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© Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved
The information on these pages is copyrighted by the author with all rights reserved. Reproduction of anything other than actual URL addresses without the author's permission is in violation of copyright laws.
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This site is for information on recipe ideas, food allergies, music, videos, herbs, gardening and other household tips. I hope to add more material on these subjects in the future. At one time, I had a long list of interesting sites on these topics. However, they quickly became hard to maintain. Instead of a list of useful links that quickly becomes out-dated, the homeaide mailing list has been created. You'll find up-to-date links, tips and tricks posted as members run across them. You can also search the archives for specific subjects.
Homeaide is a mailing list for sharing recipes, tips on herb and vegetable gardening, frugal living, household hints and arts and crafts ideas.
If you're interested in a music mailing list, see the link to pdsongs in the Recipes for Music on your PC article below.
If you're interested in a video or authoring multimedia for web sites, you're welcome to discuss it on my XHTMLDesign mailing list. I've added an article on video below too.
Looking for books with hard to find recipes for people with allergies and other special dietary needs? The recipe books recommendations page has some suggestions.
The situation with labeling of regular and genetically modified ingredients in foods appears to be getting worse and worse every year. More and more of the foods we eat have been genetically modified and odds are you don't even know about it. Now we also have to contend with cloned foods too. The studies I've read about cloning technologically have indicated cloning produces siblings (twins) of the original which are physically inferior to the original, more prone to disease and tend to die earlier. The FDA has ruled genetically engineered and cloned foods as safe even though there has been no long term studies on the effects of eating them. We, the public has no way of knowing if what we are consuming because companies are not required to label them. Even simple ingredients that are not genetically engineered but to which some people may be violently allergic to do not have to be labeled in foods as long as the amount is under a under a certain quantity. The way things stand, we (especially those of use with food allergies) have no way of knowing if a food is safe for us to consume simply from the label. That doesn't even take into account the tricks companies use to give misleading information on labels so that you'll buy their products.
If you would like to help keep the food supply safe for everyone, please let your government representatives know that you want more accurate food labels that include all ingredients in a product including genetically engineered and cloned ones. Without this essential labeling, it can be impossible for people with food allergies to avoid foods that are dangerous or even deadly to them. Please help by writing your government officials often and reminding them how serious this matter is. After all, everyone needs to eat. It would be reassuring for those with food allergies or other food related illnesses to know that they can safely eat the food products they purchase.
You can also sign the petition at Institute for Responsible Technology.
For those with allergies to corn, I highly recommend reading Donnie's list of foods from her corn mailing list. People with corn alleriges can check what foods have hidden corn ingredients and share what foods they've found safe to eat.
For the latest information on corn allergies, check out these mailing lists and bulletin boards:
It has recently been brought to my attention that there may be a correspondence between nasal sprays with cortisoids prescribed by many allergy doctors and the disease osteoporosis. If you are using or have been using these sprays, it may be prudent to keep an eye on your bone density levels. While osteoporosis is often assumed to be a disease that is contracted in old age, this is actually not the case. People of all ages have osteoporosis and the numbers of those afflicted is growing rapidly. If you are at risk for osteoporosis or are concerned, keep in mind, there are other, safer alternatives to these nasal medications and that you can find other allergy treatment options. There have also been links found between high dosages of vitamin A and osteoporosis. Medications such as accutane can be the source of high dosages of vitamin A in the body.
As we pollute our environment, food and water more and more, allergies and chemical sensitivities are becoming more prevalent. One of the bad things is that many doctors do not bother to take allergies (or as many in the medical profession prefer to call it, intolerances) into account. Symptoms of allergic reactions can vary widely ranging from stomach discomfort, skin breakouts, sneezing or coughing even to depression or attention deficit or other symptoms usually considered mental disorders. If you're not feeling well and your doctors don't know what's wrong, find out more about it. It very well may be part or even all of your problem. Diet can also have profound affects on aggravating or curing some types of cancer, diverticulitus and celiac.
Have been noticing a lot of questions about purchasing Kosher for Passover foods to avoid grains on many of the food allergy mailing lists and forums. This is to clear up some of those questions. Ashkenazic Jews (those of European descent) have dietary restrictions during Passover. These restrictions include no leavened wheat (actually no leavened wheat, barley, oat, spelt, rye). Unleavened is allowed. They also include no products containing kitniot. I have contacted several authorities and have yet to find an exact definition of all foods considered kitniot. However, products such as corn, soy, rice and legumes are almost always considered a part of this group. Kitniot is basically small seeds (which is one English translation) or alternative grains and other ingredients that can be used in place of wheat as flour. If you are buying Kosher for Passover products to avoid ingredients like corn or soy, be sure that the product is certified by an Ashkenazic Orthodox group. Reformed groups are not as strict and may allow corn or other kitniot ingredients in certified products. Also, if an ingredient is sufficiently transformed from its original state, it's often considered Kosher or okay (even if it's not safe for those allergic to it). For instance, peanuts are considered kitniot, but smooth peanut butter or peanut oil may not be. If you're not sure about a product, check with the authority that certified the product or the product's manufacturer. Many now have web sites online.
For those who are trying to avoid milk products, look for Kosher products marked pareve. Orthodox Jews follow dietary laws all year round that restrict the interaction of meat and dairy products. Pareve products should be safe (Kosher) with both meat and dairy meals and should contain no dairy products. Again, be sure to check the labels and/or double-check with the manufacturer, especially if you have severe allergies. I've heard that cloned meats may not be considered Kosher. Since this is a new development, the rules are still changing. We'll have to see how this plays out.
There are some more natural ways to treat allergy problems. I wouldn't call them remedies or cures, but then I haven't seen anything the medical profession has to offer that will cure my allergies either. The following natural techniques help keep my allergy under control or help to improve things when my allergies get out of hand. Sometimes a scent or smell will set my allergy off and I'll get very sick. Allergy or dust masks can help with this. Also, when I'm having an attack wearing an allergy or dust mask, sometimes even overnight, can help with breathing. I'm not sure if it's due to filtering out more allergic matter or if the increase in carbon dioxide (like when you're hyperventilating and breath into a bag) helps, but something about this works for me. I also find running air purifiers with hepa filters helps me quite a bit. I have a portable unit I take on trips and I use units at home and at work as well. Instead of using a prescription or standard over the counter nasal spray, I find a nasal spray of saline (with no preservatives) such as Simply Saline really helps. I carry the spray with me when I'm out. Some people have recipes for making you're own saline spray. I've recently started using a neti pot to clear out my nasal passages in the morning. It works even better than the saline spray, but isn't as portable. There are recipes for a neti pot to create your own salt and baking soda solution (which mimics a natural pH balance) or you can even use plain water with no additives.
Interested in herbs or herb gardening? Have a look at my haunting article on garlic. For herb enthusiasts, it provides information on growing your own garlic plus craft ideas and lore.
Interested in creating or playing music? Want to sing along with your computer? Check out Recipes for Music on your PC.
My latest interest has been converting homemade movies on video tape (such as family weddings, our choir, etc.) to DVD-R. I don't have a mailing list specifically for this topic, but I'd enjoy comparing notes with others and discussing the use of Open Source software and freeware to do so. Feel free to join my XHTMLDesign or Homeaide mailing lists or e-mail me directly if you'd like to discuss this topic further. Also, check out the article on Recipes for Video on your PC.
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