Cooking at Home with Judy

Vanilla . . . made from PLASTIC????? YES read on

I was shocked when I heard that to save money companies are NOW making vanilla that we put in our cakes, pies, cookies and ice cream out of recycled water bottles. AND . . . I heard it on Jeopardy. So you know me research, research, and more digging to make sure this is the truth. Here is what I found out . . .

Download Jeopardy.pages and see for yourself. PLUS they are finding bits and pieces of PET plastic in seafood. I also found out why I have never been able to wear polyester. It is made from PET plastic. 

from your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Olive Oil, what's on the label?

Well the jokes on me . . . but it is NO laughing matter. You know how I preach to ALWAYS read EVERY label, no matter if it is food, products for your skin or your cleaning supplies. INGREDIENTS matter!!!!!

So, as I am washing out my empty bottle of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), getting it ready for the recycling center, I notice something I certainly did not notice when I purchased it. 

Yes, the label says the NAME of the company is California Olive Ranch. It also says it is Medium, smooth and balanced Extra Virgin Olive Oil. That is all okay. It is the small second label at the top that I missed, Global Blend. What does that mean?

It says it comes from Argentina, Portugal and Chile with ONLY 10% coming from CALIFORNIA.

So don't be fooled by the name, it is only 10% true. In other words 90% is a lie. I'm not laughing. 

The next bottle I went to open, says it is USDA certified ORGANIC. That's better, or is it?????? The USA is NOT one of the seven countries listed as the source of the oil. 

Man oh, man!!!! You can't trust anyone these days. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Blackout Drapes DANGEROUS Toxins

UPDATE 4 weeks later, the off-gassing is back. Soaked all drapes in in the washer over night, using HOT extra soapy water. Will keep you posted. 

Original post:

If you care about the air you breathe, you will NOT buy BLACKOUT Drapes for your home or office and you will WARN all your friends and loved ones. 

Do you know the names of the 4 DANGEROUS toxic chemicals that are used to make Blackout Drapes?

• Chlorine
• Formaldehyde
• Pesticides
• PFCs.

Do you know about the affects of breathing these toxic off-gasses?

They don't have to put it on the label because . . . it is part of the manufacturing PROCESS. 

Just like with sugar they don't have to tell you they use chlorine bleach and ammonia in the process to make sugar white. They are not added ingredients they are hidden in the PROCESS. See page 18 in Volume 6 of Cooking with Judy 

For all the details of my nightmare Download Blackout drapes.pages

Please share this with those you love. It is a HIDDEN Danger they need to know about. Even if you think you will never, ever need blackout drapes, this is important information for every consumer. 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

 

GMO vs Bioengineering

Surprise !!!!!

Did you know that beginning today January 1, 2022, that food labels at your grocery store will NO longer be labeled GMO? 

Instead they will be labeled 'bioengineered'. What does that really mean to the everyday consumer? 

The bad guys have won again!!!!!!

Not only did our illustrious Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas campaign for and won the unprecedented approval for Monsanto (he worked for them as a lawyer for 7 years before he became a judge) to obtain a PATENT for their corn seed that contains ROUNG-UP? 

To avoid prosecution, Monsanto sold to the German company Bayer. You are aware of all the lawsuits filed against Round-up for the Cancer it has caused in humans? 

I suggest you read this very long report in the Washington Post and inform yourself about this significant changes in food labeling. 

Here is one snippet you should know . . . now. 

The new rules discriminate against the more than 100 million Americans* who DO NOT have access to smartphones or cell service, because companies will be allowed to rely on smartphone-based scannable QR codes to share information about the 'bioengineered' food with consumers.

I find it outrageous that restaurants and other food service establishments do not have to abide by the new rules. So in other words . . . they can feed you ingredients you may not wish to ingest. 

Ask yourself? Why do so many people have so many food allergies these days?????? Ask yourself, why so many people have diabetes, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's today????? Our food? Our environment - the air we breathe? 

We are the only ones who can be responsible for our good health. We can no longer afford to allow big business to dictate what we eat nor the quality of the air we breathe.

Eat from the FARM and not a factory! 

* It is not only the poor who cannot afford smart phones or cell service. There are others like myself, who have intense Vertigo. Who cannot watch TV, use smart phones or any touch screen. Over 40% of all Americans will experience Vertigo at one time or another. And for some it will last a lifetime. 

This reminds me of the book Future Shock, where one individual winds up in control of all the computers in the world. This book was fiction, but so was Buck Rogers. How many people today wear a Dick Tracy watch? 

It also reminds me of Hitler. Just one more way to control humans is to limit their access to information. 

Foam Rubber

When Foam Rubber . . . isn't Rubber anymore!

So be careful . . . Because Rubber is NOT always rubber, but rather plastic.

How many people do you who know are allergic to Latex? 

Why do they always ask that question on medical forms?

Read my extensive research Download Foam Rubber.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

NECTRESSE™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener

UPDATE -- Thank Heavens this product has been TAKEN OFF the market. Still read the article as it is IMPORTANT information about all products, especially ones we eat.  

It took me 15 clicks to find this tucked away under FAQ for Health Professionals

NECTRESSE^™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener is a combination of deliciously sweet Monk Fruit Extract with the perfect blend of other natural sweeteners (erythritol, sugar and molasses) delivering the rich sweet taste of sugar without all the calories.

You might remember from other posts, about other products, that erythritol is an alcohol derived from sugar. And SUGAR is SUGAR and Molasses is processed cane sugar. Now, cane sugar is a natural growing plant and I have no problems with it UNTIL they process it. I too do not have a problem with molasses in small quantities, as ammonia and chorine bleach are not used in the process of making molasses, as it is with WHITE sugar. If you have ever seen cane sugar in its raw state then you know it is not WHITE.

So the truth is this product in addition to monk fruit contains sugar alcohol, sugar and molasses. So how can it be NO calories? Maybe this is like trans fats -- if there is less than one gram they don't have to report it. In my opinion they should be up front about ALL the ingredients. Give me a break.

I for one prefer ONE INGREDIENT products like honey -- it makes life a lot easier, so much healthier and oh so sweet. Just be sure you know where your honey is REALLY from. Local is not always local.

Be sure you read not only the label of your next bottle of honey but take a magnifying glass to the entire bottle -- somewhere it has to tell you the COUNTRY of origin. You will most likely find it in a very hard to read type face.

Breaking the Code

On the fruits & veggies YOU buy everyday.

Did you know . . . that the tiny little tag on fruits and vegetables holds a world of info?

•  A four-digit code starting with the number 4 equals conventionally grown and may have been sprayed with synthetic pesticides.

•  A five-digit code beginning with 9 equals organic *

•  A five-digit code starting with an 8 means the food has been Genetically Modified. This number is not widely used, as growers and suppliers are still fighting having to label genetically modified foods. 

•  A five-digit code starting with a 3 means new item and all the conventionally numbers are taken. New # old conventionally grown and may have been sprayed with synthetic pesticides.

* Organic foods have NOT been Genetically Modified. To learn more about GMO foods . . . Download GMO.pages

CORN Syrup

High Fructose Corn Syrup

I had a lady the other day ask my opinion about the advertisements that claim corn syrup is safe because it is PROCESSED from a vegetable. My response to her was I remember the years and years of magazine, newspaper, television, and radio ads for cigarettes and how they showed beautiful men and women in sophisticated clothing having a wonderful time while smoking deadly cancer-sticks. Lots of people make lots of money to lie to us.

Processed is the keyword here but of course they use the word "made" as it sounds more natural and safer. But then I'm not crazy about corn anyway. Did you know that 86% of all corn and 93% of all soy grown in the US has been Genetically Modified to accept pesticides? In other words the plant will not die from the pesticide. So when you eat GMO foods you are eating Round Up . . . hum . . . would you knowingly pour weed killer on your food????????? 

I choose NOT to eat any PROCESSED or PACKAGED products that are sold under the guise of being called food. They are dead and give you no nutrition what so ever. Eat single ingredient LIVING foods that get their energy from the sun and their nutrients from mother earth. You be glad you did. 

To learn more about Genetically Modified foods -- Download GMO.pages

Truth in Labeling applies to website too!

A friend sent me a horrific story about Cipro, a very dangerous and widely prescribed antibiotic that comes from the large class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. She sent her story in response to an alert I posted on SEPSIS. If this word is new to you -- be sure you read the article and pass it on to all your friends and family.

When I passed on her response to another friend who is a health professional she recommended another website, which listed a report on Cipro for review. When I went to that site I could NOT find out who created the site.

PLEASE, always do your own due diligence BEFORE reading any article on the web. Find out who they are and what their motive is. I wrote an entire article about "Don't believe everything you read on the web", on page 22 in Cooking with Judy.

When I noticed each and every article stamped "ARCHIVED Content may be obsolete", I was bound and determined to find out who they were.

At the very bottom of the long list of articles I finally found the about us section. They still did NOT tell me who "they" were but where quick to offer a disclaimer that the information presented was for educational purposes ONLY. Hummmmmm. By the way the article did NOT offer any source of reference as to its originality or validity.

Lastly they acknowledged their data came from a TRADE MARKED PHARMACEUTICAL  COMPANY. Haaaaaa -- I didn't bother to read their editorial policy or check their mailing address, I had read enough.

Makes me wonder if the author of the first site who offered up the link had bothered to check them out. I certainly have my doubts -- therefore making me skeptical of any information the original site might offer.

You notice both sites go nameless, as I do not wish to promote them and want to WARN you to investigate EVERY website you visit, especially before you recommend it.

Too, I am not fond of sites that advertise products for sale. If they are their own products I immediately look for both the ingredients and HOW it is processed. Example all oils must be COLD processes as they lose their potency when heated.

Another example: I choose not to use Agave products, as a sweetener, because I cannot find how it is processed in the foreign countries where they originate.

READ EVERY LABEL and investigate EVERY website.

You'll be glad you did!

Wishing you good eats, good friends and good health.

Junk Mail Warning

Advertised in Women's World "Opt out of the new JUNK MAIL". Beware this so-called non-profit is actually the national lobby organization for DIRECT MAIL companies.

Like ALL websites I checked to see who they were and what their purpose is, where they are located and what their privacy policies are.

In my opinion this is simply another GIMMICK to gather your personal identification information so that more companies may send you unsolicited advertising. So don't be duped.

I personally stop all junk mail by calling each company I receive mail from and ask that my address be removed. I also ask each company I do business with to make sure my account is marked to receive ONLY my monthly statements and NO additional mail or phone calls. I care far more about out planet than I do anything they may want to sell me. As you can guess I am registered with the governments NO CALL list.

When we take better care of our planet . . . it will take better care of us. 

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

Milk

Flavored Milk Labels

Read the details in the article on Dr. Oz .

My observations: One -- Don't mess with Mother Nature! Two -- quite feeding our children sweets of any kind. Allow their tiny brains to recognize foods that are NATURALLY good for them.

Whole milk already contains natural sugars we don't need to add flavors or more sweeteners to them. Did you know Skim Milk has a higher content of sugar than Whole Milk? Why, because the fat has been removed leaving ALL the sugars and very little or no fat. Children who are accustom to sweets might enjoy Skim Milk more because of its high sugar content. If they want strawberry add FRESH or frozen Strawberries or Blueberries or Blackberries or Raspberries not artificial flavor and coloring. 

I cook my steel cut oats in Skim Milk because it make it sweet naturally and I don't have to add sweetener of any kind, only more Skim Milk and fresh berries.

Download Whole Grain Cereal.pages

In my opinion the only reason the dairy council wants to make this change is to gain higher profits. They remind me of the WOLF in sheep's clothing. 

Carrageenan

Yet another report on the hazards of this so called natural food additive that can have disastrous affects on your health.

Doubts surface about safety of food additive, carrageenan

I like many others thought seaweed was good for our health and was not the least bite concerned when I saw it listed on the label of the heavy cream I use everyday.  However, I certainly changed my mind this morning when excerpts, from this Chicago Tribune investigative report, appeared in my local newspaper.

Read the entire report for yourself. My biggest outrage is the fact the FDA failed to respond to a petition to prohibit the use of carrageenan for FOUR YEARS. Can't tell me manufacturers don't have big money. 

AND the fact that it is used in INFANT formula????????? WHY ??????????? But then if you ever take the time to actually read the label on infant formula you will be appalled. And then you'll be outraged when you find out our government DEMANDS mother's use our tax dollars to purchase this formula and actually feed it to the next generation of prospective diabetics and an obese population.

READ EVERY label -- you can find carrageenan in milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheeses, some meats and diet soda and even TOOTHPASTE, plus some organic products and lots of packages and processed foods. Remember Dr. Chopra calls processed food DEAD food. He recommends we eat living food that comes from the earth not a factory.

Do yourself and your family a favor, take a few minutes and read the entire Download Carrageenan Chicago Tribune and then send it to all your friends to spread the word about the possible dangers of carrageenan.

Shampoo

Spending lots of money on shampoo at the health food store and still can't identify some of the ingredients?

I don't blame you for not taking the time to get out a magnifying glass and attempt to read the tiny print usually in a hard to read font and color on the product label. But if not YOU then who will?

This list of ingredients and their source might help.

Download Shampoo.pages 

Secrets

5 Shady Secrets About Your Food

An industry insider tells all

Learn what your grocer doesn't want you to know and how to avoid the pitfalls. 

Download Secrets about your food.pages

From Your Friend in the Kitchen, Judy

 

Honey Duped Again

 

And this time by my local health food store. 

 

 

Who can your trust? Only yourself to read EVERY label no matter what the product, retailer or service company. 

 

Download Honey Duped Again.pages

 

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

 

Don't drink the water

Did you KNOW?

Next time you're in the garden shop, pick up a NEW garden hose and READ the label.

"Most garden hoses have a DISCLAIMER stating they are NOT safe for drinking water."

Who doesn't drink water from a garden hose? Not any more and if I need to rinse my veggies in the garden I will be sure to rinse again in the kitchen. You see the garden hoses of days gone by were made from rubber. Today's garden hose is made of polymer. And that my friends is TOXIC. 

What is it Maya Angelou says --

"When we know better we do better."

 

Downsizing

Has anyone else noticed that two of my favorite products have downsized but the price has gone up?

Yes . . . Kleenex and Dawn

Dawn is a thinner liquid than it use to be. Takes more to clean a sink full of dishes.

And Kleenex no longer tells you the number of tissues in its square box. Use to be 60 per box now it's only 50 -- count them!

Don't you just hate it when you can NO longer trust the brands you've bought for years and years. What a bummer!

Kitchen Wipes

The label has a green emblem that says Clean Well with a green leaf, plus another orange leaf with the word lemongrass inside the art work.

 It states it will kill cold and flu viruses.

When I got it home and got out the old magnifying glass it says it contains 5% thymol and 98% other ingredients, NOT LISTED.

 I first looked up thymol and here is what I found. 

Download Wipes.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Health Food Imposters

DON'T be FOOLED . . .

Foods that may seem healthy but they are NOT. 

Even if you haven't bought fat-free mayo or sugary soda since blue eye shadow was in style (the first time), you may be getting duped into less-than-stellar food choices at the supermarket. PLUS a special note from Dr. Oz about Diacetyl. 

Download Health Food Impostors.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Tazo Tea

The TRUTH in Labeling and how to find it.

Download Tazo Tea Label.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

 

The Truth About Cheap Vanilla

I have always used the cheapest vanilla extract I could find. But you might want to read the extensive research I did. I was shocked. 

Download Vanilla

Imported Foods

Well we heard from Dr. Oz on imported Apple Juice and now Christina Rexrode from the Associated Press is blowing the whistle on Orange Juice, and what about the rest of our imported foods?

Download Imported Orange Juice.pages

From your friend in the kitchen,  Judy

Cream

I wrote the following post in October of 2012 and wish to add this Alert for Your Good Health. I have found that Carrageenan, an additive made from seaweed may not be safe especially for infants, small children the elderly and persons with gastric conditions. 

Please read this new post and download the full article from the Chicago Tribune. I have corrected the Cream download below. 

While having lunch with some very intelligent professional women the other day, they were astounded that dairy cream had additives. They had never read the label before, bet they do now. See why you will want to do the same. 

Download Cream.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

 

Fake vs. REAL Foods

 What are fake foods and should we avoid them?

Read this and decide for yourself . . .

Download Fake vs Real Food.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Deodorant

Get out your magnifying glass and read the label. 

Here is why and what to do about those awful yellow stains on your good clothing. 

Download Deodorant.pages

Cookies

What are you really getting in those 2 cookies you just pulled from the package?

This page will teach you how to measure and evaluate what you are paying for. 

Download Chip Ahoy Cookies.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Baked Chips

Truth in Labeling is awesome, you can find out all kinds of things you want to know. 

Download Baked Chips.pages

From your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Apple Juice

 

Juice -- Is yours safe?

Download Apple Juice.pages

 

Compliments from your friend in the kitchen, Judy

Processed Foods & Alzheimers

There is now scientific evidence that smoked meats, deli meats, processed cheese (not natural cheese), white flour, pasta, white rice, beer and other processed foods are directly related to Alzheimer's. It is not just genetic as once believed -- it is a direct result of what we EAT. 

See for yourself what the primary ingredient is. More evidence that we must read the labels on everything we put in our bodies; it can affect our brains -- especially children. Read page 3 of this report:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/alzheimers-diabetes-brain

Good food, good people, good health, good nutrition is indeed a blessing.

Are YOU allergic to shellfish? Well maybe not . . .

My lips would swell up to three times their normal size within minutes of eating any shellfish. And my eyes would itch like crazy -- wouldn't you say I was truly allergic to shellfish? So, I missed not eating sweet shrimp, lobster, scallops etc. for years. Until I met a female fishmonger who set me straight. 

Download Dry Packed Shellfish & Pot Roast.pages

See you get a bonus with Pot Roast too! 

Compliments from your friend in the kitchen, Judy