Two Dozen Uses for Ordinary Baking Soda

Inexpensive, versatile, and environmentally friendly, baking soda has a myriad of uses. From reducing baby's fever to cleaning dentures, and ridding your garden of pests, baking soda can be an easy and cheap solution to your problems.


Homemade Scouring Powder
· 1 cup baking soda
· 1 cup borax
· 1 cup salt


Drain Cleaner
· I cup baking soda
· Add 1 cup hot vinegar
Wait a few minutes, then flush the drain with 1 quart of very hot water.

For garbage disposals, use 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar.


Automatic Dishwasher Powder
Use 2 Tablespoons baking soda and 2 Tablespoons borax per load.


Drip Coffee Maker Cleaner
Mix 1 cup warm water and 1/4 cup baking soda. Let it drip through the coffee maker. Then drip a pot of plain water to rinse. It will keep your coffee maker clean and fresh.


Teapot Cleaner
To remove rust stains and mineral deposits, fill the teapot with water and add 2 Tablespoons of baking soda and the juice of half a lemon. Boil gently for 15 minutes. Rinse and repeat if needed.


Microwave Cleaning
Make a cleaning solution of 4 Tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of warm water. Use it to clean the inside surfaces of the oven.---or place a few spoonfuls of baking soda in water in a microwave safe cup. Boil the water 3-5 minutes. The walls of the microwave will be damp. Simply take a sponge or paper towel and wipe down the insides of the oven.


Unclog Gas Stoves
To unclog burners on a gas stove, simply add 1/4 box of baking soda to 2 quarts of water and boil for a few minutes.


Easy Toilet Cleaner
Sprinkle 1/2 box of baking soda into the toilet tank once a month. Let it stand overnight before flushing. The tank and the bowl will be both clean and deodorized.


Economical Air Freshener
Simply mix equal parts of baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put it in a soap dish or in small sachet bags wherever you would like to freshen the air.


Economical Carpet Deodorizer
Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of cornstarch, and 15 drops of essential oil fragrance for scent. Sprinkle on the rugs before bedtime and let it sit overnight. If you like, you can work it into the carpet the next morning with a stiff bristle brush or broom. Then vacuum.

Laundry Booster
Add 1/2 cup baking soda to the washing machine along with your usual amount of liquid laundry soap. It will make whites whiter and colors brighter. ( NOTE: It doesn't work with powdered laundry detergents! ).

Clean Brushes and Combs
Fill sink with hot water and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Watch the dirt and oil dissolve away!

Underarm Deodorant
Sprinkle under your arms, even after shaving. It won't irritate your skin. If you prefer a smoother textured deodorant, mix it with a little talcum powder.

Clean Glasses
Hold your eyeglasses over a sink and sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on them. With wet fingers, gently rub the lenses. Rinse clean and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Breath Freshener
Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of water and rinse. It will eliminate even morning mouth, garlic and onion odors! Make your own mouthwash by combining 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup of water. Add a few drops of flavoring if desired.

Tooth Whitener
Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Using a cotton swab, apply it to your teeth, brush clean with water and rinse. Coffee and tea stains will disappear! (NOTE: This is an occasional treatment only. Lemon juice contains a lot of acid and shouldn't be overused, or used alone. Combined with baking soda, the acid is buffered and won't destroy the tooth's enamel).

Denture and Retainer Cleaner
Combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda. 1 tablespoon of powdered laundry detergent and 1 cup of water. Soak the dentures or plastic retainer for 30 minutes and rinse well. If you prefer, you can use 1 cup of water and 2 teaspoons of baking soda in a glass.

An Inexpensive Sports Drink
For each quart of boiled water add 1 level tablespoon of salt, 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda, 4 rounded teaspoons of sugar, and 1 package of sugar free Kool-Aid.
Stir until clear and refrigerate.

Clear Up a Stuffy Nose
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer. It will unblock nasal passages and keep the vaporizer clean as well!

Baby Fever Reducer
Bathe the infant in a tub of lukewarm water with 1/2 cup of baking soda. Use less if you are using a plastic infant tub. This is also an effective remedy for diaper rash.

For Dogs and Cats
Sprinkle baking soda on your pet's brush or comb to deodorize their skin and fur.
Adding 2 tablespoons of baking soda to your dog's bath water and rinse water will make their coat clean and shiny.
Using baking soda on pet stains will eliminate the odor and prevent the pet from returning to the same spot in the future for another accident.
Sprinkling the litter box with baking soda keeps it fresh and deodorized.

Paint Brushes
To restore brushes stiffened and hardened by paint, simply boil them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water mixed with 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda.

Non-toxic pesticide
Put baking soda under sinks near pipe openings and along basement windows to repel ants, silver fish and roaches. Roaches will dehydrate and die after eating baking soda.

In the Garden
Occasionally, lightly sprinkle baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from nibbling at your buds.
Sprinkle baking soda on slugs to get rid of them without having to resort to costly and toxic pesticides.
To sweeten your tomatoes by reducing their acidity, sprinkle baking soda lightly on the soil around your tomato plants. The soda from an old box used to absorb odors in the refrigerator is fine for this purpose.

Vinegar - use it everyday!

I have recently been tightening my own belt as I am sure most of you have in these economic times. During the course of some of my research into how to strech a buck I have come across creative uses for vinegar and baking soda. I will leave you with vinegar uses today and suppliment my column with baking soda uses tomorrow. After that I will get some more of those wonderful home made cleaner recipes for you guys. Here's the article I downlowder from stretcher.com about vinegar. It's awesome.

50 Uses for Vinegar (from www.stretcher.com)

Most of us have grown up in an age where we're always searching for the newest and best product. I don't know about you, but I've spent a fortune over the years on cleaning products that are "New and Improved!" "Amazing!" and "Incredible!", but I've recently discovered an old cleaner that works better than most of the new ones for just a fraction of the price.
Now don't laugh - It's vinegar. I know what you're thinking because whenever I thought of Vinegar I thought of Easter Eggs. That's all we ever used it for when I was growing up. I've recently discovered an amazing amount of uses for it. If you give it a try I'm sure you'll be as surprised as I was. It's very inexpensive, especially if you buy it by the gallon or case at a Warehouse Club.

I've got a kitchen drain that drains very slowly. I recently poured some vinegar in it, then poured some baking soda into the vinegar and ran some hot water down the drain. I repeated the process one more time and my drain is working great now. The vinegar and baking soda will bubble up when mixed together and they cleaned that slow drain right out.

I use to worry about spraying weed killer in my yard, but not anymore. Fill a spray bottle with two parts water, two parts vinegar, and one part dish soap. It works great.

I keep a bottle of three parts vinegar and one part water under my sink and spray it on the kitchen counters each night after wiping them off. It sanitizes them and once it dries the smell of vinegar disappears. You're left with clean countertops.

One of my sons still has a problem with wetting the bed at night. When he has an accident I spray the vinegar and water mixture on his mattress and let it dry during the day to help keep his mattress from smelling. I also use it on the carpet if my toddler has an accident during the day (we're working on potty training!)

Is your showerhead clogged? Fill a baggie with vinegar and use a rubber band to secure it in place so that the showerhead will soak in the vinegar over night. The next morning your showerhead should be working just fine!

I also use the vinegar and baking soda mixture to clean toilets, bathtubs and pans that have dinner stuck to the bottom of them. It's amazing all of the uses that I've found for this old fashioned product! Vinegar...it's not just for Easter anymore!

So here we go with 50 ways to use your vinegar that you may have never thought of….
1. Kill grass on walks and driveways.
2. Kill weeds. Spray full strength on growth until plants have starved.
3. Increase soil acidity. In hard water: one gallon of tap water for watering rhododendrons, gardenias, or azaleas.
4. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known.
5. Polish car chrome. Apply full strength.
6. Remove skunk odor from a dog. Rub fur with full strength vinegar; rinse.
7. Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don't want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on.
8. Keep dogs from scratching his ears. Use a clean, soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar.
9. Keep chickens from pecking each other. Put a little in their drinking water.
10. Tenderize meat. Soak in vinegar over night.
11. Freshen vegetables. Soak wilted vegetables in 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of vinegar.
12. Boil better eggs. Add 2 tablespoons to water before boiling eggs. Keeps them from cracking.
13. Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting. Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching.
14. Relieve sunburn. Lightly rub white vinegar; you may have to reapply.
15. Condition hair. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to dissolve sticky residue left by shampoo.
16. Relieve dry and itchy skin. Add 2 tablespoons to bath water.
17. Fight dandruff. After shampooing, rinse with vinegar and 2 cups of warm water.
18. Soothe a sore throat. Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle and then swallow.
19. Treat sinus infections and chest colds. Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer.
20. Feel good. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, with a bit of honey added for flavor, will take the edge off your appetite and give you an overall healthy feeling.
21. Deodorize the kitchen drain. Pour a cup down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.
22. Eliminate onion odor. Rub on your fingers before and after slicing.
23. Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards. Wipe with full strength vinegar.
24. Remove fruit stains from hands. Rub with vinegar.
25. Cut grease and odor on dishes. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water.
26. Clean a teapot. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.
27. Freshen a lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night.
28. Clean the refrigerator. Wash with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar.
29. Unclog a drain. Pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water.
30. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through
31. Clean and deodorize jars. Rinse mayonnaise, peanut butter, and mustard jars with vinegar when empty.
32. Clean the dishwasher. Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware.
33. Clean stainless steel. Wipe with a vinegar dampened cloth.
34. Clean china and fine glassware. Add a cup of vinegar to a sink of warm water. Gently dip the glass or china in the solution and let dry.
35. Get stains out of pots. Fill pot with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a pint of water. Boil until stain loosens and can be washed away.
36. Clean the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.
37. Dissolve rust from bolts and other metals. Soak in full strength vinegar.
38. Get rid of cooking smells. Let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution.
39. Unclog steam iron. Pour equal amounts of vinegar and water into the iron's water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow to cool. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water.
40. Clean a scorched iron plate. Heat equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains.
41. Get rid of lint in clothes. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
42. Keep colors from running. Immerse clothes in full strength vinegar before washing.
43. Freshen up the washing machine. Periodically, pour a cup of vinegar in the machine and let in run through a regular cycle (no clothes added). Will dissolve soap residue.
44. Brighten fabric colors. Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
45. Take grease off suede. Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot.
46. Remove tough stains. Gently rub on fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, tea. Then wash as usual.
47. Get smoke smell out of clothes. Add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water. Hang clothes above the steam.
48. Remove decals. Brush with a couple coats of vinegar. Allow to soak in. Wash off.
49. Clean eyeglasses. Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.
50. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.

Rice - Not just plain white and boring!!!

Below are some easy rice recipes. Rice is a great grain to store in our food storage and right now is a good time to buy it. My local Sam's club has a 50 lb bag of rice for just $16.89. That’s less than $35 for 100 lbs of a great and versatile grain. We are counseled to store at least 400 lbs of grains per adult as part of our year’s supply. A lot of people will store tons of wheat – which is great – but variety is the spice of life. So may I humbly suggest that you add rice to your food storage. Stock up and store brown or wild rice when you find a good store special. Rice is simple and satisfying on many levels. Rice can be mixed with beans or canned meats to make it a protein rich casserole meal. It can be flavored with a variety of seasonings, sauces and broths. Add milk, sugar and cinnamon to make a pudding for dessert. Add almonds and Parmesan to perk up your plain white rice. Make stews and casseroles from that left over roast or turkey. Hot buttered brown rice sprinkled with a little cinnamon sugar is a yummy breakfast treat. For a refreshing summer drink, make the Mexican rice drink called Horchata. Enjoy Rice! It's doesn't just have to be a plain white boring side dish.

California Seasoned Rice Mix
3 cups uncooked regular white rice
1/4 cup dried parsley flakes
2 Tbsp. instant chicken flavor bouillon
2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tablespoons dried, minced onions
1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves

Stir ingredients together and place in an air tight container until ready to use. To cook: Bring two cups of water to boil. Add two tablespoon butter or margarine and one cup of the mix. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

Homemade Rice-a-Roni
1 cup rice
4 tbsp. butter
4 cups chicken broth
2 tbsp. fresh parsley
1/2 cup spaghetti (broken in 1/2 inch pieces)

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and then add the rice and broken spaghetti. Brown well and then slowly add the chicken broth, reducing the heat to a simmer. After 10 minutes, add fresh parsley and continue cooking until rice is tender. Fluff with a fork.
Kay’s make-it-a-meal Variation:
Add 1 can chicken (10 oz) at the beginning when adding the broth to the pot. Then add ¼ cup sliced almonds and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese at the end with the parsley. YUM!!!!!!

Chinese Fried Rice
1 cup rice
3 Tbs. oil
2 eggs
3 Tbs. soy sauce
1 can chicken (10oz.)
1 cup frozen peas and carrots

Bring 2 cups of salted water to a boil and cook rice as normal. Rinse rice with cold tap water until cooled. Spread rice onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate 20 minutes. Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Break eggs into oil and scramble with a spatula. Add the chilled rice and soy sauce. Drain chicken and add. Stir until rice is heated through. Add peas and carrots. Cook 1 minute to heat the vegetables. Serve hot.

Spanish Fired Rice
2 Tbs. Oil
1 cup chopped onion (or dry equivalent)
2 cups raw rice
4 cups water
2 Tbs. Chili powder
2 cups tomato sauce

Put the oil in a large frying pan; heat to very hot. Add rice and chopped onion; stir until rice starts to brown. Slowly add water and chili powder. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add tomato sauce. Cook 5 minutes more. Stir and serve. Add 1 lb. cooked and seasoned ground beef or left over Sunday roast for a delicious meal.

Horchata
1 cup uncooked white rice
1 quart water
¼ cup slivered almonds
2 sticks cinnamon
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ tsp vanilla

Grind rice to a coarse meal in a blender. Mix together rice, cinnamon, almonds and water. Cover loosely and let stand overnight. Puree the rice mixture, then strain through several layers of dampened cheesecloth. Mix in sugar and vanilla extract. Serve over ice.

Plain Horchata: Omit cinnamon and almonds. Continue as directed.

Chocolate Horchata: Omit cinnamon and almonds from basic recipe. Add 2 ounces grated chocolate to rice. Continue as directed.

Strawberry Horchata: Omit cinnamon and almonds. Add one 10 ounce package of frozen strawberries with the sugar and vanilla extract. Continue as directed.

Mexicali Bean and Rice Casserole
This is one of my own recipe creations. I was wanting Mexican food one night and had no money to go out. I was short on ingredients for one of my other favorite Mexican casseroles - so I started dumping things in a skillet that sounded good to me at the time and this simple casserole is what I got. My family loved it. I hope you enjoy it too.

1 lb ground beef (cooked and drained)
1 cup white rice
2 cans (8oz each) tomato sauce
1 envelop fajita or taco seasoning
1 tsp. chili powder
1 can (15 oz) red, black or kidney beans
4 oz. grated Colby jack or jalapeno Cheddar cheese (I like to mix 2oz of each)

Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Drain grease from beef on paper towel covered plate when done. Put rice on to boil as for plain white rice in 2 cups salted water. Turn down heat when it begins to boil. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, while rice is cooking, return browned ground beef to skillet with the rest of the ingredients. Stir well over medium low heat until cheese is melted. Turn heat to low and let simmer, stirring occasionally, while rice is cooking. After rice is done, add to ground beef mixture and stir together well. Remove from heat and serve with fry bread and salad for a great meal.

Chicken Stew
This is an old Southern comfort food recipe. It was one of my favorites when I was a child. In this recipe the preferred ingredients are listed first but the substitutes work just as well. I have made this recipe using all combinations of the ingredients listed below depending on what I had in the pantry at the time.

1 cup rice
2 chicken breast (boiled and shredded) or 2 cans chicken (10 oz. each)
1 can cream of chicken soup (10 oz)
6 cups water from your boiled chicken or 4 ½ cups water plus broth from the canned chicken
4 tsp. chicken bouillon
1 cup frozen or canned peas
1 cup frozen or canned corn
1 carrot (sliced) or use dehydrated equivalent
2 stalks celery (sliced) or use 1 tsp celery seeds for flavor
1 small onion (chopped) or 3 TBS dried onions or 1 tsp onion salt
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. black pepper

Cook rice in 1½ cups water. It will not quite be done. Leaving it a little underdone will make sure it doesn’t go mushy in the last cooking stages. In a separate large pot, boil chicken breasts until completely done. They should be done at the same time as the rice or shortly after. Shred cooked chicken with forks so you don’t burn your fingers. Measure out 6 cups broth from boiling the chicken and freeze the rest for later use in casseroles. Replace the 6 cups broth to the large pot with the shredded chicken, rice and the rest of the ingredients. Stir together well and bring to a boil. Then turn heat to medium. Continue boiling over medium heat for 15 minutes until carrots and celery are tender. This makes 6 generous bowlfuls. Serve with homemade sunflower wheat bread and sliced cheese for a delicious and comforting winter meal.

All around Preparedness

This is just a short list of things that I have found helpful to do to be prepared in the event of an emergency on the road or in a 72 hour situation. We are encouraged by church, government and Red Cross leaders to keep a 72 hour kit handy in the event of an emergency that forces us to leave our home. Here are some tips:

• The weekend that we set our clocks for daylight savings time is a great time to check your 72 hour kits, car kits, and smoke detector baterries. If you did not do it then – DO IT NOW! Change your batteries in your flashlight in your 72 hour kits and your smoke detectors every time whether you think they are fine or not. You’re better off safe than sorry.
• You should have a ziplock bag with a change of clothing (at least a fresh work shirt or T-shirt and change of undies and 3 pair of socks. Check the sizes in your kids packs to make sure they have what they need. Keeping feet and privates clean and dry during these situations is very important for your health.
• Speaking of dry feet - store a pair of good sneakers for each family member near your kits. The coat closet in the hall is a great place so that you can grab everything as you go out the door.
• Check your food for expiration dates. Change out any food that will expire before the next daylight savings time. Below is a list of handy foods that can easily be stored a 2 gallon ziplock within your 72 hour kits. You should be able to fill your kit with variety, decent nutrition and caloric intake for around $10 per person. Remember to pack as light as you can. Canned foods are good – but weigh down a pack. They also require and opener. Your pack should be easily portable.
• Place a laminated photo of each family member on a lanyard and attach it to their 72-hour kit. Write all pertinent information on the back of the photo including the name of the person, cell numbers for the parents or spouse, allergies to drugs, ect. In the event of an emergency – each family member should remove the lanyard from the pack and wear it around their neck. That way- if you are separated from your children – they can be identified and you can be more easily located. You and your medical issues can also be identified with this information if you are found unconscious.

72 Hour Kit Foods List

Breakfast Items: pop-tarts, carnation instant breakfast bars or slim-fast bars; tang, apple cider or cocoa packets;
Lunch & Dinner Items: canned tuna, Vienna sausages, chicken or deviled ham; jerky and cheese sticks; canned chili, raviolis, or soups; freeze-dried veggies; individual cans of tomato or V-8 juice, Capri sun drink pouches
Snacks: gum, hard candy, peanuts, granola, cracker packs, fruit leather, apple sauce, pudding cups & fruit cups
WATER: You should have at least a 2 one liter water bottles for everyone stored right next to your packs or in pockets on your packs in case you have to evacuate.
Don’t forget to put plastic spoons & forks, napkins and individually packaged wet wipes, small bottle hand sanitizer, toothbrush and trial sized toothpaste in each pack. I put these items into a small Rubbermaid sandwich box container with lid so that I have the container to eat from if needed.

Car Safety checklist

cell phone and charger
kitty litter for traction or to clean up oil leaks
small can of lock antifreeze
small basic first aid kit
rope or twine to tie down trunk
umbrella and rain poncho
wipes & sanitizer to clean hands
roll of paper towels for spills
plastic trash bags in case of wet clothing
flares, triangles and safety matches
jumper cables and flashlight
thermal blanket (s)
small hand shovel
packs of dried fruit, granola bars, or nuts
spare tire and work gloves
tow chain or strap
pen, paper, and emergency contact numbers
at least $20 CASH (you just never know)

Organize smaller items into a duffle and keep secured under or behind your seat, in a closed compartment or in a trunk. In the event of an accident – you don’t want loose abjects flying around to hit you in the head.

Sunshine ~ Coladas

I was talking to a family from my church the other day when the subject of food storage came up. In the course of the conversation, I relayed how our family was grateful that we had food storage last winter when my husband was unemployed for 3 1/2 months.

The father of the family said - something to the effect of 'oh- yes. Lots of beans and rice for your family during that time I bet.'

To which I replied, "No - We had great meals including desserts and my favorite pina-colada type drinks."

He looked surprised and then I explained to him how food storage was more to my family than just wheat, rice, beans, oil and honey. It was having a great deal of shelf stable everyday foods and a freezer full of meat, cheese and butter.

In rethinking that conversation, it occurred to me that I had not shared my favorite mixed-drink recipe with you all. So here it is. I created this concoction myself through trial and error. It is much better with the Coco-Real brand coconut cream, but the coconut powder is a good substitute if you don't have the Coco-Real, which can be difficult to find (it is only in one grocer around here that I have found) and it is a bit pricey to store a large amount in your food storage. I like to make this stuff up in little zip-lock type packets, store the packets in a Tupperware, and just add the water and ice when I'm ready for a treat.

For those of you from Utah, I found the Coco-Real at Smith's grocery store in the mixed drinks section. It is $2.80 per bottle. I believe it is a 20 oz. size. The Strawberry Tang, I found at Reams grocery store. I keep a large supply of that on hand at all times. It comes in a pouch that makes 6 liquid quarts. I stock up on it when it is put on sale @ 2 for $5.

Sunshine~Coladas
2 Tbs. strawberry powdered drink mix (Tang-type)
1 Tbs. orange powdered drink mix (Tang-type)
1 once Coco-Real or 1 Tbs. coconut syrup (recipe below)
2 Tbs. powdered milk
1 cup water
1 ¼ cups crushed ice

Mix with water in mini-blender mug (Magic Bullet brand type of blender) and then add crushed ice. Blend for 30 seconds until smooth.


Coconut syrup for Sunshine~Coladas
¼ cup coconut
2 Tbs. powdered milk
2 Tbs. powdered sugar

Blend together in a mini-blender approximately 30 seconds or until coconut is pulverized. mix with a few teaspoons of water at a time until it is thick like sweetened condensed milk.

Make this treat with caution, because it is so refreshing during the summer - you will want one everyday.

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

A recipe from my dear 'old' Dad~

Many of you who know my father will also know that he is not a particularly fabulous cook. He gets by and does a decent job considering he is all alone and has not always had to cook for himself. He has learned alot over the years since his and my mother's divorce. Much like a fine wine, he has gotten better with the passing of time. My father and I are alot alike. We both love the internet for all it's resources and we both love to learn. My father recently sent me a recipe that he got from the internet and I loved it so much that I had to share it. It's called 5 Minute Chocolate Cake - and yes - it really does only take 5 minutes from beginning to end. I love this recipe because I am often alone with the girls while my dear husband is on the road with his job. Making a big chocolate cake for dessert will only lead to me becoming fat because I have no self control around chocolate. This recipe is wonderful because it only serves 2 people and is super fast. I have made it several times since receiving my father's email last month and my college-aged duaghter has made it for late night snacks as well when she had a friend over to watch a movie. It is the perfect way to be a good hostess without all the time and mess of a traditional cake. Here's the recipe and directions:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg

3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug (microwave safe), a tablespoon measure & a fork to mix it all.


Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

(This can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Frugality Cubed

~Creative ways with ice cube trays~
In a recent article from MSN, the writer said that a friend of hers pours leftover coffee into ice-cube trays. The caffeinated cubes make first-rate iced coffee because they chill the beverage without diluting it. That got me thinking about other creative ways to use ice cube trays. I have used trays for multiple purposes in the past, but had not thought of using them to freeze those ‘little bit of leftovers.’ Here are a few suggestions to help you save some money with the oft overlooked and lowly ice cube tray.

1. You can save a lot of money by making your own baby food. Steam and puree vegetables (which you can mix with meat and/or rice or other grains if you like), or puree soft fresh fruits. Frankly – I just used to put the leftovers from the dinner table into a bullet blender and make Ashley’s baby food. As your baby gets older you can chop things a little more coarsely with just a fork. If necessary, thin these foods with a little of the cooking water from vegetables. That way there are even move vitamins being utilized instead of being tossed down the drain. Freeze this mashed goodness in ice cube trays and store in Ziploc style freezer bags. To save more money – you can re-use your zip-loc style bags. Unless the bags are greasy with meat residue, they're easy to wash and reuse.
2. Speaking of that veggie cooking water: Even people without babies should save those nutrients. Freeze the liquid for use in homemade soups. If you have younger kids, freeze some of the cubes extra-small and add one or two to a toddler's soup to cool the soup without diluting it.
3. Freeze herbal teas, lemonade or fruit juices for use in summertime drinks. Then, when you need an ice cube for a drink – it doesn’t get that watered down taste.
4. When a recipe calls for just a partial can of tomato paste, or sauce or juice don't leave the rest of the can in the fridge to grow fuzz. Freeze it for future meals.
5. If you can’t finish the milk or yogurt before it goes bad, freeze it. Then thaw a couple of cubes at a time for cooling morning oatmeal or coffee. It also makes great smoothies. My own version of a Strawberry Colada smoothie is made by tossing the following into a blender: 6 oz. milk, 1 ½ TBS. strawberry flavored Tang and a splash of Coco-Real. I then fill the magic bullet blender mug the rest of the way with crushed ice and give it a whirl. It’s VERY GOOD STUFF!!!
6. Bananas, strawberries or other fresh fruit getting too ripe? Puree and freeze them. Then add the cubes to your smoothies (or thaw them for baby's dessert).
7. Freeze homemade pesto: It's easy to pull out just a couple of cubes for appetizers or to brighten up a jar of store-bought spaghetti sauce.
8. Freeze white vinegar in ice cubes and put them in a large zip lock bag in freezer. Once a week, grab 2-3 vinegar cubes and put down garbage disposal to clean and freshen it.
9. Freeze leftover chicken stock. Each cube is about a tablespoon. When sautéing meats or veggies, throw a couple of cubes in the pan. You can then use less oil and it adds a little flavor.
10. Soda that has gone flat can be frozen into cubes and then used either as a mini-popsicle or to cool down other soda drinks. Ginger ale frozen into cubes is good added to iced tea.
11. The ice cube trick also works for fresh herbs. Cut them up into water and freeze in the ice cube trays. Use for soups etc.
12. Another great idea to use those little bits of leftover dinner (like the last of the gravy, a few bits of roast, a few peas or a little corn) is to put one of those large empty ice cream containers in your freezer. When your meal is over, put the leftovers into the container. When it's full, get out the crock pot, add a can of tomatoes and get yourself the best soup you've had in a long time.
13. It's more efficient to keep one's freezer full than it is to keep it half-empty anyway, so those bags of frozen cubes may help save on the electric bill, as long as you allow space for proper circulation. The more your freezer is filled with frozen goods (such as ice), the less energy it takes to keep cool.
14. Don't rule out non-food uses. Crafters have always known that ice cube trays are good for organizing beads and small hardware. You can use them to hold small amounts of paint for crafts and even mix some of the colors in an empty compartment. Use in the bedroom to sort small pieces of jewelry: pins, rings, earrings.

Store what you Use & Use what you store. Never throw away useable food or other non-food products! If you have something usable but don’t think you personally are going to use it – give it away or donate it to a local charity. Someone will be thankful to have what you don’t want. One man’s trash really is another man’s treasure.

Emergency Preparedness Tips

10 Tips on Preparing for Emergency Situations
These are just my own suggestions. I am sure there are plenty of other good suggestions out there, but these are a good place to start.

1. Go through your 72 hour kits every 6 months on a specific weekend. Since I write to a mostly LDS audience and I myself am LDS, I choosse to do this task each General Conference weekend (in April and October). I put my kits in the floor as I am watching the Saturday sessions and go through them. Anything that is out of date is replaced. If I do not have stock on hand to do this – I go to the store that very evening after conference and get whatever is needed.

2. These weekends are also a great time to go through all the flashlights and check the batteries. Make sure you have extra batteries on hand for them just in case they die before the next conference. ALWAYS – replace the batteries (at conference time or every 6 months on your own schedule) in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. If the battery is still good – replace it anyway with a new one and use the old one for a less important purpose.

3. Candles – Use decorative candle sconces in your home. That way – in the event of a power outage – you can have hands-free light in every room that you need. NEVER – leave a candle burning in an unattended room. Store matches in a place where every adult has access and knows where to find them. I choose to put them on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet in each bathroom as well as on top of the fridge.

4. Put a small flashlight in the nightstand of each bedroom. The self-generating kind are great – then you don’t have to worry about battery life.

5. Generators – having a small portable one on hand can save your freezer and refrigerator in a summertime prolonged power outage. A good small generator can be purchased for as little as $300 – $400. (I know I have a lot more food than that in my freezer!) Make sure that you have at least 5 gallons of fuel stored and designated especially for the generator. Check with city officials about ordinances regarding fuel storage in residential neighborhoods if you want to store more than that. A 2000 watt portable generator will provide enough juice to power you fridge, freezer and the blower for your furnace. (You must have your furnace blower wired with an accessory plug in order to connect to a generator in the event of a power outage.)

6. If you have an alternative heat source (wood burning stove – fireplace – propane or kerosene heaters) make sure that all the adults in your house know how to properly and safely use it. Make sure that you have plenty of ‘fuel’ or wood stored for these sources.

7. Alternative cooking sources should be stored for an emergency as well. A solar oven is great, but expensive. A good, portable and cheap alternative for those just getting started is a butane stove (about $25 – canisters of fuel are about $2). A folding stove with fuel cell cans for a 72 hour kit is good as well and will only run you about $15 with 2 cans of fuel. Propane stoves that fit the small propane canisters are also relatively cheap and easy to use for a beginner. Again – whatever you chose – practice cooking with it and learn how to use it ahead of time!

8. Keep a pair of comfortable shoes in the same location as your 72 hour kit, in case you have to evacuate in a hurry and do not have time to go hunting for your good hikers or tennis shoes.

9. Place a laminated photo of each family member on a lanyard and attach it to their 72-hour kit. Write all pertinent information on the back of the photo including the name of the person, cell numbers for the parents or spouse, allergies to drugs, ect. In the event of an emergency – each family member should remove the lanyard from the pack and wear it around their neck. That way- if you are separated from your children – they can be identified and you can be more easily located. You and your medical issues can also be identified with this information if you are found unconscious.

10. Put a small set of scriptures in your 72 hour kits. This will be a great source of comfort in any emergency. (For a small child – have a favorite story book and/or a stuffed toy or card game like old maid, Uno, ect)

Just get prepared! You never know when an emergency will strike.

Word-of-Mouth Cures That Really Work!

I found this article on MSN today and thought it was worth reprinting in it's entirity here. This is some good information on home remedies. Enjoy.....

Word-of-Mouth Cures That Really Work!
Seven homespun remedies that have solid research behind them.
By Quick & Simple Staff

It's amazing how many traditional cures actually have evidence to support them, says Francesca J. Fusco, M.D., of Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Here are seven that have solid research—not just someone's grandma!—behind them.

Zap nail fungus with bleach
Why: "We're not sure why, but there is something in bleach that slows down the growth of nail fungi," says Dr. Fusco.
How: Combine one teaspoon of bleach with one cup of water.
(Note: Always dilute the mixture—applying pure bleach will burn skin.) Then, use a dropper to place this mixture under the affected nail. Repeat twice a day until the infection disappears; this could take up to three weeks.

Prevent blisters on your feet with deodorant
Why: Blisters are caused by skin rubbing against your shoes, and are made worse by sweating. "Deodorant works on your feet just like it does under your arms: It stops sweat glands from producing sweat," says Ranella J. Hirsch, M.D., president of the American Society for Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.
How: Before heading out, roll deodorant—any kind will do—on your soles.

Soothe burns with tomato
Why: "The tomato contains lycopene, which is a natural anti-inflammatory, so it calms inflamed skin. And the wetness of the tomato juice helps draw some of the liquid out of the burn, reducing swelling," says Dr. Fusco.
How: Slice a large tomato and apply pieces to damaged skin. Leave on for five minutes, then remove, letting the remaining juices fully dry on skin. Once dry, rinse skin with cool water. Repeat twice daily until discomfort ends.

Calm insect bites with aspirin
Why: "Aspirin is made of salicylic acid, a potent anti-inflammatory that can reduce pain and itching," says Dr. Hirsch.
How: Crush three aspirin and add a few drops of water—enough to make a paste, Dr. Hirsch says. Apply mixture to the bite. Leave on for two minutes, then rinse with cool water. Repeat twice daily until pain and itching stop.

Stop small cuts from bleeding with used tea bags
Why: "The tannic acid in tea has an astringent effect, prompting blood vessels to constrict more quickly, which slows the flow of blood," explains Dr. Fusco.
How: Using light pressure, hold a cool (not warm) tea bag against the cut for one minute. Rinse, then cover with a bandage.

Remove warts with duct tape
Why: Experts at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash., found this remedy could clear warts in two months. There are a few theories about how it works. One is that duct tape irritates warts, causing an immune system reaction that attacks them. "Another is that the tape removes the virus-laden skin cells," says Anthony Mancini, M.D., professor of dermatology at Northwestern University.
How: Apply a piece of tape that's the same size as the wart and leave on for six days. (If tape falls off, replace ASAP.) Remove tape after the six days and clean area with soap and water; leave tape off overnight. In the morning, reapply tape, keep on for five days and repeat until wart disappears. It may take up to two months, says Dr. Mancini, but it's less painful and less expensive than repeated doctor visits.

Nix dandruff with apple cider vinegar
Why: "The vinegar's acidity reduces the natural pH of the scalp," explains Dr. Fusco. "And this creates an unfriendly environment for yeast that tend to overpopulate the head and cause dandruff."
How: Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with one quart of water and use as a final rinse after shampooing, twice weekly.

More Home Made Household Cleaning Products

Although I'd like to take credit for all the following - I can't. The first part of this post came from The Dollar Stretcher website at http://www.stretcher.com. It is an article written by Amy Allen Clark. She is a stay-at-home mother of two wonderful children. She is founder and creator of http://www.momadvice.com. Her website is geared towards mothers who are seeking advice on staying organized, living on a budget, and those seeking work-at-home employments. Please visit her money-saving blog where she offers even more tips for ways you can save your family money. The other part of this article is cut and pasted cleaning recipes from the Dollar Stretcher website. Just read - enjoy and then try the cleaner recipes. I have tried several of them before and they work. I did not know about the furniture polish though. I'm going to try that tomorrow or maybe the next day - or whenever I have time to dust...... LOL. I'm just too busy planting spring flowers and blogging for my wonderful readers to care about a dusty house right now. Here's Amy's article and the recipes:

I am not going to launch into a preachy prose about how bad commercial cleaning products are today when it comes to cleaning your home. It is common knowledge that a healthy home is not doused in heavy-duty bleach and preserving our environment should be tops on our priority list. The truth is, if you peeked inside of my caddy of cleaners, you would see some of these harmful products in there. The fact is that I am trying to rely less on these cleaners and rely more on homemade cleaners. I am in the process of making the transition over to using only healthy homemade cleaners and feel a lot of pride when I take the time to do this.

Making cleaners does not mean that you need to purchase a ton of items; in fact, most cleaners can be made from things you already have in your house. The main components that I like to work with are white vinegar, baking soda, liquid dish washing soap, and lemon juice. To get started, however, you may need to purchase a few spray bottles. I pick these spray bottles up from our local dollar store. These clear spray bottles will make it easy to measure and label your new cleaners in your house.

If you do decide to use these types of cleaners regularly, I would suggest making a trip to your wholesale club to buy the ingredients. A small box of baking soda can cost around fifty cents at your local grocery store. The same baking soda, in a twelve-pound bag, from Sam's Club costs about $5.42. What a savings! All of these products can be purchased in bulk, and once you begin using them regularly, you will go through them quickly.

While you are at the warehouse store, be sure to swing by the automotive section and pick up a bag of microfiber cloths. The cloths sold at the warehouse store are larger and thicker than the ones you can get in other stores, and these are great for all of the jobs around your house. You can use these wet or dry. You can also use these just using water and not even bothering with a cleaner because they are that amazing.

Be sure when you launder your microfiber cloths that you do not use any type of fabric softener and use a very little amount of soap or cleaner on them. If you overload them with cleaning products, they will become less and less effective, particularly when you are trying to attract dust towards them. Because these cleaners are homemade and use less harsh ingredients, they will require a little more elbow grease than your commercial products. Here are some of my tried-and-true recipes that we use in our house:
All-Purpose Cleaner - Mix together two tablespoons of mild dish washing soap and two cups of water in a spray bottle and give it a shake. Use this anywhere that you would use a commercial all-purpose spray. This cleaner is particularly great for counter tops, bathroom surfaces, and high chairs.

Glass Cleaner - Mix together one part white vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on your mirrors and windows and dry your windows with newspaper. The newspaper is great for lint-free drying.
Homemade Oven Cleaner/Deep Kitchen Cleaner - Mix a paste of three parts warm water to one part baking soda to clean away kitchen stains or to clean your oven.
Bathroom Cleaner - Mix dish washing liquid with baking soda until you have a thick paste and use this throughout your bathroom.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner - No measuring is required with this recipe. Sprinkle a little baking soda into your toilet bowl and then pour a little vinegar in and watch it fizz it up. Give it a swish with your toilet brush and then flush.
Floor Cleaner - Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to a gallon of water. The scent of the vinegar will fade in approximately an hour, but you can also add a couple of drops of essential oil to help with the scent.
Furniture Polish - Mix 1/4 cup olive oil with four tablespoons of vinegar and two teaspoons of lemon juice. Pour into a spray bottle and shake well before using. If you do not use all of it in one cleaning session, store the remainder in the fridge, as the lemon juice can go sour.
Silver Cleaner - Although I don't polish silver very frequently, this is a great to have in your bag of tricks. In a large bowl (or you can use your kitchen sink), place strips of aluminum foil and place the silver pieces on top. Cover the silver with boiling water and then add three tablespoons of baking soda and soak for ten minutes.

By making your own cleaners, you will save hundreds of dollars over the course of the year. What a difference that will make to your grocery budget and helping the environment is a wonderful benefit of your fabulous frugalness.

More frugal cleaning product ideas:

From a reader named Layne -

I, too, thought the price on the clean-up wipes was way too expensive at $3.99 for a package of 28 in my area, so I modified my homemade baby wipes to make my own clean-ups.

Cleaning Wipes: Cut a roll of Bounty paper towels in half, and remove cardboard tube. In an airtight container add 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 cup of cleaner (bleach or pine Sol or whatever kind you want). I use an old 5-quart ice cream bucket and Mr. Clean Anti-Bacterial. Place roll of paper towels in and seal with lid. Turn upside down until all liquid is absorbed in paper towels. To use, pull each piece of paper towel out of the center. I figured I spent about 75¢ for 100 wipes. Quite a savings! They work great for wiping down the bathroom and kitchen.

From a reader named Bridgett -

Baby Wipes: I use Bounty Select-A-Size paper towels and fold them into thirds. Put them in an old Huggie wipee box. Mix 2 cups warm water, 2 tablespoons baby lotion, and 2 tablespoons baby bath. Pour over the paper towels. You can adjust the recipe if you like your wipees' wetter or drier.

For each of the following, I use Bounty or Viva paper towels, because neither one of these turns to mush. I take a roll of paper towels, cut it in half, and take out the cardboard inside. You won't need it for anything. You'll pull out the sheets from the center. I keep each of the following in a Rubbermaid container big enough to hold half a roll of paper towels:
Kitchen Face Wipe: 2 tablespoons Johnson & Johnson Baby Bath and 2 cups water

Bathroom disinfectant wipes: 2 cups Pine Cleaner (your choice) and 2 cups water.

Bug Wipe: 1 cup Avon Skin so Soft and 1 cup water

Window Wipe: 1 1/2 cups Glass Cleaner (your choice) and 1/2 cup water

All of the above save me some time and money, and they get used a lot here! I've marked the tops of each with exactly what is inside, and the same container gets used over and over again for even more savings.

Room Deodorizers from several readers:

The Fake Febreeze Recipe
2 C. Fabric Softener
2 C. Baking Soda
4 C. warm water
Mix and place in a spritzing bottle. Use just like you would the expensive Febreeze from the store. If you want, you can use the unscented fabric softener and then add a few drops of essential oil to make it a scent that you prefer. I just use Snuggle. Tina

Easy Deodorizer
The best deodorizer that I make is plain tap water with several drops of essential oil in it. I normally use lavender. About 15 drops for a 32-ounce spray bottle. When needed, I simply mist the air. I use lavender because it's so relaxing! Katrina
Good Use for Vodka
I own a business which styles and sells wigs, falls, and other synthetic hairpieces, and the best trick I've learned for getting smells out of those fibers works just as well on other fibers and fabrics. Just mix water and vodka in a 1:1 ratio and spritz it right on. Works as well as commercial products like Febreeze. It evaporates quickly, leaving no alcohol-scent behind. Penny
Less Expensive Substitute
Sam's club has a product called OdoBan. It comes in a gallon jug as a concentrate. You may make the scent as light or strong as you wish by adding water to a very small amount in a spray bottle. The scent isn't as flowery as Febreeze but pleasant, very effective, and very affordable. I have had my gallon for over a year and it's still almost a gallon. My daughter uses this product at her pet grooming shops. The scent of wet dog isn't so noticeable. I have also read you may add fabric softener diluted with water as a spray, but would worry about furniture because product stains clothes if not used right. Dian

Home Made Laundry Soap - and yes it is easy and worth it!!

It has been a hectic two weeks and I have not posted to either of my blogs because I have been so busy. First of all I had to make an unexpected trip to tow my nephew home to Utah from Baker California. I had 3 hours notice from the time we decided to go pick him up until I left. A few days later I went on an impromptu short trip with my man to Las Vegas (which would have been much more fun without the two year old - but at this point I will take what I can get). I now have house guest for another week and I am trying desperately to get organized enough again to post regularly to my blogs.......

I was very happy to have easy everyday food storage after a few weeks like this. My daughter that is a senior in high school, stayed home alone during my recent trips. She is so responsible!! I am so thankful to have a good daughter like her that I can trust to take care of the dogs and the house while I am away. I did not have to worry about going to the store before of after my trips and I did not have to worry about her eating junk food while I was gone. Before I walked out the door on my first trip, I put a casserole from my freezer in the oven for her to eat on while I was gone. She had plenty of things in 'the store' in the basement to eat for lunches and snacks. I did not have to worry about laundry soap or toilet paper or anything of that nature and it certainly makes it easier to just pick up and go when you have an organized 'store' of food and supplies. Speaking of laundry soap - that is what I want to share with you today.

I have not bought laundry soap in over 6 months now. I have been making my own and I am so pleased with the results that I now feel confident enough to tell you about it. Homemade laundry soap is not the old fashioned lye soap that grandma used to make - so there is no worry about having toxic fumes fill your kitchen. It is very economical too. I priced Tide at my local Walmart this week in preparation to share this with you. Where I live - it was $19.96 for a 96 load size of liquid Tide. That's about 21 cents per load. In contrast - making your own laundry soap is only about couple of pennies per load (depending on how much you use and which brand of bar soap you use to make it). You can get all three ingredients needed at your local grocery store. That's right - I said only 3 measly little ingredients and about 20 minutes on your stove top. It's super simple. Here's how to do it:

Home Made Laundry Soap

Ingredients:
1 bar Fel Naptha (you may also use Ivory soap (large sized bar) if this laundry bar is not available at your local store. In Utah - Fels Naptha can be found at your local Reams or Maceys in the laundry section.)
1 Cup Twenty Mule Team Borax
1 Cup Washing Soda (this is not the same as regular baking soda even though it is made by Arm and Hammer as well. It can be found in the laundry section of your super market. It is a detergent booster. it is also found in Reams here in Utah and Publix markets back East.)

Use your cheese grater to grate the Fel Naptha or Ivory soap into a bowl. Since these are non-toxic - you can grate them with your kitchen grater and not worry about using it on your food later. Use the smallest grate setting so the bar will melt easier later. Add the soda and borax and mix. You may use this detergent just as any other powdered detergent. Only use 2 TBS per load. In hard water areas try 3 TBS per load.

To make a liquid detergent (this is what I like to do), put 3 pints of water into a large stock pot. Add the grated bar, borax and soda. Stir over medium heat until the bar is completely dissolved and the mixture is thickened. Take your pot to the sink and add more warm water nearly to the top of the pot. Continue stirring. When it has cooled a little, pour mixture into a five gallon bucket and add more water to make approximately 4 1/2 gallons. Use a long handle wooden spoon to stir. (I have an attachment for my drill to stir paint that I bought at my local hardware store. That is how I stir my mixture, but I know not everyone will have this and a wooden spoon works just fine as well.) When all is done and the mixture is cooled enough to work with, use a funnel and 5 well cleaned milk jugs to store your product. I would use a two cup measure to pour from instead of trying to pour the mixture straight from the bucket into the funnel and milk jugs. Use only 1/2 cup per regular load. (1 cup if you have hard water)

Some people using well water might find that the mixture does not get clothes white enough in water with heavy minerals. If you're using very hard water, you might consider mixing the homemade version 50/50 with your expensive commercial detergent. We have very hard water in our town, but I have a water softener in my home and only have to use 1/2 cup per regular sized laundry load. I cannot say what your individual results may be. I think I would try using more of your homemade soap first before mixing it 50/50. Either way - it is still a significant savings. A five gallon bucket will yield 160 loads at 1/2 cup per load and only cost $2 per bucket to make. That's a far cry better than $20 for 96 loads of Tide and I can't notice a difference.

I spent $3.99 each on the box of borax and washing soda. Each box is enough for me to make 8 recipes of this detergent. The Fels Naptha is $1.26 locally here but Ivory soap is only $3.99 for an 8 bar pack of the larger sized bars. So basically for $12, I can make enough laundry soap to last my family for two years. That's 1280 loads at $12 bucks - so that's not even a penny per load if I use Ivory soap. Can you say WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tide is 21 times that expensive.

I also use this same mixture as a stain fighter and have not bought Spray-N-wash in over 6 months either. You can mix 2 parts of your homemade liquid soap with 1 part water and put it into a spray bottle to pre-treat stains. I also rub out particularly tough stains with liquid dish soap if needed. At $3 a bottle, Spray-N-Wash is just too expensive when I can do this.

When traveling on road trips, pack individual packets of the powdered version in plastic baggies to use at the laundry mat so you don't spend a fortune on those little one use boxes in the vending machine.

Additionally, use 1/4 cup of plain white vinegar in the rinse cycle as a fabric softener. This removes excess soap residue if you have that problem with your current brand. I do not have that problem with homemade detergent. Vinegar is much cheaper if purchased by the gallon, and pricing varies greatly. I use the cheapest store brand I can find and it works very well. Vinegar also has so many other uses such as in your dishwasher as a spot remover (no more expensive rinse agents!!) and as a window cleaner to remove hard water stains. For more tips and tricks on homemade cleaning products go to the Dollar Stretcher website at: http://www.stretcher.com/

30 minute Cheesey Italitan breadsticks

This recipe was originally posted as a video from YouTube last month (April 3rd if you want to look up the original video). Since then I have personally made it several times and tweaked it to my personal taste. My family begs for it now. I hope you will like it as well.

PS* - I just got a note from a friend of mine - Jolene McQueen - and she says she has experimented and made a similar recipe leaving off the cheeses and using cinnamon and sugar instead of the italian seasonings and garlic and that it is fabulous for breakfast and brunch. I am definatley gonna try that and I will let you know the amounts that I used to get it perfect (at least to my taste) later.

30 Minute Bread Sticks
Yummy delicious breadsticks your family will love and they truly only take 30 minutes from the moment you start to assemble your ingredients until they are out of your oven.

Utensils:

Stand mixer with dough hook attachment
A 9 X 13 baking pan or large cookie sheet if recipe is doubled
Measuring cup and spoons

Ingredients:

1 ¼ Cup really warm tap water
1 TBS yeast
¼ Cup butter or margarine (1/2 stick)
1 TBS sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 ½ TBS oil (olive oil taste best – but regular vegetable oil is just fine too)
3 Cups flour (I use half white and half wheat)
1 – 8 oz. package shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese
More garlic salt to sprinkle on top to your taste

Directions:
Dissolve yeast in water right in your mixer bowl and let stand 2 minutes. Meanwhile – set your oven to preheat to 400*. Put the cold butter in your pan and put it in the oven to melt while you mix the other ingredients. Add sugar, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and oil to yeast mixture in bowl. Mix on low speed just until blended. Add flour slowly – one cup at a time. After last cup, lock your mixer (if it has that option) and just let the mixer work the dough by itself on medium speed for about 2 minutes until it has formed a ball around your hook. Take the pan with melted butter from oven with hot pads. Remove dough ball from mixer and spread directly into buttered pan with your fingers. Be careful not to touch the sides of the pan since they will be hot. Some of the butter will ooze up over the top of your dough as you press it into the pan. Just use your fingers to spread it over the whole dough mass when you finish spreading the dough out to all the edges of the pan.

Let dough rest for 10 minutes to rise a bit. It won’t rise much – but it will get a little fluffy. Sprinkle dough with garlic salt. Top with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Bake at 400* for 10 – to 12 minutes until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Slice bread with pizza cutter if on a shallow sided cookie sheet. If it is in a regular baking pan slice with a knife while still warm. A 9 X 13 pan makes about 16 bread sticks. These are soooooo yummy you’ll be making them all the time.

Make Your Own Buttermilk Pancake Mix

Pancakes from scratch just taste better than most of the mixes in the stores but when you're in a hurry, who has time for scratch? Here's how to make a buttermilk pancake mix so that you can have great “from scratch” pancakes when you are in a hurry. It's storable and since it has everything included but eggs and butter, it's a great mix to stick in the RV or take camping. You can make this mix as large or as small as you like just keep the same ratio of ingredients to make it any size.

12 C All Purpose Flour
3/4 C Sugar
1 1/2 C Dry Buttermilk Powder
6 tsp Baking Soda
12 tsp Baking Powder
3 tsp Salt
Makes Approx 5 lbs. For easier measurement, remember that one tablespoon equals three teaspoons. I just listed it as tsp to make the division easier if you want to make a smaller batch.

Combine all the ingredients and whisk together to distribute evenly. Store your buttermilk pancake mix in a sealed container in a cool place and use it within three months. If you would like to keep the mix longer, store it in the freezer. You can buy buttermilk powder in your grocery store in the section with dry milk. To use your mix:

1. Measure the desired amount of mix into a large bowl.
2. In a smaller bowl, whisk one egg for every one to 1 1/2 cups of mix.
3. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter or oil to the egg for every one cup of mix.
4. Add 2/3 cup water to the egg mixture for every one cup of mix. Add the liquid mixture to the mix and stir until just combined. The batter will probably be too dry so add more water to reach the desired consistency.

Sunflower Wheat Bread

Over the years I have experimented with several bread recipes. Some I liked and some I did not, but until now - I had not come across one that I thought I would use as a regular staple. My girls and I are not quite as choosy about wheat bread recipes, but my husband likes a certain sunflower bread that cost almost $3 a loaf at the store. I have tried to replicate it - but still have not been able to get it quite right. However, I now have a sunflower bread recipe that even my finicky husband will eat. It may not be the same as his favorite brand at the store - but it is pretty darn good if I do say so myself. I make my dough in my bread maker and then put it into the loaf pan to rise the final time and bake in my oven. I just like the shape of an oven baked loaf better than the bread maker pan. If you chose to do this recipe without a bread maker, use the same steps - except put it in a stand mixer (like a Kitchen Aid) and let it mix for about 10 minutes. Then put it into a well oiled bowl and let rise until doubled. Punch it down, shape into loaf and then place into pan until doubled again before baking. Here's the recipe:

Put the following in your bread maker pan (or mixer) in this order:
1 1/2 C warm tap water

2 C white flour

2 C wheat flour

1/2 C unsalted sunflower nuts

2 TBS margarine or butter

2 TBS sugar

2 TBS dry milk powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 TBS rapid rise yeast

Set the bread maker for 'Basic Dough' setting. As soon as bread maker is done, remove dough, shape into a loaf and place in pan. Let rise until doubled. I like to rapid raise my dough in a warm oven. To do this - preheat your oven to 150* - 170* (which ever is as low as yours will go -mine only goes to 170*). Then turn it off and set your pan in there. Make sure and cover you dough with a towel or it will dry out the top. After dough has risen, remove it from oven and preheat oven again - this time to 375*. Bake bread at 375* for 20 - 25 minutes until top is a light golden brown. This bread is great for all basic sandwich making. I also like to make an herbed version for use with chicken sandwiches or serving with Italian themed dinners. Use the same recipe - except add the following after the salt:

2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dries oregano

Now that's a really good sunflower bread!!!!

Yogurt and herbal tea part 2 of 2

This is more awesome information from Tammy at Dehydrate2store on Youtube. She has many awesome videos on how to dehydrate and store everything under the sun.

Yogurt and Herbal Tea part 1 of 2

This is an excellent video on how to make yogurt. I have made my own homemade yogurt and my kids love it. It is much cheaper than buying the 'Yoplait' as I used to do and it taste even better. I put my yogurt in jars to initially make it just as she shows here. My dehydrator is one of those round ones - not as nice as hers and I cannot put my jars in it. You can incubate your yogurt other ways though. I put mine in my large electric roasting pan (you know - the type you use to cook a turkey in) and set the temperature just as she does. You can also use a crock pot set on the 'warm' setting. You can also set your yogurt on a heating pad and invert a small box over it to hold in the heat. That is how I made it the first time, before I remembered my roaster. It worked but took a lot longer to set the yogurt. The longer the yogurt incubates, the more sour it becomes - so shorter, more precise incubation temperatures make a better yogurt. After it is done and has been refridgerated overnight, I put mine into seperate little 'Glad' brand mini-round containers. They are the perfect size (4 oz. each), reusable, and they only cost me $3 at the Walmart for an 8 pack. You may sweeten your yogurt as she describes in the video or as I do with my home-made strawberry, peach, and raspberry jams. Using jams will make your yogurt thinner - but my kids love it and it only takes 1 tsp per 4 oz container.
Homemade yogurt is great to eat alone, use plain as a sour cream substitute or to mix into your oatmeal. When I make a packet of fruit oatmeal, (you can use store bought or see my recipe at the bottom of this blog) I use 1/2 cup of yougurt instead water or milk and then I microwave it for 1 min. 30 sec. It makes the most intensely fruity oatmeal and it is a staple breakfast at our house all winter long. Making yogurt is easy and you should give it a try. I know once you do - you will be hooked on it and will never go back to store bought again!

I.O.U.S.A.: The 30 Minute Version

This non-partisan video will explain the best reason for food storage in my view. "It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark" - Well folks - we are on the verge of 'the BIGGEST flood of all time' now. You best start packing your ark.

NON-Food Storage

A year supply of food is a great start - but what about all those non-food items that pad our monthly grocery bill? How do we get along in times of financial crisis if we have not also stored the non-food things we use on a daily basis? To get started storing your non-food items, go around your home and make a list of the items you use on a daily basis. Decide if you need to store brand names or if your family is fine with generic versions. Since many non-food items are not readily available through warehouse or specialty orders, keep track of local sales and coupons. Many non-food items can be found at the dollar store. They can also be gotten for FREE after rebate at Walgreen's Rite-Aid and CVS pharmacies. Personally - I found it cheaper to get my year's supply of non-food than I thought. I actually had a year's supply of non-food before I got my year's supply of food stored. The list below is what I store for my family of four. Compute your needs according to your own family size. Some people will use different amounts of the same items because of personal usage patterns or children’s ages and sex.

The Basics:
trash bags (6 - 80 count boxes)
paper napkins (12 - 400 count packs)
toilet paper (13 - 24 roll packs)
Kleenex (48 - 200 count boxes)
paper towels (13 - 8 roll packs)
dish soap (6 - 64 oz bottles)
dishwasher soap (6 - 85 oz bottles)
toothbrushes (4 per person/year = 16)
mouthwash (12 - 48 oz. bottles)
toothpaste (12 - 6.4 oz tubes)
bath soap (75 bars)
laundry soap (12 - 90 load sized jugs)
fabric softener (24 - 55 count boxes)
spray-N-wash (6 bottles)
bleach (12 gallons)
Lysol (12 cans)
sanitary pads (12 - 32 count packs)
alcohol & peroxide (6 bottles each)
band-aids (3 boxes)
hydrocortisone cream (2 tubes)
antibiotic ointment (2 tubes)
ibuprofen (200 tablets)
aspirin (1000 tablets)
acetaminophen (500 tablets)
shampoo & conditioner (12 each - 16oz)
lotion (24 - 4 oz. tubes)
deodorant (24 sticks)
shave cream (12 cans)
disposable razors (150 total)
lip balm (36 tubes)
wet wipes (6 - 400 count refill boxes)
Ajax cleanser (6 cans)
soft scrub type cleaners (6 bottles)
toilet cleaner (12 bottles)
600 paper plates, 100 paper bowls, & 2 - 500 count boxes plastic utensils - (2 wk. supply)

EXTRAS:
Foundation make-up, mascarra, lipstick and moisturizers are nice items to have on hand. These things can get very pricey depending on your brand of choice and every woman wants to look and feel her best even when times are hard.

If you have a baby or toddler that is still in diapers - I would also store 24 to 36 cloth diapers and waterproof cover pants plus extra bleach and detergent for them. You may choose to try to store disposable diapers - but I think it is best to simply keep cloth on hand in case of an economic emergency.

If you have growing children - please try to have a few things in their closets that are a size up. If you have children of the same sex, keep the hand-me downs for the younger children and then you will only have to store a size up for the oldest child. Personally - I buy all my girls clothes for the next year off the clearnace rack at the end of each season. I usually come out as cheap as and sometimes cheaper than going to a thrift store shopping clearnace racks at K-Mart and Wal-Mart.

For the men - keep extra work gloves and boots on hand. Also make sure he has his favorite brand of shaving cream, razors and aftershave lotion in storage. Our men are creatures of habit and want to be comfortable too.

Here's one that escapes many people - - Christmas presents. If you have little ones - they won't understand why Santa can't get them a toy just because daddy or mommy lost a job - so I have always tried to get inexpensive Christmas presents a little along throughout the year and have a few things tucked away in the coolers in the basement. Older children are perfectly capable of understanding financial crisis and should be 'kept in the loop' so they know what to expect - but little ones will not understand. If you have gotten a few things all along - they will be happy at Christmas or their birthday even if you are in a financial or other crisis.

Cracking Wheat in Your Blender

Using Cracked Wheat

Did you know that you can use cracked wheat to extend your ground beef, to substitute for nuts or RICE? The nice thing about using it as rice is that it is MUCH FASTER to cook than brown rice. (15-20 minutes MAX!) Watch the short video above to learn how to crack wheat in your blender. Coffee grinders are the best for cracking wheat so if you find yourself needing to crack a lot of it I would pay the $10 bucks to buy a coffee grinder. Make sure when you’re cracking wheat in the blender that your blender is completely (and when I say completely I mean COMPLETELY) dry or it won’t crack the wheat. Also, make sure to use small amounts like no more than a little over 1/4 cup at a time. Also -you can practice using cracked wheat as nuts. This Strawberry “Nut” Jell-O salad is from the Everyday Food Storage website. She writes:

This is my ULTIMATE FAVORITE Jell-O salad in the WHOLE WORLD. (Have I convinced it tastes awesome yet?) It is different from anything else you’ve seen at a potluck and the cracked wheat in the salad gives a really great texture. It almost tastes like little bits of strawberries in the salad. You’ve got to try this, you’re family will LOVE it and no one NOT NO ONE will guess there is wheat in it!!!

Strawberry Nut (Wheat) Molded Salad

1 small pkg. strawberry Jello (or use raspberry if you like)
1 C boiling water

Combine Jell-O and Water & refrigerate until syrupy, then add to the rest (word to the wise-you have to watch this like a hawk. It goes from syrupy to jelled very quickly. I would check it between 15-20 minutes after you put it in the fridge)

1 C cooked cracked wheat for mock nuts
1 C whipped cream or Cool Whip Whipped Topping
1/2 C sugar
2 C mashed fresh strawberries

Refrigerate until firm or over night. Serve on a bed of lettuce with a dollop of whipped cream/topping sprinkled with cooked cracked wheat as your mock nuts.
For more tips and tricks for using food storage in your everyday recipes, please visit http://www.everydayfoodstorage.net/