Liquid Dishwasher Soap

I am going to try this recipe for liquid dishwashing soap from naturemoms.com.
I have tried MANY recipes for natural dishwashing soap, and not had good results.
Hope that this one works!

Natural Dishwasher Soap Recipe

1/2 CUP LIQUID CASTILLE SOAP *do NOT use regular liquid soap!*
1/2 CUP WATER
1 TEASPOON FRESH LEMON JUICE
3 DROPS OF TEA TREE EXTRACT
1/2 CUP WHITE VINEGAR

COMBINE WATER AND LIQUID CASTILLE SOAP. STIR.
ADD LEMON JUICE, TEA TREE EXTRACT AND VINEGAR.
STIR UNTIL EVENLY BLENDED.
STORE IN A SQUIRT TOP BOTTLE.
USE 2 TABLESPOONS PER DISHWASHER LOAD.

CAUTION! DO NOT USE REGULAR SOAP IN PLACE OF CASTILLE, UNLESS IT IS LOW SUDSING SOAP..... OTHERWISE, YOUR DISHWASHER WILL OVERFLOW!

I'll let you know!

Cakes?

Okay, two cakes in the making, brain is starting to work...

Cake 1-
Jac wants an Alvin and the Chipmunks birthday (his birthday is Christmas Eve) and the movie comes out on the 23rd. So I reserved a party room at a theater.

Not sure on the cake... Movie cake or Alvin and the Chipmunks cake?

Cake 2-
I'm debating making this one...
A cake for 75 girls (my goddaughter's friend's sweet 16 party)
Three tiered Tim Burton style "Alice in Wonderland" cake
Could be fun, but for Jan. 2nd

Christmas Tree Food!

This is the recipe I use to "feed" my Christmas tree.
I got it online somewhere a long time ago but modified it to not use bleach.

How to Make Your Christmas Tree Fire Resistant
(and keep it living til 3 King's Day!)

Ingredients:
• 2 cups of Karo Syrup
• 2 ounces of vinegar
• 2 pinches of Epson Salt
• ½ teaspoon of Borax (some recipes also call for 1 teaspoon of chelated iron which you can get at a pharmacy or garden store- I've never used it though.)
• 2 ground up aspirins
• Hot Water

Procedure:
1. With a saw, make a fresh cut at the base on the tree trunk. Cut off at least an inch and try to make a flat or level cut.
2. Immediately after cutting the base off the tree, mix the fireproofing ingredients listed above. Fill a 2-gallon bucket with hot water to within 1 inch of the top and add the ingredients. Stir thoroughly.
3. Stand the trunk of the tree in this solution and leave for 24 hours.
4. Every day, without exception, fill up the well of the tree-stand with the fireproofing solution.

How this procedure works:
The Karo Syrup provides the sugar necessary to allow the base of the tree to take up water. The tree may take up to 1/5 gallons of water over a two-week period. Boron in the Borax allows the tree to move the water and sugar out to every branch and needle in the tree. Magnesium compounds in the Epson Salt and Iron from the Chelated Iron provide essential components for the production of chlorophyll that will keep the tree green. The vinegar keeps mold from forming in your solution. This fireproofing procedure will also help prevent the needles from dropping and will increase the natural fragrance of the tree.

They say you can try to light a branch once it's sat for 24 hrs and it won't catch on fire! I love that it does keep my tree nice and green until I want to take it down after New Year's.

Change in the form of chocolate?

Recipes and Ruts-

Seems we all seem to get in them, don't we?

I know I have my favorite recipe for something and don't vary from it- mainly where baking is concerned. (Honestly I'm not one to actually follow a recipe otherwise- such the rebel, eh?)

For example:

Brownies

I adore chocolate, and brownies... can you get any better than one straight out of the oven with a cool glass of milk? (Chocolate chip cookies come in a close second in my book.) The ultimate comfort food.

I use two recipes for brownies normally. The "Fudge Brownie" recipe that makes a small glass square pan (so I won't eat more) from BHG's "New Cook Book" from 1989,

Or

The old time Betty Crocker's "Cooky Book" recipe from the 1963 edition (mom uses this one.)

It makes a 9x13" glass pan so I only do that one when I know the kids will devour most of them before I do.

Well...

Last night I had a brownie craving and made the BC recipe in (gasp) my Pampered Chef jelly roll stone pan! And... I iced them! The kids were in shock this morning when I revealed them.

"But these don't look like brownies, mom."

"These are different."

Sometimes change is good I think. The pan is a third gone already!

What's in Your....?

Thought that it would be fun to see what staples you keep in your fridge, freezer, pantry, spice cabinet, baking cabinet...

Today I'll start with pantry and see what items you always keep in stock.

(Things you think are wonderful and can't go without for long, etc.)

So....

Here is my PANTRY:

(I'm giving you a condensed list of course, but these are some things we love)

Nutella (Jac has to have his "chocolate sandwiches" for snacks daily)

Local Honey

Molasses for making yummy stuff

Muir Glen canned tomatoes and tomato sauce

(I like fresh but these are pretty durn good for canned)

Coconut Milk

(for arroz con guandules or curries)

Brown Rice

(I use DHC Japanese Germinated Brown Rice because I like the texture

but sometimes have Arkansas Brown Rice if I can find it local.)

White Rice

(I like a local brand, Par Excellence Premium Long Grain White Rice)

Herdez Salsa Verde

(This is awesome on anything, and for a quick taco/burrito/salad try it mixed with a broccoli slaw mix and lime juice and tomatoes!)

Black beans,

lentil beans of several varieties,

barley,

wheat germ

So what's in yours?