April's Favorite Things!!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

I am having a weak moment today and think I'll make some cookies. I searched through pages and pages of my Facebook looking for this recipe that I made a couple months ago. I had experimented a few times and was extremely happy with this final result, so I wasn't willing to start over again.

1 cup Organic Peanut butter (not a health food, unbalanced omega's, but I didn't want to cook my raw almond butter)

1/2 cup of following:
buckwheat flower
organic brown sugar
organic sugar
1/4 hazelnut (or other nut) milk

Mix together roll into balls and cook for 18-20 min at 325

Here's another version that is gluten free, but not vegan:
1 cup organic peanut butter
1 cup organic sugar
1 egg

Bake at 350 for 6 to 8 minutes.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

No Pooing

First let me say that I can't stand the name of this procedure. How about no chem-hairing or something more pleasant to the ear the first time it's said. Next, let me say that this procedure has had no allure for me at all since I heard of it. Or maybe you're wondering what "it" is. Well Simply put, the number one procedure I've found was 1 Tbsp Baking Soda in 1 cup water massaged into hair and rinsed followed by 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar to 1 cup water massaged through hair and rinsed.

So why in the world would I try it? Because my research on eczema provides that many people are allergic to the harsh ingredients in the many cleaners we use on our bodies. Not to mention the many toxins that come in contact with our skin. I have been so extremely pleased with the switch over to coconut oil for lotion and have often questioned why I never realized sooner that the amounts of toxins I slathered on my dry skin we taxing my system. So this would be the next logical step for me, right? I mean, I have transitioned away from aluminum laden deodorant (not a pleasant task), stopped using fluoride toothpastes years ago, switched to expensive toxin free sunblocks, only use all natural chemical free soaps, and changed over to toxin free nail polishes as well. So I thought I would skip the step of organic shampoo and conditioners and go right to the finish line where all the hippies are, and no poo my hair.

I hardly ever shampoo my boys hair and when I do I use the all natural California Baby soap. I'd like to say this was all me, but it was John who would chew me out when he would see me shampooing them. "Why do you want to put all of those chemicals on him, he doesn't need it?" After realizing it wasn't worth arguing about it I quit shampooing them. They have beautiful shiny, silky hair, so I knew that there could be something to the no pooing.

So for my first time I am not thrilled. Lack Lustre is the phrase that comes to mind. I am not giving up though. I have color treated hair, and I guess I am missing the extreme shine that the conditioner provides. I was shocked at how easy it was to comb through though. I thought it would be difficult without all the assistance from the conditioner, but it wasn't. My hair needs a chance to recover from all of the years of build up being put on it and I know that. I also know that if I delve into a couple sites that there are plenty of things for me to experiment with to get what I want. Plus I saw pictures of others who no poo and their hair was beautiful, even color treated. However none of them were bleach blonde's, so only time will tell.

I'm not sure if I will no poo for my next shower, but I will keep trying again in the future.