Monday, October 8, 2012

Homemade Liquid Dish Soap Recipe


Ingredients:
-1 ½ cup of hot water
-½ cup liquid castile soap (I usually use Dr. Bronner’s baby mild liquid soap, but feel free to use any scent just be sure to adjust/omit essential oils accordingly. You may want to use a variety that is already scented for a more frugal option.)
-1 tablespoon of white vinegar
-1 tablespoon of Arm&Hammer’s Super Washing Soda (used to thicken the soap)
-1/8 teaspoon of tea tree oil (optional)
Update: To really thicken the soap to be more like store-bought dish soap, add only 1 tablespoon of shredded bar soap.
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and then pour in 1 1/2 cup of very hot water. Be sure to whisk/stir this mixture until all ingredients are thoroughly blended (and the bar soap is melted).
2. Allow mixture to cool completely on the counter. Stirring occasionally.
3. Store in any dish soap dispensing bottle and use as you would the commercial brands.
Note: You may choose to naturally increase the anti-bacterial qualities of the soap by adding 1/4 tsp. of lavender or eucalyptus essential oils.
Here is the website:

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner Ingredients:



Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner Ingredients:
Recycled Glass containers
Orange peels (Or any other citrus fruit peels. This makes it smell great plus it adds cleaning power.)
1-2 TBS Salt (any kind)
Vinegar
Water
Essential oil (optional)

Step One: Cut orange peels and fill any empty glass containers you have on hand. If you don't have glass containers you can fill any containers that you have.


Step Two: Add some salt to the orange peels and let them sit for 20-30 minutes (or longer). This will pull the oils from the peels and ultimately make your cleaning solution stronger. You only need enough salt to lightly cover the peels.


Step Three: Fill the containers with vinegar and water. Next time I am going to do 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water because my solution smelled a tad bit too much like vinegar.


Step Four: Let the solution sit and be pretty for 2-3 weeks. The longer it sits the better. They make a great conversation starter too!


Step Five: Strain the solution and fill a squirt bottle with your natural
Orange cleaner


http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/04/recipe-for-a-toxin-free-kitchen-10-homemade-kitchen-cleaners.html
Written by Erin Odom, Contributing Writer



Homemade Dishwasher Detergent


Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
2 C Borax (found on the laundry aisle)
2 C Washing Soda (NOT baking soda) found on the laundry aisle right next to the Borax
1 C Coarse Salt (kosher, epsom, or regular old table salt if you don't have the others)
1 C Citric Acid Lemi Shine

Mix all but the citric acid in a container. The citric acid
HAS be added to the dishwasher when you put in your detergent.
*Add 1-2 Tablespoons detergent. (depending on how many detergent cups your machine     has.)
*Add the Lemi Shine about 1/2 t, sprinkled over your detergent, and wash.
*The citric acid ingredient amount will vary depending on how hard your water is.










My Laundry Soap


Homemade Laundry Detergent

Small Recipe:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry soap, grated
6 cups hot water
½ cup Washing Soda
½ cup Borax

Heat the 6 cups of water and grated soap in a large pan until soap is dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Mix and heat until dissolved. Boil 15 minutes. Remove from heat. (it will have the consistency of honey*) In a 3-5 gallon bucket and 1 quart of hot water. Then add the soap mixture. Mix. Add enough cold water to make a 2 gallon Mix until well blended. Let sit 24 hours. The soap will gel*.
**Use ½ cup for each load.
Makes 2 gallons.
(Approximately $.40 per gallon)
*If the detergent doesn't gel or reach honey consistency it will still work.

Notes:
*Stir before each use, this soap does separate. Detergent can be stored in a liquid detergent bottle, just shake well before each use.
*This detergent will not suds up in your washer, but it is still getting your wash clean.
*If you have extra hard water the soap may not clean as well. Add ½ cup Borax or Washing Soda to the load that may help.
*If you don't like this laundry soap you can still use the Fels Naptha for spot cleaning and to rub on stains.
*The Borax and washing soda can also boost cleaning with your regular detergent.
*For the bar soaps required you could try Fels-Naptha, Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile, and Zote.

Large Recipe:
Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
1 Soap bar (grated)
Grate the bar and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until it dissolves and is melted.
Fill a 5 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted mixture, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
**
Use 1 /2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Broccoli Salad

> 2 heads of broccoli ( I like it chopped quite small)
> 1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled ( I buy mine by the bacon bits already
> cooked and crumbled)
> 2 cups cheese (grated)
> 1 red onion chopped
>
> sauce
> 1 cup mayo
> 1/2 cup sugar
> 2 Tbsp vinegar
>
> mix the first four ingredients
>
> mix the three sauce ingredients
>
> add sauce just before serving
>
> Let me know if you have any questions.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Raspberry Dessert

Raspberry Dessert

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup marg. or butter, melted
6 TBS. powdered sugar

Combine crackers, butter and sugar and press into a
9 X 13 pan. Set aside.

2 1/2 cups boiling water
1 6 oz. pkg. raspberry jello
1/2 cup sugar
2 TBS. lemon juice
2 10 oz. pkgs. frozen raspberries

Dissolve jello and sugar in boiling water. Add lemon
juice and raspberries. Chill until partially set.

3 cups whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar
2 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Whip cream, add sugar. Beat cream cheese till smooth.
Fold in whipped cream. Spread 1/2 of cream and cheese
mixture on top of crust, then pour in partially set jello.
Top with remaining cream and cheese mixture.
Top with nuts and fresh raspberries.
Refrigerate 4 hours before serving.
Serves 12 - 15

Monday, July 30, 2012

Most Incredible No Fail Pie Crust


 Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 10 mins Serves: 8-16, Yield: 2.0 9-inch pie crusts About This Recipe
"This is absolutely the best pie crust I have ever used. It never fails me and always comes out flaky and perfect. This recipe is enough for 2 - 9" crusts."

Ingredients
3 cups flour 1 cup shortening 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 large eggs, beaten 5 tablespoons cold water 1 teaspoon vinegar Directions
Cut together flour, shortening and salt until it resembles small peas.
Combine the egg, water and vinegar and gradually add to flour mixture.
Stir just until moistened and a soft dough forms.
Divide into 2 disks.
Wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
Roll out and use with your favorite pie recipe!
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 (44 g)

Servings Per Recipe: 8
http://www.food.com/recipe/most-incredible-no-fail-pie-crust-28943