soap making essentials

I have never tried it, but would love to!

okay if you want to make soap purely from scratch;

Put on your rubber gloves and goggles.
Weigh out 12 ounces of lye (sodium hydroxide) into the two-cup measuring cup.
Weigh 32 ounces (2 pounds) of cold water in glass container.
Slowly add lye to water (best done outside) stirring gently. **It is very important to add the Lye to the water and not the other way round!!! Otherwise the reaction is too quick and it is dangerous!!** The lye will heat the water and release fumes. The fumes dissipate quickly, but turn your face away so as not to inhale the fumes.
Set aside and allow the lye to cool.
Weigh out 24 ounces of coconut oil and 38 ounces of vegetable shortening into the metal kettle. Melt these oils over low heat and stir frequently. Remove from heat after the oils have melted and add the 24 ounces of olive oil.
When your lye has reached a range of 95-98 degrees Fahrenheit (35-36 degrees Celsius) and your oils are at the same temperature, add the lye in a slow steady stream to the oils. Use the metal whisk to stir the mixture. After about ten minutes you will notice a change in your mixture. This is called saponification.
The mixture will appear like thin cream. This is called tracing. Tracing occurs when droplets of soap will stand up on the surface. When this happens, add your fragrance and stir well. Be ready to pour natural soap in your mold.
Cover your shoe box with the two towels and set aside undisturbed for eighteen hours. The soap will go through a gel stage and a heat process. At the end of this period uncover the soap and allow to sit for another 12 hours.
If you measured accurately and followed the directions, there should be no problems. But if your soap has a deep oily film on top the natural soap cannot be used because it has separated. It is disappointing if this happens. This will occur if your measurements were not accurate.
Unmold your natural soap. Turn the box over and allow the soap to fall on a towel or clean surface. Cut your soap into bars. Allow the natural soap to cure in a cool dry place for approximately four to six weeks before using.

If you want to remake soap:

How To Make Hand Milled Soaps

If you like the look, feel and texture of processed soaps but don’t want to have make them from scratch then hand milled soaps, also known as rebatched soaps, might work for you. The essential instructions are actually fairly easy to follow and with a little practice you can make some gorgeous soaps. This method can also be used for leftover scrap pieces of soap too.

Q: What is hand milled soap?

A: Milling is a standard term in the soapmaking industry meaning grated or ground, so hand milled soaps are hand grated soaps that are re-formed into new bars.

The most important thing you can do to make this process go smoothly is to gather all of your supplies before you begin. Having everything you need at your fingertips makes it a lot easier because later in the process you have to move fairly quickly as the soap begins to thicken up.

Once you have all of your supplies it’s time to begin:

Step 1: Grate your soap. A food processor can be used in addition to hand grating the soap in order to achieve a finer texture.

Choosing your base soap: A soap that is made with lye and cold processed works best for hand milling. Castile soaps also work great for hand milling as well. Choose soaps that do not have added fragrances, scents or dyes.

Step 2: Place all of your grated soap into a pan, bowl or large measuring glass that will be placed in a larger pan with water in it. Be sure to leave enough space in the pan to gently stir your soap.

Step 3: Add any oils and then water, called for in the hand milled recipe. Add about 2” of water to the larger pan and place on a medium to medium-high heat. Sit the smaller pan with the grated soap, oils and/or water into the larger pan and begin stirring while the water heats. When the water begins to boil, turn down the heat so that it will stay at a simmering boil. Continue stirring through the melting process.

Tips for the melting process: At first the soap will clump together. Use your spoon to break up the clumps and continue stirring until the oils and/or water are completely mixed in. It will begin to look sort of like a watery cottage cheese mixture, continue stirring. The soap will eventually become smoother. The final phase of the melting process is when the soap looks ‘stringy’. The soap must reach the string phase of the melting process in order for it to set up correctly later.

Step 4: The soap will begin to thicken very quickly at this point. Remove your soap from the hot water and work quickly to add any dyes or fragrances the recipe calls for. Once the dyes and scents are added, add any herbs, botanicals or additional ingredients your recipe calls for. Stir these additives in until they are thoroughly combined.

Step 5: Once the additives are completely mixed through the soap, spoon the melted soap into the mold. In order to eliminate any potential air bubbles, gently tap the mold on the counter. If you prefer soap balls to molded soaps, as soon as the soap is cool enough to handle, begin working into balls with your hands.

Step 6: Your molded soap should be ready to be removed from the mold within four to twelve hours. Once the soap is hard enough, remove it from the mold and set it out to cure for up to three weeks. In the first few days it’s imperative that you flip and/or rotate your soap so that it doesn’t become mis-shaped or warped.

Tips for the molding/curing process: If you having difficulty getting your hardened soap out of the mold, pop it into the freezer for a about 30 minutes or so and then try removing it again. If you don’t want to wait the four to twelve hours for your soap to harden, you can also freeze it.

Be sure to allow adequate curing time or the soap will dissolve very quickly when it’s used.

If you shape your soap into balls, as they cure they may shrink or even collapse. If this happens simply reshape them by hand into balls again.

If your soap doesn’t get good and hard after about three days or so, it most likely didn’t reach the proper stringy temperature all the way through the soap during the melting process. You can either re-melt and re-mold it, or try shaping it into soap balls.

Layered hand milled soaps can be created by scooping in the first layer and letting it set up to a soft but solid form, then scooping in the next layer and repeating the process.

Gold is durable, gold is beautiful and gold is lasting. But don’t let that fool you, gold can be damaged. It can be scratched and dented when not treated properly. It can develop a film build up of oils from lotions, powder, soap and natural skin oil, which causes it to look dull. The chemicals circulating in the air can slightly oxidize the gold depending on the karat grade used. One more thing, do not let your gold jewelry, especially rings come in contact with common household cleaning products that contain chlorine. Chlorine bleach products can damage your jewelry over time. The moral is: don’t wear your jewelry while doing household chores where chlorinated cleaning products are involved; don’t wear your hand jewelry (rings and bracelets) when you are involved in active sports, hard knocks can damage or scratch it; don’t wear your jewelry in swimming pools and Jacuzzis.

Now for the do’s; do enjoy your gold jewelry; do take care of your gold jewelry; do have it checked by a jeweler at least once a year for loose prongs, worn mountings and general wear; do have it professionally cleaned periodically. Between visits to your jeweler, it’s important that you check your jewelry pieces each time you wear them, just look them over for any wear or damage, such as clasps that are not fastening securely, prongs that may be cracked, bent or loosened, and chains that may be kinked. If you find any of these conditions, a visit to your jeweler is suggested.

What is the proper care for gold jewelry you ask? We have a few tips and will share them with you, as well as a few home recipes for cleaning fine gold jewelry, past on to me by my mother. Mom did not live in the city, she did not live in a town, she was a country woman and as such she had many home recipes and remedies. Her usual routine for cleaning her fine gold jewelry was simple. She used warm water and a mild detergent (used for dish washing), and a very soft brush to gently clean the items while they were in the water. Next step, gently dry it with a soft lint-free cloth. Voila, sparkling clean jewelry! One other method she used was to make a solution of water and household ammonia (one part ammonia to six parts water) and let your jewelry soak for up to a minute, remove and dry with a soft cloth.

Of course there are commercial cleaners available today that make cleaning your jewelry a snap! Many jewelers carry a commercial dip cleaner. There are a lot of different brands of this type of cleaner, and you are best off to read the label and follow its directions. Another commercial method is the ultrasonic cleaner, which is available in many different models and prices. They can be used to quickly clean your jewelry at home, however, ultrasonic cleaners can damage some jewelry. We’ll cover a few of the delicate stones you need to be careful with later. The best advice I can give you about the ultrasonic cleaners is that you should ask your jeweler which one is best for your jewelry and have your jeweler recommend an appropriate model.

Diamonds are a hardy stone, and can be cleaned using the above methods. Do not use jewelry cleaner or ultrasonic cleaners on pearls and porous stones, such as emeralds, rubies, lapis lazuli, coral and turquoise. Wipe them clean with a soft damp cloth or have them cleaned professionally. Check with your jeweler if you have any doubts about a particular stone.

Proper storage is also important. As I mentioned before gold can scratch and dent, so it is important that you not jumble all of your jewelry together – instead each piece should be stored so it does not come in contact with another piece of jewelry. A fabric lined jewelry case or a box with compartments and dividers works well, but if you prefer to use an ordinary box, each piece should be kept in a soft cloth pouch or wrapped in a soft cloth.

For those of you who travel frequently, there are many types of traveling carryalls on the market today. They come in all sizes, shapes and patterns and most of them have velvet linings inside so you can attach pins and earrings, and compartments in which to place your bracelets, rings and necklaces.

Gold jewelry is meant to last a lifetime and is an appropriate adornment for everyone

Naomi Haig
http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/gold-jewelry-dos-and-donts-92456.html

We are on a tight budget, and I’m looking to save some money any way I can. I’ve heard of making your own laundry soap out of Borax, Washing soda, and bar soap. Anyone know the recipe and how it works?

Uhm…well duh! Just google it. Not that hard to do.

Palm Oil 520 grams
Olive Oil 440 grams
Coconut Oil 400 grams
Lye 210 grams
Distilled Water 500 grams

Heat Oils together.
Add Lye to Water very slowly – wear protective eye ware and plastic gloves.
Keep Oils and Lye/water at 120 deg. F.
Follow standard soap making procedure.
Cure/dry this soap for 3 to 4 weeks
_______________________________________
4 ounces Castor Oil
1 ounce Cocoa Butter
18 ounces Coconut Oil (76 degree)
9 ounces Pomace Olive Oil (virgin or any other olive oil can be substituted)
9 ounces Palm Oil
2 ounces Shea Butter
25 ounces Vegetable Shortening

Filler Ingredient – Oatmeal

10.07 ounces lye
36.12 ounces Semi Frozen Goat Milk

Put bowl in sink of cold ice water.
Add lye into milk very slowly – 3 ounces at a time.
Stir and stir and stir between additions.
Once all lye is in Goat Milk – and Milk and Oil are both at approx. 105 degrees, Stir Stir Stir – use spatula to take soap off sides of bowl to ensure your soap has been evenly mixed together.
Once soap is at a light trace, add oatmeal into soap mixture.
Stir Stir Stir!
Once oatmeal has been fully stirred in, you may either pour into molds for an unscented product, or add in 2 ounces of FO or EO.
If you add in scent, make sure you once again Stir Stir Stir until all fragrance oils have been properly dispatched throughout your soap base. Then pour into molds, add a cover (wax paper, a towel, etc….) and set for 24 hrs, or until properly hardened.
Remove from molds and let sit on a drying rack to cure/dry for at least 4 weeks before use.
We let our soaps set from 6 to 8 weeks.
Then….Enjoy your Goat Milk Soaps!!

_____________________________________________

thanks, also, does anyone know of any disposable diaper liners that are cheaper than imse-vimpse, or kushies.. I have tried dried out baby wipes but they dont work and they cost almost the same amount.. any other ideas you have would be great to hear..
I found some neat tricks, I wash and reuse the potty only disposable diaper liners 1 or 2 times to cut down on cost, I have also washed my disposable bottle liners for avent, and platex at least ten times each..making them less than a penny instead or 10cents each.. I asked my doctor about this and he said it was ok to do this. just stop using them when they show any wear.. thanks for all the great answers.

I use this solution with some old wash cloths or squares of soft cotton flannel with hemmed edges to prevent fraying.
Anti-fungal Baby Wipes

1/2 c. distilled water
1 tbs. vinegar (helps discourage yeast)
1/4 c. aloe vera gel
1 TBS. calendula oil
1 drop lavender essential
1 drop tea tree essential oil

To prepare, use a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour all your ingredients in, cover the jar and shake to blend the ingredients. Place your wipes in a container and pour on enough solution to moisten them. Store any extra solution in the fridge. It should stay fresh for a long time especially if you used distilled water.

As far as disposable liners, I use Tiny Tush disposable liners http://www.tinytush.com/Disposable-Diaper-Liners_p_79-572.html They are big, so you can cut them in half and they work just fine!

CONTENTS

POTATO SOUP

CHESSY STUFF CHICKEN

BAKED SALMON FILLETTS

PASTA SALAD

PIZZA POTATOES

BAKED APPLE WEDGES

GROUND BEEF STEW

LIGHTSIDE

FOOD INFORMATION

CLEANING TIPS

NON-ALOHOLIC DRINKS

BAR MIXES

POTATO SOUP

½ cup chopped onion

 
½ cup chopped celery

6 diced potatoes

 
2 Tablespoons margarine

 
½ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup non-fat dry milk

3 cups water

2 Tablespoons flour

Peel and chop the onion.

Chop the celery.

Peel the potatoes, and cut them into small cubes.

Melt the margarine in a large saucepan on low heat.

Add the onion and celery. Cook for a few minutes.

Add the potatoes, salt, pepper and 1½ cups water.

Cook for 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

In a small bowl, stir together the dry milk and flour.

Add 1½ cups water slowly, stirring as you add it.

Add the milk mix to the potatoes.

Cook until the soup is heated and slightly thickened.

Adjust the seasonings.  YIELD: 6-1 cup servings.

CHEESY STUFF CHICKEN

2 tablespoon butter or margarine

2 medium zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 pkg. (6 0z.) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken

1 cup Kraft Finely Shredded Italian Style Five Cheese Blend

2 pkg.(about 1-2 lb.each) Chicken quarters

¾ cup Kraft Honey Barbecue Sauce

PREHEAT oven to 400 degrees F. Melt butter in medium saucepan on medium heat. Add zucchini and onion; cook and stir 2 min. or until well blended.

CAREFULLY insert fingers between the meat and skin of each chicken quarter to form a pocket. Fill pockets evenly with stuffing mixture. Place, skin sides up, in large roasting pan.

BAKE 45 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Brush with barbecue sauce. Bake an additional 5 to 10 min.or until heated though.   YIELDS: 8 servings

BAKED SALMON

4- 6 OZ. SALMON FILLETS

1 LEMON

1 TABLESPOON OAT BRAN

1 ½ teaspoon dill weed

½ teaspoon thyme leaves

 
½ teaspoon onion powder

 
1 lemon

 
1 teaspoon paprika 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oat bran, dill weed, thyme leaves, onion powder, and paprika. Sprinkle over salmon fillets. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

YIELD: 6

Pasta Salad

8 oz. Pasta

½  small red onion, chopped

¼  cup low-fat salad dressing

Choose 3 of the following vegetables:

1  medium tomato, chopped

1  small zucchini, sliced

¼  cup celery, chopped

¼  cup carrots, sliced

1  medium pepper, chopped

¼  cup green beans

½  cup broccoli, chopped

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Add chopped onion and fresh vegetables. (If preferred, steam or stir-fry vegetables for 3-5 minutes before adding to pasta). Add salad dressing. Mix well.  Serves 4.

Pizza Potatoes

½  cup broccoli, chopped

½  onion, chopped

¼  cup carrots, chopped fine

1  small tomato, sliced

2  baked potatoes

½  tablespoon margarine

½  tablespoon flour

½  cup skim milk

¼  cup cheese, shredded

Cook broccoli, onions, and carrots in a small amount of water until tender and set aside. In a saucepan, melt margarine and stir in flour. Add milk slowly while stirring. Cook until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add vegetables to cheese sauce and stir. Split open potatoes. Pour equal amounts of vegetable cheese mixture over each potato. Top with sliced tomatoes.

Baked Apple Wedges

2-3 baking apples (Rome, Cortland, Golden Delicious) 1/2 teaspoon margarine

½  tablespoon sugar OR brown sugar

ground cinnamon to taste

1/8  cup orange juice (optional)

Peel, core, and cut apples into quarters or wedges, depending on the size of the apple. Place apples in 1 quart baking dish. Dot apples with margarine. Sprinkle apples lightly with sugar and cinnamon. Orange juice may be added if desired. Bake at 375 degrees until tender, about 30 minutes.  Serves 2.

GROUND BEEF STEW

½   pound ground beef, or ground turkey, or venison

1/8 teaspoon salt (optional)

1/8 teaspoon pepper (optional)

1 – 10 ¾  ounce can ounce tomato soup, condensed

water, one soup can full

6 medium diced or sliced carrots

2 medium diced or sliced potatoes

1 cup diced onion

Brown meat. Drain fat, if any. Season lightly with salt and pepper (optional).

Add soup and 1 can of water to fry pan. Add vegetables.

Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, about 25 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat, cover for last 10 minutes to thicken.

LIGHTSIDE

A hillbilly and his son were visiting a mall for the first time.  They were amazed by two walls that could move apart and then slide shut again.

The boy asks his father what it was.  (Never having seen a elevator before) The father replies, “Sorry I have never seen anything like this before”.

Just then an oversized lady came and pressed a button on the wall. The walls opened and the lady stepped into a small room.  The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small numbers above the walls light sequentially. They watched as it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order.  When the walls opened again a attractive slim 24-year lady stepped out. The father, not taking his eyes off the lady said to his son, “Go get your mother”

FOOD INFORMATION, TIPS

Thanksgiving was just a few days ago, and with the Christmas holidays coming, here are a few things to keep in mind.

AFTER MEALS

Put food away right after the meal.  Discard any turkey, stuffing, gravy left at room temperature longer than two hours.

Refrigerated turkey and stuffing use within three to four days.

Gravy within one to two days.

If you freeze leftovers, use within two to six months.

HOW SAVE IS OUR BOTTLE DRINKING WATER.

Do Federal or local authorizes Check in Canada or the USA?

I just read a report by Shan Phelan Investigative Correspondent for the Irish Independent, showing shocking levels of contamination in bottle waters sold there are exposed in a confidential report by the States food safety watchdog.

The draft report seen by the Irish Independent reveals that harmful bacteria, including E coli, have been found in bottle water on sale throughout the country.  Health officers found 7.2 pc of bottle water they sampled for the report were in breach of either legal or EU guidelines. For a complete report go to;

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bottled-water-scare-as-dangerous-germs-found-1541957.html

FOOD INSPECTIONS

GOOD NEWS FOR OUR HEALTH FROM FAST FOOD

Fast-food outlets including McDonald’s and KFC have pledged to make their food more healthy as part of a campaign to cut heart disease and obesity. Burger King, Wimpy, Nando’s and Subway promised to cut salt and fat levels. The Food Safety Authority will monitor the commitments with the aim of making the food eaten by more than three million Britons a day healthier.

The baking, grilling or frying of starchy foods can create a harmful substance called acryl amide.  Acryl amide is a chemical that forms in some foods during cooking at high temperatures. The natural sugars and the amino acid asparagines found in some plant foods combine naturally to produce acryl amide when subjected to high heat. Common food sources of the chemical include potatoes, grain products and coffee.

Very low levels of acryl amide are present in drinking water compared to the much larger amounts of the chemical found in cigarette smoke and certain foods.

At present, the World Health Organization classifies acryl amide as “probably carcinogenic to humans” on the basis of the evidence from animal studies.

At the heart of problem is the way we prepare potatoes and grain products. Some of the largest sources of acryl amine in the diet include french fries, potato chips, ready-to-eat cereals, cookies, graham crackers, pastries, coffee and toast. All of these products are processed or prepared at high temperatures.

Large amounts of acryl amide form during high-temperature cooking techniques such as frying, grilling, broiling, roasting or baking. Foods that are cooked to a dark brown color contain higher amounts of the chemical than those that are stopped at a golden yellow.

Little or no acryl amide is produced during lower-temperature methods such as boiling, steaming, poaching, braising, blanching and microwaving.

Acryl amide is usually not present in raw plant foods. It’s typically not associated with meat, dairy products or seafood.

The higher the temperatures and the longer the times that plant foods are cooked, the greater the amounts of acryl amides that are formed.

Cook at recommended temperatures to destroy germs while preserving the maximum flavour and nutritional value of your food.

NEXT HEALTH CRISIS?

The past decade witnessed the massive off shoring of jobs to low-cost countries, decimating the U.S.A. and Canada manufacturing base. Cheap food may bring the next health crisis.

Ice cream. Yogurt. Crackers and biscuits. Egg and products containing powdered eggs. Cake. Powdered and condensed milk, pet food, pie, cereal plus other food products.

You probably consumed some of these products.  Did you know where they came from?  You may have thought these products were produced in the USA or Canada.  You would not know that some of these products came from china, and yes, China imports them into Canada and the USA.

These foods of Chinese origin have been found by authorities in the United States, Canada, Australia, to contain an industrial chemical called melamine that is used to make plastic.  In recent weeks, the Chinese government has admitted that adding melamine to food – which raises protein levels, making poor-quality products look more nutritious – is common practice in China.  Melamine can cause kidney stones and kidney failure when eaten. It has already sent about 54,000 Chinese consumers to the hospital and caused the deaths of at least four infants.

Mark Schlosberg is the California director and Elanor Starmer is a research analyst with Food & Water Watch, a national non-profit firm working to ensure clean water and safe food. For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.

USA OPENS FDA OFFICE IN CHINA

Worries about the quality of Chinese exports to the U.S. have become a major feature of bilateral trade ties, with substandard Chinese food and toys covered in lead paint among the recurring product safety scares.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, speaking on the eve of opening of an FDA office in Beijing, said a new strategy was needed because the United States imported $2 trillion worth of goods a year, equal to four times the size of the Brazilian economy.

The FDA Office will be the first outside the US and will be followed by two more in China this month and one in India next month.

BEWARE FDA SCAM

As part of a fraudulent scheme to extort money from consumers, callers have falsely identified themselves as officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Consumers should know that FDA officials never contact consumers by phone to demand money or any other form of payment. “Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law,” says Michael Chappell, FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.

Offers of Discounted Prescription Drugs

 

Several instances have been reported to FDA of calls enticing consumers to purchase discounted prescription drugs by wiring funds to one of several locations in the Dominican Republic. No medications are ever delivered.

 

A subsequent call is received from a fraudulent “FDA special agent” informing the consumer that a fine of several thousand dollars is required to be sent to an address in the Dominican Republic to prevent incarceration or other legal action.

Report complaints or information regarding this scheme to FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations at (800) 521-5783.

RECALL NOTICE

Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Fiesta recalls 47,000 Blue Ember grills

 

Fiesta has recalled 47,000 of its Blue Ember gas grills because improper assembly of the grill poses a fire hazard. Fiesta has received 14 reports of grill fires although no reports of injuries.

CLEANING TIPS

Commercial cleaning supplies can aggravate your allergies and have long terms effects on your health. You can save on your house-cleaning bill with very good results using less toxic substances. Before washing, it is essential that all stains be removed. Sometimes Soap or hot water will set a stain and make its removal impossible.

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

 

If you have teenagers, or in fact any adult, impress on them the
risks of driving while intoxicated. Statistics demonstrate drunk
drivers cause many fatal road accidents.

 

It should be known that like any other drug, addiction is a
potential hazard.  Excess of alcohol will affect organs such as the brain, heart, and liver.

BAR MIXES

SHANGHAI COCKTAIL

¼ juice of lemon

1-teaspoon anisette

1 ½ ounce Jamaica rum

½ teaspoon grenadine

Shake with ice cubes.

Strain into cocktail glass.

MARTINI (sweet)

1-ounce gin

½ ounce Italian vermouth

1dash orange bitters

Stir with ice cubes.

Strain into chilled cocktail glass

NON- ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

ICED COFFEE

There are just as many ways of making coffee, as there are different brands. Here are some general rules.

For good results measure water and coffee.

2 tablespoons coffee to each 1 cup

Make coffee just before serving

Make coffee double strength and pour the hot coffee over ice in a tall glass.  As the ice melts, it will dilute the coffee. Top the glass with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

HOT DRINKS FOR CHILDREN

½ cup cocoa

1 cup sugar

2 cups water

1/8 teaspoon salt

¼ spoon vanilla.

Combine cocoa, sugar and salt

Add water and stir until well blended.

Cook for 5 minutes.  Cool and bottle

Makes 3 cups syrup

Add 2 tablespoons of syrup to each cup of scaled milk.

Disclaimer: The Author of this article is not responsible for accuracy or completeness nor shall he be held liable for any damage or loss arising out of or in any way related to the information or utilization of it.

Bruce Chambers
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/grandma-hystads-recipes-bar-mixes-food-informatiom-669948.html

There are so many recipes for the mold castile soap and can’t find anything on the liquid version.

I’ve seen recipes for making liquid soap which seem to involve mostly using bar soap, grating it, and dissolving it in distilled water. Maybe if you just added more water to your recipe?

I know I have seen simple "recipes’ for recycling old bits of bar soap into liquid hand soap…but cannot find one now. Please help!! Thank you!!!

All I’ve ever done is take all those small bars, break, smash, grate them to as small as I can get them, put them into a container, fill with water and let sit for a few days, shaking every so often. They all don’t magically melt down, but I use the liquid and replenish the water as necessary.

CONTENTS

BORSCHT SOUP

GRANDMA’S SPAGHETTI AND MEAT BALLS

BAKED WINTER SQUASH

GRANDMA’S WHIPPED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

AUNT PAT’S BUTTER TARTS

LIGHTSIDE

BUY LOCAL FOOD

FOOD INFORMATION WHEN EXPOSED TO FIRE, FLOOD, HEAT, POWER OUT

CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

BAR MIXES

NON-ALOHOLIC DRINK

VEGETABLE SOUP BORSCHT

2 pounds beef, with soup bone.

2 carrots.

1 medium head of cabbage.

2 average-sized onions.

6 average-sized potatoes.

2 cups canned tomatoes.

6 whole pepper kernels.

1 bay leaf.

A few sprigs of dill.

½ cup chopped beets.

Cover meat with cool water and bring to a boil.
Let simmer until almost tender.  Add water if necessary
to keep meat covered.  One hour before serving, add chopped
vegetables and seasoning.  Potatoes may be cooked separately
before serving.  When ready to serve, remove from heat and
add sour cream.

GRANDMA’S SPAGHETTI AND MEAT BALLS.
½ cup………………….(125 ml)……………………onions
2 tablespoons (30 ml)…………………….margarine
1 pound…………….(500 g)……………………ground beef
2 cups…………………(500 ml)…………………tomato sauce.
2/3 cup………………(160 ml)…………………sliced mushrooms.
4 cups…………………(1000 ml)………………can tomatoes.
½ cup………………….(125 ml)…………………chopped parsley.
1 ½ teaspoon. (7.5ml)……………………oregano or sage
1 teaspoon………(5 ml)………………………salt
¼ teaspoon………(1.25 ml)………………thyme
1 bay leaf
1 cup………………….(500 ml)…………………water
2 cloves garlic

In a large skillet, cook onion in hot oil until tender.  Add
Meat and garlic, brown lightly.  Add remaining ingredients.
Simmer uncovered 1 ½-2 hours or until sauce is nice and thick.
Stir occasionally.  Remove Bay leaf.  Serve hot over spaghetti.
Top with Parmesan cheese.
YIELD:  6 servings.
Time:   2 ½ hours.

Beef And Potato Cakes

You can use ground meat if desired.  A treat for children.

8 oz. Beef.

8 oz. Potatoes.

1 small 2-3 inch onion chopped finely.

1 egg yolk.

Dark soy sauce.

1 teaspoon salt.

Cook the potatoes and mash.  Mix in egg yolk and salt.  Chop onion finely, brown with 1-tablespoon oil, and add ground meat.  Brown for 4 minutes.  Add soy sauce and mix the batch with the potatoes.  Shape into balls the size of golf balls, flatten into cakes.  Heat the cooking pan. Grease lightly with oil; use medium heat to brown the cakes, turn to brown both sides.  If you have an electric skillet set temperature at 340.  When automatic control light blinks, turn cakes over.

Baked Winter Squash

1 large acorn or butternut squash
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Margarine or Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with the margarine or cooking spray.

Slice the squash into rounds 1/4 inch thick. Remove seeds on each slice and arrange squash in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake the slices for 8 minutes, turn, and drizzle lightly with maple syrup and cinnamon. Bake for 8 minutes longer; remove from the oven and let cool. Serves 4.

GRANDMA’S WHIPPED SHORT BREAD COOKIES

1 POUND………(500 G)……………..BUTTER OR MARSRINE

3 CUPS………..(750 ML)……………FLOUR

1 CUP ……………(250 ML)…………..ICING SUGAR

Beat with mixer until creamy.  Drop on cookie sheet and bake at 350 F, (175 C) until slightly brown.

YIELD: approximately 5 dozen cookies

TIME:  1 hour (includes cooking and cleaning time)

AUNT PAT’S FAVOURITE BUTTER TARTS

1/3-cup ………………………(80 ml) …………………butter.
1-cup………………………………(250 ml)…………………brown sugar.
2 tablespoons…………(30 ml)……………………milk or cream..
1/3 cup……………………….(80 ml)……………………currants
1 egg beaten well.
1 teaspoon……………….(5 ml)………………………vanilla.

Mix all ingredients together.  Put in unbaked tart shells. 
Bake at 450 F, (230 C), for 8 minutes.  Turn down to 350 F,
(175 C), and cook until brown.

LIGHTSIDE

Dinner Blessings

The housewife invited 2 couple and their children for dinner one night. As they get ready to eat, the housewife asks her son, “Would you like to say blessings”?

“I don’t know what to say”, the boy replies.

 “Just say what you hear what your mother says”, replied the mother.

The boy bowed his head and said, “Lord, why on earth did I invite two 2 couples and their kids for dinner”?

BUY LOCAL

Where possible we should buy locally grown foods. As a rule your food is fresher, better flavor, picked within a day of your purchase. Local produce more likely has a higher nutrient content than store-bought produce that has spent time on a transport truck and warehouse. Further farmers who sell directly to local customers receive the full value for their product, can sell cheaper, as there is less cost to processing, transportation, packing, warehouse etc.

This is the time of the year for ice; snowstorms, (with power failure) floods and fire, depending on what part of the country you live.  Below are some helpful tips to keep your food and you safe.

Food Information When Power Out

Have Food on hand that don’t require refrigeration and can be eaten cold or heated on the outdoor grill.  Food boxed or canned milk, water, and canned goods should be part of a planned emergency food supply.  Also, ready-to-use baby formula for infants and pet food.

Always keep meat, poultry, fish, and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 °F and frozen food at or below 0 °F. This may be difficult when the power is out.  Coolers are a great help for keeping food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It is produced whenever you burn any fuel—such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal. Generators, pressure washers, other gasoline powered tools and charcoal grills give off high levels of CO. This can build up quickly in closed spaces or partially enclosed spaces—within minutes. Never use gas-powered tools inside—that includes your basement or garage.

Get a battery-powered CO detector to alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.

Please remember: you CAN NOT prevent build-up of carbon monoxide by using an exhaust fan—or opening your garage doors or windows. Again, never use gas-powered equipment inside.

Be alert to the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning! If you or anyone else in your home feels sick, dizzy or weak—Think carbon monoxide—CO! Get out of the house and seek prompt medical help.

FOOD EXPOSED TO FIRE- HEAT

Discard food that has been near a fire. Food exposed to fire can be damaged by the heat of the fire, smoke fumes, and chemicals used to fight the fire. Food in cans or jars may appear to be okay, but the heat from a fire can activate food spoilage bacteria. If the heat is extreme, the cans or jars themselves can split or rupture, rendering the food unsafe.

One of the most dangerous elements of a fire is sometimes not the fire itself, but toxic fumes released from burning materials. Discard any raw food or food in permeable packaging—cardboard, plastic wrap, screw-topped jars, bottles, etc.—stored outside the refrigerator.

Food stored in refrigerators or freezers can also become contaminated by fumes. The refrigerator seal isn’t airtight and fumes can get inside. Chemicals used to fight the fire contain toxic materials and can contaminate food and cookware.

Food that is exposed to chemicals should be thrown away—the chemicals cannot be washed off the food. This includes food stored at room temperature, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as food stored in permeable containers like cardboard and screw-topped jars and bottles.

In Flood Zone?

If your location is in a possible flood zone plan your food storage on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water. Coolers are a great help for keeping food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours.

Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with floodwater. Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. Also, discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home canned foods if they have come in contact with floodwater, because they cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitized.

Inspect canned foods and discard any food in damaged cans. Can damage is shown by swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive thoroughly wash countertops with soap and water, using hot water if available. Rinse and then sanitize them by applying a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest, clearest water available). Allow air-drying.

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING
It should be known that like any other drug, addiction is a potential hazard.  Excess of alcohol will affect organs such as the brain, heart, and liver.

If you’re having a party provide food with your drinks.  You can also offer non-alcoholic such as fruit, soft drinks.

BAR MIXES
Hoots Mon.
1 jigger Scotch Whiskey.
½ jigger Lillet.
½ jigger Sweet Vermouth.
Stir with ice and strain.

Apple Cocktail
½ ounce applejack
½ ounce apple cider
¼ ounce gin
¼ ounce brandy
Shake with ice cubes.  Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Non-Alcoholic Drink

Fresh Fruit Punch
8 ounces each of orange juice, pineapple juice, and grapefruit
juice.
1 bottle ginger ale.  Sugar to taste.
Combine the juices with the sugar.  Stir until the sugar is
dissolved and refrigerate.  Add the ginger ale plus chunks of ice before serving.

Disclaimer: The Author of this article is not responsible for accuracy or completeness nor shall he be held liable for any damage or loss arising out of or in any way related to the information or utilization of it.

You have permission to copy any of my articles providing each is complete, and Author Article Source Box is included.

Bruce Chambers
http://www.articlesbase.com/recipes-articles/grandma-hystads-recipesbar-mixes-drinks-food-information-752275.html

Please give it in liquid measurements, (oz) not weight. Thanks.

Try these. Good luck.

http://www.millersoap.com/soapsfluid.html