Sharing some homemade goodness!

Here are some simple recipes I use to make household items...

Laundry soap

1 gallon water
2 bars fav soap (I use the cheap stuff)
1 cup baking soda
1- 1 gallon plastic or glass container (Here's a good place to recycle)

Boil water on stove.  While boiling, finely shred or chop soap.  Add to boiling water and stir until dissolved.  Let cool and slowly add baking soda. It is so important that you allow it to cool and slowly add the baking soda or it will foam up everywhere! Trust me, I learned from experience! ;)  Place in container and use 1/2 cup per load. You'll need to shake it up as you use it because it tends to get a bit clumpy.

Fabric refresher (Febreze)

3 parts water
1 part liquid fabric softener (cheap stuff and always buy from a company that doesn't do animal testing!)

mix ingredients, put into spray bottle, mist fabrics and allow to dry! :)

Facial cleanser/softener

3 parts baking soda
1 part lemon juice

mix to paste a bit thinner than toothpaste, put on freshly washed face, allow to dry and rinse!  Bet you're surprised by how well it works! :)

Hair Conditioning Rinse

brew mint tea, allow to cool to touch, pour over freshly washed hair and allow hair to dry.  DONE!

More to come when I have time! Enjoy! <3

Vegan "crab" cakes!

Ingredients

• 2 c grated zucchini
• salt
• 1 c bread crumbs or panko
• 1 tsp ground bay leaves
• ¼ tsp celery seed
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1/8 tsp ground white pepper
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 1/8 tsp ginger
• ¼ tsp paprika
• dash red pepper flakes
• ¼ c silken tofu
• 1½ Tbsp vegan mayonnaise
• 1½ Tbsp lemon juice
• 1½ tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp potato starch
• ¼ c fresh parsley, chopped
• oil for frying

Directions:

1. Place grated zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs and spices.
3. In a small bowl, beat together tofu, mayo, lemon juice, mustard, starch, and parsley.
4. Scoop zucchini out of the colander and, with your hands, squeeze out as much excess liquid as you can.
5. Combine drained zucchini, bread crumb mixture and wet mixture and mix well. The batter will be dry, but you should be able to gather a ball of it in your hand without it falling apart.
6. Divide the batter into eight equal parts; shape into balls and flatten slightly into thick discs.
7. Heat a generous quarter inch of neutral oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
8. When oil is hot, fry cakes in batches of four for a couple of minutes per side, or until nicely browned.
9. Serve hot, with lemon wedges, cocktail sauce and tartar sauce.

Notes

For cocktail sauce, stir together:
½ c ketchup
2 tbsp horseradish
1 tbsp lemon juice
hot sauce to taste
salt and pepper to taste

For vegan tartar sauce, stir together:
½ c vegan mayonnaise
1 Tbsp sweet pickle relish
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Vegan fudge brownies

Vegan Brownies made fresh today!

Sift together

1 1/2 cups whole wheat or unbleached flour

1/2 cup baking cocoa

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 1/2 tsps baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

In a seperate bowl stir together

3/4 cup brewed coffee or tea

3/4 cup soy milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

blend dry and wet ingredients together

Add

1/2 cup chocolate or carob chips

1/2 cup walnuts

put in greased 9x9 inch pan

bake 325 degrees for 25 minutes.

Glaze:

on stove top melt together 1 heaping tablespoon peanut butter and a 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

I used jasmine pearl tea for today's batch and water instead of soy milk and almonds instead of walnuts. Did not add chocolate chips or use the glaze and they still turned out so yummy! Hope you enjoy! <3

Incredible Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes & Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cupcake pan or use paper cupcake pan liners.
2. Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add the oil, vanilla, vinegar and water. Mix together until smooth.
3. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 - 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Peanut Butter Frosting

2 cups confectioners sugar

1/2 cup vegan margarine

1 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 Tablespoons water or soy milk

Directions:

Blend all ingredients until creamy.  May add a bit more confectioners sugar for a stiffer frosting. 

Spread on cooled cupcakes and enjoy! :)

Best ever vegan sugar cookies!

Sugar cookies

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup margarine subsitute softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 tblsp egg replacer plus 3 tblsp water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

I dip the tops of the cookies in sugar and cinnamon before baking. If you would like to use cookie cutters, just refrigerate the dough a couple of hours before you roll them out on a surface dusted with confectioners sugar! SO YUMMY! <3

It's the thought

Today's true homemakers realize and respect the meaning of the words sustainability and frugality. We do not need house keepers, nannies or the top of the line anything. We live in the warmth and comfort of the homes we create for and with our loved ones.

Sustainability is our nature and frugality our mantra. We grow gardens, mend clothing, repair what is broken and create what we can.

We seldom heat our meals in the microwave or toasters. Instead, we take great pride in the preparation and the details of the meals we prepare and through that we take pride in ourselves. "Fast food" are not words often found in our vocabulary.

Today's society has become a throw away one. Our landfills have replaced natural habitats and our over flowing with our "must haves".

What happened to giving of ourselves? Why do we feel the need to buy expensive gifts to express our feelings? Do you not remember your younger years and how good it felt to present your mom with a fist full of dandelions from the yard? We need to return to those days of innocence.

Bake cookies for a neighbor and share them while exchanging stories over a cup of tea. Pick a bouquet of wild flowers for the center of your family's table. Make a homemade card for a sick friend. "It's the thought" has been a lost idea for far too long and it's up to us to return it to it's rightful place.

As you carry on with your day, do something to make someone else smile and then watch the chain reaction begin. Remember, your smile is the prettiest things you can wear and share. ♥