BOTTLES-->Replaced plastic sports bottles with stainless steel bottles. Why? Plastic bottles contain a number of chemicals, some of which are unhealthy. Use Code 2468 to receive 8% off your order here.

CANNED FOODS-> Limiting my canned food intake. Why? Many canned foods are lined with a plastic coating made from BPA, which can leach into the food. BPA (bisphenol-A,) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical.

What's the Problem With Perfume?

noreply@blogger.com (Cooking With Celeste) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Let's talk about perfume for a minute.

Did you know most perfumes are filled with toxic chemicals? Did you know these toxic chemicals can be a health risk to those who wear it, the air around them, and those in their household? YES! Read this article to learn more.

I avoid perfume and limit the products I use that list fragrance as an ingredient. Instead, I use 100% Natural Vanilla on my pulse points when I want to wear a hint of vanilla. This blend is pre-diluted with jojoba oil so it's ready to use. I enjoy the health benefits from wearing natural vanilla oil. Are you willing to risk your health for a spritz of perfume?

What is so bad about Fragrance?