Homemade Body Scrubs

I haven't been buying body scrubs for the past couple of years because I feel like they are such a rip off.  I love the way it makes my skin feel, but 20 bucks is a bit out of hand.  Ever since I lived at home as a teenager, someone was always stealing it from me and when I would go to use it, it would be gone.  How could I resist a homemade recipe? So how could I resist 24 recipes?

Warning: These recipes are sold for $3.99 (not from me)

Website

http://inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com/search?q=scrub

My Thoughts

I've tried several, and it's worth the money to spend on the recipes.  They aren't just sugar and oil and scent.  They are full on mixtures but still keeping it at a cheap price.  The recipe makes a ton, so I cut it in half to make smaller portions.  I want to try all of the recipes and how can I do that if I keep the same one around for a long time.

One Thing I Changed

I like to use Grapeseed Oil because it's a lighter oil.  They have a large quantity of it at Target for about the same price as the cheap olive oil.  It's more expensive everywhere else and for half the quantity.

My Picture of Caramel Apple

(yes I keep them in tupperware)

 These will make great Christmas Gifts!  I will have to buy nicer containers though!

Greek Pasta Salad

I love pasta and Feta Cheese.  What a great combo.  I had to try this one!

Website

http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/greek-pasta-salad-recipe/

Picture

Man that's a great picture.  Looks like it's from a restaurant.

Directions

For the Dressing

1 cup olive oil
3/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons basil dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons Za'atar*
1-1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons granulated sugar

For the Salad

1 pound rotini pasta cooked according to package directions
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half (you can also sub in grape tomatoes)
1 large cucumber, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 green onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup Kalamata olives
1-1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese
1 7-ounce pepperoni stick, sliced

Directions:

1. In a a large Mason jar or other sealable container, combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic powder, basil, oregano, Za'atar black pepper, and sugar. Shake well to combine.
2. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, green onions, olives, feta cheese and pepperoni.
3. Separate and reserve ½ cup of dressing in the refrigerator.
4. Toss the pasta salad with the rest of the dressing until evenly coated. Cover, and chill overnight.
5. Right before serving, freshen the salad with the reserved dressing, tossing to coat.



My thoughts

 Great recipe and great dressing.  I couldn't find Za-atar so I worked without it.  I also don't like peppers or olives, so I skipped those too.  I added chicken to it to make it a meal instead of a side dish.

This is a pasta that I will make many more times!


My Picture

Crock Pot Applesauce

I've mentioned before that I want to go fresh.  Instead of buying applesauce, which is so easy, why not make it?  Might as well complicate things for myself, but at least it's fresh.

Website

http://mommymakesitbetter.blogspot.com/2012/04/crock-pot-applesauce.html

Their Picture

Directions

Ingredients:

8 medium apples (Use a combination of Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala, etc.) (I filled the crockpot, using about 20 small apples)

1 strips of lemon peel - use a vegetable peeler

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

3 inch cinnamon stick

5 tsp light brown sugar (unpacked) - or agave


1.  Peel, core and chop the apples.

2.  Add the sugar, lemon peel, lemon juice and cinnamon stick.

3.  Set crock pot to low and cook for 6 hours. Stir apples occasionally, apples will slowly become a delicious applesauce. Remove cinnamon stick and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth or if you prefer a chunky sauce, leave sauce intact. (I used a whisk, which gave the sauce a nice chunky consistency.)

4.  Can and process as you would other recipes or keep refrigerated up to 3 weeks.

My Thoughts

I cut the recipe in half to see if I would like it and it didn't make a lot of sauce.  It's amazing how many apples put in to it and what comes out.  

It needed some sugar, so I will add some.  Other than that, I like the recipe.  It's nice to just put it and and forget about it for awhile.

My Picture

(I use a liner in my pot so I don't have to wash it)

It's a little hard to see.  Sorry about that.  Try it out!

 

Italian Chicken

I love an easy recipe.  Just throw it in the stove and forget about it for awhile, sign me up.

Website

http://tristanfamily.blogspot.com/2012/07/whats-for-dinner.html

Picture

Directions

 4-6 raw chicken breasts, new potatoes, green beans (fresh or canned-really any green veggie would work. Broccoli is good, too). Arrange in 9x13 dish. Sprinkle with a packet of Italian dressing mix and then top with a melted stick of butter. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. 

 

 

My Thoughts

 

My butcher splits my chicken and pounds it for me, so it's thin.  I knew that the chicken would cook faster than the vegetables, so I put them in first and then added the chicken. 

This was a great dinner!  It was so easy and tasted great!  I used different veggies though.

My Picture

Yum!  Give it a try!

Pickle Dip

I have always loved pickles.  My cousin and I would eat a whole jar of those really huge pickles that they sell at delis - but in one sitting.  I also like the juice.  I know some of you think I'm disgusting now and I'm ok with that.

I've been craving chips so this was a great time to make the dip.

Website

http://bunsinmyoven.com/2012/01/18/pickle-dip/

Directions

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 to 1 cup dill pickles, depending on how pickly you like things
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• dill, for garnish, if desired
• pickle juice

Instructions

1. Chop the pickles into very small pieces.
2. Combine with the cream cheese and Worcestershire sauce until well mixed. Splash in a bit of pickle juice to thin the dip out a bit (around 1 tablespoon, but more is fine, dependent on your taste).
3. Serve cold or at room temperature with potato chips. 

Results

I  really liked the dip.  It is really pickly (is that a word), so don't try this if you only like pickles sometimes or just a little bit.  This is major pickle taste.

Room Air Freshner

I don't really like candles, so I thought this would be a great alternative.

Website

http://www.theburlapbag.com/2011/12/diy-room-air-freshener/

Problem

I can not smell this at all!  Even standing next to it!  I put extra scent into it and waited another day or two, and then put more scent into it - still don't smell it!  This sucks because I love cucumber melon scent!

Homemade Lip Gloss

I've been on a big kick lately with everything being fresh.  Now it's time to make homemade bath products instead of spending all of that money for it at the store.  I know that lip gloss isn't expensive, but no how many times I misplace it and have to buy another, it will be worth it.

Website

http://blog.justlove.ly/2012/01/14-days-of-love-lip-balm.html

Directions

First up.. because the Kool-Aid is what supplies the color to your lip balm I would suggest you purchase a flavor that comes out red.  I mixed cherry and tropical punch together.  I have also done this recipe with Crystal light which tastes much better, but sometimes the crystals don't dissolve as well as the Kool-Aid ones do so it can be tricky.

Gather your supplies and in a microwave safe bowl (I ended up using a mixing cup) put a glob <--- that's a proper measurement right.. ok about a cup into the bowl and heat on high for about a minute. Stir. Do again. This is the repetitive part, I usually browse pinterest on my phone while standing next to the microwave.. or sometimes I eat raw cookie dough from the fridge.. whatever works for you!  Keep repeating this step and make sure to stir, stir and stir some more in between each heating. If you plan on making a lot of these I would suggest doing it in batches as it will be easier to melt down.  **please do in small increments to assure that you do not blow your microwave, also if you have access to double boiler that works great too!

 

Take your bowl of liquid greasiness =) and let cool for just a few seconds, stir in the kool-aid a little at a time and make sure it starts to dissolve (keep stiring!)  The more you add the darker it gets so this is up to you and what you want your lip gloss to look like, I used two whole packets for this pretty color.

Now if you use Crystal Light the flavor is so much better, since the Kool-Aid is bitter I simply pour in a couple packets of stevia just for a little sweet on my lips.  Oh and it's zero calorie in case you ingest the stuff!

 

My Thoughts

It's a very simple process, don't let the directions fool you.  She is just wordy with the directions.

 

I love this.  Vaseline is great for your lips.

 

The only problem is that it tastes so good, I'm scared I'm eating too much of it.  Ha Ha!

 

This will be a recipe that I will keep!