Farmgirls In The Kitchen: Making Homemade Lip Balms...

We Made Yogurt!

1 1/2 Gallon Milk

2-3 Tbsp. plain yogurt (starter)

1 8-10 Qt. Stockpot

1 4-5 Qt. Pot with Lid

Spoon

Dial Thermometer with clip

Heating Pad (optional)

Sterilize equipment.

Fill larger pot with water and begin bringing to a boil. Add milk to smaller pot and carefully place into larger pot adjusting height of water keeping milk and water the same. Clip your thermometer to the rim of the pot.

Bring milk to 185 degrees. If you have no thermometer.... this is the temperature the milk will begin to froth as in a latte.

While waiting for milk to warm you can fill your sink with water and ice to speed up cool down. When temperature reaches 185 degrees remove from heat and place pot in cold water.

Cool to 110 degrees. This is the temperature at which yogurt cultures reproduce themselves. (Be sure ice water level is the same as the milk level stirring occasionally)

Pitch your yogurt simply means to add... which comes from the brewing world. You pitch yogurt to make more yogurt!

Pour 2 - 3 Tablespoons of your starter yogurt (Dannon is a good one) if this is your first batch. You could also purchase a dried yogurt starter if you so choose. After that you will always save a portion of your yogurt as your starter for the next batch.

Stir gently, put the lid on and cover with warm towels. Set in a warm place undisturbed (heating pad works great) for 7 hours.

Set heating pad to medium and place on cutting board. You could also try on top of your refrigerator... or even in a small styrofoam ice chest.

Place in refrigerator until set and cold!

Drying Calendula : Pick blossoms in the afternoon when blossoms are dried and newly opened. If you don't have a dehydrator blossoms can be dried on cookie sheet in a warm oven at 200 degrees until crisp. Remove petals from stem and place in a clean glass jar.

Calendula Infused Oil: Place one cup of blossoms in a quart jar covering with olive or jojoba oil. Place in brown bag and put on windowsill in sunshine for two weeks shaking several times a day.

Strain the blossoms reserving the oil. Refill the jar with more dried blossoms adding more oil if needed to cover. Place jar back in bag and back on windowsill for two more weeks shaking several times a day.

Strain into a dark glass jar. Stir in 800 IU Vitamen E or 2 400 capsules (poked with a pin and squeezed into mixture). This enhances it's keeping qualities.

Add essential oils to scent if desired. Store in dark cool place.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Making Homemade Lip Balms...

Calendula/Shea Butter Lip Balm

Melt together: 1 Tbsp. shea butter, 3 Tbsp. calendula infused oil, 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. melted beeswax

Add: 10-15 drops essential oil of your choice
2 drops Vitaman E as a preservative
Note: See the August 2011 issue of Mary Jane's Cluck

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Gretchen's A to Z Bread

Makes 2 loaves

Mix together in a large mixing bowl:

3 eggs, 1⁄2 cup applesauce, 1⁄2 cup oil, 1 to 1 1⁄2 cup sugar (the original recipe calls for two cups; I have used 1 c sugar, or 1 c brown sugar, or 3⁄4 cup honey)

Add to bowl and mix in:

1⁄2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 3 tsp cinnamon, 3 tsp vanilla

Add in:

3 cups flour, 1 cup nuts (optional), and 2 cups A to Z (I have used chopped apples, mashed bananas, shredded carrots, pumpkin, mashed persimmons, and zucchini – you can use all of one or mix them)

Bake in two prepared loaf pans at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes, until done.

You can check out Gretchen's OTHER delicious Zucchinni recipes as, she so well put, life was giving her zucchini.....Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, Zucchini Pasta, Zucchini Walnut Cake, Zucchini Pickles, etc. on her blog at Pappasfam.blogspot.com

Homemade Granola

An old friend taught me how to make this many years ago...

Toast in 350 degree oven stirring every 5 minutes for 15 minutes...

18 cups thick cut oatmeal

Combine & add to oatmeal after the 15 minutes...

2 cups non-fat powdered milk

2 cups wheat germ

2 cups toasted shredded coconut

2 cups toasted coarsely chopped nuts

pecans, walnuts and/or almonds

Heat and stir only until blended....

2 cups oil (I use olive)

2 cups honey

1 Tablespoon vanilla

Add to oatmeal mixture and stir until well coated

Again toast at 350 degrees stirring every 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add dried fruits of your choice!

Makes 2 Gallons..... I usually freeze one for later!

4 1/2 Tablespoons Calendula Infused Oil

2 Tablespoons grated Beeswax

800 IUs of Vitamen E or 2 400 capsules

Melt oil and beeswax in a heatproof container (I use a tuna can) over boiling water until melted stirring with a popsicle stick or chopstick. Remove from heat and carefully pour into shallow widemouth jar avoiding getting it on the sides of the jar as it will not be as pretty when it cools. Remove from heat adding vitamen E. If you use capsules poke a hole in one end and squeeze oil into mixture and stir. Makes 1/4 cup.

Black Bean, Corn & Zucchini Enchiladas

1 tsp. olive oil

2 cups diced zuchinni

1 10 oz. can corn - I use Trader Joes Frozen Roasted Corn

15 oz. can drained and rinsed black beans

1 small can sliced olives

1-2 diced green onions

3 cups green enchilada sauce or 1 large can

8 whole wheat tortillas

2 cups cheddar or jack cheese (or both)

Heat oil and saute zuchinni and corn for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in beans.

Spread 1 cup sauce in 13 x 9 sprayed pan.

Spoon approximately 1/2 cup zuchinni mixture, 2 tsp. cheese o each tortilla rolling up and placing in pan.

Top with remaining cheese, green onions and olives.

Pour on remaining sauce.

Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Wild @ Heart Farmgirl's Homemade Lip Balms...

I begin by covering my work surface area with parchment paper. You can also use wax paper but because my countertops are white it is hard for me to see where the paper began and ended.

My Primitive Utensils:

Empty olive & tuna cans/stainless steel measuring cups/small glass pyrex measuring cup

Popsicle stick for stirring

Gloves - pans can be slippery & hot

Small spatula for scrapping filler tray if used

Lip Balm tubs or tubes

Lip balm tube filler tray thechemistrystore.com

Using the olive & tuna cans as a small double broiler, gently melt finely chopped beeswax...

In another set of cans (pyrex is preferred for mixing balm) gently melt oils, butters and beeswax mixing together until thoroughly combined. Remove from heat and add essential oils and vitamin E mixing thoroughly.

Immediately pour into lip balm tubes or tubs. If using tray

you can scrap off the overflow of lip balm as it hardens and remelt.

Note: mountainroseherbs.com is my all time favorite place to purchase butters, essential oils and supplies. I LOVE THEM...

They have incredible high quality products, they love and honor the earth, AND they have awesome tutorials for making your own herbal products.

Ingredients:

1 spice cake mix

1 cup rolled oats

4 apples, peeled, cored & sliced thin

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup sugar

1/ tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. allspice

1 egg

2/3 cup melted butter

Combine cake mix & oats, cutting in melted butter and mix until crumbly. Save 1 1/2 cups for topping. Add the egg to the cake mixture and mix well. Press the mix into the bottom of a well oiled Dutch oven. Mix the apples, raisins, sugar, cinnamon and allspice together, spreading over cake. Sprinkle reserved topping on top. Bake with 17 to 22 coals or (425 degrees) with a 1 (bottom) to 3 (top) ratio for 30 - 35 minutes. Serves 8 - 10 people