My Basic Soap Recipe

I made soap for the return thanks favours.

The soap ideally needs 6 weeks to cure and harden so it will be just right when the baby is born.

Here is my recipe:

I used 2000g beef tallow for moisturising quality and bar hardness

1000g olive oil for creaminess and lather

250g coconut oil to give cleaning but not enough to be too stripping

1235g distilled water

443g lye

48g of blended essential oil (lavender, lime and bergamot).

After removing them from the mould and cutting into bars I stamped them with a set of alphabet cookie "stamps" that I purchased from Avon a while ago. You can stamp with rubber stamps too but these cookie stamps being rigid give a great impression.

We then followed the invitation theme through to the the thank you packaging.

Pulling It Together

There is a dozen reasons why I haven't posted recently, most of them boring and some just ugly so instead I give you the "pretty" reasons...

I have been making and creating over the last few weeks and now it is time to pull it all together with some labelling and packaging.

I am having a love affair with these cute self adhesive labels that give a chalkboard effect. 

In my baskets are;

Gardeners' Soaps

Hand made soap

Preserved Peel

Rose Petal Jam/Sauce

Home made Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Beans

Elderflower Cordial

Tub Teas ("Revive","Calming" and "Soothing")

Throw in a ric-rac trimmed teatowel and some colourful tissue paper and your done!

I also include some recipe ideas for using the ingredients too.

And some smaller bags for the great staff I work with.

And the giving is great.

I had a beautiful day at work today with people popping in and sharing the love, lots of smiley faces and a special surprise visit from Pat of Hooks and Books. So lovely to see you and share you exciting plans and news.

xxx

Gardeners Soap

I first made these a couple of years ago and they remain popular gifts. They are basic crocheted string bags that hold a bar of soap and hang from the garden tap. When coming in from the garden just hold the swinging bag under the water and massage it around your grubby hands to remove the worst of the dirt.

I started making my soap batches back in September so they would have about 6 weeks of curing time to harden. As you know I make a tallow/oil soap. Some batches are scented with essential oils which are very popular but I also make large quantities of plain soap for our home use and I have quite a few people with sensitive skin whom I supply. 

The off cuts and odd shapes are perfect for bagging into these gardeners soap bags. They can be crocheted from common string and I favour an all purpose natural string/twine from the hardware store. I use a 5mm hook and start with about 7chain slip stitched into a round. I then make as many trebles (US dc)  in the middle that will fit and again slip stitch the last to the first. Next round chain 3 and continue making tr (US dc) into the tops of the previous stitches but increasing slightly by making 2 tr into the tops of some stitches so that I have increased by about 8tr. Slip stitch the round again and continue in this basic manner. You may or may not need to increase any more stitches as you go. Basically you are just making a very rough tube shape. When you have it to the length you want bind it off and make a very long chained tie that you simply weave in and out of the last row of trebles to create a gathering pull tie.

You can very easily attach a tag and there you go. If you are not a soap maker of course you can just pop in an ordinary bar of commercially made soap but I would recommend the cheap as chips tallowate soap usually marketted as laundry soap bars. They are harder and last longer.

Another gift done

Other gifts for gardeners include:

A load of manure

or

Pea straw or Bags of cut Lucerne

or

Seed packets are always appreciated by the seed savers and a great project to do with the kids

or 

just go to Cafe Garden here for some free templates to print and make with tons of different designs.

Home made Christmas Planning

A hand made Christmas does not happen overnight and even though it sounds early and you hate the way retailers start hanging all the trappings, start making a list of possible presents you would like to achieve this year along with any decorating activities and baking. This way you will be able to time plan it.

I only mention this now because there are some things that really do need quite a few weeks to cure.

You really need to make soap now as it needs 6-8 weeks to cure and harden.

There are plenty of tutorials and there is even mention on this blog too (type "soap" in the search box to the side)

Soap is always appreciated by male and female alike and if you make a very basic soap later I'll remind you about crocheting a string bag and turning it into a great gift for gardeners.

If you are planning to give Christmas cakes, those can be made now too and it's a good time to get yours under way as well, that way you can be "feeding" it weekly with a drizzle of scotch or brandy etc for a lovely moist flavoursome cake.

Trouble is you have to resist cutting them!

And the only reason I suggest doing your lemon peel now is because it is plentiful and in peak season. The peel not only comes in handy for your Christmas baking but it makes wonderful gifts in little bags with a ribbon or pretty little jars. You've heard me go on a couple of times about lemon peel before so I'll leave you to check out that post too.

One last thing that I am preparing now for Christmas is home made vanilla essence. I have bought some vanilla beans in bulk at just 0.50 each and a bottle of vodka. I am going soak/macerate the beans in the alcohol and then decant into little bottle and label for gifts this year. As this will take some weeks it's a good time to get this started this month.

You can check out a post here

Anatomy Of A Tragic Soap Batch

It was apparent two days after pour that things were not going well.

We had a sudden cold snap in the middle of our summer...

right when I was making soap.

I wrapped it just fine in towels and blankets but in my heart of hearts, I knew I should have put it in a cosier spot. In the back of my mind a little voice was saying "it might loose heat too quickly".

I still haven't found a soap calculator that I am happy with since the demise of Snowdrift Farm but I can't totally blame the calc. I think the problem was really because of the failure to maintain the heat in the soap.

The seepage on the top did not bode well.....

I decided to cut it up and chop it fine in the processor and re-batch it in the slow cooker.

The further I cut into the block, the uglier the truth and layers of separated ingredients are revealed. Gloves are a must at this stage as I am dealing with raw lye solution seeping out of the brown looking layer there. 

After chopping finely I also included all the liquid seepage too.

I'm in two minds about the success of the re-batch.

I'll let them dry out and cure some more.

I was so looking forward to working with creamy soft lard but it has left me feeling a bit flat so far.

After conferring with another soap making buddy of mine, she and I have concurred on a number of points.

Please, please share your thoughts;

on soap making with lard as opposed to other fats,

any suggestion you have for a great on line soap calculator,

on re-batching....

Using The Whole Animal

A little while ago we purchased a whole pig from a farmer we know in a town not far from here. They were not heritage breed pigs, just plain old Landrace but well bred and ethically raised in a paddock with somewhere to wander and snuffle. 

There are many cuts from the meat and they are all frozen into portions in the freezer.

As I did last year, I made Fromage de Tete (see above) from the head and trotters and you can read about that here. It keeps for up to a month in the fridge and is delicious for cut lunches and carries a robust chutney or pickle very well.

The left over liquor from the simmer makes a wonderful pork jelly with creamy rendered fat on the top.

This is the leftovers to give you an idea how it looks stored in the fridge.

Pork jelly is the solidified rich stock that naturally occurs from using the trotters. This is very nutritious and a real treat heated up as a broth or even a couple of tablespoons into a mug with boiling water to fill and stirred to dissolve makes a nourishing drink and is very good for when you are feeling poorly. 

The fat is easily scraped off the top and is spreadable on bread if you are so inclined or may be used in place of cooking/frying oil.

( Read an interview here with Sally Fallon author of "Nourishing Traditions" about animal fat. Even better, by the book)

I wish I was a big fan of offal but I'm working towards it but the dogs like a lot of the stuff I don't. I do favour the cheap cuts too though and you can read how to enjoy ham hocks here.

The extra fat is cut and rendered for soap and we have talked about that here before.

The advantages of getting to know producers in your area and being able to buy a whole beast and honouring that beast by using the whole product. I am supporting local producers who raise ethically AND living frugally. It is a fallacy to say that eating organic is always the most expensive route. If you live in a city you may have to look to a small town for a producer or approach a butcher for a better deal for a whole beast, fat and all! 

Living Better in October

We talked about 

Christmas gifts

Making decorated candles

Making home made paper hanging ornaments

which led to memories about 

saving foil milk bottle lids for decorating

and stories of painting pop corn for stringing.

(Milk bottle top bells image from here)

We talked about making simple salves from Calendula in the garden

soaps,

herbal tea bags for bath soaks

We talked about 

simple Christmas traditions, each family member taking a turn to stir the pudding for luck and the hidden objects in a plum pud.

We talked about the overwhelming amount of "stuff"

Georgia's family give the children coupons for fun things to do together. It's about spending time with children rather than buying more "stuff". They have coupons for going to the movies or an afternoon at the swimming pool or a trip to the beach.

We talked about broad beans;

The difference between planting in autumn or in spring,

their tendency to get rust, a fungal disease, as the weather warms up, 

About not composting affected plants.

About not trying to squeeze that last 6 pods from the crop and knowing when it is time to harvest and call it quits, ready for the next crop.

We talked about artisan pasta making and Brad is going to share his recipe for beetroot pasta and roasted capsicum pasta.

Gemma shared her recipe for Beet Leaf Ravioli. 

A great way to use the leaves from beetroot, both thrifty and nutritious, not to mention delicious.

Filling for Ravioli:

500g Beet Leaves (stalks Removed)

Maldon Sea Salt

1 small red onion

100g unsalted butter

4 tblsp marjoram leaves

1 garlic clove (finely chopped)

150g Ricotta (lightly broken up with fork)

100g Parmesan

1/2 nutmeg (freshly grated) or just use nutmeg spice!

Gently fry onion in butter until onion begins to brown. Add marjoram and garlic and stir for 1 minute then add beet leaves. Cook together briefly, season then allow to cool. Stir in Parmesan and ricotta. Add nutmeg and season to taste.

Make fresh pasta to your favourite recipe (or buy fresh lasagna sheets) Cut pasta into squares. Add small amount of filling to each square. Top with another square and pinch around edges to seal (ensuring you have removed as much air as possible - to stop them exploding in the water!).

Add to boiling water. Allow them to float to the surface but ensure they have had enough cooking time so that filling will be heated through.

We talked about poultry;

laying hens,

different breeds,

free range turkeys,

quail and their housing,

incubation,

chicken raising

We talked about growing up in small communities

outback towns, the syncronisity of life and the bravery of those a little different who swim against the current of life's stream.

We talked about Killiecrankie Farm's Open Day

We talked about Mount Gnomon products and Langdale Farm pork (also at the Killiecrankie open day)

we talked about Eliza's great video and that ham ordering had begun.

We talked and talked and reminisced and talked some more.

I probably have forgotten to mention lots more.

The most important thing is that everyone shares and brings knowledge of some sort with them and we all leave a bit richer for the experience.

Thank you everyone for a lovely time

xxx

The Coming Growers Market

Spring to me means that market time is not far away.

From the first Saturday in October till the end of daylight savings you'll find me at 

the Growers Market 

in the gardens of ut si cafe 

from 8-12

 Local produce, fresh picked and grown without chemicals.

I have been making "Tub Teas" from last seasons dried herbs of calendula, chamomile, rosemary, rose petals and nettles.

A simple salve using comfrey, calendula, chamomile and red clover.

Preserved lemon peel. Some for Christmas, some for the market.

Another 3kg of soap for these...

And of course,

New Soaps Inspired by The Middle East

The shop has been updated with new soaps

(Check the "Jubilee Jumble" button just under the header at the top of the page)

They are a range inspired by The exotic Middle East; floral waters, hot days, the Grand Bizarre in Istanbul and Tea in the Medina. 

The first bar (seen above) is "Orange Blossom" a very subtle scent of orange blossom like on summer twilights when the fragrance is elusive and drifting. The colour comes from dried Calendula petals also good for skin healing. 

Moroccan Mint is enlivening and fresh and well suited for morning showers or to energise after a weary day. It is naturally coloured by crushed Moroccan mint leaves and scented with pure essential oil of Peppermint.

Lastly, "Divine Dervish" is a fresh woody scented soap with the citrus smell of lemongrass and the note of cedar it also contains finely ground corn meal for gentle natural exfoliation.

All the soaps are made from hand rendered tallow for the ultimate in emollient goodness that leaves the skin so soft and smooth and olive oil for luxuriant lather.

As always, due to the way the postage is calculated for multiple purchases, I will simply refund excess postal charges. If you have any queries you can also contact me via email (see profile)

Soap in the Shop

If you are wanting to get organised with orders for presents, this is the week to do it as from now on the mail is really going to be frantic with the extra workload of Christmas.

I have changed the shop items and uploaded soaps for sale.

Check out the tab at the top just under the header labelled "Jubilee Jumble"

If you are unsure of anything or would like more information please email me (on my profile)

Thanks to all those lovely people who purchased last month, especially the packets of sunflowers seeds whose sales support work with youth depression and suicide.

I hope you have got them all planted now ready for those big cheery heads later in summer.

There is still time to order a copy of my 2012 Suburban Jubilee calendar (also found on a tab at the top). I have been really thrilled with the quality of the production and they make wonderful presents for those hard to buy for people. It features snapshots of a suburban life in lovely bold colours.

Recreation Day

It's a holiday today in the north of Tasmania and it is aptly named Recreation Day.

The south has a public holiday in the beginning of the year for Regatta Day and to make it fair the north got Recreation Day and some bright spark opted to have it in the later end of the year where holidays are few and the weather is gorgeous.

So on this day of recreation I watered the garden and attended the chooks, and swapped some eggs for some seeds with Mr Jones across the road.

The table is covered with drying rose petals and another two trays of candied lemon peel.

Plus....

I am delving into the world of re-batching soap.

One of my class attendees had a bit of a fail when her stick blender blew up and she tried to complete the process with hand stirring. Instead of wasting the batch I have brought it home to try to save it.

I chopped all the soap up small and placed it in the slow cooker on low. It melted well but it goes to a state that is more gel than pouring liquid. Even though I thought I had packed them into the moulds, you can see that we have gained air pockets. The soap is much improved but unfortunately the appearance is very rustic.

I harvested some stinging nettle from a farm yesterday and have washed it thoroughly and will use some of the leaf for a new batch of hair rinse. I like the rosemary but I think it is turning my hair darker. I rather like my grey hair and where it as a badge of honour. I have put some on a tray above the hotwater cylinder to dry and I have chopped the roots up into a jar to which I add pure alcohol to make a tincture.

Clearly the seed I have been saving is ready! The doves have come down and are tapping the pods, bursting them open and eating the seeds. I am happy to share but I high-tailed it pretty quick to get the best seed. This is from the Italian/Asian leaf mix we grew all through winter and is a real winner. Even the flowers are good to eat and it provides beautiful fresh salad leaf as a change from the winter root crops.

I have rendered 10kg of sheep fat for soap making and it's not so much the rendering as the cleaning up that is the real chore!

My hands don't know whether they are chapped and tired or smooth and soft!

And next I am going to start on the Broad (Fava) Beans. This is the harvest now and I will have to freeze the excess after I bundle some up for Craig's mother.

And then that's pretty much Recreation Day over!