MerryHeartCrafts.comMountain Momma… Country Living

I got this recipe from my friend Mrs. Faye at http://theblessedhearth.blogspot.com 

Homemade Laundry Soap

 2 1/4 cups shredded Ivory

* you can use the other soaps used on the web (just google) ..

2 cups Borax

2 Cups Arm and Hammer Soda

1 Cup Water Softener (Calgon) (I use Purex water softening crystals-lavender)

*Essential Oil of Choice and as much as you like.

I combine these ingredients in my food processor.

I package this for sale.

1 cup water-room temperature.  I put use regular tap water heated in microwave for 20 sec.  1 egg beaten.  1/4 cup butter-cut into cubes, 3 1/4 cups bread flour (I use 1 cup fresh ground wheat flour and 2 1/4 cups bread flour), 4 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp powdered milk, 1 tsp salt, and 1 1/2 tsp yeast placed in the center of the pan.  Set bread machine on dough cycle. 

When cycle is finished, turn dough out on floured surface.  Knead slightly, just enough to punch down dough.  Choose now what you want to make with your dough.  If making dinner rolls or hamburger buns, shape small sections of dough into round shapes.  This will make about 15 rolls depending on how large or small you make them.  Place rolls on cookie sheet, spray tops with oil spray.  Let rise 1 hr.  Bake at 400 for 12 min. Remove from oven.   Brush tops generously with melted butter.  Enjoy!!

We had so much fun yesterday making candy.  When we got to Vicki’s, she had already made sugar cookies for the kids to decorate.  They loved it.  After lunch, we made oreo truffles, then peanut butter balls and last we dipped oreo cookies in white chocolate.   It was such a fun day.  The recipe I use to make the peanut butter balls is:

1 stick butter-softened, 1 lb powdered sugar.  Mix these together.  Then add 2 cups creamy peanut butter.  Mix everything together.  You will need to add about 1/4 cup water to this.  Just add a little at a time until it is a little creamy. Be careful not to add too much water.  Form into balls.  In a double boiler, put 2 cups chocolate chips and 1/4 block parafin wax.  Heat until chocolate is creamy.  Dip peanut butter balls into chocolate.  Place on wax papered cookie sheet.  Refrigerate and enjoy.  These are much better after they chill.  I want to make Martha Washington balls next.  I think they are my favorite. 

Time for us to leave for piano practice.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

Tired of buying this out of the store?  Well, today Jess and I came across a recipe to make our own.  We found it in our Mennonite cookbook.   I needed to make sausage balls for our thanksgiving meal and of course my store bought bisquick mix was out of date.   I will  be making this mix today but I felt confident enough in Mrs. Shank’s recipe to post it without trying it first.  I very seldom do that but every recipe I have tried from this cookbook has been excellent.  I feel confident this one will be also.   The recipe is:

8 cups all purpose flour, 1/3 cup baking powder, 2 tsp. cream of tartar, 3 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp salt, 1 1/2 cups dry milk powder.  Mix together thoroughly.  2 cups vegetable shortening.  Cut in until mixture is fine uniform crumbs.  Store in airtight container in cool dry place.  Yield  13 cups mix which makes 45-50 biscuits.  To make biscuits, blend together 3 1/2 cups mix and 2/3 cup water.  Stir just until liquid is mixed into the dough.  Form into a ball and knead slightly.  Pat or roll out to 1/2″ thickness.  Cut with biscuit cutter.  Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 min.  Makes 12 large biscuits.

Temperatures are nice here today but the clouds are moving in.  I have clothes on the line, hoping they will dry.  Yesterday was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine.  I certainly am enjoying these warm temperatures.  I was looking on our calendar.  Last year on Dec. 5th we had our first snow and it snowed all winter.   It was a beautiful but hard winter.  I wonder what the Lord has in mind for this winter.

Time for school.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

I decided yesterday to pick some more gooseberries and make a gooseberry cobbler.  I had never made this before.  It turned out very good.  Tasted a lot like cherry cobbler.  The recipe I used is:

1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1 tsp almond extract, 1/2 cup water, 4 cups gooseberries.  Melt butter in 9X13 baking dish.  Combine sugar and flour.  Mix almond extract and water and add to sugar mixture; add berries.  Pour into pan.  TOPPING:  1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, 1 tbsp oil, 1 egg-mix ingredients until crumbly.  Put on top of berry mixture and bake at 375 degrees for 40 min.  I think this would work with just about any fruit.

  Somehow during my picking I managed to get too close to a wasp.   Not good!   I also made my own tortillas yesterday for supper.  Another first.  They were really good and not too hard to make.   I think I would try them again. 

We got a little rain last night.  Lots and lots of thunder and lightning.  I could have done without the thunder and lightning but we really need rain.  Hopefully we will get more this weekend.   The garden and yard really need a drink.  Jess and family will be coming up tomorrow for a little visit.  I can hardly wait to see them.  I know Sam has grown so much already and Daniel seems to grow up more each time I see him.  Family is such a blessing from God.

Bible study today so I need to start getting ready.  Take care and God bless.