tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82228531020327316352024-03-05T14:22:56.995-05:00Ollie Ollie Toxin FreeSafe stuff for kids, people in general, pets and, well, really the whole planetDori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-60543217845897183862018-03-01T09:45:00.000-05:002018-03-26T09:39:49.038-04:00Time for Scentsibility<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttYhQcI2pIxXoYRj2Hoirys4b-8YZ5Jv1yUE_V8rmxOX3T_fJW1uU9JCTydEv8iWc3DshxJKNIYyXGXDD8VIUl_9zVsVywMLM68hyphenhyphen2Zqxm7C_L8qKq4qrY8LIxdRDT6l6748vJ3n7yhee/s1600/Happy+birthday+to+you%252CVirgo+the+Virgin%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttYhQcI2pIxXoYRj2Hoirys4b-8YZ5Jv1yUE_V8rmxOX3T_fJW1uU9JCTydEv8iWc3DshxJKNIYyXGXDD8VIUl_9zVsVywMLM68hyphenhyphen2Zqxm7C_L8qKq4qrY8LIxdRDT6l6748vJ3n7yhee/s400/Happy+birthday+to+you%252CVirgo+the+Virgin%2521.png" width="400" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Who doesn't love to smell good? </b>Having a signature scent can be a powerful anchor. S</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cents are engrained in our memories; my grandmother wore Shalimar and it still reminds me of her, 30 years after her death, if I get a whiff of it.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly, most perfumes on the market today are not safe to inhale or apply to our skin on a regular basis. Long ago, rare essential oils and fancy plant extracts were commonly used as fragrances by the upper class. While it's hard to know for sure that they were pure and safe, there were fewer synthetic ingredients available at that time.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, the goal for the big perfumers seems to be profit at any cost, potential health consequences be damned. </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726844/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">More and more evidence</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is showing that hormone-disrupting chemicals are interfering with our reproductive and immune systems. Yet, the major players dial up the fragrance boldly and shamelessly—from perfume to air fresheners to laundry products. They are chock full of </span><a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/assets/docs/j_q/phthalates_the_everywhere_chemical_handout_508.pdf" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">phthalates</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, known endocrine disruptors, and should be avoided as much as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The good news is that many companies are popping up with nontoxic perfumes. I have tried a lot of them and, in my experience, it's hard to find the right scent and the lasting power is definitely less than traditional fragrances. My signature scent (prior to becoming enlightened on ingredients) was Chanel No. 19. I looked up the notes in </span><a href="https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Chanel/Chanel-No-19-Eau-de-Parfum-12345.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Fragrantica</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to see if I could find something similar—a tall task!</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few I've tried or have my eye on:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBOqLVf9NdOXjCjknIJkqKFxpaHlpRQIfbYhHpWZrdiEGsSH68nltj9WPs4PJHTj5YSGW4xlhkpkJt_ZZ0Jwjw626pDjzhhrTYW8RuKi48JWm8On4ffDmLT_tlNxMDsU3yCD4P3JhVwNv/s1600/phlur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBOqLVf9NdOXjCjknIJkqKFxpaHlpRQIfbYhHpWZrdiEGsSH68nltj9WPs4PJHTj5YSGW4xlhkpkJt_ZZ0Jwjw626pDjzhhrTYW8RuKi48JWm8On4ffDmLT_tlNxMDsU3yCD4P3JhVwNv/s320/phlur.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://fbuy.me/gk6BD" target="_blank">PHLUR</a> — tried three samples for $18 and didn't like any of them so they sent me two more at their expense </span><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">(great customer service!). I haven't settled on one yet; packaging and concept make it worth checking out</span></span>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtEiB8J3JjfoJIycl_Z572nJCxzevh_F9QsVS2bLVfzo7afu5p8GB3XGcCyDC2knffQKZK_20InFa6Nkz_JY2luiOGWHHOm0Iaiw5t1Gj8wcfQaLBZNQoqsbLfWXxm3g23G8NGS9QQFZV/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-10-11+at+9.39.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="356" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtEiB8J3JjfoJIycl_Z572nJCxzevh_F9QsVS2bLVfzo7afu5p8GB3XGcCyDC2knffQKZK_20InFa6Nkz_JY2luiOGWHHOm0Iaiw5t1Gj8wcfQaLBZNQoqsbLfWXxm3g23G8NGS9QQFZV/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-10-11+at+9.39.03+AM.png" title="" width="176" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtEiB8J3JjfoJIycl_Z572nJCxzevh_F9QsVS2bLVfzo7afu5p8GB3XGcCyDC2knffQKZK_20InFa6Nkz_JY2luiOGWHHOm0Iaiw5t1Gj8wcfQaLBZNQoqsbLfWXxm3g23G8NGS9QQFZV/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-10-11+at+9.39.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></a></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://cleanperfume.com/new" target="_blank">CLEAN</a> — does not say phthalate-free on the website, but I reached out to them and they said they are. This brand is also focused on sustainability with regard to its packaging and raw materials sourcing, which is terrific.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiOeB1HaoonPEq1eOWb_3g29IztVdQBiFcrsj6snWpVJwIkoSDsJ1QzbdwyzRSMSMxM4JCU6ojHOX44TQix6Ms0zQJp9nixPXaXUf88rwPeaCAAgg-psM50Jrmpce9tPwI4plSymwyYPW/s1600/blond+parfum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiOeB1HaoonPEq1eOWb_3g29IztVdQBiFcrsj6snWpVJwIkoSDsJ1QzbdwyzRSMSMxM4JCU6ojHOX44TQix6Ms0zQJp9nixPXaXUf88rwPeaCAAgg-psM50Jrmpce9tPwI4plSymwyYPW/s200/blond+parfum.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lavanila.com/" target="_blank">Lavanila</a> — this is still my go-to after several years. I use Pure Vanilla in rollerball and spray and just simply love it. I get a lot of compliments, and while it's a straightforward, uncomplicated scent, other variations are available.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.siperfumes.com/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Strange Invisible</a><span style="font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> — tried some samples of these and was intrigued but the scents did not speak to me. Very beautiful articulation of their brand and they offer body products as well for layering.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.frenchgirlorganics.com/collections/parfum/products/copy-of-liquid-perfume" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">French Girl Organics Parfum</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> — I tried the stick perfume in Madame Blond (of course) and liked it. I don't see that on the site now, but they do offer five scents, which look to be very complex. Those are on my list to try. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Daniela over at Drops of Lemon and Honey wrote a </span><a href="http://dropsoflemonandhoney.com/2017/01/16/7-natural-perfumes-brands-you-need-to-know/" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">great post</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> with her favorites—most of which were unfamiliar to me. I did try LURK and didn't find a scent I liked (got samples through </span><a href="https://www.integritybotanicals.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Integrity Botanicals</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/organic-beauty/12-companies-make-luxurious-all-natural-perfumes/" target="_blank">Treehugger also covered 12 natural perfume companies</a>, only one that Daniela or I mentioned (LURK), and there look to be some excellent options here as well. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>What have you tried...and what do you recommend? I would love to hear!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P.S. If you're interested in identifying other hormone-disrupting chemicals, <a href="http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors#.Wd4Y5ROPK8U" target="_blank">EWG provides a list of the top 12 </a>— where they commonly show up and how to avoid them.</span></span><br />
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<br />Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-1212269245726597752017-04-22T10:29:00.003-04:002017-04-22T10:37:47.001-04:00Best Gluten-Free Products 2017<h3>
<b>Going gluten-free (GF, yo) has never been so delicious.</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">If you haven't experimented with how different foods make you feel, look or act and you think all bodies are the same, act the same and react the same, this article is probably not for you. Just move along with your "gluten-free is a fad" thinking. We can still be friends. Really.</span><br />
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If, like me, you've found that curbing intake of gluten makes you feel better, or you have been diagnosed with gluten intolerance, then this article is for you!<br />
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When I eat gluten, I shortly thereafter feel tired, my face breaks out in little dry patches and my system gets, let's just say, messed up. Am I sensitive or allergic or making it up in my head? Who cares. I like the energy I have when I don't eat it. So I have tried a lot of GF versions of products normally made with wheat. Some are downright terrible. Many are okay but not worth repurchase.<br />
Some really stand out. Those are the ones that deserve a shout out.<br />
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Without further ado, below is my shortlist of go-to GF basics:</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdclEWArdJ6U-2wCbHR0CGyLqyrW9_DWqJRZlVWZA5R4CzMoVl2kOFIcj1Bmhq38tYDKzjK7aKR5I-KEGerCY_FnGR92bR3OxiAW3JPk0KkBOwDsDmUQMJnxaeF3Lk1pQKT_8lwfwE-m9/s1600/canyon-bakehouse-mountain-white.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdclEWArdJ6U-2wCbHR0CGyLqyrW9_DWqJRZlVWZA5R4CzMoVl2kOFIcj1Bmhq38tYDKzjK7aKR5I-KEGerCY_FnGR92bR3OxiAW3JPk0KkBOwDsDmUQMJnxaeF3Lk1pQKT_8lwfwE-m9/s200/canyon-bakehouse-mountain-white.png" width="121" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">canyon bakehouse bread</td></tr>
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<b>Canyon Bakehouse breads.</b> The best GF bread, hands down. It's the closest thing to normal bread you will find—and it's really close. Buy it fresh at Target (preferred) or frozen at Wegman's. I love the white and the multi-grain is also excellent. We keep ours in the fridge and use within a week. It is great for a grilled cheese sandwich. It holds up in the lunchbox with my son's favorite chocolate almond better spread (surprisingly not unhealthy). <a href="https://canyonglutenfree.com/" target="_blank">Canyon Bakehouse</a> also makes focaccia, buns and more, to wonderful acclaim, but I have yet to try those because our lame stores carry a very limited selection.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBY6z14furyOSJURhtcKn4heFbfWWwyFP0-e8udoDwifAyKbBYiNiaqiUCl_vkwDcgHbRQKm6FoM_E8WhX7fSpqvrc0iCHQrNGUnMudAEzDZVvKQwFhn5tYMzaJDHQ-CwJKgfz15lF_Rf-/s1600/IMG_3152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBY6z14furyOSJURhtcKn4heFbfWWwyFP0-e8udoDwifAyKbBYiNiaqiUCl_vkwDcgHbRQKm6FoM_E8WhX7fSpqvrc0iCHQrNGUnMudAEzDZVvKQwFhn5tYMzaJDHQ-CwJKgfz15lF_Rf-/s200/IMG_3152.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pamela's baking & pancake mix</td></tr>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">Pamela's pancake mix. </b>We tried a lot of flours and mixes and Pamela's is by far the best. (If you're interested, Bob's Red Mill was the absolute worst. I actually took it back to the grocery store, it was that bad.) <a href="http://www.pamelasproducts.com/" target="_blank">Pamela's</a> pancakes are a little more dense than fluffy. But they are not heavy. The texture is normal and the flavor is all pancake. Of course, my kids douse enough natural maple syrup on them that they can't taste the pancake anyway! It's available in a 24-ounce size, which makes about 34 four-inch pancakes. It also comes in a 4-pound bag. We use this same mix to make delicious waffles, which are easy to freeze for use during the week. This mix is also designed for muffins and cakes, though I have not used it for those recipes yet.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7ELLuKGDYTKyi8-2mhxI3nvFHp5bro7YzdvsXGyj_wMxcCqhcC5y9tdm3ssShJRLX2Vbr_8zp9G04NrCK4TNc7nAHLsDBEYHc27xhcqLNPRiX7wqKGn6oz2-HTnDpp5xkFaCtaojGqAp/s1600/IMG_3155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7ELLuKGDYTKyi8-2mhxI3nvFHp5bro7YzdvsXGyj_wMxcCqhcC5y9tdm3ssShJRLX2Vbr_8zp9G04NrCK4TNc7nAHLsDBEYHc27xhcqLNPRiX7wqKGn6oz2-HTnDpp5xkFaCtaojGqAp/s200/IMG_3155.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bionaturae spaghetti</td></tr>
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<b>Bionaturae pasta. </b>Pasta is delicious and when you have kids with a busy schedule, it's a fast and filling dinner. Even though we have tried some very bad GF pastas, I did not give up. Thankfully, I found Bionaturae spaghetti. These noodles are so good, my husband asked me if it was really gluten-free. Fooled him! It may be the combination of rice, potato and soy flours that makes it better than others. We don't eat a lot of soy, but this at least is organic soy flour, so I make that concession. Pasta made with only rice flour has a terrible texture and does not hold up in pasta salads at all. It gets hard and crumbles. Corn pasta is a less expensive substitute (Wegman's brand), however <a href="http://www.bionaturae.com/" target="_blank">Bionaturae</a> is our hands-down favorite. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi4ASs-faJx4AP_e8elInrZq_ORgnbbfPeIygTaE-B8meIttqvGk7dkbljDFvgngmZ416RyRHG2CDoDVc0wH1lK6tXgCgP8UJUeBXYWvCMLtOd7gwgAbU69emFziOhsniSebqeiohtPoi/s1600/IMG_3154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gluten-free frozen meal" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi4ASs-faJx4AP_e8elInrZq_ORgnbbfPeIygTaE-B8meIttqvGk7dkbljDFvgngmZ416RyRHG2CDoDVc0wH1lK6tXgCgP8UJUeBXYWvCMLtOd7gwgAbU69emFziOhsniSebqeiohtPoi/s200/IMG_3154.JPG" title="Evol Chicken Tikki Masala" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">evol chicken tikki masala</td></tr>
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<b>Evol Chicken Tikki Masala and Fire Grilled Steak bowl. </b>We all try not to buy processed, convenience foods. But let's not pretend it's not great to open the freezer, grab a boxed meal and microwave it for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner. While they violate my "ideal" of avoiding the microwave, particularly in a plastic container, I make an exception for these delicious quickies. I am super weird about meat in general and I've never had a bad piece of chicken or steak from <a href="https://www.evolfoods.com/" target="_blank">Evol</a>. The serving size is on the small side, but they are filling, taste fresh and have no fake ingredients. I usually buy them at Target, and they are often on sale. If you're wimpy about spices, start with the Fire Grilled Steak bowl because the Tikki Masala is spicier.</div>
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<b>Jilz Original Crackerz.</b> If you like a crunchy, hearty, peppery cracker, you will love Jilz. These gems are packed with nutrition, Paleo-compliant and filling. I found them on Thrive.com but they are also available on Amazon now. Not inexpensive, but definitely a high-quality snack. I've only tried the Original; <a href="https://jilzglutenfree.com/" target="_blank">Jilz</a> also offers Tuscan and Mediterranean and the reviews are excellent for all three flavors. They would pair well with almost any cheese and definitely a glass of red wine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYthUpEU3NoO_deizXVTmF3YTvra2cyKOf_l4AbT7GzoeSQDFm3FEvLr2AlhqU5RwejXcT8QgoD_6JxdMADIx-9ImHx5vWBRguWYIsXkZtRaarENTWiTVcMTh_g6zgWV1VlnKqL_lBH5Sy/s1600/donuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYthUpEU3NoO_deizXVTmF3YTvra2cyKOf_l4AbT7GzoeSQDFm3FEvLr2AlhqU5RwejXcT8QgoD_6JxdMADIx-9ImHx5vWBRguWYIsXkZtRaarENTWiTVcMTh_g6zgWV1VlnKqL_lBH5Sy/s200/donuts.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kinnikinnick cinnamon sugar donuts</td></tr>
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<b>Kinnikinnick donuts. </b>I haven't seen many GF donut options, but <a href="https://www.kinnikinnick.com/index.cfm" target="_blank">Kinnikinnick</a>'s are very good, worth an occasional splurge. We have tried the cinnamon sugar and the chocolate coated and both cake-style donuts are delicious. You'll find them in the freezer section. A quick pop in the microwave and they are good to go. I also recently saw that <a href="http://www.stonewallkitchen.com/food/baking-mixes/gluten-free-mixes/" target="_blank">Stonewall Kitchen</a> has a dry mix that gets excellent reviews, so I am going to put it on my list to try (along with buying a donut pan).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPhfuZmvNt9pjuAlT49vtdjo5eMXTTMts66tCxHPjVa9YcFwY9DeNG4D6SWEbsWsKblK4aJSMmFzP286g6-Rsur3dlOOHnkP3JA4jC1CsKKxHNRf6A6xtnyMZDpHMvgMG4fmSIR87dfDg/s1600/org_rolls.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPhfuZmvNt9pjuAlT49vtdjo5eMXTTMts66tCxHPjVa9YcFwY9DeNG4D6SWEbsWsKblK4aJSMmFzP286g6-Rsur3dlOOHnkP3JA4jC1CsKKxHNRf6A6xtnyMZDpHMvgMG4fmSIR87dfDg/s200/org_rolls.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>Against The Grain rolls and baguettes. </b>Against The Grain came up with a unique way to solve the dryness often found in GF breads—add cheese. As long as you're a dairy-eating person, you will find this to be ingenious. Their baguettes and dinner rolls come frozen. After thawing them for about 30 minutes, I pop them in the toaster oven. Out comes a crusty, chewy, delicious bread that is awesome for dips and cheese plates. It is crumbly on the outside, for sure. But the flavor and the texture when it first comes out of the heat is just perfect. <a href="http://againstthegraingourmet.com/gluten-free-breads" target="_blank">Against The Grain Gourmet</a> also makes a pizzas, bagels, pitas, and a 100% plant-based chocolate chip cookie that I have yet to try. I love that they are against not only grain, but also fillers, binders and gums.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim773KHFs-7sxJ6y_6U0qsfUeAKscU9RJ6_speBME1ocBXW40ILgec0GtoHAIV14Iwpkfv-DHYqxWqB5qy-N38u6jnhzAcludn6XMnicZvDCe13YLiNElqzifHZBSWgXnTwyuVTPtHtM4I/s1600/prod-pasta-mix-lg_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim773KHFs-7sxJ6y_6U0qsfUeAKscU9RJ6_speBME1ocBXW40ILgec0GtoHAIV14Iwpkfv-DHYqxWqB5qy-N38u6jnhzAcludn6XMnicZvDCe13YLiNElqzifHZBSWgXnTwyuVTPtHtM4I/s200/prod-pasta-mix-lg_large.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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<b>Capellos Grain Free Lasagna Sheets.</b> You will never know these are made with almond flour and eggs. I mean, seriously, these make the best lasagna. Use your normal recipe but layer these sheets instead of normal pasta and prepare to be amazed. I will warn you, their products are a little pricey. I buy them in the freezer section of the natural foods area at Wegman's. <a href="https://cappellos.com/" target="_blank">Capellos</a> also makes cookie dough and pizzas. People love this brand and for good reason.</div>
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<b>Do you agree with my picks? What are your favorites? Please share. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">That's how I found Canyon Bakehouse—thank you very much, Liz!</span></h3>
Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-26550639500378482812015-02-21T11:24:00.001-05:002015-02-22T23:06:22.873-05:00Review: Integrity Botanicals<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5OZ7ra-q0feSXq5F4vC-5YB71FBB_P_igHdJ-Xy59VlQdSPMn42VY8sbHDmzjyFesAm-vqmynkId7ySk5nzu7xnutZ8K8lph4EFMxAkyzy6VuUBZD41VUoUJ2bgBk4BeVthLgbnEXQm6/s640/blogger-image-1824251120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5OZ7ra-q0feSXq5F4vC-5YB71FBB_P_igHdJ-Xy59VlQdSPMn42VY8sbHDmzjyFesAm-vqmynkId7ySk5nzu7xnutZ8K8lph4EFMxAkyzy6VuUBZD41VUoUJ2bgBk4BeVthLgbnEXQm6/s400/blogger-image-1824251120.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm a sucker for great design and remarkable customer service. So I have to share a quick story of my shopping experience with <i><a href="http://www.integritybotanicals.com/">IntegrityBotanicals</a></i>. </span><br />
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<b>Things they are doing right:</b></div>
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1. Instant delivery of coupon code for signing up for their newsletter.</div>
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2. Very well curated product selection.</div>
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3. Free samples with every order.</div>
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4. Gorgeous design and usability.</div>
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5. Responsive on social media.</div>
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6. Free shipping with minimum order.</div>
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7. High quality products at fair prices.</div>
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8. Fast shipping.</div>
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9. Careful packing with branded materials.</div>
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10. Hand-written note and coupon with order.</div>
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I was able to try a few <a href="http://lurkmade.com/" target="_blank">Lurk</a> and <a href="https://www.siperfumes.com/" target="_blank">Strange Invisible</a> scents, as well as a lip stain and <a href="http://www.acureorganics.com/Argan-Oil-p/023.htm" target="_blank">Acure argan oil</a>. I bought <a href="http://www.100percentpure.com/collections/body-washes-shower-gels" target="_blank">100% Pure body wash</a>, <a href="http://w3llpeople.com/index.php/lips.html" target="_blank">W3ll People lip gloss</a>, <a href="http://integritybotanicals.com/collections/shampoo/products/skinnyskinny-grapefruit-cardamom-organic-dry-shampoo-travel" target="_blank">skinnyskinny dry shampoo</a> and <a href="http://integritybotanicals.com/collections/kids/products/kids-whitening-chocolate-chip-toothpaste" target="_blank">Theodent</a> chocolate toothpaste for the kids.</div>
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Excited to try everything and will definitely order again from Integrity Botanicals.</div>
<br />Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-48559089823105668682014-09-24T11:28:00.000-04:002014-09-24T11:28:19.198-04:00Review: Metropolitan Gourmet Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first review following two whirlwind days at EXPO East comes from a company I didn't set out to see. So glad I stopped to chat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My go-to healthy dinner used to be a chicken Caesar salad but when I went gluten-free, I found myself missing the crunch. And fell out of the habit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among the gems at the show, I found my way to <a href="http://metropolitan-gourmet.com/" target="_blank">Metropolitan Gourmet</a>, purveyors of gluten-free croutons and bread crumbs. Jerry kindly gave me a sample of their new garlic croutons and a box to take home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I must really have been missing croutons in my life. After an eight-hour day on my feet and a 90-minute drive home, I took one look at a piece of grilled chicken left over from the kids' dinner and chopped up a chicken Caesar salad...because I had croutons! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdSOFVjBehORZ6Ial0Yjs60hKmiGEBIaPrNtIem2b1mWqdIjnVSGIRRwZojLWtep_rrys6iLTdedqkO-iiNjFggm2yU8slIxh3Pg5mb8IyrLzTgXwDqxxUYuE6YM5RZEi7enLqguntCEZ/s640/blogger-image-1301889252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Metropolitan Gourmet Garlic Gluten-Free Croutons" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdSOFVjBehORZ6Ial0Yjs60hKmiGEBIaPrNtIem2b1mWqdIjnVSGIRRwZojLWtep_rrys6iLTdedqkO-iiNjFggm2yU8slIxh3Pg5mb8IyrLzTgXwDqxxUYuE6YM5RZEi7enLqguntCEZ/s1600/blogger-image-1301889252.jpg" title="Metropolitan Gourmet Garlic Gluten-Free Croutons" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken caesar salad with Metropolitan Gourmet Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always have Parmesan cheese on hand but it was lucky that my favorite yogurt-based Caesar dressing and fresh romaine also happened to be in my fridge. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Voilá! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was delicious. MG's GF croutons were fresh, crunchy, flavorful and just the right size (thankfully not those giant ones that don't easily break and are too big to eat politely). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to being gluten-free and non-GMO certified, the products are soy-free, corn-free, dairy-free and egg-free. Their goal is simple ingredients and great taste. Mission accomplished. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to baking with the bread crumbs and trying Metropolitan Gourmet croutons to make GF stuffing for the holidays. Yum!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can <a href="http://metropolitan-gourmet.com/product/gluten-free-croutons/" target="_blank">purchase them</a> on their website under the Retail tab. Check out the <a href="http://metropolitan-gourmet.com/recipes/" target="_blank">recipes</a> while you're there, too!</span></div>
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Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-1832619807222327172014-09-16T18:07:00.001-04:002014-09-17T09:07:40.190-04:00Natural Products EXPO East is this week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yPyjvRVtGpl3cdm72YZ5qcRqKrClbjmUqLt708bBy6hkMRpZkQXqOKO28qzm44R90FuwTRGVtPNhGWaICbnNPujdT8YYv54uFdnAIdjvryS3v5xixjPJoBP-rXwe6XXwAcsNZxM0I5_r/s640/blogger-image--274430513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yPyjvRVtGpl3cdm72YZ5qcRqKrClbjmUqLt708bBy6hkMRpZkQXqOKO28qzm44R90FuwTRGVtPNhGWaICbnNPujdT8YYv54uFdnAIdjvryS3v5xixjPJoBP-rXwe6XXwAcsNZxM0I5_r/s400/blogger-image--274430513.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last year was the first year I attended Natural Products EXPO East and I was unprepared for the scope of brands I'd get to meet. I didn't even plan a full day there! This year, I am booked for two full days, so I can take my time and see all the new products launching as well as see companies I love.<br />
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I came home with a huge bag of goodies last year and ended up not doing too many reviews, due to switching jobs and to being very choosy about what I recommend. (I see no reason to do negative reviews unless a company is being negligent or intentionally dodgy.)</div>
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I'm armed with a list this year. Very excited to connect with like-minded people and introduce my readers to healthy, delicious options. </div>
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Be back next week!</div>
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Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-84540064338523604262014-07-18T11:47:00.003-04:002014-07-18T11:47:47.264-04:00Review: EVOL Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese (GF) — Ah-mazing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_KeTHqEGZWxc8Yrlf_lnFCR1TxsUtWEYBUVRk0iyeVTZu9lZ0XTS5a8fpsCyhF8WBOl8UZC_ORpevCy-K49sreLhLTvDGKrc0QE9vEx0JoKpnppUkSkbPybBPykgLxOYL3uX_VfNuqVb/s1600/EVOL_Classics_GlutenFreeSmokedGoudaMacCheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="evol gluten free smoked gouda mac & cheese" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_KeTHqEGZWxc8Yrlf_lnFCR1TxsUtWEYBUVRk0iyeVTZu9lZ0XTS5a8fpsCyhF8WBOl8UZC_ORpevCy-K49sreLhLTvDGKrc0QE9vEx0JoKpnppUkSkbPybBPykgLxOYL3uX_VfNuqVb/s1600/EVOL_Classics_GlutenFreeSmokedGoudaMacCheese.jpg" height="200" title="evol gluten free smoked gouda mac & cheese" width="185" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Admit it, sometimes you need to grab food that is pre-made. All the best planning in the world cannot predict life's little surprises (or laziness). My friends, I have a great option for you. I mean, that is if you eat dairy and love small doses of comfort food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">I spied <b>EVOL Smoked Gouda Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese</b> at Target in the frozen aisle and just had to try it. I am a complete sucker for mac and cheese. And making it from scratch with GF pasta is a crapshoot. It seems that most pasta I try ends up with a less-than-ideal consistency. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, by the LOVE of <a href="http://evolfoods.com/gluten-free/" target="_blank">EVOL</a> (see that?), I can pop a single-serving of bliss into the microwave (or oven if you prefer) and 4 minutes later have a quick meal. A cheesy, tasty, perfect lunch or snack. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's how they describe it on their site: "Gluten-free elbow noodles, caramelized onions and chives—All combined with an insanely tasty smoked gouda cheese sauce." Accurate.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like bacon? You're in luck. They make <b>Gluten-Free Uncured Bacon Mac & Cheese</b> touted as "Gluten-free elbow noodles, crispy uncured bacon and peas—All combined with an insanely tasty cheddar cheese sauce." Again, deliciously on the mark.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This company is pretty awesome...as evidenced by their mission statement: </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0dqocwpLGeXcSlR9Ba5w5-he160rZlQBfoQKOSjMjQisSjuChpJr2iScJF4Vws3Z2E8QyZC9t67l85z9qa665Xht1-1RbBgJZP14olr9aAAzLqlPJcuZBKW02voljTuKRyVkP2w0rypy/s1600/MissionBanner-012.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0dqocwpLGeXcSlR9Ba5w5-he160rZlQBfoQKOSjMjQisSjuChpJr2iScJF4Vws3Z2E8QyZC9t67l85z9qa665Xht1-1RbBgJZP14olr9aAAzLqlPJcuZBKW02voljTuKRyVkP2w0rypy/s1600/MissionBanner-012.gif" height="120" width="400" /></a>
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Try some of their frozen entrees, quesadillas, pastas, burritos...and come back to tell me if you're as in evol as I am!Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-498738918103641152014-06-07T21:22:00.001-04:002014-06-07T21:22:43.821-04:00Oh, Kraft, You're So Fake!<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Today, I once again promised myself I would blog more. So, naturally, I looked to see if I had any posts drafted that I could publish now, before starting a fresh one. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lo and behold I came across a blast from the past—2009 to be exact—detailed how I had written a letter to Kraft </span><span style="font-family: arial;">asking them why they were willing to reformulate their products to healthier specifications in the E.U. but continued to sell their artificial, chemical version of Macaroni & Cheese to U.S. consumers. I finally got a reply [again, back in 2009] as follows:</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Valued Consumer,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We received your recent e-mail about our Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.<br /><br />We completely understand that as a parent, nothing is more important than your family's health and well-being. That is one reason Kraft Foods is so dedicated to making the safety and quality of our products our top priority.<br /><br />So that is why we follow the guidelines of government agencies that are responsible for the safety of our food. In the United States, Kraft Foods only uses ingredients that have been recognized as safe for food use in accordance with U.S. Food & Drug Administration regulations. We will continue to use the current ingredients, which are recognized as safe.<br /><br />Our products around the globe are different to reflect local preferences and tastes. Yet we use the same standards to select ingredients, always putting safety first.<br /><br />We know some people prefer products made without artificial ingredients so we now offer more choices. For products with no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors, you might want to consider Kraft Organic Macaroni & Cheese in White Cheddar or some of the Macaroni & Cheese dinner options in our Back to Nature line. We hope you'll give them - and some of our other Back to Nature products - a try.<br /><br />Just so you know, our Macaroni & Cheese products are sold primarily in the United States and Canada. Although we have a variation of pasta and cheese products in Scotland/northern England and Australia, neither has made any changes to their recipe since 2006.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br />Thank you for sharing your concerns. Your views on our products are very important to us and we take them to heart.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br />Sincerely,<br />Associate Director, Consumer Relations</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Kim McMiller</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My 2009 draft concluded with this musing:</span><br />
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While I absolutely appreciate that Kraft at least (1) responded and (2) gave lip service to thinking about the safety of the ingredients its using, I cannot believe for ONE MINUTE that Kraft really believes that the U.S. Government standards are appropriate benchmark to be using. They are profit-driven and looking to suck as much money out of consumers as possible with no regard whatsoever for the health and well-being of those who purchase or consume their foods. This situation is not entirely their fault, though, since the U.S. government in all its wisdom has decided to subsidize unhealthy things like corn and wheat, making them cheap and desirable for Big Food to use. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Credit: FoodBabe.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today, FIVE YEARS LATER, </span><a href="http://foodbabe.com/" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">Food Babe</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (if you're not following her, you really should be), through a Change.org petition, pressured Kraft so much that they gave in and promised to remove artificial dyes from SOME of their US products. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That is a good start. If you want more details, here you go:</span></h4>
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<li><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/kraft-stop-using-dangerous-food-dyes-in-our-mac-cheese" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">Change.org petition.</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (359,673 signers as of today!)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://foodbabe.com/2013/04/05/the-inside-story-on-my-visit-to-kraft-headquarters/" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">Food Babe recounts her impromptu meeting with Kraft Corporate.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://foodbabe.com/2013/06/06/victory-ny-times-posts-kraft-mac-cheese-warning-label/" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">New York Times article with the warning label from US product sold in EU.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kraft-drops-yellow-nos-5-6-from-kid-friendly-mac-cheese-varieties/" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">Article about Kraft deciding to remove some dyes from some products.</a></li>
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Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-706763775756738062014-03-30T22:07:00.000-04:002014-04-07T23:16:12.913-04:00Review: Against the Grain Original Baguette—ooh la la!I've been mostly gluten-free (GF) now for more than a year. It's been a great change for me, however, I do love French bread and miss it with my fromage, vin and olives. I have tried a number of homemade, pre-made and packaged GF breads and have been routinely disappointed—dry, tasteless and many times so bad I was at a loss for mots.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Against the Grain Original Baguette</td></tr>
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Ever optimistic, I ponied up beaucoup d'argent for a bag of two <a href="http://againstthegraingourmet.com/product-ingredients-and-nutritionals/#barori" target="_blank">Original Baguettes</a> from Against the Grain at my local Giant, bracing for buyer's remorse yet again.<br />
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Friends, I was NOT disappointed. I was ecstatic, elated, overjoyed. Seriously, if you have been GF for any period of time and not found a single go-to GF bread that you can splurge on, you will understand. These baguettes are frozen, which is usually the precursor to dry, falling-apart nastiness.<br />
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But not with Against the Grain. These baguettes are crunchy on the outside with a light and chewy inside that is vaguely sweet. I've used it as garlic bread, and I've eaten it plain. I love that I can pull a frozen loaf out of the freezer, microwave it and toast it—and voila! Delicious GF French bread in minutes.<br />
<br />Go out and buy it right now. You will not be disappointed. Plus, I want to make sure it never gets discontinued!Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-11670539627419166462014-03-30T20:21:00.001-04:002014-03-30T20:21:39.972-04:00Review: Iloves Organic Divina Pitted Green Olives<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdqY0LX04m0ltlhL3HiHeRdhi8z0_jbjGiLDdTznPJYuWh36ZuSm4T0_jAPLn1LfhQ8doO1y5Nf-Lk55ol2W1IkODoRlG8oDiiG8zpPdx5ZN59Wa064N6pb3fpj8Oi1f4w0vVf4XjDHr-/s1600/blogger-image-843925824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Amazing Organic Divina pitted green olives" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdqY0LX04m0ltlhL3HiHeRdhi8z0_jbjGiLDdTznPJYuWh36ZuSm4T0_jAPLn1LfhQ8doO1y5Nf-Lk55ol2W1IkODoRlG8oDiiG8zpPdx5ZN59Wa064N6pb3fpj8Oi1f4w0vVf4XjDHr-/s320/blogger-image-843925824.jpg" title="Amazing Organic Divina pitted green olives" width="240" /></a>This post is LONG overdue. My friend Heidi brought us a goody bag years ago that included two jars of Organic Divina olives. First of all, I love olives. Second of all, I love filthy dirty martinis, which are only as good as the olive juice. </div>
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I've had olives of every size, shape, origin and color, and firm mild green ones are a favorite. </div>
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These Organic Divina olives are in a class by themselves. Firm-fleshed, not too salty, sort of buttery, mild and flavorful. Seriously, simply the perfect green olive marinating in barely cloudy juice that begs for top-tier vodka. </div>
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They are grown in Northern Greece, where they are cultivated organically--no pesticides, coloring or additives. </div>
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I set out to buy them and had to get them on <a href="http://www.vitacost.com/divina-organic-pitted-green-olives-10-2-oz-1" target="_blank">Vitacost</a>. They are not inexpensive at $4.59 a 10.2-oz jar, but worth it and if you buy 11 jars, shipping is free (haha!). </div>
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Olives are full of good fat and delicious flavor, which makes them a great snack. Hope you get to try them and leave me your thoughts! </div>
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Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-29851346992047052014-02-12T11:41:00.002-05:002014-02-12T11:41:35.433-05:00Review: Mr. Milkman Delivery Service<div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delivery time!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Folks, my dad's friend told me to check out <a href="http://www.mrmilkman.com/" target="_blank">Mr. Milkman</a> and, when I did, I could not contain my excitement! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know all the local and organic agriculture in and around Central PA? Well, imagine being able to pick and choose from many purveyors with dozens of products and have them show up on your porch in a few days. This is your new reality, my friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We tried Mr. Milkman and here are some of my thoughts:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At my request, they made a special delivery for our first order on Thursday, though our usual day will be Tuesday. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very accommodating.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dan, one of the owners, pulled up in this adorable truck and personally loaded our goodies into a cooler waiting on the porch. He was very nice, apologizing for accidentally giving my peanut butter ice cream to another customer and making up for it with two containers (rocky road and chocolate covered strawberry).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My order: 2 dozen eggs from Nature's Yolk; pint of peanut butter ice cream, quart of buttermilk and quart of cream line whole milk from Trickling Springs Creamery; homemade 1-pound tub of FarmFriend natural butter; two pork chops (pastured); and one container of Pequea Valley Natural Yogurt (vanilla).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The delivery area is huge! You Philly people and suburbanites can participate, too.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have never had cream line milk, you are in for a rich treat. Timmy was not a fan, but Alex and I LOVED it in our morning coffee.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soy-free eggs are available. A little pricey but an excellent option for the many people avoiding soy these days.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other products: homemade sauerkraut, artisan cheese, honey, raw milk, gluten-free baked goods, Charles Chips and much more local meat.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ice cream was decadent, super delicious, but the label indicated a lot more ingredients than I expected from homemade ice cream. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The delivery fee of $4 is more than fair. The prices are in line with what you'd pay anywhere for products of the same quality that are probably less fresh.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, we are ordering again. Love getting fresh milk in glass containers (no waste!) and knowing where our food is grown.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Try Mr. Milkman and come back to tell me what you thought, too!</span></div>
Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-91369999080910636792014-01-19T11:00:00.000-05:002014-01-19T11:00:04.425-05:00What's in My Makeup Bag, Part 1: Mascara<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finding Beautycounter's super clean skincare line has given me a renewed energy to be stricter with the cosmetics I'm using day in, day out. Until the time comes that BC debuts their makeup line, I am content with a some decent options I've found that are also good performers and not too expensive. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First up, mascara. I have to admit my favorite is </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1dRDCCu" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (everyday). The waterproof version—</span><a href="http://amzn.to/1dRDSBn" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Lights, Camera, Splashes</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is also in my bag. I have also often used Korres B5 & Rice Bran mascara, which is safer but harder to find. They also seem to change the formulation and name constantly.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQpz0F2htW9u-fN_fikpeXOhf9X5ND1MUPQf9n1oCrwTKXZjB0t4Pu23tlPqW3GcJqJqXFkeFVdrK2QV54K8mVbRlKYjn2UZ2ru7X57c80DCH_k0aNITVBRdt_uhBn8vF0FdYw41bYQLP/s1600/tarte+lashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQpz0F2htW9u-fN_fikpeXOhf9X5ND1MUPQf9n1oCrwTKXZjB0t4Pu23tlPqW3GcJqJqXFkeFVdrK2QV54K8mVbRlKYjn2UZ2ru7X57c80DCH_k0aNITVBRdt_uhBn8vF0FdYw41bYQLP/s1600/tarte+lashes.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I like about these Tarte mascaras is the performance. LCLashes seems to actually curl your lashes even without an eyelash curler. It has no discernible scent, doesn't flake, comes off easily with cleanser, doesn't irritate my eyes and isn't too expensive. LCSplashes is much the same, though it can get clumpy. It's tougher to get off, but that is true of most waterproof mascaras. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The downside of these mascaras is that they rate a "4" and a "6" respectively on EWG's Skin Deep Database (SDD). They contain four different parabens </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that I prefer to avoid</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (and phenoxyethanol, which is a safer preservative, in my opinion).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how did I end up with a moderately toxic mascara? Through experimentation. I have tried roughly a kajillion mascaras over the past decade or more. Everything from Dior Show, which is expensive and delivers an amazing result (but is a "5" in the SDD) to Honeybee Gardens mascara, which rates an impressive "1" in SDD but didn't work well for me. I also tried Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara, which is available at drugstores, and scores a nice low "1" in SDD. But I didn't like it. It was thin and the wand was plasticky. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiJdWnOeLsCPf63Zb6JWtcibdBR7jMBVQY1zhKV2_OBa_iKXOB8IKre-RjuCNmJbnpEYV-OS4ijKWOliEFHvsqUQu8IoNsdOf1gmdk33-3ygxoXUp7cRU-BXwaRS580UnefuyTrnCQGDI/s1600/jane+iredale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiJdWnOeLsCPf63Zb6JWtcibdBR7jMBVQY1zhKV2_OBa_iKXOB8IKre-RjuCNmJbnpEYV-OS4ijKWOliEFHvsqUQu8IoNsdOf1gmdk33-3ygxoXUp7cRU-BXwaRS580UnefuyTrnCQGDI/s1600/jane+iredale.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening<br />and Lengthening Mascara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWIpEKM8BQZ15lKCQYPJBPZo7-En8TUN8b45lUDGZUQ0k2a63sDrDUvJh8KY46M1kDjzX6kYSpsMXHtPrb06IjITZOmwkkyEDlurkNw6SjpNpjyNFHetpUuwkc1ituIUlG2FeGofWBB39/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-18+at+11.25.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ecco Bella Mascara from Amazon" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWIpEKM8BQZ15lKCQYPJBPZo7-En8TUN8b45lUDGZUQ0k2a63sDrDUvJh8KY46M1kDjzX6kYSpsMXHtPrb06IjITZOmwkkyEDlurkNw6SjpNpjyNFHetpUuwkc1ituIUlG2FeGofWBB39/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-18+at+11.25.06+PM.png" height="200" title="Ecco Bella Mascara" width="125" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Ecco Bella Flowercolor<br />Natural Mascara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beautycounter's creative director, Christy Coleman, has recommended Jane Iredale's line for the time being, and<a href="http://amzn.to/1jg7W95" target="_blank"> that mascara</a> also scores a healthy "1" in SDD as well. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another I have not tried but scores well is <a href="http://amzn.to/1egIq1O" target="_blank">Ecco Bella Botanicals Flower Color Natural Black Mascara</a> ("1" on SDD). Please let me know if you have used either of these and if you like them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Up next, BB cream.</span></div>
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Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-34149731178477780102014-01-18T22:54:00.000-05:002014-01-18T22:57:32.639-05:00Review: Tate's Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As many of you know, I am trying to eat less gluten. I find that I feel less tired in the afternoon and a gluten-free (GF) protocol is suggested for anyone with migraines or autoimmune issues. Plus, I find it easier to maintain a healthy weight when I cut out a lot of empty carbs. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVe0yi77kgTKGQc2y7Q41yQ4yxrc-JfeL_M-a7vm5HKt2lRsWJ8BfPv1A6M93XAgWgxFo2dUxwOmkr4vOQrxo3EjkfHGYyZ4Mx_4rb7g-Ea9Xc5yVahvH9GJ290evo2qdesjU0iQCCY9N/s1600/tates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFq0vrIYXkqSM4bDIAVtpG-HE2dPtpDCW_gdDQAapnEbbrNypiATxY4jG-DyjuYunGhi-7dqdafJzxCLLbkZ51OC1bDExhp9vWUSyyS9YhZsZzNKJMKRNXm7m8BYEYPTnSubc4rrR1_Tu/s1600/tates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFq0vrIYXkqSM4bDIAVtpG-HE2dPtpDCW_gdDQAapnEbbrNypiATxY4jG-DyjuYunGhi-7dqdafJzxCLLbkZ51OC1bDExhp9vWUSyyS9YhZsZzNKJMKRNXm7m8BYEYPTnSubc4rrR1_Tu/s1600/tates.jpg" height="366" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason I cut out a lot of carbs when I am eating GF is that most GF breads, cookies, etc., are really not very tasty. If you are lucky enough to have a local GF bakery, you may find a bread you like. The only downside is that it doesn't keep long and tends to go bad before we finish it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One notable exception: <b>Tate's Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.</b> I found these at Wegman's and thought the packaging looked so tempting I had to try them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was in for a pleasant surprise. If you like thin, crispy, buttery chocolate chip cookies, you will love these. I think they are as good as any homemade chocolate chip cookie, GF or otherwise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give them a try: A <a href="http://amzn.to/1h2RjfF" target="_blank">3-pack on Amazon</a> is just a few days from your door. :)</span></div>
Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-62592481246668864102013-10-02T23:13:00.002-04:002013-10-02T23:13:30.182-04:00Natural Products Expo East was a Blast!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u_fXyoOMihQcsiCyxsl3Zk9X7uam5MIQ7qY55i0VNAmElDEpfURwPXeCMc7VJR4flEHNQHwLgKy2jz1hAcK7XBnfcMafMATBw77UJY3jIkYfA_OKHq8C4sr2kSY9uBHsGY8Ig5DobumZ/s1600/EE11_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u_fXyoOMihQcsiCyxsl3Zk9X7uam5MIQ7qY55i0VNAmElDEpfURwPXeCMc7VJR4flEHNQHwLgKy2jz1hAcK7XBnfcMafMATBw77UJY3jIkYfA_OKHq8C4sr2kSY9uBHsGY8Ig5DobumZ/s200/EE11_Logo.png" width="200" /></a></div>
I took some time to attend the <a href="http://www.expoeast.com/expoeast2013/Public/ExhibitorList.aspx?ID=1042392" target="_blank">Natural Products Expo East</a> in Baltimore last week and boy did I meet some amazing people. Got to taste some amazing food. See new products. Find things I never imagined existed. It was my first time there and I did not even have time to cover the entire show. So I focused on the new products area. Next year, I will allot more time so I can spend two days roaming around in natural heaven.<br />
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They invited me to a press luncheon and sent me home with a huge bag of goodies. Yum. Stay tuned for a bunch of short but hopefully entertaining reviews of delicious new items, many gluten-free, GMO-free and just generally great!<br />
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<br />Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-91626532030326562562013-08-24T12:45:00.003-04:002013-08-24T12:45:46.379-04:00Garlic Effective in Lead Detox (and it's Delicious)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRCAphlbHPa78lXVA158JalsNB2KPAUPyaFTHnwXqFFibg_LTVPXrNx0c-ctieB-4aeqqiTrkUWwlXsvedeq_q2zgbPAVMlqk3gnS9AKUbloswH4BrUyJD7nPcENMMQTyQy3fx1i7Dq4k/s640/blogger-image-1701627865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRCAphlbHPa78lXVA158JalsNB2KPAUPyaFTHnwXqFFibg_LTVPXrNx0c-ctieB-4aeqqiTrkUWwlXsvedeq_q2zgbPAVMlqk3gnS9AKUbloswH4BrUyJD7nPcENMMQTyQy3fx1i7Dq4k/s320/blogger-image-1701627865.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Came across <a href="http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/garlic-beats-drug-in-detoxifying-lead-safely-from-body/" target="_blank">this article</a> and thought it was worth passing along for anyone who has lead poisoning or knows someone trying to detoxify from it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but we cook with garlic all the time. It tastes great and has lots of medicinal benefits. Oh, and let's not forget that it wards off vampires. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WedMD has a decent page on the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-300-GARLIC.aspx?activeIngredientId=300&activeIngredientName=GARLIC" target="_blank">uses and quirks of garlic</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ironically, as I was just paging through my new Real Simple, I also found a handy guide to cooking with garlic. I can't find a link online but here are some of the tips:</span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose tightly packed cloves with unbroken white or purply skin. Should feel as hard as an apple and have no dark spots. Don't buy ones with green shoots, but if that happens at home, just trim off before using.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Garlic will remain fresh for up to two months when kept in a cool, dry place away from sunlight." Do not refrigerate.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
To roast it (delicious!):</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Cut off and toss the top third of the head to expose the cloves."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Place the garlic on a large sheet of foil and top with 2 TBSP olive oil, plus salt and black pepper. Fold the foil into a sealed packet."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Roast the garlic on a baking sheet in a 325-degree oven until tender 45 minutes to an hour. Let cool a bit, then squeeze. The soft cloves will squirt out. Use right away, or stone in the refrigerator for up to 3 days."</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, to get the smell of garlic off your hands, I used to use a product called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Smell-Pack-of-4/dp/B006SJWSXO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377362195&sr=8-2&keywords=goodbye+smells" target="_blank">Good Bye Smell</a> for tough odors, but it's hard to find and I'm not sure how nontoxic it actually is. I've also read that you can run your hands under cold water and <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6473350" target="_blank">use stainless steel to remove the smell</a>. Sounds nuts, but I'm going to try it. Has anyone had success with this tip?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<br />Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-67364524702212606982013-08-23T21:52:00.000-04:002013-08-23T21:52:07.635-04:00Introducing Beautycounter: OOTF Approved Skincare!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOS9qMNTPBCch33lkCtD9Pwwathsp9kzBuvNEnui2tbHdW3BTijGAwwrL9t8QrjmONLlpW_HNTEzUxre-gcDmiACOn2WKq1Bt7lkJyNEcBOj0i9Y4HXPDaD_WvOwif2BcdT2nNlAVOTqL/s1600/shop_header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOS9qMNTPBCch33lkCtD9Pwwathsp9kzBuvNEnui2tbHdW3BTijGAwwrL9t8QrjmONLlpW_HNTEzUxre-gcDmiACOn2WKq1Bt7lkJyNEcBOj0i9Y4HXPDaD_WvOwif2BcdT2nNlAVOTqL/s400/shop_header.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.dori.beautycounter.com/">www.dori.beautycounter.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've tried more beauty products than I can count. Some that tout natural ingredients, some claiming to be organic and, many times, it's hard to know what's in products because the brands refuse to share ingredients. That is a huge red flag to me.<br />
<br />
I'll be honest, it's been so hard to find good stuff that I have knowingly bought toxic products because I didn't like the so-called healthy beauty brands I found.<br />
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I'm a realist and I'm particular. Oh, and I have sensitive skin. Products have to work well, first and foremost. They need to be free of harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances and all potentially unhealthy substances because, let's face it, I'm using them every single day. Ideally, they are also not too expensive.<br />
<br />
Until now, I found very few beauty products that met all this criteria. And most that were close looked unprofessional, or smelled funky, or were often unavailable.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b> But now there is Beautycounter. </b>And I could not be more excited to share it with you, my friends, my family and anyone in my extended network.<br />
<br />
Check out my site: http://www.dori.beautycounter.com/ or message me with questions. I'd love to help you host a social or just help you pick the best products to try.<br />
<br />
To a beautiful healthy you!<br />
Dori<br />
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Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-16274232815131529692013-06-25T19:00:00.000-04:002013-06-25T19:00:06.044-04:00Gluten-Free Cookies Can Be Delicious!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJCME0QB7Ul7AEA9SnPAoBhFxZYGQ8We-sN6Ncn-FUUHljJa-5zBGBE7AduDDfcfX0nxn6rKOYngpSlCuJI6u1RxRNyF3EBoryDsTqPhH5NeNvsAjtv8Nh_QxMwVbQBJlf6n4wM3NC91s/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJCME0QB7Ul7AEA9SnPAoBhFxZYGQ8We-sN6Ncn-FUUHljJa-5zBGBE7AduDDfcfX0nxn6rKOYngpSlCuJI6u1RxRNyF3EBoryDsTqPhH5NeNvsAjtv8Nh_QxMwVbQBJlf6n4wM3NC91s/s1600/unnamed.jpg" /></a>First, I should ask my babysitter to write this post instead of taking credit for it, but since she's away at camp this week, I will do the honor.<br />
<br />
My older son is following a diet free of dairy, gluten and soy. This is my super active, super skinny, super tall son who loves sweets. Fortunately, he also loves fruits and vegetables and doesn't seem to mind this diet at all. In fact, he loves to tell me something has gluten in it just so he doesn't have to eat it. Clever little beast.<br />
<br />
But I digress. My cookie monster will eat boxes of cookies a day if we let him. Not only is this a lot of empty calories (again, not entirely an issue; he eats a lot of healthy stuff, too), but the cost of these cookies is pretty notable. The best brand for his particular diet is <a href="http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/" target="_blank">Enjoy Life</a>. They have a nice selection of <a href="http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/soft-baked-cookies/" target="_blank">soft</a> and <a href="http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/crunchy-cookies/" target="_blank">hard</a> cookies that taste good but a box is anywhere from $4-$5. For 12 cookies.<br />
<br />
That gets my value hackles up and also I really don't like to rely on processed treats. I mean, I buy granola bars and whatnot because I don't have time to make everything from scratch, but I don't like it. Enter the babysitter.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBgXAoZs2Zlwn1Z7zyjeQ1kGdDIsrzhby0QG2vU-ZItfMzZk_AU52g3MmALzCr-PvFVQx1DosFMHvk01kkpfR1gsTzB2cE4_D2vFTHLbtknyduTKdC8m7y6HGgEGN96dL1BeQOBW8uwaf/s1600/enjoy+life+c.c..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBgXAoZs2Zlwn1Z7zyjeQ1kGdDIsrzhby0QG2vU-ZItfMzZk_AU52g3MmALzCr-PvFVQx1DosFMHvk01kkpfR1gsTzB2cE4_D2vFTHLbtknyduTKdC8m7y6HGgEGN96dL1BeQOBW8uwaf/s200/enjoy+life+c.c..jpg" width="200" /></a>I buy gluten-free baking mix and dairy/soy/gluten-free chocolate chips and ask her to bake cookies with the boys. They love to be helpers. She texts me the first day: "What do I use instead of butter?" Legitimate question. I run through my pantry in my mind and come up with coconut oil, applesauce and ghee. To Google I go. I don't find anything conclusive but tell her to try an equal substitution with half coconut oil and half applesauce.<br />
<br />
<b>Those were the best chocolate chip cookies ever!</b> Soft and flavorful. Not buttery but not bland and not coconutty either. Since that first batch, we have experimented with different mixes. It's hard to buy just the all-purpose gluten-free flour because then you have to find xanthum gum and baking powder/soda (I never remember which) and it's just more complicated than having a "baking mix." The Arrowhead Mills mix pictured here works well. Not inexpensive, though. We use the Enjoy Life chocolate chips, because they are soy-free and that's hard to find.<br />
<br />
I'm going to suggest that she try the next batch with half or all ghee to see if that delicious butter flavor will be worth the cost increase. Speaking of which, if I add up the ingredients, it's probably close to breakeven with the store-bought cookies, maybe a little less. But they are homemade and there is less waste—and the boys get baking lessons to boot.<br />
<br />
<br />Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-8179649956241316402013-04-15T08:00:00.000-04:002013-04-15T08:00:05.516-04:00Endocrine-Distruptors Starting to Worry UNEP and WHO<h1 class="story" id="headline">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Science Daily</i>: <b>Effects of Human Exposure to Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals Examined in Landmark United Nations Report</b></span></span></span></b></h1>
<h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="date">Feb. 19, 2013</span> — Many synthetic chemicals,
untested for their disrupting effects on the hormone system, could have
significant health implications according to the <em>State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals</em>, a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WHO.</span></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Key sections:</span></span></span></h1>
<ul>
<li><h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some substances can alter the hormonal system<span style="font-size: small;">.</span> </span></span></span></h1>
</li>
<li><h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Human exposure can occur in a number of ways<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></h1>
</li>
<li><h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More research is needed.</span></span></span></h1>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recommendations:</span></span></span></h1>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The study makes a number of recommendations to improve global
knowledge of these chemicals, reduce potential disease risks, and cut
related costs. These include:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Testing</b>: known EDCs are only the 'tip of the iceberg' and more
comprehensive testing methods are required to identify other possible
endocrine disruptors, their sources, and routes of exposure.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Research</b>: more scientific evidence is needed to identify the
effects of mixtures of EDCs on humans and wildlife (mainly from
industrial by-products) to which humans and wildlife are increasingly
exposed.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Reporting</b>: many sources of EDCs are not known because of
insufficient reporting and information on chemicals in products,
materials and goods.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Collaboration</b>: more data sharing between scientists and between
countries can fill gaps in data, primarily in developing countries and
emerging economies.</span></span></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Read the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130219115501.htm" target="_blank">full article</a>. </span></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="story" id="headline">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></h1>
Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-19326135149234863172013-04-11T22:17:00.001-04:002013-04-11T22:17:11.967-04:00Organizations worth followingHigh time for a useful post to help the faithful readers get news before I get around to tweeting or posting it to Facebook! I rely on some great advocacy groups and news sources to stay on top of issues related to toxins. Here's a look at the best. <br />
<a href="http://ewg.org/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://ewg.org/" target="_blank">Environmental Working Group</a><br />
<a href="http://www.panna.org/" target="_blank">Pesticide Action Network</a><br />
<a href="http://organicconsumers.org/" target="_blank">Organic Consumers Association</a> (though a little radical sometimes)<br />
<a href="http://healthychild.org/" target="_blank">Healthy Child Healthy World</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pasafarming.org/" target="_blank">For Pennsylvanians: PASA</a><br />
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/" target="_blank">Mother Jones</a><br />
<a href="http://www.emagazine.com/" target="_blank">E The Environmental Magazine</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/" target="_blank">Science Daily</a><br />
<br />
Please comment with your favorites if I missed any good ones. Happy reading!Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-34106007519000007042013-01-16T10:09:00.000-05:002013-01-16T10:09:59.685-05:00Last Call from Flavrz Founder<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQmnbDNMnyY5XGV33rUAO0-OKwKt-EqkGhEVaFlWKGPEQ6oPMhpFpaMJZrpdY1ifTsk0-c3aoqb-saiTEgsN82nJYfmDevP_mJnVHk3oWi139wWq0xSrKTpKCZ094gzkcUqDS3MWGR1kW/s1600/flavrz.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQmnbDNMnyY5XGV33rUAO0-OKwKt-EqkGhEVaFlWKGPEQ6oPMhpFpaMJZrpdY1ifTsk0-c3aoqb-saiTEgsN82nJYfmDevP_mJnVHk3oWi139wWq0xSrKTpKCZ094gzkcUqDS3MWGR1kW/s320/flavrz.png" width="320" /></a>I have written before about Flavrz beverages. There was this <a href="http://www.ollieollietoxinfree.com/2009/08/product-review-flavrz-drink-mix.html" target="_blank">review</a> of the fruit concentrates and this <a href="http://www.ollieollietoxinfree.com/2012/04/review-root-beer-to-root-for.html" target="_blank">review</a> of the soda mixes. Both favorable. Not only are they are healthier than the average juice or soda, they are great as mixers, convenient and affordable. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
But it appears that I am in the minority of people who share actually buy the product. See the letter I got via email from founder Karen Barth. And, please, if you know any investors in this space, send them her way. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Dear Flavrz Customers:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I am writing to you to let you know that Flavrz may be shutting down operations in the near future.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
When
I started Flavrz four years ago, I had a mission to create a beverage
system that would be healthy for families, low in sugar, free of
artificial ingredients, and good for the environment. Personally, I
was working hard to get my family to stop drinking sodas, sports drinks
and other chemical and sugar-based beverages. I knew that others were
working on the same thing. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I
had a big idea: develop concentrates that consumers could add to water
and make their own customized healthy drinks. I believed that if we
delivered a truly high-quality product made from real fruits and
botanticals, the market would quickly recognize the value without the
need to spend a lot on advertising or marketing. It was my hope that
this very superior way of making beverages would "take the market by
storm"</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We
have, in fact, built a loyal following of customers who love our
products. Unfortunately, the size of our following is still small and
our growth rate is far slower than we had hoped. We have discovered
that it hard for people to change lifelong habits, especially when it
comes to beverages. Personally, I have been surprised to see how many
people eat a healthy organic meal and wash it down with a glass of Diet
Coke.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The
company is running out of capital and we are actively looking for a
buyer or investor but unless someone comes forward soon, liquidation is a
very real possibility within the coming weeks.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I encourage you to stock up, as we may soon be selling off our inventory..</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We thank you for being our loyal customers and supporters.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Sincerely</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Karen A. Barth</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
President and Founder</div>
</blockquote>
Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-56032418781324977852012-08-13T13:30:00.001-04:002013-06-25T16:06:08.720-04:00Review: Ascenta NutraSea hp Concentrated High EPA Omega-3 Supplement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcZdxB2zMW75xFx_xsQo2WS4276oLPAqll8Y7mfFPjksel9fcePrmaYQ4PtlEaM8yFtOIJCan810JPwM5u_5WlrDIfOK7fS8ZxXFfaxDAiBZ6LlpV1M6lYqzs1QFr46NR2aVhyPNRkYW2/s1600/default.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcZdxB2zMW75xFx_xsQo2WS4276oLPAqll8Y7mfFPjksel9fcePrmaYQ4PtlEaM8yFtOIJCan810JPwM5u_5WlrDIfOK7fS8ZxXFfaxDAiBZ6LlpV1M6lYqzs1QFr46NR2aVhyPNRkYW2/s200/default.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
Gregory was only two when we realized he was having some neurological difficulties, and our pediatrician cited growing <a href="http://www.omegabrite.com/why/research.html" target="_blank">research</a> supporting supplementation with high-EPA fish oil. Since then, we've tried a few options; <a href="http://www.ascentahealth.com/products/human/nutrasea-hp/" target="_blank">Ascenta NutraSea hp Concentrated high EPA omega-3 lemon flavor liquid</a> is the best I've found. <br />
<br />
First, we tried <a href="http://www.omegabrite.com/products/liquid.html" target="_blank">Omega Brite</a>, which had an orange flavor that Gregory didn't mind mixed with juice. However, he was using sippy cups at the time and it would sometimes leak, resulting in a stubborn orange oily stain. Not good. It was also only available online and frequently out of stock. Oh, and it was pricey, as most good fish oil supplements are. <br />
<br />
When we would run out of Omega Brite, I'd buy <a href="http://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/Products/Product_Details/514/?ProdID=1414" target="_blank">Nordic Naturals gel capsules</a>, which we'd have to puncture and squeeze into his "vitamin juice." That was less than ideal. <br />
<br />
High-EPA is the key for brain function and it's hard to find liquid that has enough concentrated EPA in it. The NutraSea liquid has a total of 2300 mg of Omega-3s, including 1500 mg of EPA and 500 mg of DHA in a single teaspoon! We dose Gregory with 1 tsp twice a day, at the doctor's direction. <br />
<br />
He used to fight us on drinking the Omega Brite but he never fights us on the NutraSea, presumably because it has no discernible taste in juice. He especially likes it in apple cider.<br />
<br />
I buy it on <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/ascenta-nutrasea-high-potency-concentrated-high-epa-omega-3-supplement-lemon/qxp358679?catid=183249" target="_blank">drugstore</a>.com, two or three at a time, when they're running big cash back through <a href="http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=G8TzZDj%2BCD602NiMePiosg%3D%3D" target="_blank">eBates</a>. It's not cheap at close to $40 a bottle, but that lasts about three weeks. And when I get 12% cash back through eBates, plus 5% in Drugstore dollars, it comes down to closer to $30 a bottle.<br />
<br />
Now that we have G on such a good regimen, maybe Alex and I will get better about taking our own fish oil supplements! Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-90420832744912361242012-07-17T23:14:00.000-04:002012-07-17T23:14:19.332-04:00Review: Unreal Candy Wants to Unjunk Your Chocolate WorldI was in CVS, looking for something entirely different, when I saw the displays for this <a href="http://getunreal.com/" target="_blank">Unreal Candy</a>. I took a closer look and decided it would make for a perfect blog post; plus, I was hungry.<br />
<br />
So I bought two varieties: "Unreal 54 Candy Coated Chocolates with Peanuts" and "Unreal 77 Peanut Butter Cups." With my CVS card, they were only 44¢ each, just over a penny per gram.<br />
<br />
I brought them home and asked Alex to help me test them. He was happy to help, naturally. We both agreed through an entirely unscientific taste test that both were good, a little less sweet, but still satisfying. Alex felt that the peanut butter cup was more chewy, or moist, than a Reese's. I noticed that it was a little thinner than a standard size Reese's. I'm not sure I can say that I like them better than Reese's but I've stopped eating those because they have TBHQ (a preservative) in them, one of my migraine triggers. The 54s were definitely better than any other peanut butter cups I've tried, like the little Costco ones or Wolfgang's. And the M&M knockoffs were really very peanutty and flavorful. The shell is nice and crunchy, as you'd expect.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb6cgFlYOEaB9zPjoxJD6FY98Pq_P176_tk6Vkwf5jego_0fPPOevwUP8yf-VEX8U32mGYFUBekZij2mObjZHv8a0KEsecO3C0MFM3noidDcUcx9rqqymhiplru_L2q6SmqGTC77rVD2O/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-17+at+10.29.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb6cgFlYOEaB9zPjoxJD6FY98Pq_P176_tk6Vkwf5jego_0fPPOevwUP8yf-VEX8U32mGYFUBekZij2mObjZHv8a0KEsecO3C0MFM3noidDcUcx9rqqymhiplru_L2q6SmqGTC77rVD2O/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-07-17+at+10.29.32+PM.png" width="400" /></a>Healthwise, they are *better* than traditional junky candy bars in several ways (you can read the whole story of the brand <a href="http://getunreal.com/our-story/" target="_blank">here</a>):<br />
<ul>
<li>Less sugar, and therefore lower carbs</li>
<li>No GMOs, nothing artificial</li>
<li>No hydrogenated stuff</li>
<li>No preservatives</li>
<li>No corn syrup (they use organic blue agave and cane sugar instead)</li>
</ul>
Doing a similar comparison to the one above that I pulled from their site, but with the peanut butter cups, you can see the benefit of trading in your Reese's for a "real" treat:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3emE7rTsGaGk0DeHuzmo1M1CJJpopXTNlSly-Io5sf_Tc95BrUV-e436ygOjFg4m6efbsOuWZ2z5AWOk5WBQ3fZazoaZE3gnDXE_8DDneFV675v1hEwgjjq5Dpf6KS03gWqTyRYez2Wiu/s1600/photo(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3emE7rTsGaGk0DeHuzmo1M1CJJpopXTNlSly-Io5sf_Tc95BrUV-e436ygOjFg4m6efbsOuWZ2z5AWOk5WBQ3fZazoaZE3gnDXE_8DDneFV675v1hEwgjjq5Dpf6KS03gWqTyRYez2Wiu/s320/photo(4).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The biggest eye-openers for me—almost half the sugar, three times the fiber and 25% less sodium. All good stuff.<br />
<br />
Unreal has five candies on the market currently. In addition to the two we reviewed, they offer<br />
<ul>
<li>Unreal 5 Chocolate Caramel Nougat (e.g., Milky Way),</li>
<li>Unreal 8 Chocolate Caramel Peanuts Nougat (e.g., Snickers)</li>
<li>Unreal 41 Chocolate Candy Shell (e.g., plain M&Ms).</li>
</ul>
Please check these out and let me know if you like them. I would be interested in hearing others' thoughts.<br />
<br />
Personally, I hope they shake up the candy bar industry a bit. All that unnecessary junk is getting stale. :)Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-54882030822720496302012-04-30T12:46:00.000-04:002012-04-30T12:47:48.558-04:00Chemicals in Candy: Not So SweetI came across <a href="http://www.healthychild.org/blog/comments/042512_candy_coated_chemical_additives/" target="_blank">this article</a> on Healthy Child and it was as though I'd written it myself. My "concern" list would be identical, though not in this order (not that she said it was prioritized).<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>We identified these dangerous additives as "The Scary Seven." They are:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)</li>
<li>Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)</li>
<li>Partially Hydrogenated Oils (trans fats)</li>
<li>Artificial Colors</li>
<li>Artificial Sweeteners (including acesulfame potassium, or Ace-K; sucralose [Splenda], and aspartame)</li>
<li>Artificial Flavors</li>
<li>Preservatives (including: sodium benzoate, sulphites (sulphur dioxide), polysorbate 60, 65 or 80, nitrites, TBHQ, and BHT/BHA). </li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
Let me know if you think anything important is missing.Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-22471809022201638372012-04-12T13:59:00.001-04:002012-04-12T13:59:53.742-04:00Review: Root Beer to Root For<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChZNGbauOo-RZaSTaVOhtVk6G-6NtLWhRVXCUckDxnybucYV17swzYxevzD-1rTIVK3JKOWbb9I5ycVlGntNxyMmHY2cyLdgtc-WTjTyg_En_LZFMN7DZ-kL2OhEcjWfYyin8ukqqSn47/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-12+at+1.42.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChZNGbauOo-RZaSTaVOhtVk6G-6NtLWhRVXCUckDxnybucYV17swzYxevzD-1rTIVK3JKOWbb9I5ycVlGntNxyMmHY2cyLdgtc-WTjTyg_En_LZFMN7DZ-kL2OhEcjWfYyin8ukqqSn47/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-04-12+at+1.42.10+PM.png" width="197" /></a></div>
I am not a big soda person, but I love root beer (and birch beer). My go-to when I splurge on it has been <a href="http://www.reedsinc.com/virgils/" target="_blank">Virgil's</a>, which is delicious but pricey and packs a big caloric punch. I've <a href="http://www.ollieollietoxinfree.com/2009/08/product-review-flavrz-drink-mix.html" target="_blank">blogged about Flavrz before</a> (favorably) so I was delighted to find their organic <a href="http://www.flavrzdrinkmix.com/drink-mixes/soda-mixes/root-beer.aspx" target="_blank">root beer syrup</a> in my local grocery store. Just add seltzer. And it's only 35 calories per 8-ounce serving. <br />
<br />
I had to try it. My husband also happens to prefer root beer but has been sticking to flavored seltzer as he's on a health kick. I had a feeling he, too, would appreciate a more natural, lower calorie option. It's sweetened with agave nectar, which I happen to love in beverages, as well as a little stevia.<br />
<br />
So, we both tried it and agree that it's an inexpensive, delicious treat. I think it was about $6.50 for the bottle and you get 21 servings per bottle at the suggested dilution. Add five 1-liter bottles of seltzer at $.60 each and you're looking at $.45 per 8-ounce serving.<br />
<br />
They also make <a href="http://www.flavrzdrinkmix.com/drink-mixes/soda-mixes/cola.aspx" target="_blank">cola</a> and <a href="http://www.flavrzdrinkmix.com/drink-mixes/soda-mixes/ginger-ale.aspx" target="_blank">ginger ale</a> syrups. If anyone tries them, let me know what you think. Cheers!Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-87882425251146060842012-03-26T22:52:00.000-04:002012-03-26T22:52:17.724-04:00Surprises in the Grocery Store<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBeLEkrIdMtbibfZX7l1na666AfH3P6FJDmzp9GMHQzu9bf2aL0Z_Uc1OF3Fdw062JvSM9yArjgVQKsu6xvEMD5J7J5B36ae9gDJYR6cqwOaxvSPnwtRvKVclbBzgb2EBTpwEpbD3NYYC/s1600/app-fooducate-icon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBeLEkrIdMtbibfZX7l1na666AfH3P6FJDmzp9GMHQzu9bf2aL0Z_Uc1OF3Fdw062JvSM9yArjgVQKsu6xvEMD5J7J5B36ae9gDJYR6cqwOaxvSPnwtRvKVclbBzgb2EBTpwEpbD3NYYC/s200/app-fooducate-icon.png" width="200" /></a></div>
If you're a regular here, you know I love <a href="http://www.fooducate.com/">Fooducate</a> (the iPhone app that lets you scan products and get a score, reviews and key ingredients). Tonight as I was grocery shopping, I decided to put some of my favorites to the test and got a few surprises I thought I'd share.<br />
<br />
<b>Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding</b>—reading the ingredients, I thought it sounded better than Jell-O, since it was made with lowfat milk and only a few other ingredients, all generally recognized. On this one, I was right. It scored a B-, while <b>Original Chocolate Jell-O Pudding</b> scored a C-. I also checked out the <b>Kozy Shack Tapioca</b>, which was a little surprising, only a C+, because it had more sugar (and more calories per serving). Still not terrible for an occasional treat.<br />
<br />
<b>Boca Burgers.</b> While I realize some people are not soy supporters (as food anyway), the Original Boca Burger is one of the few meatless burgers that tastes good and doesn't have a nasty consistency. So while trying to really watch my caloric intake (spring training for my June beach trip), I thought one would make a nice, quick, high-protein meal. Indeed, it scored a B+, Best in Category, but Fooducate also noted that they contain MSG or equivalent. That's a nonstarter for me, as it's a migraine trigger. Bummed to cross that one off the list.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_iL0qPRZEuZ_BKHy93bgeGe9MZ5MlVqrMKoDzkiAaFQVJfWycqdxv3ZBEqAhmiZuLUlE9mS3_rgpDgRTuRVb0KzY16VHGYeerO9XqM6UXj6wwyJhJE1gjeszuBXvD8iinCGRdSU2ORyb/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_iL0qPRZEuZ_BKHy93bgeGe9MZ5MlVqrMKoDzkiAaFQVJfWycqdxv3ZBEqAhmiZuLUlE9mS3_rgpDgRTuRVb0KzY16VHGYeerO9XqM6UXj6wwyJhJE1gjeszuBXvD8iinCGRdSU2ORyb/s320/photo.PNG" width="213" /></a><b>Terra Sweets & Carrots and Sweets & Beets.</b> The Terra chips have always been a favorite of mine, and I thought they were "better" since they were cut from sweet potatoes and other fibrous starches. Both scored great reviews but only C+ because Fooducate deems chips and puffs as having too "little nutritional value for the amount of fat and sodium they carry." I get that, but in moderation, I think these are a good choice and very satisfying for a crunchy, salty snack. Probably too harsh a rating.<br />
<br />
<b>Buitoni 100% Whole Wheat Four Cheese Ravioli. </b>My kids love these, as well as the whole wheat tortellini and I thought they were getting something reasonably wholesome. Then I scanned it into Fooducate for my rude awakening. The C- score is for many good reasons, the first four being: contains trans-fats even though the label says "0"; it's not actually 100% whole grain; contains MSG or equivalent; and has more than 25% of the daily recommended sodium intake. What!?! This one kind of pisses me off. No more Buitoni anything for me. Lesson on this one: it's got more than 35 ingredients. That should've been a huge red flag that I missed.<br />
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<b>Quaker Whole Hearts, Lightly Sweetened Cereal.</b> I scanned this, expecting to see a C or so. I was pleasantly surprised to see it was an A-. However it contains BHT, a preservative, which is another migraine trigger for me. Bummer. In this case, <b>Cheerios</b> are a better alternative, with the same score, but no preservatives. Not <b>Honey Nut Cheerios</b> (those are a B- because of the 2.5T of sugar per serving) or <b>Frosted Cheerios</b> (also B-) or <b>Fruity Cheerios</b> (C) or <b>Vanilla Yogurt Burst</b> (C+) or <b>Banana Nut</b> (C+). Who knew there were so many varieties of Cheerios? Of course, you'd expect an organic variety such as <b>Trader Joe's Organic High Fiber O's</b> would be higher, but no, because there's more sugar in them (2.5 tsp). <b>TJ's O's Toasted Whole Grain Oats </b>are actually a better choice, though both are rated A-, because they're lower in sugar. So many choices. If only Trader Joe's weren't an hour away!<br />
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Lastly peanut butter. I'm sure you expect me to buy one of those organic, low-sodium, oil-separated varieties. I used to buy it at Costco, but when they discontinued it, I took another look at Jif. I always loved its taste and had tired of trying to mix the oil back into the hard rock of peanutty goodness with the natural brands. <b>Regular Creamy Jif</b> is not so great (C+) thanks to its fully hydrogenated oil. <b>Reduced Fat Jif</b> fares even worse with a C. However, <b>Simply Jif Creamy</b> and <b>Jif Creamy Natural</b> are both Bs, even though Simply again contains hydrogenated oil. Confusing! Since I'm choosy, I choose Jif Natural, which tastes great and is just peanuts, sugar, palm oil and 2% or less of salt and molasses. <br />
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What products do you love or hate based on closer inspection of ingredients? I especially love to hear about great tasting products that are also super healthy.<br />
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<br />Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8222853102032731635.post-67527110447943430842012-03-07T20:52:00.001-05:002012-03-07T22:39:32.337-05:00Review: TamboBamba - Healthy Quick Tasty Side Dish<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfI9xCq7O4l-qdSubdUogQktENdKfIXCPKfHtRsTz6Nte8wxku5UMdTdTK7Zkc7hyAG6HP72B1yxIY2e_4fH2wo8fttEVxcjcndvSzU77sym5-vjEVhuvN2d-sNSQ-3nFcI9AHnJLBs4-/s640/blogger-image-507355067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfI9xCq7O4l-qdSubdUogQktENdKfIXCPKfHtRsTz6Nte8wxku5UMdTdTK7Zkc7hyAG6HP72B1yxIY2e_4fH2wo8fttEVxcjcndvSzU77sym5-vjEVhuvN2d-sNSQ-3nFcI9AHnJLBs4-/s320/blogger-image-507355067.jpg" width="240" /></a>Tonight, I grabbed a box of Cuban black beans and rice, from a brand called TamboBamba. It's "ready in 10 minutes" and the ingredients are super simple (rice, black beans, onion, bell pepper, salt, garlic, vinegar, tomato, spices). It's "gluten-free, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients and no MSG." But is it tasty?<br />
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Let's just say that Timmy had fourths! It was delicious. Easy to make, even for a busy mom with kids distracting me during cooking. And just the right amount of seasoning that my kids would still eat it and we liked it without "spicing it up."<br />
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Four thumbs up for this one. And it gets a solid "A" from Fooducate, which I'm learning is uncommon for processed foods. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjEM5DQjAl_ONaKV9yDk5T0ZAub2oIcbHwM3wCy3nbhbxTKJYQDEgIE1A-34BgWmsw9ykyYNOoVBvhWdV7ZQRu4Uo0r_fg_BSe9At5ggkojBcOoQRLs05S7j1mW0J9m_QQO1O82c6-z6W/s640/blogger-image--781788415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjEM5DQjAl_ONaKV9yDk5T0ZAub2oIcbHwM3wCy3nbhbxTKJYQDEgIE1A-34BgWmsw9ykyYNOoVBvhWdV7ZQRu4Uo0r_fg_BSe9At5ggkojBcOoQRLs05S7j1mW0J9m_QQO1O82c6-z6W/s200/blogger-image--781788415.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
Before you ask where I got it, I must admit I am not sure. I've shopped at Giant, Wegman's, Trader Joe's, Weis, Karns, Fairway and Costco in the past month. I'll try to do some research and report back. The website is <a href="http://www.tambobamba.com/">www.tambobamba.com</a>. <br />
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Let me know how you like it if you try it.Dori Green Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11321607521944596022noreply@blogger.com0