The Top 8 Food Allergens

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration now requires food manufacturers to list any of the top 8 allergens that are contained in their products. 

• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)
• Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)
• Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)
• Soy
• Wheat

With the apparent rise in food allergies, it's of some comfort to people with those food allergies to have that requirement.  However, the label requirement only applies to ingredients put in the product itself. 

Cross-contamination can happen during the manufacturing process.  For example, a wheat-free product may be produced using the same equipment as a product containing wheat, which means there could be some wheat in the 'wheat-free' product.  Some manufacturers will put the warning on the label that equipment has been shared but, at this point, that is voluntary.

If you have a significant reaction to any of these allergens, it is best to contact the manufacturer directly. Have the product packaging with you during the call.  The bar code is often essential to making sure you and the employee are talking about the same product. 

Listen closely to the person you reach.  Do they really understand the allergy and the importance of a correct answer?  Do they talk the language?  Do they refer to a database of allergen info on their computer or appear to be guessing? "I don't think we use wheat in any of our products." is a big, red flag.

The FDA has issued standards for foods to be labeled 'gluten-free' but that labeling is currently voluntary.   Even if wheat is not listed as an allergen, the product may still contain gluten from barley, rye, or oats unless it is clearly marked 'gluten-free'.

Here at The Easy Entree, we list the major ingredients in each entree.  Go to www.TheEasyEntree.com.  Click on "Entrees" and then the link "Ingredients".  Of course, that's the first step.  Call me and we can continue the discussion.

All my best,

Evelyn

734-5502

www.TheEasyEntree.com

 

Growing Your Business the Obama Way!

GROWING Your Business Using Other People's Money!

(Getting in on the Obama Stimulus for Small Businesses)

FREE BUSINESS MIXER: Wednesday April 8, 5-7pm 

Local folks who have viable businesses needing growth capital to expand your business, buy or build a business, or just improve your operation need apply! You will walk away with a kit and a solid grounding on how to approach your lender and get the money you so richly deserve. Tap into the Stimulus Plan via Small Business Association, Private Investors and Regional Banks who are committed to the spirit of local entrepreneurship.

Regular mixers will be announced. Ideas will be exchanged, investors will be on hand to answer questions. For more information, call Loannetter: 360 647 8822

Non alcoholic beverages offered   

http://biznik.com/members/susan-templeton/events/growing-your-business-using-other-peoples-money-getting-in-on-the-obama-stimulus-for-small-businesses 

 

OK, to find out where this happening is happening you have to join biznik first...what a GREAT idea! CLICK now and and check out the amazing social and I mean social network coming to a town or coffee shop near you!

 

 

 

The Balancing Act

So your work is crazy busy, the kids have homework and afterschool activities, and your parents wonder why they don't hear from you more often. It's been a long winter.

Some tips to help you cope

 

●  Set realistic goals.  You can't do it all so prioritize what is important to you.

●  Get/accept help.  Maybe the kids won't fold the clothes the way you prefer but it's better than having them piled up on top of the dryer.  If you can afford it, hire help. 

●  Take care of yourself.  Lots of fruits and veggies and water, adequate sleep, a walk at lunchtime with a coworker or after dinner with the family - all go a long way towards your health and sanity.

●  Find some time for yourself.  I know, I know.  It's the seemingly impossible task.  Set aside some time to journal, for a regular massage, to read a chapter in your current book or to do something that causes you to take a deep breath or a sign of relief.  Taking care of yourself means you can take better care of your loved ones.

 

Evelyn Turner, owner

The Easy Entrée

 

www.TheEasyEntree.com

How we all contributed to create our Credit Crisis!

Crisis of Credit-Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0zEXdDO5JU

Crisis of Credit-Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhDkZjKBEw&feature=related

These two YouTube videos are very well illustrate how Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's lowering of the Treasury rate to 1% (to strengthen our economy post the dot.com bust and 911) caused a run on cheap money by the banks, eager to lend for a higher profit margin. Investors who wanted more than the 1% Treasury Rate of return created complex Credit Derivatives. The resulting demand for these high profit instruments led to the creation of easier mortgages, generating higher risk, and voila: our housing bubble was born, which in turn has frozen our financial system. We did this to ourselves, folks.

Within these clever exposes, no answers are offered. While I don't care how the illustration lumps mortgage brokers as the only purveyors of these loans (Countrywide and Washington Mutual invented the most egregious of these loans and sold in their own retail operations) the facts are clear that the instruments were created to meet demand for high profits based on a shell game. These animated charts are easy to understand, if painfully obvious. The end game is stopping the madness and greed. Unfortunately the pain of unwinding these complex games are impacting many small time investors in hedge funds, bank stocks and retirement accounts. We have yet to see the full effects once all these ticking time bombs go off.

What can we do? As entrepreneurs, we are the backbone, the creative first responders who can quickly adapt to meet the needs created by the consequences created on Wall Street. Meeting real needs creatively is a great long term investment in yourself, your business and our region. What are you doing about growing your business to meet new 'needs gaps'?

Does Alcohol Evaporate Completely When Cooking?

I’ve always heard that any alcohol added to a recipe would evaporate once it was cooked.  Makes sense, right?  Wrong.

Alcohol evaporates more quickly than water but there may be some left even after extended cooking according to the USDA.

If the dish is baked or simmered, here is how much alcohol is left.

15 minutes 40%

30 minutes 35%

1 hour 25%

1 1/2 hours 20%

2 hours 10%

2 1/2 hours 5%.

Obviously, you won’t get tipsy from alcohol in a cooked dish but if you want to avoid all alcohol for whatever reason, remember that some alcohol will remain even after cooking for several hours.

Evelyn Turner, owner

The Easy Entrée

www.TheEasyEntree.com

Mortgage Fraud: Who are the really Bad Dudes?

There are some advantages to being 100 miles from Seattle. I seldom see their newspapers!

 

Recently, a friend dropped by a front page Seattle Times article she found on MORTGAGE FRAUD, an expose about a Bellevue loan officer guilty of a huge housing scam who was recently sentenced to 7 years in prison. While his jailing is great news, I object to how 'loan originators' in this article are misrepresented.

 

Their colorful half page graphic names "loan originators/mortgage brokers" as the culprits in this scam. The term 'loan originator' happens to be the legal definition of a licensed employee of a broker, like myself. Chris Brooks, the perpetrator of this particular scam, worked as an unlicensed loan officer of a mortgage BANK.  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008793819_webbrooks27m.html

 

What amazed me about the article is that his bank (American Mortgage) is barely mentioned leaving one to assume what they will.

 

I took the liberty of posting my concerns on Active Rain, a Real Estate social network followed by some 137,762 members of the Real Estate Industry across the nation. Here is a link: http://activerain.com/blogsview/966935/Is-It-True-Loan-Officers-HAVE-MORE-FUN

 

Mortgage Brokers applaud a higher national standard that holds all parties accountable for their deeds, but in so doing, does not malign the innocent. I have asked the Times to retract and clarify on behalf of honest mortgage brokers. Stay tuned on that!

Green Real Estate - What does it mean?

Green real estate – What does it mean to be a green real estate company with Eco Broker Designated agents?  Green real estate agents are trained in understanding the features and benefits of green homes and know how to effectively promote and market properties with these elements.  Eco Brokers (www.ecobroker.com) will promote the green features of the home such as energy efficient radiant floor heating, on demand water heat, passive solar design, energy efficient windows or Energy Star appliances.  Selling the added value of these features will set the home apart from the competition and as a result sell for a higher price and in faster amount of time.  Buyers that work with Eco Brokers benefit by saving money and learning how living more comfortably.  Eco Brokers know energy efficiency and can share cost–saving ideas and provide the resources to “green” a home.  They can also help with improving indoor environment by addressing indoor air quality, ventilation, radon testing, voc paints and water testing.  Eco Brokers are concerned about building healthier communities for you, your family and the planet. 

 

 

 

 

Joe Laudenbach

Realtor, ABR, CRS

Sterling Real Estate Group

360-393-2075 cell

360-756-2475 fax

www.JoeLaudenbach.com

www.BellinghamHomeDeals.com

 

 

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