Homemade Yogurt ~ Tutorial

Yogurt has been a staple in our home for many years.  And we have been making our own for quite a few now.  And I am shocked every time I peek at the price of yogurt in the store and just can't figure out why more people just don't make their own.    Not only is it truly easy to make but it is also frugal, more nutritious and taste so much better.  So while there are many tutorials out there for making yogurt I thought I would share mine in hopes that some of you will be inspired to make your own as well.

First you will need to get your supplies together.  Now don't let this intimidate you,  You don't need anything fancy, none of those expensive yogurt makers.  So here goes:

• Large pot
• Mason jars & lids, I use two quart jars as that is how much yogurt I make at a time
• Thermometer
• Small bowl or measuring cup
• Whisk
• Heating Pad
• Cooler, I use a soft side I got at the dump store (really any container, even a box would work)

Now for the ingredients.  As I said I make 2 quarts at a time, so that is what I'm going to give you here.  It should be easy enough to adjust to make more or less.  Really, making yogurt is that easy.

• 2 quarts milk - I use raw
• yogurt starter - this is the live bacteria you need to introduce to the milk  You have a few options here.  You can purchase a starter at your local health food store or online from someone like Culture for Health.  The next option is to purchase a cup of plain yogurt at the food store.  Just make sure it says it contains live cultures.  Many do.  And once you have your own yogurt you can use a little of the previous batch to make the next batch.  

That's it!  You are ready to make yogurt.  I will tell you that this takes a bit of time.  So it is best to do on a day that you will be home.  Most of the time is just waiting for milk to cool and yogurt to culture, so you will be free to do what ever your heart desires, but you should be around.

First you will want to make sure that all your equipment is clean.  You are growing bacteria here so no need to have some nasty strain hanging around.

Next pour the milk into your mason jars and set in your pot.  Fill the pot with water at least half way up the jars.  This is just a water bath.  It is a simple way to heat the milk without scorching it.  And it saves on dishes as the pot should be able to go right back in the cupboard as soon as you are done.

Heat the milk to 180 degrees.  True you milk isn't raw anymore, but this is the safe way to kill any nasty stuff that might be there.  You will also get a nice thick yogurt.  It is hard to get a thick raw yogurt.

Once your milk has reach 180 degrees remove it from the water bath and let it cool to 110 degrees.  This is where you need to be around but not totally tied to your kitchen.  The milk needs to cool so that when you introduce the culture you don't kill the bacteria.

Sorry about the blurry picture.  Not great with my left hand.  And as you can see I missed the 110 mark a bit.  That's because I forgot to take the picture before I started adding the culture.  Shhh don't tell.

Now you are going to pour a little of the milk into a glass measuring cup or small bowl.  To this add your starter yogurt.  I add about 2-4Tbsp of yogurt per quart.  It really is the amount left in the bottom of the jar from the previous batch(If you purchases a yogurt starter, you will need to follow the directions on the package).  Gently mix the milk and your yogurt really well.  Once mixed pour the milk/yogurt mixture back into the rest of the warm milk and mix again.

If you want plain yogurt you are all set.  If you want to flavor your yogurt you can add a little vanilla, honey, or maple syrup now.  I usually make one quart plain and one vanilla.  We don't sweeten our yogurt.  I don't also add fruit or anything else at this point, that way everyone can have it "their way" when the time comes.

All that's left now is to incubate the yogurt.  Basically you need to leave the jars in a warm spot for a while while the bacteria grows.   This is where the heating pad and cooler come in handy.  There are lost of ways to keep the yogurt warm.  I have heard of people using their crock pot or dehydrator.  Some use a cooler and pour the hot water in from heating the milk, just beware that you may have to add more hot water to keep it at temp long enough.  I'd forget.

As you can see, I just put the pad around the jars.  Zip up the lid and let it be.  The longer you incubate your yogurt the more tart and thick it will be.  About the minimum you can incubate is 6 hours.  Then it becomes personal preference.  I will tell you I have forgotten about it and left it overnight, when I was supposed to go in the fridge at 9pm, and it was still amazing the next morning.  So really you can't go wrong.

Once it is done incubating, all that is left is to put it in the fridge.  Warm yogurt is not all that yummy.  But once this had cooled down I promise you it will be some yummy stuff, thick and creamy.  Sorry for the yucky picture here too.  Yogurt just doesn't photograph well for me.

Now this turned into a long post for something that really is simple so here's a recap.

Take your milk and heat it to 180 degrees.
Cool milk to 110 degrees.
Pour off a little of the milk and add your yogurt with live cultures and mix well.
Pour milk/yogurt mixture back into the warm milk and stir to mix well.
Put lids on your jars and keep them warm for at least 6 hours more like 12.
Refrigerate until cold.
Enjoy!

See isn't that easy?  I hope you will give making your own yogurt a try.  It really is so much yummier and truly frugal.

Linking up over at the Homestead Barn Hop, Make Your Own Monday, Scratch Cooking Tuesday, Traditional Tuesdays, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, and Country Mama Cooks.

Don't forget my little one's giveaway!  There is still time to enter and she'd be thrilled if you'd enter.  Sorry this is closed!

Red Clover ~ Frugal Medicine

While Rebekah and I were out walking the other day, we came up on a beautiful patch of red clover.  We hurried home, grabbed a basket and the big girls and headed back to pick the lovely purple blossoms.

In only a few minutes we had filled our basket.  We took a few moment to watch all the butterflies visiting the clover as well.  Then we headed home to clean the blossoms before putting them in the dehydrator.

The blossoms took about 18 hours in the dehydrator set at about 95 degrees.  You don't want to dry them to quickly as they will loose their color.  And if it takes too long they can start to mold.  We will store the blossoms in a mason jar to use in our winter teas. (1tsp of dried blossoms to 8oz boiling water steep for 10 minutes, this can be taken up to 3 times per day)

RED CLOVER

Latin Name: Trifoolium pratense

Contains:

• antioxidant tocopherol
• anti-tumor compounds
• calcium
• chromium
• iron and copper salts (high concentration) 
• isoflavones (water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in many plants)
• magnesium
• niacin
• phosphorus
• potassium
• protein
• thiamine
• vitamin C

As you can see red clover is very high in nutrients!  It really is a good herb for almost everyone.

Constituents (uses):

Women's reproductive health - Red clover is used for relief during PMS and menopause as well as to promote breast health.

Blood health - Red clover is known to help cleanse the blood by promoting urine and mucous production, improving circulation and stimulating the secretion of bile.  Supplementation with red clover  has also been shown to improve hemoglobin levels as well as the size and number of blood platelets.

Respiratory health - red clover is known for antispasmodic effect.  Basically this means that it supresses muscle spasms and therefore can help with asthma, wheezing, coughs and such.


Red clover tea is easy to make.  Put 1 tsp of dried blossoms in a tea ball or muslin tea bag.  Pour 8 oz of boiling water over and let steep for about 10 minutes.  Can be drunk hot or cold.  Drink a cup three times a day for maximum benefits.  Red clover can also be added to other herbs to create your own blends.  So have fun and give red clover a try.

Warnings:

Red Clover should not be taken by pregnant or nursing woman.  The isoflavones (water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens and are found in many plants) have not been proven safe for these women.

Also those taking blood thinning or needing to avoid blood thinning medications should not take red clover because of its milk blood thinning properties.

While red clover is considered safe you should always check with an herbal professional before self medicating.  This information is for educational purposes only.


Linking up at the Homestead Barn Hop, Make Your Own, Monday, Traditional Tuesdays, Sustainable Ways,  Healthy 2Day Wednesday and Wildcrafting Wednesday.

DIY Mason Jars with Straw Lids - Summer Perfect Drink Container

With summer coming I have been looking for some lidded beverage glasses for a while.  I knew I didn't want plastic and there weren't many other choices out there.  I wanted lids for the little ones that always seem to spill their drinks and for everyone else to keep the bugs and stuff out.

I had been seeing these converted mason jars on the web but the prices on Etsy were way out of my range.  Others were using paper and cutting a slit for the straw.  Ok that would work for the bugs, but not the spills and really seemed like too much work.  I wanted something cheap frugal and reusable.

Thanks to my brilliant husband, the answer was more than simple it was very reasonable too!  And he even ended up doing most of the work, if you can really call it that.

Hannah "dimpled" the lid in the center.  This was done so the drill bit would have a place to rest and not jump.  Don't know if you really need to do this, but it worked and gave Hannah a job!

Then Doug drilled a hole through the lid.  He used a 3/8" bite.  It is hard to see but there is a scrap piece of wood under the lid.  He DID NOT drill right on the kitchen table.

I inserted the rubber grommets.  It was easy to do, but I couldn't take pictures and do it at the same time.  We found the grommets at Lowes in the fasteners aisle.  They come two in a package.  We bought the 9/16th size.  This fits a standard plastic straw perfectly.

Of course Rebekah couldn't wait to try out her new cup.

We made a set of six.  And seriously it took us all of about 10 minutes with all of us having a job.  And better yet the whole project cost $4.12.  That's 69¢ each!  And it would have been a lot less, but I couldn't resist the red and white check lids.  They scream summer, don't you agree?

Here's how it broke down:

• Mason Jars - in the pantry
• Lids - package of 6 on sale of $1.00
• Grommets - package of 2 for $1.04 bought three packages

Now I would like to add some reusable straws to complete the project.  I have seen both glass and stainless that I like, but I'm not sure which way to go.  The glass ones are definitely more pricey and I wonder about them with kids.  I'd love to hear what you all think.  Do you have reusable plastic, glass or stainless straws?  What do you love or hate about them?

I'm linking up with the Homestead Barn Hop, Make A Move Monday, Living Green Link-up, Sustainable Ways Wednesday and Creative Friday!

No Poo

If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you already know that fugal, green solutions are one of the things I am passionate about.  God only made one amazing Earth and commanded us to take good care of it.

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.                                "Genesis 2:15  

And if we take a closer look at the word to "keep", we will see that in the Hebrew it means to care for something completely and gently ensure that no harm comes to it.

Today I wanted to share my No Poo hair cleansing recipe.  I have been No Poo for a few years now and really love it.  I can't imagine ever spending money on shampoos and conditions especially knowing how bad some of the ingredients are in most of them.

Ingredients

• baking soda
• rosemary essential oil
• water

Tools

• funnel
• container to mix in
• container to store No Poo solution

Mix about 1Tbsp of baking soda to 1 cup of warm water.  Mix to dissolve.  Add a couple of drops of rosemary essential oil.  Mix again.  Pour into storage containers.  Let sit for about a week before you use.

To use wet hair.  Massage about 1/8th of a cup into scalp.  More or less depending on the length of your hair.  No need to drench all you hair.  Let mixture sit on your hair for 3-5 minutes, then rinse.  If you have hair that tangles easily you may want to follow with an apple cider vinegar rinse.

Dry and style as usual.

So why rosemary essential oil?  Well it has long been know to nourish hair and help with scalp dryness.  Some even say it promotes hair grown and treats dandruff.  It is also known to promote memory an added benefit for getting your day off on a good foot. 

And just a few added notes in case you are wondering.  I have hair more than half way down my back.  We have hard water.  If you are not having results you like, before you through in the towel, I would play with the amount of baking soda per cup of water.

I'm linking this post up over at Make Your Own Monday and Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways.

Dandelion & Violet Lemonade

Rebekah and I have been loving the Herb Fairies books!  We are both learning so much.  And they sparked an interest in wild foraging for Rebekah.  She is always bringing me plants and asking, "What can we do with this one, Mama?  Is it edible?"  Don't you just love that?  Of course I'm so glad she comes and asks insted of tasting first.

A couple weeks back I stumbled across a recipe for Dandelion & Violet Lemonade, and I just knew that we would have to give it a try.   We kept trying to get out to harvest violets, but the rain and Sarah's play foiled many of our attempts.  Finally this week we made it.  I love this little patch of violets out behind the chicken coop.  We are still in our yard in the middle of town, but it feels so remote and magical.  Rebekah got right to work harvesting the violet flowers for her lemonade and munching on the violet leaves for a little snack!

Next the dandelions.  We have NO shortage of these beauties.  They seem to be everywhere this spring.  Funny, as a kid I loved them and then grew to see them as an annoying weed, now I love them again!  It took quite a few dandelions to fill our jar half full.  Both of our fingers were stained a lovely yellow by the time we were done.  Rebekah thought that was just fabulous!

Then we headed inside to add some fresh lemon juice as well as the peals to our flowers.  It was looking and smelling yummy already, but of course it wasn't quite done.  We needed to call on a little magic from the sun to finish off our yummy drink.

Oh so carefully, Rebekah carried her Dandelion & Violet Lemonade to the back yard and picked a sunny spot for it to brew!

It looked so lovely.  It was hard waiting.  Isn't that always the hard part?  But we did.  I sat out there the rest of the day until supper time.  When Rebekah, once again oh so carefully carried it inside.  We both had a glass with supper sweetened with just a touch of honey.  It was so good!

Don't forget you can find the complete recipe as well as come nutritional information on both dandelions and violets over at Blissville Living.

Vitacost FREE shipping deal!

Hurry!  Today only Vitacost if offering free shipping on orders over $25.00.  This is a great deal, especially if you pair it with a $10.00 credit.  If you are a new customer you can sign up to receive your $10.00 credit on your first order through this referral link.  Then you will be able to refer your friends and family and receive $10.00 credits for each new customer who makes a purchase.  It is a wonderful way to share a blessings and receive one as well.

We love Vitacost as a supplier of high quality and healthy products at  great discount prices.  They offer a wide selection of foods, health and beauty products, environmentally friendly cleaning products and supplements.  We have found great deals on the essential oils we use for cleaning, insect repellent, and aromatherapy.  Some of them are more than 50% off what our local health food store charges. 

This FREE shipping is a deal you wont want to miss.  So sign up for your credit and head on over to Vitacost.  They have so much to offer it can take a while to check it all out.  Don't forget free shipping on orders over $25.00 ends at midnight tonight, so don't delay. 

Let us know what great deals you find.

Green and Frugal tips for the Laundry Room

Two weeks ago we looked at ways to go green and save some money in the bathroom.  This week we are headed into the laundry room.  If you take a look in the average laundry room you will find lot of chemicals which lots of money was spent on.  Now I know people want to look nice and take good care of the clothes they have, but really you don't need to break the bank to do so.

So lets start in the most obvious place.

Laundry Detergent - Something we all use.  I took a stroll down the laundry aisle in the store the other day and couldn't believe all the choice out there or the prices they charge.  (I haven't bought laundry products in years.) So what's in all these commercial laundry detergent?  Sometime it feels as if one needs to have a chemistry degree to figure it out.  Lets take a look as some of the most common ingredients.  Benzene which can also be called benzol, benzeen, phenly hydride or annulene is a mixture of coal and petroleum.  It is a known carcinogen.  Another carcinogen found in laundry products is diethanolamines, these are man-made compounds that neutralize acids.  They are included in laundry detergent to make them less irritating.  Many laundry detergents also contain ammonia, a know irritant of the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.  And on top of how bad these ingredients are for you and your family, they are also wrecking havoc on our environment.  So what's the answer?  Make your own.  Really it's simple, effective and costs pennies.  Here's the recipe we have been using for year.  The only change I have made is to use my homemade soap.  And here is a recipe for powdered detergent.  And yes this really works.  I have washed cloth diapers, hubby's grimy and greasy work clothes, and sweaty athletic wear all with great results.

Fabric Softener - I'll be honest I have never used a commercial fabric softener.  Never really saw the point.  And after researching what's in them, I'm glad I've never exposed my family.  Lets start off with three of the main ingredients, toluene, trimethylbenzene, styrene.  All three are known neurotoxins.  And if this isn't bad enough.  The ingredient list continues with 

• a-terpineol which is know to irritate the mucous membraines
• benzyl acetate which is an eye and respiratory irritant
• camphor which is on the EPA's hazardous waste list
• pentane a sink irritant

And to make matters worse, fabric softeners are formulated to stay on the fabric.  So all of these lovey chemicals aren't being rinsed away, but are hanging out waiting to rub up next to your family's skin.  So what's one to do?  A simple, frugal and green alternative is to add plain white vinegar in the rinse cycle of your laundry machine.  And if hanging around to catch the rinse cycle is a pain, I think it is, then put the vinegar in a downy ball and toss it in at the beginning.

Dryer Sheets - These are really fabric softeners that are used in the dyer  and the ingredient lists looks similar to the one above.  Once again there are some simple and frugal solutions.  The first one is hang your clothes to dry.  Not only with you avoid the chemicals you will save on electricity, get some exercise, use the power of the sun to whiten your white (works great on diapers) and have a natural spring time fresh scent to your clothes.  Now I know that not everyone can hang there clothes for numerous, but you're still in luck.  Wool dryer balls are a fabulous solution for static in the dryer.  They also add softness and scent if you wish.  You can make your own dryer balls or they are inexpensive to purchase.  To make your own you can use some wool yarn which you wind into balls and then felt in your washer.  (felting is what happens to wool when it is washed and dried - you know how that wool sweater that accidentally found its way into the washer and dryer shrunk up to doll size) or you can use wool roving and wet felt balls.  Your balls should be about the size of  tennis balls.  I use about three in the dryer.  You can sprinkle a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the balls to infuse your laundry with a soft scent.  And as a side benefit wool is anti-bacterial. I have also found that using wool dryer balls reduces the time it takes for the laundry to dry!  Bonus!

Oxiclean - As laundry product go this may be one of the safer ones.  It is a mixture of solid hydrogen peroxide (peroxyhdrated caronate soda) and washing soda.  When it comes in contact with water it releases oxygen.  The concern are the solvent which we have seen above aren't all they great for you or the environment.  Luckily there is a simple solution.  Make your own.  In a clean spray bottle mix 1 Tbsp washing soda with one cup of peroxide.  Shake and let sit for 24 hours.  Shake before use.  That's it.  


Stain Remover -  Ok here is where I ran into trouble finding the ingredients.  Shout lists two patented  ingredients as there cleaning agents, but then you can't find anything else out about them.  Hmmm, makes me wonder.  Spray n Wash was just as elusive.  If I can't figure out what is in something then I really don't feel safe using it, that's just me.  So my solution?  Use the homemade oxiclean, rub a little castle soap or homemade laundry soap into the stain.  You might also try this soap jelly.  For oil stains try sprinkling a little corn starch on them to absorb the oil, let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off.  Treat the stain with a little laundry soap and wash as usual.  Always check to see if the stain came out before you dry the garment as drying will set the stain.


Interestingly enough, many of the commercial products carry warning to use in ventilated places, avoid prolongs contact with skin.  I don't know about you but my clothes touch my skin for long periods of time and my laundry room is small and not well ventilated.  So I guess I will just pass on all the big name laundry products and stick to making my own, saving my family's health and money.


As I have mentioned before, the best way to make changes is to slowly add them to your routine.  Nothing will set you up for failure as quickly as trying to change your whole routine at once.  So take it slowly.  Choose one commercial item to replace with a homemade alternative.  Get used to making and using that one and them move on to the next.  A simple way to do this is to make a batch the next time you run out of something instead of buying it again.  Most of these recipes last a long time, so you wont be making them each time you need to do a load of laundry.  Think more like once every month or two or even more.  It really is doable.  I know you can.  Just remember slow and steady.


I'd love to hear your thoughts on laundry.  What are your tips?  What have you tried?  Are you having successes or do you need a little encouragement?  Leave a comment, I love getting to know my readers better and they make me smile!


Oh and don't forget there is still time to enter to win the Quart of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil.


I'm linking this post up over at the Homestead Barn Hop, Make Your Own Monday, Make Your Move Monday, and Living Green Link-up!

Going Green For Earth Day and Your Budget

In recognition of Earth Day I thought it would be fun to take a quick peek at a few simple ways you can help not only the Earth, but your family and your budget.  I love how those three really do fit together, don't you.

I was hoping to cover simple changes one can make in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room.  However as I got going I realized that was just too much to take on for one post.  So today we are going to start in the bathroom.  Then over the next few Sundays we will move to the kitchen and laundry room.  And who knows we may continue on this journey a bit further.  We will just have to wait and see.  For now ~

The BATHROOM
This is one of those rooms many don't like to talk about, and pray that is it clean when someone drops by expectantly.  No worries, we wont be taking a peak in your or mine for that matter today.  But I did want to point out some places where it is easy to be kinder to the earth, our bodies and our budget.

Let's start with some simple health and beauty products.

Shampoo - Most commercial shampoos have some really nasty stuff in them.  Many contain petroleum derivatives such as isopropyl alcohol (SD-40), propylene glycol (PG), butylene glycol.   Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are detergents that are also use in car washes and as engine cleaners. None of these are items I want on my or my families hair and skin.

There are some good natural/organic brands of shampoo, but most of them are costly.  So the budget friendly solution. . . go no poo.  You read that right.  Give up the shampoo and conditioner and replace them with simple baking soda and apple cider vinegar.  I did this over a year ago and haven't looked back.  Really it is simple, frugal and safe.

Here's how:

Mix baking soda, about 1-2 Tbps, to a cup of water.  This is the ratio you want to start with.  You will find many variations and I think it depends on your water as well as your hair.  I tend to you a little more baking soda.  Shake to dissolve the baking soda.  Pour mixture on your scalp and massage in.  Let sit for a few minutes before you rinse.  That's it.  I mix mine in larger batches and store in a squirt bottle in the shower.  I find it works better if it has set for a least a few days.  Next for the rinse.  This is simply apple cider vinegar, 2 Tbsp, to one cup of water.  Once again I make this is a large batch and store in a spray bottle in the shower.  I just spray a generous amount and rinse.  I've never had issues with the vinegar smell, but if you don't like it you can add essential oils, herbs or even vanilla to the rinse.

Just some things to remember if you decide to give this a try.  There is an adjustment period for most people that can last 2 weeks to 2 month.  What is happening is that with regular shampoos you are stripping all the natural oil and then replacing it with conditioner.  When you strip the oil your head notices it is gone and produces more oil.  When you stop stripping the oil, it takes a while for your scalp to adjust so you hair may seem oilier for a bit.  This will end, stick it our.  Once you are over this hump your hair wont get dirty/oily as quickly.  I promise.

Conditioner - More of the same here.  And really using regular shampoo is the reason so many of us need conditioner.  It replaces what was just striped.  Can you can great development and marketing on manufacture's part!  If you go the no poo route above you most likely wont need a conditioner, but on those days you do a little, and I mean little, bit of coconut oil does the trick as a leave in conditioner.  Helps reduce frizz and flyaways as well as smooths split ends.

Deodorant - Here again most of what is one the market is full of all kinds of nasty stuff or way to expensive for a frugal budget.  Some of the nasty ingredients in deodorant is the aluminum that is found in the antiperspirant varieties. This stuff has been shown to be just down right nasty.  Many brands also contain propylene glycol, diproplyene glycol, butane, propane and denatured alcohol.  YUCK!

Here again you can make your own.  This is quick and easy and really works.  I have been using this recipe for over two years and haven't looked back. I did have to play with the ratios a bit, and have come up with a blend for summer when it is warm and the coconut oil is liquid and winter when it is cooler.  I also add a few drops of my favorite essential oils.  A quick search on the web and you will find a bunch of variations if this one isn't your cup of tea.

Face Wash - You guessed nasty stuff in most of these as well.  Everything from Sodium laureth sulfate and butylene glycol to cocamidopropyl hydrozy sultaine and hexulene glycol.  Can you even pronounce some of these?  I can't.  Many of them have been linked to skin irritation, eye irritation and are linked to cancer in animals.  So why are ingredients that are known skin and eye irritants in a face wash?  Good question, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Luckily there are a few options that are better for you, your budget and the earth.  Castile soap is a wonderful vegetable soap that is reasonable, safe and easy to find.  Dr Bronners is a popular brand.

Or you can look no further than your pantry and pull out the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).  You read that right.  Clean you face with olive oil.  It is a know fact that oil dissolves oil.  In "the Passionate Olive", author Carol Firenze  points to the first documents uses of olive oil as cosmetic and medicinal.  So how to wash with oil?  First a little bit goes a long way and this helps make it frugal as well.  There are many tips for using olive oil to cleanse your face, but here is what we do.  Take a dime size drop of EVOO and add a bit of water.  Massage in a circular motion all over your face and neck.  Next soak a washcloth with hot (not burning) water and lay over your face for a minute or two.  Rinse the washcloth and use it to gently remove the oil from your face.  You will find your face clean and moisturized.

Moisturizer - Sorry to say the news doesn't get any better with the ingredients in most moisturizers.  Again the list contains many chemicals that are listed as hazardous materials and/or made from petroleum and crude oil.  Common chemicals found in moisturizers are polysorbates, propylene glycol, sodium laurel, and parabens. Why company think we want to put this stuff on our skins is beyond me.

Our solution - coconut oil!  Love this stuff.  It is a great moisturizer that can be used right out of the jar or whipped for a luxuriousness cream.  There are a bunch of oils and butter that can be made easily into moisturizers.  Just a warning it can be quite addictive to play with them.  Some of them you might want to try are shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil and jojoba oil.

Eye Make Up Remover - Ingredients here include parabens, propylparaben, methylparaben, and propylene glycol.  The thought of this stuff on my eyes makes me cringe.  How about you?

A simple solution again - coconut oil.  You got it a little coconut oil on a tissue will remove most eye make up.  It is that simple and pure!

Lip Balm -  petrolatum, phenol, cetyl alcohol, titanium dioxides, parabens and artificial colors and flavors.  And all of this is destine to be ingested as we lick our lips.  Yuck!

Making your own lip balm is quick and easy.  And you can play with recipes to come up with the perfect balm for you.  You can find our stand by recipe here.



The list of ingredients is really getting repetitive.  Makes you wonder when they say exposure in small amount is ok.  Well if we are being exposed to small amounts numerous times, when does that become large enough to be a concern?  I don't know about you but I don't want to find out.  I rather just stay away.

If this list seems over whelming, don't let it.  One of the easiest ways to change is to take it slowly.  You can either pick one items to try get that under your belt for a month and then move on to the next one.  In just six months you will have conquered all the items on this list.  The other way to approach it is to use up what you have and when it runs out try to make your own instead of buying one.  Slow and steady really helps make these chances that last.

I'd love to hear what products you make for yourself or ones you like to but don't know how.  Feel free to leave links to your favorite recipes in the comment section of this post.  I will try to highlight a few of them next week before me move on to the kitchen.

Happy Earth Day!  Hope you are feeling a little greener!

The Desire to Grind My Own Grains and a Giveaway!

We have been on a path to eating better for some time now. Those of you that know me know that I love to prepare healthy and frugal meals and snacks for my family. Over the years I have rid our diet of premade and processed food. Most of what we eat I make. One area that had always interested me has been to grind my own grains. There is such a health benefit to grinding your own grains, and it is also a frugal way to get the best for your family. The caveat: Grain Mill are EXPENSIVE. I always have my eye open for a great deal on one, but it just hasn't panned out yet. But maybe, just maybe now is the time. Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers is hosting an AMAZING giveaway! A brand new Nutrimill from Paula's Bread! Oh I am already dreaming about fresh ground wheat, corn, kamut . . . and all the yummy baked goods that go with it.
So if you'd like a chance to win head on over to Heavenly Homemakers and sign up. And don't forget who sent you.

Wild Berries Galore!

While Maine is know for their wild blueberries, New Hampshire sure has their fair share. Last week my good friends and I headed up the mountain to check on how the wild blueberries were coming. Of course we brought bowls with us just in case there were some ready. You can imagine our delight when right as the trail ended at the top of the mountain all around us was a sea of blueberries. We got right to picking and before we knit it this is what we had. About 17 cups each! of the sweetest blueberries you ever did taste.


And to top off the evening of picking and chatting, we were greeted by a gorgeous full moon! It was magical! And if the bugs weren't beginning to feast on us we probably would have stayed and watched take its place in the sky. Good thing we didn't stay too long, the hike back down through the forest was a little dark.



Just a few days later the girls and I were out for a walk and came across a large patch of wild black raspberries. Of course we had to run home for a bowl and some long sleeves and pants. The prickers can be nasty.

It didn't take long to have about eight cups of the delicious little berries.

Lots of wild berries in the house has meant lots of baking and such. We of course had to make blueberry jam and pancakes. Then there is this divine double berry bread which was actually triple berry(wild blueberries, red raspberries and black raspberries) bread this time. The recipe makes two loaves, but one was gone before I could get my camera out. We also make this fabulous strawberry rhubarb cobbler! My husband declared that this was as good if not better than apple crisp. A huge compliment considering apple crisp is his all time favorite. I know we will be making it again. I may try to come up with a peach & blueberry version using the topping recipe.

I am still wanting to put up a bunch of blueberries and some black raspberry jam, and of course the girls are begging for blueberry muffins and more double berry bread, so you can bet we will be heading back up the mountain soon and peeking at the black raspberry patch each time we walk by.

Making Soap

About a year ago I went to a friends to make soap. It was fun! It was easy! And I knew I'd be making soap again. Well, the time finally arrived. I was almost out and another friend wanted to learn to make soap. I'll admit I was a little nervous to make soap. If you google soap making some of the warnings about working with lye are a little scary. This was the reason I went to make it with my experienced friend first. Well my friend who joined me this time had those same first time nerves. But trust me. Soap making is fun and easy! Being prepared and knowing what to expect make working with lye doable.

First off is an simple recipe. I like the Homesteader's Soap found in The Complete Soapmaker by Norma Coney. This is a simple, I'd say fool proof, recipe that uses only three ingredients: tallow, lye and water.

Second,you need to gather your ingredients and tools. You really should have some items dedicated to making soap. And you should have a scale as it is important to weigh rather than measure your ingredients.

Now that you've gathered your supplies make sure you have some time when you wont be interrupted or have too many kids or animals passing through your work area.



Soap making isn't hard, but getting the right proportion of ingredients is essential. Weighing the ingredients is the way to go.




Making your lye mixture is the dangerous part, but with a few precautions such a gloves and goggles, it really isn't hard. there are a few fumes so don't put your face over the container. The chemical reaction that occurs is really cool. The mixture quickly heats up to about 200 degrees! Don't touch it and don't spill it! chemical burns are no fun.


Add your lye mixture to your tallow. Once again be careful not to splash.

Mixing with a stick blending makes the process move along quite quickly. Yard sales, freecyle, and Craig's list are great places to pick up stick blenders and containers for soap making.

Once your mixture reaches the trace stage it is time to pour it into your molds. Lucky for me my friend has beautiful soap molds, but you can use just about any container.

Now we have to wait. First the soap sits in the mold wrapped in a towel for 48 hours.

After the 48 hours is up, pop your soap out of the molds. The soap needs to sure and it is best that air can circulate around it. If not you will have to turn it. This takes a few more weeks and then your soap is ready to go.

Making soap is a lot of fun. It really isn't hard. It's frugal! And homemade soap is sooo good and doesn't have any junk that you don't want. There is tons of information on line and many great soap making books. I urge you to give it a try.

Next up for us, we will be taking some of our Homesteader Soap and milling it to add herbs and essential oils. Yep! We're going to try our hands at making some fancy soap. I'll let you know how it turns out.

{this moment} First of the Season

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Amanda, aka Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

~~~~

~~~~~

In gratitude this week for:

~the first black raspberries

~a day at the river with friends

~drains that actually drain quickly and in the right place

~the gift of a new bed for one of the girls.

Wishing you all a blessed weekend.

Homemade Lip Balm

So far so good with my goal of making one new health and beauty product a month. Last month was hand lotion. A month later and we are all loving this. It works fabulously and this mama know what is going on her family' skin. And on top of that it is quick and frugal. Who could ask for more?

This month we are making lip balm. Between the cold temps outside and the dry heat of our wood stove we are definitely a family that goes through a lot of lip balm. And while you can pick up lip balm cheap, the cost isn't the only thing that is cheap. Personally, I don't want all that stuff on my family's lips, especially if you have little ones who eat almost as much as they get on their lips. We have purchased a few high quality lip balms that we have been pleased with, that is with their ingredients and performance, not their price. It is hard to swallow paying upwards of $5.00 of a lip balm. There had to be a better answer. So we began playing with lip balm recipes. Here is our favorite so far - not to hard, not too soft and so yummy smelling, and you could eat it without any ill effects.

Cocoa - Coconut Lip Balm

1 1/2 tsp Cocoa Butter
1 7/8 tsp Coconut Oil
3 tsp Olive Oil
2 tsp Bees Wax
5 drops Vitamin E
6 Containers - Lip Balm Tubes or Little Pots


You are going to melt all the ingredients except the vitamin e together. I like to use a glass measuring cup and place it in a simmering pot of water. You could also put the measuring cup in the microwave. If using the microwave set it for short periods of time 15-20 seconds and check it often. When everything is melted add the vitamin e.

Carefully pour into your tubes or pots. Wait for the lip balm to cool and solidify. Your lip balm is ready! Easy peasy.

Come back next month when we try our hand at making goats milk soap.

Homemade Hand Lotion

One of my goals for 2011 is to make more of our health and beauty products. With four girls in the house we go through A LOT of health and beauty products. And while I try to purchase quality natural products the budget doesn't always allow. Yet, with our skin being our biggest organ I really want to watch what my family puts on it. So began the search for homemade recipes that would be frugal and natural.

Up first - Homemade Hand Lotion! With the wood stove going non-stop to keep us warm, the air in the house is so dry. On top of that the cold outside doesn't do wonders for the skin either. Everyone seems to have dry itchy skin this time of year and the result is we go through LOTS of lotion. So when I stumbled on a recipe for homemade lotion, I just knew I had to give it a try. The first batch was lovely, but not a thick and creamy as I would have liked so I have tweaked it a bit.

You will need:

• olive oil
• water
• emulsifying wax
• essential oil of our choice (optional)

We are going to make about 2 cups of lotion. I haven't tried to double this yet, but I think I will soon.

First put 1/4 cup olive oil in a glass measuring cup. Add a rounded 1/4 cup of the emulsifying wax. Melt either in a hot water bath on your stove top or in the microwave.

To the oil and wax mixture add your essential oil, about 20-40 drops depending on the oil and the strength of the scent you want. So are we have made lavender and peppermint. Both are lovely.

Heat up 1 1/8 cups of water. You want your water to be around 120-130 degrees. Pour the water into the oil and wax mixture and watch it turn a creamy white.

Pour the white liquid into a pint canning jar and let it sit over night. In the morning you will have homemade lotion. Really it is that easy! And as for cost. I found a great deal on olive oil not too long ago so a quarter up cost me $.16 and the quarter cup of emulsifying wax cost $.43. The essential oils can vary a lot, but I don't think the cost is all that much. So two cups of lotion cost about $.65.

I hope you enjoy this lotion as much as we do. Next up homemade lip balm . . .

Look who's 4!

I can't believe my sweet babe turned 4! Four! Where did the time go? She isn't even a babe any more. Really she hasn't been for a while now, but it is hard for this mama to let go.

Boo, as she is affectionately known, is the glue that holds this crazy family of ours together. She can make us all laugh. She is fabulous at giving orders. She is a helper and a doer. She is a singer and a dancer. And as you can see she is a silly face maker, especially for the camera. Sarah was trying to get her to pose in her birthday vest, pants and green socks that are all mama made. Fat chance! But this is our Boo. The picture is just perfect!

I didn't get a pictures but her birthday table was beautiful. All of her presents were wrapped in her play silks - green, frugal and pretty to boot. Of course each gift has to be played with or posed with before she could move on. Such a gracious little girl. She wore the princess cape the rest of the evening.

Make a wish! I wonder what four year olds wish for? I know one who would like a pony. The cake - just what the birthday girl ordered - chocolate & more chocolate! It actually turned out quite yummy and not to sweet. I used a mayonnaise chocolate cake recipe that I will share later.

Sarah make Rebekah these beautiful water colored alphabet cards. They have been working on spelling every one's name. Bekah's best buddy the dog was first.

Also received was a dress and sheep family and water trough (for her farm) from Gramma and Grampa, bubbles from Hannah, a star wand and the book, The Snow Children. this ended up being the perfect book as Boo's birthday brought the first BIG snow storm.

What a fabulous day for a fabulous girl. Happy Birthday sweetheart! We love the BIG girl you are growing into.

Pumpkin Pie

As promised, here is how to make pumpkin pie minus the can. First you need to take a trip to your local pumpkin farm. You can see ours here. Then you need to pick out a couple of sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins. Their flesh is not stringy and purees beautifully. It is also sweeter.

Bring your pumpkins home and cut them in half. Have the kids scoop out the seeds and stuff. They seem to enjoy this while I think it is just slimy. Save the seeds to roast. Roasted pumpkin seeds are such a yummy snack.

Next you want to roast your pumpkin. I place mine cut side down in a pan of water. (Hint: pour the water in after you have placed you pan on the rack in the oven, otherwise water may splash everywhere.) Roast in the oven for about an hour or so. The oven temp can be anywhere from 350-400. You can pierce the pumpkin with a fork to judge the doneness. It needs to be soft.

Here is our beautifully roasted pumpkin. Let it cool and then scrape the meat out of the skin. Next puree the meat. I did this with my food processor, but you could do it by hand, in the blender or with a stick blender. Your choice. That's it.

Our three pumpkins gave us eight cups of puree, enough for four pies! We made one pie and froze the rest in two cup portions. How wonderful it will be to have pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin coffee cake pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin pancakes this winter. Oh wait, I don't have enough pumpkin in the freezer for all that. Back to the farm.

Now you are ready to make your pie. You can use your favorite pumpkin pie recipe, just substitute your homemade pumpkin puree for the canned stuff. Here is the recipe we made. Boy was it yummy!