Sugar Body Scrub

Recipe found HERE. Simple things you have on hand and an enjoyable bathtime treat.

1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. light olive oil
2t. cinnamon
2t. ginger
2t. nutmeg

Mix. Put in a container with a lid.
Use a teaspoon or two to massage into your skin, leave on for a few minutes, and rinse thoroughly.

Shampoo

Recipe found HERE.

I like this more than Castile soap alone.

1/4 c. coconut milk
1/3 c. Dr. Bronner's peppermint liquid castile soap
1 t. vitamin E oil (or olive oil)

Shake.

Shake before using 1 t. to wash hair.
Keeps up to one month.

Lip Gloss

I tried a different lip gloss recipe that was simple but did not have any coloring or strong scent.
I saw THIS recipe and wanted to try it. I liked the results. The smell is strong so I might cut back on the candy flavoring next time but the results were fantastic. I found the little containers at WinCo in the travel section in packs of two. My 2 year old wanted to add glitter to the gloss but I managed to convince her the scent was enough.
Here is my version of the lip gloss:
1 t. beeswax
4 t. coconut oil
4 t. Vaseline
4 pink candy melts
1/2 t. oil-based candy flavoring


I melted the ingredients in a mini crockpot then used a glass measuring cup to pour them into the clean containers. You could also melt them in a ziploc bag over hot water or in the microwave if you melted the beeswax first and stirred often.

Yogurt

IT WORKS!!! Oh my gosh. It actually works, is easy and tastes good.

HERE and HERE are two of the many recipes I read.

So I have seen how to make yogurt on multiple blogs but I was so scared to try it. I had a fear of it smelling like spoiled milk and in my mind it seemed so complicated. Finally, I gave in and tried it after I saw the stack of 32 oz yogurt containers piling up under the sink. Two 32oz yogurts every week.

32oz of yogurt costs $3.50
1/2 gallon of whole organic milk costs $3.50+ $1.50 worth of honey, starter and vanilla

I was persuaded by the price to try it.


Ingredients
1/2 gallon whole milk (1% to whole is fine)
1/2 cup starter (I use just plain yogurt with live active cultures.)
1/2 cup honey (or other sweetener)
1 T vanilla (optional)


Put 1/2 gallon of milk in the crockpot on low for 2 1/2 hours.

Turn the crockpot off and let sit for 2 1/2 hours.

Whisk together a cup of yogurt from the crockpot, 1/2 of plain yogurt starter, 1/2 cup honey and 1 T vanilla. Add back to the crockpot and whisk together.

Wrap the crockpot in a beach towel and place in a cool oven overnight. (8+ hours. The oven is to keep it the same temperature, safe from drafts.)

Pull it out and YOU HAVE YOGURT in the morning!
It is amazing. Almost as cool as making bread.

One of my children likes to drink it with a straw. Put if you want it thicker you can put a coffee filter at the bottom of a strainer to let the whey drain. (See link given above.)

There are videos to watch on YouTube if you are nervous too. I think, it is worth it!

Crusty Bread

Look at SIMPLY SO GOOD for great pictures, add in suggestions and other great tips in the comment section.

In a large bowl mix,
3 cups unbleached white flour
1 3/4 t. Kosher salt
1/2 t. yeast
Whisk together.
Add in
1 1/2 cups water.
Mix with a spatula.
Cover with plastic wrap.
Let sit for 12 to 18 hours on the counter.

Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Put dough on a heavily floured surface and form into a ball then cover with plastic wrap from the bowl.
Heat a dutch oven with lid for 30 minutes.
Put dough into heated dutch oven with the lid on.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Done and beautiful bread.

Chai Tea

This is from a friend on facebook who got it from her friend Shaily.

1/2 cup of water
2 heaping tablespoons of tea (I use 2 tea bags)
4-5 heaping tablespoons of sugar (I use honey and just drizzle in a little)
2 tablespoons of finely grated ginger (I grate over the pan till I think it looks good)

Let it boil until it turns a really dark caramel
color. Then, add to that 1 1/2 cups of milk (preferably whole) and
watch it until it's just boiling. Pull it off the stove, strain, and
serve.

You can also add cinnamon, a bit of nutmeg and
some black pepper. None of which has ever been added with a measuring spoon.

(Picture, hopefully, coming later this evening.)

Molasses Cornmeal Bread (Anadama Bread)

I traded a loaf of bread with someone at bible study. This is the bread I received! It is great for sandwiches. We made grilled cheese with almond cheese to go with our tomato soup.

7-8c flour

1.25 c cornmeal

2.5t salt

1.5T yeast

1/3c softened butter

2.25c very warm (120-130F) water

2/3c molasses

Mix 2.5c flour, cornmeal, salt and yeast in KitchenAid bowl.
Add butter.
Gradually add water and molasses.
Beat and scrape the bowl as needed.
Add enough flour to make a stiff dough.
Knead 8-10 min.
Allow to rise in a greased bowl covered with a damp cloth until doubled in size.
Divide into two loaves for second rise in greased loaf pans.
Bake @ 375F for 45min.

Annie also said: "This dough is stiff enough to do free form loaves by doing the final rise on a pizza shovel and baking on a preheated stone if you want to."