Fruity

Fruit popsicles are pretty straightforward. Pour your favorite fruit juice into popsicle moulds and freeze. Experiment with fresh-squeezed juices, blended fruit, smoothies, or try adding seltzer and yogurt to your concoctions.

Here are a few unique recipes that sound simply delicious:
Mojito Raspberry Paletas (Sweet/sour yumminess from Nature Moms! It says mojito, but there is no alcohol in this one.)
Coconut Popsicles with Roasted Peaches & Raspberries (This uses coconut milk as the base–mmmmmmmmmm!)
Avocado Lime Popsicles (Water, bananas, avocado, lime, salt combine for a creamy pop.)
Mixed Berry Ice Pops (The ingredients are blueberries, mint leaves, raspberries, seltzer, honey, and lemon juice. Sounds refreshing to me!)
HoneyDew Popsicles (1/2 of a fresh honey dew,
1/3 cup sugar, juice of one lime–blend it & freeze. Easy-peasy summer treat.)

Savory

It never occurred to me to use savory flavors or vegetables as popsicle ingredients. Once I found one recipe, I wanted more! Here are some of the favorites I found:

Red Bean Popsicles (Bean ice cream is common in Asian cuisine–and it’s so delicious. My girl EcoKaren serves up two versions of red-bean popsicles, along with a few other icy-pop recipes. Scroll down the post.)
Carrot Cake Popsicles (The ingredients in this– carrots, coconut milk, almond butter, cinnamon, ginger–lend themselves to fall flavors, and the preparation is a bit more labor-intensive than I’d personally prefer for a popsicle, but they’re intriguing nonetheless!)
Sweet Potato Popsicles (Another fall-flavored treat, but hey, why not?)
Roasted Sweet Corn Pops (Um, hello summer!)
Spicy Watermelon Popsicles (With tomato & jalapeño! Say what?! I say bring it on.)

Kid Favorites

What kiddo doesn’t like popsicles? They’re an easy way to make sure your child is getting enough hydration during summer months, plus they’re easy and fun to make! I like using silicone push-up type moulds, as they keep the sticky mess to a minimum. Sorry, I’m a little crazy like that.

Nourishing Coconut Berry Popsicles (Tiffany from Nature Moms adds an interesting twist to this one: liquid vitamins! They’re completely optional, of course, but I think it’s kinda genius.)
Watermelon Frozen Yogurt Pops
Raspberry Creamsicles (These look divine: a cream center wrapped in raspberry ice.)
Fudge Popsicles (with milk)
Rainbow Pops (Use natural food coloring, please! I’m linking this post because it is the only one I found that even SUGGESTED something other than artificial colorants!)
Dairy-Free Fudge Pops (see below)

Just for Adults

I LOVE these recipes using alcohol as a component of the popsicle. What more refreshing and fun way to serve dessert at an adult bbq or picnic? Plus, since popsicles are so simple to make in bulk, who’s to say you couldn’t make a few different varieties?

Vodka-Prepared Pops (I love Lisa at Lazy Budget Chef for her “booze pops” and other simple, great recipes.)
Tequila Sunrise Popsicles (Another perfect summer treat from Lazy Budget Chef!)
Plum Granita with Red Wine (Gorgeous, deeply-colored pops made with red wine and fruit. Yes, please.)
Creamy Margarita Popsicles (Try substituting coconut milk for sweetened condensed in this recipe. I love the presentation!)
Cherry Apple Whiskey Sour Popsicles (This one kinda sounds like trouble and a hangover, but maybe you and whiskey get along…)
Mango Mojito Popsicles (Mango? Rum? I’m sold.)
 

Looking for Popsicle Moulds?

Most of the popsicles pictured were made with moulds like this one found on Amazon for under $10. This shape works best for fruit bars. The company makes star and rocket-shaped pop moulds, too!

I’m a big fan of silicone moulds, since they’re easy, you don’t have to fill all of them, and they don’t drip. (Perfect for kids!)

If you’re concerned with plastics, Onyx Popsicle Molds are a great, stainless-steel alternative.
 

The post 20+ Homemade Popsicle Recipes appeared first on Healthful Mama.

photo credit: HKmPUA via photopin cc

 “I read that there are “acceptable levels” of chlorine and other contaminants in water. I forgot about it until my wife had her second miscarriage, and that’s when my mind went back to that glass of water. I started thinking, what could conceivably be in that? Could there be something that causes adverse health effects, or at least adds to them?”

A particularly bad-tasting glass of water and—much more seriously, two miscarriages by his wife—led Ed Brown to wonder about chemicals in our day-to-day environment. He set out on a toxic journey to create his debut film, Unacceptable Levels—an award-winning film about the chemicals in our bodies and how they got there.

Globally, disease rates are on the rise. Theories about the causes abound, yet the issues are complex and often muddied by the maneuvering of political and corporate interests.

Unacceptable Facts:

• Autism now affects one in 50 children.
• Cancer is the leading cause of death (after accidents) in children younger than 15 years in the United States.
• In the last twenty years, the rates of asthma, allergies and ADHD are on the rise:
  -400% increase in allergies
  -300% increase in asthma
  -400% increase in ADHD
• $1.7 Trillion of the GDP is spent on treating disease every year.

The film dissects the ways chemicals saturate our homes and environment amid a backdrop of a glaring lack of regulation. It chronicles the results of the post-WWII chemical boom and details common avenues of exposure, from food to fluoride to toxic sludge.

Ed is touring the country this summer, with a bicoastal premiere June 12 at the ArcLight Hollywood in California and at the Avon Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut. He’ll be joined in Hollywood by Mariel Hemingway, Gary Hirschberg and other passionate environmentalists to inspire others to take action.

The L.A. World Premiere is invite only. But, the first 50 to show without an invitation will get in free! Tickets for the Connecticut premiere can be purchased here.
Premiere screenings in several other key cities: Austin (August 3rd), Boulder (July 16th), Chicago (July 24th), San Francisco (July 10th- 11th), and Washington DC (June 20th).

To find a screening in your area, visit UnacceptableLevels.com. New screenings will be added, so be sure to check back often.

Not only is Unacceptable Levels doing great things by spreading awareness,

There’s a Giveaway For You!

Help spread the word about this exceptional film for a chance to win an Unacceptable Levels gift basket (includes a DVD plus an array of non-profit vetted products)!
Just follow these steps:
1. Follow Unacceptable Levels on Facebook and share their Facebook Page and this blog post with your friends at least once by June 10th.
2. Follow Unacceptable Levels on Twitter and tweet this blog post. Be sure to add the hashtag #UnacceptableLevels or #ULFilm
3. Leave a comment at the bottom of this post telling us you shared on Facebook and Twitter. Please include a link to your Facebook post and Tweet!

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Summertime, and the livin’ is easy… but you may still have to contend with bugs, sun, and dehydration. Before you buy your summer-season must-haves, consider these safer options to your typical purchases.

Bug Spray

I’ll spare you the photos of what my son looks like when he gets a bug bite, so let’s suffice it to say that I know my prevention methods. And no, they don’t involve DEET or other toxic chemicals. One of my favorites insect repellants is All Terrain Herbal Armor Insect-Repellant Spray, available in a pump or their new “Bag-on-Valve” spray (pictured). With oils of soybean, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, and geranium in over 25% concentration, not only will you stay invisible to those biting menaces, but you’ll smell like the woods from which they originate–without the toxic fumes. All Terrain’s product is certified GMO-free, and proven 100% effective.

In the event of a bite, try TruKid Hero Stick for itch relief, if you want to avoid a cortisone cream.

Sunburn Relief

There’s nothing quite like the cooling relief of aloe vera gel on searing-hot skin. But why subject your already-sensitive skin to chemical numbing agents, artificial preservatives, and dyes found in the “green stuff” you get at the drugstore? I like Aubrey Organics 100% Pure Aloe Vera, which is certified organic, made with 100% pure aloe vera juice, grapefruit extract, and vitamin E. Keep in in the freezer for when a burn arises.

Sunscreen

I’ve already made my top picks for natural, safe sunscreens this summer, but why not highlight one more? Goddess Garden was started by a Colorado mama who didn’t want junk on her daughter’s skin. And she lived up to the promise: Goddess Garden contains safe ingredients and comes in a variety of formulas: Adult, Kid, and Baby. Their Natural Sunscreen comes in cream versions, and, while I’m not a total fan of spray sunscreens, a non-aerosol, continuous spray version that sprays like a lotion; I really like it!

Popsicles!

You’re probably already aware that making your own popsicles is probably one of the easiest forms of food prep there is, not to mention is a cost-effective way to ensure your kids’ summertime treats aren’t laden with artificial colors and high-fructose corn syrup. But did you ever think about the plastics used to make most popsicle molds? If you’re avoiding BPA and plastic in your kitchen, then why choose popsicle molds that may carry hormone disrupting chemicals? Instead, you might consider stainless steel popsicle molds or, my favorite, mess-free silicone molds (pictured). Stay tuned for a list of my favorite popsicle recipes!
 

Buy hard, moulded-plastic pools to avoid PVC

Pools & Other Inflatables

Oh, the memories. Part of my summertime childhood remembrance is the smell of a brand-new inner tube or raft for our pool. The smell of the vinyl just meant FUN, right? Now I know better. That scent is from cancer-causing chemicals used to make the PVC used in inflatable pools, water wings, innertubes, rafts, and other pool toys. To avoid PVC, buy your kiddo a hard-sided or moulded plastic pool. LEARN MORE about PVC, inflatables, & other options at The Soft Landing.

Other considerations: Do you know the dangers associated with garden hoses? While it’s hard to find a truly “safe” garden hose, there are some steps you can take to avoid toxins in your garden and body. READ MORE at Green Talk.
Pool photo credit: thorinside via photopin cc
 

With a few changes in your purchases, you’ll be on your way to a non-toxic summer! What are your tips for staying cool & toxin-free when the heat is on?

 

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]]> http://healthfulmama.com/2013/06/safer-summer-essentials/feed/ 4 http://healthfulmama.com/2013/06/safer-summer-essentials/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/healthfulmama/fBkf/~3/5NWcXzuhwRw/ http://healthfulmama.com/2013/05/find-an-extra-500-save-money-with-reusable-bottles/#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 13:00:50 +0000 HealthfulMama http://healthfulmama.com/?p=4589 This post is sponsored by Klean Kanteen & Green Sisterhood. One reusable water bottle can save your family over $500 a year. Americans are purchasing more and more water packaged in plastic bottles. According to IBWA, bottled water sales were up 6.7% in 2012, now at 11.8 BILLION! There is no reason to spend so [...]

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]]> This post is sponsored by Klean Kanteen & Green Sisterhood.

One reusable water bottle can save your family over $500 a year.

You just might find some money in there.

Americans are purchasing more and more water packaged in plastic bottles. According to IBWA, bottled water sales were up 6.7% in 2012, now at 11.8 BILLION! There is no reason to spend so much money on bottled water, yet it happens so easily.
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Ashley jerked her minivan into the parking spot outside her local warehouse store. She sat for a moment, trying to regain her sanity, as her kids yelled from the backseat, “Mom! Mom! Mom! Mommy! Get me out! Let’s go, Mom! Mom! Mom!” Ashley unscrewed the cap of her plastic water bottle, chugged the remaining sips, took a deep breath, and said with a sigh,

“Okay. Let’s go inside.”

She unloaded the children, putting them side-by-side in the gigantic cart’s seat, and pushed the hulking device towards the door. “Mommy, me thirfsty,” said Ashley’s 2-year-old, Brayden. ~sigh~ Ashley had left the extra bottle of water she brought in the car.

“Okay, let’s get you some water.” She pulled the cart up to the small, refrigerated case by the cash registers.

“Me, too! Me, too! I’m thirsty, too!” Now Ashley’s oldest, 4-year-old Gracie, was hollering for a drink. Ashley grabbed two bottles from the cooler, then thought about how she’d better grab one for herself, too. Her children had a lovely habit of not liking to share. Ashley paid for the drinks, opened the bottles for each child, then continued her shopping.

On Ashley’s list for this trip was another two cases of bottled water to refill their refrigerator. “It’s summer, now, though, and we’re going through this water quicker than usual, anyway. Better get four cases,” she thought. She roamed the store, found the remaining items on her list, kept the children occupied, paid for the order, and left.

On warehouse-store day, Ashley always took the kids out to lunch at a local sandwich shop. In an effort to keep them healthy, she declined the juice and soda with their meals and instead opted for bottled water. (Their bottles from earlier were either finished, spilled, or had rolled under the car seat.) They enjoyed an easy lunch, and Ashley drove the kids and their purchases home.

Ashley unpacked the groceries at home. Her husband, Brian, walked in the door, then, placed his briefcase and half-empty water bottle on the table, and gave her a kiss. “Hey, how was shopping today?” he asked.

“Great!” replied Ashley. “Got a lot of great deals!”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

But, did she?

Case of water: $5.98/24 bottles= $23.92
Assuming Ashley’s bottle and her husband’s came from a case of water they kept at home, that’s $.25 each.
We’ll average a guess and say that the three bottles Ashley bought at the warehouse store, plus the two at the restaurant, cost $1.00 a piece. So, $5.00.
In one day, Ashley’s family spent almost $30 on bottled water.

If Ashley continues to buy cases of water for her family, and we’ll figure the amount conservatively, counting the children as one person:
For a family of 3:

2 bottles/person per day is
7.5 cases/month for family of 3, which equals
$44.85/month or

$540/year!

And that’s not taking into account the extra bottles they might purchase at restaurants, at sporting events, at the beach, or on a road trip!

 

The Money-Saving Option:

1 stainlesss steel water bottle: 27 oz, $19.95.
$59.85/family of three
$79.80/family of four (if each child has her own bottle)

LASTS FOREVER

Imagine never spending another dime on disposable plastic bottles. I asked some moms what they would do with an extra $500:

“Buy a plane ticket to California for a friend’s wedding!”

“I’d put it in savings ($100 for each child and the rest in my savings).”

“Buy the vintage credenza I have had my eye on and have it delivered; I would have money left over for the vintage painting that I want!”

“Use it to pay for flights to visit my family.”

“Pay it towards the balance of our bathroom remodel!”

“Buy a bunch of expensive cookware I’ve been wanting.”

“Pay for the gas to drive cross-country with the fam.”

“Buy a ton of bulk herbs and pretty glass jars to keep them in.”

“Buy a lot of local grass fed/organic meat and stock my freezer.”
 

So, why keep spending money needlessly? Get yourself a reusable water bottle and carry it everywhere. Because: What would *you* do with an extra $500?

 
 
photo credit: lululemon athletica via photopin cc
photo credit: pdxdiver via photopin cc
Money images via Microsoft Office Images

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]]> http://healthfulmama.com/2013/05/find-an-extra-500-save-money-with-reusable-bottles/feed/ 12 http://healthfulmama.com/2013/05/find-an-extra-500-save-money-with-reusable-bottles/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/healthfulmama/fBkf/~3/T7P-s6_O9ak/ http://healthfulmama.com/2013/05/lemony-iced-tea-with-whey/#comments Sat, 25 May 2013 14:11:09 +0000 HealthfulMama http://healthfulmama.com/?p=4593 While my first yogurt-making experience was disastrous, I did end up with some yummy results, and as an added bonus, two pints of whey! Whey is the liquid that surrounds yogurt after it has cultured. Whey possesses multiple health benefits: it provides minerals like calcium and magnesium, it is helpful in hydrating the body, and [...]

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While my first yogurt-making experience was disastrous, I did end up with some yummy results, and as an added bonus, two pints of whey! Whey is the liquid that surrounds yogurt after it has cultured. Whey possesses multiple health benefits: it provides minerals like calcium and magnesium, it is helpful in hydrating the body, and it helps the gut regenerate healthy flora.

I read somewhere that Indians use whey to make a refreshing drink, using tea and spices like cardamom. The smell and flavor of whey is quite sour and not very appetizing to me, but when mixed in the right fashion, I found an iced tea recipe that reminded me of the lemony refresher I enjoy often in the summer.

Lemony Iced Tea with Whey

Print

Lemony Iced Tea with Whey

Author: HealthfulMama.com

Recipe type: Beverage

Serves: 1

 

Spiced tea made with lemon and yogurt whey creates a refreshing summertime (or anytime!) beverage with little sugar and added health benefits.

Ingredients

• 8 oz brewed and cooled chai rooibos tea
• 1 oz yogurt whey
• juice of ½ lemon
• 1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup
• handful of ice

Instructions

1. Be sure that tea is cooled so as not to destroy the beneficial cultures of the whey.
2. Combine all ingredients in a glass. Enjoy!

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 I’m going to be making this one often–I have a lot of whey! It would be a great morning drink, too.
What’s your favorite way to serve iced tea?

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]]> http://healthfulmama.com/2013/05/lemony-iced-tea-with-whey/feed/ 2 http://healthfulmama.com/2013/05/lemony-iced-tea-with-whey/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/healthfulmama/fBkf/~3/cvxfKkXX-T8/ http://healthfulmama.com/2013/05/how-not-to-make-homemade-yogurt/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:06 +0000 HealthfulMama http://healthfulmama.com/?p=4567 There are about a gazillion posts out there on the interwebz about how to make homemade yogurt. This is one of them. I consulted various websites, blogs, and friends before attempting my yogurt batch. They all said the same thing: “making yogurt at home is easy!” Score. That sounds right up my alley. So, I [...]

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]]> There are about a gazillion posts out there on the interwebz about how to make homemade yogurt. This is one of them.

I consulted various websites, blogs, and friends before attempting my yogurt batch. They all said the same thing: “making yogurt at home is easy!” Score. That sounds right up my alley.

So, I bought some yogurt cultures from an online retailer. The cultures were to be mixed with a cup of milk and left on the counter for 16-48 (48?!) hours to create the starter. After 22 hours, I was tired of waiting, my milk was just curdled (not solid, like yogurt) and I decided that was a bust. So much for easy, no-machine-required yogurt making. “Maybe you’re just not cut out to make yogurt,” said Hubs.

Challenge Accepted.

I moved on to “the crock pot method,” determined to make some mother-effing yogurt. This method seems to be the most popular among People Who Blog About Yogurt. I followed the blog post exactly:

After mixing your starter back into the pot of warmed milk,

Yes, people, that’s correct. The bottom of my Crock Pot(TM) cracked at the edge and milk was pouring across the counter and down the cabinets. And here’s why you shouldn’t always trust bloggers: (Wait. I’m a blogger. Trust me! You can trust me! Really, you can trust me. You can trust me? You trust me? Really?) Anyway, bloggers don’t always get recipes right. In fact, I will tell you straight-up that you should proceed with caution if you’re not much of a cook when following a recipe found on a blog. And, apparently, I’m not much of a cook.

The recipe I followed instructed to turn on your Crock Pot(TM) BEFORE heating the milk, to get it warmed up. Now, the First Rule of Crockpot Club is Don’t Turn on The Crock with Nothing In It. I should have heeded my own knowledge and realized that the temperature change when the heated crock got splashed with slightly-cooler milk would create a problem.

But all was not lost!

Thankfully, stovetop yogurt (not this bastardized form of stovetop/crockpot ridiculousness I was following) is really simple. I had not poured all of my milk into the crockpot, so I covered the warmed milk again, wrapped the pot in a towel, and put it in my oven with the light on. After 16 hours, my yogurt was miraculously firm and adequately yogurt-y.

After losing some milk to my first failed attempt, and losing some milk in The CrockPot Incident, I had a little less than a gallon with which to work. I strained the yogurt through cheesecloth (probably not necessary, but I wanted it THICK), and it yielded about 40 ounces of Greek yogurt.

The yogurt tastes delicious and it’s super-thick & creamy.

Overall, I’m really pleased with the results and will be making this again, sans CrockPot. RIP, my friend.

Have you ever made your own yogurt? What method did you use?

Print

Homemade Greek Yogurt

Author: HealthfulMama.com

Prep time:  40 mins

Cook time:  20 hours

Total time:  20 hours 40 mins

 

A simple, stovetop method for creating delicious, thick, Greek yogurt.

Ingredients

• 1 gallon pasteurized organic milk
• 5 oz container of greek yogurt

Instructions

1. In a large pot, slowly heat milk over med heat to 185 degrees, stirring occasionally. Milk will appear frothy. Do not overheat. You can use a candy thermometer to monitor temperature.
2. While milk is warming, fill a sink with cold water.
3. When milk has reached 185, remove from heat, cover with a lid, leaving lid cracked for steam to escape, and place pot into the water bath. Be careful not to get water into the pot.
4. When milk has cooled to about 100 degrees, remove a cup of the warmed milk and mix it a bowl with the greek yogurt.
5. Pour milk/yogurt mixture into the pot with warmed milk and stir thoroughly.
6. Cover the pot, wrap in a heavy towel, and place in the oven. The oven should not be hot nor turned on. Turn on the oven light and allow the milk to culture for 14-18 hours.
7. Once yogurt has set, you can drain the yogurt through cheesecloth for an even thicker preparation or simply strain off whey (yellow liquid) and refrigerate immediately. Store yogurt in glass containers.

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And make sure to save that whey!

You can bake with it, ferment with it, or make a tasty drink.

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