Homemade Laundry Soap

I know some of you have been waiting patiently for this post, so here it goes.  I don't know about you, but it used to kill me to drop $20 or more to get the large economy size HE name brand laundry detergent at my local big box membership club.  I had tried some of the cheaper brands, but was not very happy with their cleaning ability.  I was also not very happy to be paying for a large percentage of water or fillers in the formula and many chemicals that are not earth friendly.  I have a septic system at my house, and I was told by a septic repair man that one of the worst things you can put into your septic system is household detergents, mainly laundry, dish washing detergents, and bleach.  The main active chemical ingredients throw off the natural balance of good bacteria, which is the key to a properly working, trouble free system.

Over several months time, and giving samples to family and friends to try and get their feedback, I have come up with a formula that I have been using for several years.  When I first started making it, I used store bought soap bars made specifically for laundry use.  Since I now make my own cold process soap, I now make my own bar soap to grate for my laundry soap.  For those of you interested in experimenting with soap making, I'll share that recipe in a later post.  For those of you not quite ready to jump in and make your own bar soap, the store bought laundry bars, such as Fels Naptha or Zote Soap, will work just fine for this recipe.

Homemade Laundry Soap

• Roughly 2 1/2 cups loosely packed grated laundry soap bar (see note below)
• 1 cup washing soda (AKA soda ash, or sodium carbonate)
• 1/2 cup borax
• 1/2 cup baking soda (AKA sodium bi-carbonate)
• A few drops of Essential oils of your choice (optional)

This recipe makes approximately 4 1/2 cups of dry laundry soap.  Depending on the capacity of your washer, the size loads you wash, and if you have a HE or regular washer, you will need roughly 1 to 2 tablespoons per load.  At one tablespoon per load, this will get you about 72 loads per recipe, for 2 tablespoons per load, roughly 36 loads.  Buying the store bought laundry bar soap, bulk baking soda at the wholesale club, borax at my local big box retailer, and soda ash at my ceramics supply store (I will explain a little farther down in this post), the cost per load is roughly $.018/load for 1 tablespoon or $.036/load for 2 tablespoons!  Compare that to roughly $.20 to $.40 per load for your typical store laundry detergent.  With coupons you can get it down a little cheaper, but nowhere near less than 5 cents per load unless you are a coupon goddess and have double coupons in your state.  Don't have that here in Florida. :o( You are also saving on the cost of fabric softener since with this formula, you don't need any.  Your clothes and towels will come out super soft.  If you are still having static issues in the winter, add a little white vinegar to your rinse cycle, where you would normally add the fabric softener, and that will help.  If you like some scent to your laundry, adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the mix will do the trick.  The amount will vary based on the essential oil, since some are much stronger scented than others.

I make laundry soap in an old food processor.  If you don't have one, a box grater will work well to grate your bar soap.  It will just take longer.  Some say the rhythm of the grating process is therapeutic.  Personally, I would rather get it done fast so I can move on to other things.  I first slice the bars into small enough strips to feed into the top feed tube.  Allowing them to dry for a few hours at this point will also help the shredding go a little easier.  Then I shred it with a shred disk you might use for carrots or cheese, then set the shredded soap aside.  After all my soap bars are shredded, I measure out my recipe in the food processor with the chopping blade at the bottom.  Give the whole batch several long pulses until it is all well blended and it is ready to go.  I store mine in an old 5 gallon paint bucket, even a re-purposed cat litter container would be perfect, as long as it has a lid to keep moisture levels down.  As you can see by the size container I use, when I make my laundry soap, I make a big batch, so I will have enough to last me several months. 

All of these ingredients you should be able to find in your local big box store, or even your grocery store, but I shopped around for the best prices on each item.  One ingredient in particular, sodium carbonate (NOT sodium BI-carbonate), AKA washing soda or soda ash, is typically found in the laundry aisle, but I found an even cheaper, more obscure place to purchase it.  Believe it or not, soda ash is an ingredient used to make some glaze formulations in ceramics.  If you have a ceramics supply house near by, you might be able to buy soda ash by the pound from them way cheaper than in the laundry aisle.  It works good for other cleaning purposes, as it is also sold as washing soda.  It is also the same active ingredient in coffee machine cleaners you would typically pay several dollars for a small 8 oz container.  Mix it 1 tablespoon to 4 cups of water and you have another money saving use to keep your coffee maker clean.  Just make sure to run 3 batches of clean water through your machine afterwards to rinse out the cleaner solution.

If you are worried if this laundry soap recipe will work in an HE machine, don't.  This is a very low suds formula that works great in HE machines as well as regular machines.  When I had people test my formula, I had people with both kinds of machines try it with great results.  It also works great for baby clothes and people with sensitivities to many laundry product additives.  I only had one person complain it bothered her, but later found out she has sensitivities to baking soda.  You can also make the recipe without baking soda, but here in Florida with the harder water, it really seems to help soften the water and help with the rinsing.  Tweak the formula for your water conditions and see what works best for you. 

If you are finding bits of soap left undissolved after the wash, you are likely using too much. If you are used to store brands, the amount of this recipe you need will seem like too small of an amount to get the job done.  Keep in mind, most conventional store brands include water or other fillers to make it looks like you are getting more for your money.  When you strip it down to the essential cleaners you really don't need much.  I have seen other on-line recipes dissolve or cook their soap formula to make a liquid soap.  I guess you could also do that, but who wants the extra work, plus it will just take up more room with the added water. 

Speaking of other online formulas for laundry soap, many will recommend using left over scraps of regular bar soap you might use for washing your hands or your body.  Don't do it.  These bars are mostly either detergent bars, since in production the skin friendly glycerin is removed to sell for a higher price in lotions, or the bar is what they call "super-fatted."  If you don't already know, soap is made by chemically changing the physical properties of oils, butters, or fats into soap using lye, also known as sodium hydroxide.  In soap speak, super-fatting soap means having excess oils added to the soap that do not completely saponify, or turn into soap, during the chemical and curing process.  These unsaponfied oils are great for moisturizing your skin, but not so good for your laundry.  Excess oils will build up on your clothes and in your machine over time.  Not good!  Please use only soap designed for laundry purposes or cold process soap that is not super-fatted.  Lard or tallow based soaps also seem to work a bit better than vegetable oil based soaps, in my opinion.  Over time, the vegetable based soaps seemed to make my whites a little dingy.

I hope this post has been worth the wait, and you now have a whole new insight to your laundry.  It may be far more than you ever thought you would know about soap or laundry, but typically knowing too much is far better than not knowing enough. :o)  Please post your comments and results, so if you have tweaked your formula for different parts of the country others can also benefit from your findings.

Microwave Potato Chips

You read the title correctly.  Yes, you can actually make crunchy chips in the microwave.  I was watching a Dr. Oz episode and was inspired by one of the kitchen gadgets he was showcasing.  Being the frugal person I am, I thought, "Why spend the money on the gadget?"  Who needs another gadget cluttering up their kitchen, anyway?

Slice the potatoes paper thin.  If you have a mandolin slicer already, that is the perfect tool used on the thinnest slice setting.  Place a reusable non-stick silicone baking sheet in your microwave and turn off the turn table to keep it from spinning.  Place your potato slices on the sheet making sure to not over lap.  Sprinkle with a little sea salt, then nuke on high for 2-3 minutes.  The time will vary based on how thin your slices are and the power of your microwave.  If they turn out a little chewy and not crunchy, your chips are either cut too thick or it needs to cook a little longer.  If they are cooked a little too long, they will taste a bit burned.  Play around with a few small batches until you get it just right.  They are delicious, light & airy, and much healthier than any fried chip.

You can also try this trick with a variety of veggies & fruits like sweet potatoes, apples, pears, or other root veggies like parsnips, beets, etc.  Check out some of the variations you see in the snack aisle for inspiration. You will probably have to play around a little to find the perfect cook times for each type.  I found with apples, and other items that have a higher sugar content, the sweeter they were, the more likely they had a tendency to be a bit more chewy than crunchy, but they are still delicious.  With the apples, I found putting them in for 1 minute and 50 seconds, flipping them, then putting them in for another 30 seconds came out the best.

It's much quicker than a dehydrator, so you can make them fresh whenever you get the craving.  I haven't tried it yet, but I would think they would store for a few days at room temperature in an airtight container or baggie. I'm sure you could also do the same thing in the oven on a low bake setting, but when you don't want to wait or heat up your kitchen, try this instead.  Imagine the possibilities!

Healthier Soft Drink Alternatives

Have you been trying to cut back on your soft drink consumption to either lose weight, save money, or just be healthier.  Me too.  Here are some suggestions you might want to try to bring some variety into your choices and make it a little easier to opt for the healthier choice:

I'll bet most of you have a coffee machine.  When you are done with your morning cup of joe, the machine sits there lonely all day.  Put it to use making a batch of iced tea.  You don't need any special machines like some companies would like to make you believe.  You already own it.

In the spot where you normally put your coffee filter, place the tea bags, with no additional filter, fill up your water reservoir to the top and let her rip.  For a 2 quart container, 4 regular sized tea bags or 2 family sized tea bags are a good start.  For a gallon container, try 3-4 family sized bags.  Adjust the number of tea bags to your taste.  If your coffee pot has an extra feature for brewing smaller pots of coffee, like 1-4 cups, turn this on as well.  It will preheat the water a bit more making the brew a little stronger.  In the meantime, fill up your drink pitcher half way with ice.  When it's done brewing, pour the hot tea over the ice and top off with additional water, if needed.  If you like it sweet, now is the time to add your sweetener, then give it a stir.  Instead of sugar, you might want to try a no calorie natural sweetener made from the stevia plant, like Truvia, or an other alternative sweetener like Agave Nectar, which has a lower glycemic index, which means it will not spike your blood sugar as much as regular sugar does.  Personally, I keep mine unsweetened, so everyone can make theirs the way they like it, or just drink it unsweetened.  Agave nectar also dissolves better in cold liquids, since its a syrup instead of crystals, so it can easily be added later.

Have you ever noticed how many different types of teas are out there?  Every type I tried is also great iced.  Think of how many options you have: green, black, oolong, spiced like chai, fruit blends, herbals like peppermint or chamomile, rooibos, and so many in between!  Many have wonderful health benefits as an added bonus.  Don't forget, if you are trying to cut back on your caffeine intake, opt for the decaf versions or one of the herbal, rooibos, or fruit types.  Maybe even try a half-caf version, half regular tea bags an half decaf tea bags, to start to ween yourself off your caffeine habit.

If you are missing the little bubbles in your soft drinks, try some of the flavored seltzer waters on the market now.  Beware of the ones containing artificial sweeteners.  For a cheaper alternative try the unflavored seltzer waters, the store brands are just as good, and add a splash of cranberry, pomegranate, orange, or grapefruit juice, or squeeze a lemon or lime in for some added flavor.  If you go for the fruit juices, read the labels and try to choose ones that have no added sugars and are 100% juice.  Use your imagination.  You might just find a new favorite.

Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa

I made stuffed peppers last night with a little healthier spin on them.  Have you ever tried quinoa?  Pronounced KEEN-wah.  Quinoa is a gluten-free ancient grain originating from South America.  It is a very good source of protein, fiber, B vitamins, and iron.  Quinoa can be substituted for rice in a variety of recipes to make them healthier.  You can also reduce the portion of meat in the recipe, if you choose, due to the high protein content. 

Uncooked quinoa is a tiny round seed about 2 mm in diameter.  Some quinoa comes pre-rinsed.  If not simply rinse it under running water in a strainer for a minute or two to wash off the coating that is naturally on it.  If it's not rinsed your quinoa will taste like soap.  It cooks up similar to rice, with one cup quinoa to 2 cups of water, but only needs to cook for 15 minutes.  It will be tender, but still chewy, and a white spiral-like thread appears around each grain. 

Stuffed Peppers - serves 6 - modified recipe from Emeril Lagasse

6 large bell pepper, green, yellow or red with tops cut away and seeds removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers (the edges of the tops you cut off earlier)
1 cup ground meat, such as turkey, pork, or beef or a combination
1/2 cup diced baby portabello mushrooms (optional)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves, or about 1 tablespoon dried
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
pinch red pepper flakes
2 cups cooked quinoa, rice, or other grain
8 - 15 ounces tomato sauce
water

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Get your quinoa or rice going first, so that will be finished by the time you need it. 

In a large pot of boiling water, parboil the peppers until just tender, 2-3 minutes.  Remove with tongs or a slotted spoon and allow to dry.  I placed mine right in the baking dish now, so I can skip the little extra water normally added to the dish when baking later.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat.  Add the garlic, allow to brown slightly, then add the onions and chopped peppers.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes.  Add the meat, parsley, mushrooms, and seasonings.  Cook until meat is browned, breaking up lumps, about 6 minutes.  Drain off fat if necessary.  Add quinoa and tomato sauce, stir well, remove from heat, and adjust seasoning to taste, if needed.

Stuff the bell peppers with rice mixture and place in a baking dish.  Bake until peppers are tender and filling is heated through, 20-30 minutes.  When done, remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving, if you keep your kids away long enough.  That didn't happen last night.  Enjoy!  Leftovers taste even better the next day.

Great Breakfast Option for your New Year Resolution

Are you like most people who figured if you make a New Year's resolution to lose weight, it might actually happen this time?  All kidding aside.  The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to change your lifestyle, not just deprive yourself of the things you crave that aren't good for you for a short period of time, just to fall right back into your bad habits again later.  Create healthy "habits", or routines, that you don't even have to think about.  Before you know it, the pounds will slowly start falling off and it won't even seem like you are trying.

A great routine to start is eating a healthy breakfast that won't spike your glycemic index, otherwise known as your blood sugar.  I know some of you don't even make it a regular practice to eat breakfast at all.  Big mistake, if you are trying to loose weight.  I have a quick and easy way to slide this into your busy morning routine, and it will even keep you from those mid-morning strolls over to the snack machine.

My go-to breakfast is Oatmeal.  Not those over-priced sugary little packets by various brands that are all pre-measured for you.  Those are no better than grabbing a candy bar for breakfast.  For just over a dollar, you can get the large container of regular plain quick 1-minute oats in a variety of store brands, or even the big brands if you are lucky enough to find a coupon or sale on them.  I have a cheap set of measuring cups that I keep the 1/2 cup scoop right in the container.  Don't have to take the extra time to find it before the coffee has kicked in.  Its right there every morning, right where it need it, when I open the container.  I don't just stop there.  Next to the Oatmeal is a weight loss gem called Oat Bran.  You will likely have to find it in the organic/health food section of your grocery store, if they don't have it by the regular cereal aisle.  Many stores like Whole Foods sell it bulk near their produce department. That is usually even cheaper if your store sells it that way.  It will typically run about $2.39 a pound, maybe a little more for organic.  Put the 1/3 cup scoop in there.  Some may stop there, but why not take the opportunity to get some extra fiber in there.  Fiber helps keep you feeling full and not looking for your next snack, not to mention keeps the works moving like they should. If you know what I mean. :o)  I have an old coffee grinder that I keep in the pantry right next to the oatmeal that I grind about 1 tablespoon of flax seeds (also typically found in the health food aisle) in and add that to the mix after I cook it.  Gets those great Omega-3 fatty acids into your diet that helps keep your skin beautiful and keep your heart running smooth.  If you want to go all the way, you can even throw in a bit of wheat germ (many times found in the grocery store near the hot cereals on the top shelf, but you might need to find it in the health food section, too.)  Again, more fiber for you, if you need it.

Okay.  Got it all on the counter?  Grab a big microwave safe bowl.  No plastic in the microwave - Please!  Go for ceramic or glass.  For hubby: he gets...

1 full scoop of oatmeal (1/2 cup)
1 full scoop of oat bran (1/3 cup)

That is a little too much for me, so I fill the scoops up a little more than halfway, no exact measuring here, and dump them in.  Add about a cup of filtered water, a little more or less depending on how much you put in your bowl and how you like the consistency of your oatmeal.  Over to the microwave & nuke on high for 2 minutes.

While that cooks, take your flax seeds out of the fridge.  Yes, these need to be stored in the fridge or they will go rancid (the natural oils in the seeds have gone bad) quickly.  Don't take the tempting easy way out and buy the pre-ground flax seed.  Most of this is already rancid by the time you buy it.  That is why it tastes bad.  If they are not rancid, you hardly taste them at all.  That is the way they are supposed to taste.  And yes, you do need to grind them or the seeds will go out the same way they went in.  Your body can't digest them and you can't chew them well enough, so you won't gain any benefit from them unless they are ground.

Okay, back to the recipe.  Put about 1 tablespoon of flax seed in your grinder and give it a quick grind.  Only takes a few seconds.  BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, the microwave is done.  Dump the ground flax seeds on top, give it a little stir and it's ready to customize or eat just like that.  How long did that take? 3 minutes? You have 3 minutes, right? Of course you do!

For those of you who like it a little sweet, try adding a little dried fruit in the mix before microwaving, such as chopped dates, raisins (preferably organic), dried cherries or cranberries, chopped dried apricot, diced apple, pear, etc.

Cinnamon is a great option to give it some extra flavor.  BONUS: The cinnamon works in your body to lower your insulin resistance and keeps your blood sugar more steady.  This, in addition to the fiber, helps keep those cravings at bay by keeping your blood sugar steady.

My hubby likes to add a splash of organic milk, almond milk is great too, to make it a little soupier, with a teaspoon of cane sugar.  Agave extract would be good too, instead of sugar.  Again, this will work better than sugar to not spike your glycemic index (blood sugar) as much.

Once you find a combo you like, automate it.  Make it easy to do, like putting a container of cinnamon right next to your oatmeal container.  After a while, you can make it in your sleep.  Some mornings you might feel like you are.

After I got my hubby on this oatmeal routine every morning instead of his usual, grabbing a pack of those dreaded "pop" pastries on the way out the door, after only a week he was noticing a big difference.  Did you know that one of those packs contains just over 400 calories and roughly 30 grams of sugar!!  Yikes! He said that he had more energy and wasn't getting hungry mid to late morning, like he had been.  Not only was he eating a better breakfast, but he wasn't consuming all the additional calories from hitting the snack machine before lunch, either.  After a a couple of months, he had dropped a pants size without hardly trying.

If you are one of those people grabbing your breakfast and running out the door, this will even work for you.  I move it from the ceramic/glass bowl to a plastic food storage container and its ready for the road.

Try this little "healthy habit" in your new New Year's resolution and you are well on your way to a healthier lifestyle you can stick to and keep the weight off.  No more yo-yo dieting for you.  Not to mention, it will likely add a little extra jingle in the pockets of those now looser pants. :o)

What are your healthy habits for breakfast?  I have some other secret weapons up my sleeve for breakfast, but I'll save them for another post.  What do you say?!  Are you going to give this a try and see the pounds start falling off?