Allergen free banana bread

Today's recipe, lovingly borrowed from Erika Hastings at MudSpice.

This banana bread is awesome. Light and fluffy and requested by the kids in my daughter's class. And it fits the Food Rules by Michael Pollan.

Use xantham gum if you make it gluten free. I recommend adding Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips (dairy free). And they hold best as mini-muffins.

Banana Bread

3/4 cup sugar (OR 3/4 tsp stevia)

1/2 cup butter, margerine or oil

2 eggs (OR 3 tsp egg replacer mixed with 4 TB water OR an extra banana)

2 mashed bananas with 1 tsp baking soda mixed in

2 Tb milk (cow, soy, rice)

1 tsp baking powder (OR 1/4 tsp baking soda mixed with 1/2 tsp of lemon juice)

1 3/4 cup flour (I use Bob's Red Mill gluten free all purpose flour)

pinch of salt

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Bake at 350 degrees. 15 minutes should work for the mini-muffins.

Recipe--Wacky Cake

I've had requests for some of my recipes lately. Today I'll share the Wacky Cake. Credit goes to Kathy Przywara, courtesy of kidswithfoodallergies.org.

Ingredients 1 1/2 cup flour (see below for gf options) 3 Tbsp cocoa powder (optional) 1 cup sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 Tbsp vinegar 5 Tbsp oil 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup water

Instructions Preheat oven to 350F. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl and stir to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until you get a smooth batter. Do not beat. Pour into greased and floured pan (8" square or 9" round) or 12 cupcakes. Bake in oven until tests done - about 35 minutes for cake, about 20 minutes for cupcakes.

Easter--the Green Way

Easter is upon us, and it's another holiday that finds me fighting old habits. The kids do not need baskets of corn syrup sweetened candy sitting in a bed of artificial plastic grass. This year I have changed my ways (a little).

I'm reusing last year's baskets, and last year's plastic eggs. The kids think they have to leave them out for the Easter Bunny to use. There will be candy, but it will be minimal. There are art projects, sunglasses, and outside games in the baskets. And the "grass" is biodegradable. I found it at Safeway!

I also have to share my favorite CA Green Solutions/Green Irene (http://www.cagreensolutions.com) recycling tip--all the foil that candy is wrapped in is RECYCLABLE! Hersey's kisses for everyone!

Minimal trash, minimal sugar, and smiles all around. Happy Easter!

I did it! A Safe Food Treat for All!

I volunteered to make "allergen free" cupcakes for the kids at school for Dr. Seuss's birthday celebration. By "allergen free" I mean: egg free, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, artificial coloring free, tree nut free, and peanut free. And they are corn free too.

These "Wacky Cake" cupcakes are easy to make, use pretty mainstream ingredients and are actually good! I topped them with safe frosting. Also easy, even though they did require palm shortening.

Yea! Something everyone can enjoy.

Paper Towels

Having house guests that still use paper towels is an eye opener to me. My family stopped using paper towels about a year ago. I read about a family that only used them for cleaning up "cat barf". That imagery stuck with me--now we usually have one roll in the house, for really disgusting clean ups. Besides that we use cloth napkins or rags.

My guests went through 2 rolls in 3 days! And there were only two of them. Wow. I guess we really are making a difference by using reusable cloth for clean up.

Sometimes it is the little things!

Yard Trimmings & Food Scraps

I'm so proud! My block has been chosen to participate in the City of San Jose's Pilot Program for Yard Trimmings and Food Scraps. What does that mean? The city is going to compost for us! From now on, I can put my food scraps into a kitchen counter bin (provided by the city) and then put the scraps in the big green street bin (provided by the city) with the yard waste. The food scraps will no longer go with garbage. Instead they will be composted with the yard greenery.

This program even takes dirty paper plates and paper napkins.

That rocks! Composting is scary to so many people. This will make a big difference in the amount of garbage our city produces. Thank goodness, because the city estimates our landfills will be full by 2030!

I love EWG

I love EWG--They have changed my life. Clearly put me on the path to Crazymaking. It is so cool that they are digging through all the information, including clinical studies and detailed scientific information, so that we can make better buying decisions. I now make better choices for my children for skincare, hair care, sunscreen and hand sanitizer. I changed my hair products, deodorant, toothpaste and moisturizer.

I'd work there if I had a clue how to help...Maybe they need fundraisers or loudmouths on their team. I qualify for the latter...

Hand Santizer--OMG

I really did think I was doing the right thing, carrying Purell or bargain hand sanitizer with me all the time. I made all kids, mine or not, clean their hands with it if there was no soap available.

Our friends at EWG tell me this is a mistake. I need to use specific brands--I shouldn't be surprised. The major brands are accused of causing cancer, developmental toxicity and more. The major brand is rated a 7 out of 10--10 being the worst!

Fortunately, I found bodysense.com. They only sell EWG "approved" products. YEA!

I will still let kids use other kinds at school, but atleast I know I'm carrying and providing a safer choice.

Brainwashing

I admit it, I am brainwashing--greenwashing--my kids. We were at the grocery store (major chain) on Saturday and there was not a reusable bag in sight. I prompted my 6 year old to look at the number of plastic bags being used. She jumped in immediately and knew the bags were made from oil, a non-renewable resource from the earth, and that one day it will all be gone...And then I mentioned that the bags are not recyclable and just end up filling up the dumps. :) How could I not?

Food Inc.

I love that Food Inc. was on Oprah this week. It is so important. Watching people discuss how it is cheap and easy to buy junk food, versus whole veggies and real food. Michael Pollan says pay the farmer now, or pay the Dr. later. Great way to think about it. I actually just got up and threw away the few pieces of junk that were in the house. Oprah is calling for a food revolution--I wonder if that is what she will do next! How cool would that be!

The Challenge is On!

Ok, turning 40 in 79 days. I would like to lose 10 pounds in the 10 weeks. I have more than that to lose, but this might be doable.

More info...I refuse to do this via Weight Watchers crappy low point food. Or via artificially sweetened shakes (lost 50 pounds that way previously). I am all about whole foods now, local, organic--u know the drill.

And I've got money on the line. My friend and I are both working towards the same goal. If either of us don't lose the 10, we owe each other cash.

Ate lots of veggies today, but no exercise. Time to hit the elipitical!

I Have a Sugar Problem!

I've decided I have a sugar problem. And I think I'm ok with it.
I am eating very well. Had fruit and raw chia with rice milk for breakfast.
Home made soup, veggies and hummus for lunch. But then I needed a treat.
There is no nutritional value in NERDS. AUGH. It's embarrassing. But they are gone now.

I'm Back!

The holidays kicked my butt and made me crazier than usual. (Lots of travel, lots of relatives.) But now it's almost February and I can safely say the Christmas decorations are away. (Well, atleast in the garage, but that makes my husband crazy, not me.)

I had lunch today with an old friend and I found myself spouting about all my crazy making stuff. I had to try to shut up so I wouldn't make her crazy! Taking it all with a grain of salt now.

Reduced dairy, minimal meat, whole foods, home made...

Today, home made potato soup, home made bread and muffins. And a trip to Whole Foods. Off to a good start.