Finding Wonderful with Coconut Oil, Baking Soda, and Vinegar

Rather than posting about a new recipe, I thought this time I would talk about my new craze: coconut oil, baking soda, and vinegar.  These products are inexpensive, versatile, and work great!  Here are some of my favorite uses...

Cooking:
Coconut oil serves as a great cooking oil.  I use it whenever I cook something in a pan: eggs, chicken, hamburger meat, boiling pasta, etc.  It leaves no taste and melts fast (at 76 degrees in fact). 

I also stir coconut oil into my oatmeal. I use the minute oats, about a teaspoon of coconut oil, some honey to sweeten, and fresh blueberries...so good!!

It is also possible to replace butter with coconut oil.  I tried this making "no bake" cookies but it just wasn't the same.  It wasn't bad...just not the same.  I like the butter we use so I'm not up for switching that out just yet. 

Skin care:
I unfortunately have dealt with toenail fungus for what seems like forever.  I also regularly develop athletes foot between two of my toes (the same two every time).  I used to use an athletes foot cream whenever it showed up and have just hid the toenail fungus with polish. I could have used various treatments to try and clear it up or spent hundreds of dollars on doctors to treat it...knowing that it may or may not even work.  But, guess what, coconut oil takes care of it!  It fights fungus naturally and softens your feet at the same time!  It rub it on my toe nails and in between my trouble toes twice daily.  I've noticed the fungus slowly going away and it keeps that nasty athletes foot at bay.  I've also been rubbing some on my heals to help with the dry, cracked skin that always happens in the summer.

After shaving, I rub coconut oil on my legs and bikini area.  It works great as a skin softener and helps with those nasty bumps in sensitive areas.  I also use it after plucking my eyebrows, the redness goes away almost instantly and no longer hurts.

For years I have been using an apricot scrub to clean my face.  I loved the grit because it feels like it cleaned my face well.  Now, I mix baking soda and water to make a paste, plus a few drops of lavender essence oil, and it works amazing!  I don't have a formula to give you, I just fill up a small Tupperware tub about 3/4 full of baking soda and slowly mix in some water until it forms a paste.  I make it a little more watery than a paste actually because after a few days, it forms a dry paste and I just mix in water from the shower until its back to how I want it again. 

Hair care:
I've been trying a few combinations to get my hair care regime just right.  You can use coconut oil in the shower as a conditioner but for me, it came out a bit too greasy.

Baking soda and water makes a great shampoo.  Weird right?  One tablespoon of baking soda mixed in 8oz water is all you need to clean your hair, not all this expensive stuff companies have been telling us all this time.  I mix it together in a measuring cup and pour it into a spray bottle.  To use it, shake up the bottle a bit and spray, making sure to get all over.  You don't need a lot but get it all on there and use your fingers to rub it in. 

For a conditioner, use the same formula (1 tablespoon and 8oz) of vinegar and water.  I use good ol' white vinegar but some say apple cider vinegar is better.  And, despite what you may think, you can't smell it after the shower.  Yes, you can smell it in the shower but once you rinse it out, the smell does not linger. 

I now wash my hair every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with this method.  You don't need to wash your hair any more than that and some people even wash less!  There is no icky residue left and it cleans so well that your hair still feels great the next day.  A side benefit to using them in the shower is that it also helps to clean your shower and tub, not make it worse!

I also stopped using product (mousse, gel, etc) and instead rub a bit of coconut oil on my hands and through my hair.  This works surprisingly well to hold my curls while keeping my hair soft. 

Personal care:
Mixing equal parts baking soda and coconut oil serves two purposes: toothpaste and deodorant.  Yes, its true!  I mix the two in another small Tupperware and keep it by the sink.  I use my finger to tab a bit on my toothbrush and add just a drop of regular toothpaste to get the minty flavor.  You can mix in some of your favorite mint essence oil but I figure I might as well use up my toothpaste I have lying around! 

For deodorant, just dab some on your fingers and rub it in your armpits.  I used this for the first time yesterday and went for a bike ride at about the hottest part of the day.  I was sweaty every where but my pits!  It did sting for about a half hour after applying but it goes away and is probably because of shaving.  I'm wondering if dabbing on some baby powder on top might help.

I keep another small Tupperware tub of plain coconut oil to use as lotion, hair product, and lip care.  I am addicted to lip gloss and chapstick so this is an ok supplement but doesn't quite feed the addiction (I know, pathetic). 

There is am ancient technique called "oil pulling" which you can use coconut oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, or whatever you like.  It is supposed to help with teeth and gum cleaning as well as any other mouth ailment you might have.  You simply swish a teaspoon of oil for 20 minutes before brushing then spit and rinse with water.  I tried it but can't do it for the full 20 minutes so switched to the homemade toothpaste and called it good.  Maybe I will try it again another time but it just wasn't for me. 

Home care:
One day I will make my own laundry detergent (its actually pretty easy to make) but for now I buy a large tub of store brand powder detergent and I've enjoyed the savings compared to liquid and have not noticed a difference in quality.  This week, I started using half detergent and half baking soda.  This cuts down on using the detergent so it lasts twice as long and my clothes are actually softer! 

I read that adding a half cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle acts a softener.  I tried this on a few loads but didn't see much of a difference. 

I've been sprinkling some baking soda over the dishes and at the bottom of the dishwasher.  It doesn't take a lot but seems to help get it all clean.  This also means that I don't need to use as much detergent. 

To wash my wood floors, I simply pour some vinegar (I don't measure, just pour until I think its enough - you don't' need a lot) into a sink of water.  I don't use a bucket but the same method applies.  It dries quick, doesn't smell, cleans great, and sanitizes the mop all at the same time!  I've been interested in adding some lemon juice as well. 

Final thoughts:
As you can see, I am pretty passionate about using coconut oil, baking soda, and vinegar!  I found the best place to shop for it all is Sam's Club.  I found a 54oz tub of coconut oil for about $12, a huge bag of baking soda for about $6, and two large jugs of vinegar for about $4.  All of this lasts quite a while so its a huge savings, especially considering how much I am also saving on the products that I've created instead of buying! 

There are lots of sites out there dedicated to do-it-yourself projects like these.  I haven't found one that I like over others but its an easy search to read more.  I encourage you to do your own search and try things yourself.  Its all about experimenting and seeing what is right for you.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, other projects you've tried, and new ideas!

Turkey & Cranberry Roll

Need something unique to use up the Thanksgiving leftovers?  This is one of a collection of fun "filling" recipes by Pampered Chef.  They give a few different ways to create a "shape" using crescent roll dough and you pick the filling.  We used this one for my first host party and have made it a few times since.

2 cups chopped cooked turkey (I cut up leftover pieces with the kitchen shears)
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese (I didn't have any Swiss this time so I just used mozzarella)
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries (I used good ol' canned whole cranberries I had for leftovers)
3 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley (fresh? ha! 1 tablespoon of dried parsley works fine)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons honey Dijon mustard (I only had brown spicy mustard...good enough.  And I used a little more than 1 tablespoon)
1/2 teaspoon coarsley ground black pepper (I just used my pepper grinder shaker thing until I thought it was enough)
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine all ingredients (only 1 cup of the cheese) except for the egg and mix well.

Time to make the shape!  I used the wreath shape; here are some online instructions.  And here are some pictures of the book (All the Best).

Mine never looks that great but who cares, it all tastes the same in the end!

Once the shape is constructed, brush the egg white over the dough and sprinkle the rest of the cheese.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

I used to make this dish a lot with the Sam's Club brand chicken because the cans came with the recipe.  I have since lost the copy of the recipe but I conjured up my own version tonight and I think I got it spot on!  Easy, cheap, and delicious...my kind of meal  :-)

1 can chicken
1 4oz can green chilis, chopped
1 cup (approximate) of salsa verde or verde enchilada sauce
5-7 tortillas (depends on how stuffed you like your enchiladas!)
1 cup (approximate) heavy cream
2 cups (approximate) shredded cheese (I like monterey jack but you can use your favorite Mexican blend!)

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease the bottom of a shallow pan, about 10 x 14.

Mix the chicken, green chilis, and salsa together in a medium bowl, shredding the chicken as you mix.  Scoop portions of the mixture into the tortillas, fold, and place seam-side down into the pan.  Cover the stuffed tortillas with the heavy cream (I found cream by aMexican company, Cacique, famous for its cheeses, and it was a bit cheaper than good ol' heavy cream), enough to cover the tops completely.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until cream is bubbling.  Top with your desired amount of cheese and bake 5-10 minutes longer.

You top with some more of the salsa/enchilada sauce, (red) salsa, and/or sour cream to spice it up even more.  Serve with your favorite Mexican sides!

One version I read online include using a can of refried beans in the mixture - I am trying that next time!!

Easy Homemade Pizza Crust

Since discovering this receipe, we have been making a lot of pizza at home!  Its quick, easy, and much cheaper than buying crust or ready-made pizza. 

2 1/2 cups flour
2 3/4 tsp baking powder (or 1 1/4 tsp baking soda but eliminate salt)
1 tsp salt
1 tblspn oil (I use olive oil)
1 cup water

Mix dry ingrediants; add water and oil; stir into a ball.  Once is mixed and sticky, start kneading with your hands until it forms a good ball to roll into crust.  I use a pizza stone and spread a little oil so that it doesn't stick to the stone.  It also helps to flour the dough, rolling pin, and stone before rolling. 

To make the crust edges, roll the dough out just pass the edges and roll the ends in.  It takes some manipulating and practice to make a nice round crust; sometimes you have to make another ball and start over!

Bake the crust at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes before adding your toppings; bake again for about 10 minutes.

Some of our favorite fun additions:
* add italian seasoning and garlic salt (use less salt) to dry ingrediants (or any of your favorite seasonsings)
* for a BBQ chicken pizza, use your favorite BBQ sauce instead of pizza sauce and cooked chicken cut into small pieces
* slice string cheese length-wise and roll into crust edges

Broiled Lobster Tails

We were lucky to find some lobster tails on sale and took advantage.  The last time we tried lobster we boiled them...and failed.  I found a recipe on AllRecipes.com using spices and broiling in the oven...and scored!  I will list the recipe but our tails were a lot smaller than I think that recipe called for so I ended up wasting butter so just note to adjust based on the size of what you have; you only need enough to baste.
This mix brought an amazing taste to the lobster!
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon paprika
White pepper to taste
Salt to taste
Preheat oven on broil.
Use baking sheet (I lined with aluminum foil).
Cut tails along top, lengthwise, using shears.  To get to meat, I cut a thick line so meat was exposed.
Baste with melted butter and sprinkle with mixed spices.
Broil about 10 minutes until meat is opaque.

Everything Apple for Fall!

Haven't tried any of these recipes yet but plan to and will post! For now, check them out through link below:

Everything Apple for Fall!

Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a favorite that my mom used to make.  Perect for fall time and really easy.  All I needed to pick up was pumpkin!

1 can pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 tsp milk
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

In large bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, oil, and egg
In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt
Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture along with dissolved baking soda; mix well
Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla
Drop by spoonful on baking sheet
Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes

Note: it can be difficult to tell when the cookies are ready.  I recommend baking the full 12 minutes, let them cool and try one to determine if they should be baked less or more.