Tofu Is NOT Just for Vegans (Part 2)

(Took me a minute to get back to this. It's been about 3 weeks since I started thinking of doing these tofu posts. I've had to go in and re-write and clean up some of this. Hope it's not too disjointed. My blog posting is always way out of step with my life. But here ya go.) 

Let me say this right now. I am not making fun of people who choose to go meat-free - for whatever reason.

But.

Not the first time it's been said, I'm sure

I'm not a vegetarian but I love fruits, vegetables, and some "plant-based" foods. I just don't like to exclude foods from my diet unless I just don't like them.

This is so true. 
Meat eaters can be mean too.

To my V brothers and sisters: You don't OWN healthy eating. Let's just all get along because you know what is NOT healthy: animosity.

Anyway. Moving on. 

Nope. I'm not finished with my rant yet.

Here's the thing: I am so tired of my vegetarian and vegan ( I hope they don't mind that I call them "vege-vegans") friends and acquaintances who either try to make me feel bad for eating meat or tend to get passive-aggressively proud of their choices. There are vege-vegans in my family. We don't have problems. When we share meals, there are options for all of us. My vegetarian niece has been amazing. She's giving me tips and pointers and offering to pay for specialties. I've got it though because tofu I can afford!

How can any vege-vegan go around claiming a product as exclusively theirs? God didn't give soybean products to only some of us. If you make a piece of bark taste as good as some beef jerky, I will break your fingers taking some!

You can't win with some folks

When I first began looking into using eating more vegetables and using tofu in place of pork, I did so for health reasons. Period. I mean, I love most animals but I don't worship them.

And, here's the real reason for my diet changes: I'm getting old. I can't lose weight like I used to be able to. And, okay, I also can't afford the meat products I used to buy. I live in the freaking food belt of America and have to make serious life choices before purchasing a pack of bacon. Ridiculous. Also, depending on the fruit or vegetable, the same budget issues come into play.

I started out mainly wanting to look at just experimenting with some alternatives. I knew I needed to cut back on the pork and cow but wanted to keep up on my protein. The first thing I did was to look for recipes and information. When looking for recipes, most times what I found was too much information about why someone can't stand eating meat. Or why they think that eating meat is cruel or terrible or selfish, etc. It was almost enough to make me go back to beef and find some new ways to cook chicken. 

I love to season and grill veggies to eat as a topping for
tofu, shrimp, or rice - or to smother a beef patty with!

Just trying to check out some meatless dishes was frustrating. I was almost craving a pork chop after scrolling through 10 minutes of one person's conversion-to-veganism story while just trying to get to their 4-line recipe. (It wasn't even that great.) I was thinking that I should be so diligent at spreading the Gospel of the Lord!

Anyway.

In spite of the common annoyances, I have compiled quite a few cooking videos and saved some decent-looking recipes that focus on meatless dishes I want to try. But again, I'm doing this for me - not the animals or the peer pressure.

All kidding aside. I respect people for doing what they think is healthiest for their life. If eating meat turns you off, that's fine. Just don't try to make the rest of us feel like it is a heaven or hell issue. Rant over.

Now. This is how I am doing.

To be totally honest, this whole being healthy kick is about to kill me! I am eating better and trying to exercise more. Sometimes that gets me into trouble. 

Here is a true story: The other week when I was being diligent about getting some exercise and was on one of my walks, my brain went on strike. Somehow, I totally lost my bearings and had a full-on anxiety attack trying to remember where I was and how to get back home. I spent maybe a whole 3 minutes fighting back tears and embarrassment before I remembered that I track my walks with a GPS app on my phone. I spent another minute trying to orient myself before I realized I was less than 3 blocks down the street from my building. On the positive side: I probably lost a full pound during my little freak-out. Now I make sure to look carefully around every now and then and take stock of where I am in relation to my home. Thankfully, the diet is going better than the exercise...

***UPDATE*** 

Don't get that tofu press I used. That thing broke about 2 days before the deadline to return it. The seller was adamant that their press doesn't break. Another customer (who had the same problem as I did) answered my question about fixing it. The seller wanted me to go through all kinds of hassle to return it. Amazon simply refunded my money. So do with that info what you will. Personally, I will be replacing this one with another one if I can't fix it.

Prior to my recent birthday, I asked for and got a tofu press. (I also got a non-stick skillet, some earbuds, and one of those weighted blankets that I will talk about in another post. Talk about a wonderful concept!!!) But back to the food thing...

As I mentioned in the previous post, tofu is fairly cheap. I don't know what it costs in different areas around the nation but I can get a 14-ounce pack of firm or extra firm for just under 2 dollars. Maybe that's due to the whole living surrounded by endless fields of soybeans?  and I can make 3 and possibly 4 meals from each pack. That's money, as the kids say. Literally. 

This is the tofu brand I get from Aldi's:

low cal, low sodium & potassium with decent iron content

The Noya tofu press I got made the top of someone's list of presses.

FYI: This press stopped working
after under a month...
no es bueno.

In addition to tofu, the other food I have finally found locally - just down the street in a tiny health food shop - and gave a try is canned and fresh jackfruit. I'm almost certain that coming from a Main Street shop in a tourist town, I won't able to afford it. As a backup, I located a couple of brands of the canned-in-water variety online that won't suffocate the life out of my grocery budget as long as I don't get carried away. That would put the budget on life support. Why the heck is it so expensive to eat healthily? If beef and pork were just a bit less expensive, I wouldn't bother... But I did bother and I will not be using jackfruit on a regular basis.

The little "eyes" put me off some

All prepped it looks a LOT 
like shredded meat

My finished sammich looks EXACTLY like a bbq meat 

Jackfruit makes a great substitute for the pork, chicken (or beef) in a bbq meat sandwich. However, it takes 10 years, 6 months, and forever to prep it. I had to drain it soak it, rinse it, boil it, cool it down, marinate it, and rest it - all that before I even go to the cooking it part.

Seasoned and cooked up in a pan with some sauces, jackfruit was pretty amazing. Again though, too much work for too little reward. Also, as good as it was, I couldn't deal with those gelatinous little pods of what looks like tiny eyes. Ugh! That grossed me out. If I hadn't had to spend all that time soaking, boiling, and resting it after cleaning out those nasty little things, I never would've bothered eating it. Still, like I said, too much work. I got enough usable fruit for maybe 4 sandwiches. I don't know. After I ate the first 2, I threw out the rest because I made the mistake of thinking about those little pod things again... I will just stick with the tofu, thank you very much.

As far as tofu goes, I have found that I don't have to look for a bunch of recipes. I can improvise. The stuff only tastes like whatever you want it to. I call it the chameleon of the dining table. I just add seasonings or sauce and I can pretty much to-faux up any dish. Just wait until I get my hands on some of the silken stuff to make pudding and pies with!

Never fear though. I have not gone completely plant-food crazy. I indulge in the occasional beef burger. It's cheaper to just grab one when I'm out than to bother buying a pack of ground beef since I won't use it up. Mostly though, my current diet consists of anything I can find on sale that doesn't pack on the pounds so fast:

• Shrimp (I got a $13 2-pound pack of jumbo-sized shrimp last week. Just 3 shrimp (shrimps?) cooked with some mixed veggies, onion, garlic, and maybe a little bit of Teriyaki sauce makes a pretty filling meal, believe it or not. I can't believe I was able to have shrimp for 3 meals in a row one week. (Oh, Alaska, how I miss your seafood!)
• Mixed veggies - they go with anything. Tofu, potatoes, rice, or just plain sauteed with some oil and seasonings.
• Collard greens, cabbage, spinach. I love my collards and it gives me a chance to sneak in a piece of smoked neckbone. I can whip up some hot water cornbread and make a mash of it with cabbage or greens and be perfectly happy. I call it "Country Mash".
• Potatoes. A throwback from childhood is to pan-smother some salted-and-peppered thin or thick-sliced potatoes with onions, garlic, and sweet peppers for a cheap, one-dish meal. And I love potatoes even though I can't eat them often. The one thing I don't do like Mama is to fix hoecakes to go with the potatoes. (Hoecake is a throwback dish from slavery. It's a basic flour, water, and salt dough made into patties that would, way back in the day, be placed on a hoe and cooked over an open fire. Mama would fry ours in a cast iron pan lightly coated with oil. We would eat them savory for dinner, with potatoes and gravy, or sweet for breakfast with butter and syrup. It's one of the original "struggle" meals. Talk about mothers "making a dollar out of fifteen cents!)
• Rice is a lazy-day meal. I can fix a pot of rice and eat some of it with salt and pepper and turmeric, some with sweet vanilla soymilk and fresh nutmeg, or some with those mixed veggies. Rice settles my stomach when I am nauseous and soothes me when I need comfort.
• Beans. Pinto beans are my favorite but I also like black, navy, red, chickpeas, and lentils. I like to roast canned chickpeas with some olive oil and a little salt to eat as a snack. It can get a little powdery after several mouthfuls but it's tasty stuff.
• Peanut butter on a thick nutty piece of whole-grain bread. I buy or make bread that is filled with all kinds of grains and nuts. Peanut butter slathered onto a single slice is my favorite snack these days. Also, peanut butter tastes great on bananas. Or just by the spoonful. I recently got some cheap (maybe too cheap?) almond butter and it's not as yummy as peanut butter, in my opinion.
• Grapes and melons are really the only fruit I love to eat by themselves. But I have to catch them on sale or they can be way too pricey.

(I wish I could eat fresh hot cornbread with cold buttermilk the way my dad loved it. I have never had buttermilk except cooked into cakes and bread. I don't think I could take the texture by itself.)

That's pretty much my food intake these days. I don't get bored with what I eat because I like to play with spices. Even though I try hard to be mindful of my sodium intake, there are just some spices, sauces, and seasonings that are must-haves:

• Salt, pepper, and cayenne
• Old Bay
• Turmeric
• Famous Daves Rib Seasoning (and the Chicken Seasoning)
• Cavender's Greek Seasoning (both regular and salt-free)
• Lawry's Seasoning Salt
• Barbeque sauce (I love Carolina style and honey flavored)
• Teriyaki, Soy, Sweet & Sour Asian sauces
• Worcestershire (if you need Grammarly to spell it, you probably shouldn't eat it!)
• Onion, garlic, paprika powders
• Liquid Smoke

I cannot tell you how much I love Liquid Smoke... And a good barbeque sauce. 

And a couple of other things I keep in the fridge that I make for myself: a jar of garlic and onion-infused olive oil. and a jar of garlic-infused water. 

Someone told me a while back about how to keep my cilantro and green onions around longer. The onions are actually growing back so... talk about a money saver. The cilantro is not something I can use a lot of at one time so it's nice that it has been holding up well for a couple of weeks.

With these staples, I can be a very happy and well-fed woman. I don't really miss the pork or the beef. Because I have cut back on these things, I don't buy those lovely Mama Cozzi take-and-bake pizzas on the regular like I used to. I don't like cheese "what-is-the-point" pizzas and for some reason, one of my doctors told me to be careful of eating too much cheese. This is why I don't keep anything but goat cheese around. Goat cheese and honey is amazing and goat cheese also goes really well with grapes and other fruits.

Oh! I almost forgot to talk about beverages. I am still trying to do the 64 ounces of water every day. Coffee is still my best friend but I find myself doing more tea now. I can drink tea sans cream better than I can the coffee. Also, I have a bunch of those flavored teas now: fruits, peppermint, lavender, and mint. I drink quite a bit of chocolate tea and cascara tea is good cold. I don't get as much from sparkling water as I used to. They make me crave something sweeter. 

Anyway. There you have it. I have gone vege-healthy while not going vege-vegan. I feel better most days. I'm not running marathons and I don't feel magically healed but I am less bloated. I do think that I sleep better. Or maybe that's because I'm exhausted from all lack of sugar and caffeine! 

Seriously though. I have nothing but respect for vegetarians who are trying to be healthy. Just please, no lectures about why everyone else in the world needs to follow your lead. 

Peace

--Free

P.S.:

I am serious about trying to do desserts with silken tofu. If and when I do, I will let you know how it went.

Tofu Is NOT Just for Vegans (Part 1)

 Let me start by saying this: I can eat the moo out of some cow and, until a few years ago, believed in the rooter-to-the-tooter method of pork consumption. The reasons I've started eating tofu are:

1.  I got tired of finding ways to cut back on calories,
2. Chicken can be pricey, ground beef gets boring, and pork is just not nice to my body, and
3. I actually like the taste of tofu.
4. And I believe it can actually be a good thing.

Years ago, I tried tofu for the first time. It was slices of well-seasoned, braised tofu that tasted like pork. My best friend's sister brought it home from an Asian take-out for me to try. Talk about delicious. After that, I bought some tofu as a lark. I scrambled it up and my auntie and I ate it with - get this - bacon! Yes, we did. It was our idea of a fun breakfast. And, it wasn't bad. A little spongey but not bad. My aunt who was a true old-fashioned chitlin'-eating, steak-loving, Texan liked that tofu dish so much that she began fixing it on the odd occasion. She liked the way it tasted - soggy-spongey texture and all.

But for me, I was over it.

More recently, but still a long while back, my vegetarian niece turned me on to jackfruit. She had some strips of it done up as barbeque and it was also a delicious thing to try. However, jackfruit was not cheap in Alaska nor is it easy to find where I now live.

found at NoraCooks.Com

At the time that I am writing this, it is my 60th birthday. I feel blessed to be here but I want to make this sarcoidosis mad and live a little longer than it wants me to. I am walking when I can and trying to lose some weight and eat better. That's where the tofu comes in.

I have made tofu burgers and that went much better than I expected. I accidentally did some things right and the tofu patties were nicely seasoned and crispy. When I threw some ketchup, mayo, tomatoes, and onions on the bread, I really didn't taste bland tofu. It was very burger-like.

My method for prepping the tofu - and, trust me, prepping the tofu is the key to it all - was to casually toss the packages of extra firm tofu into the freezer. Not because I knew what I was doing but because I wasn't ready to do anything with it yet. 

That tofu was in the freezer for a few weeks before I got around to using it. I wanted a burger but was out of ground beef. I didn't want to spend money outside of my regularly budgeted grocery plan. But I really, really wanted a burger.

I put the frozen tofu in the fridge to thaw whole I looked up "how to cook tofu". I learned from one site that the best way to prep extra firm tofu is to freeze it once or twice, then thaw and drain it really well.

I didn't want to re-freeze the tofu because I was impatient. So, moving right along. Where freezing tofu was simple, draining it takes time and the patience of Job. 

This is where I learned about something called a "tofu press". 

Oh boy.

I don't have a tofu press and, based on quickie research, I will need to take out a loan for that at a later time. In the meantime, I got a general idea and came up with my own method. I took the container that the tofu came in, cut slits in the hard plastic, and turned it upside down in one of my large faux Tupperware containers that has a lid. I put the tofu on top of the slits, sat the Tupperware lid on top of the tofu, and rested some cans of soup on top of that.

Slowly the water was draining from the block of tofu. I can't believe how much liquid came out of that thing. Finally, when I thought the tofu was drained, I wrapped it in paper towels and did the whole cans-on-top thing again. And again. And one more 'gin, as Katt Williams says. 

The tofu shrunk down to almost half the original thickness. Crazy. And it felt different - very rough and still kind of spongy.

I was able to slice the tofu into patties. Then I marinated those in a mix of low sodium soy, Worcestershire sauce, garlic water, and turmeric.

Then I realized I couldn't find the Panko breadcrumbs I swore I had. I ended up using some Hooter's Wild Wings breading powder that I really don't remember buying but that was in my freezer for safekeeping.

Okay.

I mixed up an egg and some heavy cream to dip the tofu in before coating the slices in the breading powder. That's when I realized that one of the slices still had quite a bit of liquid in it. Oh well.

Using a little oil as possible, I fried the tofu to a deep brown, drained them really well on paper towels over some newspaper. 

Not pretty but pretty tasty

And, ta-da! I had the tastiest non-meat burger ever. I ate two before I realized that I was racking up bread calories. I ate a third tofu patty, no bread, condiments, or veggies needed. The tofu tasted only like what I had used for the marinade.

I have 2 patties left in the fridge and I guess I can heat and eat those another day.

Now that I know how tasty tofu can be, I have collected some video recipes for "tofu chicken pieces", "tofu cheesecake", and "tofu barbeque". Yum.

Here's the best thing: tofu only costs around $1.50 to $2.00 a pack. I can make a lot of cubed barbecue tofu from a single pack. And another good thing is that the extra firm tofu I tried is only 320 calories for the entire package. I made 5 patties so that was 64 calories each. See? The bread really was the calorie culprit! But I didn't have regular buns so I used the better-for-me Health Nut sliced bread. Win-win.

The only thing I don't like about tofu is when I look up recipes and have to get all the commentary about why people are vegetarians. It's as if people sharing these recipes think you have to belong to PETA to like tofu. And I really hate when they vegan-ize an entire recipe. I am ignoring all the dates and carob in the cheesecake recipe I saw. All I need to know is how to make the tofu into a batter. It should do very nicely with the good old graham cracker crust and whipped cream topping I will use!

So, to sum up the changes I've made to my life in the past couple of months:

• Trying to get out and walk in the fresh and mostly-COVID-free air
• Drinking more chocolate and tea in place of coffee with all it's fattening enhancements, and
• Working hard to replace red meat and pork in my diet.

I joked to my best friend that I am going to get a t-shirt for walking that says "Walking it off" because I have been cooking my butt off. The saying should be "cooking your butt ON" because it sure adds pounds.

Who knows if all this will help make me feel better but at least I am putting up a fight.

Next time, I'll address "tofu-vangelism" and vegan vigilantes.

Peace

--Free

A Little Scare & Lifestyle Changes

 Every time I have one of my regular infusions, I have to have a blood draw to test levels of ... whatever in my body. Most times, everything is fine and I sail right from the lab test and into an infusion chair. Every now and then, one of the levels of... whatever is high or low or something, and the nurses will check with my doctor. The doctor will give the go-ahead for my having the infusion. Usually.

The last time I went in for my scheduled infusion, the nurses called the doctor and he did not give the go-ahead. 

What???

Less than 8
bucks for this

The nurse scheduled me for another lab test and an appointment with my doctor for that very next week. I don't do so well when my infusions are not done within every 7 to 8 weeks.

I was a little puzzled but I didn't get too shook up until the nurse mentioned that the problem was with my kidney function.

Oh, please, Lord, not the kidneys.

I went home and stressed myself to prayer, tears, and insomnia. I worried about my weight (I've put on a few pounds lately), and I worried about not drinking quite enough water. I worried about everything. 

I was in a higher than usual state of stress and anxiety all the way up to my appointment with the doctor. I went and had the labs done, then had to wait another hour until time for the appointment with my doctor.

$7.99
on Amazon

When the doctor came in and saw how tense I was, I think he was confused but he's probably used to me being weird. He immediately let me know that my labs looked good and that he would have my infusion re-scheduled quickly. He said that there had been a problem showing up with my liver on the day the nurse had called him from infusion, but it was fine now. He said that I had probably had some kind of viral infection that had cleared itself up in the meantime.

Well. Okay.

Not my kidneys, then. Oh, thank you, Jesus. what a relief. Whew!

Tasty but
so tangy

healthy
but, ugh!

But... my liver? What the heck? That explains why the nurse had casually asked about whether or not I was a drinker. If only she knew the sorrow of having lost an uncle and two exes to alcoholism. I might be many things but a drinker is not one of them...

I was relieved and kind of mad, then just relieved again. But I realize a need to step things up with my health. And, for once, I didn't just think about doing better, I've actually gotten into the game. I am about to turn 60 so if not now, when?

I now have one of those water bottles with the time markings on it. I empty that at minimum twice a day and sometimes more. I started getting out on the days I can and taking short walks - twice a day most days. I have cut back on creamy-sugared coffee I love and am drinking more tea - and not just tea but the healthiest I can find. 

I can always smell leaves
burning when I get to this block 
of homes

 Do I feel better? I don't know. I still struggle with fatigue. Contrary to what I've been told, walking is not helping to alleviate that. I do think that walking helps with my balance. I mean, I don't go walking on days when I feel off-balance, but my good days are better than ever. I've only tripped on the carpet a few times this week and I have not walked into door frames turning the corners. 

This is the shady
stretch & my favorite
part

One of the reasons that walking is such a challenge for me, even when my balance is good, is that I get anxious. I don't like walking through a lot of people or where there is a lot of noise or activity. I don't know why this makes me feel like laying on the ground and curling into a fetal position. It is what it is. Thankfully, I live in such a beautiful little town that there is plenty of space to walk without going near the crowded beach or park.

If I make it to this point,
I'm probably going to finish

I have gotten used to following a couple of different routes that let me get in a good 15- to 20-minute walk. I try to go before it's hot out or when the day has cooled off. Since I am such an insomniac, this works well.

Let's hope this is true!

There are days when I think I am addicted to the morning walk, then there are days when I have to fight my anxiety and depression to get out the door of my apartment.

Hopefully, I can keep this up. Hopefully, it will help with the weight and the moods. I did not walk yesterday. My fatigue kicked in big time. I couldn't sit up without feeling like my body was made of lead. Maybe one day, someone will come up with some cure for fatigue.

I think that maybe we sometimes need a good scare to motivate us. I wish I had had some kind of warning before I got this silly sarcoidosis. For now, though, I want to baby my kidneys. And getting my weight down is a good way to do that. Keep prayers going up for me, people.

Peace

--Free

Tiesta Tea Made Me Giddy (UPDATE 9/24/23)

UPDATE: When I first tried this a couple of years ago (and loved it, as you can see from the original post), I only bought it a couple more times. The Amazon price is ridiculous. Recently, when I started drinking less coffee and more tea, I found the Tiesta Maui Mango at Walmart for a much better price. I like this tea so much that I drink at least one cup each day. I subscribed to the Walmart purchase but I still have to limit myself from finishing off a can of it before the new delivery! My favorite way to drink it is with the Arashan Raw Mountain honey The honey is not so sweet that the takes away from the flavor of the tea. By the way, I did also try a small bag of the Tiesta Citrus Sunburst, and... yuk, it sucks! It's a good thing I only got the small bag because I ended up putting it on our giveaway table, hoping the worst person in the building would grab it. (I pay just a couple dollars less for a 5.5oz jar of the Maui from Walmart than what Amazon charges for the 2.1oz bag of it!)

***************

Ever in pursuit of healthy alternatives to calorie-laden beverages, I ordered some Tiesta Tea the other day. 

By the way, I am in panic mode about my kidneys. My last labs were so bad that I wasn't allowed to have my infusion until after I see my doctor. My stress level is at its highest right now. So, prayers are welcome.)

Anyway.

Before the bad news about my kidneys, I was already looking for something tasty to drink to replace the sugary coffee I love. Well, I like tea and I like fruit, so I splurged and got some Tiesta herbals.

I tried the Maui Mango first because the reviews were raving good.

The other one I have tried is the Chunky Watermelon.

I loved the Maui Mango so much that I got downright poetic in the review, which is all I can say about it here:

I got this smaller amount because I thought, "How good can this tea be for this price?!?!" But... the minute I opened the bag, the lovely smells wafted up and did my soul good. I was worried that it wouldn't taste as good as it smells and I was so wrong. This smells like kisses and a paid vacation and tastes like "I love you".

This is what you hope that a fruity tea will taste like. I think I am ruined for anything else so I will have to buy more. BTW, I am not a huge herbal tea lover. I got this because I did want a watermelon/strawberry tea & saw all the amazing reviews for this one. Now I cannot wait to try the Chunky Watermelon that is on the way.

I really like all the lovely little bits of joy in this. I've saved them and will be blending them into my smoothie later.

I haven't tried it cold yet but I think it will be delicious.

My best friend who LOVES all kinds of tea will be getting some of this as a surprise. She will be ecstatic.

One thing tho: somebody needs to tell this poetic idiot how to get the bag open properly. I ended up just shredding the top and re-sealing it all in a 2nd baggie! Seems like there's a cute method to it, but I couldn't figure it out.

I meant every word. I loved it so much that I hurried to order the Chunky Watermelon. It's good but... nothing like the Maui Mango.

Maui Mango bits & pieces

The Chunky Watermelon is very weak in its aroma. However, I can't complain about the taste because it is good and very true to watermelon. - but to real watermelon and not those artificially-flavored sweets so many of us are used to.  More of the fruity aroma comes out of the Chunky Watermelon tea when it's steeping. The Maui Mango aroma slaps you upside the head the minute you open the packet. In a good way.

Chunky Watermelon
more colorful than shown

I have to admit that I am going to try getting more of the Maui Mango so I can sip on it while I go on a fast from chewing foods. The Watermelon is one that I would buy again but only if they are out of the Maui Mango.

What I really like about this tea is that I don't have to sweeten it when drinking it hot. I do like to add a touch of natural honey to it but I don't have to.

There are samplers and various sizes for most budgets but it is not cheap tea because it is not cheap tea. It's worth every penny and I can't wait to try more.

Peace

--Free

My Hair Loves Henna

 One thing I have to say before I rave about my henna results: I think a lot depends on the brand. I used Rainbow Research.

I decided to try using henna because I read somewhere that it is great for taming hair that is affected by humidity. And, living here in Iowa, I can tell you a little something about humidity. Or I can show you a couple of screenshots from my phone's weather app:

 

Yeah. This is why I save so much money on lotion during the summer... Anyway...

Before I decided to try using henna, I did a lot of internet "research" and I read so many conflicting things. 

• It's great for thin hair, straight hair, type 4C hair (mine), long hair, short hair...
• It will dry out the hair
• It will strengthen the hair
• It will damage the hair
• It will heal the hair

Not to mention that there were so many suggestions for how to use henna:

• Leave in overnight
• Leave it in just a little while
• Let the mixture rest before using
• Use the mixture right away

My brain ached from all the information. In the end, I decided to go all Nike and just do it. This is the brand I went with:

Rainbow Henna from Rainbow Research

I want to tell you how amazingly helpful the people at Rainbow Research are about inquiries. I wrote them more than once with questions. I wanted to clarify how long to leave the henna in; the liquid to powder ratio; and whether or not they are the same as "Rainbow Henna", "iHerb Henna", or under any other name other than Rainbow Research. These people quickly responded with answers every time. 

By the way, the main thing to know is that - no matter how many bloggers and YouTubers say differently - Rainbow Research is the only name this henna is under. The logo is the giveaway. I saw YouTube videos showing the Rainbow Research jar and saying it was iHerb or just "Rainbow". To clarify:

• Rainbow Research henna can be bought at several online places. iHerb.com is one of those places. I got my first jar from PipingRock.com and my second jar from Amazon. I won't tell people to look for "Piping Rock Henna" or "Amazon Henna"...
• Raindance Cosmetics (out of Canada) sells Rainbow Research henna.
• Maybe because of Rainbow in the name on the front (and not Rainbow Research) and being the logo, people shorten the name to "Rainbow henna" and use it generically. All photocopies are not done by Xerox but we use the term Xerox to mean a photocopy. See what I mean.

What you need to know is that, when you are looking for directions or other information for this particular brand, email the people at info@rainbowresearch.com or check their site here.

Because I don't want you to have the same runaround I had, the instructions on the Rainbow Research site and the Canadian Raindance Cosmetics site are the same. While helpful, I found the most helpful set of instructions on the Walmart page for the product. I will copy/paste those at the bottom of this post with the link. Just in case something gets moved around online!

Now about my experience:

• Because I had recently dyed my hair black -very black - and regretted that. I used the Dark Brown/Sable color of henna.
• I washed my hair beforehand with a clarifying shampoo.
• The smell of this reminded me of wet grass and dirt. It's very earthy. 
• It was not nearly as messy as I expected. To keep my floors, counters, and carpeting safe, I took the same precautions as when using regular dye. There were some spots on the backsplash of the kitchen sink that wiped out with some olive oil. I have some kind of plastic-material shower and the residue from rinsing wiped out easily.
• This did not stain my skin. I used the Dark Brown/Sable color. I did use gloves.
• I added olive oil to my henna mix because I wanted to protect against drying.
• I left this on for an hour with a thermal heat cap.
• I did the hot rinse first, then had to do several cold rinses. Every time I thought I was done, I saw or felt more of the gritty henna.
• After rinsing and before conditioning, my hair felt AWFUL! Like straw. Like when I used a coconut oil pre-poo. I was very worried.
• I used Aussie Moist 3-Minute Miracle (and left it on for 5 minutes!)
• That conditioner did the trick. My hair softened up even more than it usually does after deep conditioning. But the strands didn't feel weak or fragile.
• I can't tell you how well it covers grays. My regular dye job colored all of those so black that it's unnatural.

Both are about the same color. The Sable powder is
slightly darker.

Honestly, the minute my hair dried completely, I knew it loved the henna treatment. Normally, my hair needs a lot of baby-ing to get to a soft and manageable state after a wash. There are sprays and creams I've used that help it get there faster, but without that, my hair is generally dry and crunchy. After the henna and before I added any after-care products (except for some light sealing oil while my hair was still damp), my hair was wonderful. 

One thing I had heard is that henna can change your curls - the pattern or definition, etc. This did slightly loosen my curls but that was a good thing for me. I still have good definition and I still get great results from an overnight twist-up.

I guess the main thing I've noticed is how my hair reacts to products. My moisturizers work better and I am not seeing as much hair breakage. I don't plan to do henna as often as some people. I think I will wait a month or a month and a half before doing another treatment. I need this black to fade some!

So, yes, for me, using henna was a great experience. Next time I will be using the "Persian Burgundy Dark Auburn" shade. Hopefully, by then, my hair will be light enough that photos will show some of the results.

Peace

--Free

**The instructions for Rainbow Research Henna as copied from this Walmart product page. I added spaces and bold emphasis for ease of reference.

 Instructions: Store in a cool, dry place. Do not use in the area of the eye or if scalp has open cuts. Not for use on bleaches or white hair.

 A strand test should be done if hair is over 10% grey.

Helpful Accessories: Plastic or glass bowl; Plastic or wooden spoon; Oil, vaseline, or cream; Plastic or rubber gloves; Tint brush or 1-1/2 paint brush; Cotton or tissues; Plastic bag or plastic wrap; Protective cape or old towel.

Preparation: Rainbow Henna may be applied on wet or dry hair, but it is important that the hair be clean. If you wish to shampoo first, towel hair dry. Apply cream, oil, or vaseline around the hairline, ears, and neck to avoid staining your skin.

Directions: Pour 4 oz (1 cup) Rainbow Henna into a glass or plastic bowl. Gradually add 1 cup boiling water. Use a wooden or plastic spoon to mix thoroughly to a creamy consistency. (More liquid can be added if mixture is too thick.)

For Rainbow Neutral Henna, mix 2 oz (1/2 cup) with 1 cup boiling water. Application: Wear plastic or rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands.

 1. Section hair. Sections should be about 1 inch thick.

2. Begin at the scalp and paint on the Henna with a brush from roots to the ends.

 3. Continue until all the hair is thickly coated with the Henna mixture.

4. Place a cotton or tissue band around the hairline. Cover the hair with a plastic bag or plastic wrap. Timing: For best results, use a dryer, heat lamp, or Thermo Heat Cap (see other fine Henna products).

Leave on as follows:

Black, red, sherry, mahogany, burgundy, dark brown, medium brown, and copper - with heat 45 minutes; without heat 60-75 minutes.

Strawberry blonde, blonde, marigold blonde, light brown and neutral - with heat 30 minutes; without heat 45-60 minutes.

When timing is completed, rinse thoroughly with hot water, then rinse with cool water. Follow with henna shampoo. Rinse thoroughly and style.

Special Recipes and Hints -

Coffee: To help tone down red tones, deepen brown-red tones, or cover grey, substitute coffee for water. Use brewed, black coffee (not instant or decaffeinated). After coffee is brewed, bring to a boil. Mix as directed.

Teas: Ceylon or black China tea will add gold highlights to light brown henna. Red zinger tea enriches red tones in burgundy, sherry, mahogany, and red henna. Chamomile tea brightens and adds highlights to neutral, blonde, or marigold blonde henna. Let tea steep for 20-30 minutes. Bring to a boil. Substitute tea for water. Mix as directed.

Apple Cider Vinegar: To help color hold on grey hair, add 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar to Henna mixture.

 Lemon Juice: To lighten blonde shades, add 2 tbsp lemon juice to Henna mixture. To Deepen Red Shades: Red, sherry, mahogany, or burgundy can be deepened by mixing a darker shade. For example, 3 oz (3/4 cup) Mahogany + 1 oz (1/4 cup) Dark Brown = Dark Auburn.

Dry Hair: Add 1 egg, 2-4 tbsp olive oil, or 2-4 tbsp plain yogurt to Henna mixture. These natural ingredients not only condition, but help with the application and rinsing processes.

Questions and Answers:

 Can I Try a Test Strand First? Yes. Mix about 1 tsp Henna with 1 tbsp boiling water. Apply to 1 inch section of hair (enough to wrap around a finger). Wrap in plastic wrap. Leave on for required time (see Timing). Rinse off, shampoo, and dry.

Can Henna Be Used on Grey Hair? If you have over 10% grey, we suggest doing a test strand first. The following formulas work best: Medium Brown Henna + brewed coffee + apple cider vinegar. Dark Brown Henna + brewed coffee + apple cider vinegar. Light Brown Henna + Ceylon or Black China Tea + apple cider vinegar (see Special Recipes and Hints).

 Can I Henna After a Perm? Yes. After perming, wait 2 weeks or 5 shampoos before applying Henna. This will allow the hair to be free of any chemical residue.

Can I Perm After a Henna? Henna coats the hair shaft and, in some cases, prevents the chemicals in the perm lotion from penetrating. Prior to a perm, remove Henna (see following question).

What Is the Best Way To Remove Henna? To help remove Henna from the hair shaft, apply warm mineral oil to the hair. Leave on 20-25 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Shampoo out. This procedure is good prior to using a perm or chemical tint/color.

Is Henna Safe to Use Over a Chemical Tint? Yes. If the hair is in excellent condition, Rainbow Henna can be used over a chemical tint. However, this is not its purpose. Henna should never be used over bleached or white hair.

Can Hair Be Lightened After a Henna? No. The Henna color will remain on the hair even if high lift blonde tints or bleaches are used.

Will Henna Lighten Hair? No. Henna does not contain any lightening chemicals. Blonde Henna brings out yellow and light brown highlights. Marigold Blonde brings out gold and yellow highlights. Both add shine and body to grey hair.

How Often Can I Use Henna? Neutral Henna can be done every 4 weeks. All other shades can be used every 4 to 6 weeks.

 

Kelulut (or Meliponini) Honey From Stingless Bees

In an earlier blog post where I talked in detail about alternatives to Manuka honey, I mentioned Kelulut (or stingless bee) honey. I actually bungled the information. (Go figure!) I made it sound as if Kelulut and Melipnoni were different types of honey. Wrong.

Kelulut honey is from stingless  (or Melipononi) bees. My confusion was honest though. I see Kelulut honey mentioned more often as Meliponini honey than as Kelulut.To get clarification, I actually asked the Amazon seller of the honey I will be reviewing this question:

"I am wondering if this is the same as Kelulut honey? I know Kelulut comes from stingless bees and just wonder if this is named after the bees and Kelulut is the name of the actual honey?"

 This is the response:

"Yes, it is. In Malaysia, we call it kelulut.

In Indonesia, klanceng.

In Philipina, kiwot.

In Mexico, melipona.

In Autralia, honey pot.

The actual honey is stinglees bee honey. Meliponini is the stingless bee 's scientific name." (my underline and spacing)

 What interested me most is that this honey is not as limited by geographical location as is Manuka. The bees are the main thing with Kelulut and not the bush or flower. Manuka honey must come from the Manuka bush.

Anyway, because I talked about it so much in the past weeks and signed up for some newsletters, I was sent a coupon for half off a bottle (a tiny bottle, but, hey) of some stingless bee honey.

Okay, I don't want to sound ungrateful for the coupon but, without it, there is no way I could afford this particular brand. Still, I did try it and I have to say, I am intrigued. So, let's talk about the stingless bee honey - or SBH.

What does it look like?

It's thinner than any other honey I've ever tried. It's thinner than any syrup I've ever tried. I would say that it's like the texture of a regular table syrup that's been warmed.

The color is also darker than most honey. My Manuka honey (UMF 10+) that I've had for a few years has turned dark but this SBH was dark while brand new and fresh.

What does it smell & taste like?

This particular SBH smells exactly like it taste - kind of like a sugary rice wine vinegar. It smells sharp with a slightly sweet scent. And that is exactly what it tastes like: sharp, sweet, tart. Almos like a sour candy if that candy was a syrup. Not medicinal and not unpleasant. Once I tried the first little drop on my tongue, I realized I actually like the taste.

Now I won't be drinking this. And I will never put it into my black tea or coffee. It tastes best by the small teaspoon-full or added to some green tea - or plain water. Personally, I prefer to just toss back the teaspoon and be done with it.

How am I using it?

From looking at some biotech info online, my neighbor Teach figured out that the benefits of SBH depend on the origin of the bee product. The brand I have (Meliponini) is from Indonesia and is mainly antiinflammatory. Along with SBH products from all regions, it's being looked at for antimicrobial, cancer-fighting, anti-oxidant, and other potential benefits. 

I am using it primarily for 2 things: for tooth and gum health and for its benefits to the skin. 

I have been rubbing a bit of the SBH on my gumline after every brushing. I've always used a moisture mist after I clean my face in the morning and before bed. The mist is just a small bottle of my own blend of rosewater, a touch of rosemary oil, and a bit of whatever carrier oils I happen to have. Lately, it's been almond, jojoba and some repair Vita Oil from Making Cosmetics. I added about 6 drops of the SBH to this mix. 

Yeah, I need a new spritz bottle. LOL

In the colder and drier months, I kept that bottle in my purse to take to any appointments or outings. The Iowa sun is mean. The summer months here are very humid but I still spritz my face because I tend to keep the apartment pretty dehumidifier. I don't know what it is about sleeping but my face can feel like a desert if I don't moisturize for the night!

Okay, so I don't know yet if the SBH is doing any good for my teeth and gums. Between age, medicine, and all those years I smoked, I'm lucky I still have teeth so I'm just glad for that.

However, I must say that I love, love, love what the moisturizing boost the SBH gave to my face mist. I mean, my mist is already really good but... the honey helps the moisture last and last.

By the way, I tried using Manuka honey in my mist once but Manuka tends to be really sticky. The SBH - already so thin, remember? - just mixes in well with the oils and liquids. It works so well that I have been spritzing my hair with it every now and then.

Will I buy more?

I am not sure that I would get this particular brand again. For one thing, I want to try something from one of the other origin countries. Teach pointed out that the SBH of Malaysian origin is supposed to be great for anti-anxiety and improving memory. Well, hello.

Another thing that might have me shopping around is the price. This brand is as expensive as Manuka UMF 15+. With my limited budget, I need to make sure I am trying an SBH that better matches my needs.

This bottle is just too tiny...

I am glad they offer
a small size though!

The one good thing about this brand is that it came in small amounts. I didn't have to look at the $40 - $80+ sizes. This 80ml bottle was perfect for a trial run and with the coupon, it wasn't much of a strain on the wallet. Because I am not taking the full suggested daily serving of a full tablespoon (for a total of 5 in this container), this one will last me for a minute. As I said. I am just dabbing some around my teeth and gums and added a few drops to my face mist.

To summarize:

I'm really glad that I was able to try this out. I love it enough that I want more for use on my skin. Depending on how long this 80ml size lasts, it will be well worth laying out a full $17 for it. Unfortunately, I cannot in any way afford to take it daily by the tablespoon.

I do think it's worth my trying another natural remedy that could benefit my health. I'd rather take a mouthful of sweet-and-sour honey than another prescription med.

Next, I plan to try a stingless bee product from one of the other countries and see if there is that big of a difference.

Peace

--Free

I Did It (My Hand-Knitted Blanket)

 Earlier this month, I was wondering if I could actually make one of those big, fat hand-knitted blankets. Turns out I can!

I started working on this back on May 9th when I got the Terra Cotta yarn from Michaels. I had coupons, thank goodness. I still was only able to get 4 skeins of yarn. That's fine because I only wanted something cozy for when I am not feeling well or at the clinic. This is a perfect size. A rough size estimate (because it's not completely even and square!) is 40x45 inches. 

Unlike the lady who did the video I followed, I didn't use Merino wool. I used a chenille-type Polyester.

 It's ropier - not as chunky as it is fluffy - but really soft and will be easier to clean. I wanted comfort and ease over looks this time. The Merino wool might be easier to work with (?) but I wanted something I could drag from bed to couch on sick days and I sure won't be able to toss the Merino in with the washing. (Never mind that I don't think I can afford enough Merino wool!) And this yarn is so incredibly fluffy and soft! While I worked on the blanket, the finished part made a nice cushion as I sat on the floor. As my family tends to sit and lay on the floor when they are over and watching TV with me, I should make some smalls squares just for sitting on!

Anyway.

As you can clearly see, my finished product is not perfect. The spacing is sometimes uneven and the edges are a little loose in spots. I call it "homemade beautiful" and I love it. Its'ssuch an accomplishment for me. 

When I started the blanket, I realized that the hard part is not, for me, the weaving/knitting together the loops. The hard part was remembering what I was doing from moment to moment. I would start a row and forget that I was doing a regular loop (pulling the yarn under and into a loop) and find myself doing a reverse (?) loop - pulling the yarn over and in an existing loop. Sometimes, I'd get frustrated because I would complete a whole row of the correct looping but realize I had dropped some and had huge holes. 

I cannot begin to remember how many times I got 10 or even 20 inches in only to realize I had made several mistakes. I unraveled so many times that a pro could have finished 10 King-sized blankets by the time I finished this one. But I did it. 

I am so incredibly proud of myself.

Next time (you know, when I save up for more yarn and collect more coupons from my craft-queen SIL), I will work harder to keep the stitching even and have more of a square-shaped finished project! 

One thing I loved about working on this blanket was that it helped with my moods. I didn't struggle as much with depression and, surprisingly, my anxiety didn't kick in when I made mistakes. I got incredibly frustrated at times, but I think anyone could feel like that.

So, I was wondering if I could do this and I'm really glad I could. It took me approximately, I'm guessing, 32 or 35 hours (a couple of hours at a time) to finish but... There you go.

I hope that some of you are inspired to make one of these blankets. It would be a great friend and friend, mother-daughter, auntie-niece, or big sister-little sister project. After all, the yarn is the main expense and you can find coupons and sales all over the place. Good luck and enjoy your own project.

To Summarize:

Handknitting is a fun and say project. The polyester chenille blankets make nice gifts. 

Peace

--Free

Speaking of Manuka Honey (There Are Alternatives)

NOTE: Forgive any disjointedness in this post. I had to have help finding and piecing together the information. My brain is worn OUT!

Yes, I did post very recently about the wonders of Manuka honey. It's some amazing stuff. However, I realize I haven't talked as much about alternatives to Manuka. It's not the only honey with superb and varied benefits. When I realized that there were other types of honey that claim to help with various health and beauty goals, I thought I would start looking into some of them. I'll probably have to look into alternatives since Manuka is so far out of my budget.

Medical Grade Honey Is a Thing

To start off, I have to admit that I heard about some alternatives to Manuka a while back. The thing about Manuka is the grading system. The MGO or UMF numbers make it easy to tell what "strength" of Manuka you are getting - or even whether it's authentic. What I did not know about is the term "medical (or medicinal) grade honey". Huh. Who among you did know?

The online Free Dictionary defines "medicinal-grade honey" MGH using Manuka as a standard and actually redirects to "Manuka Honey" for the definition:

Meliponini bee

"A medicinal grade honey applied topically to treat decubitus ulcers or prepare wound beds for skin grafts

Application When compared to standard hydrogel therapy, venous leg ulcers dressed with manuka honey have less slough, better healing and a lower incidence of infection." 

Now, when I try to look around online for more information, I mostly see a lot of scholarly articles that a) I wouldn't understand, and b) I won't pay to read in their entirety. I'm not that nosy.

What I did find when looking for more information on MGH, is that it's also referred to as "Active Leptospermum honey" (ALH). Leptospermum is basically "any of various shrubs or trees of the genus Leptospermum, of the myrtle family, native to Australia and adjacent areas and often cultivated as ornamentals in milder climates." Well, there you go. Leptospermum = Manuka.

So... Manuka is the most referenced of medical-grade honey but it's not the only honey that has medical applications. Right? Right. I think.

Oh boy. Can you see me peeking down this rabbit hole here?

Because I am genuinely interested in being healthier without having to add more artificial concoctions and lab-created prescriptions to my medicine cabinet, I kept going. My brain hurt so bad that at one point, I had to have a neighbor come over and help me. She's a former teacher and loves digging into stuff like this, thank goodness. Also, she never makes me feel self-conscious about my limitations, bless her. She told me that she misses digging into information like this and that it helps "exercise her little gray cells". (Did I mention that we are both fans of Hercule Poirot stories?)

So.

The Healing Part - MGO

Manuka bush

According to what Teach and I read in a couple of places, the healing part of Manuka comes from hydrogen peroxide (that makes sense) and methylglyoxal - or MGO. Scottish Heather Honey has the peroxide but not the MGO. Unlike MGO, the peroxide properties are not as stable against heat, light, and bodily fluids. So Manuka wins the battle there. Remember that Manuka is often labeled by the amount of UMF or MGO present.

MGO is what gives Manuka its particular antibacterial properties. Before that being discovered by some guy (sorry, we took great notes but lost the source page), cocoa and coffee were the only foods shown to have MGO in any significant amounts - and they have nowhere near the amount or level of MGO as in Manuka. 

So...Alternatives to Manuka?

1. Scottish Heather Honey - we see why it's not as powerful as Manuka.

2. Irish Honey - This one seems to be highly antioxidant (because of the "high phenolic content", but I don't see any mention of it having the MGO. Teach did find a source comparing Irish honey to Manuka. This is another source talking up Irish honey.

4.  Meliponini Bee Honey (aka: Stingless Bee Honey) - This is the one I am most excited about because of claims that it can help with eye problems and tooth and gum issues. I am going to do a separate post on this honey at a later time.

And now for a honey that might hold a candle against Manuka:

4. Tualang Honey - We saw more than one article or medical journal citing Tualang as being in some ways more effective than Manuka. WHAT? Yes, ma'am.

Let's Talk About Tualang Honey

This NCBI article we found went into a lot of detail comparing Manuka and Tualang honey. I'm taking Teach's word for it (she really got into reading all the scientific details!) and just say that Tualang can give Manuka a hard run for its money. The information we found was interesting and persuasive enough that I will be pricing Tualang before I spend any more on Manuka. Teach got really excited when looking at the different effects Tualang and Manuka had on certain types of wounds, etc. She told me it's definitely worth at least trying the Tualang and I do trust her judgment here. (And I have to give this other link because I lost track of which NCBI article Teach read...)

Another Honey to Consider

I found another type of honey to check into when I have time. Teach was gone when I found these so I'm not going to deal with it right now. It's called Kelulut honey and I saw somewhere (don't ask where) that it's close to Manuka as far as being medicinal. I did find one page to check out and it lists some information and benefits of Kelulut.

For now, I have a serious headache, no joke, and will have to do the separate posts on Tualang, Meliponini, and Kelulut honey later. Teach has offered to come back and help me again. Sick puppy, she loved doing all this research! LOL

Peace

--Free