Home Made Rehydration Drink

I had a question from one of my readers about Pedialite. So I did a little searching to see what I could find. When I was a baby, and when I had my children, we never used Pedialite, instead we used a table spoon of Karo Corn Syrup in a bottle of water. But knowing now, what I know about corn syrup, that probably wasn't the best way to go - it works in a pinch though.

Pedialite and Gatorade are both full of chemicals, sugars and preservatives that you really don't want to give your infant. Plus, they are expensive! So home made options, where you can control the ingredients and their quality, are an obvious better option for most parents.

Here are some recipes I have found over the past few months. I will add more as I find them!

Recipe 1:
Ingredients:

• 2 quarts water
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt substitute (made with potassium chloride)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 package "Invisible" Kool-Aid or other dye free flavoring (optional) 
• OR 2 teaspoons vanilla (or other) extract

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. 

Recipe 2:
Ingredients:

•  1 liter water
• ½ cup Coconut Water
• ½ teaspoon Salt 
• 6-8 teaspoons of sugar

Mix all ingredients & cool.

Recipe 3: 
Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• ¼ tsp real salt
• ¼ tsp no salt (potassium chloride)
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 2 ½ tsp sugar

Mix all ingredients & cool.

Recipe 4:  In case of diarrhea
Ingredients:

• ½ to 1 cup precooked baby rice cereal or 1½ tablespoons of granulated sugar
• 2 cups of water
• ½ tsp. salt

Preparation:
Mix well the rice cereal (or sugar), water, and salt together until the mixture thickens but is not too thick to drink.

Give the mixture often by spoon and offer the child as much as he or she will accept (every minute if the child will take it).

Continue giving the mixture with the goal of replacing the fluid lost: one cup lost, give a cup. Even if the child is vomiting, the mixture can be offered in small amounts (2-1 tsp.) every few minutes or so.

• Banana or other non-sweetened mashed fruit can help provide potassium.
   
• Continue feeding children when they are sick and to continue breastfeeding if the child is being breastfed.

Additional Notes:

• To much sugar can increase Diarrhea. So use the lowest amount that a child will take.
• To much salt can increase Dehydration. Always test and make sure liquid is not as salty as tears.
• You can not add to much water. If it seems to salty, add more water. 
• Use "Salt Lite" rather than Salt as it includes potassium.

Kidney Bean Salad with Mediterranean Dressing

Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes

Salad Ingredients:
1 ear of raw corn kernels
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 15oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 TBS fresh parsley or cilantro, minced

Mediterranean Dressing Ingredients:
4-5 cloves garlic, chopped or pressed
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Combine all ingredients and toss with 1/2 cup Mediterranean Dressing.

Mediterranean Dressing Directions:
Press garlic and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, sea salt, and pepper.
Slowly pour the extra virgin olive oil into the mixture while whisking constantly. The more slowly you pour and the faster you whisk, the thicker and creamier the dressing will be.
The dressing will store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. It will solidify so you will need to bring it back to room temperature before using.

Recipe By:  Tea Perron
Taken From "The Good Witch's Farm House Kitchen Facebook Page"

Kiddie Dough

I have three small children and I've become almost hyper aware of what I'm buying them when I purchase toys. I have started checking companies to make sure they are within the us, stopped buying dollar store stuffed, plastic or metal toys and make a point to check every ingredient in just about everything... Way to many toys have slipped through our loosely written regulations with toxic ingredients which poison our children and our environment. And way to many companies use terrifying employment, production and testing practices for me to ever support...

Because of this when my boys told me they wanted a package of Playdough I felt it was up to me to make sure this product was truly as safe as most parents feel it is. Sure, the box says non-toxic, but what does that really mean? I mean, this is something my kids are going to be putting their hands in, rubbing on my table and dropping on the floor where their baby sister could possibly eat it...

So what's in the stuff anyways? Well, according to Play-Doh's current manufacturer, Hasbro, the compound contains water, salt, and wheat flour, while its 2004 United States patent indicates it is composed of water, a starch-based binder, a retrogradation inhibitor, salt, lubricant, surfactant, preservative, hardener, humectant, fragrance, and color. A petroleum additive gives the compound a smooth feel, and borax prevents mold from developing.

I'll be completely honest, some of that frightens me! Sure, it's considered "Non-Toxic" but safe? No, not safe by MY standards! And when it's MY kids, all that matters are MY standards! So I did some research, and some testing... And found what I consider to be the best "Kiddie Dough Recipe."

Ingredients:

    1 cup white flour
    1 cup water
    1/2 cup salt
    2 Tablespoons cream of Tartar
    1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
    3-4 Drops Food Coloring

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the playdough begins to form a ball, it’s cooked. Cool for one minute. Then knead in food coloring.

That’s it! You’re done!

I store mine in small "Ziplock" 1 cup containers. You can also use baggies as long as they are air tight. When it starts to get a little dry, add a drop or two more vegetable oil and it will soften up for you...