Sunburn Relief

Let me start this post by saying that I am no stranger to sunburn.  One look at my brother & me and it is pretty plain to see that we have quite a bit of Irish blood running through these veins.  Growing up I became very accustomed to aloe and solar caine spray, neither of which really helped a whole lot.  When my husband told me that we were going to be stationed in Hawaii my first thought was of sun exposure and maybe I should buy one of those big beach hats... or perhaps just buy sunscreen in a 5 gallon bucket. 

Well, I am a stickler for sun safety but even still burns can happen.  My first defense though was attempting to avoid the burns.  We did purchase sunscreen in bulk ;o) We would go to the beach early in the day or later in the afternoon/ evening and spend the middle of the day in the shade.  We opted for longer sleeve bathing suits and hats when possible.  Our older girls loved diving under so hats didn't work out too well and most swim shirts were too billowy underwater but after lots of searching we found some that were more fitted in the torso.  Thankfully the kids aren't as prone to burns as me, I can burn in the shade. 

I would also get everyone slathered in sunscreen when we got to the beach then I would set a timer on my phone for one hour.  The kids knew the drill but any time they wanted to complain I only had to threaten them with my sunburn treatment. <evil laugh>  Okay, getting on to the actual sun burn solution can be found in your pantry.   Apple Cider Vinegar.  Yes, seriously!  And your kids will ask for their sunscreen so that they won't have to be a pickle later!!  HAHA  well, that's what we call it. 

I keep a container with ACV and an old rag in the bathroom.  It is amazing!  The first time I tried it I was shocked at how it felt like it was literally pulling the heat from my skin.  I won't try to sugar coat it though, it doesn't smell very pleasant.  However, after much trial and error we found that if you let the vinegar slightly dry then put a nice coat of this Ocean Potion Lotion on top it helps the smell.  You'll want to have an old shirt that can be your pickle shirt but it is a small price to pay to not be miserable.  Most of the time just wiping the ACV is enough whenever you start to feel the burn but on occasion I have actually soaked paper towels in ACV and had the kids just lay on a towel & let the soaked paper towels just sit on the burned areas. 

My sunburns usually always peel which adds another layer of healing to the sunburn but since I have started using the ACV it is rare that I peel. 

So, I have attempted to to this post for close to 2 years but my selfie skills aren't great and I never thought about taking pictures of the kids but here we go! 

 TOP: When I first realized it was time to pickle. 

 MIDDLE: 12 hours later.  Applied ACV & lotion several times before bed. 

BOTTOM: 24 hours.  Reapplying whenever it started to burn. 

Vegan Cornbread

If you've ever made a lifestyle change, sometimes you just crave something that you used to eat.  On this particular night I wanted a slab of good ole cast iron cornbread to go with a big spicy bowl of chili.  Now, since we've made this lifestyle change I have tried a few recipes for cornbread and they were all good, but not what I was craving.  Every now and then you don't want a whole grain, flax seed, you can taste just how good it is for you piece of cornbread but you want a fluffy, yet crispy edged, full of flavor and slathered with butter (well Earth Balance) and when you eat it you know it's not good for you.... well then, this one is for you! 

We've just recently moved and I was still trying to get the pantry stocked and the store I was shopping at didn't actually have just plain cornmeal but they did have Jiffy Vegetarian Mix. (Which is actually vegan, it would be vegetarian if you followed the directions and added egg)  So I improvised with vegan ingredients and was pleasantly surprised.  Check your brand of cream style corn but the ones I have tried do not contain any dairy but definitely not the most healthy option out there. 

2 boxes of Jiffy Vegetarian corn muffin mix
1 can cream style corn
1/2 cup water
2 TB baking powder
1 tsp salt
Vegetable shortening
8-9 inch cast iron skillet

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees
Spoon 1 TB of shortening into your cast iron and let it sit in your oven.  This comes together pretty quick but keep an eye on the oven.

Dump the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix until only slightly lumpy. 

Pour batter into your hot cast iron and return to the oven for 30-40 minutes or until the center is cooked well. 

** For a slightly hotter version you can remove 1/4 cup of the corn and add a small can of diced green chilies or jalapenos.