Homeade This & That...

Why not make it yourself?  Here are a few of the things that I am making at home instead of purchasing. 

Bread:  Here's the recipe I have found works for me.
In the bread machine in this order...
- 2 c lukewarm water
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1/2c honey
- 1/3 c vegetable oil, melted unsalted butter, or olive oil
- 6 c unbleached all purpose flour
- 1 c whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 tbsp coarse salt or 1tbsp table salt
- 1 1/2 tbsp (2 packets) grnulated yeast

Sometimes I use less all purpose flour and more whole wheat flour...just depending on my mood.
I let the dough mix and rise in the machine.  Then, I take the dough out and divide it into 2 parts.  I let it rise again in two greased bread baking pans. 

You can use this same recipe to make FANTASTIC Cinnamon Raisin Bread.  Just add the raisins into the the dough while mixing.  After removing the dough and dividing it, roll it out onto a floured surface, and sprinkle heavily with cinnamon (and sugar or brown sugar if you please).  My Father In Law is Diabetic, so I only use the Cinnamon, and it is great! 

Bake at 350 for approx 30 minutes.
Refrigerate bread to make it last longer. 
Bread freezes very well. 


Homeade All Purpose Cleaner

Fill a quart or gallon size jar with Citrus Peels (lemons, oranges, etc...) as you have them on hand.  Pour vinegar over the peels to cover.  Let the mixture sit for at least 2 1/2 weeks.  The vinegar will take on an orange/golden hue and smell powerfully of citrus.  Fill a spray bottle half full with the citrus-vinegar, straining as you pour.  Fill the rest with water.  Use to clean sinks, windows, floors, mirrors, wood, counters!

The following recipes came from the Duggar's Recipe Website...

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine

1   Fels-Naptha soap bar
1  Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½  Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha  bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.

Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipes

1  Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
4  Inexpensive sponges, cut in half

Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet. 

Mid-March...

Well, it's the middle of March, and the garden is really coming along.  The seeds are really sprouting in the coldframes, and I can't wait for them to get big enough to plant.  Here's what we have thus far...

Bed #1:  (planted "seeds")
Potatos (found plants sprouting out of the compost bin, dug them out, and planted them)  (red potato)
Yukon Gold Potatos
Russet Potatos
Garlic
Shallots

Bed #2  (planted seeds)
Carrots
Beets
Corn

Bed #3
Cabbage
Red Cabbage
Broccoli

Bed #4
Collards
Red Onions
Georgia Sweet Onions
Spinach

Coldframes:
Bok Choi
Lettuce
Leeks
Sunflowers
Peppers
Tomatoes

Herb Pots:  (I planted herbs in pots this year to be able to move them out of the hot sun as summer approaches)
Basil (plant & seeds)
Tarragon (seeds)
Mint (plant x2)
Sage (plant)
Oregano (plant & seeds)
Thyme (plant & seeds)
Dill (plant & seeds)
Cilantro (plant & seeds)
Lavendar (plant)
Parsley (seeds)
Chives (plant & seeds)


Rain Barrel is almost complete!  Drip irrigation system is in the works.  I am so proud of both projects, mainly because I made it up as I went along.  Took multiple trips to Lowes, but it will be so worth it in the end.  Both will be useful year after year and will save a lot of water!  I will post pictures and materials when they are complete.