The Unassuming Foodie May 14, 2008

Foodie (fū‘dē): A person who has an ardent or refined interest in food; a gourmet: “in the culinary fast lane, where surprises are expected and foodies beg to be thrilled” (Boston Globe).

At the risk of getting ahead of myself, I’m very excited to share my new blog with you. It is called The Unassuming Foodie.  You may have noticed that I love to talk about food–eating it, sharing it, and ensuring my family enjoys nutritious, creative and wholesome meals every day. I’ve certainly noticed that my recipes are the pages my readers flock to first. So, it’s a win-win. I call it “unassuming” because the blog is devoid of snobbery or pretension, maintaining only a passion for real, good food.

Yes, there are plenty of recipe-centric blogs out there, and God bless them, every one. The Unassuming Foodie is a place to satisfy those of us who are truly interested in food–not just the tasting and consuming, but delighting in how different kinds of food and spices can heal, provide specific nutrients, and how they grow or earned a peculiar name. Each recipe finishes with an intriguing Food Fact, or check out Food Fact Round-up, an alphabetized collection of every Food Fact written.

I’m hand-selecting gorgeous recipes that are quirky and unexpected, yet elegant and tasteful and suitable for a variety of diets. The blog is configured with links to recipes for Soups, Salads, Main Courses and Desserts, of course, but those recipes are also cross-referenced by special diet, including Raw, Vegan, Low-Glycemic, Gluten-Free and Kid-Friendly. For readers in limited markets, I’m compiling a store of hard-to-find nutritious food items, for your convenience.

My vision is to add a segment entitled, “My Family Recipe”, and include your favorite recipe, along with your supplied photo of your family, or of the dish (for those who are shy). It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a tried-and-true dish that your family loves to eat. Your contributions are most appreciated, and so are your suggestions! Please have a look and share your thoughts. Bon appetit!

I’m Not Afraid of Fearless Chocolate May 14, 2008

Want to put a smile on my face? Hand me a dark-chocolate bar I’ve never tried before. Better yet, a quirky raw, organic bar like this 72% Midnight from Fearless Chocolate. That’s just what my husband did when he returned from a business trip to Vegas, where he enjoyed lunch at GoRaw Cafe, purveyor of Fearless Chocolate.

Company owner Jordan Schuster founded Fearless Chocolate only a few years ago, in San Francisco–a neighbor to our beloved Scharffen Berger and the popular Ghirardelli. What makes Fearless Chocolate different is that it is made with raw cacao—aka unroasted. The package states that the cacao is prepared at a low heat (under 118 degrees), “preserving the natural nutrients, enzymes, amino acids and antioxidents.” It is also sweetened with rapadura, essentially pure dried sugarcane juice, a traditional sweetener common in Latin American countries such as Brazil and Venezuela (where it is known as papelón) and the Caribbean.

What’s odder (and irresistibly charming) is that the packaging (and website) appear as nothing fancier than chalkboard drawings, underscoring the bar’s back-to-basics organic nature.

When I opened it, I noticed the bar is die-cut to suggest a bite has taken from it. The idea behind this is explained as follows: ”this bite is given to folks who need to eat chocolate as much as you.” When I checked the website, it would seem that no giving has been done to date, although the company requests recipient nominations. Hmm, maybe locate pre-menstrual tension sufferers who would/could never pay $5.98 for a single chocolate bar? (Yes, you read that correctly. SIX bucks!) Or maybe package up those little bites for wee trick-or-treaters on a raw diet, who are never able to enjoy even a fraction of their loot?

But what does it taste like? It tastes like raw cacao, folks, and that’s a big compliment. My bar had no signs of bloom. It did not snap as sharply as a fine, roasted counterpart might, however. Its scent is earthy and nutty, and I could detect its included cinnamon, sea salt and vanilla. The texture is very grainy, from start to finish; This is to be expected, considering its production process.

Only a few squares in, and I am delighted by its wholesomeness and balanced composition. I am a person who keeps a bag of raw, organic cacao powder in the fridge, stirring it into plain yogurt with agave nectar at alarmingly frequent rates, so perhaps I am biased.  My overall impression is that is a wonderfully delicious and nutritious treat. Surprisingly low in calories and sugar content, I daresay it’s pretty low-glycemic, although bars sweetened with agave are available by special order. Fearless Chocolate also offers the following varieties: Nice Rice Milk, Mynt, and Baanaanaa Waalnut, but for some mysterious reason, you can’t order from the Fearless website! And, it’s worthwhile to note that the company blog is powered by WordPress.

Getting Summer Started with Your Kids May 14, 2008

Even though my children are only 3 years and 1 year, summer’s approach immediately triggers in my mind the childhood idyllic fantasy of *summer vacation* (the asterisks are meant to imply starry-eyed wistfulness. Yeah, bear with me.) While enjoying a day at the beach with my dear, very pregnant friend Vicki and her 2-year-old, Kailin, we decided the kids were old enough for a backyard campout. We must be some kind of child-entertainment geniuses, because I just received an email from party-planner-extraordinaire Lisa Kothari, (author of Dear Peppers and Pollywogs… What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids’ Parties) assuring me that such an event will “turn a hum-drum night into a night of spectacular fun.” OK, I’m sold!  

According to her book, she recommends:
Let the kids sleep outdoors in a tent overnight. Play flashlight tag, get a telescope and gaze at the stars, make tie-dyed t-shirts, or blow bubbles and shine your flashlights on them.
Do we still get points if our husbands do the actual outdoor sleeping alongside our little ones? The woman is due in July, after all. She can’t be expected to fit in a sleeping bag, much less have to traipse inside 8 times a night to pee. 

I like this next tip from Kothari; My kid gets to play with dirt, and I get homegrown strawberries in a few months. Win-win.
Have fun with strawberries. Buy mini strawberry seeds and little terracotta pots. Have the kids decorate the pots and then plant the seeds. For a strawberry relay race, put strawberries on spoons and have the kids race up and down a relay path. For drinks,
freeze strawberries in the ice cubes.

You can find more in her new book or online at www.pepperspollywogs.com

Product Review - Single Origin Chocolate May 9, 2008

Mother’s Day “week”, the last few days before mommy’s most hallowed day, are typically a time of fret and worry for me.

I have always yearned to have children, but as life unfolded they didn’t arrive until my mid-thirties. (At just the right time, with the perfect partner for me, as it turns out.) And so their mere existence should be gift enough, right? But like the little girl who always dreamed of a Barbie-esque white fluffy wedding only to grow up to become Bridezilla, Mother’s Day brings out some emotionally-charged, well, expectations, that I try ever so hard to quash. My husband is a giver by nature, my kids are beyond fantastic, requisite brunch reservations are arranged, so I should need nothing more than a handmade card. Which, by the way, I know I’m getting because I already saw what little Joseph made in nursery school and it’s nothing short of perfection!

Nonetheless, my husband Joseph has made a kind offering to soothe and appease, in the form of two single-origin dark chocolate bars. One is Santander’s 70% cacao Colombian, and the other is Chuao’s 74%, made in Todasana, Venezuela. Interestingly, they both have natural vanilla added; I wonder if that has anything to do with being single-origin. Perhaps, without a blend of crops, a flavor boost was needed.

The Santander 70% Colombian smells mellow and rich, and has nice snap. It was fresh-looking in the package, without bloom. The company promises a “robust” flavor, even suggesting it will be “bitter” at first, and it’s true, my first impression was that it seemed nutty and even masculine, like tobacco or strong coffee, but without being overly bold. Overall, this is an energetic bar, and remains rich at the finish. The Santander company proudly states on its website that they pay fair prices and cash payments to growers, maintain good working conditions for personnel, promote sustainable and friendly agricultural practices, and sponsor Colombian educational programs.

The Chuao 74% smells sweet and fruity, and is configured in smaller squares, which I prefer. It has a good snap. My bar had only the slightest bloom, which of course does not affect flavor. If I am allowed to consider the Santander masculine, this most certainly is it’s female counterpart, evoking a lazy, breezy, tropical afternoon. Although this dark chocolate has 4% more cacao than the Santander and only 1% more sugar, the finish seemed much sweeter.
In many ways, the Chuao is “local” to me. The company was founded by two Venezuelan brothers who opened their first chocolate boutique in San Diego (where I lived for 8 years), naming it Chuao Chocolatier after the well-known cacao-producing region of Chuao located in central Venezuela. 

Can’t Get Enough Raw Chocolate Brownies May 2, 2008

For website dedicated to motherhood and health, she sure does talk a lot about eating chocolate… Huh, what? You would too, when you’ve reached the point when you can no longer count the number of days since your last real shower (the kind that allows you enough time to shave your legs and maybe even exfoliate, just a little?) Or when “going out dancing” means a Disney Sing-Along Songs CD piped into the backyard? Oh wait, maybe you know all too well and that’s why you’re here.

This raw brownie recipe is sticky and fudgey and oh-so-yummy—and kid-friendly, of course! To be honest, I haven’t shared even a square of my latest batch with my boys. They get to eat all sorts of things that mommy can’t have without losing her waistline in the process—namely gluten. This lovely little recipe is gloriously low-glycemic, made with only “good” fats, and is gluten-free, flourless and vegan. And so easy!

Get out your food processor, and toss in
1 cup pitted prunes
1 cup almonds
1/3 cup cocoa powder
Special note: Good food requires good ingredients. I love this item, perfect for both the raw purist and chocolate connoisseur. Or, treat yourself to some Scharffen Berger cocoa powder. Green and Black’s makes a nice organic one. (The extra cost for your luxury cocoa splurge is justified by your savings in flour, eggs, butter and milk!)
1/2 avocado
1/3 cup agave nectar (or to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash salt
cinnamon to taste

Grind all ingredients, then pat firmly into an 8×8 pan and place in the freezer to set (1 hour.) If you like a fruit and nut chocolate bar, this will certainly satisfy.

Food Fact! Almonds reduce your risk for heart attack and heart disease. A Loma Linda School of Public Health study showed those who consumed nuts five times a week had a 50% reduction in risk of heart attack. Further, some varieties contain rhizveritrol (the anti-inflammatory agent found in red wines and thought to be responsible decreasing instances of heart disease even among those with diets rich in animal fats—sometimes referred to as the French Paradox.) The fat in nuts is unsaturated, “good” fat and there is no cholesterol in these fats.

Food Fact! Diabetes and Hypertension suffers rejoice! Cocoa is rich in flavanols, which are one class of polyphenols; The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that eating dark chocolate (with 70% or greater cocoa offers 500mg polyphenols)

is associated with improved insulin resistance and sensitivity and decreased systolic blood pressure, whereas white chocolate (offering 0mg polyphenols) has no effect.

Managing Your Child’s Hay Fever - Naturally May 1, 2008

So your child doesn’t have a fever, and the closest she’s come to hay was at a petting zoo last Fall, but thanks to the Springtime return of the misnomer, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), she’s sneezing, and itching her runny nose and puffy eyes. 

Hay fever allergens are airborne substances (such as pollen, dust, animal hairs, and environmental pollutants) that enter the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs. To protect us from the perceived allergen, our immune system reacts—the body releases large numbers of antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) to resist it. This IgE then releases certain chemicals like histamine, to flush the pollen out of the airways, causing swelling and irritation in the eyes and nose. While hay fever and Spring seem to go hand-in-hand, commonly affecting kids and teens, allergic rhinitis can occur throughout the year in the under-five set.
Here are the recognizable symptoms:

• Runny nose, nasal congestion
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Itchy, watery eyes, nose or throat
• Coughing
• Postnasal drip
• Fatigue
• Facial pressure or pain

Let’s take a look at natural remedies for managing Hay Fever:

Vitamin C helps reduce the release of excess histamine and supports the immune system. In a study by scientists at the Arizona State University, researchers found that histamine levels had dropped by 40% when they administered increasing amounts of vitamin C from 500-2000mg over 6 weeks.  Participants were adults. For children, increase intake to at least 500-1000mg per day. (Gummy-bear vitamin C is rarely turned down.)

Bioflavonoids are what give fruits and vegetables their rich colors. They are synergistic with vitamin C, which means if you use the two together, you will get even more benefit. Experts agree that the best bioflavonoid for hay fever is quercetin, a natural antihistamine. Quercetin reduces inflammation of the nasal passages, the bronchial airways, and throat. It is found naturally in apples (with the skin on), berries, red grapes and red onion, but to be certain your child is getting an adequate amount, try a tincture that can be added to a vitamin C-fortified juice.

Try toasting your good health at a tea party with your child. Naturopaths recommend a daily teaspoon of freshly-produced, unfiltered honey dissolved in warm water to help keep hay fever symptoms at bay. Naturopaths say this works like a vaccine, delivering a tiny dose of local pollen, which is usually the main trigger for an attack. This tiny daily dose then helps the body build resistance so that when hay fever season arrives and pollen is everywhere, the body is already protected. (Clinical studies have not provided any evidence for this belief. Nor are there studies to prove that squeezing a honey-bear makes a kid feel better, but I’m willing to state that it should.) Also, try lemonade-as-medicine: serve honey and boiled grapefruit and lemon three times a day for your vit-y C and pollen vaccine in one re-hydrating cup. Offer it cold over ice.
(Remember, babies under age 1 should not ingest honey.)

Hay Fever and Heredity

Do you have a family history of allergic reactions or related conditions such as asthma and eczema? If this is the case, you need to focus on stabilizing the immune system. You can begin by avoiding flour, sugar, salt and dairy products for one week to see if these allergy-aggravators are linked to your child’s condition. Be sure to offer plenty of filtered water, and serve good-quality protein. 

Two cautionary notes: 1). One of the most effective natural remedies for hay fever is Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), a plant-tasting nettle tea. Stinging nettle is a “hotbed of herbal pharmacological activity,” according to whatreallyworks.co.uk, containing both vitamins C and K, immune-boosting proteins, and an anti-inflammatory agent to counter the action of the body’s histamine discharge. While there is plenty of research to support this claim, I did find instances where it was not recommended for children under ten. Similarly, some research states that pregnant women should not take it, while others said the opposite. 2.) The herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is being studied as a natural allergy treatment because it is thought to work in a similar way to allergy medications by blocking the action of histamine and leukotrienes, inflammatory chemicals involved in allergic reactions. It should be noted that children and pregnant women are advised to avoid butterbur. Furthermore, butterbur is in the ragweed plant family, so people who are allergic to ragweed, marigold, daisy, or chrysanthemum should not use butterbur.

For a lively and informative read on one hay-fever-sufferer’s trials with prescription meds and triumphs with homeopathic and other natural remedies, check out Colette Cope’s Natural Remedies to Fight Hay Fever here.

Product Reviews: Natural Household Cleansers April 27, 2008

A simple change in cleaning product is a painless way to help the environment while safe-guarding your family’s health; Across the board, prices compare to leading brands. Best of all, your home will be clean and smell wonderful.

Here is a short-list of popular natural cleaning brands, including company info and consumer reviews. If your favorite is missing, please comment with your suggestions. If you would like to share your experiences (positive or negative) with a brand mentioned here, please leave a comment (including specific product type—window cleaner, all-purpose spray, detergent, etc.) and I will be happy to include it.

Method
This company boasts a wide range of hard-working products, each with a spa-inspired scent, including cucumber, lavender, grapefruit, green tea, magnolia and almond. Co-founded by Adam Lowry, a chemical engineer from Stanford and environmental scientist, Method products are biodegradable, made from recyclable packaging and are not tested on animals. The cleaners are made with naturally derived surfactants (the active cleaning agents in a product) and work by absorbing dirt rather than chemically degrading it.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) named Methodcofounders, Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry as their 2006 “Persons of the Year”. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indoctrinated Method into its Green Power Leadership Club, which recognizes organizations that have made exemplary green energy purchases. Inc. Magazine has added Method to the 25th annual Inc. 500 ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the country.
Even the packaging looks good. Karim Rashid, an artist with over 70 objects in permanent collections in museums around the world, designed the containers for Method’s lost-cost, highly-effective household cleaners.

• Gillian Cantor (mother of a toddler and pregnant with her second,) has never found a Method product she didn’t like. “I especially recommend the almond-scented wood polisher and the cucumber-scented all-purpose cleaner. And you can’t beat the price!”
• Becky Wheelock (mother of three) disagrees; “I used Method, but I didn’t like the smell. It was overpowering and chemically–go figure!”

Ecos Earth Friendly Products

Founded in 1993, Ecos’ Earth Friendly Products offers 60 household products, an industrial/bulk Pro-Line, and a Natural Pet Care line. Earth Friendly Products promises a “power-packed clean” without toxins, petrochemicals, bleach, ammonia, phosphates or other harmful ingredients. The products are plant-based, have pH in the neutral range, are biodegradable and septic safe.
If you demand a clean home, Ecos products may be just the ticket. While not all alternative cleansers are created equal, Earth Friendly Products truly deliver. This family-owned business was awarded the distinguished American Culinary Award, The Gold Performance Medal by Quality Institute International (QII) for its distinctive citrus-based cleaners and the 2002 Readers’ Choice Award given by Natural Home Magazine for the best natural household cleaning products. Ecos also received the 2003 Socially Responsible Business Award for its efforts to manufacture only in the U.S., source ingredients locally, control product quality, contain product costs and provide jobs locally.

• Canuck “Simplesprouts” uses Ecos’ liquid laundry detergent and “I really love it.” She found it at Costco in Canada. “It was about the same price as Tide.”

Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds 
An Escondido, Calif. company in business over 50 years, Dr. Emanuel Bronner created his liquid and bar soaps organically with essential oils. A third-generation master soap-maker from Heilbron, Germany, Bronner was heir to the family’s soap factory and business, but rebelled and came to the U.S. in the late 1920s.
Initially a consultant to various soap companies, when many chose to convert to synthetic surfactant formulations, he struck out on his own in the late 40s. His simple, natural and 100% environment-friendly castile soaps reflected his ecological consciousness, resonating with the counter-culture of the 1960s and 70s, and he became an icon of the time.
The company’s only household cleanser—Sal Suds—is one extremely multi-purpose product. Sal Suds is a balanced formulation, certified organic, never tested on animals, biodegrades rapidly and is packaged with 100% post-consumer recycled material. It is probably the most cost-effective choice available, as it is highly concentrated and works on virtually every surface in every room of the house, including dishes, floors, laundry and even heavy-duty grease-cutting jobs. One product, many uses; the convenience and cost-effectiveness alone make it worth a try.
Made from plant-based surfactants with natural spruce and fir-needle oils, Sal Suds is a powerful cleaning solution, yet is mild and gentle on the skin and is equally effective in hard or soft water, rinsing freely, hot or cold. Sal Suds is not soap-based and is formulated especially for all-purpose hard-surface cleaning.
Among the company’s several social initiatives, Dr. Bronner has donated over 1,200 acres of land to the San Diego County Boys and Girls Club.

• Becky Wheelock gets her youngest involved in the housework; “August always helps me scrub the shower and generally clean the bathroom. I switched to Dr. Bronner’s because it’s a multifunction cleaner that smells great and is truly all natural, so it’s great for big jobs, including the wood floors. Since the kids play on the floor, no Pine Sol for us!”

Seventh Generation 
Seventh Generation offers a large and diverse range of household products, including Free and Clear allergen-free products and baby, pet and paper products. Against animal testing, Seventh Generation designed its line of cleansers based on a commitment to both the environment and the necessity to protect ourselves from cancer-causing toxins. Seventh Generation’s vegetable-based cleaners are made from a renewable resources and therefore save petroleum, do not contain fluorescent chemicals or phosphates which don’t readily biodegrade and are often toxic to aquatic life. They are also are chlorine-free. Chlorine bleach creates dangerous toxins such as dioxin, furans and other organochlorines. Countless studies show a direct link between dioxin exposure and cancer, birth defects and developmental and reproductive disorders.
While I applaud this company’s initiatives, I have yet to find a specific product in their line that works as well as others mentioned here. I especially caution you against the dishwasher detergent if you want to avoid spotty dishes.

• Megan Lopez also uses the liquid dish detergent, and agreed that the dishwasher detergent did not clean as thoroughly as hoped. “My 12-year-old daughter Jordana has allergies and eczema, so we depend on Seventh Generation’s Free & Clear line, especially the laundry detergent and all-purpose cleaner.”

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day aroma-therapeutic household cleansers offer a breath of fresh air. Or rather, a breath of your choice of lavender, lemon verbena or geranium. The scents are so appealing, I actually feel pretty while I’m cleaning, an unexpected reaction to a cleanser. The geranium scent is very rose-y to my nose, and it evokes images of vacationing in some lovely cottage in the south of France while I’m wiping down the bathroom sink—not too shabby “aroma-therapy.”
Attractive packaging and luscious scents highlight these hard-working, biodegradable cleaning supplies free of solvents, phosphates, ammonia, chlorine and artificial colors. In addition, most Clean Day products have a near neutral pH, making them safe for skin contact. Made with essential oils, Mrs. Meyer never tests on animals.
Yes, there really is a Mrs. Meyer. The company is run by Thelma Meyer’s daughter, one of nine children. After 40 years of keeping house, she believes her mom knows a thing or two about cleaning.
(Please note that even natural, essential oils may cause an allergic reaction to people who are sensitive to these substances. However, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products contain no peanut ingredients, are not exposed to peanuts in the manufacturing process and are also gluten-free and do not contain any wheat, or wheat-derived ingredients.)

Ecover
Ecover offers household and laundry products including dish and dishwasher detergent, multi-surface and toilet cleaners, and a full range of laundry products. Over and over, I hear that is impossible to find a dishwasher detergent that is comparable to, say, Cascade. Well, Ecover is the answer to that conundrum. Both the powder and tablets are unsurpassed. The box holding the product is made of 95% recycled cardboard and the little plastic wrappers are made from Polypropylene and are 100% recyclable.
This international company was founded in 1980 in Belgium. Acting in the spirit of the externally audited ISO 14001standard, Ecover has extended its environmental policy to all departments of the company, from production to marketing, resulting in the world’s first ecological factory, which has a green roof extending over more than 6000m². Perhaps the most prestigious recognition was being named to the Global 500 Roll of Honour of the United Nations Environment Program.

If your favorite that is missing, please comment with your suggestions. If you would like to share your experiences (positive or negative) with a brand mentioned here, please leave a comment (including specific product type—window cleaner, all-purpose spray, detergent, etc.) and I will be happy to include it.

Appreciating Dark Chocolate April 23, 2008

Planning a Chocolate Tasting Party? Or maybe, like me, your passion for good chocolate borders on religious fervor. (TGiC? Or how about, WWCD?) This info is complete and perhaps overly-detailed; as a busy mom of two boys aged one and three, it is difficult to find a moment without background noise (particularly of the “crying baby” variety.) Does it stop me from enjoying my choccy? Hardly. I also like the notes about allowing the piece to slowly melt in your mouth. It’s so Paul McKenna, but also may be eye-opening. Just how fast do we eat our food, especially when it’s a treat? Or when chasing babies? Ok, Dig in!

1. Find a location free from background noise, such as television, music, a crying baby, road traffic noise or just talkative friends etc. Being able to concentrate as intently as possible will facilitate flavor detection.
2. Clear your palate. This means that your mouth should not contain residual flavors from a previous meal. Eat a wedge of apple if necessary. This is crucial in order to taste the subtleties of chocolate’s complex flavor.
3. Make sure that the piece of chocolate is large enough to accommodate full evolution of the flavor profile. A piece too small may not allow you to detect every subtle nuance as the chocolate slowly melts. The important thing to remember is that flavor notes gradually evolve and unfold on the tongue rather than open up in one large package. So remember, don’t think small here. 10g should be a minimum starting point.
4. Allow the chocolate to rest at room temperature before tasting. Cold temperatures will hinder your ability to detect the flavors. Some even advise that you rub the chocolate briefly between your fingers to coax the flavor. This procedure is optional.
5. Look at the chocolate. The surface should be free of blemishes such as white marks (called bloom). Observe the color and manufacturer’s job at molding and tempering. Does the chocolate appear to have been crafted carefully? The bar should have a radiant sheen. Chocolate comes in a multifarious brown rainbow with various tints, such as pinks, purples, reds, and oranges. What do you see?
6. Break the piece in half. It should resonate with a resounding “SNAP!” and exhibit a fine gradient along the broken edge. This is quality stuff!
7. Smell the chocolate, especially at the break point. The aroma is an important component of flavor. Inhaling will prime the tongue for the incoming chocolate. It also gives you a chance to pick up the various nuances of the aroma.
8. Place the chocolate on the tongue and allow it to arrive at body temperature. Let it melt. Chew it only to break it into small enough pieces that it begins to melt on its own. After all, we’re tasting and not eating! This step is crucial, for it allows the cocoa butter to distribute evenly in the mouth, which mutes any astringencies or bitterness in the chocolate.
9. Observe the taste and texture. As the chocolate melts, concentrate on the flavors that are enveloping your tongue. Melting will release more volatile compounds for you to smell. Close your eyes, take notes, enjoy this moment of bliss, and bask in contentment. Texture can be the most obvious clue about the quality of a chocolate. Low quality chocolates will have a grainy almost cement-like texture.
10. Now the chocolate is nearing its finish. How has the flavor evolved? Is the chocolate bitter? Heavy? Light? Was the texture smooth or grainy? Do any changes in texture and flavor occur? Take note of how the chocolate leaves the palate. Is there a strong reminder lingering in your mouth, or does it quickly vanish? Note any metallic or unpleasant flavors in the finish. This is a sign of stale or lower quality chocolate.
11. Repeat the process with a different chocolate. The comparison will highlight the subtle flavor notes in each chocolate. By sure to cleanse your palate thoroughly before tasting each different chocolate.

Notes on bloom:

• The formation of whitish spots, or bloom, on chocolate is due to a separation of some of the fat in the chocolate. While it affects the aesthetics of the chocolate somewhat, it isn’t harmful to eat or use chocolate that has bloomed. Bloom is related to heat and humidity, so store chocolate in a cool, dry place free of odors.

The above is adapted from WikiHow.com’s article, “How to Taste Dark Chocolate.”

Visit my page Chocolate Resources and Info! for a list of dark chocolate tasting recommendations. For more info and recipes on appreciating dark chocolate, please click on the Chocolate  or Food & Recipes category of this blog.

 

Clorox Green Works to Boost Company Image and Sales? April 22, 2008

Early, early in the morning, my husband wakes to watch Squawk on the Street, a program dedicated to the ups and downs of the New York Stock Exchange. If our baby has roused me at some particularly drowsy hour, I’ll pad quietly downstairs for a cup of half-caf and watch with him. When Chairman and CEO Don Knauss rang the Opening Bell with Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope this morning in honor of “Green Week,” I sat up and took notice.

Let me say first and foremost, I am an alternative cleanser zealot. Whenever I see a Clorox commercial for Formula 409 or those new disinfecting wipes, it stirs up my inner activist. Images of smiling moms wiping down toys and high-chairs with non-biodegradable cloths infused with a variety of carcinogens widely known to cause cancer and/or respiratory problems as a narrator suggests that to be a good mother, you must buy this product. What “good mother” do you know that would expose her child (and herself, her husband and pets) to toxic substances? Repeatedly? This is called chronic exposure. While our first concern is typically to eliminate germs and bacteria within the home for the health of our family, as my friend Becky Wheelock, a mother of three, points out: “our bodies are accustomed to almost all of the bacteria we come into contact with everyday. These harsh chemicals people buy at their closest grocer and slather their homes (and bodies!) with are really toxic. But since they ‘kill germs’, we believe our homes and children can be safe.” While it’s certainly true that the human body is accustomed to most common home bacteria, our bodies are not equipped to fight cancer-causing toxins. Consider the following:

• The EPA recommends “choosing less hazardous products that have positive environmental attributes (e.g., biodegradability, low toxicity and low volatile organic compound (VOC) content) and taking steps to reduce exposure can minimize harmful impacts to building occupants, improve indoor air quality, and reduce water and ambient air pollution.”
• The Cancer Prevention Coalition has named commonly used household products such as Professional Windex Concentrate Glass Cleaner ( S.C. Johnson Wax) and Ajax Oxygen Bleach Cleanser (Colgate-Palmolive Company) as cancer-causing products. According to an Australian study, exposure at a young age to certain chemicals in household cleaning products may increase the risk of developing asthma.
• The International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that 80% of all cancer is attributable to environmental influences. These include lifestyle influences such as smoking, as well as exposure to carcinogenic chemicals found in everyday household cleaners.
• In a 15-year study in Oregon , women who didn’t work outside the home were determined to have a 54% higher death-rate from cancer as opposed to those who did. The study suggested that chronic exposure to cleaning products played a role. While most household cleansers have relatively small amounts of toxic ingredients, repeated exposure to these small amounts over several years of cleaning, scrubbing, dusting and polishing can accumulate to produce cancerous tumors, aggravate asthma symptoms and may prove dangerous to pets and small children who spend greater amounts of time in the home.
• According to the National Institutes of Health, many common household disinfectants contain phenols-caustic and dangerous compounds that have been shown to cause damage to respiratory and circulatory systems. The EPA lists disinfectants that contain phenols as “corrosive and toxic.” (Phenols are found in household detergents such as Lysol, Pine-Sol, Spic-n-Span, Baking Powder, Mouthwash and Sugar substitutes.)

While sales have been down for Clorox (CLX), the Fall 2007 acquisition of Burt’s Bees followed shortly thereafter by the introduction of Green Works keep the company’s fingers crossed; Clorox will post their earnings on May 1. But what about Green Works? (which include a general purpose cleaner, window cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, dilutable cleaner and bathroom cleaner.) Is this the beginning of nationwide awareness of healthy house-cleaning? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

1.) Pro: Clorox has both the advertising dollar and nationwide market penetration to educate the public on alternatives to carcinogenic cleaning products, and offer product in markets without access to the smaller brands that suffer from limited distribution. The non-profit Sierra Club has given Green Works its stamp of approval; Carl Pope commented, ”"We hope we are transforming the marketplace by doing this.”
2.) Con: None of us want to live with mold and muck (or Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and E.coli or viruses that cause colds and flu: Rhinovirus and Influenza A2), but Green Works isn’t a disinfectant, so it won’t get rid of those. To be a disinfectant, a product must be capable of removing 100% of bacteria, viruses and fungi, and this product isn’t quite there.
3.) Pro/Con: Price. Clorox Chairman and CEO Don Knauss said this morning that while Green Works doesn’t cost more to manufacture, it will be priced at a premium—a pro if your intention is to purchase the stock. However, considering that dozens of 100% natural cleaning brands are available (in limited markets) at the same cost as Formula 409, for many consumers, this is a con. 
4.) Pro: Clorox claims that each one of the five cleaners is at least 99% natural. However, Collin Dunn at TreeHugger.com notes, ”natural” is “the ubiquitous, unregulated ‘n’ word.”
5.) Con: The other 1%, however, is not “natural”. That 1% allows for ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate and lauramine oxide to be present as well, according to Courtney Curtis: Your Guide to Green Living.  jstevens.wordpress.com is also troubled by Clorox’s use of the unregulated word “natural,” commenting: “even if it was clearly defined, not everything that is natural is safe. Arsenic, lead, and mercury occur naturally. According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, [Clorox's] 1% of unnatural ingredients are derived from petrochemicals. Namely, the preservative Kathon, and the Milliken Liquitint Blue HP dye and Bright Yellow dye X. The dyes give several of the products a light green color. Not exactly necessary, in my opinion.”
6.) Con: Just how bad is that 1%? Clorox claims that the preservative, Kathon, will biodegrade within 28 days. According to the MSDS for Kathon, the substance by itself carries the following risks: “irritating to skin, risk of serious damage to eyes, may cause sensitization by skin contact, harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.” Not exactly green.

I’ve purchased and used dozens of alternative cleansers over the years, and as a result have a small collection of tried-and-true products with plant-derived surfactents that really work and are safe for my family and cat. (And when my children get old enough to begin helping more around the house, I won’t think twice about handing over a sponge and bucket!) Click here for reviews of my favorites.

Happy Birthday, Baby! April 17, 2008

I can hardly believe my baby is now one year old! Has it really been 12 months since I gave birth to him right here at home in a birthing tub? I just received an email from WaterbirthInternational.org, reminding us waterbirthers to spread the good word, so here is mine: I used a birthing tub and midwives for my sons’ births; The first time, my labor was only 3.5 hours, and the second was 2 hours. If that isn’t reason enough for you pregnant mommies to look into it, I don’t know what will convince you! It was a beautiful, life-changing experience both times, and the best part is that both mommy and baby are able to meet without having to detox off the drugs first. We are both high on endorphins, mind you, but we are present and alert and able to fall immediately in love.

Noah is a champ! He is trying very hard to repeat everything he hears. He even took a stab at “birthday” this morning. The only words he’s truly nailed so far are mama, dada, baby, cat, hi, and bye. He also likes to roar like a lion, bark like and dog, and is determined to snort like a pig, so far without much success. For nursing, he says, “bu-ahhhh!” and taps me on the chest. (Yes, I’m still nursing. He loves it, my milk is still coming in plentifully, and I’m not the least inconvenienced.) Although, I do have to start thinking about when we might start to wean.

Noah has had eight teeth since about 10 months, and can sit in a high-chair eating finger-foods. He can also drink from a cup. Unlike his older brother Joseph, Noah is a big meat-eater. He likes his veggies, legumes and whole grains, but he has no interest in fruit whatsoever, not even bananas. (Special note: At Christmas when we were in Canada, he loved the strained blueberries and pears we bought there.) With the exception of yogurt, Noah refuses all things sweet, so it should be interesting when we serve him his first birthday cake today. (Hmm, more for me?)

My husband loves Noah’s obsession with blowing raspberries. We have video of him doing it on my shoulder (laughing each time), but he will also do it to my tummy until I’m covered in baby slobber. Ah, to be mommy.

Noah absolutely loves dropping Joseph off at nursery school. He gets so excited just walking through the door. He also loves to rough-play with his big brother, bull-dozing over him in fits of laughter.

Music is his favorite. He will step right up to the organ or piano and begin tapping out sounds and rocking his little booty. He lights up whenever I sing to him (so his taste in music needs some refining!) and he loves to dance and clap and wave his hands. When Dora The Explorer sings the, “We did it! Lo hicimos!” song, I’ve noticed that he dances the twist, just like she does; (from a seated position, that is. He hasn’t begun walking yet, although he will stand and clap blocks together for a few seconds.)

From the night of his birth when I swept him up out of the water and he put his hands on my chest and pushed himself right up to look directly in my eyes, he has been so connected, so content with his world, and so ready to smile. He truly is a gift and we’re so happy to say, “Happy Birthday, Noah!”