All posts in Toss Outs
Fake Baking: It’s not just happening in tanning booths
I’m talking about fake baking in the kitchen – the kind that happens in your oven, not so much under ultraviolet lights. I don’t know much about fake baking in a tanning bed, in fact, other than you should not engage. Alright, besides some past instances, we’ll call them *momentary lapses in judgment* – in which I actually did partake in fake baking my skin – I am not in the know on the subject. All I can say is I wish I could take back each lapse. Those errors in judgment will haunt me forevermore. Fake baking in a tanning bed is BAD, ok? Ahh, youth, wedding parties, tan bandwagons, and the unknown. The rest is history. And filled with regret. ‘Nough said.
Back to kitchen baking – baking. Making and baking from scratch isn’t necessarily as innocent or natural as I first assumed. It can be. Trust me, I’m all for just about anything baked from scratch, with real ingredients. I want the baking innards in my baked goods to be natural. Laissez-faire, if you will: leave my baking innards alone! For instance, I’ve recently discovered that the light corn syrup in my pantry contains high fructose corn syrup and (thanks to a local foodie moms forum) the baking powder contains ALUMINUM, the heavy metal. Yep, confirm for yourself, and go check your own baking innards. If you feel even half as ambushed I did, read on. more
Phosphates in your dishwasher detergent
Phosphates in automatic dishwasher detergent have been banned in Spokane, WA. Some devotees are smuggling their beloved phosphates across state lines in
Splurge on the organic carrots or tomatoes?
Splurge on the organic carrots. Don't worry so much about the tomatoes. The Environmental Working Group provides
Ode to Earth Day: Say NO to Roundup
I planned to name and detail only ingredients on this site. But, it's Earth Day and I'm throwing that plan down the garbage disposal today, alongside
Aluminum under your arms?
How safe is the aluminum in antiperspirant? A few years back, I read that aluminum was a dangerous element to absorb. I read that it was linked to loss
Artificial colors
I'm a mom and a teacher. I grocery shop and notice the colorful products in the aisles. Occasionally, I buy them. My weakness is a certain color-coated bite-sized
High fructose corn syrup
What would a cream cheese wonton be without its sweet 'n sour counterpart? We've made a special grocery run just to have sweet 'n sour sauce
Sodium Nitrite
Name Sodium Nitrite What it is and what it does Sodium Nitrite is a chemical preservative that is added to meat (and fish). It prevents the growth of botulism causing
BHA and BHT
Name BHA and BHT butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) What they are and what they do BHA and BHT are preservative compounds added to foods to preserve fats and oils
Aspartame
Growing up, the two soda options in my refrigerator were my mom's diet cola or my dad's clear lemon-lime soda. I've always associated my dad's lemon-lime soda with









In this time when Big Food and Pharma are making mega profits, I'm acknowledging a broken system with options a parent can count on. While the information super highway puts infinite resources at our fingertips, navigating that maze leaves my head spinning. I created Spilled Ingredients as a sieve for all of us busy, real folks and parents.












Fred Farp: Do you have scientific proof that the filters contain bleech? A lot of...
Dan: Thanks for the info and the receipe - just what i needed - thanks...
Briana: Looks delicious. It will force me to go to the grocery store, but then...
Sandy: Et tu, baby carrots? Ugh....
Niki: @ Sara, great and frustrating questions... a good resource I've used i...