Home-Made Dishwasher Detergent

I have been using this for the last few weeks - and I LOVE it!
In all honestly I was hoping for a cheaper alternative with chemicals I trust and can pronounce.
I wasn't really expecting any difference between this and my cheap end store bought brand. (Yes I am a confirmed penny pincher)
That said - noticeable difference. No scum, no dots, bright shiny dishes.
Down side - will not get off the caked on stuff - rinse your dishes, don't allow stuff to get all hard, nasty and caked on.

Home-Made Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

1 C. Borax (recommended brand 20 mule team borax)
1 C. Washing Soda
1/2 C. Kosher Salt (I didn't have any on hand so I split between rock salt and table salt)
3/4 C. Citric Acid (I subbed for Lemony Shine as finding local Citric Acid has not been easy for me)

Mix it all together and store in an Air Tight container. Moisture will make it clump. You can add the left over, do not eat, pill pillows in to help stop the clumping.
Shake it up - mix it up - fill up the cup or use 1 tbls. (heaping)

Also instead of paying for an expensive rinse aid - use white or distilled vinegar.

To store I used a washed out (large) creamer bottle. This (pictured) is a double batch. Now that I know I will want to continue making my own I went ahead and made a second batch to fill up the bottle.

Dye Free Note - For families out there like mine that need to watch every single ingredient that is digested or used on/next to the skin. Making your own cleaners is more than just being economical and eco friendly, its something that you can tick off your list with a deep sigh of relief knowing that one more thing is safe for your family.
One more thing will not add or worsen any allergies.
One more way to sleep better at night. I know I am. ;)

Home Made Window & Mirror Cleaner

I know, I get it, I am not one of those amazing pretty photo, gorgeous labels and neat house blogs.
I am however, thrifty, resourceful and am compiling a HUGE recipe collection, easy to browse through of home-made recipes.

Glass & Mirror Cleaner

1/2 C. Rubbing Alchol
1/2 C. Vinegar
2    C. Water
1    Tbls. Lemon Juice

Mix in empty spray bottle - shake before each use.

(again my recipe is dye free - I have never looked at my windows and mirrors and thought to myself, Oh it really needs a light blue tint.)

Works amazing!
Cleans, shines and doesn't leave a strong smell behind. The smell of vinegar quickly disappears.

Breakfast Freezer style

Two in a half hours and I have breakfast for my husband for a whole month!

First up French Toast - eggs, vanilla, cinnamon - dash of salt and sliced bread of your choosing.
Dip, dip other side, cook and voila! French toast.
Make it in large quantities and freeze the extra! Can be heated on the frozen cycle of your toaster! Very simple and yummy!

Next up Breakfast burritos - mine change each and every time I make them and depend on the food at hand.
This time I used hashbrowns, sausage, eggs, peppers, salt and pepper, cheese & tortillas.
Cook it all up, chop it up, fill, wrap and then wrap in tinfoil to hold the shape.
Unfreeze the night before, microwave 1-2 minutes. If you unfreeze in the fridge the night before they won't even be chewy!
Delicious easy way to have breakfast ready on the go - Better then fast food burritos!

Cooking for once a month does not have to been done all in one day. If you know you love the food and it freezes well make double and freeze the excess. When you get into the habit you will continually be eating or cooking for/from the freezer.
Pairing the food with a side salad, fruits and veggies, as well as whole grain breads and you will be eating healthier, smarter and on budget!

Die Dye!

Surely I am not the only one out there as a consumer in our large and vast retail world wondering why we are constantly being treated like 2 & 3 years olds!
In a time of companies trying to save money where ever they can, you would think that they might lay off or lower the amounts of dye added to food & consumable products.
Wrong!
Since all the studies "prove" that intelligent adults are just as magpieish as toddlers the world of dye seems to be only growing stronger.

This may not seem like a big thing to you, after all not everyone (like my two children) are allergic to dye's, so what harm do they cause?
Well here is a little known fact, the average American eats up to 4 pds of dye a year.
Here is a second little known fact, the human digestive system does not just get rid of the dye.
Many times you need to "flush" your system by detoxing or fasting to remove all the toxins and dyes from your system.
The photo with the numbers is showing all the different added chemicals in the puffed wheat - dyed cereal.

But really people I don't need something "shiney" or "bright" to want to buy it! In fact I go out of my way (obviously) to find products with little, no or natural dye.

What I have found even more surprising is, during my "Home-Made" recipe campaign, people actually add dye into their home made products to make them look more like the "real" thing!
I don't know about you, but when I wash my windows and mirrors I don't say to myself, "hmm,? I should really add a blue tint to this - it would look better!"
Or
"My cloths really could use an light pink tint."
Or
"I really miss the slight green/yellow/orange shade to my dishes."

So when you read through this recipe blog you will never find me or any of my recipes adding in dye.
Now with Easter coming up I have been searching far and wide for recipes, home made healthy dyes & candy that I can make for the kids without aggravating their allergies.
Over the next few weeks I will be adding my "going to try" recipes for Easter - on Easter I will post all my photos of how they all came out along with what I might do differently next time.

Now my kids can have small amounts of dye - however, their allergies are increasing and each time they have dye it makes it worse - meaning I need to cut as much out of their diet as possible.
My son the other day proved to me that I also need to cut it out of anything that also comes into contact with their skin as well!
Oh the joy!