Homemade Electrolyte Drink (a.k.a. Pedialyte)

Gaeleen says, "Good thing we've been ill, or I wouldn't have thought to submit this recipe! One thing I have figured out is that eight children and two bathrooms is not a good equation when gastroenteritis strikes the home..."

This recipe is from Gaeleen's family doctor.

Ingredients:

1 liter of water
8 oz. orange juice (must be orange for potassium)
2 Tbsp. corn syrup
1/2 tsp. salt

Shake well and use liberally to prevent dehydration.

What a handy recipe! Not only are Pedialyte and its generic forms really expensive, but they also contain high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors. This is a wonderful alternative that is additive-free and inexpensive.

And Gaeleen, we hope your bunch gets to feeling better really soon! 

Submitted by Gaeleen

Made-in-a-Minute Play-Dough

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbsp. cream of Tartar
1 Tbsp. oil
1 cup boiling water, mixed with the food coloring of your choice

Put all dry ingredients in a bowl and add the oil and colored, boiling water. (Mix the boiling water and coloring in a Pyrex bowl before mixing with dry ingredients.) Mix vigorously until well blended. Store in plastic sandwich bags.

Neat Idea: "My nursery school teacher friend who gave us this recipe many years ago also used fruit tea bags mixed with the boiling water to make a lovely scented dough. She often used plum or black currant to give it a gorgeous color."

Submitted by Linda @ Penny-wise

Instant Oatmeal {Part 2}

Here's another make-your-own oatmeal recipe from our friend Gaeleen. She says this one is great for camping {or just for those days when you want something quick and easy}.

Ingredients:
3 cups quick oats or fresh rolled
salt (not necessary, but you can add it if you like)

Put 1/2 cup oats in blender and blend at high speed until powdery. Reserve in a small bowl, then process another 1/2 cup oats. Into each bag, put 1/4 cup unchopped oats, 2 Tbsp. powdered oats and 1/4 tsp salt. Seal and store packets in an airtight container.

To serve: Empty packet in bowl and add 3/4 cups boiling water. Stir and let stand 2 minutes.

Flavor options:

Apples & Cinnamon: To each bag add 1 Tbsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and
2 Tbsp. chopped dried apples.

Cinnamon Spice: To each bag add 1 Tbsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and
1/8 tsp. nutmeg.

Raisins & Brown Sugar: To each bag add 1 Tbsp. brown sugar and 1 Tbsp. raisins

Fruit & Cream: Powdered milk or coffee creamer with dried fruit in the bags.

Submitted by Gaeleen

The Many Uses of Orange Peels

Our family recently purchased a juicer. We have truly enjoyed it and all the health benefits that go along with fresh, raw, untouched juice. It's like milk from the cow...there's really nothing like it.

Obviously, our produce bill has gone up a bit. I decided if juicing was something we were going to do long-term, I was going to utilize every bit of the fruit and veggies, not just the juice. 

For the most part, we're composting the pulp that our juicer spits out. Though I haven't tried it, I would like to add that pulp to our muffins and quick breads for some extra fiber and bulk. 

We made some freshly squeezed orange juice the other day, and it was phenomenal! Then I looked at my cutting board and saw the pile of orange peels. I immediately thought, "I can't throw all that away. Surely there's something I can do with the peels of five oranges that's better than composting."

Turns out, I was right. Orange peels have TONS of uses.

Did you know that you can use an orange peel and a bit of coarse sea salt to scrub coffee rings out of your coffee mugs? You can also run a few orange peels through your garbage disposal to freshen it up. And, you can make your own dried orange peel to use in recipes, which is what I did.

I just used my handy micro-plane grater and went to town. A zester or fine cheese grater would work too, if you don't have a micro-plane grater.

Once you've gotten all the orange peel off you want, leave it out to dry on your counter top for about 24 hours. Then transfer it to a spice jar or airtight bag. Use it in any recipe calling for orange peels.

But I wasn't finished yet. I have used lemon peels with vanilla extract in boiling water for years to give my home a yummy, refreshing smell. So I tried it with orange peels.

Just place several orange peels in a saucepan with about two cups of water. Add a teaspoon or so of pure vanilla. If you have a rosemary or lavender plant, snip off a bit and add it to the water. Bring it all to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer all day to release a wonderful fragrance throughout your home. Be sure to check the water level every half hour and add more water as needed.

Here are a few other uses for orange peel:

• Instead of rosemary and vanilla, use cinnamon and cloves during the fall and winter for the perfect autumn scent.
• Put a piece of orange peel into your brown sugar to keep it soft.
• Use it to scrub your sink and remove that gunk all sinks seem to accumulate over time.
• Scatter orange peels in your garden to keep cats from using it as a litter box.

Do you know any other uses for orange peel? If so, please share them with us!


Written and submitted by Lindsey @ Penny-wise

The Many Uses of Borax

Not only is Borax a great laundry booster, but it is excellent for many other uses in the household.  Here are a few ideas.

1. Toilet Cleaning
Pour some borax into the toilet bowl before going to bed and then clean with a brush in the morning. You will find it an easy task as the Borax loosens the grime overnight.

2.  Economical Scouring Powder 
Mix together
1 Tbsp. Borax
1 Tbsp. Baking soda
1 Tbsp. Salt
This makes an excellent and economical scouring powder for sinks, tubs, tile, and grout. Remember that Borax is non-abrasive, so it is a wonderful cleaning agent.

3. Diapers
Rinse diapers out immediately and begin soaking in a solution of 6 Tbsp. of borax for each bucket of warm water. When you are ready to wash them, use a warm cycle and add a little amount of white vinegar in place of your usual fabric softener – this will help make the diapers soft and absorbent again.

*Don't forget about our laundry soap recipes in LIQUID and POWDER.

*And our make-it-yourself all-purpose cleaner, which uses essential oils and Borax.

Cautions:  Borax is harmful if ingested and so one should avoid using it around food. It can also irritate the skin and lungs, so use with care. Wear gloves when using and do not inhale the dust.  As with all cleaning supplies, keep out of reach of children and pets. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Borax is best used for heavy duty cleaning and is toxic in high doses so please use caution.

DIY: Compost Bin & Rain Barrel

It's almost that time of year...time to start seriously thinking about readying our soil for gardening, time to start planning our beds, time to start preparing for a beautiful summer of growing our own produce! We are planting our first vegetable garden in our backyard this year. My husband has already planned out the raised beds, and all we are waiting on is a nice, less windy weekend to get them built. We have our seed source ready, although we are waiting just a bit longer to order seeds. And we have located an organic farmer in our area who is more than willing to share his secrets and his soil with us. 


One thing we've been stumped on is compost. I had in my mind this dreamy compost pile. I scoured the internet for the kind of compost barrel that has its own platform and handle to easily stir the compost. Well, those unfortunately, cost anywhere from $250-$800! Not in the budget this year!


That's why I was relieved when we received this e-mail from Amanda:


I am an avid gardner and have just "discovered" some inexpensive ways to have the garden I have always wanted.

 

I recently made my own rain barrel and compost bin out of inexpensive trash cans. I have always wanted one of those nice compost bins where you add your materials and out comes beautiful compost, but they are so expensive and I thought I would never have one. While looking at some other gardening products, it struck me that surely I could make a composting bin myself for much less. I found a few videos demonsrating how to make a bin out of a trash can that cost around $20-$30. 

Simply drill some holes for air to circulate on the sides, top, and bottom. That's it! Add your kitchen scraps, old plants, and other materials to compost. Once a week, lay the bin on its side and roll around to turn the pile. In a few weeks you will have compost for your garden at the fraction of the cost of purchasing it or buying a premade compost bin. 

 

The same applies to a rain barrel. Why pay $150 for a rain barrel when for $20-$30 you can make one out of  a trash can? I simply set a trash can on some bricks and inserted a spigot near the bottom to attach a hose to or fill up my watering can. 

 

I hope this can help some others who love gardening but don't have the finances to get the fun stuff to help make gardening easier. 

Amanda, thank you for these useful and penny-wise tips! 

Written by Lindsey @ Penny-wise, Submitted by Amanda

Mouse Repellent

Here's an interesting one for you: make your own mouse repellent.

I know. I kind of raised one eyebrow too. Who makes their own mouse repellent??

Well, you do. If you're looking for even the weirdest ways to save money, here's one of the most unique we've ever offered. Or, if the thought of your two-year-old accidentally ingesting mouse poison freaks you out like it does me, then this is for you. OR, if the thought of a dead mouse in your house (or elsewhere on your property) gives you the willies, then wouldn't you rather REPEL the mice than trap them, poison them, or worse, find one dead? (Cue horror music from the movie, Psycho.)


{Funny side story: I actually called my husband home from work one day and insisted he, .....er..... dispose of a dead mouse I found in our laundry room. True story.}

So, it's pretty simple:

All you need is peppermint oil. Not peppermint fragrance or extract...peppermint essential oil. The good stuff.

Put 5-10 drops in a spray bottle and fill with water. Thoroughly spray the rodent's access and travel points (ie. that mysterious hole in the sheet rock in your garage counts).

That's it.


Phew. That was easy. And I bet it smells pretty good too.

Submitted by Gaeleen. Written by Lindsey @ Penny-wise.

Spider Control

Does the ingredient list on your can of spider spray remind you of a horror movie? Ingredients you can't spell or pronounce, chemicals that could possibly wreak havoc on your mind or body--all included in that can of Raid you've got in your garage. And, if you have a chemical-sensitive or autistic child, forget about pest control of any sort. Those chemicals can cause numerous reactions in their little bodies.


Our friend Gaeleen has come to the rescue again with yet another all-natural pest control option:

Soak 1 package chewing or pipe tobacco in 1 gallon boiling water untilcool or overnight.  Strain into container.  Combine 1 cup tobaccojuice with 1/2 cup lemon dish soap.  Pour in spray bottle.  Spray downcorners and dark places.

No scary ingredients. No harmful chemical smells. Just inexpensive, all-natural spider control.


Submitted by Gaeleen

Flour-less Peanut Butter Cookies

Gem says, "You won't believe how these turn out! So good--you won't miss the flour a bit!"

Ingredients:

1 egg

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup peanut butter

Cream egg and sugar, stir in baking soda, fold in peanut butter.

Divide into 36 balls (OK - here is how I do this, form dough into a log, divide into thirds, divide each third in half, pat out each half into rectangle and cut into six pieces.  You get evenly sized cookies which cook evenly and look nice.)

Place on cookie sheet and press down with a fork. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Submitted by Gem

Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

Well, you asked for it, so here it is! A recipe for homemade POWDERED laundry detergent!

Ingredients:

1 cup grated Fels Naptha soap
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup Borax

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

This recipe can be used in newer high-efficiency washers because it will not make suds. It can also be used in traditional washers.

Use:
1 Tbsp. for small loads
2 Tbsp. for normal loads
3 Tbsp. for large or heavily soiled loads

Submitted by Linda @ Penny-wise

Make Your Own Seed Pots

There is a gadget you can purchase that helps you make plant pots out of newspaper which can be planted in the ground, as they are biodegradable. If you're in a really frugal mood, however, make them yourself. Here is the method I (Linda) use, taught to me by a nurseryman in the United Kingdom; and it works extremely well. It just takes a little practice. You will need a cardboard toilet roll or old jars (baby food jars work well) and newspaper.

Cut an old newspaper down the center crease so you have two halves.

Fold one sheet in half lengthwise and run a ruler down the crease. The fold is important because it will be the top of the pot.

Roll your folded sheet tightly around the tube. Try to be neat and leave about 1 cm of tube exposed at the fold end of the paper so that you can remove it later. Crunch and twist up the end of the paper that hangs off the other end and push it up into the tube. 

Pull the cardboard roll out, and voila! you have a free newspaper seed planter.

You can vary the size of the pot by using various sizes of glass jars and even store bought plant pots. 

Once the pots are complete, fill with soil, plant your seed, and stand on a tray so that you can water your seeds. Don’t forget to label what you planted.

Written by Linda @ Penny-wise

Here's a recommended site from our friend Gail:

Make your own plant pots!

The cost to get started using this site is around $16.00.

Submitted by Gail

Eagle Brand, Anyone?

Eagle Brand and other makers of sweetened condensed milk are mighty proud of their product. One little six-ounce can can cost well over $2.50, depending on the brand. Here, another penny-wise woman gives us her recipe for do-it-yourself sweetened condensed milk.

Ingredients:

1 cup powdered skim milk
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Measure all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Use less sugar if you prefer less sweetness. Use in any recipe calling for sweetened condensed milk. Recipe makes the equivalent of one can.

Submitted by Gail R.

Dishwashing Soap

Ingredients:

1 ounce liquid castile soap unscented

2 cups water

1 tsp. vegetable glycerin

5-10 drops of lavender oil if desired though not necessary

Combine soap and water in a jar. Add glycerin and lavender if using. Stir well. Add a few teaspoons to a sink full of warm water or add to your dish cloth.

For Crystal Clean Glassware:

From time to time, soak your drinking glasses in a solution of vinegar and water, this will make them sparkle.

Clean Ceramic Tiles:

Clean ceramic tiles with ½ cup vinegar to 1 gallon warm water. Keep your tiles clean longer by wiping with a mixture of tea tree oil and water.

Easy, natural, and inexpensive!

Submitted by Linda @ Penny-wise 

Favorite Whole Wheat Bread

This is Heather's favorite whole wheat bread recipe from The Urban Homemaker. Enjoy!

(instructions are given for using a Bosch/large mixer and by hand)

Add 6 cups warm water to your Bosch mixer
Melt coconut oil to make 2/3 cup - add to the mixer
Add 2/3 cup honey
then 3 Tbsp. yeast (I recommend SAF)

Then start grinding. You'll need between 16 and 18 cups of flour, depending on which flours you use and the humidity.  You can also use pre-ground flour from the store.  It's your bread.  Do it how you want!

Add 2 Tbsp. sea salt
1/3 to 1/2 c. vital gluten*

Jog it on "M" for a few seconds to get it slightly mixed, then go to Speed 2 for 6 to 10 minutes.  Kiss your mixer then go read a book while it does all the hard work for you.

At this point you can bake it, but I like to let it rise once, then punch it down, put it in pans and let it rise again.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. This makes 4 to 6 loaves, depending on the size of pans you use.  You can also make rolls, hamburger buns, etc with the dough.

To grind I follow this crazy method: I add in a bunch of white hard wheat (I use a Whisper Mill). Once it's ground I measure 8 cups into the Bosch. Whatever is left over I put in a gallon size baggie to freeze. Then I grind some kamut (I just throw a bunch in). I measure out a few cups into the Bosch and throw the rest in the SAME baggie as the wheat. I grind something else, use some for the bread then put the rest in the SAME baggie as the wheat and kamut. I use this "mystery flour" for making pancakes, muffins, waffles, whatever. Or bread. Sometimes I have no idea what kind of flour is in my baked goods, but I know it's whole grain and I know it's fresh. (If you don't use the flour right away, it should be stored in the fridge or freezer). 

I love to mix and match flours. I regularly use white hard wheat, kamut, spelt, barley, amaranth, millet, flax, brown rice and quinoa for bread. It's a tricky balance since some of those are non-gluten flours. Sometimes you can use them as an "extra", like yesterday I made bread using the normal amount of flour but added a cup of amaranth (not ground into flour) to give it a "crunch". I have found that I can add about 2 cups of non-gluten flour and have the bread turn out just fine.

I grind the quinoa, flax, millet, and amaranth in my Blendtec. They are too small to grind in my Whisper Mill. 

To make this without a Bosch....

First of all, you probably want to halve the recipe unless you have big strong muscles, or a husband who will knead for you, or a bunch of kids you can recruit for cheap labor.

Add the yeast and honey to the water and let sit for a few minutes. When it's all foamy, add the oil and a few cups of flour at a time. Keep stirring and adding flour until you've added it all. Add the salt and gluten with the last of the flour. Feel free to dump the bread onto a floured counter at this point and knead it like crazy (you can use oil, water or flour to keep your hands from getting super sticky). There are many wonderful ways to knead bread, but I just push it around, smack it a few times, pick it up and drop it, let my kids smoosh it, all sorts of things. You just want to keep it moving for about 10 minutes, until it's smooth and shiny with little bubbles near the surface. You can either 'pan' it at this point and bake it, or put it in a large bowl and let it rise for about 30 minutes. Then punch it down, form it into loaves and let it rise again. Bake as directed above.

Here's the recipe without all my commentary.
6 cups warm water
2/3 cup oil (I prefer coconut)
2/3 cup honey
3 Tbsp. yeast
16-18 cups whole wheat flour (or a mixture of flours)
2 Tbsp. sea salt
1/3 to 1/2 cup gluten*

*I have had great success using 3 Tbsp. of lemon juice instead of gluten.  I have also used only 3 Tbsp. of gluten and had the bread turn out just fine.

Written by Heather @ Penny-wise

Rose Vinegar Hair Rinse

We received this interesting and out-of-the-box recipe for a hair rinse (conditioner). It has just two ingredients: vinegar and rose petals.

Enjoy your roses! When they become wilted, remove the petals and place in a glass jar. Cover with distilled vinegar and set the jar in a sunny window for a week. Use about 1/8c. of the liquid mixed with water as a hair rinse. You can make two batches of rinse from one jar of petals.

What a great way to naturally condition your hair!

Submitted by 6boys1girl from the SCM Community Forum.

Cleaning With Essential Oils

Essential oils are very useful in household cleaning. They're all-natural, chemical- and additive-free, and inexpensive. Some essential oils you might consider for use in your home include:

• Lavender: This essential oil is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. One of the safest oils, it has calming and relaxing qualities.
• Lemon: Lemon has similar qualities to lavender and has excellent cleansing properties. Often used in furniture products, lemon oil is a grease cutter. It is invigorating to the senses, rather than calming. When considering which lemon essential oil to purchase, be sure to avoid those containing petroleum distillates.
• Eucalyptus: Also a grease cutter, eucalyptus oil is also great for soap scum and countertops. Like lavender, it is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. Tea tree oil and orange oil are also useful for cutting grease.
• Tea Tree: An excellent antiseptic, this oil can be used for soaking cloth diapers. Use six drops of tea tree oil along with six drops of lavender oil in water. The oil and water should be changed daily.

These essential oils and more can also be used as air purifiers. Simply mix a few drops of the oil of your choice in a spray bottle of water and spritz in the air as necessary. Four to six drops is usually enough; however you should use as much as your personal taste dictates.

Oils to consider for air purifiers are: lemon, thyme, eucalyptus, and/or tea tree oil for germs. Lavender and geranium oils are good for calm and relaxation.

Remember to keep all your mixes away from children, and ALWAYS label your bottles.

Finally, here are two recipes for cleaners we all use everyday:

Disinfecting Spray

2 cups water

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 tsp. tea tree oil

1/4 tsp. lavender oil

Combine in a labeled spray bottle and use wherever you would normally use a disinfecting spray: countertops, sinks, toilet handles and seats, high chairs, trashcans, door knobs and light switches. Shake before use. Test in an inconspicuous area first.

All-Purpose Cleaner

2 Tbsp. Borax

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 cups hot water

Combine in a labeled spray bottle and use for all-purpose cleaning.

IMPORTANT: Pregnant women or anyone with a medical condition should check with a doctor before using essential oils. Used correctly, they are a wonderful addition to the natural home. Essential oils should ALWAYS be diluted in carrier oil or water and SHOULD NOT be applied directly to the skin unless recommended by a qualified practitioner. Always use with caution.

Submitted by Linda @ Penny-wise

Stain Removers

As promised, here are a couple of homemade stain removers. Try them for yourself, and let us know what you think!

Protein Stain Remover (for blood, vomit, sweat stains, milk products, etc.)

28 oz. water
1 1/2 Tbsp. liquid Tide
1 1/2 Tbsp. ammonia (swells fibers)
Shake well

Tannin Stain Remover (grass or dirt, tea, coffee, mustard, tomatos, etc.)

16 oz. water
2 tsp. liquid Tide
16 oz. vinegar
Shake well

Submitted by Gaeleen

Basic Beans

I know, I know. You're probably thinking, "Beans are so easy. Why would anyone need a blog post about cooking beans?"

Well, to be honest, I (Lindsey @ Penny-wise) didn't know how to make beans until just a few months ago. Shock and awe, I know.

They intimidated me. I thought there was something magical to the perfect pot of beans. It was the same feeling I had the first time I made a pot roast--sheer intimidation.

Now that I have conquered my fears (and made a few successful pots of beans), I have to say that cooking beans in the Crock Pot is, in my opinion, the easiest way to go. It takes very little effort, other than remembering to put them on the night before you want to eat them!

I like to sort my beans first, and I usually find at least one rock in every bag. Then I rinse the dirt off.

Then, put your beans in the Crock Pot, cover with water, and allow the beans to soak overnight. Next morning, turn the Crock Pot on and let the beans simmer away all day. Adding about 1 Tbsp. of salt, 1 tsp. of pepper, and 1 1/2 Tbsp. of chili powder before cooking will give your beans great flavor.

They'll be ready by supper time to eat with cornbread and sour cream or to use in any recipe calling for canned beans.

If you have lots of leftovers, divide them into 1 1/2 to 2 cup portions (about the equivalent of a 15 oz. can) and freeze.

And now, if you were at all intimidated by beans before, rest easy. Your Crock Pot will do all the work for you.

Submitted by Jen. Written by Lindsey.

Penny-wise Pest Control

Here's our first gardening post! Although it's winter, this pest killer will come in handy at the beginning of the gardening season in just a few months.

Have aphids, whiteflies, or caterpillars? 

Then here are a couple of sprays you might find helpful:

1. Soak 2 cups chopped rhubarb or tomato leaves in 2 two cups of water overnight. Strain to remove solids. Add 2 more cups of water, transfer to a spray bottle, and spray on plants. **Avoid skin contact.**

          --OR--

    2.  Combine 1 oz. Murphy's Oil Soal with 1 gallon of water. Transfer to a              spray bottle and mist on plants.

Both options are not only less expensive than regular bug sprays, but they're much better for the environment!

Submitted by Gaeleen

Homemade Gatorade

What a great recipe!

Ingredients:

1 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp. lime juice
2/3 cup honey or sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
water

Combine all ingredients in a gallon-size container or jug. An old milk jug will do. Fill with water. Best chilled.

Wow, was that easy or what?

Who knew you didn't have to pay $1.50 for a small bottle of Gatorade? This whole recipe makes a gallon, and the ingredients don't even cost $1.50. It's even better because it's free of artificial colors and flavors!


Submitted by Gaeleen