Hey I can make my own dishwasher soap!

I was asked in one of my couponing classes if I knew how to make dish washer soap.  I didn't, but I'd look into it.  Guess what!  I have all the ingredients in my pantry, thanks to my laundry soap recipe.  It is free of harsh chemicals.

Difficulty: Easy                 Costs: $0.75 for 40 loads/1T .02 per load or 20  loads/2T .04 per load

Ingredients:

1 C Washing soda

1 C Borax

Vinegar (as a rinsing agent)

Mix Borax and Washing soda in a jar. Washing soda is similar to baking soda but better suited for cutting through grease and grime.

Break apart any clumps in the mixture as you mix it. Screw the lid tightly on the jar during storage.

Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of the homemade dish soap in the soap cup of your dishwasher. Run the dishwasher as usual.

If desired, place vinegar in the rinse agent dispenser. Vinegar cuts through water spots and is particularly useful when washing glass ware.

 

Knock you socks off sourdough bread

Holy Moly!  Have you checked out the prices for Sourdough bread lately?  Here in my little town it's a whopping $4.69! for 1 loaf.  I could drive to Trader Joe's (at least 30 miles one way) & get it somewhere in the range of $2.99.  But, gas is now going down to $3.81 a gallon YIPPEE!  So I, yet again, am trying to find a cheaper version that I'll like.  I THINK I FOUND IT.

Rustic Sourdough Bread

Difficulty: Med/Med High                                             Costs:$2.50 for 2 loaves

Time: 2 1/2 hours ( 2 Hours to let the dough rest)

Ingredients:
1 C "fed" sourdough starter
1 1/2 C Luke warm water
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 T Sugar (I used 2, it was really sour)
2 tsp Instant yeast
5 C Flour

Combine all ingredients until a smooth soft dough.  I add a few cups of flour at a time.

Place in a greased bowl, cover, & let rise until doubled 90 minutes.

Divide dough in half & shape into 2 oval loaves.  This is the 2nd time I've made this & I used 2 bread pans so the dough is taller.  Place in a lightly greased pan.  Cover & let rise till puffy 60 minutes.

Slash the tops & bake in preheated over @ 425 degrees for 30 minutes, keep an eye out about 25 minutes, so the tops don't brown too much.  Cool on rack.

Enjoy!  Remember to put the remainder of the bread in the refrigerator, it doesn't have preservatives.

Don't throw out that bread!

I think this is the easiest tip I have for you guys.  KEEP THOSE BREAD CRUSTS!  I can remember my mom saying that to me.  So I've incorporated that saying into my life.  I take hard day old bread or the ends of the sourdough & "repurpose" them into tasty breading for my chicken, fish, or crumbs I add to my meatloaf.

Difficulty: If can use a knife, I can make this                             Cost: Nothing

Time: 5 minutes

Cut up stale bread.  If still a bit soft, toss it in the toaster or oven to dry it out.  Place it in the food processor and obliterate it.   That's it.  Add spices when you are making the meal.  The above picture was 1 large loaf from the store & a bunch of end pieces from the sliced bread that I've had in my freezer.  I'll keep it in the refrigerator or in my pantry.

Homemade Granola Bars! Martha Stewart eat you heart out!

Remember back in January, when all those killer deals on Oatmeal were happening?  Well, I stocked up.  I think I got at least 5 tubs of oatmeal & probably paid at most $0.75 a box; most I got for free.  I stocked up with the good intention of making my children warm, stomach filling, quality breakfast before they start they're day.  Yes, I was able to get them to eat it for a while then the excitement wore off, so now with the mornings getting warmer, oatmeal is not part of our daily breakfast.  I needed to find a way to use the oatmeal.  I came across this recipe . . . .

GRANOLA BARS!

I made both blueberry & chocolate.  I think I'll pick up some of those chocolate Easter bunnies (now at 75% off) & chopped them up and use them in this recipe instead of using chocolate chips.  THRIFTY TIP!

Difficulty: Can't cook ~ No problem         Cost: $1.50 for 12
Time: 30 Minutes

Chewy granola bars

4 C rolled oats
1 C brown sugar
1/4 C honey (I used 1/2 C)
1 C melted marg/butter (I used 1/2 C)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t vanilla

Mix oats & sugar.  Add melted marg & other ingredients.  Press into ungreased pan, about 1/2 inc deep.  Bake @ 300 for 20 (I did 30 min) or until golden brown.  Cool for a few minutes & cut into bars.

BTW, I've already eaten 2 bars & they have been done for only 2 hours, so watch out they're addictive!

Wish me luck.

Wish me luck.  I am doing a couponing class today.  I haven't spoke to a group in YEARS, like when I was in college.  I know they're there to save money & I know how to save money, but all those eyes on me. UGH.  Just pray I don't pass out!

Cheap cereal at Safeway

For those people who don't know, I'm an avid couponer.  While the most I'll pay for a box of cereal is about .50, I made it over to Safeway to get some cereal at a whopping .94 each one trip & .79 another trip.  BUT, the caveat was FREE milk.  Taking in account the free milk, I paid .29 a box & .14 a box.  At Safeway, they're running a promo buy 3 GM cereals get a catalina for free milk, but in order to get Safeway's price you have to buy 4.  It was well worth the extra box of cereal.  Now, if I can only get a deal on cheese I'd be set.

You too can make fabric softener at home!

I have been couponing for a while now & I have a few bottle of fabric softener that I got SUPER  SUPER CHEAP or FREE, but I do want to try this out.  If you can get the conditioner for free or cheap, it's worth a try.

Difficulty: I could do it in my sleep                                  Cost: Free to $1.00
Time: 2 Minutes

Ingredients:
6 C Hot water
3 C White Vinegar
2 C Sauve Conditioner or whatever you have laying around

Mix conditioner & water well until dissolved.  Mix in vinegar.  Put in a used, clean dispenser (like the old fabric softener bottle)

WHAT?!? You make your own laundry soap? Why yes, I do!

I got this recipe from my wonderful MoPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group.  When I heard about it, I thought they were CRAZY!  Why would anyone make laundry soap when you can go to the store & buy it?  Fast forward a few years, I've become one of those crazy ladies.  This is so cheap & easy.  Yes, you do see my laundry soap in a Cool Whip container, remember people the name of the blog is The Thrifty Housewife!  Not pretty, but who cares!  The liquid version I can fill up an entire laundry bucket from Costco, for next to nothing!

 

Difficulty: Easy peasy                                    Cost: about $1.50

Time: Less than 10 minutes

Ingredients for Dry Laundry Soap:

1 Bar Fels Natha Soap or Ivory

3/4 C WASHING Soda (not Baking soda)

3/4 C Borax

5-10 drops of essential oil for fragrance (if desired, I don't but you might)

Cut soap bar into 3 pieces & grate up in blender or food processor.  Add washing soda & blend again.  Add Borax & blend again.  Use 1 T for normal laundry or more for you dirtier laundry.  Makes 40T.

Ingredients for Liquid Laundry Soap:

4 C Hot water

1 Bar Fels Natha Soap or Ivory

1 C WASHING Soda (not Baking soda)

1/2 C Borax

10-15 drops of essential oil for fragrance per 2 gallons (if desired, I don't but you might)

Grate bar of soap & add to saucepan with water.  Stir continually over med-low heat until melted.

Fill 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full with hot tap water.  Add melted soap, washing soda, & Borax.  Stir well until dissolved.  Fill to top with hot tap water.  Let cool overnight.  Makes 10 gallons.

Fill a used, clean laundry dispenser with 1/2 soap & 1/2 water.  Shake before each use.  Use 5/8 C, I just reuse the scooper from the Costco container.

Homemade Bagels! OH MY!

This is my first bagel recipe I've ever tried.  I always thought bagels came from the store.  I think I will never buy store made bagels again .  These are so delicious & I know what my kids are eating!

Difficulty: Easy                                    Cost: About $1.50 for 8 large bagels
Time: 1 hour 30 min (Really only 30 minutes of labor)

Ingredients:

1 tsp. yeast

1 1/4 cups warm milk (I use powdered milk to save $)

1/4 cup softened butter

2 Tbl. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 egg yolk.

appox 3 3/4 cups flour (I use 3 1/2)

Dissolve 1 tsp in 1 1/4 cups WARM milk.  Add 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 Tbl sugar, 1 tsp salt and 1 egg yolk.  Mix well.

Stir in enough flour to make a soft yet firm dough (approx. 3 3/4 cups).  Knead 10 min.  For those, who like me are learning, use the dough attachment on your mixer & add flour slowly (like a cup at a time & mix)

Add desired flavors.  If you prefer any cheese on top, set some aside & place some on top after the water bath.

Place in a greased bowl, (I just use the same bowl I mixed in).  Cover and let rise for 1 hour.  

Punch dough down and shape into a large ball.  I cut my dough into 8 sections.  This recipe says it makes 12 if you'd like smaller bagels.

Take each section and form a ball, poke a hole in the center and stretch.  Make sure your whole is LARGE to start with!

Let the bagels sit for 10 minutes. 

Before you boil them, flatten them.

Drop in boiling water and remove when they float to the top (or about 15 seconds).

Place on a greased cookie sheet  and bake at 400' for 13-18 minutes.  Remove when they are brown on the bottom and slightly golden on top.