3 bars Felz Naptha Soap (approximately 16 oz total)
1 Box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (55 oz.)
1 Box 20 Mule Team Borax (4lbs 12 oz.)
1 Tub Oxi Clean (3 lbs) -optional
1 Box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (4 lbs) - optional
1 Container Purex Crystals (28 oz.) or approximately 8 - 1o drops
essential oils - optional
I use my food processor to make the Felz Naptha into a powder. first
putting it through the slicer then pulsing it until it's fine. If you
don't get it fine it won't mix in very evenly. After that I dump into a 2 gallon container and stir until well mixed. Make sure not to breath in the Borax dust when you pour that
into the container or stir it up. Once mixed well I dump it into a covered 1 gallon container.
I use a very small amount of soap. About 2oz for each average sized
load. If they are really dirty I use another 2 oz.
Optional Ingredients:
The Oxi is to help get really dirty clothes a bit cleaner. I use this
mostly because I have dirty men in the house. I did find that home made
detergent did not do as well as commercial cleaners at getting stains
out. The Oxi helped with that but I still find I also need to spot treat
stubborn stains accordingly.
If you prefer a scent use the Purex Crystals or Essential Oils. I have
not done this but I did have Lavender scented Felz Naptha. I do hang
outside three seasons so the clothes get that smell. I suspect it's much
like using that scent free detergent. I admit I did miss the smell that
came from commercial detergents. It took a while but I've mostly gotten
used to it. I cannot speak as to which would be less expensive, the
essential oils or the Purex Crystals but if you're about environmental
causes like I am, I'd probably go with the essential oils regardless of
cost.
Of course the additional ingredients will add to the over all cost and
then you'd have to recalculate to see if it was worth it for yourself.
Shaarilla's Kitchen: Cooking like love, should be entered into with abandon or not at all.
Caramel Puff Corn
- 1 8 ounce bag Puff Corn
- 1 cup peanuts - or other nuts (optional)
- 1 cup butter (do not substitute)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Place puff corn in large roaster pan
In 2 quart sauce pan bring the butter, sugar and corn syrup to a boil. Cook this for 2 minutes.
While still on the flame add 1 teaspoon baking soda. Mix well and remove from heat.
Pour over puff corn in roaster. Mix until most of the corn is coated.
Bake at 250ºF for 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes to distribute the caramel.
Remove from oven and spread out on wax or parchment paper in a single layer to cool completely. _
Break apart and serve or store in 2 gallon sized plastic bags. If you do not let it cool completely before putting it into bags it will get soggy.
Chocolate Zucchini Nut Bread
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 3 Eggs
- 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 Cup Cooking oil (or reduce by 1/2 and use 1/2 unsweetened apple sauce)
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
- 2 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate (to make life easy I use the prepackaged Nestles brand)
- 2 Cups Grated Zucchini
- 1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips (optional)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or other nuts (optional)
Prepare loaf pans with baking spray or oil and flour.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
In a large bowl Beat eggs until light, gradually add sugar, oil and vanilla.
Stir in melted chocolate and zucchini.
Gradually add dry ingredients stirring well after each addition until just blended.
Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.
Divide batter between two greased and floured 9x5 loaf pans.
Bake at 350º for 1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes. Check for toothpick to come out clean.
Makes 2 loaves.