When 7 Is an Unlucky Number

Please, please, please take a minute to check the number on the bottom of your water bottles, sippy and straw cups and plastic food storage containers. If you find a 7 throw it out (it's not recyclable) and replace with with stainless steel or glass because they do not react with foods and liquids (choose another plastic at your own risk). Canada has already banned these polycarbonate plastics because they are made from BPA(bisphenol A), a chemical that mimics estrogen and is therefore considered an "endocrine disruptor" which is potentially harmful to humans, especially fetuses, infants and children. Scientists have concerns that it may affect the maturing brain and cause breast and prostate cancer. Canada declared it a toxic chemical. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has published a report stating that it has some concern about the potential negative health effects of BPA and has opened it up to public comment.

Sorry to ruin your day, but I also have to tell you that the epoxy resins that line the insides of food and beverage cans is also made of polycarbonate (all except the Eden line). According to Nutrition Action Healthletter's April 2008 issue, "small amounts of BPA leach out when the plastic or can lining comes in contact with food or water." Please switch to "fresh, frozen or packaged is aseptic boxes" as recommended by Nutrition Action.

There are many good stainless steel choices for storing both hot and cold food and beverages, but my favorite is Thermos. These containers are durable, keep the food and drink hot or cold for many hours, are affordable, and offer fun looking ones for kids in their Funtainer line. They even have a Foogo line for babies and toddlers which includes a stainless steel sippy cup! Check out my Amazon store for some great choices. The price to you is the same whether you order through me or not. As an affiliate I get a tiny share of sales, sort of my recompense for putting together the helpful list. Replacing all these items we and our kids use on a daily basis is a big inconvenience and headache, not to mention budget buster, for all of us, so I hope the featured products make the job easier for you. I also included some oven, microwave and dishwasher safe glass food storage container options so you can replace your plastic ones.

Nearly Instant French Lentil Soup

In case you were wondering, this IS another one of my shortcut cooking recipes featuring Trader Joe's ingredients. This one was just so obvious to me. It came out great and we all love it. I entered it into Trader Joe's Recipe Showdown today. Wish me luck.

Wet April days beg for a bowl of hot soup. Here's an easy and delicious one. Enjoy!

Prep time: 2 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Yield: 4 cups

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• ½ container Trader Joe’s Mirepoix (celery, carrots and onions)
• 1 package Trader Joe’s Steamed Lentils
• ¼ tsp. Trader Joe’s French thyme (dried)
• 3 cups Trader Joe’s Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• ½ tsp. kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Pour container of mirepoix into a medium prep bowl and mix well. Return half to original container and refrigerate.
2. Cut open the bag of lentils with a pair of kitchen scissors.
3. Shake container of broth and measure out 3 cups. Refrigerate unused broth.
4. Measure out thyme and salt.

Cooking:

1. Heat a heavy bottomed, deep saucepan over medium heat and add olive oil. When olive oil is hot, tilt pan to coat bottom with oil and add ½ the mirepoix. Cover and cook the vegetables until they start to release their juices and soften, about 5 minutes.
2. Turn heat to high and add lentils, crumbling them into the pot, then add thyme, stock and salt. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook until vegetables are cooked through, about 9 or 10 minutes. Remove and puree 1 cup soup using an immersion blender and return to pot. Stir well.
3. Ladle into individual serving bowls. It’s customary to add a splash of vinegar to lentil soup so you may wish to have a cruet available on the table for everyone to add some according to their own tastes.