Gluten-Free Coconut Macaroons

We usually try to keep our Tasty Tuesday posts a little more savory than sweet, but this one has become an office favorite for birthday celebrations. This recipe is really easy and it is great for satisfying a sweet tooth for someone living a gluten-free lifestyle (as many of our employees are).

Ingredients:

• 14 ounces sweetened shredded coconut
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

1.) Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2.) Combine the coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl. Whip the egg whites and salt on high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until they make medium-firm peaks. Carefully fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.

3.) Drop the batter onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper using either a 1 3/4-inch diameter ice cream scoop, or 2 teaspoons. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and serve.

Mommy’s Bliss® Sweet Slumber Mist is a gentle, hypoallergenic mist that is carefully formulated to promote sleep and relaxation. The traditional blend of lavender, ylang ylang and orange peel provides a calming bedtime environment for your baby and promotes a deep, sweet slumber. Establishing a bedtime routine for your baby is the best way to encourage deeper and more consistent slumber. By starting this process with a warm, soothing bath, providing a relaxing massage and misting your baby’s blanket and pajamas with the extracts of relaxing lavender, ylang ylang, orange peel and chamomile, you will help your baby (and you) prepare for a full night of sleep.

Simple Pesto & Cauliflower Bake

Eating healthier comes with the challenge of replacing higher calorie foods with more nutritious ones without sacrificing taste. Through my own experience, I have been extremely pleasantly surprised by the versatility of cauliflower! Depending on how you prepare it, Cauliflower can give you the illusion of eating bread, pizza crust, mashed potatoes, and in this case a delicious potato-like casserole! Not only is this recipe easy to make, but it can fool even the most stubborn anti-veggie eaters (which I successful managed to do with a picky friend last night).

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cauliflower, chopped or shredded depending on your desired consistency
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 cup basil leaves
• 1 Tablespoon pine nuts (if desired)
• 6 garlic cloves
• ¼  cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• All-spice

Directions:

For the pesto

1. Chop the basil and garlic cloves with 1 tablespoon of the Olive oil in a food processor until all ingredients are well blended. (about 20 seconds)
2. Add the pine nuts and blend
3. Salt and pepper to taste
4. Set aside

For the Cauliflower

1. On medium heat, sauté the cauliflower in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil until  it becomes soft and somewhat translucent (about 5 minutes depending on size of pieces)
2.  Add all-spice  to taste
3. Transfer to an oven safe pan and mix the pesto in until evenly covered
4. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over top and bake on 375* for 15 minutes until the top is slightly crispy, golden brown.

Mommy’s Bliss® Kids Upset Tummy & Nausea Relief is a safe and effective all-natural herbal supplement used to ease the nausea and discomfort often associated with stomachaches and indigestion. The formula is based on the original Mommy’s Bliss® Gripe Water, with natural cherry flavoring added for kids’ discerning taste buds. Gripe Water is well known because of its effective formulation of fennel, ginger and sodium bicarbonate (historically known to ease nausea and discomfort due to stomach gas). The Mommy’s Bliss® version has twice the amount of the active ingredients (and our ingredients are organic!) as other gripe waters.

The Kids Upset Tummy & Nausea Relief formula also includes peppermint, dill and catnip to help ease tummy discomfort. Mommy’s Bliss® Kids Upset Tummy & Nausea Relief does NOT contain any of the following: gluten, starch, dairy products, wheat, yeast, chamomile, alcohol, parabens, artificial colors, artificial flavors, binders, sucrose (table sugar), fillers or petroleum-based by-products.

Upset Tummy & Nausea Relief is sugar free – and is safe and effective for diabetics too!

One of our team members made this colorful and delicious desert idea for a neighborhood party. As you can imagine, it was not only a huge hit with the kids, but the adults LOVED it too! With the weather heating up and BBQ’s right around the corner, we thought we would share the fun with you.

Note: you can use any colors or flavors you like in whatever order you want.

Ingredients

• 5 boxes Jello, assorted flavors (colors)
• 7 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• Boiling water
• 1 can {14 oz} sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup cold water

Instructions

1. In a small bowl combine Jello and 1 envelope unflavored gelatin, add 1 cup boiling water and stir until dissolved. Pour into a 13×9 glass pan and place in fridge for about 20 minutes, until set but not firm
2. In a small bowl combine sweetened condensed milk and 1 cup boiling water, stir well.
3. In another small bowl, add cold water and sprinkle 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin, set aside for 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup boiling water and stir well. Add to milk mixture and stir.
4. Add 1 cup of milk mixture to Jello layer #1, place in fridge to set, about 25 minutes.
5. In a small bowl combine the next Jello flavor and 1 envelope unflavored gelatin, add 1 cup boiling water and stir until dissolved. Pour over cream mixture* (see steps 2 & 3)  and place in fridge for about 20 minutes, until set but not firm
6. Add 1 cup of milk mixture to Jello layer #2, place in fridge to set, about 25 minutes.
7. Continue alternating between color Jello layer and cream for all remaining layers of your choice.
8. Once your desert is set, cut into squares and enjoy!

As the general public steers away from pharmaceutical drugs and more toward natural remedies, it’s understandable why it gets a little confusing to determine which products are best for our children. A common question we get is “what is the difference between homeopathic remedies and natural supplements (like Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water)?”

By definition, Homeopathy is “the method of treating disease by drugs given in minute doses, that would produce (in a healthy person) symptoms similar to those of the disease.” Certain ingredients are also considered “Homeopathic” by the FDA.

Dietary supplementation is defined by the FDA as a product taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement or enhance the diet.

In our case, our Gripe Water uses naturally derived ingredients (such as fennel and ginger) historically proven to ease symptoms of gas and stomach discomfort often associated with colic, hiccups and teething without the use of drugs.

Homeopathic Remedies and Natural Supplementation both have an important place in the “natural” marketplace; however, it is up to the consumer to determine which method they consider to be the best depending on their specific health goals. As always, we recommend that you also consult with your doctor before using ANY dietary supplement.

Did you know that kitchen measurement utensils are not scientifically calibrated for liquid medicine?  We get this question quite frequently from parents who are concerned that they have over-dosed or under-dosed their children.  The EZY Dose dropper provided with Mommy’s Bliss® Gripe Water is scientifically calibrated to provide the correct dosage of the product.  Never use your kitchen measurement utensils for dosing any liquid medicine.  Always use the measuring utensil provided to give an accurate dose.

Interested in learning more about measuring over-the-counter liquid medication safely?  Click here.

Interested in learning why kitchen spoons should not be used for measuring liquid doses?  Click here.

Gripe water is a time-tested formula that has been used for more than 100 years throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, India and the Caribbean to relieve the discomfort that infants face from colic, gas, teething and hiccups.

Forms of gripe water were previously imported to the United States, but those imports did not gain approval because the formulas contained alcohol. Mommy’s Bliss® introduced its all-natural, alcohol-free Mommy’s Bliss® Gripe Water to the American market in 1999. Mommy’s Bliss® Gripe Water is well known because of its effective formula. It has twice the amount of the effective ingredients (and our ingredients are organic!) as other gripe waters.

Our gentle liquid formula contains fennel, ginger and sodium bicarbonate, which are historically known to ease the nausea and discomfort caused by stomach gas and other colic symptoms. Mommy’s Bliss® Gripe Water is known by parents to be very effective for discomfort associated to colic…But, it provides effective relief move than just colic.

Did you know?  Fennel and ginger are also effective for easing the discomforts of infant teething.  Babies cry a lot when they are teething, and this may cause them to become gassy. Research also suggests that when babies are teething, the salivary glands produce an enzyme that upsets the stomach. This causes them to cry, too. By addressing these issues, Mommy’s Bliss® Gripe Water works well for teething children.

This year is all about playing. I know this isn’t something you often hear from the President of a company, but it’s true. I feel like our company is in a space where we can play with our products, play with our customers, and play within the industry. More importantly, we are hearing the very nature and benefits of our products subsequently gives moms more time to play and bond with their children.  This bliss is exactly what keeps our company moving forward.

We all know it takes good health and well being to play, but as the President of Mommy’s Bliss I also find it takes courage. Letting ourselves (both as moms and professionals) explore, take risks, and make mistakes is when life becomes vibrant. And for me, Mommy’s Bliss has never been more vibrant. From the energy of our staff to the rapid growth of our products, we are blossoming.

The playfulness theme was so apparent at Expo West this year, which is an annual natural products show in Southern California.  It’s where those of us who are passionate about natural products spend three full days tasting, smelling, touching, and learning about where innovation lies within the natural products industry. Not to mention it is three days a year when I consume the most amount of Gripe Water, due to my consumption of lots of delicious foods and drinks!  This year was especially playful in that companies had music playing and wore silly costumes; there were eye-catching booths and display; marketing materials and samples galore. Plus, where else can you find a kale-infused vodka tonic?!

I realized not only is the economy making strides upward but people have their smiles and mojo back in their step along with a revived motivation to make things happen. Mommy’s Bliss is grateful to feel this and I’m hopeful that our playfulness will shine through to you and your families this year.