Recipe: Homemade Laundry Detergent (HE Washer Friendly)

Yield: 10 gallons 

Ingredients:

• 1-14.1oz. bar of Zote Soap (the pink stuff found in the laundry isle)
• Water
• 1 cup Borax (optional)

Equipment Needed:

• 5 Gallon Bucket (you can get these free from the local bakery)
• Stir Stick
• Cheese Grater
• Funnel
• Cup

 

Instructions:

I forgot to mention: Shake well before pouring.

 

 

Zote soap usually sells for less than $2.00/14oz. bar at WalMart or Target; however, it is not available where we live (we looked at 10 different stores within a 50 mile radius of our home).  That being said, I ended up purchasing 6 bars on eBay at $3.12/bar.

Price Breakdown:

What we were using before the homemade detergent:

 

100 loads at $7.69/jug

Price per load: $0.0769/load

Homemade Detergent:

 

Zote Soap: $3.12

Borax (I had on hand – I would say I used $0.50 (or less) worth)

Price for 10 gallon batch: $3.62

Price per gallon: $0.362

Number of loads per gallon: Approximately 16

Price per load: $0.023

The real question: Does it work?

I have been using this detergent solely for about a month now.  I have seen absolutely no difference between the detergent we had been using and the homemade detergent.  For 1/3 the price of the store-bought detergent, hubby and I both agree that the homemade is just as good (if not better) than the store-bought detergent. 

My husband has a stinky, labor-intensive job that makes his clothes almost black after a full day of work.  Unlike the homemade detergent I’ve made in the past, this stuff leaves his clothes clean and smelling fresh.  I decided to use the borax in our detergent mainly because of how dirty his clothes get at work.  Hubby recently washed several of his jackets, and before he went outside, he opened up his jacket and told me to “smell.”  It smelled nice and clean – and I love it!  ((Yes, I like when laundry has a scent to it.  When we wash sheets and the comforter, I lay in bed and sniff for a few days before my nose gets used to the scent.))



Do you make your own laundry detergent?
What has been your experience? 

Midgilist

It is a little known secret that at work, my nickname is Midge.  It is an inside joke because I had a vendor call me from another country and ask for “Midgin.”  Lucky for me, it was one of the sales reps that took the call and the nickname has stuck ever since. (Please note the sarcasm.)

My coworkers think I am absolutely crazy for all of the things we do in our family.  I have been told by a friend that he is creating a new term for people like me and it is called Midgilists.  What kind of person is a Midgilist?  Someone who goes above and beyond to find ways to do everyday tasks for little or no money.  He is pretty much telling me that I’m cheaper than cheap.

I asked him why he felt this way, and he fired back with about a dozen of the following things I have done over the years.  When I thought about it, I added to his list just to give you an idea what a Midgilist does:

• Raise chickens for eggs
• Raise chickens for meat
• Going no ‘poo
• Researching (and still considering) bamboo as a renewable heat source
• Research solar panels and windmills (and ways to make them ourselves for less!)
• Grow a garden
• Cut our own hair
• I touch up my roots using hydrogen peroxide (for pennies a month)
• Plant perennial fruits, vegetables and herbs
• Crochet some of my own sweaters
• Create a chicken garden to help cut the costs of chicken feed
• Breed mealworms as a food source for our chickens
• Harvest mealworm poop to fertilize the garden areas (a new infatuation of mine)
• Make homemade vanilla
• Brew our own beer/wine
• Can the overabundance of apples
• Make homemade jams
• Freeze vegetables to consume throughout the winter
• Make our own soap
• Convert our vehicle (Kia Rondo) into a mini-camper
• Do our own oil changes and car maintenance
• Home improvements using recycled materials
• Cancelling the satellite and installing an antenna instead (we get over 30 channels now, by the way!)
• Homemade laundry detergent (a new recipe for our HE )
• Homemade dishwasher detergent (another new recipe)

…and the list keeps going on and on.  Until I sat down and thought about all of these things, I completely forgot we do most of them!  We do these tasks on such a regular basis that it is second-nature to us and we don’t feel it is really out of the ordinary.

There are some people who are preppers and others are survivalists…but I’m a Midgilist and I’m OK with that.  I am proud to be thrifty and willing to put some elbow-grease into whatever we do to help save money and become self-sufficient.  There is much more we could do to improve on our Midgilism in the upcoming years.

Until then, may the Midgilists unite!

(I know there are a few of you out there. J)

This post is lined to the Farm Girl Blog Fest.

 

Recipe: Apple Cake

This recipe is one that I got from a dear friend of mine.  With apples in season, this cake is a no-brainer.  It is so easy to make yet so delicious.
Apple Cake

Ingredients:
1 3/4 Cup sugar
3/4 Cup vegetable oil (or applesauce)
4 eggs
2 Cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
4-6 apples peeled & sliced

Directions:
Mix sugar, oil and eggs.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.
Stir in apples. (I put so many apples that there is barely any batter, and it turns out great every time!)

Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Recipe: Apple Crisp

I got this recipe last year from Feathers in Our Nest last year and I've made it at least 10 times!  Everyone seems to like it when I make it, so I thought I'd share the recipe.

Ingredients:

4-6 apples
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp bakeing powder
2 Tbsp butter
1 egg
Cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Core/Peel 4-6 apples and spread out in an greased baking dish

Mix together sugar, flour and baking powder

Cut in the butter and add the beaten egg

Mix well

Spread over the apples

Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmet (optional)

Bake for 30-40 minutes

 It really is that simple!  And it tastes so good!!

This post is linked up with Mama Dani's Flutter By Blog Hop, the Barnyard Blog Hop and Homemaker By Choice's Week Long Blog Hop.

Recipe: BBQ Chicken Pizza

I have heard of people making chicken BBQ pizza before, but it never really appealed to me until I tried it at my father’s house a couple of weeks ago.  I made it for dinner a couple of weeks ago and it was awesome! 

This is how I made it:

1. Make the pizza dough (see below for recipe)
2. Spread out the dough on your pizza stone or pizza sheet
3. Apply BBQ sauce to the dough
4. Add chopped up chicken over the BBQ sauce
5. Place mozzarella cheese over the chicken
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 450 or until dough is fully cooked
7. Enjoy!

Steps 1 & 2

Step 3 

 Step 4

Step 5

 

Step 7

(I had to add some shredded cheese because we ran out of mozzarella!)

I couldn’t believe how simple this was to make and with very few ingredients, it was right up my alley!  This recipe is a keeper in our home!

Our favorite homemade pizza dough recipe:

1 cup hot water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
2 1/2 cups flour

Mix together the hot water and yeast, then add the the other ingredients.
Bake at 450 for 15-20 minutes. 




This post is linked up with Weekend Blog Hop and Frugal Friday's.

Recipe: Crockpot Applesauce

Last year was the first time I ever tried to make homemade applesauce.  I found a recipe online and couldnt believe how simple it was to make!  I will be making many many batches of this applesauce for our own consumption as well as to give away as gifts for the holidays. I will also be making apple butter using the applesauce made from this recipe.

Prepare your crockpot

Core and peel 10-20 apples (this is 20 apples)

Place apples into crockpot

Add 1 cup water, 1/2 cup or 1 cup sugar and cinnamon (optional)
(I used 1/2 cup sugar)

Let simmer all day and come home to this

Stir it up and you get chunky applesauce!

If the applesauce is too runny for your liking, let it simmer for an hour or two with the lid off and it will thicken up.

This post is linked up with Homemaker By Choice's Weeklong Blog Hop.

Recipe: Homemade Febreeze

I love when a room smells fresh and clean.  Sometimes, due to projects going on around the house, having (wet) animals running around the house, or accidents, our home does not smell fresh and clean.

The following is a recipe for homemade Febreeze to help keep your furniture, bedding and a room smelling nice and fresh.

Ingredients:

Liquid Laundry Softener

Baking Soda
Water

Directions:

1. In an empty spray bottle, pour in ½ cup liquid laundry softener
2. Put in 1 Tbsp baking soda (to help with pet smells)
3. Fill the rest of the bottle up with water
4. Before using, shake

Todd uses this solution to freshen up the spare bedroom when someone comes to visit and it’s been sitting empty for a while.  We also like to use this on our sofas, loveseats and wingback chairs to help keep them fresh.

This solution costs pennies compared to the brand name product in the stores!

Recipe: Biscuits

Todd and I enjoy homemade biscuits a few times a year.  We both like moist  biscuits, not the dry ones, and this recipe is perfect for us!

Ingredients:

2 Cups flour
1 tsp salt (optional - I leave it out)
1 Tbsp sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/3 Cup butter
1 1/4 Cup milk



Directions:

Preheat Oven to 450

Melt butter in microwave for 30 seconds

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and milk with the melted butter

Spoon into cupcake pan, cups or silicon baking cups (I love ours!)

Bake for 10-12 minutes and voila!

These biscuits are great with jam, butter or with country gravy over top of them.  Yum!

This blog post is linked up with So Followed Saturday Blog Hop.

25 Weeks 'Til Christmas: Week 17 Puppy Chow

This week's 25 Weeks 'Til Christmas gift is something that my mom and I had from an Amish store the weekend before last and we loved it! It was so good, and I cant believe how easy it is to make!  I plan on making a couple of batches the week of Christmas and putting it in Christmas-type bags with a ribbon.



Photo Credit

 Puppy Chow

9 Cups Chex cereal
1/2 Cup peanut butter
1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 Cups confectioners sugar

Directions:

1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate; add peanut butter and mix until smooth.
2. Remove from heat, add cereal and stir until coated.
3. Pour powdered sugar into large plastic bag, add coated cereal and shake until well coated. Store in airtight container.

Every Monday through the week of Christmas will be a new homemade gift idea/project.  Be sure to check them out!  Happy Crafting!

Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cake

For my mother's birthday last week, I made her a pineapple upside down cake.  This is a cake that my grandmother always made and is one of my favorites.  When I asked grandma for the recipe, I was surprsiesd at how easy it was to make!

Ingredients:

1 jar of maraschino cherries
Brown sugar
1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple (drained)
1 box yellow cake mix (or this recipe from Frugal & Simple)

Directions:

• Preheat oven at 350
• Spray the bottom of a 13 x 9 glass baking dish
• Spread about a cup of brown sugar on the bottom of the baking dish (I wing it - we like brown sugar)
• Scatter the cherries over the brown sugar

• Pour the can of (drained) crushed pineapple over the cherries.  It may look like there is too much juice, but that is what makes the cake so moist!

• Pour the cake mix over the crushed pineapple

• Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 until cooked the whole way through (butter knife or toothpick comes out clean)

• Flip the cake over on a foil-lined cookie sheet

• Enjoy!

Recipe: Pistachio Pudding

A friend of mine gave me a quick and easy recipe for Pistachio Pudding a couple of years ago, and it has been a staple that I take to cookouts and make when we have company over during the Summer.

Pistachio Pudding

1 box pistachio pudding mix
1 can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
1 Cup mini marshmallows
1 (8oz) tub of Cool Whip

Mix together the pudding mix and pineapple. Then fold in the marshmallows and Cool Whip. Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.

Recipe: Pizza Dough

We love our pizza around here.  Todd has found the perfect dough recipe for us that is super simple and quick!  What's for dinner tonight?  Pizza!

1C warm water
1 Tbsp sugar
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups flour
4 Tbsp italian seasoning (optional – we added this to the recipe)

Mix warm water with yeast, then add the rest of the ingredients.
Let sit for 10 minutes
Spread onto a floured pizza stone or pan and let rise to desired thickness.
Add toppings.
Bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes.

This recipe with all the toppings is less than $2/50 a pizza. As we always say, "Pizza Hut cant do it any better!"

Recipe: Waffles

When Todd and I got married, Todd had a waffle iron.  He said we could throw it away because he didnt like it due to the batter sticking to the iron.  This gave me the incentive to find the best waffle recipe I could find.  This is our favorite recipe: 

Waffles:

2 C flour
1 tsp salt (optional)
4 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 C milk
1/3 C butter
1 tsp vanilla

Mix it together and pour it into your waffle iron.  They are so nice and fluffy!

Todd prefers the recipe above, but I like to make the waffles a little healthier.  I substitute:

2 bananas for the eggs
1/3 C applesauce for the butter

This makes a thicker batter that can easily be thinned with a little more milk.  I have made this recipe with chunky applesauce and it was delicious!  These waffles can be made in advance and frozen, which is what I am doing this week for our vacation next week!

Also, if you dont have a waffle iron and would like to make homemade waffles, this is the time to pick one up at a garage sale.  I see them all he time for a buck or two because people dont use them.  We absolutely love our homemade waffles and make them at least twice a month.

Recipe: Hummingbird Nectar

Spring is finally among us, which means the hummingbirds are on their way!  I absolutely love hummingbirds.  They are so tiny, graceful, and absolutely beautiful.  When we moved into our home, we removed many trumpet vines that these beautiful birds frequented. 

After a few minutes of research, I learned quite a bit about how to feed these beautiful birds to replace taking away their vines.  I also learned that the pre-made nectar in stores is not necessarily good for them.  Hummingbirds are attracted to red; however, the nectar does not have to be that color.  I’ve read that the coloring added to the nectar is actually bad for the birds.  As long as your feeder has red on it, the hummingbirds will find it (within 3-7 days).

I could barely believe how simple the recipe was for the nectar: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.  The stores want $3+ for their red hummingbird food.  To make 4 cups of hummingbird nectar cost us $0.27.  This is based on the price of a 5lb bag of sugar being $2.69 in our area.

I bought two hummingbird feeders at the Dollar Store and put nectar into each to determine whether or not they would find their new source of nourishment.  Within a couple of hours, we had hummingbirds swarming around our house taking sips from their new feeder(s).  We love how they “hover” and look at us as if we are the beautiful creates to be watched.

There are many websites online that show how to make your own hummingbird feeder with water bottles and plastic containers you may have lying around the house. 

Tools:

Ingredients:

Water

Sugar

Directions:

1. Heat water in microwave for 3-5 minutes or until hot
2. Add sugar
3. Stir until sugar has dissolved
4. Let nectar cool to room temperature
5. Fill feeder(s)
6. Store remaining nectar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks

Side Note:

It is not good for the hummingbird food to stay in the feeder for more than a week.  Otherwise, it tends to get moldy or cloudy.  For this reason, I make smaller batches of hummingbird nectar and refill the feeders more often.  Many times, I make 1 or 2 cups of nectar with ¼ cup or ½ cup of sugar.  Or, I make the full 4 cups and keep the extra nectar in a glass jar in the refrigerator so I can easily refill their feeders.