Gluten Free Products Reviews Plus Quick Chicken and Waffles Recipe

Last night, I was pretty tired at dinner time.  I really didn't feel like making a big meal; so, I decided to raid the pantry and freezer.  I just bought these frozen waffles from Trader Joe's and decided to give them a try.  Not wanting just waffles, I pulled out an organic chicken breast from the fridge. I was going to make some chicken and waffles. I grabbed my Schar Gluten Free Bread Crumbs from the pantry and set off to make a quick dinner.

I dredged the chicken breast in the bread crumbs mixed with a little salt, cayenne, and garlic powder. Then, put the chicken breast in my toaster oven on 400 degrees for 40 minutes, flipping once. Once chicken was cooked, I put my waffles in the toaster. Then, I sandwiched the chicken breast between the two waffles and poured Trader Joe's Organic Maple Syrup on top.

It was delicious!  The Trader Joe's Wheat Free Toaster Waffles were so good, I couldn't tell they were gluten free.  Even the texture was perfect.  I would recommend them to anyone who likes frozen waffles for a quick meal.

I would also like to recommend Schar Gluten Free Bread Crumbs. I have used them a few times now and they have never let me down. I've even used them to make meatballs.  They are a great replacement for regular bread crumbs.

On a side note, I also tried the new Pillsbury Gluten Free Pizza Dough. It's sold in a tub. Unfortunately, I have nothing good to report. The taste was bland. The texture was too thick, crumbly, and doughy. It ruined my pizza. I was not happy.

Oh, and I tried Amy's Frozen Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese. Can you tell my husband has started hockey season again? I've been left to make dinner for one.  Anyway, the Mac and Cheese was awesome, very creamy and delicious.

Did you know that Trader Joe's has a printed list of the gluten free foods they carry. All you have to do is ask someone who works there to get one for you. I just got mine today. It's quite extensive.

A little trick I learned today, to remember which products are gluten free when it's not on the package, write GF on the label with a Sharpee. I know it seems simple. But, when you're buying different foods for different members of your family, it can drive you crazy figuring out who can have what.

Why I Fight Against Toxins

By now, if you've been reading this blog, you know the story of how Boho influenced my starting this blog and going public with information on removing toxins from your lives.  After much soul-searching, I have come to the decision to share my story.  I hesitated for awhile because I really didn't want to make this blog all about ME, ME, ME.  However, after my fourth doctor's visit in two weeks time, I came to the realization that maybe there were others out there who are going through the same troubles I am.  Perhaps, if I share my experiences, I can help more people than if I just keep silent.  So, here goes it.
Two weeks ago, my doctor determined the symptoms I am experiencing is likely due to an autoimmune disorder.  She is now in the process of determining which disorder or combination of disorders it is.  Each new symptom is a key or marker to which specific disorder I have.  Currently, I have markers for five of them.  So far, I have had attacks to my skin, reproductive system, and gastrointestinal system.  The next month of my life will be spent being poked and prodded to find an answer.  At one point, I will basically be set up like a rotisserie chicken.  I apologize for the mental image of that one.
Now, I'm not looking for sympathy.  The reason I'm writing this is to help anyone who may be dealing with this right now or has in the past.  Like most women, I ignored my own symptoms early on because I was busy caring for everyone else.  Then, when I would go to a doctor with a complaint, they would fail to take me seriously.  I can't tell you how many times I received a simple diagnosis of reflux and was sent away with the latest prescription.  Or, they would do a simple blood test and as long as everything was in the usual parameters, or only slightly high or low, dismiss me without another look. I'm not trying to bash doctors here.  I'm merely saying to keep searching until you find a doctor willing to listen to you and take you seriously.  I've been suffering with these symptoms for years.  Only now, when everything is going haywire at once, did I find a doctor with the answers. I understand this may be hard for some people.  I am very lucky to have health insurance.  I pray for those of you who do not.
Now, I've already started to hear the comments and questions, "How can someone who lives so healthy and green be so unhealthy?  Why bother if I'm just going to end up sick anyway?  See, that natural stuff doesn't work!". And, to that, I say "Shuttie!" To answer the question #1, I didn't come out of the womb being green,   autoimmune disorders are thought by many to be caused by environmental pollutants and there are over 100,000 synthetic chemicals in commerce today, surrounding us in a toxic haze. To question #2, I say that if everyone stopped using all the toxic chemicals, maybe none of us would have to be sick again.  If we send a message to companies that we are not going to use their products or eat their food unless they remove carcinogens, we could create a world that's safer and healthier for future generations. They may not have to suffer the skyrocketing numbers of autoimmune disease, cancer, ADHD, autism, etc. that we've had to endure. And, lastly to comment #3, I answer, just because something is natural, that doesn't mean it's guaranteed to make you healthy.  Just like, if you take a certain medication prescribed by your doctor, it's not guaranteed to cure what ails you.  But, since it's the toxic crap that made me sick to begin with, I think I'm going to give the natural stuff a chance.
Before I start to bore you, I'll wrap this up.  I will continue to provide you with updates on my condition and the latest information on alternative health and wellness.  I promise to keep up the fight against chemicals and toxins.  I will continue to research alternative therapies and report on my findings.
In the meanwhile, don't worry about me.  I have my faith in God to see me through.  I know everything happens for a reason.  I think God just wants me to work harder so I can help more people.  Because, after all, that's why I do what I do.  That is why I fight against toxins.

My Favorite Natural Personal Care Products and Brands

Here is a list of my favorite natural care products and brands.  I am always trying new products. But, there are some products I love too much to ever change.  As usual, I have not received compensation from any company for my reviews.  These are the actual products my family and I use.

Oral Hygiene
Toothpaste:  Melaleuca Whitening Tooth Polish and Himalaya Organique Neem & Pomegranate Toothpaste

Mouthwash:  Melaleuca Breath Away Mouth Rinse

Floss:  Melaleuca Classic Dental Floss

Toothbrushes: Melaleuca Toothbrush

Gum: Melaleuca Exceed Sugar Free Gum (Make sure to keep this away from your dogs. It contains Xylitol which is toxic for them.)

Body

Bar Soap:  Dr. Bonner's All In One Hemp Pure Castille Soap, Chandrika Ayurvedic Bar Soap (I love the scent of this! And, it's so cheap!), Melaleuca Bar Soaps (All), Lush Soaps (All)

Body Wash:  Dr. Bonner's 18-in 1-Pure Castile Hemp Baby Mild Soap, Melaleuca Renew Body Wash

Body Lotion:  L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Cream, Melaleuca Renew Intensive Skin Therapy, The Body Shop Shea Body Butter

Body Scrubs: Anything from Lush Cosmetics

Shave Gels and Lotions: Melaleuca Body Satin Shave Gel- women, Melaleuca Alloy Shave Gel-men (This smells amazing)

Hand Cream:  L'Occitane Hand Creme

Liquid Soap:  Melaleuca Antibacterial Liquid Soap and Moisturizing Liquid Soap

Hand Sanitizer:  Trader Joe's Hand Sanitizer, Melaleuca Clear Defense Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer

Deodorant:  Melaleuca Herbal Deodorant

Special Haircare: 
Dandruff Shampoo- Melaleuca Original Shampoo

For Baby:

Baby Shampoo:  Melaleuca Koala Pals Conditioning Tear Free Hair Wash

Diapers: Seventh Generation Diapers

Baby Wipes: Seventh Generation Free & Clear

Baby Care:  California Baby Calendula Cream

Feminine Hygiene

Maxi Pads:  Organyc 100% Organic Cotton Pads ( This company offers many different sizes and thicknesses.)

Tampons:  Seventh Generation Organic Cotton Tampons

Suncare

Sunscreen:  Dr. Hauschka Sunscreen Cream SPF 30, Melaleuca Sun Shades Mineral Plus Sunscreen SPF 30+

Well, there it is, in a nutshell.  If you need any help finding these products, please email me, tmoperill0@gmail.com .  I will be happy to point you in the right direction.

Gluten Free Portobello Sandwich and Fruity Herbal Iced Tea

Sometimes, I'm just in the mood for a good sandwich and a tall glass of iced tea.  This is one of my favorite sandwiches.  If I'm in the mood for cheesy goodness, I add a nice chunk of mozzarella cheese. You can also use Gluten-free hamburger buns or a ciabatta roll.  Schar makes a fabulous ciabatta roll that is gluten-free.  As for the iced tea, I make a pitcher of this every week.  It's refreshing, caffeine-free, and healthy.  What's not to like?

Gluten-free Portobello Sandwich

2 Slices Udi's Gluten-free Multi-grain Bread, toasted
1 Portobello Mushroom Cap
1 Handful Organic Spring Mix Greens
1 Slice Fresh Organic Tomato
1/2 Avocado, sliced

Marinade/Dressing
1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Crushed Garlic
1 Teaspoon Dried Basil
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Teaspoon Trader Joe's South African Smoke Seasoning Blend (optional)

Whisk together ingredients for marinade in glass bowl big enough to fit mushroom.  Place mushroom in marinade.  After 15 minutes, flip mushroom and let sit for another 15 minutes.  Once 30 minutes total has elapsed, remove mushroom. You can either grill or saute mushroom.  I like mine grilled for about 2 minutes on each side. You can also saute in a pan with a little splash of olive oil for about 4 minutes on each side ( If you like it softer, just cook for a bit longer).  Pour 1/2 of Marinade into cup to baste mushroom while cooking. Place spring mix, tomato slice, and avocado slices into marinade bowl and toss.  Once mushroom is cooked to the texture you prefer, remove from grill or pan and place on one toast slice. Remove spring mix from marinade and place upon mushroom.  Next, place tomato slice and avocado on top of spring mix. Top with second slice of toast. Boom! It's that easy! You can make as many of these as you like. Just increase the ingredients accordingly.

Fruity Herbal Tea

Big Glass Bowl (Should hold at least 5 cups water)
2 Liter Glass Pitcher
5 Bags Herbal Tea of your choice. I like Melaleuca herbal tea.
4 Cups Filtered Water
1/4 Cup each of 2 Fruits of your choice ( I usually use frozen, organic fruit)

Bring 4 cups of water to boiling point. Let sit on stove for 1 minute.  Pour boiling water into glass bowl. Add tea bags. Let steep for 20 minutes to 1 hour. Some people find herbal teas to be bitter if left to steep for longer than 20 minutes. If you are one of them, don't steep for over 20 minutes. Once preferred time has elapsed, remove tea bags and discard ( or refrigerate them to put over your eyes and relax later).  Drop fruit into pitcher. Pour tea into pitcher, over fruit. Fill pitcher to 2 liter level with cold, filtered water. Refrigerate.
I usually use frozen blueberries and strawberries.  Some other ideas are orange slices, lemon slices, raspberries, or peaches.  Your tea will keep in refrigerator for 1 week.  If you like your tea sweetened, I recommend adding stevia per glass instead of all at once.  In my experience, Stevia can get a bit bitter after a few days.

Enjoy!

My Favorite Natural Beauty Brands and Products

Like most women, I have spent most of my adult life searching for the best beauty products money can buy.  I've probably tried over a million shades of lipstick in my lifetime.  If you think  finding the perfect foundation shade is hard, try finding it in a natural and safe formulation.  I have spent years testing, applying, and researching the safest natural beauty brands and products. While I haven't tried them all, I've tried many. This is a list of my personal favorites. I have not been compensated for my opinion.  It is truly a list of the products I use day after day.

SKINCARE 

Cleanser:  #1 Sei Bella Hydrating Cleanser  #2 Mychelle Creamy Pumpkin Cleanser  #3 Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

Toner:  #1 Sei Bella Clarifying Toner ( summer), Sei Bella Hydrating Toner (winter) #2 Lush Eau Roma Water

Moisturizer: Sei Bella Luxury Cream, Daytime Delivery Cream, and Night Firming Cream

Anti-Aging: #1 Sei Bella Skin Revitalizing Serum and Timeless Age Defying Serum #2 Mychelle Perfect C Serum

Face Mask: #1 Fresh Rose Face Mask #2 Lush Ayesha Face Mask

Peel: Mychelle Incredible Pumpkin Peel

Eye Care: #1 Sei Bella Wrinkle Release Eye Serum and Night Recovery Eye Cream #2 Mychelle Dermaceuticals Magnolia Fresh Eyes

Makeup Remover: Sei Bella Eye Makeup Remover

Self Tanners: #1 Alba Botanica Very Emollient Sunless Tanner  #2 True Natural all Natural Self Tanner

MAKEUP

Concealer: #1 Sei Bella Age-Defying Concealer. #2 Jane Iredale Disappearing Concealer with Green Tea Extract

Foundation: #1 Bare Minerals Original Foundation #2 Jane Iredale Dream Tint #3 Sei Bella Liquid, Mineral, and Cream-to-Powder foundations

Loose or Compact Powder:  Sei Bella Loose and Pressed Powder

Blush: #1 Josie Maran Coconut Water Cheek Gelee #2 Bare Mineral Blush #3 Sei Bella Blush

Eyeshadow: #1 Sei Bella Vitamin-enriched Eye Shadow #2 Bare Minerals- all eye shadows

Eyeliner:  #1 Jane Iredale Cream to Powder Eyeliner #2 Sei Bella Twist Up Eyeliner

Mascara: #1 Sei Bella Volumizing Mascara. #2 Bare Minerals- all

Eyebrow Pencil: Sei Bella Dual-end Brow Pencil

Bronzer: Sei Bella Bronzing Glo

Lip Balm: EOS Smooth Lip Balm

Lip Pencil: Sei Bella Definition Lip Pencil

Lipstick: Sei Bella Luxury Lip Color

Lip Gloss: Sei Bella Brilliance and Plump Glosses

Makeup Brushes: #1 Eco Tools    #2 Sei Bella

NAILS

Nail polish: Sei Bella Nail Polish

Polish Remover: #1 Melaleuca Sol-U-Mel  #2 Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes

HAIRCARE

Shampoo:  #1 Aubrey Organics Rose Mosqueta Shampoo  #2 John Masters Evening Primrose Shampoo

Conditioner:  #1 Aubrey Organics Rose Mosqueta Conditioner  #2 John Masters Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner

Hair Mask:  Sei Bella Intensive Treatment Repair Hair Masque

Hairspray: Sei Bella Firm Hold Finishing Spray

Hair Color: #1 Eco Colors- all colors.  #2. Herbatint- browns (blondes come out a bit too golden for my liking)

Specialty:  Aubrey Organics NuStyle Hair Smoothing Serum, John Masters Organics Shine-On Leave In Treatment, Sea Mist, and 100% Argan Oil,  Sei Bella Styling Pomade, Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion

Side note: I also love the Pureology Haircare line. I don't use it every day; but, every product I have tried has worked wonderfully.

Well, I hope this list helps when you're shopping for beauty products. Another great resource is the EWG Skin Deep Website. You can search beauty products before you buy to see their safety rating. Website:  www.ewg.org/skindeep

Happy Shopping!

If you need any help finding the recommended products, email me at tmoperillo@gmail.com.

Keep Me Beautiful Juice

For Christmas last year, my wonderful husband gave me a red Jack La Lanne power juicer. Since then, I've been a juicing maniac.  I love my juicer.  Here are a couple of my favorite fruit and vegetable mix juices:

Keep Me Beautiful Juice

1 Orange peeled

1 2"x1" cube of Watermelon 

2 handfuls Kale

1 bunch of Grapes with stems ( about 20 grapes)

1 small Cucumber

1/4 cup Aloe Vera Juice

Put first five ingredients in juicer, one at a time, in order. Add Aloe Vera Juice to mixture. Pour in big glass. Enjoy!

Look Mamma, I drank my Spinach Juice

1 fresh Peach, pit removed

3 handfuls fresh Spinach, squashed into a ball

1 small Cucumber 

1 Fuji Apple, cored and sliced

Put all ingredients in juicer, one at a time, in order. Pour into a big glass. Enjoy!

Also, be sure to check out our page on Facebook and Pinterest for more information and tips. Just look for Boho and Mo. Be sure to "Like" our Facebook page when you're there.

Super Simple Gluten Free Orzo Salad

This is a super simple recipe. You can even make it the night before to have for lunch the next day.

2 cups cooked Gluten-free orzo ( I like Delallo brand)

1 small cucumber, diced

1 medium tomato, diced

1/2 avocado, cut into small chunks

1/4 cup feta cheese ( I like Trader Joe's made with sheep's milk in brine)

1/4 cup lemon juice

Splash of red wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon dried oregano

1 Tablespoon Greek olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook orzo according to package. Meanwhile, dice tomatoes and cucumber. Cut avocado into small chunks. Once orzo is cooked, drain and rinse in lukewarm water. Place orzo in large bowl. Add all ingredients and toss lightly. Place in refrigerator and let sit for at least 10 minutes.  Serve.

Voila! Easy and delicious.

My Favorite Natural Household Cleaning Brands and Products

People constantly ask me which cleaning brand I use when cleaning my home.  Although I do make some cleaning products myself, there have been times when I just don't have the time. I need things cleaned quickly!

Luckily, many natural product companies have created effective and safe products that make our chores easier to manage.  Now, this is a list of brands and products I use in my home. I have not tried every brand or product on the market. But, I have tried MANY.  These are the products that work for me and my family.  These are the products that are safe for Boho and don't make her sick.

I have not received compensation to recommend these products.  These are truly the products I use in my home.

That being said, here is the list:

Kitchen Cleaner- Countertops, Stovetop, Small Appliances: Melaleuca Tough & Tender

Grease and Oven:  Melaleuca Sol-U-Mel.   Stainless Steel:  Method Steel for real stainless steel Polish

Dish washing Liquid:  Melaleuca Lemon Brite Hand Dishwashing Liquid

Dishwasher Detergent: Melaleuca Diamond Brite

Bathroom Cleaners-

Tubs and Toilets: Melaleuca Tub & Tile

Inside Toilets: Method Antibacterial Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Disinfectant: Melaleuca Sol-U-Guard Botanical Disinfectant 

Mirror & Glass Cleaner: Melaleuca Clear Power

Wood Polish: Melaleuca Rustic Touch ( also really good on leather)

Floor Cleaners-

Tile & Linoleum: Melaleuca MelaMagic

Hardwood: Melaleuca Tough & Tender

Laundry Detergent: Melaleuca MelaPower, Ecos Magnolia & Lily ( this detergent has a fabric softener in it. )

Laundry Brightener & Whitener: Melaleuca Melabrite 6x

Laundry Softener: Melaleuca MelaSoft Liquid Fabric Softener

Laundry Stain Remover: Melaleuca PreSpot Gel or Spray

Dryer Sheets:  Melaleuca MelaSoft Dryer Sheets, Trader Joe's Lavender Dryer Sachets

Machine Carpet Cleaner: Melaleuca MelaMagic & Sol-U-Mel ( use instead of the solvent recommended, mixed with hot water)

Carpet Stains: Melaleuca Sol-U-Mel ( great for when Boho has an "accident")

Sponges: Trader Joe's Pop Up Sponges ( These are amazing! They pop up when you add water.)

Mop: Rubber Maid Reveal Mop (This is a great mop with a washable cleaning pad and a bottle that allows you to put in your own cleaning liquid.)

Trash Bags: Seventh Generation Drawstring Kitchen 

Paper Products-

Paper Towels and Napkins: Seventh Generation 100% Recycled, Natural ( I like the natural, unbleached color of these. They look so rustic.)

Toilet Paper: Seventh Generation Natural Unbleached 100% Recycled Toilet Paper

I hope this list helps. If you need any information on finding these products or how to use them, email me, tmoperillo@gmail.com .