Back to Reality...

So we returned from our sunny, sunny vacation to dreary rain, totally Seattle-style. But, the day was brightened up by picking the many yummy veggies ready to eat from the garden. We picked carrot and sweet onions to make this for dinner tonight and then Jeff and I celebrated our reunion by enjoying the new So Delicious Coconut Ice Cream without added sugar! Oh my gosh, the mint chocolate chip was unbelievable. There was only one ingredient that I didn't know about that I had seen in several places, but never took the time to look up. It's carrageenan. Have you heard of it? Well here's some info: It is a seaweed extract common in the Atlantic Ocean near Britain, Continental Europe and North America.  

Things like liquids and cheese can be even more problematic, because their natural inclination is to separate, foam, melt, precipitate, et cetera, especially after they bounce down the road for a thousand miles.

That's why many foods contain chemicals known as gums. Two gums that are pretty familiar are gelatin and corn starch. If you look at processed food, you see all sorts of other gums like carrageenan, xanthan gum, cellulose gum, locust bean gum, agar, and so on. Food scientists (not cooks -- food scientists make processed foods) use these substances for four main reasons:

1. They thicken things: Ice cream, marshmallow fluff, pancake syrup, etc., all benefit from thickening.
2. They emulsify things: They help liquids to stay mixed together without separating.
3. They change the texture: Generally, a gum will make something thicker or chewier.
4. They stabilize crystals: A gum might help prevent sugar or ice from crystallizing.

Now, there are some concerns with this ingredient, although it does seem to be all natural in that it comes from seaweed. There was a study that connected carrageenan to cancer in mice, although it was a different "grade" of carrageenan than is used in food. But the lead researcher still had concerns regarding the type that is used in food. Dr. Weil reports that it would be a good idea to avoid products containing this ingredient and I have to say that I agree. It will be particularly important to look out for this ingredient if you eat a lot of soy products, as it is very common in these foods. Thankfully, there is an alternative! Larry and Luna's brand of coconut ice cream is so yummy you won't believe that it's not real ice cream. They have fantastic flavors but they do use agave as a sweetener, which is also an ingredient to consume conservatively, and they are a bit higher on the calorie count. However, this brand of ice cream is so creamy and rich, a few bites will do you just fine. 

As we're getting into the house remodel (we just found out that we will be without countertops for two weeks) and I am returning to work, I'm hoping to continue the blogging on a weekly basis...see you soon!