Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

I don’t have much to report in my Corn Diary…today was not even close to corn free. Even my new healthy snack, crispy green beans, were coated with dextrin, which is essentially another word for corn. But…I did have some luck with my other pledge…to Buy Handmade. First, I got a shipment from Bee HavenContinue reading “Shopping is Way More Fun Than Dieting”

Finally had some success at supper with the “King Corn” Challenge…baked potato w/broccoli. Yum. But I won’t be able to handle vegetarian for more than a few meals, at least not without some planning. And fake butter isn’t much fun. I did slip at lunch, had to have the Thai fried rice w/chicken. Don’t knowContinue reading “Baby Steps, Corn Free One Meal at a Time”

Despite a snide suggestion that I could at least have candy corn during the “King Corn” Challenge…the answer is, actually not. Indeed, candy corn contains real corn…corn syrup. I wish I had that argument when I was a kid trying to in vain to convince the parents that candy corn is a vegetable. Anyway, I’mContinue reading “Day Four, Down in Flames”

I’ve been nursing a nasty head cold, probably a sinus infection. But, of course, this means cough drops are in my daily diet. Seems that my cherry Halls are just fine. But watch out for off brands. My CVS packages list corn syrup. I’ll stick to the name brand for this one. But, good news:Continue reading “Corn Challengers: Beware of Cough Drops”

I thought I started off the day pretty corn free…but those labels betray me every time. Who knew there was so much corn syrup in Balance so-called “nutrition” energy bars? No wonder I get so much energy. I’m hopped up on high fructose corn syrup and high maltose corn syrup, which I’m not sure I’veContinue reading “Still No Avoiding Corn, Day Three”

After looking around in vain for a unique coat rack for my entryway, I asked Virtual Farmhusband to make one. We didn’t agree on the board, but we were thrilled to learn that Hoosier Outsider had a stock of old, pre-Civil War nails. VFH shined them up in the wood shop and we took themContinue reading “Who Needs Store Bought?”

I thought I was having a pretty good corn-free day…except for that chicken egg and leftover tortilla soup. I even riffled through my medicine cabinets reading labels. Scary. But other than my multivitamin (c0rn starch) and a couple Burt’s Bees hand creams that contain minimal amounts of the vaguely worded “vegetable oil” (my guess isContinue reading “How's That Corn-Free Commute Going?”

Just a quick Corn Diary entry to note that if I was participating in King Corn’s Corn Challenge, I wouldn’t have been able to take my daily multivitamin. Corn starch is among the listed mass of ingredients. Seriously, it might be easier to list the things I consume that aren’t touched by processed corn.

I wanted to post a photo of this beautiful Dixon, N.M.-made hot pad before it goes into full use and…well, likely, won’t be so photogenic. The pad is handmade and hand screened by Embudo Fabric Design. Thanks to our Mountain Farmgirl friend Thea for sharing. Anything you miss from Chicagoland that we can send yourContinue reading “A Hot Pot and Hot Spot for Artists”

The King Corn creators have my attention with their Corn Challenge. Curt and Ian are attempting to make it through the month of November without eating any processed corn products. Though some members of my family already think I’m there, I’m not quite “granola” enough to do it myself. Plus, corn is one of twoContinue reading “The Corn Challenge and VFG's Corn Diary”