Category Archives: Misc

Homemade Toothpaste

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Making my own toothpaste has been on my “to-do” list for a few years now, I just never got around to it.
It is so simple I wonder why I put it off so long.

I love the idea of knowing exactly what is in my toothpaste, and once I got use to the different consistency, I felt like this toothpaste worked better than any comercial brand I had every used before.
(convinsing the kids has been a different story…..)

Here is my quick tutorial for homemade toothpaste, and I say quick because it really is, it only takes a few minutes.  All mesurements are approximent, just adjust to suit your own tastes.

Ingredients:
2 cups VIRGIN ORGANIC coconut oil
1/4 cup baking soda
20 drops peppermint oil (or any oil of choice)
Stevia
(I don’t use this, but some people like it)

Spoon the coconut oil into a bowl and give it a quick stir to soften a bit.

 Add baking soda, and stir until smooth and well blended.

 Add as much peppermint oil as you would like. 🙂

Store in air tight glass jars and use as you would regular toothpaste!

Enjoy!

Coconut Oil, My New Love

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I have been using coconut oil in cooking now for awhile.  A couple years ago I changed how and what kinds of oil I use in the kitchen, I switched from using vegetable oils (except olive oil) to using traditional oils and fats, mostly butter, olive oil and coconut oil in all my cooking and baking.  Coconut oil makes baked goods absolutely delicious!  About that same time I started using extra virgin coconut oil for my face as a moisturizer, I have really loved the results, the acne that I have struggled with for most of my twenties and early thirties is gone. YAY!  In the last month I have branched out even further in using my beloved coconut oil.

1.Oil pulling

2.Toothpaste

Oil pulling is a fascinating method for cleaning teeth and mouth.  The method is simple, place a couple teaspoons of either virgin coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil in your mouth and swish for up to 10 minuets, then spit and rinse.  It sounds really weird.  The biggest benefit I have seen is the loosening of plaque and tarter from my teeth.  I have always had a hard time keeping tarter off the back of my front teeth (sorry if this grosses anyone out) , but after I pull coconut oil, it comes right off with a regular brushing.  My older girls pull oil too, they have problems with brown spots on their teeth that they can’t brush off, after pulling, the brown spots go away.  For a more detailed article, including all the benefits of oil pulling go HERE.

Homemade tooth paste is something I have been wanting to try for a while, so the other day when we ran out of regular toothpaste I finally made some of my own.  Toothpaste is very simple, there are only two main ingredients: virgin coconut oil and baking soda, I also add some peppermint oil and some recipes call for a little stevia powder for sweetness.  It took some time for the kids to get use to the taste and feel of the new toothpaste, it doesn’t bubble, there aren’t any chemicals to make suds, that is a little strange and first, and since I didn’t add stevia, it isn’t sweet, however they got use to it and it is no big deal.  I have been loving it, after I brush my teeth feel like I have been to the dentist for a cleaning, my teeth and smooth and super clean.  I plan on posting a tutorial soon.

So there you go, Coconut oil is my new love!

 

 

 

Chicken Broth Part I

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” Why is chicken soup superior to all the things we have, even more than relaxing “Tylenol”?  It is because chicken soup has a natural ingredient which feeds, repairs and calms the mucous lining in the small intestine.  This inner lining is the beginning or ending of the nervous system.  It is easily pulled away from the intestine through too many laxatives, too many food additives…and parasites.  Chicken soup…heal the nerves, improves digestion reduces allergies, relaxes and gives strength.”
Hanna Kroeger Ageless Remedies from Mother’s Kitchen

 Chicken broth is one of the easiest ways to add nutritious foods to our family’ diet.  Chicken broth when cooked slowly over a few days becomes a super food full of vitamins, enzymes and minerals that nourishes the body, and heal disease.  There is a lot of research about the value of chicken broth that is beyond the scope of this post and blog, but if you would like to research more here are a few good articles about the value of chicken broth:  Here, Here, Here and Here.

I like to make chicken broth in a  big batch and freeze it for quick easy meals.  Of coarse I use chicken broth in soups, but I also use it in  mashed potatoes, casseroles, any where liquid is required and I want a little punch of nutrition and flavor.  Chicken broth is easy to make, but does require time to get the full benefits of the chicken, when I do broth it takes at least three days.

 I start with two chickens and place them with all the pieces (giblets and neck) in a large stock pot.  I add onions, celery, thyme, sage, salt, pepper, garlic and vinegar. I fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil

 

 Once it is boiling hard, reduce the heat so it is lightly simmering and skim the impurities as they rise to the surface.
  You want it to cook very slowly.

 

After a couple hours the chicken will be fully cooked.  At this point take the chicken out, let it cool and little and strip the bones of the meat.  I usually make chicken noodle soup on broth making day!  the cooked chicken can be used for other recipes and also freezes well.

At this point all the bones and skin go back into the pot to simmer slowly for 48 hours…..

(to be continued….)

Pineapple vinegar….so what is the story?

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I wrote a post in June about making Pineapple Vinegar…then I went silent….

Yeah, there was a reason that I never followed up on that. 

While the vinegar was in the process of fermenting, and such, we went on a little three day vacation.  While I was gone the water level went down, and since I wasn’t there to make sure the pineapple was under liquid all the time, the pineapple rotted.  While it is normal and OK for there to be little bits of mold on the top of the water (just scoop it out with a spoon) I wasn’t comfortable with the entire top, and parts if the pineapple being moldy.  I threw the whole thing out.

I consider this losing the battle, while I win the war.

I have successfully made pineapple vinegar twice now, and I consider a failure like this to be par for the course.  When learning to be self sufficient it is a whole lot of trial and error.  Some things turn out, some don’t, and things that may have worked in the past don’t always work every time in the future.  It is all about the journey, and finding joy in it.

I did have a couple people want to know what I use this vinegar for.  Mainly I use it in salad dressing, really anything that you would normally use vinegar for.  I like it drizzled on chard or other cooked greens.  It has a little bit different flavor than distilled or apple cider vinegar. 

Mainly though, I love knowing  how to do it.