Today is a basic day. I made a gallon of laundry liquid, next comes stock, then soup, and bread. This is because I was out of all of them. I'll also take another try at mayo from aqua faba, the last try not working so well.
The laundry stuff lasts ages, needing about half a cup per load, so at least 32 loads, which explains why I can't find the post about the last time I made it. It still seems to be a surprise when it runs out though.
Here's a screenshot from September, which might in fact be when I last made it, for people who fancy trying their hand.
Quarter bar (one ounce) castile soap, grated and melted in one cup water on the stove, quarter cup each of washing soda and borax, stirred in the container half filled with water. Then add the melted soap solution, fill up with hot, not boiling, water, stir and stir. Leave 24 hours to cure, shake, use. I shake it every time because the contents can settle.
Done. Cheap. Very little shopping involved.
Oatmeal I got this week from Misfits will get into the oatmeal-whole wheat bread I am about to commit.
There's a bag of peeled carrots and a cooked sweet potato in the freezer, plus stock makings. By end of day it will be soup.
And maybe there will be tuna salad if the mayo works out. Aqua faba is a vegan egg substitute. I'm not vegan, (clearly, tuna?) but I like trying substitutes. Definitely for eggs which can only get more pricey. Especially since today's bank alert tells me the plumber cashed his $$$$ check.
On to cheerier things. I heard last night that an online friend on another platform saw yesterday's outdoor picture I'd posted there and her mood improved from seeing it.
She'd been very down that morning, worried about her SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid and subsidized housing. Old lady who worked all her life until felled by leukemia, now hanging in at home.
She has a lot to worry about and I was so moved that I'd unknowingly given her just a moment of feeling better. She's unsinkable, but even she needs a cheerful note now and then. So there's that.
Hamish Macbeth continues and I think I'm near the end of the ebooks, oh dear. I may have to start writing more of them.
Happy day everyone, and if you're up for cutting way back on buying
A word of encouragement there!
I'm glad you brightened her day! We are debating the cost and purchase here today. Will purchasing one show an improvement to consumer spending? We know we are "no spending" on Feb 28. But if we wait, will tariffs make it unaffordable. Grrrrr
ReplyDeleteIt's a puzzle, yes. Let us know how it goes.
DeleteLove this post. I have been using aquafaba as well. I am lucky to get eggs from my SIL, she has chickens. I'm baking bread today too and you have a good idea with the oatmeal. Think I will do that as well. I too am worried about medicare and what will happen. I don't think it will be good. It seems no one can stop him.
ReplyDeleteAdding a cup of oatmeal to seven cups whole wheat makes a lovely crisp but not tough crust. I added in cumin seeds to the dough, too.
DeleteCurse all in power who put fear in the hearts of innocent people just trying to live their lives.
ReplyDeleteYes. I feel very protective of that friend. She survived Jim Crow once, now she's looking at it again.
DeleteYou have been very busy cooking and making. It all sounds so good.
ReplyDeleteCathy
It was. I was a bit tired by afternoon but worth it.
DeleteI'd not heard of Castille soap but just because I haven't heard of it, doesn't mean anything, and it is available here.
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to be very pure and I get the unscented.
DeleteWe use a lot of rolled oats but primarily to make our breakfast hot cereal. RC cooks it in our rice cooker and adds raisins, dried cranberries and sometimes coconut. He freezes part of it (our rice cooker is a large one) and the rest goes in the fridge until he heats it up for breakfast. Never tried using it in bread so will have to plant that idea to see if he acts on it. Don't know how well it would react to sourdough.
ReplyDeleteTried making laundry soap many years ago and didn't care for it. Might have to use your recipe and try it again. Wonder how well it works with hand washing because that's primarily what we do in order to save $$ on the public machines. The only things we wash in the machines now is pretty much only the sheets and towels and even those we hang to dry so we don't have to pay for use of the dryers.
If you use it for hand washing you'll need gloves. Better not expose your skin to borax and washing soda. If you try it, let us know how it works.
DeleteWe have to be careful what we use for laundry because the RC breaks out in the 'itchies' so I don't think I will try it. We've found one that seems to work for him and we're afraid to try anything else. Sadly we're going to have to if we want to buy Canadian.
DeleteI remember the post about the washing detergent makings
ReplyDeleteIt seems like it was years ago.
I’m so happy you out a smile on a beautiful souls face. We can all do with smiling at even the little things these days
I was very happy to hear it.
DeleteWhat a making day! So glad your photo gave a sweet moment to your friend. In the midst of all that's going on, it's so important to look for the bits of joy.
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
Yes, it was great for me, too, feeling very isolated just now.
DeleteDefinitely looking to cut back/no buy. I made a big pot of lentil carrot soup last weekend and I was happy to use up lentils and have lots of protein all ready in the freezer. I've been using oat flour -- ground from store brand oatmeal -- for baking with an added banana for my own version of banana bread.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so good. I love basic foods like bread and soup in the house. I grind oatmeal into flour, too.
DeleteShame on all those in government who make your neighbor and anyone else have to worry about making ends meet.
ReplyDeleteI wish they could be shamed.
DeleteNot neighbor, I know. Argh!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I knew what you meant.
DeleteYou seem to be as self-sufficient as you can be in modern society.
ReplyDeleteI like to be, as far as I can anyway, given my advanced decrepitude!
DeleteThe laundry detergent is a great idea. So much of it is scented these days, which I can’t tolerate.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly why I make it. I need to know what's in it.
DeleteThere are millions of people who got scared when they cut off those assistance programs for a couple of days. I am one of them, too. They still want to eliminate them. So nice you cheered her up. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, they're still at it.
Delete