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Cast Iron Cookware
Healthier House Paint
Halloween Face Paint
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Cast Iron Cookware
 
cast iron cookwareFor top-notch cooking without the worry generated by non-stick cookware, I turn to cast iron. Here's why:
 
What I Like:
 
* You get "non stick" without the nonsense of PFOA, the nasty chemical that makes Teflon easy to clean but also health threatening.

*Once cast iron is seasoned (a simple process), it cooks beautifully. I make lots of sticky stuff in my pans, like omelets, sautes, and stir fry. I use just a little bit of oil to lubricate the surface, then gradually heat the pan. It cooks like a dream.

*The pan can be cleaned with hot water and a scrub brush only. No soap, please - these pans need to remain "seasoned" to work properly, so you never want to  remove all the oil that bakes into their surface.

*Finally, cast iron really holds the heat. If I'm cooking a soup or stew, I can turn the heat completely off ten minutes early and the heat in the pot will keep the ingredients bubbling along. That also makes it a great serving dish. You won't have to worry about food cooling down once it's put on the table if you serve it in a cast iron pot.
 
If you don't like the black hue of cast iron, you can buy more decorative, enamel covered iron ware but be forewarned: it is quite a bit more expensive than conventional cast iron.

The downside? Cast iron is heavy. You'll need two hands and a little bit of muscle to lift a full cast iron pot. I'm no Amazon and I can manage it, so you probably can, too. Also, to avoid rust, dry cast iron with a towel, rather than let it air dry.
 
Product and price comparison:

Lodge is probably the best-known cast iron manufacturer, as well as the cheapest. Several other brands sell enameled cast iron, including Le Creuset, Staub, and Mario Battali Cookware
 
Readers of my blog left some ideas here if you're looking for cast iron bargains. You can leave your comments, there, too.
 
NOTE: Scanpan now produces Green Tek, a PFOA-free cookware line it claims is environmentally friendly. This looks promising, but the manufacturer's claims have no third-party validation, and I haven't tried it myself yet. Stay tuned.

Healthier House Paint
 
 Conventional paint contains many volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that "outgas" and escape into the air after they are applied. Indoors, these VOCs cause headaches, nausea, achey bones, and general discomfort. Outdoors, they contribute to smog and air pollution.

Whether for indoors or out, your best bet is to buy low- or no-VOC paint. You'll find it offered by more than a dozen companies in thousands of colors and in standard eggshell, glossy, and semigloss finishes. You can also select no-VOC water-based stains, finishes, and paint stripper.

For specific recommendations, check out the brands that have been independently certified for health and sustainability by Green Seal or EcoLogo.
 
Halloween Face Paint
 
halloween face paint,Health Canada has found heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium in children's face paints (I know - is nothing safe?). According to the Canadian agency, these metals can be highly toxic to the brain and kidney as well as the nervous, reproductive or immune systems. Although the toxins are prohibited, they find their way into face paints through trace amounts in raw materials. 
 
Acrylic craft paints and watercolor markers or pencils are NOT a better alternative, since they were not designed to be applied to skin. Even if the packaging says "non-toxic," don't use it to decorate your child's cute little nose (or even your own).  
 
ONLY cosmetic-grade face paint should be used. Fortunately, many brands are available. Check out these online options or use organic lipstick, rouge, powder, eyeliner, eye shadow and eyebrow pencil you can buy at your local drugstore or supermarket.
 
No time to shop? Try making your own.
 
BONUS:
  Looking to save some money on the festivities? Don't miss these top ten tips for a green - but cheap - Halloween.
By the way, are you on Facebook, Linkedin, or Twitter? Let's connect! I twitter@ DianeMacEachern and @ biggreenpurse. You can find me here on FacebookLinkedin, and YouTube, too. Where are you?

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Talk to you again soon,
 

Diane MacEachern
Big Green Purse

email: [email protected]
web: http:www.biggreenpurse.com