Homemade Dish Soap

Homemade Dish Soap

I made Homemade Laundry Detergent last month, and I love loved it. I bought some Downy Balls and use Orange infused vinegar as a rinse. I absolutely love it. I will not go back to commercial laundry detergent.

Now I have made....Homemade Dish Soap. 
 

Soap after grated and buzzed

Ingredients:

*1 1/2 cup Boiling Water (I had to add more water, because it was too solid)
*1 Tbsp of Washing Soda
*1 Tbsp of grated bar of soap ( I use Sunlight, and I cant stress enough that it has to be grated fine)
* 1 Tbsp of Vinegar
*Drops of essential oils

Directions:

*Heat water to boiling.
*I use a 2 cup glass measuring cup. It makes it easier for clean up, and pouring the soap after.
*Add your soap, and Washing Soda, and mix until grated soap has melted.
*Let mixture to cool on the counter top for 6-8 hours, giving it a stir every now and then.

Mixture in my blender

*I noticed it started to gel within 5 minutes
*I also noticed the grated soap still had not melted away. Definetly will have to have smaller pieces of soap. It would have made making this sooo much easier. 
* After 6-8 hours, your soap will be ready to pour into your container.

***Edited to add
I ended up doing this a second time. The grated soap just never ended up melting completely. I used my  blender, and blended the grated pieces (I had grated two bars) until they were like corn meal. I went through the whole process again, and I still had a hard time getting everything to melt. So I put the mixture in my blender again! I buzzed the crap out of it, and yahoo it worked. I will keep it in there and buzz through out the day.
 

FYI...I didn't throw out the first batch. I added a tbsp of it to my laundry until I used it all up.

Homemade Deodorant Powder

I usually buy expensive deodorant, and they work for awhile, then they stop working for me. I have no idea why. Does my body build resistance?  I started to hunt the internet for a deodorant recipe. One site said just straight Baking Soda. Right!, I thought.

I had a day off, and I thought why not, so I tried it out. It worked! I even got my teenage son to try it. He put his own deodorant under one arm, and Baking Soda under the other. One sniff test at the end of the day...no wetness and no smell. Color me happy. He does not want to switch, because he likes the smell of mens deodorant. I am a believer.

It is the most easiest, most simplest things I have ever made.

Ingredients:

Baking Soda
Corn Starch
A jar to put it in
A makeup puff/brush

That is it!

Usually it is a 1:1 ratio. Sometimes Baking Soda can be too harsh for some, so you add more Corn Starch til you are happy.

I tried just Baking Soda and I had no problem. 

Spicy Chicken Soup

Spicy Chicken Soup

Spicy Chicken Soup

Ingredients

* 2 Chicken Thighs
* 1 Onion or green onion diced
* 1 Red or Orange or Yellow Pepper chopped
* 3 Garlic Cloves minced (or used minced stuff from a jar)
* 2 tbsp of Parsley
* 1 Can of Diced Tomatoes
* 1 tbsp Paprika
* 1 tbsp Chipotle powder
* 1 tsp of Cumin powder
* 1 tbsp of Minced Chili Peppers (in a small jar)
* 1 Can of Black Beans
* 1 Cup of Niblet Corn (frozen or can)
* Pinch of salt


Boil the chicken, til the meat falls off the bone. Keep the water, as that will be the broth for the soup! De-bone the chicken and put back in water. Here comes the hard part...chop everything up...add to broth. Let simmer for a bit and enjoy!

I like to add cheese to everything, so I add a serving of shredded cheese (anything that is in my fridge).



* I never use bouillon cubes or box broth. If I make a roast chicken I save the bones/skin and freeze them. I boil the crap out of them when I make a soup and voila...broth!
I do the same thing with veggie broth. If I am making my Rainbow Salad or something else that calls for alot of veggies I save the ends and freeze them. I take out and boil the crap out of them when I make a soup and yup you guessed it...voila...veggie broth!

Shrimp Salsa

Shrimp Salsa

Ingredients

Shrimp Salsa

10 Shrimp ...broken up in 2s or 3s
1 Small Onion/bunch of green onions...finely chopped
1 Tomato...chopped
1 tbsp of Parsley (cause I cant stand Cilantro)


Dressing

1 or 2 tbsp of Olive Oil
1 or 2 tbsp of Lime juice
pinch of salt

Mix everything together and let peculate and enjoy!

* I use Costco Shrimp, I just have to thaw and slip off the end of the tail.

** I had this at a friends house over the summer with Tortilla chips and asked her for the recipe. I did not think of this myself.

Rainbow Salad

Rainbow Salad

Ingredients

2 Tomatoes...chopped
2 or 3 Peppers (orange/red/yellow/green)...chopped
1 Medium Onion/green onion...finely chopped
Parsley 1-2 tbsp (dry)
2 Cups Black Beans ( homemade/or canned)
1 Cup Corn Niblets
Feta Cheese (as much as you want...I added it at the very end so it would not get too mushy)

Dressing

2 or 3 tbsp of Olive Oil
2 tbsp of Wine Vinegar
pinch of salt

Mix every thing together, let peculate, and enjoy!

*I first saw this salad on Girl Heroes. I changed it a smidge to reflect my own tastes

Homemade Laundry Soap

I made LAUNDRY SOAP! for the first time. I found the recipe on Keeper of the Home.

All you will need:

Borax (stain removal and whitening)

Homemade Laundry Soap

Washing soda (odor removal)
Soap bar (degreasing)

*Grate your bar of soap*    I used Sunlight, as it was the only one I could find in the laundry section. I read that you can use any bar of soap that you want. I found the pieces were a little big, (pic on right) so in my next batch I smushed the grated pieces in my fingers. They are pretty brittle so they just broke apart.
*Mix in 1 cup of Borax*  Gently, you don't want a cloud of Borax in your throat.
*Mix in 1 cup of Washing Soda* Gently, you don't want a cloud of Borax and Soda in your throat.

Washing Soda, Borax, Soap

That is it. Mix all together and put in a container. I was so excited about making my own laundry soap, that I went out and bought new container. 

I put the list of ingredients (in permanent marker) under the cover, so I would not have to find the recipe again. I also put 1-2 tbsp on the top of the cover so I would know (or other family members) how much to put in.

Cauliflower bread sticks?! January 24, 2013 *199.8

I found a recipe online  from the blog Your lighter side, that made me go huh?! Cauliflower bread sticks! I have been thinking about this recipe for about a week. I am off today so I thought...why not?

My first attempt at Cauliflower Pepperoni Sticks

Here is the recipe if you are interested Cauliflower Pepperoni Bread Sticks. Its a messy undertaking, little bits of cauliflower were everywhere! As I was making it, I was sure it was going to totally suck. Happily I was wrong. It was delish. Nom Nom Nom!

It does not look at all like the picture that came with the recipe, but who cares? I did a calorie count through the recipe builder in My Fitness Pal and each piece comes up with 206 cals. High in fat and sodium. :(  If I want to add this to my menu plan, I will have to find cheese that has a lower fat/salt content and still be a clean option. The other problem is the pepperoni. I found a cleanish version of deli meat, but there is no way around the sodium if I go that route. I am thinking of making my own spicy sausage/meat mixture which would work with this. This would eliminate the sodium problem.

I found other cauliflower recipes that are mind boggling. Lasagna, potato salad (made out of cauliflower), waffles, pizza. I want to try a few of them. So much cheese is a problem. Its a binding agent to make this all stick together. But its getting rid of one problem and giving you another. I think I may up the veggie, decrease the cheese a smidge and see what happens.

I found all those same recipes but with zucchini. Wow. That is great news, because cauliflower is kind of expensive, and I have never had any luck growing them. Now zucchini grows like a weed for  me. It is going to be an interesting summer. 

So far I am going to grow carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and now zucchinis in my garden this year.  Yippee. Thankfully I have a green thumb! I have started the ground work on my new gardening blog...I am so excited for summer.

I have got to go. I am getting my nails done. I am turning out to be such a girl. Who knew?

***

Ok I am back from my adventures in girly land... and Ta Da! These are this months nails. Not exactly what I wanted, but live and learn.

Oh, and I may never make those freakin Cauliflower Pepperoni bread sticks...they are too good. I have wanted to snack a little too much today!

A Step back January 18, 2013 *201.6

One step forward...two steps back

Well I weighed in at 201.6 lbs today. I finally figured out why too. It was water weight I lost. I have not been drinking my water while Aunt Flo has been visiting. So really I did not make my 200 lbs goal yet. I will by the end of the week though. No worries (fingers and toes crossed).

I follow alot of different blogs and I read every single one. I have found out I am not alone in my struggle. I am not the only one out there who is lonely. I am not the only one has failed over and over again. I read about people who are interesting, who teach me things, who make me think about why I do things. For example; Diane from Fit to the Finish, wrote about stumbles on her post today Stumbles can really trip you up.  That really made me think. It is not a new concept, but  the topic came at the perfect time for me. I have always failed because I have always given up when I stumble. I cant continue to fail.

I have been stepping out of my comfort zone lately when it comes to my meals. I usually make the exact same breakfast every morning, and a small rotating group of meals for lunch and supper. I know what my danger foods are and I stay away from them with a religious zeal. I don't mind eating the same meals all the time at all. It makes me feel safe/secure and in control.

The last week or so, I have come to realize a couple of truths. So what is the truth? I know I will make it this time. I have the willpower to continue to the very end.  There is no end! I am changing my life. I have to make permanent changes. Can I realistically eat the same food for the rest of my life? Nope!!! Can I stay away from all my danger foods? Actually yes I think I can. So what is a happy medium? Try different foods, try different recipes that are not connected in my mind to eating while I am depressed.

My danger foods haunt me. Thankfully it is a very small list. My go to foods when I am depressed are not good for me mentally or physically. Pasta, like macaroni and tomatoes, K.D., or spaghetti. I have never been able to eat one serving of this. EVER! I actually don't have the same problem with rice noodles, go figure. Chips are the other danger food. I got through university by eating a large bag of BBQ Ruffle chips. Every single day. I actually gave those up a few years ago and have never had another one. Cereal. I could eat a box of cereal a day. Looking at this list objectively, I know I can stay away from these foods.

Back on topic...I have been trying different recipes, changing up my meals and I am controlling myself. I don't feel as in control, but I am having fun trying to find good food choices.

For example tonight I made Pizza. I made it out of Flat out Thin Crust Artisans Bread. 150 cals. Then the pizza sauce and  a serving of  skim Mozza with a serving of chicken bacon. It all came to 333 cals. I will have to work on making my own Pizza sauce though. The salt content in Catelli  was out of this world, (I now average 1500 mg or less everyday). My son loved it, which is a plus. I was going to take a picture, but I ate all before I got to it.

I also made my son some garlic bread, bad idea. I snacked on a bite here and there. Grrr.  I added some cheat calories to make sure that I was honest about what my count was for the day. I do not and will not lie about what I eat. That way leads to failure!!! Anyhoo...I went for a super brisk walk for 30 minutes to make up for the cheats. It was -17 with a -28 windchill. Brrrr.

Nom Nom Nom! January 9, 2013 *203.2

I weighed in at 203.2 lbs today!  Excuse me while I do my happy dance...happy dance, happy dance, happy dance...you have to use your imagination a little. Picture something uncoordinated and totally uncool and thats probably what it looks like.

I love cruising the internet for new recipes. I hardly ever try them, but I like to salivate over them. Since I have started my diet, I have actually been trying new to me cooking. I ran across this site  Herbivoracious the other day, and I am in love! Like seriously! Nom nom nom. Some of the ingredients are totally unfamiliar but I look them up and see if its something that can be substituted or not.

***

I went out again last night to my local Walmart, and I bought myself a pair of jeans. They were a couple of sizes smaller than my other pair. Needless to say I am very happy and proud of myself.

I also sat down and planned my meals for the rest of the week, using a menu planner that I pulled off of fit to the finish. After that was done, I went grocery shopping from the list I made. This is the first time I have ever done this. Seriously. I normally walk around aimlessly and pick whatever is on sale. I went in with a plan and left with all that I went in for.

I am now going to go cook something and freeze it.

***

Rainbow Salad

K...done cooking for now. I made a spaghetti sauce (pureed veggies hidden inside), a Rainbow Salad, Shrimp Salsa (which will be my supper tonight). I have also put some Lima beans to soak. I have never cooked those kinds of beans so should be interesting.  There is an interesting recipe on the package that I think I may try. It calls for tomatoes/cheese/onions...hmmm.


***

Ugh, I am eating my Shrimp Salsa, and I remember....TMI (no poops). Oh well. I have two huge bags of  shrimp from Costco, I gotta eat 'em. I just have to realize that it normally adversely affects my daily weigh ins. I will eat some extra prunes tonight.

Shrimp Salsa

I went for a nice walk tonight. It was kind of chilly but still a nice walk. I have been slowly adding time to my walks. I am up to 30 minutes, and more than half of the walk is uphill. I am very proud of myself that I have only been forcing myself to go about half the time. The other half of the time I am happy to go.

***

Better today then yesterday January 6, 2013 *204.2

I weighed in at 204.2 lbs today. My weight is coming off slow and steady. I really wish it would come off faster. Fantasy I know, but I still wish it. The other day I saw myself in a mirror window, and I was so disappointed. I imagine myself smaller so much now, that it was sad to see the real me.  I want to wake up and be smaller.

I have found a whole slew of blogs that I subscribed to. Some are inspiring, some are total foodies, some are fitness freaks and some are just fun. I am very happy that I found out about blogging and other blogs. In the end it will be this tool that keeps me on my path. Well other than me, I mean. I write in my blog aka on line diary, everyday. I read other bloggers' blogs, and I stay inspired. I am in the middle of a win win situation.

I was at work the other day, and someone came up beside me and said, "you are losing weight aren't you? Looking good." Very first person to mention anything. I noticed that I am less..puffy. My bra fits better, my clothes, I don't feel like an expanding marshmallow in a too small bag.

I made gluten free air cookies today. Ugh....back to the drawing board on that one. I substituted too many things and they came out gross. All my own fault.

I downloaded the menu planner from  Fit to the Finish menu planning worksheet. Total awesomeness! I love how simple it is. I think I will also try the grocery list one too. I love having all these resources at my fingertips, ones that I didn't even know were out there.

Thank goodness I feel like moving today. I was a total slug yesterday. I don't like when I get like that. I don't want to move, go outside, be seen by anyone. A total blah day.

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Chicken Tortilla Soup

I found a recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup  at hungryhealthyhappy this week. I decided to make it today and it was delish!  Really, seriously delish.

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