Hot Chocolate Recipe from Kim

Hot Chocolate Recipe from Kim over at Homestead Acres.

HOT CHOCOLATE ^FEATURED

Written by  Kim Mills

Our Canadian winters are long and cold.  A favorite treat during that time is our homemade hot chocolate.  Nothing taste better after coming in from shoveling the driveway sledding with the kids.  I’ve found this a much taster and cheaper alternative then buying little cans at the store.

This also makes a wonderful gift!  Fill a quart canning jar with the mix.  Add some pretty ribbon around the top and you have a quick and easy gift.  Hot Chocolate
5 cups powdered milk
1 cup non dairy creamer
2 cups sugar
1 cup coco powder
Combine in a bowl and mix all together.
Place 3 TBS in a mug, top with boiling water and enjoy!

Cows and Collards

Did you know that cows LOVE collard greens? :-)

Look at all that beef.... mmmmmmm
:-)

Preparedness Challenge

A fellow blogger (and a person who has blessed me abundantly) over at Homestead Revival has started a Preparedness Challenge. I have decided to take on her challenge as well, and I encourage any of my readers to do the same! It's never a bad thing to be prepared, and if you have ever thought about getting into storing and putting up food in case of emergency, this would be an excellent place to start!

Below is her post:

A Call To Be Prepared

Well, I've held my peace for about as long as I can stand it. Watching the devastation of the earthquake in Japan, followed by a horrific tsunami, and now a nuclear disaster, it's pretty much a no brainer that it would be wise to be prepared.


Those that were closest to the epicenter, tsunami, and reactors have suffered greatly and now the possibility of hypothermia, dehydration, and starvation are very real perils looming in the horizon. My heartfelt prayers goes out to them and I hope that a hand of mercy reaches them in time! 


Preparedness, Definition: refers to the state of being prepared for specific or unpredictable events or situations. Preparedness is an important quality in achieving goals and in avoiding and mitigating negative outcomes. (wikipedia)


Grant it, you can prepare all you want, but sometimes you can still lose all that you've stored. But imagine with me for a minute... what if everyone in Japan had been prepared ahead of time with food and water? How would this scenario been different? Would it have been?


Is it possible that those who did loose everything could be helped by those somewhat locally that still had what they put aside. Yes, the cavalry would still need to come in and lend a hand, but would they have enough to keep them alive until that time if most had some kind of food and water stored? Let's just say that the odds would certainly have been better!

Photo: USA Emergency Supply

The reality is... in our modern, disposable, consumer minded, global society, storing food and supplies is not the norm. Yes, a few cultures may still do this, but I can't think of any off hand (please let me know if you can think of some!). 


Understand that I am not writing this to be judgmental of the Japanese people! I have been duly impressed with how they've conducted themselves in their hour of trial. (Even more impressive when you know that about only one percent are Christian believers!) Sadly, I'm not sure Americans would have been as self controlled if we had been in their shoes. No looting or rioting; no pushing or shoving in lines... 


Update: I've had a reader inquire as to my statement that non-Christians should act so self controlled. Let me clarify... It is certainly possible for non-believers to act in a self-controlled manner. You're seeing proof of it when you watch the Japanese people. Without the Holy Spirit, this is very impressive, because the flesh is powerful indeed. It is to the shame of many Christians that we often do not act in a self controlled manner; but then again, one can be Christian in name only.


Let me get to my point here. I need to be more prepared than I am. There is more I could and should do. How about you? Anyone need a little push to get prepared? Maybe you've talked about it but have done very little? Perhaps you're well on your way and could encourage others to do some prepping?


I'm going to offer a simple call to do one thing each week to get prepared. Every Saturday, I'm going to put up a post to remind everyone of the challenge, but YOU get to pick what you do. To help hold us accountable, you can leave a comment telling what you've done that week or you can write a post and link up. 

Photo: Big Berkey 

Do not feel like you must do something major each week. Even something small, such as buying a first aid kit, adding some water bottles to the pantry, or buying and planting an extra packet of seeds to grow extra food - it all counts and adds up over time! All I ask is that you clearly state what you did that week. For example, "This week, for the Preparedness Challenge, I bought an extra bag of rice from the co-op and stored it in mylar bags in a bucket". Then you can expound on it more if you'd like. 


Simple enough? I'm already shaking in my boots because I know this is really going to push me to be on the ball! I don't go to town but once or twice a week, and often I'm rushed to get things done, but I need this as much as anybody. Good thoughts of storing food doesn't make it happen. Action does. 


So, are you in? We start tomorrow!

Now, she posted that yesterday as you can see by visiting her WONDERFUL blog, so that makes today the first week of the Preparedness Challenge. :-D


For this week's challenge, all you need to do is complete this sentence...

"This week, for the Preparedness Challenge, I ___________."

You can leave a comment below with more details about how you met the Preparedness Challenge in your home. I would love to hear your ideas!

For me...

This week, for the Preparedness Challenge, I purchased a few extra bags of dry rice and beans for putting up. :-)

What did you do?

Flu & Cold Season "FLU BUSTER"

Recipe courtesy of Modest Handmaidens

 

1 cup of each: grated horseradish root; diced & peeled garlic cloves; diced onion; grated ginger root; finely chopped HOT peppers, without seeds(habanero/jalapeno, or similar)

32 oz. organic cider vinegar(organic is best if you can get it)

 

Place all ingredients in blender and add enough vinegar to be able to puree into a mash.

 

Pour mixture into large glass bowl, add remaining vinegar and cover with lid. (you should have 1.5 quarts) I use my Pampered Chef 8 cup glass mixing bowl with lid and it works just great)

 

Shake or stir daily.

 

Let sit for 2-4 weeks, then strain through unbleached coffee filter.

 

Bottle liquid in glass jar, and store in dark cupboard....this liquid is ready to use....it gets better as it ages!

 

Now, put the reserved 'mash' back into the glass jar and add another 32 oz bottle of vinegar and start the process all over again to get a second bottle of Super Tonic.

 

 Dosage; Drink 1 oz - 3 times daily if you are coming down with a cold or flu. We put ours in a mug; add hot water and honey to taste. But, if you're brave, you can just drink the tonic straight...drink, gargle, swallow :)

As a daily preventative, put 1 Tbsp in a cup, add hot water and honey to taste.

 

RIP Baby Chicks

Well, last night something broke into the "coop" and killed all of our chickens. Well, six confirmed, two we still can't find, but it seems unlikely that they would go far on their own accord. Anyone who owns chickens knows what I'm talking about, especially at night. So goes the life.

8 New Family Members!

We have added eight new family members to the headcount here in the Teasley Household!

We think we have two Buff Orpingtons, two Golden Comets, two Australorp, and two Silver Laced Wyandottes. (Any opinions on which are which? lol) All pullets, and they will be our laying hens. :-)

The children have already adopted them as our own, and are very excited to have chickens again.

These chickens were purchased locally from our own hometown farmers and small business owners.

Looking forward to some nice fresh eggs this summer!

The Best Commercial Soap

I know that I post a lot on this blog about organic soaps, making your own soaps, buying organic, locally made soaps, but rest assured that I am compassionate to situations and I am honest with myself as well. These options just aren't feasible for people on a moderate to low income, especially in this economy. Soap-making is no easy task either, which makes it a bit difficult for the already over-scheduled woman to do.

I get that, I really do.

If you want a glimpse into MY life, there are a lot of organics that we don't buy simply for money reasons. I know that you cant put a price on good health, as they say, but if I can't grow it or make it myself, we usually don't buy it organic. I'm sure a majority of my readers can understand. :-)

SO, It has been laid on my heart to bring to you the best commercial options for soaps and shampoos for those on a non-organic budget.

First we will look at bar soaps:

There are SO MANY dangerous ingredients in soaps today that it is downright scary! Enough to make one (like me) want to wash with just hot water! Let's look at a popular commercial soap first:

The Dove Beauty Bar.

White is the most simple form of this one. It's their "regular" bar soap. The ingredients are questionable. For those looking for a vegan soap, this is not the soap for you. It has Sodium Tallowate in it which is a rendered animal tallow. That's not bad in my eyes, but vegan shoppers be aware. They do not advertise this.

The complete ingredients list is as follows:

"Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Coconut Acid, Sodium Tallowate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoate, Palm Kernelate, Fragrance (Parfum), Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Trisodium Etidronate, BHT, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate"

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate is a fatty acid/coconut oil mixture. It's basically safe. It cleans the skin and hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt so that they can be rinsed away, basically like a binder.

Stearic Acid is another fatty acid derivation from animal and vegetable fats that is "found commonly in many foods" and is added to soaps as a cleansing and emulsifying agent.

Sodium Isethionate is a biodegradable and high foaming detergent used in soaps to make it lather up well. It is not classified as having an adverse health effect on humans.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a synthetic detergent added to the soap to make it a little milder on the skin, but it poses no great risk in itself.

Fragrance (Parfum) is a BIG deal that looks so small. Fragrance can be ANYTHING added to get the smell that they want, ANY chemical, synthetic ingredient, or chemical combination. There is a lot of undisclosed gray area in that labeling.

Sodium Chloride is salt, plain and simple.

Tetrasodium EDTA is a questionable ingredient. It's "proper" name is Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and it is synthesised from ethylenediamine (1,2-diaminoethane), formaldehyde, and sodium cyanide. WHOA! Formaldehyde?? "Formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency" Sodium Cyanide??? Sodium cyanide is "a white poisonous salt (NaCN) used in electroplating." It is a poisonous chemical used to cause one metal to bond to another metal! Ever heard of cyanide poisoning? Look it up. Do you really want to expose yourself regularly and repeatedly to formaldehyde and cyanide?

Trisodium Etidronate is a preservative and a chelating agent also used in water softeners. This ingredient in particular has caused many adverse reactions in people with Eczema because it is a skin and mucous membrane irritant. Even a lot of "all natural" or "organic" soaps have this ingredient, so read the label! And don't get it in your eyes or mouth when using it.

BHA is another questionable ingredient here. It is a preservative used to prevent the tallow and fats from spoiling, and it is used a lot in foods, so check your food labels too. Even Jello. BHA and BHT are used closesly and interchangeably in a lot of formulations. These two closely related chemicals are added to oil-containing foods to prevent oxidation and retard rancidity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, consider BHA to be possibly carcinogenic to humans, and the State of California has listed it as a carcinogen. Some studies show the same cancer causing possibilities for BHT. Do your own research on this, I encourage, but DO the research. Your skin is like a sponge, absorbing everything that is put on it, and rubbed into it. That's why our fingers get pruney when we swim or bathe too long. Our cells absorb until they can't absorb anymore, and all of this can pass directly into the bloodstream. 

Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occurring compound, and for that reason many think it is safe, but arsenic is also a naturally occurring compound, would you bathe in it? From the MSDS: "WARNING! MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY AFFECT LUNGS. SUSPECT CANCER HAZARD. CONTAINS TITANIUM DIOXIDE, WHICH MAY CAUSE CANCER. Risk of cancer depends on level and duration of exposure. Health Rating: 2 - Moderate (Cancer) Chronic Exposure: Titanium Dioxide may cause cancer in humans." Do the research, and use at your own risk.

Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate is classified as harmful. I will let you look into that one yourselves.

There is a lot more in soaps that we originally are led to believe, huh? It's a crazy world.

Now, that Dove is a picture of MOST of the commercial soaps on the market. Some (Like Tone, Zest, and Dial) have waaay more dangerous ingredients in them, but that's when you come in and do your own research. Seriously, just Google "MSDS (whatever ingredient you are looking up)" and you will have a wealth of information at your fingertips. Just make sure you get your info from non-cosmetic sources. Never get info from a site trying to sell something. Common sense, I know. :-) If you are on a REALLY tight budget, and you can stand to overlook the fact that Tetrasodium EDTA has possible cancer-causing agents in it, I would recommend the Simply Ivory bar. It has fewer "bad" ingredients in it, the only one really being Tetrasodium EDTA.

 NOTE:  there WILL be a price difference buying soaps to avoid all of these dangerous carcinogenic chemicals.

Now, in my opinion, sometimes buying the best commercial soap comes down to the "lesser of two evils" type deal, so in my past three or so years of research, I have found what I think is the best choice. Well, two choices actually. These companies are getting bigger and are showing up in more places, even Walmart and local grocery stores. The first is:

Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Soap

The ingredients are so simplistic that it is almost funny! 

"Saponified Organic Coconut, Palm, Olive Oils ([Organic] with Retained Glycerin), Water, Hemp Oil (Organic), Jojoba Oil (Organic), Salt, Vitamin E" 

These bars  usually run close to $4.00 each, but that is a small price to pay, I think, and cheaper than some (okay, most) organic options. This particula Dr. Bronner's bar has eight different scents you can choose from: Tea Tree, Rose, Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Citrus Orange, Baby-Mild, and Almond. And they smell GREAT if I do say so myself. :-) The Baby-Mild is the unscented bar, and all fragrances are natural. No "parfum". :-)

Runner up goes to: 


Kiss My Face Organics Olive Oil Bar Soap

The ingredients are:

"Saponified Olive Oil, Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Sodium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum)"  

While this one does contain artificial fragrance, that is basically personal preference. Compared to the rest "out there" this is a soap worthy of the runner up position for best commercial bar soap. Kiss My Face Organics usually run about ten cents cheaper than Dr. Bronner's, but they are in more places than Dr. Bronner's as well, I have discovered. It's about availability to most people, am I right?

So, there you have it, my take on commercial bar soaps. Remember, don't take MY word for it, read labels and investigate yourselves. You may find some things in your own regular soaps that will shock you!  Especially Johnson and Johnson baby soap and shampoo, if you use that on your babies. 

I will do shampoos in a later blog. Stay tuned! :-)