Delicious Whole Wheat Brownies

I have a confession.  I don't like brownies.  Before you decide to hate me, let me explain.  I don't like brownies from a box.  I LOVE brownies from scratch.  I have tried a lot of recipes and found one that I like.  And then of course I changed it and now I love it.  I really like baking with whole wheat pastry flour instead of all purpose flour.  My only exception is pie crust (but that's for another day).  So here is my recipe for whole wheat brownies.  

Delicious Whole Wheat Brownies

Ingredients
1 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips and/or white chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Mix the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.

In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir well to make sure it is completely mixed.  Gradually mix the flour mixture into the sugar and butter mixture until well blended. Add in the chocolate chips. Evenly spread the batter into the baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick comes out clean (this is tricky because the chips can make the brownies look underdone), 40 to 45 minutes. Remove and cool before cutting.

These are good warm, but they are even better after they have cooled and the chips have had a chance to harden.

I hope you enjoy these delicious whole wheat brownies as much as my family does!

Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheet Alternatives

I promised this week would be all about laundry!  If you haven't read about how to make your own DIY liquid laundry detergent, check out the post here: DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

Today we will delve into some alternatives to fabric softener and dryer sheets!

Commercial fabric softeners and dryer sheets leave clothes soft, scented and static free.  They also leave behind a chemical residue that can irritate sensitive skin and cause headaches among other things.

I prefer a natural option to both. While there are many choices out there, I certainly have my favorites.
For fabric softener, I just use 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar.  Vinegar removes soap residue, softens and brightens clothing and linens.  Clothes never smell like vinegar after they are dry.  Personally, I can't smell it when they are fresh out of the washer.  So that should not be a deterrent in the use of vinegar as your softener.  I just pour the vinegar right into my washer's softener dispenser.  If your washer doesn't have a dispenser, you can put it in a downy ball which will dispense during the rinse cycle.

Instead of dryer sheets, I use 100% pure wool felted yarn dryer balls.  I purchased 2 skeins of 100% pure wool yarn and rolled them into six balls the size of small oranges.  I tucked the end of the yarn in and around several times using a yarn needle to be sure that that it was firmly secured.

The next step is to place the balls in an old sock, knot the sock at the top and wash with a load of clothes.  Remove the balls and dry.  At this point you can add a drop or two of essential oil for scent.  I left our unscented.

They are now ready to replace your dryer sheets.  For a large load of clothes I use all six balls.  Just toss them in the dryer with your load and they will help clothes come out soft, fluffy and static free!

Natural, Healthy, Chemical-Free Laundry!

DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

This week is all about laundry.  Love it or hate it, it has to be done.  Unless of course you enjoy wearing stinky, dirty clothes.  I didn't think so.  Let's learn how to make some liquid laundry detergent...

About four years ago I stopped using the typical, chemical-laden brands that you find at the store and switched to a natural detergent.  Initially, it was to avoid unnecessary chemicals however, we soon discovered that our sensitive skin preferred the natural, chemical free brands. While the natural brand worked well, it was very expensive.  Unfortunately, my family generates a lot of laundry, especially in the winter with all of our layers.  I wanted to try to come up with a more economical solution.

I love trying to make my own products whenever possible, so why not laundry detergent?  I researched about a billion sites to see what the different ingredient options were and how to make a liquid detergent.  The one problem I kept coming back to was the sheer amount of detergent people were making, 5 gallons at a time.  It just seemed a little overwhelming to me, especially if the stuff didn't work.  

I decided to combine a couple of recipes.  One called for baking soda and not borax, one called for borax only.  I decided to go half and half with baking soda and borax.  Many recipes call for Zote or Fels-naptha bar soap.  I looked into both of those, and while cheaper, they both had a strong scent.  Instead, I chose Dr. Bonner's Baby Mild Pure Castile Soap, which is unscented and gentle for sensitive skin.  The final two ingredients are washing soda and lavender essential oil for scent.  The washing soda was tricky to find, I actually had to go to four stores!  But I have a box now and that should allow me to make at least 12 gallons of laundry detergent!


Here is the recipe {please note the description of what each ingredient does to the side}:

2 cups boiling water
1 cup grated pure castile bar soap (I like Dr. Bonner's baby mild) - cleans dirt and grease
1 cup washing soda - pulls out grease and oil, softens water
1/2 cup borax - deodorizes, whitens, disinfects
1/2 cup baking soda - deodorizes, softens water
1 additional gallon of water
Your favorite scent of essential oil - 20 drops more or less depending upon preference

Directions:

Grate 1 cup of soap. (For me 1 cup of grated soap was about 2/3 of the bar.)  Get your two cups of water boiling in a large enough pot to accommodate 1 1/2 gallons of liquid and then add grated soap.  It will kind of clump together until it completely melts.  I used a whisk to stir and that seemed to help with the smoothness.  After the soap melts, allow it to cool a bit and then add the washing soda, baking soda and borax.  Stir until well and completely mixed.  Add the final gallon of water and mix well again.  At this point I added 20 drops of lavender essential oil, because it is my favorite.  I think I could have added more, because now I can barely smell it when I am doing laundry.  I transferred my concoction from my huge pot, to a clean and empty vinegar jug.  It remained very liquidy until fully cool and then became more gel like.  If it becomes too thick you can always add a little more water and shake. I ended up probably adding four more cups of water because it became too thick.  I use about 1/4 of a cup for a large load of laundry.  

Imagine my delight upon removing that first load from the washer and finding the clothes clean and fresh smelling!  No more store bought laundry detergent for this girl!  It took less than 15 minutes to make this detergent and that was mainly for pictures!  So, this turned out to be a quick, easy and successful project!

Just for fun here is the break down of costs =

Washing Soda 1/12 of the $4.87 box = $.41

Baking Soda 1/108 of the $19.97 bag = $.18

Borax 1/32 of the $3.99 box = $.12

Castile Soap 2/3 of the $3.75 bar = $2.48

One gallon of liquid laundry soap = $3.19 WOW!!! 

I hope you will give making your own laundry detergent a try!  It's easy and very affordable!

If you have a recipe that you love, please share it in the comments below :)

10 Fabulous Uses for Vinegar

I LOVE vinegar.  It has so many incredible uses, it's natural, it disinfects and it's inexpensive.  What is not to love?  One bottle of vinegar can truly replace a number of household cleaning products.  Here is a list of my favorite vinegar uses...

1.  Disinfect household surfaces. Countertops, door jams and knobs, light switches, and other highly used surfaces should be wiped down regularly to eliminate germs.  You can use a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water or a lemon infused vinegar solution. See my All Purpose Vinegar-Lemon Cleaner recipe below.

2.  Make mirrors and windows sparkle.  50/50 solution of vinegar and water.  Traditional glass cleaners do not even compare to the streakless, sparkling shine that vinegar produces.  I just put my solution in a spray bottle, spray on window or mirror and wipe with a an old t-shirt rag. 

3.  Polish chrome and stainless fixtures.  I spray pure vinegar on all of our faucets and fixtures and wipe with a soft cloth.  The result is fabulous.  No streaks, just shine. 

4.  Shine up hardwood floors.  50/50 solution of vinegar and water sprayed on floor and wiped up for gleaming, clean floors.

5.  Sanitize sinks, tubs and toilets.  This works especially well if you sprinkle a little baking soda in first and then spray vinegar onto the surface.  Scrub, rinse, and enjoy the results.

6.  Clean the oven.  Again sprinkle baking soda, spray vinegar, scrub, wipe clean with a warm wet washcloth.  

7.  Refresh your coffee pot.  You know when your coffee gets a strange bitter taste?  It's because your coffee pot needs a good cleaning.  Fill the pot with full strength vinegar, run it through, and then follow twice with hot water.  You will be amazed how much better your coffee tastes after doing this!

8.  Wash your produce.  Produce is covered with dirt, pesticides, and waxes.  Before consuming fill your clean sink with cold water, add a cup of vinegar and soak produce for 5-10 minutes.  Rinse produce and dry.  You can eat it immediately or store it.  For some reason this vinegar rinse also helps prolong the freshness of produce.

9.  Extend the life of cut flowers.  Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar mixed with 3 tablespoons of sugar to the vase water to keep flowers looking beautiful. 

10.  Kill grass and weeds in sidewalk cracks.  Simply spray full strength vinegar onto grass and weeds in the sidewalk and they will wither and die.  (Don't spray weeds in your lawn or garden because it will kill grass and other plants around them!)

Vinegar has many, many more uses, but this is a good start for everyday use around your home!
If you have other uses for vinegar I would love to hear them.  Share in the comments section below :)


~All Purpose Vinegar-Lemon Cleaner~
Take squeezed lemons and place peels in a large glass containers.  Fill container with distilled white vinegar and cover.  Allow the mixture to set for at least 24 hours.  Finally, strain the lemon infused vinegar into a spray bottle and it is ready to go.

Essential Oil Hand Sanitizing Spray

Essential Oil Hand Sanitizing Spray

I will admit I am some what of a germaphobe.  I can only imagine where other people's hands have been and it makes me want to douse myself with hand sanitizer, especially in a place like Wal-mart or at the playground with my kids.  I know that the alcohol and other ingredients like triclosan in hand sanitizer are drying at best and toxic at worst.  The skin on my hands was painfully cracked around my nails, but I didn't want to give up my hand sanitizer because I was just so concerned about all the germs floating around. Even worse was that I was using it on my kids hands all of the time too.  I decided it was time to search for a natural alternative.  

I found a recipe for a spray hand sanitizer on mymerrymessylife.com.  I liked the idea of using Witch Hazel as my base because it is an astringent. The brand I chose is Thayers.  Their Witch Hazel has Aloe Vera, which is a great moisturizer too. The original recipe only called for Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Bergamot Essential Oils, but I added two more, Sweet Orange and Lavender.  I removed the Eucalyptus because it can be dangerous for young children.  Below in the recipe I have included the properties of each oil.  All combined they make a great hand sanitizer.  It smells nice too, which is always a bonus!

 

Ingredients

• 2 oz. (1/4 cup) Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera - astringent
• 6 drops of Tea Tree Oil - antibacterial, antiviral, astringent, disinfectant
• 6 drops of Wild Orange Oil - antibacterial, antiseptic
• 6 drops of Lavender Oil - antiseptic, disinfectant
• 3 drops of Bergamot Oil - antiseptic, anti-parasitic, astringent

(Tea Tree Oil contains all of the necessary properties so it would be possible to use 24 drops of only this oil.  It would have a very strong smell though).

Instructions

1. Combine the ingredients in a glass spray bottle and give it a good shake. The oils can break down a plastic bottle. I bought this 2 oz amber glass bottle at the local natural store for under $1.

Remember to shake well before each use.  Spray on hands and rub it in.  There you have a simple hand sanitizing spray.  

As a side note, after using for several weeks, I noticed that all of the cracks around my fingernails had healed and that my hands were soft!  That is when I decided sharing this recipe was a must!  I hope it works well for you too!  

Enjoy being Natural, Healthy and Germ Free!

Homemade Deoderant

I started using homemade deodorant a couple of years ago after reading about and researching the dangers of traditional store-bought deodorant and antiperspirants.  Some toxic ingredients in most antiperspirants are aluminum, which is used to plug sweat glands, and several parabens.  Both are estrogenic compounds and can mimic or disrupt the body's natural hormone estrogen.  I will leave you to research these ingredients and make an informed decision.  For me, the risks did not out weigh the semi-wetness protection I was receiving.  

The hunt began for a natural deodorant.  I tried Tom's, Alba and some other natural deodorants but by the end of the day I was left feeling pretty sticky and stinky.  Nobody wants that!  I decided to make my own and even though the first few batches didn't turn out to well, I adapted the recipe until I had a consistency that I liked.  My first attempt was clumpy, because I didn't soften the coconut oil.  My second batch was to gritty because I used too much baking powder (this batch also irritated my underarm.)  Finally, my third batch was smooth, not gritty, and did not burn my underarm.  And, it worked!!!  To understand why it works so well here is a breakdown of what each of the ingredients do.

Baking Soda, Corn Starch and Arrowroot Powder:  absorb sweat and keep underarm dry.
Coconut Oil: holds all the ingredients together and soothes underarm and razor burn. 
Tea Tree Oil:  is a natural anti-bacterial (bacteria is what causes body odor)
Essential Oil:  scent

Homemade Deoderant:

5 tablespoons coconut oil -- softened in a hot
water bath (not melted)

1/8 cup arrowroot powder - available at any natural foods store.

1/8 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup baking soda

Sift the 3 powders together

Several drops of tea tree oil [optional]

Several drops of essential oil of your choice.
(I love lavender myself) 

Instructions:  soften your coconut oil in a warm water bath.  Don't melt it or it won't mix well.  Sift together the 3 powders and then dump them into the coconut oil.  It will take some mixing to get it smooth.

 

Keep mixing!  It will smooth out wonderfully if you just keep at it.  When it is nice and smooth, I then add my essential oils.  I usually do 20 drops of tea tree oil and 10-20 of lavender oil.  You can use more or less to your preference.  Finally, transfer it to it's storage container.

 

 

 

I like to store mine in a half pint jam jar.  It will harden on its own over 24 hours or you can speed the process along and put it in the refrigerator.  To use, I just put a tiny amount, less than dime size, on the tip of my finger and rub it in.  If you notice some irritation, lessen the amount of baking soda that you use in your recipe.  I let it absorb for about 5 minutes before I put my clothes on and I have never had a problem with staining.

 

Now you have a recipe for natural homemade deodorant.  I encourage you to give it a try!!  Natural, Healthy and Nice Smelling Too!!

 

Caring for your Bamboo Utensils and Cutting Boards

According to my dad, who is in his 70's, we live in the throw-away society.  Many of the younger members (age 40 and under) of society buy expensive toys on credit, misuse and abuse said toys, and then throw them away just to turn around and repeat the whole process.  Sadly, I think he might be right.  I look around and see people buying things they can't afford and then not even taking care of them properly.  This can apply to expensive things like homes, cars, furniture or technology and less spendy items like small appliances, tools, or clothes.  I'm not sure of the reasons behind this phenomenon, but I am thankful that my mom and dad took the time to instill in me the joy of caring for what I have, be it much or be it little. 

 

All that to say, I want to teach you how to take care of your bamboo utensils and cutting boards so that they last for years and years.  I LOVE my bamboo.  It isn't excessively expensive, but it holds up so well, especially considering how much I use it.  Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial, which is fabulous for the cutting boards that are used for meats. 

 

The first rule of thumb when using bamboo is to NEVER put it in the dishwasher.  The sanitizing hot water is great for your glass ware, but not for bamboo.  The drying cycle is even worse for bamboo and can cause splitting and cracking.  To wash, simply use warm water and mild soap.  Allow to air dry.

 

In addition to hand-washing, it is necessary to oil your bamboo regularly.  When bamboo is brand new it is important to "season" it by conditioning it once per week.  After a month of weekly oilings you should only need to oil them once per month. 

 

I have read several websites suggesting the use of food grade mineral oil. As a rule, I generally don't like mineral oil as it is a petroleum product.  It is also difficult to find and expensive.  I decided to try coconut oil and the results were amazing! 

 

The process was simple:

 

I melted a scoop of coconut oil in a hot water bath. 

  

Using a paper towel moistened with the melted oil I gently rubbed all of my bamboo. 

 

I left everything to absorb and soak in for 24 hours.



 

Lastly, I rinsed everything in luke wark water and allowed it to air dry.  The result?  Naturally conditioned bamboo utensils and cutting boards.  I love knowing that I can use them for years to come and won't have to run out and buy new ones every few months because of cracks.  My dad would be so proud!  Natural, Healthy, Well-Cared For Bamboo!