Spring Breeze Linen Spray

My ironing basket was filled to the brim with clothes that needed to be ironed.  Ironing is not my favorite task so I made something yesterday that made the job ever so much more pleasant.  I made my own, homemade linen spray.

I have seen jars of linen spray in specialty soap and candle shops.  It was expensive too!  So on my continuous search to save pennies and do it myself, I searched for a recipe to make my own in the fragrance of my choice.  Lavender, Lilac and Lily of the Valley are three of my very favorite floral scents and I happened to have both lavender and lilac essential oils, so I was quickly on my way to creating my own spray.

The ingredients are just three items: Distilled Water, Vodka and essential oils of your choosing.

And this is how you mix it:

In an airtight, 16 ounce (or larger) glass jar pour 2 Tablespoons of Vodka, 1 teaspoon of lavender essential oil and 1/2 teaspoon of lily of the valley essential oil.  Now, fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water.  Shake the jar to incorporate all of the ingredients. 

Voila!  You've made your spray!  Now pour some in a spritz or pump bottle, get the iron and ironing board out and spritz a little on your those linens and cotton shirts that have been waiting to be ironed. 

I thought this might make a fun gift to give and so I made adhesive labels on the computer using Avery round labels, added some ribbon, raffia and dried lavender that I harvested and dried last summer from my garden.  Cute, eh?  Anything to take the drudgery out of ironing, I say!

While I was making labels I decided to put a second label on the back with directions and use suggestions.  This label says, "Spritz onto your bed linens, clothes you are ironing or into the air as a room spray."

If you decide to make some, I encourage you to experiment with different scents.  I love the combination of lavender and lemon (I just didn't have lemon essential oil).   Jasmine oil and bergamot would be nice, or how about vanilla oil and a couple of drops of ginger oil.

 

Keep a small spritz bottle next to your bed and when you make the bed each day spritz your pillows and/or bed linens.  You'll crawl into a lightly scented dreamworld of spring each night.

 

Until next time,

Cheers!

 

Jennifer

 

I'm linking to these parties:

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Common Ground at The Market Place

Alderberry Hill Make the Scene Monday

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson: Share your cup Thursday

 

 

Cake Dome Sunday #20: Carrot Cake

Happy Mother's Day!  Many miles separate me and my mother (geographically speaking) but if I could deliver today's Cake Dome Sunday dessert, I'd be delivering it to my mother.  I love you, Mom!

The recipe I want to share with you today is a recipe for the world's best Carrot Cake.  This Carrot Cake is practically famous in West Lafayette, Indiana.  That is because my dear, dear friend Cathy makes this cake as a very special birthday treat and years ago, when she and I worked together she'd make and bring this cake in to the office for those working in the office at Purdue University with her.  If word got out that Cathy had made her wonderful Carrot Cake you could be sure that faculty and staff would be making an appearance in the conference room just hoping to get a slice of her fabulously moist and delicious carrot cake.

The other day I saw a carrot cake displayed in a bakery and I began reminiscing in my mind about Cathy's cake.  I decided that it would be the perfect Mother's Day treat and I sent Cathy an email asking if I could share with my blog-o-sphere friends her recipe.  She said she didn't mind, though it was actually her Aunt Phyllis's recipe. 

Cathy's Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups grated carrots
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup chopped nuts or golden raisins (optional)

Directions:

1. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl combine oil and sugar until thoroughly combined.  Add the grated carrots and mix well.
3. Add eggs one at a time beating well between each egg.
4. Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients.  Add nuts (or raisins) and mix well.
5. Grease and flour a tube pan or bundt pan and add the batter.
6. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 - 50 minutes.

Frost with Cream Cheese icing

•  3 oz. of cream cheese
• 1/2 butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups powdered icing sugar
• 1 drop or two of lemon juice

Cream together the cream cheese and butter.  Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar a little at a time, beating until smooth.

This is seriously delicious cake.   I know for a fact that Cathy has been asked many times to make her carrot cake for auctions and benefits as well as being a frequently requested treat for birthdays and parties.  Give it a try.  I know you'll love it!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Jennifer

 

 

I'm linking at the following parties:

Savvy Southern Style

Alderberry Hill Make the Scene Monday

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson: Share your Cup Thursday

 

It's Party Time at Three Mango Seeds

 

Spring colors

Just three weeks ago we had another blast of snow, piling up 6 to 8 more inches on the ground.  I whined and complained that I'd never see spring.  BUT...look what is finally blooming in my front yard!  Beautiful samples of nature's spring colors.

The Mister and I didn't have too much hope left for the tulips to bloom.  But once the last snow was gone they've come up out of the ground almost before our eyes.

Yesterday I went to the garden center to get some seeds and gardening supplies.  I couldn't resist picking out these gorgeous geraniums for the pots on my front porch.

 

Aren't they spectacular?  These colors just make me happy!

Sadly, only 3 (yes, ONLY THREE) of my daffodil bloomed. And they only lasted a couple of days. I snapped this shot yesterday before this sweet daffodil started to wane even more. Nevertheless, its sunny yellow color still makes me smile.

 

My hyacinth did bloom but are very pale and washed out looking.  I love hyacinth.  One of the most fragrant of flowers.  I also had very few crocus...not even long enough for a photo.  So that is proof that it was a hard winter on our spring flowers.

I must get back to my gardening now. I'm planting a rather large vegetable garden this year and I'm planting seed, composting, digging, watering, clearing out new areas and generally just playing outside in the dirt and sunshine these days. I'm sure The Mister would agree that I'm much more cheerful once the long and cold winter has passed and I can play outside in my garden.

Until next time,

Cheers!

Jennifer

Cake Dome Sunday #19: Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles

Today was an absolutely, positively, undenyably gorgeous/wonderful day outside!  One could not have requested in detail a more beautiful spring day than we had here today in the Ottawa Valley.  The Mister and I spent the entire day outside: me working in the yard and the garden, he on his car and a few outdoor "honey-do" list chores I had for him.

 

Consequently, I didn't bake anything special for the Mister today.  BUT, that is not to say that I didn't mix up something this evening to satisfy his sweet tooth and to put under the cake dome.  Today I made Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles.

 

There are three steps to putting together these delicious little gems and I was able to complete each step between fixing dinner and cleaning up the kitchen.

 

I don't know about you but I have a real thing for peanut butter and chocolate and these truffles have the added saltiness and a slight crunch from the pretzels.  Oh so good! 

Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles

Yield approximate 2 1/2 dozen...depending on how large or small you form the truffle balls.

Ingredients:

For the filling:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups  crushed pretzels

For coating:

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (I used 3/4 bittersweet and 1/4 semi sweet...because that is what I had)

For the Drizzle:

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon milk
4 - 6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. To make the filling, combine the peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, butter and pretzels in a medium bowl.  Mix well with a spoon until evenly combined and all ingredients are incorporated.  Roll the mixture into small balls about 2 - 3 teasoons worth each. (I sprayed my hands with PAM baking spray.  the ingredients will be very sticky-to-your fingers while rolling)  Place on a baking sheet lined with foil, parchment, or waxed paper.  Transfer to the freezer to chill for at least 30 minutes.
2. Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a bowl of simmer water.  I used a double boiler.  Dip chilled peanut butter-pretzel balls in the chocolate, gently shaking off the excess.  Transfer back to the lined baking sheet and chill to let the chocolate fully set up.
3. To make the peanut butter drixzzle, combine the peanut butter and the milk in a small bowl.  Microwave briefly (About 15 seconds).   Add in the confectioners' sugar and whisk until the mixture is smooth.  Adjust consistency as needed with additional confectioners' sugar.  Drizzle over the coated truffles.  Let set before packaging or serving. 

I always make Peanut Butter Balls (some folks call them "Buckeyes") during the holiday season and these Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles are very similiar with the exception of the added chopped pretzels.  The pretzels add just the right amount of salty to the rich sweetness of the chocolate and peanut butter. 

 

Ya gotta try them!  Seriously!  They are so good.

 

Until next time,

Cheers!

 

Jennifer

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Aderberry Hill Make the Scene Monday #72

Earth Day 2013: Airing my laundry

Today is Earth Day!   And as a special day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment I decided to air my laundry in public!  GASP!  What did I say?  (just checking to see if you were paying attention.)  *giggles*

I was taught from a young age that airing your dirty laundry in public is inappropriate and just plain wrong.  Of course being a child who watched and helped her mother and grandmother hang clothes outside on the clothesline on washday I imagined it would be strange to hang dirty clothes outside anyway.  You need to wash them FIRST and then air them...when they are clean.

However, I am going to air my dirty laundry in public right now, but not as in the metaphor.  In a concerted effort to save money and to be kinder to the environment, about three weeks ago I decided to try making my own laundry detergent.  The Mister and I have been working on our household budget and looking for ways to save money.  With the price of laundry detergent being exhorbitant (did you know that in some stores they've actully put security locks on detergent to prevent shoplifting?!)  It is true.

So off I went on my search for the how-to of making laundry detergent.  What I discovered is, it couldn't be more simple! 

Homemade Laundry Soap Powder

All you need are three key ingredients:

• 1 bar of shaved bar of laundry soap note: I used Linda Laundry Soap, but you'll also find other brands like Ivory, ZOTE, Fels-Naptha, Pure & Natural, or choose a handcrafted soap.
• 1 - 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team Borax
• 1 - 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

Instructions:

1. First, find a plastic container with a lid to mix your soap powder in. I used a recycled gallon-size ice milk bucket, but anything you have on hand that has a lid is fine.
2. Grate the bar of laundry soap as finely as possible into your container. You can do it in your food processor if you have a fine grating blade or do it by hand with a hand held grater. I did it by hand and it didn't take long at all.
3. To the finely shaved bar of soap mix in 1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax and 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda.
4. Mix these three ingredients together with an old wooden spoon or paint stirring stick.

THAT'S IT!  You've just made your first batch of Laundry Soap Powder!

So now that you've made your soap powder, how do you use it? First of all, and I didn't believe it when I first read it, but you aren't going to need more than 1 tablespoon or two. Yes! I said TABLESPOONS! I use 2 heaping tablespoons because my washer has a large tub/capacity and I'm a doubting Dora here. But that really is enough.

Put your soap powder mixture into your washer and let it fill with water.  While the washer is filling, clean the cat litter box, separate your laundry into darks, lights and white...multi-task for the few minutes it takes for your washing machine to fill with water.  It IS important to be sure that your soap powder is disolved before adding clothes.  I have read that sometimes if you just toss your clothes in and put the detergent on top that the soap powder doesn't fully dissolve. 

For heavily soiled clothing you can still pretreat and/or add a little more powder.  There is no problem using a little bleach if you are accustomed to using bleach with whites (especially dirty white sweatsocks that someone I know needs extra cleaning)!

PLEASE NOTE:  This is an important "please note" notice.  The laundry soap powder doesn't get sudzy.    That is a little disconcerting at first because you might equate clean with soapy/bubbles in your wash water.  Well...this doesn't.  But it DOES clean.

Now for the great cost cutting report!  This is INEXPENSIVE to make.  You are going to get about 8 or 9 recipes out of the box of Borax and about 13 recipes out of the box of washing soda.  AND, both of those ingredients are about $5.00 each (depending where you live...here in Canada they are slightly more, but then so is the cost of commercial laundry detergent.)  And out of one small pail like the one I've made, you'll probably get two to three months from it before having to mix a new batch which then you'll only need a bar of laundry soap to grate and it is about $1.50.    I've read reports that this recipe costs less than $1.00 PER MONTH! Not load but MONTH!  Super savings, right?!?

Last thing most folks ask is "Where do I find Washing Soap, Borax and Washing Soda?"  All three of these are found in the laundry eisle of your grocery store, Walmart or whereever you buy your laundry products.    I had never noticed them before but sure enough, they are there.

Without sudsy water going into our rivers and streams as well as harsh chemicals and their effects on sensitive skin, this makes this homemade Laundry Soap a very environmentally friendly product that can be made inexpensively and very, very easily.

 

Happy Earth Day! I'd love to hear your tips for preserving the environment.

Until next time,

Cheers!

Jennifer

 

 

Shared at these parties:


Alderberry Hill  Make the scene Monday

Homework

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson  (Share your cup Thursday #55) 



 

Cake Dome Sunday #18: Georgia Peach Pie

This week I made The Mister a Georgia Peach Pie.  I must confess, I intended to make him a Rhubarb pie, but there is not any Rhubarb at all (neither fresh nor frozen) to be found in these here parts.  Not yet, anyway.  But I did have one last jar of peaches I'd canned last summer so I asked him if he'd mind instead of Rhubarb to have a Peach pie.  He said that was fine.

I discovered this recipe for GEORGIA PEACH PIE on the Crisco website and chose to make it because it was made a bit differently than my usual Peach Pie.  I liked the idea of the buttermilk, cornstarch, butter and eggs for the filling with the peaches.  We were not disappointed.

For my pie crust I made it using butter instead of shortening or lard.   It is very flakey, tender and delicious in taste and the texture is outstanding.  I will not say that this is the only way to make perfect crust.  I'll just say that this is how I like to make mine and I think they are outstanding.

Georgia Peach Pie

Ingredients:

• Double Pie Crust

For the filling:

• 1 (29 oz.) can yellow cling peaches in heavy syrup, reserve 3 tablespoons of the liquid
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup of sugar, divided
• 3 large eggs
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze on top:

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• sugar (turbinado sugar to sprinkle over top crust)

Directions:

1. Prepare recipe for a double crust pie, using a 10 inch pie plate.  Roll out dough for bottom crust and place in pie plate according to recipe directions.  Do not bake.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
3. Drain peaches, reserving tablespoons syrup; set aside.  Cut peaches into chunks.  Place in large bowl.
4. Combine cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of sugar in small bowl; add reserved peach syrup, remaining sugar, eggs and buttermilk.  Mix well
5. Stir in melted butter and vanilla; pour mixture over peaches.  Stir until peaches are coated.  Pour filling into unbaked pie crust.  Moisten pastry edge with water.
6. Roll out dough for the top crust, place onto filled pie and finish edges (I used a rope braid twist finish).  Cut slits or a design in top crust or prick with a fork to vent steam.
7. Brush top crust with melted butter and spinkle lightly with turbinado sugar.
8. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until filling in center is bubbly and c rust is golden brown.  Cool to room temperature before serving.

And how can you go wrong with a ball of ice cream on top making it Georgia Peach Pie Ala Mode! DEEEEeeeeeeeelicious!

 

Until next time,

Cheers!

 

Jennifer


This post shared at:

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Homework

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson  (share your cup Thursday #55)



 

An Old Friend

Slowly but surely, I've been cleaning up my stamping studio, straightening out pattern paper sheets, going through ink and markers (why do I still have dried up ones?) and trying to get stamps better organized, which means rediscovering stamp sets that I've had for ages but haven't seen ink in too long of a time. 

For this card I used a very old, retired Stampin' Up! set, titled Old Friends.  To color, I got out my Prismacolor Pencil.  The case of colored pencils hadn't been opened for much too long of a time.  I've gotten more or less into the habit of using Copic markers and had forgotten how relaxing I used to find it to color with the pencils. 

This month's theme challenge for the Challenge Chicks is to do some spring cleaning and gather up old supplies and use them.  This card definitely fits the challenge using the old stamp set as well as Prismacolor pencils.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Old Friends
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:  Papertrey Ink
Embellishments: Martha Stewart Eyelet border punch, SU Baker's twine, miscellaneous button from the button jar, stickles glitter glue, image colored with Prismacolor pencils.

YIPPEEEEEE!  It is a rainy week and that means..........drumroll please............THE SNOW IS FINALLY BEING WASHED AWAY!  I began to think we'd have snow on the ground until August!  There are still a few piles along the fence line and on shaded sides of the house, but for the most part, it is gone.  Come on spring flowers...GROW! 

 

Until next time,

Cheers!

 

Jennifer

Thoughts and Prayers to the Victims of the Explosion

What's under the cake dome Sunday # 17: Lunch box treats

Today I have been baking for the Mister, as I usually do on Sundays.  But today's isn't one dessert, but rather I've baked up treats to pack in his lunch box for the coming week.

 

First comes his breakfast treat.  The Mister leaves for work at 5:45 a.m. and he doesn't take time to eat breakfast at home, but does appreciate a yogurt sundae that I make him most mornings.   It is very simple to layer plain Greek yogurt with honey, a layer of granola and a layer of blueberries (or other fruit) and send that in with him for a mid morning boost with his coffee.  This week, though, I baked for him GIANT BLUEBERRY MUFFINS with a Streusel topping.  This is my favorite recipe for a big, flavorful muffin.  They're fast to make and once they've cooled I put them in individual zip lock bags and throw 'em in the freezer.  This way every morning I just take one from the freezer for his lunchbox and it has thawed by the time he's ready to eat it.

To Die For Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries

Streusel topping:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).  Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liner papers.
2. Sift together in a large mixing bowl 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder.  Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup.  Mix this with the flour mixture.  Fold in the blueberries.  Fill the muffin cups right up to the top with batter (the batter will be fairly thick/stiff).
3. Now make the streusel topping:  mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon.  Mix with a fork and then sprinkle over the muffins before baking.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

This recipe will yield 8 or 9 LARGE muffins.

Enjoy!


After I finished the blueberry muffins it was time to bake some cookies for his lunch dessert which is usually fresh fruit and some type of sweet. This afternoon I made a batch of Snickerdoodle cookies. I've posted this recipe before. Next to chocolate chip cookies I think snickerdoodles are a very close 2nd place favorite. They're light, slightly chewy, buttery and oh so good.

Last fall I posted the recipe for Snickerdoodles and you can find it on THIS POST HERE.  These are also very fast to mix up and bake.  I'm looking forward to a big glass of milk and a SNICKERDOODLE or two after supper tonight.  Ooops...you caught me...I've already sampled. 

And since I was in a major baking mode, I knew I couldn't forget my pups.  They like to have a treat too, so I made a batch of Pumpkin/Peanut Butter dog biscuits for them and filled their good dog treat jar back up.  The recipe for this, my homemade dog biscuits, can be found HERE.

This weekend has sped by! I'm glad to have my week's worth of dinner menus figured out and the Mister's lunches too. I truly am happy to pack his breakfast and lunch each day and know that he is getting a decent meal while at work. Just wish I didn't have to pack the lunches at 5:30 a.m. so it is always good when I know in advance and have prepared what I'll need to make. I'm going to mix up some tuna salad for sandwiches tomorrow and chill that. Some veggie sticks with his sandwiches and fruit and cookie ought to tide him over until supper tomorrow.

This was a strange "cake dome Sunday" post, but I did bake and the Mister just came in from working on his car, grabbed a handful of cookies that are cooling on the counter and gave me a big smooch and said "Yummm...these are good!"

Mission accomplished!

Until next time,

Cheers!

Jennifer

Saturday morning

Yesterday we got hit with another 8 inches of snow. It was not a pretty snow storm either. Not the kind that is fun to play in.  It was icy, the wind blew hard and the snow and ice pellets blew sideways all day.  This morning the temperature is above freezing and though it is quite chilly and damp out, the snow is turning to slush, mud and the puddles are beginning to freeze as ice.  Not the pretty Saturday morning I had hoped for.

I really had hoped to be able to play with "my girls"  (my mares) but decided instead to use this day to clean tack, straighten up my tack box, replenish supplies and of course I had to snap a few photos of Flower and Gypsy.

Flower looked quite comfortable in her shelter. 

I do believe she was posing for me. 

Gypsy and her girlfriends were up on the hill enjoying the cool morning.

The Mister and his buddies spent the morning mounting the body of his Cobra (replica) to the chassis. The mister has been building this vehicle for the past two years and it is nearly finished.

He and I have disparate interests. Perhaps that is why we get along so well. As the saying goes, "opposites attract." So this was our Saturday morning. I hope you had a good one too!

Until next time,

Cheers!

Jennifer