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Friday, 30 October 2009

  • Currently
    In Christ Alone
    By Keith & Kristyn Getty
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    Lip Balm

    Lip balms are fun and simple to make :) Here are two of my favorites. And it doesn't take many ingredients, most of them I have in the cupboard.

    Sweet Vanilla

    2 T. grated beeswax
    1 T. coconut oil
    1/4 tsp Vitamin E oil
    1/4 tsp vanilla extract
    1/4 tsp honey

    Gently heat the beeswax, coconut oil, and Vitamin E oil until melted. ( I turn the burner to the lowest setting) Stir in the vanilla and honey, make sure it's mixed well, pour into clean containers and allow to cool completely before covering.

    For the Vitamin E oil, I just open a few gel capsules and use that for my oil.



    Cocoa Mint Lip Balm

    1.5 oz Cocoa Butter
    1 oz Beeswax
    1.5 oz Shea Butter
    .01 oz Vitamin E oil (I put about 1/4 tsp in--I don't like measuring in ounces!)
    3-5 drops peppermnint essential oil --I used 3 drops and that was perfect for us

    You may wish to use less or no peppermint if you don't like the 'tingle' that peppermint leaves. Melt the cocoa butter, beeswax, and shea butter. Once it's liquified remove from heat, stir in vitamin E oil and essential oil. Pour into containers, let it cool.
    Enjoy!!

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

  • Currently
    The Bondage Breaker by Anderson, Neil T
    By Neil T. Anderson
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    It's been awhile since I've had time to post any new recipes. But now that the summer work is over, and yesterday I got all the flower beds cleaned, flower bulbs dug and both the gardens are worked up, maybe I'll have time to post a few more. :)

    This is a recipe for body wash, and it works very well for liquid soap too. We use it both ways.

    2 cups soap flakes or grated bar soap
    - -I buy the Pure Castile Soap Bar and grate that, 1 bar makes two cups of soap flakes.



    Add:
    1/2 gallon water ( For a less thick gel soap, use 1 gallon of water.)
    2 tbsp glycerin

    Mix ingredients together in a large pot. Set over low heat, stirring occasionally until the soap has dissolved.



    Transfer to a jar and cover tightly. It'll need to sit overnight to gel up nicely.



    This amount lasts us for several months, the longer it sits the thicker the gel will get. When I go to pour it out of the jars to refill the bottles I have to put the jar in hot water for 10 minutes or so and then it's a nice consistency to pour. Or you can add a little more water to the gel and shake the jar good, then you'll be able to pour it.

    I have always made it with 1/2 gallon of water, so I have no idea if it sets up nicely using a whole gallon. I like this consistency so have never tried it with more water.

    I like to use the scented Castile Soap Bars to make this. The last time I used Peppermint Soap Bar, I think it smells good but the kids don't, guess it smells too much like tea for their liking :)

Thursday, 03 September 2009

  • Currently
    Lifeforce: A Dynamic Plan for Health, Vitality, and Weight Loss
    By Jeffrey S. McCombs
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    Granola Bars

    Granola Bars
     


    Put it in a 9x13 pan, toast in the oven @ 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Stir several times to make sure it don't burn.

    In a kettle mix:
    2/3 cup br sugar
    1/2 cup honey
    4 Tbsp. butter
    2 tsp vanilla
    1/2 tsp Kosher salt



    Bring to a simmer stirring constantly. (I actually let mine boil for a couple minutes, I think it makes it stickier and hold the bars together better)



    Mix the toasted oat mixture and the syrup together, and you want to mix it really well. Make sure the syrup mixture coats all the oats, because that's what holds the bars together. And this is when you add any dried fruit you want-raisins, pineapple, coconut etc. Add 8 oz of dried fruit to a single batch.




    If you make a single batch- prepare a 9x13" pan to put the bars in. (I use a 12x17" pan when I double it)
    Line the pan with wax paper, and you want the paper greased very well otherwise the bars will stick to it. Believe me I forgot once and we had to pick off the wax paper in little bits!! :) I use butter to grease it. You can use a piece of wax paper for the bottom of the pan and for the top. I usually make it long enough to lay over the top.



    Pour the mixture in the prepared pan and smooth out.



    If you want chocolate chip granola bars, this is when you add the chips. I just sprinkle them on till it looks like enough.



    Fold the wax paper over the top of the bars and press HARD all over the granola. You want to compact it together so the bars won't fall apart when you take them out of the pan.



    The choc chips melt and this is what it looks like when you're done. Let the bars sit over night.



    Take the wax paper off the bars and use a big knife to cut them by firmly pressing down, (not using a sawing motion) make them whatever size you like.



    Enjoy!! There's so many combos you can make, using cashews, macadamia nuts, walnuts, dried papaya, cranberries, rasins etc. You can also use sesame or flax seed instead of sunflower.

Thursday, 23 July 2009

  • Toothpaste & Mouthwash

    Toothpaste --it's very simple to make, and much better for you esp if you are using a toothpaste with flouride in it. Flouride is not good for you, just google it and you'll find a lot of info about flouride in toothpaste and drinking water. I've read some think it actually causes more cavities, but others didn't seem to agree with that, whether it causes cavities or not I don't know but I DO know--the flouride is toxic, and they even put it in children's toothpaste and you know how much toothpaste a child can swallow?

    The most simple toothpaste is baking soda, and actually that has become our favorite one. :) I have a small container that I put about a half cup of baking soda in, here's a few herbs/ spices to add for different 'flavors'.

    Cloves and cinnamon- 1/4 -1/2 tsp. of each depending on how strong you like it. Cloves are good for toothaches, helps kill bad breath. Cinnamon is also good for toothache and I read it's often put in toothpaste and mouthwash so decided it'd work to put it in baking soda toothpaste :) It gives it a good flavor too.

    Black Walnut- Use one capsule and mix it in the baking soda. Black walnut helps build tooth enamel and also contains natural flouride.I've read/heard a variety of things about black walnut and teeth, some say it makes the teeth whiter, helps with toothache. Others say they have used black walnut tincture on cavities and it's helped.

    Peppermint or Spearmint Oils- I've also used these oils in the baking soda, just add a few drops of each and it gives it a very fresh minty taste.

    Dried Lemon & Orange Rind- 1/4 tsp of each, gives it a citrus flavor

    Green tea and Alfalfa are also known to help prevent tooth decay and contain natural flouride. We drink alot of garden tea so I often add either Green tea or the Alfalfa to that, and sweeten it with raw sugar or stevia so it's a healthy drink for the kids--and they don't know the difference :)

    Here's another Toothpaste recipe I've made and it is really good, I love the minty taste it has and it's also very simple to make.

    All Natural Toothpaste



    1/4 tsp peppermint oil
    1/4 tsp spearmint oil
    1/4 cup arrowroot powder
    1/4 cup powdered orris root
    1/4 cup water
    1 tsp ground sage

    Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl.






    Add water until the paste is desired the consistency. Then add oils.



    Store at room temperature in a tightly covered jar.



    The color doesn't look appealing but it really does taste good! :)


    Here's a few simple mouthwashes we use.
    This is a good one for children-
    ~1/2 cup of water and add 30-40 drops of Black Walnut liquid
    Mix together and use.

    *************

    ~Take a pint of vodka, steep two tablespoons of cloves in it for several days, strain and use as mouthwash. (To steep-just sit it on your shelf in a cool dry place, shake it every day, I left ours sit four days before straining it. )

    *************

    ~This is one I do not care for at all but others may like it--use peroxide as a mouthwash, it kills bacteria and is also a teeth whitener. (I think it has a funny after taste! :)

Friday, 10 July 2009

  • Scented Vinegars


    Sterlilize a glass jar
    Put fresh oregano and thyme herb in jar (I stuff it as full as possible)
    Then fill jar with white vinegar, use vinegar that is 5% or higher in acidity

    Set jar on shelf for two weeks shaking occansionally. Strain out the herbs and you have Oregano Vinegar.

    Lavender Vinegar



    Same as the above except put lavender flowers and leaves in the jar and fill with white vinegar. This one is so pretty because the vinegar turns purple.

    And I use the lavender vinegar as a hair rinse for dark hair, or for cleaning in the house.



    Here's another one but I don't have pictures of it:

    Chive Vinegar
    Pack lovely, pink chive blossoms in a jar then fill with white vinegar. Let it sit for several days shaking bottle occasionally. This vinegar is delicious when used to baste fish, or anything that benefits from a slight oniony taste.. Makes a wonderful salad dressing.

    Here's a list of herb combinations to put in vinegars:

    Lemon grass/thyme/garlic/orange peel
    Chile peppers/garlic
    Parsley/sage/rosemary/thyme
    Rosemary/orange peel/cloves
    Chive blossoms/salad burnet
    Raspberries/mint/garlic
    Oregano/thyme/parsley/basil

    Haven't tried them all yet, they are great to use in cooking, making salad dressing or in Vinaigrette Recipes. We like Vinaigrettes, but some folks don't care them :)
    The Oregano Vinegar is good to flavor salad dressings, meats, stews, fish.
    Enjoy!!

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