Eddy’s Experience or Great Tabouli

The other night we went to this little hole-in-the-wall place for dinner. Panthea’s dad and uncle and uncle’s wife were meeting us there. Looked it up before we left to get better directions, and even saw a picture of their sign. So what’s special you’re asking. Well, we turn in and think we’re lost, or the place went out of business. There is no name on the building, no windows, broken concrete blocks on the parking spaces, and the only door is one of those old fashion little square entry’s with a door on 2 sides, and 2 doors without windows going in form the entry. Again, no windows on the inner doors.

Now let me tell you, we had no idea what was behind door number one, and door number two said to please use door number one. We open the door and can barely see inside as it’s so dark. This guy who’s older than I am walks by and asks if there are just two of us. There are only two guests at one table and two guys older than me working as waiters.

The place has me looking for Frank Sinatra and his cronies, and wondering why there is no music. It looks like a dark dingy mid-sixties lounge without the music. Dim lighting and lots of tables with white cloth napkins and red tablecloths. Well, we gingerly picked out a big enough table for the five of us, which was also one of the best lit as there was a light above the table. Our waiter says we can call him Bud or Steve, but not full of it. Yes, he really said that.

Panthea’s uncle, whose birthday it was, was being taken out to dinner by Panthea’s dad. Now I’m curious, of all the places in Tulsa, Panthea’s uncle chose Eddy’s to eat at. So our older than me waiter asks what we want to drink, and starts bringing out side dishes of tabouli, hummus, and veggie sticks. The hummus, what can I say, I didn’t like. The tabouli was fantastic.

So we’re now looking at the very limited menu. Steak (ribeye, T-bone or sirloin) or steak and shrimp or steak and lobster. Now I have to be fair, they did have a chicken breast available too. So we order this $20.00 sirloin steak and chow down on tabouli. After a reasonable wait, Steve shows up with the steaks, except they looked like roasts. I mean the steak covered the plate, and was at least 2 inches thick. I’ve never seen steaks this big and this thick. The baked potato was holding onto the edge of the plate for dear life, not to mention a basket full of dinner rolls. We all rolled ourselves out after dinner and everyone had a to go box. Yes, even me. In my younger days I could eat 2 or 3 steaks, just not this size.

Eddy’s even does take-out. I mean this place is a little known gold mine. The height of the dinner crowd while we were there was about dozen, at six o’clock. We did learn that Steve is Eddy’s brother. They are from the middle-east at one point. And they whip up a fantastic steak dinner. So while I’m still drooling over steak and tabouli, here’s a recipe for tabouli.

Tabouli

It’s a classic middle-eastern salad. A lot of people use it as a snack.

Ingredients:

1 cup medium-grind bulghur (bulgur or bulgar) sometimes called cracked wheat.

1 cup boiling water

1 cup each diced tomato and cucumber

½ cup diced onion (soaked in ice water to crisp it) or green onions (These don’t need to be soaked.) We had green onions in Eddy’s tabouli.

1 cup chopped parsley

¼ cup chopped mint (or cilantro or dill if mint isn’t available)

The Dressing:

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Instructions:

Mix the bulghur and water in a bowl and cover. Let it sit about 15 minutes, or about as long as it takes to chop everything up.

Cut everything up

Mix the dressing ingredients together

Mix the bulghur , vegetables and herbs

Pour the dressing over it and mix well

Let it sit for about an hour for flavors to blend

Then enjoy

Tabouli is a wheat grain-beast salad that uses bulghur, sometimes called cracked wheat, although not exactly the same thing. It’s wheat grains that have been parboiled, dried, and then cracked into pieces. Since it’s already cooked, all you have to do is rehydrate it.

http://www.evpapas.com/concept

http://hilahcooking.com/how-to-make-tabouli/

Heat Wave or Berry Lemonade

It’s Hot! I mean hot this week in Oklahoma. It’s been hot for two weeks and now hitting triple digits and still humid. So hot that even Mia the canine doesn’t want to stay outside to chase the squirrel. And usually nothing can get her attention away from that squirrel.

What really silly is that three days ago as I drove south from Minnesota, it was raining so hard I could hardly see to drive. The rain brought the temperature down to sixty-six degrees. I was ready to dig my jacket out of the suitcase. Minnesota and Iowa are so wet, that storms are knocking trees over and crops are slow to grow. At the same time, Missouri is bailing their first hay crop, and they say Alaska is dealing with a heat wave. What crazy weather.

So, it’s late and still hot, and Casablanca is on. I found a lemonade recipe that sounds positively cool.

Berry Lemonade

From Good Housekeeping

The recipe adds raspberries and blackberries to traditional lemonade

Ingredients:

8 Cups cold water

2 cups sugar

3 cups fresh lemon juice (From 15 to 16 medium lemons)

3 strips of lemon peel (3 inches by 1 inch)

1 cup raspberries

1 cup blackberries

Ice Cubes

Seltzer or club soda

Directions:

Prepare sugar syrup: In a 4 quart saucepan, heat 4 cups of water with sugar and lemon peel to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally. Cover saucepan and boil for 3 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.

Meanwhile, in food processor, pulse berries until pureed. Pour into medium mesh sieve set over a large bowl and press berry mixture with a spoon to remove seeds; discard seeds.

Remove peel from syrup; stir syrup into berry puree with lemon juice and remaining 4 cups of water. Makes 13 cups.

Pour into large pitcher with tight-fitting lid. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours or up to 2 days. Serve over ice. Add seltzer to taste. Garnish with berries and lemon slices.

www.evpapas.com/concept

On The Road Again

Well, we're at it again. Another road trip. Have you tried travelling for 11 1/2 hours with 2 adult children. Interesting! And we won't talk about the mama egging them on at Denny's while we tried to have lunch. I would rather put up with the animal circus at home of 3 cats and 2 dogs.

We're going to a combination family reunion and delayed birthday party for my dad. His birthday was in April, but for those of us who fled the state, we didn't want to return to Minnesota in April. Cold, and snow up to your armpits.

As we headed North, it wasn't too bad until Iowa. These people have more road construction going on than they know what to do with. Every 10 miles or so they had the interstate down to one lane, warning signs up not to exceed 55 MPH or pay a $1000 fine. For every one vehicle that drove slow, 40 or 50 wanted to race on by, but of course with only one lane all they could do was tailgate.

Mostly it was nice weather while driving. A little rain in Iowa, then a lot of rain in Minnesota. The rain had almost stopped when we finally got to my sister's house. Get the hugs and hello's out of the way, and the tornado sirens go off! Big black cloud bank comes boiling in. My niece and her husband were pointing out circular motion in the clouds, and everyone runs inside. The clouds zipped by, some straight line wind kicks up, and it starts raining, hard. No tornado, but the weather said 65 to 70 MPH wind gusts across the Twin Cities area. Then they gave the good news, more storms heading this way.

I could have stayed in Oklahoma for this kind of weather. Oh well, dad's worth the trip. Need to cut this short as we have an early start . More later.

A Melon-Collie Day Without the Collie

Sunshine, low humidity for Oklahoma, 58%, light breeze, and no tornado’s in sight. Not a bad day, I mean, even the animals are behaving. Cats are hiding and dogs are sleeping and TV has nothing new or of interest. How can I pay for every premium channel they offer, plus an add-on movie pack and still can’t find anything to watch. The only thing left to add to my subscription are the Spanish and Russian language packs, and I Don’t speak enough Spanish or Russian to watch a movie.

Even Facebook’s a little slow and boring today. Sort of a melancholy day. The only solution I can think of is something cool to eat on the porch. So here’s an idea to enjoy;

Melon Salad:

Ingredients:

¼ whole watermelon, cubed

1 whole cantaloupe, cubed

½ whole honeydew melon, cubed

Dressing:

1/3 cup orange juice (About ½ an orange)

¼ cup lime juice (About 1 lime)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon honey

1/8 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Place melon in a really large bowl, the kind you take to potlucks. Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a separate bowl, then pour over the melon. Mix well and taste. If the dressing is too strong, add more melon. And if you’re mouth-watering hungry, add more melon.

You might not want to make this too far ahead of eating as the dressing extracts a lot of moisture from the melon. You’ll have a lot of liquid at the bottom of the bowl in a couple of hours.

Feel free to mix and match any melon or other fruit to the salad. Grapes or pineapple would be good, but remember that berries break down quick, so they probably wouldn’t be a good choice. Now, go sit on the porch, or couch, and enjoy.

www.evpapas.com/concept

Halogen Oven Parmesan Lemon Tilapia

Has anyone tried using a Fagor Halogen Tabletop Oven? These things are great. As we’re supposed to be living in a child free zone these days, which doesn’t work very well, meals are usually just for two. And what a pain! I’m used to cooking for 4 to 8 people, and trying to downsize cooking methods for just two of us has been a mind bending experience.

So, a while back, Panthea orders this Fagor Halogen Tabletop Oven and says, “Here ya go, have fun”.

I mean, what am I supposed to do with this thing. So I started reading the booklet and the experiments began. Actually, this thing is a snap to use. Whatever time you would need in a regular oven, cut it in half. And if you can cook it in a regular oven, you’re supposed to be able to use the Halogen Tabletop Oven.

So one of the experiments I came up with is for Parmesan Lemon Tilapia. Wal-Mart had this package of individually wrapped tilapia filets. This makes it super simple, just pick out how many you need for a meal. (Your side dish is your choice, such as salad, rice or pasta).

The Fagor Halogen Tabletop Oven has two racks and a Teflon pan. I put the lowest rack in and set the Teflon pan on the rack. Some cooking spray is still a good idea.

Take two frozen filets and open them. Then set the frozen filets on the Teflon pan. Lid on the oven, set for 400 degrees, and 8-10 minutes. (You need to watch while you make the sauce as it may take less time for the filets to turn white).

So while the filets are cooking, take the followings ingredients and mix up your sauce.

Sauce Ingredients:

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons of butter – margarine – melted

1 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise (fat free or light can be used)

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

2 teaspoons of lemon zest

1/8 teaspoon dried basil

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon celery salt

Mix the above ingredients into a small bowl and set aside.

When the filets start looking white, (which means they’re getting done), flip the filets over and reset the timer to 8-10. After about 4-5 minutes, which is enough time to clean up your counter top, open the oven and liberally spread the sauce over the filets. Close the oven lid and finish cooking.

When the bell dings, dinner is ready. Neither Panthea or I usually eat a lot of fish, but I have to admit, this is really good. Which gives me more time for other pursuits.

http://www.evpapas.com/concept

The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing or the Organic Label

Almost all modern diseases can list toxins as a cause, but often which toxins are left unnamed. Most people would be shocked to know it often can be chemicals found in daily used products: soaps, shampoos, even toothpastes. Shoppers who choose organic products are usually those who know this, and have chosen to improve their health.

So, you made the switch to natural or organic personal care products in an effort to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals.  You recognize that the words “natural” and “organic” don’t necessarily mean all that much when it comes to personal care products but you’ve read the labels and are confident in what you bought.  Then, just when you were confident you had done a good thing, you find out that many so-called natural or organic personal care products contain 1,4-dioxane.  What?  The label doesn't disclose it.  Why the heck would there be 1,4-dioxane in my organic shampoo? 

A recent study by the Organic Consumer’s Association revealed the presence of the carcinogenic contaminant 1,4-Dioxane in widely available shampoos, body washes, lotions and other personal care and household cleaning products using the word “organic” or “natural” on the product label or ingredient list. 

Recently, the European Union pulled in the reins, banning the usage of chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, or other sicknesses. Yet, these same chemicals can often be found in the United States, and even in products we would easily think were safe. When seventy percent of what you slather onto your skin is absorbed into your body, do you want to risk it?

One reason the word "organic" on a label does not guarantee the absence of harmful contaminants like 1,4 dioxane, is the creation of a new organic standard called OASIS. This standard allows companies to label a personal care product "organic" if it contains 85% organic ingredients.

These types of products previously would have been labeled only as "made with organic ingredients." The real problem with this kind of standard for personal care products is that products like shampoo or body wash can contain large amounts of water. So the use of the word "organic" using the OASIS standard could simply mean the product contains organic water with mostly non-organic ingredients.

Adding water make a product organic? This just proves how inept our government is at considering our health and safety.

Because it is a contaminant produced during manufacturing, the FDA doesn't require 1,4 dioxane to be listed as an ingredient on product labels. Without labeling, there is no way to know for certain how many products contain 1,4 dioxane, and no guaranteed way to avoid it.

Again, our government at its finest. If it's dangerous, if it's toxic, if it can cause cancer, why does the FDA not require it to be listed, no matter how it gets in the product? It shouldn't be there at all.

1,4 dioxane is generated through a process called ethoxylation, in which ethylene oxide, a known breast carcinogen, is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh. This process creates 1,4 dioxide. For example, sodium laurel sulfate, a chemical that is harsh on the skin, is often converted to a less-harsh chemical sodium laureth sulfate (the "eth" denotes ethoxylation), which can contaminate this ingredient with 1,4 dioxane.

When 1,4 dioxane is used as a solvent stablizer, the solvent itself is regulated as hazardous waste. When applied as an additive and not used for its solvent properties, 1,4 dioxane doesn't meet the regulatory definition of solvent.

So, 1,4 dioxane is hazardous waste, yet it's in personal care products. And the government has decided that if it's just added to the product and is not being used as a solvent that makes it okay. It's still the same chemical!

Check this out; 1,4-dioxane is used in many products, including paint strippers, dyes, greases, varnishes, and waxes. Residues may also be present in manufactured food additives or on food crops treated with pesticides that contain 1,4-dioxane (such as, vine-ripened tomatoes). But, a family’s and a kid’s main source of exposure to 1,4-dioxane is likely from personal care products like baby bath, deodorants, shampoos, and cosmetics where it’s found as an impurity.

While the U.S. FDA deems levels in personal care products low enough to be considered safe, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, even trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane contamination are cause for concern. One product is unlikely to cause harm, but risk increases from multiple exposures from multiple products over time.

1,4 dioxane is classified as an ether and is a known eye and respiratory tract irritant that readily penetrates the skin. it often appears as a chemical contaminant in cosmetics as well as personal care products such as deodorants, shampoos, toothpaste and mouthwashes.

The National Toxicology Program considers dioxane to be a known animal carcinogen. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies this cancer-causing petrochemical as a probable human carcinogen especially damaging the liver and gall bladder according to an 2003 EPA report.

Organic Consumers Association OCA has urged consumers to read the ingredient labels and avoid consumer care products made with or including just the word in the ingredient:

Myreth

Oleth

Laureth

Cateareth (or other "eth")

PEG

Polyethylene

polyethylene Glycol

Polyoxyethylene

Oxynol

The FDA currently does not require safety testing of cosmetic products or their ingredients. The cosmetic industry polices the safety of its own products, and this safety panel is run and funded by the industry's trade association. In other words, very little testing actually occurs because the government does not mandate this testing, and potentially hazardous ingredients can slip through the cracks. There is also no financial incentive for the cosmetic industry to raise questions about the safety of its own products.

Contamination with 1,4 dioxane is shockingly widespread. It is found in:

* 97% of hair relaxers 

* 82% of hair dyes and bleaching

* 66% of hair removers

* 57% of baby soap

* 45% of sunless tanning products

* 43% of body firming lotion

* 36% of hormonal creams

* 36% of facial moisturizers

* 35% of anti-aging products

* 34% of body lotion

* 33% of around-eye creams

Recent laboratory tests "revealed the presence of 1,4-Dioxane in products such as Hello Kitty Bubble Bath, Huggies Baby Wash, Johnson's Baby Wash, Scooby-Doo Bubble Bath and Sesame Street Bubble Bath. The tests also found the carcinogen in Clairol Herbal Essences Shampoo, Olay Complete Body Wash and many other personal care products," according to a Feb. 2007 EWG press release.

The Organic Consumers Association released a study that found 1,4 dioxane in about 50% of the products they tested. Nor is 1,4 dioxane readily biodegradable, there is the problem of groundwater contamination as many of these products are washed down the drain after use. To remove 1,4 dioxane from water requires advanced technology such as oxidation with ultraviolet lights, technology not normally employed in community water treatment plants.

For our family, we buy all of our personal care products from a company that does extensive testing to bring together the best of science and nature. Testing far above what is required by law, because the consumers safety is considered above all else, including profit. For more info go to http://www.evsaferhomes.com/concept

Somehow, we need to educate enough people so that WE THE PEOPLE can hold these companies and our government accountable for our health, safety and our very lives.

Sources:

http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=288

thtp://clu-in.org/contaminantfocus/default.focus/sec/1%2C4-Dioxane/cat/Overview

http://healthychild.org/easy-steps/avoid-personal-care-products-containing-14-dioxane/

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10918.cfm

http://www.thesmartmama.com/what-is-14-dioxane-found-in-organic-shampoos/

http://jstevens.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/14-dioxane-in-your-shampoo-cosmetics-and-personal-care-products/

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-potentially-dangerous-chemicals-organic-367228.html

What’s On Your Baby or Homemade Potato Soup

Are you a parent or grandparent? You’ve probably seen those little yellow and pink bottles of Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo or lotion. Not to mention the little white bottle of baby powder. Heck, they give them away at the hospitals. So they should be safe, right? I mean, the hospitals pass them out to new mommies. That means they must endorse these products. Wrong!

The hospitals give out free samples, but don’t endorse them, or the company that makes them. They might get sued if they did that. One of the biggest companies for baby products is Johnson & Johnson. But did you know…..

In 2007, Johnson & Johnson got their license to produce baby products suspended in India when residues of carcinogenic substances were found in 15 batches of Johnson & Johnson baby powder. It was discovered later on that the talcum powder was sterilized by the carcinogenic ingredient ethylene oxide. Now granted, these products supposedly stayed in India, and didn’t affect your baby in another country….ummm, I wonder.

In 2011 a Canadian news report came out about an international coalition of health and environmental groups that warned Canadians that Johnson’s Baby Shampoo contains carcinogenic chemicals. At the time, Johnson & Johnson Canada claimed that its products comply with Health Canada regulations.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released a report attacking Johnson & Johnson for its shampoo that contains dangerous chemicals, that are sold in Canada and other countries.

Formaldehyde releasing “Dioxane 1,4” and “quaternium-15” are the ingredients in question.   Many reports link formaldehyde to cancer.  These ingredients are on Health Canada’s list of contaminants banned or restricted in cosmetic products.

The report found also that quaternium-15 isn’t in the Johnson’s Baby Shampoo that is sold in Europe. So why does it continue to be present in the product in other countries, (including Canada  and the US). People, Johnson & Johnson doesn’t want you or anyone else going green. They want you to buy and use their products. Their favorite statement is that these chemicals are present in minimal amounts. What happens when you add a lot of small amounts together, you get a bigger amount, right? You also have to factor in how long you’ve used the products containing all these toxic chemicals. Remember, small amounts added together equal a bigger amount, and a bigger amount over a period of years equals an really big amount.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in India, has again suspended the license of Johnson & Johnson.  The company cannot continue production. The FDA of India found “unacceptable levels of ethylene oxide” which was being used to bring down microbes in the infant powder. The reports say that this order will become effective 24 June 2013.

The toxins Johnson & Johnson still include in their products have been proven to be harmful to humans.  They are known carcinogens (cancer causing) an endocrine disruptors. Johnson and Johnson also notoriously still test on animals.  

The news is the latest in a long list of quality control problems at J&J facilities. Its consumer healthcare division has, over the past few years, recalled millions of bottles of over-the-counter products such as Motrin and children's Tylenol.

Beginning in 2009, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a robust organization of human and environmental health groups, began pressuring the company to remove the most toxic ingredients from its shampoos, lotions, and soaps. So, five years later Johnson & Johnson announced its plan to remove toxic chemicals from baby products by the end of 2013. Adult toiletries will be less toxic by 2015, the company told the Associated Press. I guess this means it’s okay to kill off the parents as the babies will be healthier. Johnson & Johnson's new plan will also affect products under the Desitin, Aveeno, Neutrogena, RoC, Clean & Clear, and Lubriderm brand names.

The New Jersey–based company says it will remove chemicals of concern, including carcinogenic formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane, compounds released by bacteria-killing chemicals in the formula. Johnson & Johnson said it will also phase out the antimicrobial and thyroid-damaging chemical triclosan, estrogenic paraben preservatives, and hormone-disrupting plasticizing chemicals known as phthalates, which are commonly found in synthetic fragrances.

Not only do you have to worry about what you eat, but what goes on your body. Baby products, personal care products and cosmetics are a billion dollar industry. These companies care more about their profit than they do about your health. Maybe a bowl of homemade soup will help. I know its healthier.

Ham and Potato Soup

This is a really good soup. It’s easy to make, and the great thing is you can add additional ingredients.

Ingredients:

3 ½ cups peeled and diced potatoes

1/3 cup diced celery

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

¾ cup diced cooked ham

3 ¼ cups water

2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper

5 tablespoons of butter

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups milk

Directions:

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.

In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork and cook, stirring constantly until thick; About 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick; 4 to 5 minutes.

Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

TO KISS OR NOT TO KISS or WHATS ON YOUR LIPS BABY

Ladies, before you plant a smooch on your hubby, boyfriend or one of your kids, where have your lips been. Or at least, what’s on them. And not just your lips, dear.

The average North American woman uses 10 or more personal care products every day. From toothpaste and soap to antiperspirant and moisturizer, personal care products are made from 10,500 chemical ingredients that are as much a part of our daily routine as sitting down to breakfast. And like most things that happen before a mug of morning coffee, it’s easy not to think about them too much. However, researchers and women’s health activists are sounding the alarm bell about what goes into your makeup.

Increasingly, science is pointing out that exposure to many of these chemicals—including parabens used to preserve antiperspirants and creams, and phthalates added to perfumes and nail polish—may harm your health.  A 2004 study of breast tumors by Dr. Phillippa Darbre, from the University of Reading in the U.K., and published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, found parabens in each of 20 samples.

Women and girls are particularly susceptible to exposure to certain chemicals that mimic hormone activity. This led researchers to suspect that parabens, which mimic estrogen when absorbed through the skin, may play a role in the development of breast cancer. The researchers suspected the parabens came from underarm deodorants.

Now banned in the European Union, phthalates are another common ingredient in personal care products suspected in a variety of health problems from liver malfunction to low testosterone levels and low sperm counts in men. In 2002, researchers in Chicago tested 72 brand-name cosmetics and found that 52 contained phthalates, a compound that helps cosmetics stay put without smudging. Phthalates are also used to make perfumes and soaps. Scientists suspect the absorption of cosmetics through the skin could explain why young women in one study had 20 times the level of phthalates in their body compared to young men. Seventy years ago, the first cosmetics law in the U.S. banned the use of coal tar dye in mascara after the ingredient was found to cause blindness.

Today, the accumulation of chemicals found in personal care products may affect men and women’s offspring. In August 2005, researchers, including University of Rochester epidemiologist Shanna Swan, published the first study to examine prenatal exposure to phthalates. The study found that the development of the genitals of boys whose mothers had high levels of phthalates in their bodies was less complete compared to those exposed to lower levels. Swan believes phthalate exposure may be contributing to increasing rates of male infertility and testicular cancer.

In response to a growing concern about the risks associated with personal care products, Health Canada now requires personal care product manufactures to list product ingredients by the end of the year. The department also maintains a hotlist of already restricted and banned chemicals. The hotlist was expanded in 2003 from less than 100 to almost 500 after reviewing some chemicals that are restricted in the E.U.

My question is this, why only 500 banned chemicals when the E.U. has over 1100 on their list. Are the other 600 chemicals cutting into the profit margin?

The European Union bans more than 1,100 chemicals from personal care products because they may cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive problems. In stark contrast, just nine chemicals are banned from cosmetics in the United States; Canada follows U.S. standards.

Say what! The United States only bans 9? So what about the other 1091 chemicals? Girls, you better ask yourself, who ya gonna call! And Ghostbusters won’t help.

According to Madeleine Bird, a researcher at McGill University’s Centre for Research and Teaching on Women There is no review to ensure the list of chemicals on the label is accurate on personal care products. Citing a Danish study on parabens that discovered that contents listed on a product’s label were different from the makeup of the product, which sometimes had much higher concentrations. Health activists say harmful chemicals shouldn’t be there, period.

Formaldehyde, benzene and lead are associated with not only cancer, but endometriosis, birth defects and developmental disabilities in children. Coal tars used in hair dye have long been associated with liver cancer. Petroleum distillates, a suspected human carcinogen banned in the E.U., are still in use in North America.

Under the 1999 Environmental Protection Act, Health Canada and Environment Canada are reviewing more than 23,000 chemicals that were never tested for safety. NEVER! Makes you wonder about the United States.

Until recently, the contents of personal care products have been a mystery. While the Canadian government requires food manufacturers to list ingredients on packaging, cosmetics and personal care products have historically been exempt. In November 2010, Canada caught up with the United States and European Union and will require the contents of personal care products to be labeled by the end of the year. Retail outlets and manufacturers were given a year’s grace to sell off unlabeled products.

“I don’t want to go shopping for my body products or my cosmetics, with a chemical dictionary telling me this one’s okay, this one’s not. I want to be able to walk in and buy it off the shelf with the understanding that it’s safe,” states Carol Secter, a board member of Breast Cancer Action Montreal.

Women in California won a recent victory with the passage of the Safe Cosmetics Act, which takes effect later this year. The law compels manufacturers to disclose product ingredients if they are on state or federal lists of chemicals associated with cancer and birth defects.

Deciding which products are safest can be a time-consuming task. Designed to make those decisions easier, the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep report created a searchable database of personal care products and ingredients. The Working Group’s information looks at American brands and formulas, most of which are sold in Canada.

The group created fact sheets that identify which chemicals and which companies to avoid. Revlon, Estée Lauder, Avon, L’Oreal and Johnson & Johnson are ranked in the group’s top 20 of concern. Chanel cosmetics are not tested on animals, but the group gives them the number two rating of brands to avoid, citing a lack of safety data available for the ingredients used.

In 2006, The Body Shop announced it would phase out the use of phthalates from its products and packaging, but the company still uses parabens, which are not among the 37 top ingredients of top concern on Skin Deep’s list. With its custom shopping list feature, Skin Deep provides consumers with information to enable them to choose the safest products. The website offers suggestions on where to find that elusive non-toxic lipstick or deodorant and lists over 300 companies that either don’t use harmful chemicals or have pledged to eliminate ingredients related to cancer, birth anomalies or hormonal disruption within three years.

Companies like The Body Shop, Burt’s Bees and Afterglow Cosmetics have signed on. However, the industry’s major players such as Avon, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Revlon and Proctor and Gamble, are notably absent. According to the Environmental Working Group cosmetics report, hair colour, nail polish and nail treatments contain some of the most toxic chemicals. One product in particular, OPI natural nail strengthener, received the highest hazard rating of all 14,100 products in the database. The company’s nail polish and nail treatments contain toluene, formalde-hyde and dibutyl phthalate—three of the top ingredients of concern.

What’s on the Ingredient List?

If personal care ingredients are not listed, you can request content information from the manufacturer. Check the Environmental Working Group’s Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report Skin Deep to get details on specific ingredients and to find safer products. Hot listed ingredients in Canada may be subject to limitations in their concentration or can still turn up in products categorized as drugs, like antiperspirant and anti-dandruff shampoos.

These are some ingredients to avoid: LEAD ACETATE Found in some hair dye, and cleansers, lead acetate is hotlisted in Canada and banned in the E.U. Lead acetate is a reproductive and developmental toxin.

FORMALDEHYDE Found in some nail products, antibacterial soaps and foundations, formaldehyde is a carcinogen restricted in Canada.

TOLUENE Found in some nail polish and hardeners. It is suspected of being a reproductive or developmental toxin. One form, Toluene-2,4-diamine, is prohibited in Canada.

PARABENS A class of preservatives commonly found in moisturizers, deodorants and many personal care products. Methlyparaben, butlyparaben, isobutylparaben and propylbaraben are classed as endocrine disruptors in Skin Deep.

PETROLEUM DISTILLATES Found in mascara, perfume, lipstick and foundation, petroleum distillates are a suspected carcinogen.

COAL TAR Found in dark hair dyes and antidandruff shampoo, coal tars are carcinogenic and permitted in hair dyes in Canada when accompanied by a warning.

DIBUTYL PHTHALATE Found in nail products. All phthalates are banned in the E.U., but not restricted in Canada. Dibutyl phthalate is an endocrine disruptor and suspected to reproductive toxin.

So what have we found out? That Canada bans fewer chemicals than the European Union, and that the United States bans even fewer chemicals than Canada. Or that it’s okay to put these dangerous chemicals in products as long as it’s listed on the label or a warning is on the label. Girls, you need to start buying safer cosmetics and personal care products.

Online Resources:

The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Report: www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2 Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: www.safecosmetics.org Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/person/cosmet/hotlist-liste_e.html

Sources:

Environmental Working Group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry  by Misha Warbanski

http://www.herizons.ca/node/227

What Color Are You Today?

What color do you wear?

Pink, blue, red, black, French tip….  What color are you wearing after a visit to the nail salon?

Nail polishes that claim to be free of harsh chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and fertility problems may contain the hazardous ingredients anyway, according to a state study released Tuesday.

Say what? They claim to be free of toxic and hazardous chemicals, but might have them anyway! Never mind the lack of state and federal enforcement, how about lawsuit?

The California Environmental Protection Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control, in collaboration with the San Francisco Department of the Environment, the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, did a study last year looking for toxic chemicals in nail polish. Of course in their infinite wisdom, they decided to only sample nail polish used in nail salons in the bay area, and not over the counter products.

The toxic trio of chemicals the report focused on are considered especially dangerous additions to nail polishes. They are:

1. Formaldehyde, which is used as a preservative in nail polish, is known to cause cancer, asthma and skin problems in large enough doses, according to the state toxic substance department.

2. Toluene, which helps create a smooth look and clear colors in polishes, can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and short-term memory loss, and it can harm fetuses and cause miscarriages.

3. Dibutyl phthalate, which gives polishes a hard but flexible finish, has been associated with reproductive problems and birth defects even in very low doses.

The chemicals are either banned or highly limited in Europe. They are legal in the United States, but they must be included on the ingredient list on nail polish labels. What? It’s okay to poison you as long as it’s listed on the label. Have you tried reading one of those ingredient lists lately. You probably need a magnifying glass and a chemical dictionary.

What is congress doing about this? Not much!

So when you go for your next salon visit, think about the salon worker who claims her breast cancer is a result of breathing all these toxic chemicals. Wouldn’t you rather have pancakes?

Seejay’s Meatloaf

Sooner or later the mob gets hungry. I'm not sure why they think they should be fed? I mean, I can't even get them to mow the grass or feed the animals. They would rather watch the dog try and catch the squirrel that's been teasing her lately. 

Now Mia can be a real idiot. A sweet tempered dog, but still an idiot. She'll run around the tree for hours barking while the squirrel teases her. Mia is concentrating so hard on that squirrel that she won't even come in the house for a begging bacon treat. And this dog is addicted to these new treats. The only peace during the day is when the squirrel takes a nap!

Now the mob, sometimes it's only Panthea, will start whining occasionally for meatloaf.  Of course they, which is either Panthea by herself, or Panthea and the two youngest of our kids, won't cook their own meatloaf.....no, they want dad to cook it. So here goes.....

Over time, I’ve taken some different recipes for meatloaf and combined the parts I like, and found that my family likes also. Now this isn’t that high school meatloaf that tastes like card board, but on the other hand, maybe it’s too good. My family is yelling for more.

Ingredients:

• 1 Vidalia Sweet Onion finely chopped or diced
• 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• ½ Green Bell Pepper finely chopped or diced
• ½ Red Bell Pepper finely chopped or diced
• ½ Yellow Bell Pepper finely chopped or diced
• ½ range Bell Pepper finely chopped or diced
• 3 or 4 Sticks of Celery finely chopped or diced
• 3 or 4 Cloves of Fresh Garlic, minced or finely chopped
• 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
• 5 or 6 slices of Bread of your choice (Saltine Crackers may be used also)
• 2 pounds Ground Beef
• 1 cup (heaping) Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
• ¼ teaspoons Seasoned Salt
• ¾ teaspoons Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• ⅓ cups chopped Fresh Flat-leaf Parsley
• 3 whole Eggs Beaten
• 10 slices Thin/regular Bacon

• Sauce:
• 1-½ cup Ketchup
• ⅓ cups Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard

Preparation Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Put the bread in a bowl and pour the milk over the bread and let it soak for a few minutes.

Place the ground beef in a large bowl

Add the chopped onion, chopped bell peppers, chopped celery, Dijon mustard, Parmesan Cheese, Seasoned Salt, Kosher salt, Ground Black Pepper, Fresh Parsley, minced garlic, eggs and bread. You can vary the amount of onion, bell peppers and celery to taste.

Now hopefully your hands are clean. Using your hands, combine all of the ingredients until mixed well. Using a Roasting pan or broiler pan, form the mixture into a loaf shape. Aluminum foil under the loaf helps keep the mess down, just be careful to not overcook the loaf or it will stick to the foil. Aluminum foil doesn’t taste very good. I found that the traditional loaf pans are not big enough for my family.

Once you have the loaf shaped, make your sauce. Add ketchup, brown sugar and dried mustard into a mixing bowl and give it a good mix.

Add a layer of sauce onto the loaf, then lay the strips of bacon over the loaf, tucking the ends under the loaf. Now pour another layer of the sauce over the bacon strips. Spread with a knife or spoon.

It takes about an hour to cook, remember oven temperatures vary. After about 45 minutes, you can add another layer of the sauce on the loaf it you like, then cook for another 15 minutes. Then serve and get out of the way. I made three of these for a family get together, and they ate every bite.