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  • HOME
    • My Story
    • Contact Me
  • BLOG
  • WE LOVE
  • RECIPES
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Chocolate
    • Dinner
    • Gluten Free
    • Granola
    • Make Ahead Meals
    • Mexican Favorites
    • Sugar Free
  • RESOURCES
    • Canning
    • Dehydrating
    • Frugal Living
    • Gardening
    • Meal Planning
    • Old Fashion Living
    • Raising Chickens
    • Small Business Dir. >
      • Submit Your Business
    • PROJECTS >
      • Crafts & Gifts
      • Holidays >
        • Christmas
        • Halloween
        • Mother's Day
        • Valentine's Day
      • Photography
    • Winter Sowing

Blog

Drawing Salve w/ Activated Charcoal

12/18/2023

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This activated charcoal drawing salve is known to help draw out splinters, boils, and insect bites.
Place small amount on the offending spot, then cover with a bandage for at least 12 hours. Repeat as needed. Please test on a small area of your skin to make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.
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INGREDIENTS
1 cup castor oil (or any organic oil) - I used 1/2 castor oil and 1/2 my infused lemon balm oil.
1/4 cup beeswax
2 tbsp activated charcoal
2 tbsp bentonite clay powder
essential oils of your choice

DIRECTIONS
  1. In a small double boiler, first melt the beeswax, then once that has completely melted add the castor oil, activated charcoal, and bentonite clay. DO NOT use any metal spoons or mixing bowls that will come in contact with the mixture.
  2. Once mixture is all melted and combined, remove from heat and add your essential oils and stir to combine. For the one I just made - I used the following Organic Essential Oils: 10 drops Sage, 10 drops Clove, and 5 drops Tangerine. If you don't have animals in the house I would recommend using Tea Tree and Frankincense.
  3. Pour in amber (or dark colored) jars. I used 2 oz amber colored jars and it filled 4 of them.

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It will look a little chunky at first, but the more it melts, the smoother it gets.
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When pouring into jars, the mixture might start to set up, don't worry, just put the container you are using back in the boiling water until it melts all the way again. Do not have the heat on.
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Starting My Pressure Canning Journey

2/24/2023

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Recently I bought the Instant Pot Max - I have been saving for it for quite some time. I am over-the-moon excited about it! About a week or so ago I decided to give it it's maiden-voyage and can some pinto beans. You can only can 4 pints at a time. But you know what? That's ok with me! Especially since I am just starting out on this pressure canning journey. 1/4 cup of rinsed (but dry) pinto beans, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, and water. 75 mins of pressure canning, and then natural release which takes about an hour. All in all I was ecstatic with the results! So right before bed I decided "Hey, I can put in 4 more pints!" And that's exactly what I did. Then a couple of days later I tried navy beans - which I did 3/4 cup of rinsed (but dry) beans, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, and water. 75 mins of pressure canning and Voila! 4 more pints of beans for the pantry shelves.

To say I am hooked is an understatement. Yesterday I decided I was going to take the leap and do 'raw pack pork'. That was a little more labor intensive since it was a bone-in pork shoulder that I got on sale and there was a lot of fat to remove. I stuffed those little pint jars as much as I could (leaving an inch head space), wiped the rims with vinegar and put on the lids. Set the timer and away they went. About an hour later I came up from the basement (I was working at the time) and noticed my IP Max flashing ALT at me - I was devastated! Did it get to temp? When did it error out? Aaagghh!!

I gathered my wits and researched what to do. Once I reset the canner I found that you can can cooked meat at the same temp & time. So that's what I did. I double checked everything and started over with the pint jars I had in their already. This time I came upstairs every half hour to check it's progress to make sure I didn't ALT again. And thankfully it went through it's entire process and natural released at the end. All four pints sealed and were ready for their resting time.

To say pressure canning is stressful is truthful. Yeah, I know I am "cheating" but that's what I can handle at this moment in life and I am ok with that. I will just keep pluggin along 4 pints at a time. :)
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Trader Joe's Vegan Cream Cheese

12/28/2020

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Recently I was told that I am allergic to dairy. Finding this out at 45 is, for me, not the easiest change to make. I LOVE cheese, ice cream, large glasses of milk, yogurt, cream cheese on my bagels, etc. So this weekend I did a little bit of shopping to see what is out there for Dairy Free "cheeses".

First up is this Vegan Cream Cheese by Trader Joe's. I paid $2.99 for this 8 oz. container.
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Spreadability: Nice and creamy
Smell: Doesn't have much of a smell
Ingredients: Filtered Water, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Soy Protein Concentrate, Corn Starch, Sea Salt, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavors, Organic Locust Bean Gum, Xanthum Gum, Guar Gum, Vegan Culture.
Flavor: Very mild and somewhat neutral.
Bagel Test: It spread on nicely and melted slightly on my freshly toasted bagel. When I bit into the bagel I didn't have any strong reactions to the flavor or texture. Overall it paired well with my plain, toasted bagel.
Husband Test: Liked it a lot, actually. He doesn't like anything coconut - so that will tell you that is doesn't have a coconut'y flavor.
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I give it 4 out of 5 Cheeses.
Would like to see a little more boldness and tang in the flavor.

FINE PRINT: This is not a paid review of any kind. I am documenting my own opinions of products that I paid for out of my own pocket.
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Harvesting & Roasting Sunflower Seeds

10/22/2019

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