Elisa-Safe, Food, Gluten Factor, Gluten Free

Elisa-Safe Hummus

I created this recipe as a hummus substitute for Elisa. She is allergic to chickpeas and garlic ( along with many other things). Gluten Free Print Recipe Elisa-Safe Hummus Course Appetizer Cuisine Mediterranean Prep Time 10 Minutes Cook Time 15 Minutes Servings People Ingredients Simmer 1 can Cannellini Beans1/2 tsp Fennel Seed1 tsp Celery Salt1 … Read more Elisa-Safe Hummus

Family Members With Paws

Homemade Dog Ear Cleaner

August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 by ROTM-Admin

ROTM Editor’s Note: As animal lovers, with multiple dogs in our families, we found this article to be informative & helpful. We are spreading the love & sharing it with you!

Thanks Joan Clark for your article !

A dog’s ear is very tender, especially when infected. It makes sense to know how to examine your dog’s ears, what to look for, and how to prevent infections. This article teaches you how to spot problems before they become serious and how to make a homemade dog ear cleaner.

When in doubt or if an infection is present, a visit to the veterinarian is in order. We’re going to tell you how to clean your dog’s ears and give you the best dog ear cleaning recipes so that you can take care of your dog’s ears properly.

We’ll show you how to make ear drops for dogs to take care of minor issues and tell you how to know when professional help is needed.

Food

Using Ketchup to Shine Silver

November 26, 2020January 28, 2020 by ROTM-Admin

The Experiment

For this post to really make sense, you should probably read Cleaning With Condiments first. Anyway, I had just published the article to the site and I had a few minutes, so I decided to test ketchup’s ability to shine silver. Surely this wouldn’t really work, I told myself. But, what the heck, it’s only a 10 minute test, I’ll give it a shot. I took pictures of each of the steps. See my test results below.

Step 1: Find Something Silver

Ok, so this took a little longer than I expected. I used to have a number of silver utensils, serving pieces, candle holders, tea service, etc. I think I might have tossed most of them. Eventually, I found a cake server that worked. It had some tarnish.

Silver Server With Tarnish — Step 1: Find Something Silver That’s Tarnished

Step 2: Put Ketchup on the Server and Rub It On the Silver

I found some ketchup and squirted it on the silver part of the server. Following that I spent about 5 seconds spreading the ketchup with the tip of my finger.

Spread Ketchup Around — Step 2: I Spread the Ketchup Around With My Finger

Step 3: Set a Timer For 10 Minutes

I set the timer to go off in 10 minutes. Then I paid no attention to the ketchup covered silver server.

Step 4: Polish Off the Ketchup With an Old Soft Cloth

Ok, so I didn’t actually polish the ketchup off with a cloth. I wiped it off with a paper towel. I took my time and wiped it all off. After I wiped off the ketchup, I rinsed the server in warm water and dried it.

Step 4: Clean Silver Server — Step 4: The Polished Silver Server

I have to say I was really surprised. I put no effort into this experiment, yet the tarnish came off!

Well, this was fun. You’ll have to try this yourself…if you can find something silver with tarnish on it.

Food

Cleaning With Condiments, They Aren’t Just For Food Anymore!

January 28, 2020January 14, 2020 by ROTM-Admin

If you want to go green (or save some money) while conducting usual cleaning chores, you might be surprised that some of the cheapest and healthiest alternatives to mainstream cleaning supplies include condiments. I certainly was! Common, everyday items that people usually have lying around in their fridges can help with some of the worst cleaning woes. Sure, the idea of using ketchup, a condiment famous for staining white shirts, for cleaning purposes might seem odd, but every one of these tasty substances has a unique use. Open up the fridge, and for next to nothing, you can tackle some of the worst stains in the house.

Vinegar

Oh, the power of vinegar! If you don’t mind a bit of a harsh smell, vinegar can clean dozens and dozens of items in your house. Some of the most popular items that vinegar cleans are windows, microwaves, showers, and stainless steel appliances. Its close cousin, apple cider vinegar, also serves as a disinfectant and has a more pleasant odor. Most of the best cleaning recipes that include vinegar combine distilled white vinegar with water, oil, or salt.

Lemons

Halve a lemon, dip it in salt, and rub it against any copper, brass, or chrome appliance. It will show off a great shine. Mix lemon juice and baking soda to unclog minor drains. In addition to introducing a better scent, lemon juice can remove ugly stains from plastic containers. Let the containers sit in a mixture of lemon juice and water overnight. Also, lemon juice serves to remove several different types of laundry stains.

Ketchup

Yes, ketchup actually can lift stains rather than cause them. Polish copper with ketchup; its acidity dissolves tarnish and stubborn spots. It can also help you shine silver. Rub the red substance on your silver item, let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, and then polish it off with an old rag.

Rodeo of the Mind Comment: We tested the ketchup suggestion. To see the test results read Using Ketchup to Shine Silver.

Mustard

Mustard powder specifically makes a pretty great deodorizer, so if you plan to re-use old jars for your next Pinterest project, splash warm water and a bit of mustard powder into the jar. The powder can also help you lift grease from really dirty dishes.

Mayonnaise

The eggy white substance is pretty useful for getting unsightly water marks out of wooden furniture. It can also help you wash pine pitch off of your hands and remove adhesives and glue from glass. Note that olive oil is also great for restoring the luster of hard wood. (And it’s also a less-fattening alternative for eating.)

Salt

Salt and salt water have tons of uses and are included in many cleaning recipes. Salt with lemon, salt with vinegar, and salt with oil can tear away many kinds of stains. Here’s another tip: If you have valuable cast-iron cookware, you know that soaps are a no-no, which, in my opinion, can be maddening. Instead, heat oil in the pan, then add coarse salt, creating a paste. Use that paste to scrub unwanted stains away. Also, the best way to clean coffee pots is with a mixture of salt and ice, which you can swirl around inside. Just pour away those awful brown stains.

These cheap and safe cleaning supplies are only an arm’s reach away. Now, there’s no shame in grabbing one or two extra packets of ketchup when you’re out. There are also plenty of other powerful cleaning agents in your kitchen, including baking soda, coffee grounds, and cornstarch that can be used for more safe cleaning alternatives. Give them a try: You might be pleased with the results.

Originally published on February 6, 2015 by Greg Wiszniewski
on the New York City Office Cleaning Blog

Essential Oils

How To Use Essential Oils Throughout The Home

October 28, 2019October 25, 2019 by ROTM-Admin

Guest Author: BusyBee Cleaning Services

Essential oils may be great for aromatherapy, but can they really be used to help clean your home? In fact, lemon, tea tree, rosemary, lavender, and peppermint essential oils are all naturally antibacterial, whereas many more, like orange, pine, and eucalyptus, are often major ingredients in less-natural cleaning products. For me, the initial purchase of a bunch of essential oils was absolutely worth it; only a few drops are ever used at once, and they have plenty of uses around the home. Here are just a few of the ways you can clean and freshen your house with them.

Create Your Own, Cheaper Air Freshener

This is an obvious one, but it’s very useful. Pick your favorite scent and put it in a spray bottle with some distilled water. Spray as necessary. I like to spray a lavender freshener on linens.

Repel Pests

Put a drop of oil on a cotton ball, and scatter a bunch of these around your kitchen. Peppermint oil repels mice and spiders, while lavender, citronella, lemongrass, and rosemary oils repel flying insects.

Freshen Clothes

Either put a nice scent, like lavender oil, on cotton balls and put them in your dresser, or create a sachet out of rice, a few drops of oil, and spare cloth.
You can also put a few drops of your favorite oils onto a damp cloth and throw it in the dryer as an alternative to scented dryer sheets.

Take Deep Breaths

Eucalyptus oil in the shower, in your humidifier, or just in a pan of simmering water on the stove can help you breathe easier.

Kill or Prevent Mold

Mix tea tree oil and water and spray onto the affected area to get rid of mold and mildew. Let it sit and then wipe it away.

Deodorize Trashcans

Mix hot, soapy water with some eucalyptus oil and swirl it in the bottom of your trash can if it needs a freshened smell.

Repel Foot Odors

Use basil or lavender oil in your shoes. I like to put a cotton ball with basil oil on it in my shoe caddy.

Make Your Dishes Sparkle

Put a few drops of lemon oil into your dishwasher before running it.

Create a Dry Wash

If you have non-leather upholstery, you can freshen it with oils combined with baking soda. Dust it on and then vacuum it off. Lemon, peppermint, lavender, and ylang-ylang oils work best.
Combine baking soda with the powerful germicide eucalyptus to destroy dust mites on your mattress or your child’s stuffed animals.

Repel Pet Odors

Mop up strong pet odors with hot water, a cleanser, and either lemongrass or geranium oils.

Keep the Toilet Fresh

Add drops of tea tree oil to your toilet tank so every time someone flushes, it fills the bathroom with a nice scent. It also cleans the inside of the toilet.

Get Gum Off

Lemon and orange oils can get rid of many different sticky materials. (Launder immediately after using it on clothing to avoid stains.)

Clean Wooden Cutting Boards

Use the powerful thyme essential oil to destroy germs.

And there are plenty more ideas out there! I have to admit that whenever I see a new cleaning tip that includes essential oils, I get a little excited. They can make your house smell great in no time!Source: Busybee Cleaning Services

Autoimmune Disease, Gluten Factor

Does it Hurt to Eat? Feel Like You Swallowed a Basketball?

July 26, 2019July 26, 2019 by ROTM-Admin

It Hurt To Eat – the Short Version of the Story

I Ioved food, but it hurt to eat. Nearly every time I ate, I experienced pain. Rarely did I escape the dreaded abdominal basketball feeling. I would get a few bites into whatever I was eating and feel like I had swallowed a basketball.

“All people must feel the same way when eating,” I thought. Due to my assumption, I never told anyone how I felt.

Because these issues plagued me my entire life, it never occurred to me to say anything to anyone. I learned to hide my discomfort (sometimes outright agony) and developed a high pain tolerance.

When very young, I was diagnosed with Hyperactivity Disorder, which today is better known as ADHD. I had, and continue to deal with, learning disabilities, dyslexia and a number of other problems. My mom excused me and my abnormal behavior by declaring that I was ‘creative’ and ‘artistic,’ as though that meant I was exempt from socially acceptable behavior.

Most of the time I suffered these things with almost no guidance or support. Learning disabilities weren’t really understood at that time and I didn’t talk about that basketball in my stomach. No one was connecting the dots between diet, the brain and behavior. And it still hurt to eat.

The Problem: Eating Still Hurt and Was Getting More Difficult

Over the years eating became more difficult. I knew there had to be something wrong. I no longer was able to hide the pain. As always, it hurt to eat. A new experience of Bloating-while-eating became a nightmare. The problem was getting worse, rather than better. There were times that I couldn’t even walk after eating just a small part of a meal.

I became prone to frequent meltdowns and emotional outbursts (Gluten Meltdowns are Not a Myth). I felt bad most of the time. Everyone around me thought that I was just horribly dramatic and hard to get along with. I couldn’t control it. I couldn’t explain it. There seemed to be nothing I could do to end the insanity. It appeared to me that the melt downs were connected to absolutely nothing.

Food had to be the problem. I tried vegan and them vegetarian diets. Ultimately neither of these did the trick. A rash appeared and spread over much of my body. I didn’t connect the rash with my other problems. The doctor put me on steroids to deal with the rash.

The Solution: Celiac Disease?

Finally desperate, I found a nutritionist. I explained to her that I thought that meat was causing most of the problems. Although, even on a vegetarian diet I was experiencing pain during and after eating. The nutritionist gave the the news: “It’s not the meat – it’s the wheat.”

She put me on a gluten free diet. The first gluten free meal I ate will forever be embedded in my memory. I began eating. I ate to the point where I automatically expected the pain to begin. There was none. It was amazing.

Here’s where you’d think I’d say something about living happily ever after. That was my thought. That’s not what happened. Unfortunately, by the time I found out what my problem was, I was 49 years old. The digestive difficulties over all those years caused permanent damage.

My journey was just beginning and was going to be rough. After finding out about the gluten connection, I’ve been through cancer, developed additional food intolerances, and have a chronic autoimmune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis.

It’s all about inflammation. Anyone experiencing symptoms similar to mine should speak up. Don’t tough it out. It will cause more inflammation. Inflammation causes damage and diseases.

Here are some of the most common symptoms:

Diarrhea and/or constipation (sometimes alternating)
Bloating
Abdominal pain
Fatigue
Headaches (including migraines)
Skin conditions (including the so-called “gluten rash” dermatitis herpetiformis)

These symptoms are taken from the article, An Overview of Celiac Disease on VeryWellHealth.com.

I recommend reading this article. Awareness of Celiac Disease is crucial. The information in the article may save you, your child, your friend or maybe a relative a lot of pain.

Note: This article also appears on SelfHealthSolutions.com

Essential Oils

Essential Oil Bruise Blend Roll-On

July 26, 2019May 9, 2018 by ROTM-Admin

Sunday Afternoon Concocting Session

A good friend & I spent about 6.5 hours on Sunday blending essential oils, mixing up foaming soap, hair treatment, shower gel, moisturizing body butter & a number of specific essential oil roll-on blends. I had so much fun!!

One of the blends is a bruise blend I really like. I have found that using this blend on bruises (even on some of my really painful bruises) reduced the pain significantly in about 10 minutes. In my experience, I noticed that the black and blue of the bruise lightened up and swelling went down.

There are 4 essential oils in this blend. A snap shot of each oil is listed below:

Helichrysum – Helichrysum italicum

Country of origin: North Africa

Extraction Method: Steam Distilled

Plant Parts Used: Flowers

Botanical Family: Asteraceae (Compositae)

Aroma: Deep, Herbaceous, Warm

Note: Middle-Base

Precautions: 1) Can be irritating if used in excess or not diluted properly. 2) If pregnant, check with your doctor prior to use.

Blue Tansy – Tanacetum annuum

Country of origin: Morocco

Extraction Method: Steam Distilled

Plant Parts Used: Aerial parts of the flowering plants

Botanical Family: Asteraceae (Compositae)

Aroma: Warm, Sweet, Soft, Herbaceous

Note: Middle

Precautions: Avoid with epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease

Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia

Country of origin: France

Extraction Method: Steam Distilled

Plant Parts Used: Flowers

Botanical Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Aroma: Floral, Fresh, Herbaceous, Sweet

Note: Middle

Precautions: 1) Don’t use if you have low blood pressure. 2) Moderate and low dilution is okay for kids. 3) Use only with doctor’s OK when pregnant.

Frankincense – Boswellia carterii

Country of origin: Egypt, Somalia

Extraction Method: Steam Distilled

Plant Parts Used: Gum Resin

Botanical Family: Burseraceae

Aroma: Balsamic, Earthy, Resinous, Warm

Note: Base

Precautions: 1) Can cause skin irritation. Skin test on a small area. Dilute with carrier oil if needed.

I thought I’d share the bruise blend with you.

Disclaimer:

Statements concerning essential oils contained in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article and the products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

This article is a conversation concerning essential oils, diet options= and the author’s personal experiences.

Follow the general safety guidelines and discuss essential oil treatments with your healthcare provider prior to treating a specific disease or ailment.

Gluten Factor

Gluten Meltdowns – Not a Myth

July 26, 2019May 5, 2018 by ROTM-Admin

No One Wants to Have a Meltdown

I’m sure of this. I never wanted to. Things were just so bad that I couldn’t help but be very upset.

Other people said:

“Aren’t you being a little dramatic?”

“Do you have to be so difficult?”

“You don’t have anything to be so upset about.”

“What’s your problem anyway?”

I’ve heard all those words and much more. I couldn’t explain how awful I felt. I tried, but I guess I wasn’t convincing. Maybe other people were much tougher than I was and they could handle bad things better.

It was neither. It was gluten.

Gluten Hurts!

Today, I think there are those that still don’t believe that gluten can be responsible for such drastic emotional dives. Trust me, it can. Gluten causes me to feel bad in many ways. For instance it causes:

– Abdominal pain that is excruciating.

– Extreme bloating that can happen within just a minute after consuming food containing gluten.

– Skin rashes.

– Anxiety.

– Stress over how to handle all of this when in public.

These are just a few of the obvious problems that we deal with when we are not safely gluten free. There are so many more that can and do occur. I didn’t know that all the pain I went through when eating a meal was due to gluten. I never knew it could be different. Sushi became my favorite food because it never caused me pain or bloating.

I’m going to take a moment and list my unique characteristics. They are:

– ADHD

– Learning Disabilities

– Dyslexia

– Gluten intolerant

– Too many digestive issues to mention

– 5 years ago I developed an autoimmune disease. I am prone to uveitis, rashes that look like I was burned with a blow torch, mouth sores and blisters, chronic fatigue and a bunch of random weird things that happen frequently.

It’s been interesting to say the least. I live my life in a constant battle against inflammation in all it’s forms.

One of the less obvious challenges are the gluten induced meltdowns.

Almost no one stops to consider that a meltdown occurred due to a gluten allergy or intolerance. The common reaction is that the person experiencing the meltdown is acting out and needs to stop it. Now!

This attitude actually makes the meltdown worse. Before I was diagnosed and went gluten free, I felt like I must be the most criticized person on earth. I felt really bad about being me. I became a self proclaimed ‘Difficult Person.’ I warned people about me. I felt really bad about doing that, but what was I to do? What if I had a meltdown? At least they were warned.

Honestly, living like that really sucked. I may have gotten the habit of warning people from my mom. She was forever letting other’s know that I could be a problem. That sucked too. There’s nothing like having your mom tell your soon-to-be husband that you need a lot of attention because you are so difficult. UGH!

The excerpt below is taken from an excellent article entitled ‘Why Gluten Is Bad: The Plain English Answer‘ by Helen Sanders

Gluten is Often Linked With Brain Function and Disorders
The inflammation that gluten causes can also have negative effects on your brain. Many neurological conditions have been traced back to gluten consumption. Scientists have studied the link between mental health and the consumption of wheat for over 50 years.

This is a short excerpt and I highly recommend that you read the entire article on healthambition.com.

In a way it’s a relief to know that I’m wasn’t choosing to have meltdowns, contrary to popular opinion. Life is hard and no one wants to be known as the problem person.

Identifying a Gluten Allergy or Intolerance

It is likely that having an undiagnosed gluten intolerance for so many years actually caused my autoimmune disease. That is another story that I wish I didn’t know. If I could have known what was wrong early in my life, so many things would have been different…in a really good way.

There are a number of symptoms that can be used to identify a gluten issue. The one I experience immediately is bloating and stomach pain. I’m not talking about a little bloating and a slight stomach ache. These are extreme. Because I never knew anything different, I didn’t complain. I endured.

If you have a child that seems to be out of control, undisciplined and a major drama queen/king, take a closer look. Behavior may be a symptom of a gluten problem. It’s really worth the time and effort to investigate. Try a gluten free diet for 30 days. Heck that 30 day experiment could change your child’s entire life!

Essential Oils, Health Issues

DIY A Roll-On Migraine Blend

July 26, 2019April 10, 2018 by ROTM-Admin

Do you get migraines? I’ve got a blend for you!

I gave my migraine blend so some people who suffer from migraines to the point where they are unable to function. They all said that about 1 minute after they rolled the blend on the back of the neck, forehead & behind the ears. I was ecstatic!

This is an easy blend, requiring only 4 essential oils, fractionated coconut oil and a roller ball bottle.

Migraine Roll-On Blend

Add the following essential oils to a 10 ml roller ball bottle.

20 drops Basil essential oil.

22 drops Copaiba essential oil

25 drops Lavender essential oil

20 drops Peppermint essential oil

Fill the remaining space in the bottle with fractionated coconut oil.

Roll the bottle to blend the oils.

Apply to forehead, back of the neck & behind the ears as often as needed to take the edge off of a migraine.

Shop for essential oils HERE.

Disclaimer:

This article is a conversation concerning essential oils, diet options= and the author’s personal experiences.

Follow the general safety guidelines and discuss essential oil treatments with your healthcare provider prior to treating a specific disease or ailment.

Essential Oils, Food

Essential Oils as Spices

July 26, 2019February 20, 2018 by ROTM-Admin

Easily Use Essential Oils as Spices

Here are a few recipes

Tip: 1 drop (or less) of essential oil = 2 tsp dried herbs

Italian Seasoning Blend

Ingredients:

Basil Essential Oil

Marjoram Essential Oil

Oregano Essential Oil

Rosemary Essential Oil

Thyme Essential Oil

2 TB Garlic Powder or 1 Garlic Clove (use amount to taste)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients into 2 large cans of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes or whatever you use as your marinara base.

Herbs De Provence Blend

Ingredients:

Thyme Essential Oil

Marjoram Essential Oil

Rosemary Essential Oil

Fennel Essential Oil

2 Tsp Dried Orange Zest

Directions:

Add to soups, on chicken or on roasted veggies.

Herb Oil Dip

Ingredients:

1 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper

1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper

Oregano Essential Oi

Rosemary Essential Oil

1 Tsp Granulated Garlic

1 Tsp Minced Garlic

1 Tsp Kosher Salt

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions:

Combine all
ingredients except olive, on a deep plate or bowl.
Pour olive oil over mixture.