It’s been widely reported that allergies are on the rise and even my own daughter seems to have an abundance of food sensitivities. To address them, we began to consider some alternative ways of eating and thus have read Sher and Doherty’s book, You Won’t Believe It’s Vegan! With over 200 recipes in this book, variety abounds with everything from warm gooey cinnamon buns and tofu scramble for breakfast to baked samosas for dinner and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. Additionally, you’ll find tips for converting your favorite recipes to vegan dishes, a chapter devoted to kid-friendly foods, essentials for basic kitchen equipment, a list of pantry items and their definitions (what’s Umeboshi paste again?) and conversion ideas such as using soy milk mixed with lemon juice in place of buttermilk. If you ever thought eating a vegan diet would be dull and uninteresting or just too hard, this is the book that will change your mind!
Find It Here: You Won’t Believe it’s Vegan!
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By Kris, July 19, 2008
Filed under: Eat, Read, Resources, Vegan
It seems as if every time I read the news, there is some new report about BPA in our plastics, oxybenzone in sunscreens and a whole bucketful of various chemicals in our mattresses, not to mention the beauty industry’s slack guidelines concerning what they put in personal care products and cosmetics. I’m fed up with all of it but I’m not ready to give up taking care of myself just yet, especially when I can make my own personal care products. Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles contains over 175 different homemade herbal formulas for glowing skin and a vibrant self. In fact, there’s a recipe for just about everything you could ever need: natural bug repellent, facial steams (yes, you need facial steams), makeup remover, body butters (great for stretchmark prevention!) In addition to the recipes, the book gives primers on essential oils and how to use them; harvesting herbs; basic information on hair and skin and nail care as well as a basic ingredient dictionary. In fact, it’s very likely you’ll already have most of the ingredients right in your cupboard. And no, you don’t have to use your chocolate stash unless you really, really want to — we know some things are sacred.
A natural and non-toxic dishwashing liquid that actually works on grease, Dishmate by Earth Friendly Products contains no dyes, no artificial scents, no petroleum-based chemicals and it biodegrades quickly and completely so it’s as easy on the environment as it is on your hands. Just a small squirt of this highly concentrated dishwashing liquid is all you need to wash your dishes and, as a total bonus…it can be used to gently clean hand-washable clothes, too. Earth Friendly Products is a family-owned company that sources it’s ingredients locally, does not test on animals and won the 2003 Socially Responsible Business Award for their ethical business practices. Can the multinational conglomerates that make those heavily perfumed and synthetically colored dishwashing soaps make such a claim? We’re thinking not. 
Is great taste really possible with wheat and gluten-free products? It is when Pamela’s Products makes them. From their organic cookie line, the peanut butter chocolate chip and double chocolate chip cookies absolutely melt in your mouth. I don’t know how they do it but their cookies are truly divine. For those sensitive to gluten, Pamela’s gluten-free cookies and mixes and myriad other products are produced on 100% dedicated gluten-free machinery. Pamela’s Products can be found throughout North America in natural food and traditional grocery stores, and are available through mail order and internet sales.
Making your own non-toxic play dough is a super fun rainy day activity you can do with your kids: