Coconut Oil Lotion

Note: Please ignore the lack of photography skills shown in the picture below. Please ignore the bad reflections on the plate. And the weird looking blob of lotion.

Do you love making your own bath products?

Do you want to try to make something new?

Do you love coconut oil?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then this recipe might be for you!

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COCONUT OIL LOTION "RECIPE"

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Coconut oil

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Put the coconut oil in a bowl.
2. Using a hand mixer, whip the coconut oil for about 7 minutes. The coconut oil should be fluffier than when you started.
3. Put it in a jar of your choice.
4. Ta-da!

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Woo-hoo! 

If this is your original recipe, please contact me and I will be happy to give you credit. When I saw this recipe originally, I didn't have a blog, so I didn't try to remember where I saw it.

Have fun!

Katie

Tooth Paste

Nothing says Summer time quite like a new batch of homemade toothpaste!

Please note: The next section of this blog contains seriousness. Reader discretion is advised.

I have sensitive teeth, and I never thought that I could go away from my sensitive toothpaste. My teeth were so sensitive that I decided to stop drinking soda, and anything else that contained citric acid. I also switched to a sensitive toothpaste.

However, as I started to make more and more bath products on my own, I wanted to make my own toothpaste, too.

I decided that I would try. After all, what would it hurt to make some toothpaste? In March of 2014, I made a batch, and I was excited to see if it would work.

I haven't used "real" toothpaste since then, and I don't plan to any time soon. Every once in a while, as I was switching over, I thought my teeth were going to get more sensitive, but they haven't. My teeth feel and look better than they ever have before.

If you want to make toothpaste, I thought that I should warn you about some aspects that I didn't realize before I made my own:

• Because the recipe contains baking soda, you have to get used to the different taste it gives to the toothpaste. I am a fairly stubborn person, and I eventually got used to the flavor.
• Also, because the toothpaste contains no sugar or artificial flavor, there is no "minty fresh" or "tasty" aspect to the toothpaste. If you want to make your own toothpaste and have some sort of minty flavor, feel free to add some essential oils. I added peppermint oil to my first batch, but as I went on to make more batches, I left it out. 
• DO NOT leave out the salt. I left out both the salt and the peppermint oil when I made my second batch, and I found that I missed the salt more than I missed the oil. 
• 12/4/14 Update: In the book Little House in the Suburbs, they suggested that we should not add salt to homemade toothpaste because it can make a toothpaste (with already abrasive baking soda) overly abrasive for your teeth. I, personally, still use salt in my toothpaste. However, I thought that I should let you know what I learned so you can make up your own mind.

Whew. That was a lot of serious paragraphs. It felt weird, didn't it? It was almost like it was "educational" or something. (Gasp!)

2 + 2 = 4. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?

Before I start talking about the Revolutionary War, I think I should give you the recipe:

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HOMEMADE TOOTHPASTE RECIPE

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp. baking soda
• A pinch of salt
• Essential oils-optional (to taste)

SUPPLIES:

• Bowl
• Spoon
• Small, airtight container that holds at least 2 Tablespoons

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Put the coconut oil in the bowl. If it is not already a liquid, you might need to stir it up or soften it. Coconut oil typically becomes a solid when it is below 76 F., so it is easy to have rock-solid oil.
2. Add the baking soda to the coconut oil.
3. Stir them together.
4. Add a pinch of salt and any essential oils you please.

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I have a bad memory sometimes. I don't know where I got this recipe. If this is your original recipe, please tell me and I will be happy to give you credit.

Ya'll are awesome!
Katie

Patriotic Strawberries

I am a proud American citizen. I abide by the laws, appreciate my freedom, and this year, to show my patriotism, I have gone above and beyond the expectation of my people...

I dipped strawberries in Almond Bark! 

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light!

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PATRIOTIC STRAWBERRIES RECIPE

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Almond Bark
• Vegetable Shortening-optional
• Strawberries
• Blue Sugar

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Put the blue sugar in a small bowl.
2. Line a cookie sheet in foil.
3. Melt the Almond Bark, according to package directions. Mama's tip: for thinner Almond Bark, add about a Tablespoon to every half a package.
4. Holding on to the stem, dip the strawberries. Leave about 1/3 of the red visible.
5. Scrape the edge of the strawberry, so that you don't have any extra Almond Bark. 
6. Gently, dip the bottom third of the strawberry in blue sugar.
7. Set it on the cookie sheet to harden.
8. Be patriotic!

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Have a great day!

Katie

Body Scrub

Imagine finding a spectacular jar that seemed made for a new homemade recipe.

Imagine looking at it, starry eyed and happy that you had a new glass jar, just waiting for you.

Now, imagine the wonderful, pungent smell of close-to-expiration fish-smelling capers crammed into that little jar in your fridge. It was bad. REALLY BAD.

But, I was always under the assumption that glass does not absorb smell. Is this the assumption you are also under? Would you, like me, assume that capers couldn't possibly absorb into the very cells of the glass? This was my assumption, and I was wrong.

VERY WRONG. The jar was scrubbed, rubbed, and soaked in scalding hot water. But it still smelled like rotting fish. 

Awhile later, this was forgotten. The jar was set aside. I found a wonderful body scrub recipe that I wanted to try. It was easy and looked amazing. I made the recipe, mixing the coconut oil and all of its wonders with fine sea salt and honey. I lovingly put it in a jar, but my love blinded me. I did not think about the actual jar I put it in.

I tell you what, it looked purty. It felt purty. But when I went to smell it, oh! *nearly fainting* It did not smell purty. 

Because I want to be optimistic, I will tell you the bright side to this tale. If I breathed through my mouth as I used it, and tried not to get too close, there was no smell. Then, after I washed it off and took a big whiff, my  skin smelled like old fish!

I didn't want to smell like old fish.

In fact, I didn't want to smell like any fish at all.

I made a new batch, in a new jar. I used coconut oil and sea salt. I mixed them together joyfully. Without the fishy before and after smell, I was finally remembering why I wanted to make the scrub in the first place. The capers must have distorted my memory.

I was excited to try out my new scrub. I rubbed it on my arms in triumph. Just like any scrub with oil, I went to wash it off, and the water formed in little droplets on my skin. For what must have been several minutes, I stuck my arms in and out of the shower, feeling like I was waterproof. It was a magnificent moment. 

I am Water Resistant Girl! I use my water proof super power for the well being of others! Water Resistant Girl to the rescue! (Que awesome super power music. Dun-dun-dun-dun!)

"Pow!"

"Boom!"

"Squirt!"

After about ten minutes, your super power weakens. Sorry.

If you would like to try a caper free, skin softening, and super power initiating body scrub for yourself, try this recipe.*

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BODY SCRUB RECIPE

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup fine sea salt
• 1 Tbsp honey (optional)

SUPPLIES:

• Bowl
• Spoon
• Jar

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Put the coconut oil in the bowl. If you are going to add honey, fold it into the coconut oil now.
2. Pour the sea salt a little at a time into coconut oil. 
3. Mix well each time.
4. Once all of the coconut oil is mixed with the sea salt, put the scrub in a jar.
5. Be the super hero you were meant to be.

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This recipe is from a website I cannot remember. If this is your original recipe, please tell me and I can give you credit. Sorry about that! (It must have been the capers!)

Thanks a Bunch,
Katie

*Use your super power responsibly.

No-bake Cookies

Cookies!

Chocolate cookies!

Delicious, chocolate cookies!

As I am writing this, I have a fresh batch of succulent no-bake cookies waiting for me on my counter top. I'll admit, I want to take a spoon straight to the pan.

But, I will not. I will be kind and generous and share with my family.

If you want to have a delicious batch of chocolate no-bake cookies sitting on your counter top, I have a recipe that you just might love:

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NO-BAKE COOKIES

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 3/4 cup honey
• 6 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 2 1/2 cups quick oats
• 1 tsp. vanilla

SUPPLIES:

• Measuring cups
• Sauce pan (3 quart)
• Wooden stirring spoon
• Cookie sheet (or a 9" x 9" pan)
• Plastic wrap

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Line the pan with plastic wrap.
2. Add the peanut butter, plain ol' butter, and honey to the sauce pan, over low heat. Once the peanut butter is creamy smooth and butter is melted, turn off the heat.
3. Mix in the cocoa powder and then take a big whiff of the chocolaty goodness. 
4. Add the quick oats and vanilla.
5. Using the wooden spoon, drop batter into small servings (or, for a more technical term, blobs) on the cookie sheet. Or, if you are messy and clumsy like I am, you can just pour the whole batch into a pan. 
6. Lick the spoon.
7. Let the batter sit until it is firm. I know this is hard, but you can do it! 
8. Enjoy! (Remember to share.)

Warning: don't give honey to kids under 1 year of age. I know that you might be imagining their cute little faces looking up at you as their little begging eyes seem to say "Pweeeeeese? Just a wittle honey?" But don't give in! NEVER! Unless they are over one year of age. Then it's ok.

Recipe adapted from The Frugal Farm Wife.

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Thanks for reading,
Katie

Powdered Laundry Detergent

Ladies and Gentlemen! Give a big round of applause for the one, the only.....

Powdered laundry detergent!

Ok. I know this isn't the exciting first post you were looking for. But making your own laundry detergent is a wonderful thing to add to your list of homemade products (and, I'll admit, it sounded easy to take pictures of and I had all of the ingredients!)

Besides, this powdered laundry detergent recipe is incredibly easy and incredibly cheap. (Well, I think that it's cheap. I didn't do the math.)

I don't like math.

Here is the recipe:

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POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 bar of soap
• 1 cup of washing soda
• 1/2 cup Borax

SUPPLIES:

• Cheese grater (I have a special cheese grater just for this recipe, so my Cheddar cheese doesn't taste like soap, ya' know?)
• Big bowl
• Measuring cups (not shown)
• Scoop (Note that I used a 1 Tbsp. scoop that came with our coffee pot.)
• Stirring spoon
• 1 pint Mason jar or other storage container (But why wouldn't you want to use a mason jar?!?)

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Grate the soap on the cheese grater. If your soap doesn't shred like a hard cheese (and it just turns to powder), your bar of soap is probably old and dried out.
2. Measure out the washing soda and the Borax.
3. Put all of the ingredients together in the bowl and mix it up.
4. Put the powder in the jar of your choice (which I sincerely hope is a Mason jar!) and put on the lid.
5. Use 1-2 Tbsp. per load of laundry. DO NOT add all of the powdered laundry detergent to one load, or your laundry room might end up looking like one of those cartoons (where the kids add too much soap to the bathtub and it ends up flooding the whole house with bubbles.) What? It could happen!

Note: This recipe is for a top loading washing machine.

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Thanks you so much for reading the Cast Iron Stew blog! While I am getting the site up and running, it might be a little bit of a disaster area.

Thanks for bearing with me,
Katie

Thanks and credit to the Duggar Family Blog for use of their powdered laundry detergent recipe.