tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43602634459153820042024-03-08T08:21:33.285-08:00Totally HomemadeA compilation of ideas, recipes and projects that cut out the middle man, save the environment and bring us back to our pioneer roots!Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-32906192809235968112009-12-21T17:09:00.000-08:002009-12-21T17:18:02.867-08:00Homemade Playdough1 cup flour<br />1/2 cup salt<br />1 tsp cream of tartar<br />2 tsp of oil<br />1 cup of water<br />10 drops of food coloring<br /><br />Mix up flour salt and cream of tartar in a sauce pan. Make a well in the center. Add oil to the well. Add food coloring to the water. While you pour the water into the well, begin mixing vigorously. Cook stirring constantly over medium low heat until its so hard to stir that you have to knead it. Set it aside to cool. Knead mixture adding flour as needed to keep it from being sticky until its smooth and lump free.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-44557067515826580052009-11-05T20:56:00.001-08:002009-11-05T20:57:23.844-08:00After Bath Body Oil1 part vitamin E oil<br />1 part jojoba oil<br />a few drops of tea tree oil<br /><br />combine and apply after showering.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-59499659774596001252009-08-07T08:26:00.001-07:002009-12-22T11:49:51.782-08:00Use Less Stuff All-Purpose Cleaner<i>Source: "Better Basics for the Home"<br />by Anne Berthold-Bond (Three Rivers Press, 1999)</i><br /><br />• 1/8 cup baking soda (or Epsom salts)<br />• 1/4 cup borax<br />• 2 TBSP liquid soap<br />• 16 cups hot water<br />• 1/2 tsp antiseptic essential oil (lavender is a favorite, others include sweet orange, lemongrass, rose, clove, eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, birch, lavender or tea tree -- all are natural antiseptic oils).<br /><br />Combine the baking soda, borax, soap and essential oil in a spray bottle. Pour in the hot water, mixing well to dissolve the minerals, screw on the lid tightly and shake well. Label the bottle clearly, and as with all cleaning products (even the ones you make yourself), keep out of reach of children.<br /><br /><i>Note: Borax is available in the laundry aisle of most supermarkets. For liquid soap, use something mild like Castille soap, Ivory or Ecover. If you use a concentrated product like Sal Suds, use less than called for in the recipe.</i>Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-63842715762888058712008-12-16T16:11:00.000-08:002008-12-16T21:25:23.241-08:00Rosie's Parmesan Dog Biscuits5.5 cups of unbleached flour<br />3 cups whole wheat flour<br />2 cups corn meal<br />1 tbsp yeast<br />3.5 cups chicken broth<br />1.5 cups grated parmesan ends<br />2 tsp dried ground rosemary<br /><br />Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Roll dough on floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut biscuits into desired shapes. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for one hour, or until they are toasty brown. Let biscuits cool completely. Store and or serve!<br /><br />Makes approximately 180 small (1.5 inch star shaped) biscuits.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-68655755143162504182008-12-02T15:07:00.000-08:002008-12-02T15:12:07.674-08:00Natural Flea Powder1 lb baking soda<br />5 drops of lavender essential oil<br />5 drops of geranium essential oil<br /><br />1. Empty baking soda into a mixing bowl and add oil. Stir to blend.<br />2. Work treated baking soda into your pet's fur, beginning at the neck (where fleas live) and working toward the tail. Keep the powder away from your pets face.<br />3. Leave the powder on your pet for 10 minutes then comb/brush it out.<br /><br />This makes on treatment for a medium sized dogWendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-38860594993747078422008-12-02T14:40:00.001-08:002008-12-02T15:01:10.197-08:00Herbes de Provence1 Tablespoon dried basil<br />1 Tablespoon dried thyme<br />1 Tablespoon marjoram<br />1 Tablespoon dried summer savory<br />1 Tablespoon rosemary<br />1 Tablespoon oregano<br />1 Tablespoon fennel<br /><br />You can also add:<br />lavender buds<br />dried sageWendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-74543126899479775882008-12-02T12:13:00.000-08:002008-12-02T12:37:10.246-08:00Flea Repellant Bandanna1 square of fabric that fits your dog's neck<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7Q0GE?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G7Q0GE">Geranium Essential Oil</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001G7Q0GE" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ET7L80?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001ET7L80">Lavender Essential Oil</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001ET7L80" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br /><br />Sprinkle a few drops of essential oil on the bandanna and tie around the dogs neck. Its that simple. <br /><br />You can also mix the essential oils together and rub between your dogs shoulder blades just like you would advantage or frontline. Just make sure they can't lick it off because the essential oils aren't good for them to ingest.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-42750657889707188582008-12-02T11:49:00.000-08:002008-12-02T15:02:10.236-08:00All Natural Flea SprayIngredients:<br />2 lemons sliced as thinly as possible<br />6 sprigs of fresh rosemary<br />One quart of water<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7Q0GE?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G7Q0GE">Geranium Essential Oil</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001G7Q0GE" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br /><br />Place lemons and fresh rosemary sprigs in a bowl and pour very hot (near boiling) water over them. Let the mixture steep overnight. Add a few drops of geranium essential oil. Wrap lemons in a cloth (cheese cloth maybe) and squeeze the oil out of them into the water. Strain and pour into a spray bottle. Keep refrigerated.<br /><br />Spray this on your dog, but be sure to avoid their eyes! You can smooth it on the face by hand.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-7781519133758566822008-12-02T11:11:00.000-08:002008-12-02T12:08:47.636-08:00Homemade Insecticideinspired by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762109041?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0762109041">Homemade: How-to Make Hundreds of Everyday Products Fast, Fresh, and More Naturally</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0762109041" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />This works well for flying insects like aphids and white flies. Apply it every few days for a week to control hatching insect eggs. It's great for houseplants because you don't have to worry about toxic fumes! Still, you don't want the kids to drink it so make sure its up high and out of reach.<br /><br />10 garlic cloves (unpeeled)<br />1 tablespoon vegetable oil<br />1 teaspoon dish washing soap (not dishwasher detergent)<br />3 cups of hot water<br /><br />Puree garlic cloves skin and all with oil in a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006ONQOM?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0006ONQOM">Blender</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0006ONQOM" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />. Strain mixture into something you can shake (like a one quart jar). Add water and dish soap. Shake gently to mix.<br /><br />Pour into a spray bottle (I've been re-using old cleaning supply spray bottles that I rinse thoroughly) and spray on the infested plants.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-16934451387634075972008-12-02T10:41:00.001-08:002008-12-02T12:08:26.677-08:00Babyfood PeasBabyfood is really very easy to make. Basically, you just take the food you want to serve the baby (make sure it's baby safe - no honey, maple syrup, nuts, shell fish, etc.) cook it really well and then put it in the blender with the right amount of water to make it smooth. The big benefit is in the taste - fresh veggies are way more tasty than the ones you get in the jar so babies will actually eat them!<br /><br />One Package of Frozen Organic Peas (not petite)<br />Two <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R5L8CW?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000R5L8CW">Covered Ice Cube Trays</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000R5L8CW" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006ONQOM?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0006ONQOM">Blender</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0006ONQOM" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br /><br /><br />1. Cook the peas in water. You can microwave them in a glass bowl with a little water for a few minutes, or put them on the stove in a pan and cook them in water - either way works fine.<br /><br />2. Put all of the peas in a blender - reserve the water to add as needed to get the right consistency.<br /><br />3. Add a little of the water you used to cook the peas with - maybe a third of a cup.<br /><br />4. Blend on high and add water as necessary to get the right consistency. If you add too much water and feel that the peas are too watery, add some rice cereal or some oatmeal. Its good with the peas too.<br /><br />5. Once the peas are really really smooth (you don't want lumps), spoon them into the ice cube trays. Place the trays in the freezer overnight. <br /><br />Voila! You have preserved babyfood peas. Store the babyfood cubes in a freezer bag and be sure to lable them! They look a lot like the greenbeans you'll be making next.<br /><br />To serve, just drop three or so in a bowl and heat them in the microwave for 40 seconds or in a pan on the stove over low heat.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-25629136243724561012008-12-01T15:42:00.000-08:002008-12-02T10:39:27.166-08:00Oatmeal Mix (not instant, but quick enough)6 cups quick-cooking oats<br />1 cup dried cranberries<br />1/2 cup light brown sugar (not packed)<br />1 teaspoon salt<br /><br />Mix all of the ingredients together well. You can either divide the mixture into 12 servings of 1/2 cup each and store them in small zip lock baggies, or you can store the whole mixture in a big container and scoop out 1/2 cup per serving of oatmeal that you want to make.<br /><br />To Make the oateal (for one serving):<br /><br />1. Heat 1/2 cup water or milk to boiling (use 1/2 cup water for each serving you are making)<br />2. Add 1/2 cup oatmeal mix to boiling water and reduce heat to simmer<br />3. Stir mixture well<br />4. Let simmer, stirring occasionally until the oatmeal is thickened to the desired consistency.<br /><br />Put it in a bowl, pour cold milk over it and serve!<br /><br />Note: you can add more water or milk if you want your oatmeal to be more gooey. I generally start with the water, and add a little milk at the end to cook it for a few more minutes to soften things up a little more. I also like to add a couple drops of vanilla.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-6367574635273755272008-11-25T22:01:00.000-08:002008-12-02T10:39:53.383-08:00Quick Drying HerbsMicrowave ovens really DO dry herbs quickly! Be careful not to overcook them however because they can catch on fire. Here are the steps:<br /><br />1. Wash and dry herbs well. Be sure they are dry otherwise you will end up with steamed herbs, not dried herbs.<br /><br />2. Place about 5 herb branches on a paper towel and cover with a second paper towel (or fold the paper towel over).<br /><br />3. Microwave on high for 2 minutes (this was the perfect amount of time for a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CFH9S?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0000CFH9S">Sharp 1200 Watt Microwave Oven</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0000CFH9S" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />). Check the herbs, if they are brittle, you're done! If not, microwave 30 seconds at a time until they are.<br /><br />4. Crumble the leaves and store in an airtight container. Now I have something to do with those baby food jars I've been saving!Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-29854964204341019112008-11-25T21:28:00.000-08:002008-12-02T10:40:13.477-08:00Poultry Seasoning - without the expensive labelFrom <a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/10595">Chow </a><br /><br />2 tablespoons rubbed sage<br />1 tablespoon dried thyme<br />1 tablespoon dried marjoram<br />1 tablespoon dried savory<br />1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper<br />Pinch of cloves<br /><br />Combine 2 tablespoons rubbed sage, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried marjoram, 1 tablespoon dried savory, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, and a pinch of cloves.<br /><br />You can of course adjust this to your taste. I didn't put any cloves in for example (I just forgot) and it turned out great.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-2487859543012367202008-11-25T12:16:00.000-08:002008-12-02T10:20:20.663-08:00All Natural Homemade Fabric Softenerinspired by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762109041?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0762109041">Homemade: How-to Make Hundreds of Everyday Products Fast, Fresh, and More Naturally</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0762109041" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />I was really worried that this recipe would make my laundry smell like vinegar and it didn't AT ALL. Everything comes out smelling fresh and its all REALLY soft and static free. Go figure!<br /><br />1/4 cup baking soda<br />1/2 cup white vinegar<br /><br />1. If you are using a top loading washer, fill the washing machine with water and add baking soda then clothing. If you are using a front loading washer sprinkle the baking soda in the washer drum and then add clothing.<br /><br />2. Use detergent as you normally would<br /><br />3. Add white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser (you might need less vinegar if you have a front loading washer - I just fill the dispenser to the "max" line in my dispenser). Or you can add the vinegar to the final rinse cycle if you don't have a fabric softener dispenser.Wendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360263445915382004.post-21647174093718065312008-11-25T12:03:00.000-08:002009-04-02T22:19:52.913-07:00Homemade Window and Glass Cleanerinspired by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762109041?ie=UTF8&tag=totalhomem05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0762109041">Homemade: How-to Make Hundreds of Everyday Products Fast, Fresh, and More Naturally</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=totalhomem05-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0762109041" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />1 cup white vinegar<br />1/2 cup rubbing alcohol<br />7 cups water<br />1 lemon or lime juice (a citrus scent, but nothing too sugary or oily)<br />1 gallon container (an old vinegar bottle works well)<br />1 spray bottle <br /><br />1. Mix all ingredients in the gallon bottle. Shake well and transfer some to your spray bottle. Be sure to lable everything properly so that you know what it is!<br />2. Spray on window<br />3. Dry with crumpled news paper or paper towelsWendy, Kate and Mariahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06497121295515279405noreply@blogger.com0