We made it through 2021. It was quite a year, wasn’t it? Now it’s 2022 and time to reconsider some of the things we hope will make this year better. So in that spirit, I’m offering a potpourri of unique items (plus one easy recipe) that I think will help people reach at least one goal this year. The products in this story can make your life easier, more interesting, and healthier. Will you be able to resist?
Vegan Superfoods:
I’m not vegan or even a vegetarian, but I’ll tell you something about myself you probably don’t know. I’m massively lactose intolerant. I try to ignore it as much as possible. But when it comes down to eating too much dairy, it’s a challenge. Therefore, healthy vegan Parma! plant-based Parmesan is something I never thought of. But I tried it and not only that, I liked it,
There are four flavors: original Better than Bacon, Chipoltle Cayenne, and Garlicky Green. The products are GMO and soy-free, made in small batches in Oregon. Parma! is in a jar, not from the dairy case, but you can really do a lot with it. Try it on pasta, steamed veggies, pizza, salad, popcorn, and anything else that tickles your fancy. If your goal is healthier eating, Parma! can help.
Here’s a simple recipe that will delight vegan and non-vegans:
Creamy Artichoke Dip:
1 cup of vegan mayo, 1 can of artichoke hearts in water, 1 can of chopped green chilies. 1 small bottle of Parma! a can of chopped olives, and a couple of garlic cloves crushed or minced. Sea salt to taste.
Heat oven to 350 degrees, drain and chop the artichoke hearts, Mix everything else together. Put it all into a baking dish for 20 minutes until just brown.
Serve with veggies or whatever else you want to dip in it. This is great for Keto, Paleo, gluten-free, and lactose-intolerant. Available in health stores nationwide as well as on the www.eatparma.com site, Amazon, VitaCost, and other online retailers.
Crunchy Crackers:
Tip: I like to serve this dip with healthy Whole Grain Brown Rice Cheddar Snaps from Edward and Sons Trading Company. These crispy treats are baked in the USA from a blend of 85% organic brown rice and 15% organic white rice flour. Edward and Sons Trading Company use organic and natural seed, seasonings, or vegetable powders to make Brown Rice Snaps® There is milk in the crackers, but they’re still suitable for gluten-free, low-fat, and low-sodium diets. Visit https://store.edwardandsons.com/
Furry Fabrics? A Thing Of the Past!
If you have one or more furry pets, then you need a fur zapper. lbaumgartner@asylumpr.com I love my cats, but I’m not wild about the fact that their fur literally gets stuck on our sheets, our blankets, and just about everything else we throw in the washer/dryer. So when I heard about the Fur Zapper, I was intrigued, but also dubious. I wanted to put it to the test.
It took me a minute to realize that this wasn’t an alien sad face, but a paw. Out of the package the fur zappers are sticky and almost gummy. I could see why pet hair would stick to it. You can clean off the hair with dish soap. The fur zappers are also hypoallergenic and safe for skin.
I read the instructions and was happy to see that you can use these both in the washer and then both in the dryer. However, once the wash is done, it supposedly works even better in the dryer. It was good to know that FurZappers last for 100+ uses. The claim is that they are guaranteed to gently pull pet hair from your laundry. It also helps to remove lint, dander, and other debris.
the fur zapper had a tough job with this blanket full of balled-up cat hair but it did help
What Makes it Work?
FurZapper is made from a very soft, tacky, flexible material that grabs dog or car fur and hair, pulls it from the clothes, and washes it down the drain or into your lint trap. Therefore you will want to clean your lint trip more often (this is a must). My first test didn’t remove all the cat hair off this very messy blanket, but it did get some of it. I’m using it in every wash because even getting a nice percentage of hair off my fabrics is a real help! If your goal is to get rid of annoying pet fur on your clothes and linens, it’s worth a try at $15 for a double set of fur zappers and $11 for one. This may be one of those things you never knew about that could make life easier. Give these to those fur moms and dads! Visit the Fur Zapper website to learn more https://furzapper.com/
“File” Your “Stuff!
If your goal this year is to get your home more organized, you won’t believe how great the Cabinet Caddy Snap! by the Inspired Product Development Group, is. Everyone who loves spices or needs easy access to beauty items, medicine, or just about anything else in a box or jar needs one of these. In fact, after I reviewed it for this advicesisters.com story, I bought another one!
The Cabinet Caddy SNAP! is akin to a vertical plastic file drawer. Both sides are like files with adjustable snap-in shelves that slide out to reveal both two sides. The 9″ tall caddy is 11″ deep. It even has a “small things” tray for small and odd-sized items. It seems so simple. I used mine to organize some of my spices. The dual-sided cabinet caddy took a jumble of jars and made seeing and selecting spices a breeze. I just have to slide the shelf out, and nothing falls out until I select what I mean. At the bottom, you can see a clear plastic “small things” box for odd-shaped or tiny items.
I have one set in my photo. A magnetic latch helps the “files” sit to get her, so you can do an entire shelf, or an entire closet with them if you wish. The base is nonstick so it doesn’t fall over, or out of the cabinet. The dimensions of the two “files” are 8.9″H x 6.1″ W x 10.8″ D. There are also stick-on labels that show which way to rotate the shelf if you want to see it full-on in front of you. I can see using this for all sorts of things that currently lie in a drawer or at the back of a shelf, and therefore, unused. Prices start at $30-$43. For more information visit the Inspired Product Development Group website.
This Soap Saves Money, snd the Planet:
Cooking Good and Green!
If you read the advicesisters.com book reviews, you know that I’m a book lover. I think books open the world to you. But I especially like cookbooks. Even if I can’t or don’t make all the recipes, I always get something out of these books.
As we move into next year, eating better is probably on a lot of minds. The Everything Green Mediterranean Cookbook by Peter Minaki (Adams Media, 2021) leads you gently, I think, into a plant-based “diet.” But you won’t be eating meager meals of lettuce and cottage cheese. There are more than 200 plant-based recipes for healthy weight loss that really are tempting, not terrible.
You’ll find the book an eye-opening experience with ideas for breakfast, Snacks, smoothies salads, stews, main dishes side dishes, desserts, and more (even grains and pasta). It’s family-friendly with dishes that aren’t too exotic or weird. The important information about salaries per serving, sodium, fat, carbs, fiber, sugar, and protein are easy to see.
The book has enticing photos that will make you want to cook and help you reach a goal of eating healthier. If you’re just trying to eat healthier and are not seeking a weight loss plan, that’s fine. However, be sure to read the serving and calorie counts for the recipes. Before you dig into a single bowl of hummus dish that you could easily want to polish off alone, keep in mind that there are a whopping 12 servings in it!
