Homemaking Organized Blog

Archive for December, 2008

So I have this recipe on my Vintage Homemaking site from an 1867 Godey’s Lady’s Book  and I’ve been tossing around whether to attempt to try it or not … so I did.

It’s for a hand cream (even though they are calling it cold cream) but truth be told I was actually going to make it to use on my face. I have very very dry skin on my face and I’m absolutely allergic to everything store bought…mostly.

You see women in the past had this big thing about how their hands looked. I can tell this from the enormous amount of ads in my vintage magazines advertising hand creams and the best way to do manicures. Even when they do show homemaking pictures the women always have impeccable hands with bright red nails.

So I made it just like the recipe, which is located here, states. I melted my beeswax…oh yes I used beeswax pellets that I had from a previous experiement, and sweet almond oil in a double boiler. Then mixed in my rosewater which I just purchased. After reading all the great reviews on Amazon I had to get some. So this is the brand rosewater I went for.

You can see the badly taken photgraphs below (I got a new camera for my birthday and I’m still learning how to use it).

The Ultra Finished Product is after whipping it a bit more and adding it to an empty jar. It’s kind of thick so it would make a great hand cream.

So I took the test and got my score. Guess I need a weapon and more savings and some big time food. I’ve been thinking of taking care of some more of those things lately.I think it is very wise to be prepared. No matter how things always were in the past. Take care of what you can.

You Are 65% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression

Even though you may not be expecting the worst, you’re the type of person who prepares for the worst.You live a relatively modest life. You don’t overspend, and you aren’t very materialistic. You are also quite self sufficient and independent. You have many useful skills. You can take care of yourself and those you love… which is crucial to surviving another Great Depression.

Oh woe are we. Here in the NW we have been missing snow for several years. My nephew and I pray every year for snow and we are positive that my mother’s prayers of no snow are canceling out ours.

But this year we got our prayers answered! Boy did we ever!

We’re known for rain not snow! (We’re also known for not being able to drive in the snow )

I’m not sure how many inches we got. There was a layer of snow that got a layer of freezing rain on top of it and then another big layer of snow.  It’s been a bit of rough driving for my husband who used to live in Alaska and thrives in this kind of weather and…

it has been wonderful for my three year old. This is her first year of snow.  We mostly just get a sprinkling that melts with the afternoon sun.

*******************************My Frugal Tip*******************************

So I’m watching all of these kids with their store bought sleds flying down the big hill in our neighborhood. I mean people were driving in from all over to use this hill.

But my baby is only three and I’m over protective. There was a mini hill in our backyard and I remember the days of my youth when my sister and I had endless fun sliding down cardboard on my grandmother’s grass hill.

Aha! Moment.

I mean remember we rarely get a good snow and spending money for something she may, repeat may, use once every five years isn’t the best use of our finances (which could instead be buying me a store of soy-free chocolate).

So into the garage I went. Out came one of the boxes our bottled water comes in with the plastic still on. PERFECT!

My daughter, her cousin, and my 30+ year old self have been having endless hours of free fun sliding down our little backyard hill.

You can thank me for the frugal tip later.

The snowy field next to my home that I can hardly see as I’m blinking snow out of my eyes trying to take this very bad picture. Better ones coming. LOL!

Okay somehow in following links and things, which I said I was going to cut back on considerably because you can get so caught up in reading about other’s lives that you forget you have your own, I came upon this great site…blog…site.

Pioneer Woman she calls herself, Ree is her name and food galore she dishes up. I admit to getting sidetracked by the how she met her husband story and attempting to learn new Photoshop tricks but the food is really what I was after.

I’ve been making her cookies rather regularly and she so lovingly makes up a printable pdf which came comes in quite handy.

I have my eye on the best lasagne ever who’s comments had me laughing out loud and the scrumptious looking rib eye steak which my husband will be ecstatic over.

Then! Oh then! I notice the up close and personal picture of a delectable piece of white cake with pink frosting!

Why oh why!

Now I’m a cake decorator by…hobby I guess. I bought myself the Wilton series when all my college friends where busy being social. I was in the kitchen struggling to make icing roses. I purchased my kitchen aid for my 21st birthday and my marble rolling pin for the 22nd. Yes I still have these items.

But truly what makes the cake is not the box mix you whip it up from. It is the license you take with ingredients and the light hand you use in putting it together.

As the official family celebration cake maker I’m always looking for new recipes to try.  Although I have been told that there will be a strike if I dare try to replace the old family secret celebration cake recipe which if I post they (family) will have to ship me off somewhere. So alas… you’ll have to guess.

BUT!

…also being a cake decorator a picture in Ree’s sidebar landed me here where I got lost again.

Bakerella. I have just begun to dig into her site but aside from being all about cake she’s got these darling cupcake pops which I think kids would adore making.

I’ve gone on long enough. Do enjoy the links.

Who doesn’t love cookies and around this time of year cookies seem to be on the agenda for everyone. In addition to be a great bonding time for parents with their children and friends and relatives cookies are just plain delicious and fun to make.

Here are my top cookie picks

Classic Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies courtesy of King Arthur These cookies are deliciously crunchy. I used barley flour in the recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookies courtesy of King Arthur my husband and I love these. Soft and chewy they don’t last long.

Wilton Roll Out Cookie Recipe These are a favorite with friends and family and they make a good kitchen activity for kids. The almond extract gives it a yummy hint of flavoring. Don’t forget to frost them with the easy Poured Cookie Icing

Washboard Cookies Courtesy of Taste of Home => These are really good and even better with a few changes. I started doctoring them up a bit and substituting some of the flour with ground hazelnuts. About 1/4 cup. Ground almonds will also work.

I hope you have some lovely holiday baking ahead.