{itchy bug bite blend}

I love my essential oils. I use them every day and especially during mosquito season! This works great for helping soothe itchy bug bites! I can't wait to discover more natural remedies to add to our medicine cabinet.

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

{Slow Cooker Applesauce & Apple Butter}

Slow Cooker Applesauce:

Peel and Core enough apples to fill your crockpot.

Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, or until your apple sauce is the texture you want.

Stirring every so often.

 

Slow Cooker Apple Butter:

courtesy of littlehouseonthevalley.com

Peel and Core enough apples to fill your crock pot.

In a separate bowl combine, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1tblsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp. ground cloves, 1/4 tsp. salt

Pour sugar mixture over apples and cook on low for 2 hours then stir.

Cook for 8 more hours (I slept while the crockpot did all the work)

Stir in 2tsp. lemon juice and 1tblsp. vanilla

Taste - add more sugar if needed.

Cook 1 to 2 more hours with the lid off to allow for thickening.

 

 

{Freezing Corn}

We just love fresh corn around here but can never eat it all before it goes to waste. I really enjoy preserving our food for later either by freezing it or canning it. This way we can enjoy it all year long.

 

How we freeze corn on the cob:

Prep:

-Bring a pot of water to a boil

-Fill kitchen sink with ice water

-Remove Husks from the corn

Blanch:

-Place cobs in boiling water

-Bring the water back to a boil

-Blanch for 4-7 minutes

-Remove cobs from boiling water and place directly into ice water

-Allow cobs to cool for 4-7 minutes

Store:

-Label and fill storage bags

-Store for up to 12 months

 

Enjoy!

{Laundry Soap}

I had been wanting to make laundry soap for a while now and just hadn't gotten around to making it. After chatting with my sister and hearing how well she liked her soap I figured I would give it a try. After looking around I came across a recipe that sounded easy enough....

 

1box super washing soda ($3.88)

1box Borax ($3.97)

1box (4lbs) baking soda ($2.04)

3bars Fels-Naptha finely graded ($2.91)

1.3 lbs Oxy-Clean ($1.78)

Purex crystals (28oz) - optional ($4.76)
 

I had the Oxy-Clean and baking soda on hand that I had purchased at Sam's Club. Buying it in bulk helped out on the price a bit. Everything else I had to purchase. I do not use the Purex crystals in my mix but do sprinkle a bit in each load (I love this stuff!)

I have been using this soap for a few months now and love it!

We grated our Fels-Naptha bars with a cheese grater but have read some people use a food processor. It's fairly easy to make, just grade your soap and mix all the ingredients together. We have found it easier to put all the ingredients in a large garbage bag and mix it that way and then put it in your container of choice.

 

Total: $14.58 w/out Purex for roughly 300 loads

& the Best Part you only need to use 2 tablespoons per load!!

 

Happy Monday!!