Cooking at Home with Judy

Triethanolamine

What is it and why should you care?

Do you care about what you put on your skin? Do you know the source of all the ingredients listed in those products you have sitting on your shelf? 

I developed a redness, slight swelling and soreness over my left kidney. When I have had this before (over my right kidney) it is due to my allergies to lanolin. Which I avoid because I am allergic to wool. And, where do we get lanolin????

Any way, I was VERY careful to check the label of a new coconut shea nourishing lotion. NO lanolin, but within a week of using it daily on my hands the red, swelling and soreness started.

Put Sherlock on the case and I found an ingredient I had NOT investigated in the past. Here is what I found.

"Triethanolamine (TEA) is a clear, colorless, thick liquid that smells a bit like ammonia because it has nitrogen at its center," Romanowski says. As he explains it, triethanolamine is made by reacting ethylene oxide, which is derived from the petroleum industry, with ammonia, which is derived from air. Jul 11, 2022

Trolamine, which is also referred to as triethanolamine (TEA) The substance may be toxic to kidneys, liver, skin. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Jun 5, 2015

Petroleum is listed as a carcinogen in Europe and therefore banned,”. Aug 7, 2019. Again, they are way ahead of us?

So you see my friends, it is important to know where the ingredients come from that you ingest, apply to your skin or breath into your lungs. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Safety Pins

UPdate . . . They still make diaper pins, much to my surprise & delight. You can buy 6 of them at Bed Bath & Beyond Baby store for $1.99. Unless you want the fancy ones for a dollar more. Glad I found them. Problem solved. 

Darn . . . can't even trust good old fashioned safety pins to be what they were in the good old days!

You know how it is when you NEED a BIG safety pin and nothing else will do? Searched and searched and searched NO big safety pins in the whole house. Well darn, thought I had a bunch in a tin box. NO tin box so must have given them to someone thinking I could easily replace them. Good intentions aught to be worth something. Shouldn't they??

Covid taught me to search online before you leave the house. Not everyone has 'ordinary' items in stock these days. Plus, you know you can't always trust the web either. And, since you can't trust clerks to know where anything is anymore, like you could in the good old days.

I've learned to print out the picture from the stores web page and go directly to customer service and show it to them. Inevitably they have to call someone, or 2-3 someone's and often give up and call the manager of the store who then has to look it up. tee-hee.

But . . . hay that beats me having to walk up and down every aisle.

What was the old ad for the Yellow Pages? "Let your fingers do the walking". Did we ever dream the day would come when we'd no longer have telephone operators to look things up for us? Or, never again to have that big fat FREE directory with everyones name and address at our finger tips?

Times have changed. And, so has the quality of safety pins. I only wanted BIG ones. Have dozens of every OTHER size. But, oh NO the manufacturers know that when you need a BIG safety pin you'll not only pay the price, you will also be willing to take on MORE of those small ones that you don't want. Gerrrrrrrrrr.

So be warned my friends don't buy Fiskars. At one time that was a brand you could trust. NO more. Cheap, flimsy, metal got all bent out of shape the first time I use one.

from your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Compostable Food Bags

Because of my intense Vertigo I cannot watch TV, videos, or use a touch screen of any kind, so no cell phones.

I love Henry Ford Innovation Nation on CBS on Sunday Mornings. I tape it so I can skip past the fast moving commercials. Because this show itself has fast moving parts that set off my Vertigo I wear these CRAZY glasses from France. I’ll be happy to talk about those in an email, if you want to know more.

Back to Henry Ford. Sometime in the past month they featured a new company in the UK you will want to know about. Marinatex.

This young lady Lucy Hughes, has taken FISH scales and made a replacement for plastic bags!!!!!!

YES — See for yourself . . . 

I can’t tolerate the movement of her site but found written info under About, Values and FAQ.

AMAZING -- you will want to signup for her newsletter to keep informed of her progress. What a wonderful way to protect our precious planet. HUGS !!!!!!!

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Niman Ranch

I stopped eating Deli Meats years ago. Read why Download Deli meats.pages

Then I found . . .     Niman Ranch  Where their animals are Raised with Care®.

UPDATE: A friend brought it to my attention that Niman Ranch is no longer a privately own business. They sold to Predue, which does not make me happy. I will keep a close eye on their products in the future. 

The farmers’ and ranchers’ passion for their craft, dedication to their animals and respect for the land can truly be tasted in their finished products. 

• Their livestock are always raised outdoors or in deeply bedded pens
• 100% of their farms are Certified Humane
• No cages, no crates, no tail docking or teeth clipping
• No added hormones or antibiotics – EVER

Here are my two favorites:

Canadian Bacon so luscious in my scrambled eggs in the morning or for lunch in a steaming hot bowl of homemade soup.

The same for their Pastrami and I even top off my green salad with it. Yumm  

Really nice family and EXCELLENT product. I buy their products at Natural Grocers. When I get them home I open and wrap INDIVIDUAL slices in wax paper, bag and freeze to enjoy anytime I like.

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Sweet Baby Bell Peppers

I am a HUGE fan of Baby Sweet Bells     

This is the brand I buy at Walmart. But I am sure you can buy Organic at any health food store. I have friends who buy a bag for any road trip and pop them like candy. Me, however cannot eat bell pepper raw. And being the picky eater I am, I must remove the seeds and membrane. I LOVE to dice them into my morning scramble. Add them to soups, sauces etc. They are so high in vitamin C. Too keep them at their highest level of nutrition I dice and freeze them.

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Baby Wipes

Make your own -- saw this on Dr. Oz. So E-Z and saves sooooooooo much $ and much safer when YOU know exactly what's in it. See what is really in kitchen wipes. Download Wipes.pages

• 1 1/2 C  Hot Wate
• 1 T         Baby Oil *
• 1t           Baby Shampoo *

* I would caution you to research EVERY ingredient in your Baby Oil and Shampoo BEFORE you purchase. NOT all are safe for you or your baby. 

Whisk together well. 

Cut a roll of paper towels in half horizontally. Place one half into a plastic box just big enough to hold the paper towel half roll. Mine is a lidded tub I use for office supplies, it is 8"wide x 5"deep x 6" tall. 

Pour the solution over the towels and allow to soak (30 min-1hr) until the cardboard core is soft and easily removes, leaving the paper towels in tact. Place in a short plastic jug with a TIGHT fitting lid. Cut a slit in the top and pull the first towel up thru the top. 

So quick - so E-Z and you know it is safe. I happen to like the smell of baby oil and baby shampoo but you could add a few drops of lemon oil or your favorite fragrance from your local health food store. 

Mac & Cheese

Food Dyes  -- Are they really SAFE?

The food industry has been adding food dyes to all sorts of packaged goods for years. But are they really safe?

Many countries, like the UK, have required that food companies label products containing Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 with a warning that says: “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” Hence, some companies, like Kraft, have switched to using paprika and beta-carotene in products like their mac and cheese (to preserve the yellow appearance) that they sell in those countries.

So why does Kraft continue to sell products in the US that contain both Yellow 5 & 6 dye in them?

Read about the British research Dr Oz and decide for yourself. My suggestion: IF you are going to continue to spend your hard earned money on packaged goods at least READ the labels and KNOW exactly what they contain and what the consequences might be. It is easy to find tons of good research on food colorings. My rule: When reading a food label -- If you can't pronounce it or quickly recognize the word as being a plant based organic food -- don't put it in your body or that of the ones you love.

Also see what a couple of innovative Mom's, just like you are doing.  And if you agree that we in the US deserve as healthy a version of Kraft Mac & Cheese sign their petition. You can also reach Vani Hari at Food Babe and Lisa Leake at 100 Days of Real Food. 

UPDATE: Thanks to Dr. Oz and these Mom's Kraft stopped putting artificial dyes in their Mac & Cheese. I have keep this post up because the data is still relevant and the information helpful to changing from processes industrial food to FRESH produce and organic single ingredient foods that do not require a label. 

Your friend in the kitchen, 

Judy

Italian Cheese Mix

Ouch -- READ the label very, very carefully you may not be getting what you want.

All of us from time to time reach mindlessly for something at the grocery store, then get it home and find it is NOT what we intended to buy. That happened to me recently. I grabbed a bag of shredded Italian Mixed Cheeses, threw it in the freezer when I got home and it wasn't until I took it out of the freezer to make Pizza Bread, page 22 in Cooing with Judy, that I noticed the Philadelphia Cream Cheese log directly under the Kraft logo, which is NOT the brand I normally buy.  It did NOT contain 5 Italian cheeses but rather ONLY four with the addition of CREAM CHEESE, which is NOT at all what I thought I was getting. UCK not so great Pizza Bread this time. READ the label.

 

When HOT is NOT so Hot -- thank heavens

Friends are wonderful things to have in one's life, especially when they bring you gifts of food or things to enhance your love of food. This was the case when my friend Marty Shawver brought me a bottle of Chapala sauce from Mexico. I was very reluctant to try it, as I do NOT like hot or spicy. But Marty assured me it was not HOT. So a couple of dashes in my Kale soup and wa-la it was fantastic.

A couple of days later I tried a little more in another cup of Kale Soup, recipe on page 7 in  Cooking with Judy Once again I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. I even dashed it into my sacred scrambled eggs the next morning and declared it to be a WINNER.

But we can't buy it online or locally. This is the one time you'll want to ask your local grocer or health food store to import it from Mexico. One of the reasons Marty and I feel it is so good as it does not contain vinegar, which can give any sauce a bite. 

You'll find Chapala Sauce to be an excellent addition to your morning scramble, any soup or dip you wish to make. It is not too hot but can be purchased in a hotter variety. It is smooth as silk with a bit of a kick. 

from your friend in the kitchen . . . Judy

Veggie Scrub Brush

Really like the new Veggie Scrub Brush I picked up at Tuesday Morning's last week.

It has a stiff bristle brush for good hard scrubbing and it's curved -- great for getting around yams and squashes. It has a nice rubber handle for e-z holding and a hole in the end of the handle for hanging on a hook.

It is made by ACME International Enterprises under the trademarked name Earth Alert and the tag is printed on recycled paper, my kind of company. As I always say, "When we take better care of our planet -- it will take better care of us!" 

 

What YOU Need to Know About YOUR Vinyl Lunch Bag

We did the research and found a vinyl lunch bag that is NOT toxic. 

Download Insulated Vinyl Lunch Bag.pages

 

Garlic Roller

One of my favorite tools, so e-z to use, quick and simple way to peel whole garlic for quick & e-z grating in any recipe.

Love it -- had it for years -- got it at K-Mart from the Martha Stewart collection, but they don't carry them any more.  Finally found one at a discount kitchen store -- bought several to give as gifts. 

BUT the minute I got them home and opened the bag the stench was awful.

Don't know what kind of vinyl they were made from but . . . if you EVER buy anything for your kitchen that smells like gasoline (plastic is a waste-product from the process of extracting gasoline from crude oil) RETUNR it to the merchant immediately and tell them the reason. 

When shopping for any plastic or rubbery materials for food preparation, be sure you know exactly what it is made of BEFORE you lay out your hard earned money.

For a complete list of different vinyls:

Download Insulated Vinyl Lunch Bag.pages

 

Kiwi Berries

 
YES they taste just like Kiwi, soft, sweet and YUMMY, but shaped like a grape and without the fuzz. I put a handful in the freezer to see how that works. I am sure you need to eat them frozen and not try to thaw them.

And they are a very healthy choice rich in vitamin C and naturally low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. They are also high in fiber and a great source of potassium, vitamin E and magnesium. 

Download Kiwi Berries.pages

 

BPA

   The chemical has come under increasing scrutiny over the past few years, after dozens of independent studies have linked BPA to health issues such as infertility, behavioral issues in children, certain types of cancer, heart disease, and even obesity and diabetes in adults. 

Download BPA.pages

From Your Friend in the Kitchen, Judy

 

Quinoa vs Brown Rice

Prevention offers and excellent comparison in nutrients of Brown Rice vs Quinoa.

Here is an excellent video showing the growing and processing of Quinoa. The only thing I questions is whether or not they have glacier water in Peru? And yes they do, here is an article how the glaciers are shrinking and creating a water shortage, a most interesting morning. Enjoy! 

Coffee Pots

Perk up ladies and take better care of your health -- choose carefully.

 Before you have your cup of Java in the morning -- Read page 44 in Volume 5 . . . good research.

 

Spaghetti Sauces

Never - ever buy it in a jar. It is so E-Z to make your own FRESH sauce with FRESH ingredients + you control the sodium and NO sugars. 

Page 20 in Volume 5

 

Crackers are not all they are CRACKED up to be!

Can you imagine my outrage . . . when for some totally unknown reason, I decided to check the label of the saltine crackers I've been buying for YEARS and found they contained HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP? 

Download Crackers.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Wooden Spoons

The care and feeding there of . . .

 

Download Wooden Spoons.pages

 

Compliments of your friend in the kitchen, Judy

A Good Neighbor

Thank you for being good to the earth . . .

This is a bit out of the norm but I thought what this company is doing is worth mentioning. I purchased some White Stag sportswear recently and noticed when I got it home that the tags were all earth friendly. NO plastic loops, no unnecessary plastic anywhere. Easy to peel off size and pricing labels from the shirts and thin cardboard tags attached with cloth thread. Thanks White Stag! 

I just discovered Faded Glory does the same. In fact they have incorporated the barcode and price right on the size strip. GOOD for them!

Black Pepper

Want the Skinny on Black Pepper?

 

Know how to choose the size you need?

Download Black Pepper.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Glass Lined Skillets

I found GLASS lined skillets at TJ Max of all places. I LOVE them -- NO more worry about Teflon getting into my food or off gassing over high heat. Did you know that gas will kill canaries? YES, it does . . . so why would you want to expose yourself or your loved ones to that?


It is recommended you NOT put these glass-lined pans in the dishwasher but who cares? They wipe out slick as a whistle with only one drop of dish soap. A dollop of Baking Soda takes care of any burned on spots in just seconds. Lay them on a dishtowel to dry and store with rubber matting layered between each to avoid scratching all your pans, not just glass. Oh and did I tell you -- they are so affordable $10 - $20. Wish they made saucepans.

Another GREAT Tip from your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Tomatoes In A Jar

Becoming aware of what companies spray inside the cans they put our food in I try NOT to purchase food in cans, no matter if they say they are BPA free. And especially tomatoes, because of their high acidity. 

Download BPA.pages

Do your self a favor and buy tomatoes in a jar. Yes, they are expensive but as one of my students said, "What is the cost of cancer?". 

Another brand available . . .

Read an apples to apples comparison -- or in this case jar to jar. 

Download Jar Tomatos.pages 

Compliments from your friend in the kitchen, Judy