Liquid Laundry Detergent

The link to my friend's site no longer works, so I'm reposting her laundry detergent recipe here. I have a HE front load washer and have been using this detergent for about a year now with no problems whatsoever...

So fresh and so clean, clean...

The only thing I hate worse than doing laundry is paying for laundry detergent. Thank goodness for this recipe. When I made this recipe, I cut the amounts in half, making one gallon. That amount filled my old, empty laundry detergent container and cost about $1. The original detergent (ALL free and clear) cost about $10... that's a significant savings for a few minutes of work.

Ingredients (makes approx 1 gallon of liquid laundry detergent):

1/3 bar grated laundry soap (Zote, Fels-Naptha, Dr Bronners)

1/3 cup washing soda (NOT baking soda)

1/4 cup Borax

1 gallon of water, divided in half

Directions:

Place a large stock pot on the stove. Add 2 quarts (8 cups) water and the grated soap.

    ** I've found it easiest to "shave" the soap with a sharp knife kind of like making chocolate shavings. 

        It makes less mess and has easier cleanup than a cheese grater and works just as quickly

Heat the mixture over medium heat just to a simmer. Let simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring until the soap is completely dissolved. A wire whisk works pretty well for this

Once the bar soap is dissolved, add the Washing Soda and the Borax. Continue to stir until they are both dissolved. This will take another minute or two.

Remove from heat and add the other 2 quarts. Stir to combine.

Cover and let sit for 24 hours. The mixture will separate with a thick congealed layer on top. Just give it another good whisk or use an electric mixer to reincorporate. Last time I made it, I put it in my blender and it came out really smooth and pourable. Use a funnel and ladle to pour the mixture into an old detergent container or other container of your choice.

     **The mixture will have a tendency to continue separate a little even after it has cooled. 

         Just give it a good shake before using.

Use just like brand name laundry detergent!!

Here's an easy reference chart to show how I came up with the $1 per gallon price

Personally, I prefer not to have extra fragrance in my laundry detergent, so this recipe is perfect for me. To soften my clothes and add a light fragrance, I fill a downy ball 1/3 full with white vinegar (yes, more vinegar...you'll see that a lot on this page) and add about 10 drops of lavender essential oil.

And, instead of using fabric softener sheets, you can made your own economical and eco-friendly dryer balls using only wool yarn. Add a little essential oils before throwing them in the dryer with your clothes, and you end up with a nice light laundry scent with no waste!!

The Tomatillo: One Blogger's Inappropriate Observation (NSFW)

The last time I made my Salsa Verde, this thought popped into my head as I prepared the tomatillos:

Salsa Verde

This is probably not the most traditional Salsa Verde recipe. I made it up on the fly, but I really love the fresh flavor and bright green color. It's delicious eaten with tortilla chips, or you pour it over pork roast or chicken.

If you're not familiar with tomatillos, they look like little green tomatoes but they're actually a member of the gooseberry family. Because of this, they grow covered in a papery outer covering

REFASHION POST: Sugar Skull Tank Top

I am OBSESSED with sugar skulls. I found this image here

Refashion: Scarf to Vest

Here is a quick, no-sew way to turn a scarf into a lose, flowy vest.

I can't take the credit for the idea. (I saw it here first) Some of the commenters had complained that the directions were a little unclear, so I thought I'd try to make it easier to follow.

Recipe Redux: Falafel made from leftover Hummus

I made 3 batches of homemade hummus for a BBQ this past weekend. Needless to say, I had quite a bit leftover. Don't get me wrong, I love hummus. But I can only eat so much of the stuff. I figured there had to be a way to re-purpose the leftovers without too much fuss.

FALAFEL!!

Homemade Weed Spray (Non-toxic)

I can't take credit for this recipe. However, I've seen it posted on so many different sites that I don't feel bad about stealing and reposting.

(Sorry... I know the hose in the picture is annoying and distracting, but I had to set up a temporary sprinkler for some freshly planted bulbs. I could have moved it for the picture, but I'm not a fan of doing work just so I can re-do it when I'm done)

All natural, home-made toothpaste (Fluoride free!!)

There has been a lot of talk about the neurotoxic effects of fluoride. As I mentioned in my home-made deodorant post, I'm not totally convinced yet that this is true, but why not try an alternative if it works as well or better?

Introducing:

 An easy, fluoride free, home-made, customizable toothpaste that may even remineralize your teeth...

 and costs pennies to make!

Refashion: 2 "New" Skirts for this Summer

I'll admit it. I have been a total slacker lately. I have a whole list of projects I want to get started on, but I haven't had the motivation.

I had 3 days off in a row this week and thought that I would have plenty of time to hippie it up. However, my first day off happened to be my bestie's birthday, so I spent the day preparing for that... making reservations, picking out decorations, etc.

Product Update: Hair One Jajoba Packette for Color Treated Hair

I mentioned in my last post that I broke down and used a store bought product to get the remaining Henna out of my hair. I had a packet of Hair One Jajoba Packette for Color Treated Hair that I purchased when I was just starting my all-natural journey. 

My first attempt at coloring my hair with Henna... with pictures :)

As I've said in other posts, I'm trying to phase chemicals out of my life; especially those that go in or on my body. I already make my own "shampoo" and "conditioner" and other hair products. Honestly. my hair hasn't looked or felt this healthy in a really long time. Unfortunately, baking soda and vinegar aren't going to do anything for my natural platinum highlights (ok... grey hair). Even though I usually used a demi-permanent color I still felt like a hypocrite using these chemicals.

I had wanted to try Henna hair color for a long time. True Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is an all natural, flowering plant that has been used for 6000 years to dye skin, hair, fingernails, and fabrics. Sounds pretty straightforward...

Ethical Eating

AKA: How Documentaries are ruining my life

As I become more informed about how our food is raised and where it actually comes from, I get pickier about what I'm willing to eat. I just gave away all of the beef and chicken in my freezer. I've decided that I'm only willing to eat pasture raised and cage free meats. It only sounds crazy unless you've watched "Food, Inc" or "Food Matters".

I still had a bunch of Swai (pangasius) and shrimp that I wasn't sure what to do with. Both were marked with a "Best Aquaculture Practices" certification. If that's anything like being USDA certified, then it doesn't mean much. I turned to Google for answers, because if it's on the internet, it has to be true. Right?

I ended up at www.responsibleseafood.org Turns out, this BAP certification looks pretty legit. They have a 19 page guideline just for the Pangasius alone. It covers everything from environmental impact to animal treatment to employee safety and even community relations. For now, I'm going to continue to eat these products... at least until I watch another documentary

Here is link to a video posted by the World Wildlife Federation

"Responsibly farmed pangasius; a taste of things to come"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZvs_m0rrgo

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids Craftroom Redo on the Cheap (Finale)

Everything has pretty much come together, finally! I'm sure we'll be adding and adjusting, but here is the finished craftroom...

Mushroom Fries with Creamy Horseradish Dip

I really love mushrooms. They're fat free, low in carbs and calories, and high in a lot of vitamins and minerals

(www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=97)

Even though they're super delicious on their own, I can't help but love them even more when they're battered and fried and served with a creamy horseradish dipping sauce. 

I mean, why not take a healthy, natural food and make it terrible... 'Murica

I knew there had to be a way to make a similar but healthier dish. 

Here it goes... 

Grain-free, Dairy-free Portobello Fries with 

Creamy Horseradish Dipping Sauce!!

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids' Craftroom Redo on the Cheap (part 5)

All of the big projects are done now. The space is brighter and more defined. The Wigglets have 3 separate playhouses and a whole art wall. It's looking good, but I still have a LOT of boring blank space to fill; most of it is cold, hard concrete, too.

Off to the fabric store for inspiration...

Stuffed Zucchini

I has some leftover quinoa and lentils from other recipes I had made today, so I decided to throw them together as a stuffing for some baked zucchini boats. I have to say, it turned out even better than I expected!

This recipe was quick and easy, inexpensive and super healthy. 

Better Eggs Benedict

I was in the mood for a hearty, eggy breakfast. I wanted to keep the vegetables in there, but I didn't want to do another vegetable pancake today. I scavenged my refrigerator and inspiration hit... Eggs Benedict!

A breakfast of Eggs Benedict was always a treat growing up. It has everything going for it: salty, chewy, crunchy, creamy and slightly tart. The version I was accustomed to also had a lot of processed ingredients, nitrates and preservatives. I knew I could do better.

I had leftover grain-free buns from the other day, eggs (of course), a bunch of random vegetables and condiments. So I hit up ol' Chef Google for help...

 I may have dislocated my shoulder while patting myself on the back this morning, but it was totally worth it!
This version starts with a toasted grain-free bun, chewy/salty kale strips, and a poached egg topped with a super easy Hollandaise sauce...

Not sure if I'm more proud of the meal or of the photo. I actually took that pic with my phone! Yay me!

Sweet Potato Pancakes

I LOVE potato pancakes, but I was looking for a way to amp up the nutrition and flavor today. 

So, I give you...

SWEET POTATO PANCAKES

with Maple Cinnamon Dipping Sauce

Grain Free Focaccia-Style Bread

This bread recipe is super easy, and can be made in about 20 minutes (give or take oven pre-heat time). It's grain free, dairy free and it has a great texture and flavor. It's high in protein and fiber and low in carbohydrates.

You can make it as a single loaf (like focaccia) or divide it up as pictured for sandwiches...

ARTS AND CRAFTS: Kids' Craftroom Redo on the Cheap (part 4)

I still had my paint supplies out, but I was running low on my free paint. So I decided to paint a border around the floor. I figured it would brighten up the boring concrete a little and would also help define the space (play area versus craft area vs off-limits area). I started out just planning on making a sidewalk design around the outside. This would give them a path between their houses. Plus, I was planning on putting an area rug in the middle anyway. No point painting something that's just going to be covered up.