I have always enjoyed cooking and baking. I love trying out new recipes and tweaking them to our tastes, budget and cooking tools. Between my wedding shower, the wedding and various gifts since then, I have a lot of cooking and baking supplies. My kitchen is at capacity so I am going to try and avoid buying new things. I am able to stash a few things in the basement on some shelving like the Bread Maker and the Set-It-And-Forget-It (you know that you have thought how cool it would be to own this at least once!).
I like to separate out my recipes between crockpot and non-crockpot cooking methods. Sometimes, when I am busy or have plans to be gone out of the house for a long period then I just know that I need to make something in the crockpot. I keep all my recipes in spreadsheets based on their cooking method for easy look up.
I own a TON of cookbooks. I have tried to pare them down over the past few years due to space limitations, but it is HARD. I don't want to get rid of one and then one day, have an inspiration about something that I want to make and can't - because I parted with the cookbook.
I just want to mention that I have the first edition on the mixer bible, I believe.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Green Living - Homemade Laundry Soap
While watching The Duggars on TV one day, I noticed that they make their own laundry soap. I had read that making your own soap was a lot more Green and decided that I would try it!
I originally posted about homemade laundry soap back in November 2008. This is the post that I get the most questions about. I originally decided to try and make my own laundry soap in order to help the environment. It was also amazingly cheap to DIY this liquid laundry soap. I decided that it would be something I would do in order to help our household save money.
This recipe is for a liquid laundry soap. It is safe in HE washers, as ours is a HE washer. The liquid soap does not turn into 100% liquid. It is actually 30% liquid and 70% gel. I think that this may turn some people off, I know the uniform consistency of the major brands is appealing, but it does work well!
You will need these household tools:
a large measuring cup for liquids
a 1 cup measuring cup for solids
a cheese grater
a large pot
a large wooden spoon
a laundry soap storage container with a lid that closes tightly
Here is the recipe (I'll tell you where to buy it, below):
1 bar of Zote Laundry Soap
. Shred this into small pieces.
1.5 cups of washing soda
1.5 cups of borax powder
lots of water
What to do:
First, put 18 cups of water in the pot.
Add the shredded soap and heat on low, stir occasionally.
Once the soap is melted, add the washing soda and the borax.
When the mixture is dissolved, turn the heat off.
Add 12 cups of hot water to your storage container.
Then add in the soap mixture.
Mix this well with your large wooden spoon.
Now you need to add 4 gallons + 2 cups of warm water to the storage container.
Mix this well with your large wooden spoon.
Close the container and leave the soap alone for at least 24 hours.
Some notes:
(1)This will make a LOT of liquid laundry soap. I suggest a big container. It may seem like I am using a lot of ingredients compared to other recipes out there. My reasoning behind this is that I want to use up an entire bar of Zote soap. Some people may suggest leaving the bar of Zote out, unwrapped for a while to season it. For this liquid laundry soap recipe, I do not recommend that.
(2)WASHING SODA IS NOT BAKING SODA
this is a very important note!! They are 2 different things. You will find baking soda in he baking aisle next to the flour and sugar while you will find the washing soda in the laundry aisle next to the dryer sheets and stain removers.
(3)1 gallon = 16 cups of water
(4)The liquid soap does not turn into 100% liquid. It is actually 30% liquid and 70% gel.
(5)I do recommend Zote Laundry Soap - but if you prefer another soap, you are welcome to try it. Please post back and let me know.
(6)You could add some essential oils for fragrance once you get to the stir-in-the-storage-container part of the process. I figure that there is enough scent going on and that I don't need any more. If you try it, please post back and let me know which scent you choose and how it works.
(7)This mixture does not produce a suds-ey laundry soap. If you have a front load washer and watch the cycle, do not be alarmed when you don't see suds forming. (I was quite alarmed the first time that I saw this lack of suds).
(8)You should use a 1/2 cup scoop in a conventional washer and 1/4-1/2 in your HE machine. Since this is a low suds recipe you can use as much as 1/2 cup in your HE machine. I only do laundry 1/2 a week so I use a little less than 1/2 cup for each load. My loads are quite full.
(9)This laundry soap can also be used as a spot-treater. Just pour some onto the stain and rub it in. I sometimes use a cleaning brush to really rub it in.
(10)Where to buy everthing:
You shouldn't have any trouble finding the borax or the washing soda at your local grocery store, Target or Walmart. The soap is probably going to be the tricky part. Luckily my Super Stop & Shop still carries the Zote laundry soap. I have not seen it at Target or Walmart lately. You can also buy all 3 of these items online at Amazon.com. I have added links to the recipe above.
(11)Here is my storage container:
PS
one of my next projects is going to be an attempt at powdered laundry soap!
I originally posted about homemade laundry soap back in November 2008. This is the post that I get the most questions about. I originally decided to try and make my own laundry soap in order to help the environment. It was also amazingly cheap to DIY this liquid laundry soap. I decided that it would be something I would do in order to help our household save money.
This recipe is for a liquid laundry soap. It is safe in HE washers, as ours is a HE washer. The liquid soap does not turn into 100% liquid. It is actually 30% liquid and 70% gel. I think that this may turn some people off, I know the uniform consistency of the major brands is appealing, but it does work well!
You will need these household tools:
a large measuring cup for liquids
a 1 cup measuring cup for solids
a cheese grater
a large pot
a large wooden spoon
a laundry soap storage container with a lid that closes tightly
Here is the recipe (I'll tell you where to buy it, below):
1 bar of Zote Laundry Soap
. Shred this into small pieces.1.5 cups of washing soda
1.5 cups of borax powder
lots of water
What to do:
First, put 18 cups of water in the pot.
Add the shredded soap and heat on low, stir occasionally.
Once the soap is melted, add the washing soda and the borax.
When the mixture is dissolved, turn the heat off.
Add 12 cups of hot water to your storage container.
Then add in the soap mixture.
Mix this well with your large wooden spoon.
Now you need to add 4 gallons + 2 cups of warm water to the storage container.
Mix this well with your large wooden spoon.
Close the container and leave the soap alone for at least 24 hours.
Some notes:
(1)This will make a LOT of liquid laundry soap. I suggest a big container. It may seem like I am using a lot of ingredients compared to other recipes out there. My reasoning behind this is that I want to use up an entire bar of Zote soap. Some people may suggest leaving the bar of Zote out, unwrapped for a while to season it. For this liquid laundry soap recipe, I do not recommend that.
(2)WASHING SODA IS NOT BAKING SODA
this is a very important note!! They are 2 different things. You will find baking soda in he baking aisle next to the flour and sugar while you will find the washing soda in the laundry aisle next to the dryer sheets and stain removers.
(3)1 gallon = 16 cups of water
(4)The liquid soap does not turn into 100% liquid. It is actually 30% liquid and 70% gel.
(5)I do recommend Zote Laundry Soap - but if you prefer another soap, you are welcome to try it. Please post back and let me know.
(6)You could add some essential oils for fragrance once you get to the stir-in-the-storage-container part of the process. I figure that there is enough scent going on and that I don't need any more. If you try it, please post back and let me know which scent you choose and how it works.
(7)This mixture does not produce a suds-ey laundry soap. If you have a front load washer and watch the cycle, do not be alarmed when you don't see suds forming. (I was quite alarmed the first time that I saw this lack of suds).
(8)You should use a 1/2 cup scoop in a conventional washer and 1/4-1/2 in your HE machine. Since this is a low suds recipe you can use as much as 1/2 cup in your HE machine. I only do laundry 1/2 a week so I use a little less than 1/2 cup for each load. My loads are quite full.
(9)This laundry soap can also be used as a spot-treater. Just pour some onto the stain and rub it in. I sometimes use a cleaning brush to really rub it in.
(10)Where to buy everthing:
You shouldn't have any trouble finding the borax or the washing soda at your local grocery store, Target or Walmart. The soap is probably going to be the tricky part. Luckily my Super Stop & Shop still carries the Zote laundry soap. I have not seen it at Target or Walmart lately. You can also buy all 3 of these items online at Amazon.com. I have added links to the recipe above.
(11)Here is my storage container:
PS
one of my next projects is going to be an attempt at powdered laundry soap!
TV Recap - The Closer - September 6, 2010
Good Morning, Good Morning!
I have had a bunch of coffee already, can you tell?
I really enjoy my TV shows and one of the segments here at Accountant By Day is going to be all about my TV viewing - the TV Recap. I'm not a mindless channel surfer by any means. But, once a show becomes MY show, then I am all about said show. I thought that a nice way to start the blog day here would be to talk about some TV. An important note is that I tape everything. Live TV is no longer for me. What that means for you is that I may talk about a TV show that first aired a few nights ago - as opposed to last night due to my DVR induced delay.
Is the season really almost over for The Closer? How is that possible? I know that Labor Day has come and gone so I guess that I have to say adios to my summer TV shows. If the powers that be are reading, please give us a Closer Christmas bonus episode!!!! The finale will air on Monday September 13, 2010.
Now, about the episode:
I found it to be a pretty typical epi. I enjoyed the plot line but I felt like it was lacking a little something considering the season is almost over. I think that we all know that Brenda is not going to end up sitting behind a desk - she needs to be on the street catching those bad guys! I can not wait for next week and I want the big decision to be wrapped up. They can't leave us hanging about the new chief until 2011, can they?
I have had a bunch of coffee already, can you tell?
I really enjoy my TV shows and one of the segments here at Accountant By Day is going to be all about my TV viewing - the TV Recap. I'm not a mindless channel surfer by any means. But, once a show becomes MY show, then I am all about said show. I thought that a nice way to start the blog day here would be to talk about some TV. An important note is that I tape everything. Live TV is no longer for me. What that means for you is that I may talk about a TV show that first aired a few nights ago - as opposed to last night due to my DVR induced delay.
Is the season really almost over for The Closer? How is that possible? I know that Labor Day has come and gone so I guess that I have to say adios to my summer TV shows. If the powers that be are reading, please give us a Closer Christmas bonus episode!!!! The finale will air on Monday September 13, 2010.
Now, about the episode:
I found it to be a pretty typical epi. I enjoyed the plot line but I felt like it was lacking a little something considering the season is almost over. I think that we all know that Brenda is not going to end up sitting behind a desk - she needs to be on the street catching those bad guys! I can not wait for next week and I want the big decision to be wrapped up. They can't leave us hanging about the new chief until 2011, can they?
Happy Hump Day - It's Our Blog Re-Launch
It's time for Accountant By Day to get back in the blog-swing of things! Once upon a time I used this space to share my crafts, decor, cooking, baking and some laundry stuff. I named the site Accountant By Day, because - that was me. I wanted to be so much more, though. I finally got my chance on Friday October 16, 2009.
We welcomed Juliette and Jack that day. Juliette was Baby A and she was 7 pounds, 1 ounce and her younger brother (by 1 minute) was a whopping 7 pounds, 14 ounces. Our world was rocked! We are so fortunate to have 2 healthy, happy, precious babies. Not a day goes by that we don't think about how lucky and happy we are.
After a lot of soul searching and a lot of budget talks, we decided that I wold become a SAHM (stay at home mom). I left my job in April and have been really enjoying the time at home with the kiddos. Now, the only accounting I do during the day is our banking, bills and budgeting. I need to keep my Excel skills up to date for future employment. This blog has some of our history back to 2008 and I can't bare to leave it all behind so I decided to use the same blog space for the new improved blog.
I am making it a goal to be more structured in my blogging. With my husband working a later shift, I have some quiet evenings. Our kids go to bed at 6:30pm on the dot so after dinner, animal duty and clean up I want to get in the habit of blogging again.
Other changes that you will notice are the ads, both from Google and Amazon. I am hoping that the blog will generate a modest income. I promise to give my honest opinions on everything that I blog about, free from any bias based on any possible sponsorship.
I want to tackle many issues that I find interesting including TV, movies, books, crafts, the Cricut machine, cooking, baking, crockpotting, mommy issues, twin issues, budgets, clothing, shoes, haircuts and product reviews.
I welcome your comments and hope that you will jump in and leave them. I plan to take 1 day a week (at least) and answer all questions.
We welcomed Juliette and Jack that day. Juliette was Baby A and she was 7 pounds, 1 ounce and her younger brother (by 1 minute) was a whopping 7 pounds, 14 ounces. Our world was rocked! We are so fortunate to have 2 healthy, happy, precious babies. Not a day goes by that we don't think about how lucky and happy we are.
After a lot of soul searching and a lot of budget talks, we decided that I wold become a SAHM (stay at home mom). I left my job in April and have been really enjoying the time at home with the kiddos. Now, the only accounting I do during the day is our banking, bills and budgeting. I need to keep my Excel skills up to date for future employment. This blog has some of our history back to 2008 and I can't bare to leave it all behind so I decided to use the same blog space for the new improved blog.
I am making it a goal to be more structured in my blogging. With my husband working a later shift, I have some quiet evenings. Our kids go to bed at 6:30pm on the dot so after dinner, animal duty and clean up I want to get in the habit of blogging again.
Other changes that you will notice are the ads, both from Google and Amazon. I am hoping that the blog will generate a modest income. I promise to give my honest opinions on everything that I blog about, free from any bias based on any possible sponsorship.
I want to tackle many issues that I find interesting including TV, movies, books, crafts, the Cricut machine, cooking, baking, crockpotting, mommy issues, twin issues, budgets, clothing, shoes, haircuts and product reviews.
I welcome your comments and hope that you will jump in and leave them. I plan to take 1 day a week (at least) and answer all questions.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Fridge may 2010 (3 photos), by shannon cravalho
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
Friday's Bento
Not too much different but still delish!
Colby Jack & crackers, 1 hard boiled egg (a bear), strawberries, 2 chocolates, carrots & some ranch dip.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
First Bento lunch
My first Bento lunch post! I was inspired by this blog
http://anotherlunch.blogspot.com/
sent to me by Jennie! This looked like so much fun, that I just couldn't resist! Melissa @ another lunch uses a lot of lock & lock containers so I decided to use those, too. But, when J&J are big enough, I am also going to use these cute ones for them
http://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-2-Tiered-Bento-Panda-Face/dp/B00200L840/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1274979582&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-2-Tiered-Bento-Frog-Face/dp/B00200L84A/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1274979582&sr=8-8
So, let me tell you what was in my lunch:
Ghirardelli Choco square w/ peanut butter inside, Monterrey Jack cheese and grain crackers, 2 hard boiled eggs (turns out that 1 was enough to fill me up), sliced tomatoes with a bit of ranch dressing (the mini fork is a giraffe) and finally diced strawberries with a puppy mini fork.
hmmm, I see that my Amazon links above don't work, what a pita, they are cute panda & frog Bento boxes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)