Clean Cleaning

Well I promised you a recipe for a dish washing powder that you can make yourself, but wait, there's more!!  Yes I am going to show you how you can clean all of your home with just a few different recipe cleaning products.  Now when I go down the aisle at the supermarket for cleaners, washing powders etc I just aim straight ahead and then go down the next aisle.  I have absolutely no business down there whatsoever! 

Not only am I saving money, but I am creating a cleaner, more healthy home for my family.  With allergies in our family this has been brilliant for us.  I can safely wash our clothes and know no one will get itchy skin.  I can clean the benches and know it's not going to affect our girls.

Now without further ado, here are the recipes I use...

Dish washing powder:

1 cup washing soda
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup citric acid


Blend washing soda until fine, then add and blend other ingredients. Use 1 tablespoon per load in dishwasher. You can use white vinegar in the rinse.

Window/glass cleaner:

2 cups water
1 cup white vinegar
a few drops of liquid detergent
add a few drops of lavender oil if you like

Mix together in a good quality spray bottle and spray onto glass.  Wipe clean with a dry cloth.  I washed these windows today using a wet cloth and this product, and the aluminium frames came up a treat as well.  Simple and quick.

Shower Cleaner:

500ml water
500ml white vinegar

Mix in a good quality spray bottle.  Spray on shower, vanity and toilet then wipe clean with a damp cloth.  I also use this in the kitchen for surfaces. 

For cleaning hobs I sprinkle baking soda all over the top then spray shower cleaner over the b.s. and leave for 15mins or so.  Then all the grime just wipes away.  I use it in the oven as well. 

Washing Powder:

1 cup washing soda
1 cup baking soda
60ml liquid castile soap
drops of essential oil if you like

Blend the washing soda until fine.  Add the baking soda, liquid soap and essential oil.  Mix until blended well.  Use one tablespoon in an average load.  Your washing will come out smelling wonderful and so clean as well.

Floor cleaner:

4 litres of hot water
1 cup white vinegar
half a squeezed lemon

Put in a bucket and wash floors with mop.  Your floors will smell lovely with the lemon and they will come up a treat.


*All of these ingredients, except the liquid castile soap, I found in our local supermarket.  The washing soda can be found near the clothes washing powders.  The liquid soap came from the health shop.  These cleaners are a fraction of the cost of bought ones and are all natural. 

*I found these recipes online and from Wendyl Nissen's book, A Home Companion.

*And of course, use these products at your risk.  Please don't blame me if something awful happens!  It's what I use and I haven't had any problems.

Weekend At Our Place

It's rained non-stop here since yesterday afternoon.  Luckily it remembered to stop a wee while ago.  Now the girls are all out there having a fabulous time.  It's so muggy the windows are fogging up.  There are long worms in the puddles too - yuck!

Mr Red Gingham went out to try and save his bark garden from floating away.  He gave up.  The levels are all uneven in the wrong places and the drain refuses to work.  It was a good laugh watching him try though!

It's been a busy weekend on the sewing front.  Making presents and finishing up projects.  This is one that I thought would be a big pain to make.  I can't believe how quick and easy it is.  I do love yoyos and these ones look sweet in a heart shape.  It's a present for the girls Godmother who shares a birthday with our No.2.

My baby girl quilt has had to come to a stand still.  It appears that the suppliers are not supplying some stock anymore to Spotlight due to the recession.  I think the manufacturing company may have gone under.  So sad.  It certainly pays to make sure you have everything you need to complete a quilt before starting!!  I'm sure I'll be able to get some more white cotton from a quilting shop, at twice the price.

I remembered I still hadn't shown you my new recipe book cover.  Remember I bought this neat retro fabric from a quilting show a while back?  I do love my revamped book.  I even made new dividers for it.

The kits are nearly ready for the New Beginnings project.  I spent a good while collecting all the bits for it.  Loving the colours.  Hope the new owners do too.  I'm working on the scissor holders at the moment.  I'm not enjoying them at all.  They are making me cross!  The needle books are finished and looking very sweet, forgot to photograph them sorry.

No.2 is trying desperately to get me more organised this year.  We have meal planners, shopping lists, and now a birthday card book.  You will be please to know that I did send my Christmas cards out last week.  We'll try for an earlier time this Christmas.

And here is a sneaky peek at our new ensuite.  The tiles just went down and they are looking very flash.  Terrible photo sorry, but it's quite dark today.  The wind is getting strong too which is scary.

Later today we are off to a 4th birthday party.  I'll show you the present next week as her mum is rather sneaky at times!!  I ended up making the present as I lost the one I bought before Christmas!  I told you I need to be more organised.  Really I'm very good at hiding things.  I think I need a box to put presents in that's easy to get to.

And that's about it from me.  My auction is now up to $190 which is fabulous.  There is still time to donate.  The auctions finish on Monday night our time.  So for you lovelies on the other side of the world that would be Monday morning I think.  We are ahead of you so I think that makes sense? 

I know that lots of you aren't connected to the Queensland Floods and won't participate, and that's just fine.  Australia and New Zealand are sister countries and we help each other out when necessary.  They aren't a poor country but lots of people didn't have flood insurance so need an enormous amount of help.  I just can't imagine having waters up to our roof. 

Wholesome Living

I bought myself a new book yesterday; A Home Companion by NZ author Wendyl Nissen.  Thought it might kick start reading for me once again.  It's a fabulous read for those of us who want to return to a simpler life, growing your own veggies, preserving food, using natural products, you know like our Nanas did.  But this isn't one of those heavy reads, no this is a very light, humorous read.  It's got some awesome recipes for home made products as well.  I'm now keen to make my own moisturiser, washing powder, cleaning paste and bug sprays.

I needed my Mum's food processor for my first try-out recipe.  Mum's are great for lending equipment.  Oh and could you please get some cream for me too?

One container of cream, a dash of salt, pour it all in and turn it on for a few minutes.

Stop when it forms a thick mass.  It actually looks just like butter when it's ready.  Scrape all the butter out and form it into a ball in your hands.  Yes it's a bit yuck but it seems to stay in the right place.

Squeeze out all the water gently under running water.  Pop it in a container and enjoy spread on fresh home made bread.

It doesn't make a huge amount for a 500ml container of cream but it's not bad.  And it's all 100% natural!  Of course if you happen to have a banker in the family like we do, well you'll get asked how much it cost and is it really worth doing?  Well of course it is!!  It's not about the money, it's about it being better for us and it's so much fun to make.  It only took about 3mins to make.  Mind you, I haven't cleaned any of the greasy equipment yet!

And what did the family make of the taste?  Well No.3 said it tasted much nicer and hubby said he wouldn't have known it was different if I hadn't said anything.  No complaints at all.  Sweet success.

Check out how big my darling little pumpkin has grown since I last showed you!!  I'm sure you can see her growing.  I have plenty more growing as well.  Some on the fence too which is a little concerning.

And my tomato plants are so full of green tomatoes that I'm sure they will all be ready on the same day.  I'm going to make jars of tomatoes for the winter casseroles, pastas and the like. 

 And do you want to see my finished compost bin?

It's just perfect!  The front panels come out nice and easily.  A lid might be in order next.  Not sure what it will be made from but I'm sure it will have all the bells and whistles.  It's very neat and tidy looking, and to think, one day it will be full of rot. 

A Little Jamaica

I'm off out tonight.  Yes it is a rare event actually.  I'm going to my stitch evening with friends and I'll be taking along my pillow swap cover to work on.  How lovely it will be to catch up with everyone, I hope they all bring something to work on as I do like to see what others are making.

So today I whipped up a tray of rum balls to take with me.  Would you like a very quick, simple recipe that only uses one bowl?  Well follow No.4 and me then...

First you will need 100 grams of softened butter or margarine spread in our case.   Yes these can be dairy and gluten free if you like!  Cream the butter in a large bowl.

 Add 2 cups of icing sugar, or confectioners sugar if you speak that language.

3 Tablespoons of cocoa.  Why is there always a little ginger kitten in the photos whenever No.4 is helping?!!  At least he's had a bath this time.

Add 3/4 cups of coconut.  Are we feeling ever so slightly tropical yet?  Can you feel that warmth on your face?

1/2 cup of sultanas, raisins or mixed fruit.

And now we add the little bit of Jamaica!!  No it's too early to have a swig I'm afraid, well OK, if the kids really are driving you up the wall we'll allow it.  If this isn't your flavour add whatever you jolly well like, it doesn't matter at all.

Grab a little ballerina and let her mix away to her heart's content.  An apron might be a good idea.  Whoops too late!

I'm hoping my little one isn't sent home from kindy this afternoon intoxicated!! She insisted on licking the beater! I only let her have one but I'm sure she was sneaking licks from the bowl. Oh gosh, my breath might smell too! Imagine what they will be thinking?

Anyway getting back to the recipe, roll the mixture into balls and throw them into small bowls of coconut, chocolate sprinkles or cocoa to coat them.  Or all three like we did.  The small one was rather keen to take the chocolate sprinkles bowl funnily enough.  Pop them in the fridge to set and serve them in a dinky little dish.  Sorry no photos of this stage yet.  Too little time and not enough patience either.

This recipe is fabulous to make at Christmas time.  Make a couple of batches, pop a pile into a cellophane bag, tie with festive ribbon and voila... you have a sweet little gift for a friend.  Great for a teachers gift too.  Just don't eat too many of them yourself!!!

Juicy Lemons

What a fabulous weekend I've had.  The weather was just perfect.  Warm and inviting.  What better thing to do than get outside in the garden.  I found some yummy things to do inside on my breaks too.  Lemon curd is a favourite with our girls.  Of course the homemade variety wins every time for flavour. 

My two bags of lemons have been reduced to three lemons.  On Saturday I made a batch of lemon curd and then lemon cordial.  It was so much fun I repeated it all on Sunday.  What easy recipes they both are. 

The girls all had turns rolling them around the bench to make them more juicy and then squeezing them. 

 

I'll give you the recipes if you like as they are so simple.  For the lemon cordial you need:

Juice and zest of 3 lemons

1 1/2 cups of sugar

3 cups boiling water

Place all in a large bowl and stir until sugar has dissolved.  Strain when cool and bottle.  

To drink, use one part cordial to two parts water.   

Lemon Curd:

100g butter

2 teaspoons lemon zest

100ml lemon juice

175g castor sugar

3 eggs - beaten lightly

Combine all but the eggs in a pan.  Heat while stirring until the sugar has dissolved.  Remove from heat and add the beaten eggs stirring constantly.  Return to low heat until thickened slightly.  This stage doesn't take long at all.  Pour in two jars and refrigerate. 

And this is where my lemon tree is going to go, up there.  Of course hubby is going to be busy trying to pull those bushes out first.  I think there will be room for a manderin tree too.  The girls can't eat enough of those.

I have added some stepping stones to this garden.  It was getting a bit tricky to get to the weeds at the back.  Now it's just perfect and ready for my spring planting. 

I found the planter boxes got too hot and dry last summer so this time around I will plant flowers and herbs in them.  Geraniums, Nasturiums, Salvias are sounding colourful.  I'll be growing loads of herbs and flowers around the garden, when I have my fruit trees in, to attract the bees.   

I've found room for several trees; an apple, pear, plum and of course the

lemon and mandarin. I'll have to get double or triple grafted apple and pear trees for pollination.  I really don't have room for two apple trees and two pear trees.  Does anyone have any of these and can tell me if they do well?  Otherwise I'll probably just get two different apple trees if it means more fruit.

It's all been rather exciting in the garden.  I've not done a bit of sewing at all in weeks.  But I must do some soon as I've promised the school that I will teach sewing for senior electives.  It sounds rather exciting really.  I have to get my projects organised for them soon.  Nice and simple ones as they probably won't know how to sew at all.

Now I'd better be off.  No.4 and I are going to Spotlight to see what's on special.  I quite fancy some sushi for lunch too!  Hope you had a lovely weekend too.

Pumpkin and Orange Soup

Well it looks like Autumn outside our house.  But it sure feels like Winter out there today.  We have a lovely big ball of sunshine beaming down on us so inside we are cosy and warm.  The perfect morning to put on a pot of soup.

Would you like a new soup recipe?  My mother made this for me a few weeks ago and I've just got around to making some myself.  It sounds quite weird because it has orange zest in it, but believe me, it's delicious!

Right now, you need a crock pot if you have one, or a large pot if you don't.  I love the ease of cooking in my crock pot but don't use it nearly as often as I should.  Probably because I tend to put off thinking about dinner until five. 

Cut up, or grate if you are keen, one big piece of pumpkin.  Mine is one of those grey skin ones, but any will do.  I've cut my pieces into thin slices.

Add 2 large carrots, or four smaller ones

One large kumera

2 stalks celery

tin crushed tomatoes

1 packet of onion soup mix

600mls water

2 tsps basil (didn't have any of this)

salt and pepper

zest of half an orange

For those of you not familiar with the vegetable kumera, it's a New Zealand veggie often called a sweet potato.  It's hard like a carrot, sweet tasting and lovely roasted.  There isn't really a substitute, but you could add something like a swede or parsnip I guess.  Now I 'm wondering if you have those either!  Oh well, like all soups you just add what you like.

Put it all into slow cooker on low for the day or high for shorter time. Whizz it up for a thick soup, or leave as is.  I will probably leave mine as it is as I quite like chunky soups.  My kumera probably should have been cut up smaller, but I'm not prepared to take it all out and re cut it.  I have better things to do.

It sure looks good in there.  I'm hoping by lunch time it will be ready to eat.  I have the three school girls coming home at 1pm for parent/teacher interviews.  Ours aren't until 5 and 5.30pm so we will have the whole afternoon to do something nice.  I think haircuts are on the menu, for me as well as the girls.  I can't wait to loose some of my length.

Well now my hands are freezing cold as there isn't any sun in this room.  Must go and thaw out then I can get on with those jolly Grannies once again.  Happy days!

Next time I'll have some new doilies and mats to show and tell about.

74 Little Morsels

Would you like to come over and bake chocolate chip cookies with No.4 and me?  I'm sure you'll have a whole load of fun and you can sample as you go.

Here is a copy of the recipe for you to keep.  It's probably a family recipe that's a huge secret, but never mind, we'll just keep it between us.  The only difference to how I made it, was I didn't use the custard powder as No.2 can't eat things with cornflower in them.  They still work out fine.  Please excuse the dreadfully messy writing!!  My girls write much neater than I ever did.

Right now, lets turn the oven on to 150.  Mmmm I wonder if this is about right?  Seems the previous owners liked deep cleaning.

Now who's got their new apron on?  Yep I sure have.  I wear it pretty much constantly these days.  I've not been out it in yet, but there was a close call on Saturday night.  Just hopping out to the after hours pharmacy and hubby enquired with a grin if I was planning on wearing my apron too!  Actually I'm amazed he mentioned it.   

OK ladies, lets get creaming...

Mmmm honey, something isn't quite right here.  It's a bit dry and crumbly.

Oh my gosh, the eggs!!!  It says mix well after each egg.  Oh well I'm sure it will be just fine.  It's not like I'm going to be eating them anyway.  Baking really isn't my thing.  The big girls are going to be speachless when they discover what I've been up to this morning.

And last, but certainly not least, the chocolate chips.  Just look at the way she's caressing them.  Sniffing them too.  Such a food junky this one.  They are not safe with her around.

We don't want to miss any now do we?  Must we really lick the bench?!!Honestly the amount of sampling was quite a joke.  Fingers in the sugar, then licking the spoon of baking powder, that was a funny reaction!

Now we're looking good. The best thing about this recipe is the lack of dishes afterwards.  One bowl, beaters and a few spoons to wash up. (Or leave in the sink!)

My little helper was on fork squashing.  She was fired in the end.  Couldn't stop herself from squashing the dough right into the tray. 

But somehow they all came out fine and smelling divine.  We made 74.  The more the merrier when you have four mouths to feed.  Well that should read five really, hubby quite likes to eat biscuits as well.  I'm hoping they last at least one week. 

Happy Baking and apron wearing!