When I consulted with My Firefighter this morning on what else I could call my recipes page, "concoctions" was his contribution. It kind of fits me. See,growing up I was too busy singing, competeing in pageants, and going to dance class to be in the kitchen learning how to cook. My mom didn't make me do that. However...the most valuable thing I inherited from my grandmother (my mom's mom),Geraldine Thibodeaux, was that I can learn ANYTHING. She was a single mom when single mom's were looked down upon no matter why you left your marriage. She was a battered wife who had enough and left. She raised four children on her own...no child support...most of the time no electricty...and no water because she couldn't afford it, but she still made do. She was a talented cook,seamstress and artist. ANYTHING she put her mind to do...she did...very well...and that's what I've always done.
So....here's what I've made and succeeded with.
****Disclaimer*****
I have not made these recipes myself. I am a research nerd and I found these recipes on websites meant to help find ways to save money.
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Ingredients
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
Fels Naptha bar soap
20 Mule Borax
For one regular batch of detergent you will not use a whole bar of Fels Naptha. You can buy a detergent making kit online...but the reason we're making our own laundry detergent is to save money right? So...you can do like I do and use a cheese grater to grate the bars. Takes a little bit of elbow grease,but I feel productive while I'm doing it...hopefully you will too!
Now....
Mix 1 cup of shredded Fels Naptha, with 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, and 1/2 cup 20 Mule Borax in an airtight container and shake it to mix. For regular loads, use 2 teaspoonfuls. for heavy loads, use 3. I keep a teaspoon in my container to stir the mixture. After about 2 weeks of use, you will no longer need to buy fabric softener because using pure products with no harsh chemicals, there is no need for it anymore.
Initially, you have the expense of buying all three products. But you will then only need to buy bars of soap more regular than the Super Washing Soap and 20 Mule Borax. The boxes last a good while. This is a great alternative for people with babies and small children with allergies or parents wanting to use less chemicals in their household. My youngest miracle is two years old and I've never washed his clothes in anything else.
These ingredients can be found on http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/. They also have the recipe for liquid detergent too if you prefer that form. Good Luck and happy saving!
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Homemade Dishwashing Detergent
Ingredients
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
20 Mule Borax
2-3 Drops of Essential Oil(desired scent...if wanted)
Mix 1 cup of Super Washing Soda and 1 cup of 20 Mule Borax in an airtight container. Use 2 regular spoonfuls of mixture per load of dishes. It should fill only half of the detergent dispenser section. That small amount of detergent WILL clean just as good as a detergent tab or a full portion of regular box detergent. I tried it this past week. My completely filled dishwasher of dishes,bowls,cups AND pots and pans came out completely clean.
If you use the homemade laundry detergent recipe, you will already have the ingredients to use for dishwashing detergent. This saves even MORE money.
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Homemade Pigs In Blankets
We have breakfast for supper regularly and the other night I was looking for something to make for my littlest miracle to munch on until the pancakes were done...or to just eat as his dinner. Every morning before school (and I'm TRUELY ashamed to admit this cause it in NO WAY shows I'm trying to save money) we stop at the donut shop near our house and 3 of my 5 (when we have all 5 kids) get a bagful of donut holes ($1 a bag), and the other 2 get pigs in a blanket. A month ago I had several Pillsbury coupons, so I have alot of croissant rolls in my refridgerator right now. I also have several packages of hot dogs in there AND in my freezer because my youngest two miracles (boys) LOVE hot dog weinies. Here's what I came up with.
1 package croissant rolls (can be Pillsbury or store bought)
****8 rolls to a package****
4 hot dog weinies sliced in half
Preheat oven to 375.
Separate rolls and one at a time, lay them flat. Put a weinie half inside the roll at the widest end and roll the croissant to the point. Place pig blankets on cookie sheet and follow cook time for croissants.
You can pre-cook and store in containers in the fridge and heat them in the morning as an on the go breakfast, or as a quick afternoon snack for kids to hold them over till supper.
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Easy Bread:
This was the first food recipe I really tried. I know we go through lots of bread at my house and I really wanted to see if I could find a way to cut that cost. I found this bread recipe online and my husband and children LOVE IT!!!
3/4 cup warm water
1pk active dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup milk
3 cups flour
-In large bowl add warm water and dry yeast. Stir til dissolved and add all dry ingredients...making sure to add flour last.
-Stir with a fork til your dough chases it around the bowl.
-Put out flour on counter and start kneading dough.
-Put dough in buttered bowl, cover and set in a warm location to rise for 30 minutes.
-Punch dough down and put out on floured counter to knead again.
-Preheat oven to 375.
-Put dough in buttered bread pan and make 3 cuts in top of loaf. Cover again and let rise for antoher 30 minutes in the pan.
-Put in preheated oven and cook for 45 minutes or until top of loaf is golden brown.
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Easy Bread:
This was the first food recipe I really tried. I know we go through lots of bread at my house and I really wanted to see if I could find a way to cut that cost. I found this bread recipe online and my husband and children LOVE IT!!!
3/4 cup warm water
1pk active dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup milk
3 cups flour
-In large bowl add warm water and dry yeast. Stir til dissolved and add all dry ingredients...making sure to add flour last.
-Stir with a fork til your dough chases it around the bowl.
-Put out flour on counter and start kneading dough.
-Put dough in buttered bowl, cover and set in a warm location to rise for 30 minutes.
-Punch dough down and put out on floured counter to knead again.
-Preheat oven to 375.
-Put dough in buttered bread pan and make 3 cuts in top of loaf. Cover again and let rise for antoher 30 minutes in the pan.
-Put in preheated oven and cook for 45 minutes or until top of loaf is golden brown.
