Wisdom from My Kitchen Window

Shopping

 Just got back from my drug store run.  And just when I posted about homemade laundry detergent....

CVS had Xtra detergent on sale this week for $1.49 and I had a 75 cent off 2 coupon.  I bought 12 and when I did the math, it came to 4 cents a load.  Not sure how that compares to the homemade detergent, but it sounded pretty good to me.  I've used Xtra before and are pleased with it.  It will bring me 360 loads which should last us a while!  It came to $1.12 each for a total of $13.38.

Mitchum was $1.99 and I had a $1 off coupon making them $1 each.

Good 'n Natural Bars were 99 cents and I had a BOGO coupon, making them 50 cents each.

Bayer Advanced was $3 this week and Sunday's paper had a $3 off coupon, making it FREE !

Colgate Sensitive was $4.99 with a $4 ECB and I had a 50 cent off coupon so it was 49 cents.

They had some really nice picture frames for 75% off and I bought several of them (not in the picture) to put in our lake house.  I bought 5 frames of various sizes for $1.99-$3.49.  The total WOULD HAVE BEEN $45.96 but I only paid $9.96.

Walgreens had Pro Clearz for $4.99 with a $4.99 MIR so it was FREE!

Bayer was $4.00 with $1 RR and I used another $3 off coupon from Sunday's paper so it was FREE!

Coppertone ws $9.97 each with $10 RR when you buy 2.  I used a $5 off 2 coupon from the paper and 2 $1 off coupons from the Walgreens cosmetics counter.  They came to $1.47 each!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

 I've never made my own laundry detergent but have read several blog posts about it and written down several recipes.  I have vowed to tried the Duggar's famous recipe one day but it seems too involved for me to tackle right now. 

Just recently I ran across a simple recipe that sounded do-able and so I tried it.  I can't remember whose blog I read it on or I would give them credit, but my disclaimer is I am only a copier of good ideas and this is one of them.  Sorry for not giving credit due.

BEWARE:  The grated Ivory soap in the food processor looks very similar to shredded mozzarella cheese, but doesn't taste near as good.  Just ask my oldest Fish Stick.  Poor guy.  I guess that's what you get for snitchin'. 

Homemade Laundry Detergent

4 bars Ivory soap, grated

1 Box Borax

1 Box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

a few drops of essential oils (optional)

Mix together and store in airtight container.  

Use 3 Tb. per load (I use 1/4 c.)

So far I've been pleased with the cleanliness of the laundry and haven't found anything undesirable about the detergent.  The blog also mentioned putting 1/4 c. vinegar in a Downy fabric softener ball to use as a fabric softener but I haven't tried that yet.  Anyone else ever tried homemade detergent?

Deals This Week

 Went to Kroger and got 6 packs of Angel Soft toilet paper.  They were $1 each and I had 3 coupons for 25 cents off (doubled to 50 cents) and 3 coupons for 45 cents off (doubled to 90 cents off).  My total for 6 packs was $3.90 (about 65 cents each).  Dial soap was $1 and I had 2 coupons for 35 cents off which brought my total to 30 cents each.  I also had 4 coupons for $1 off Brutt deodorant, making them free, but they were out of them.  Guess everyone else had that coupon too.  :)

 Walgreens had Colgate Total for $3 each with $2.50 back in RR.  I used a 75 cent coupon and made 25 cents on the purchase.  Reach Total Care floss was $2.99 with $2 back in RR.  There was a $1 off coupon at the shelf but my Walgreens didn't have the Total Care.  They told me they would adjust the price of the floss to be 99 cents using another kind of Reach floss.  I tried to use my coupon but it wouldn't work so it should have been free but I spent 99 cents.  Oh well.  The Mentholatum Rub was $5.99 with a $5.99 RR so it was free.  Suave was 99 cents a bottle and $2 RR when you buy 2 Suave products, making them both free.

CVS had Coglate for $2.49 with $1.50 ECB (limit 2).  I used my coupon for 75 cents off and got them each for 25 cents.  The Schick Hydro was $8.99 with $3 ECB and I used a coupon for $4 off.  This made the razor $1.99.  At the coupon scanner I got a Lady's Schick Hydro coupon for $5 off.  I bought one for $8.99, got $3 ECB and used my $5 off coupon, making it 99 cents. (not in photo)

Easy & Delicious Refried Beans

 A few years ago I found a recipe that I have tweaked several times to make it what I consider the best refried beans ever.  They are cheap.  They are easy.  They are delicious!!  Not to mention healthy!

 Crock Pot Refried Beans

Rinse and soak 2 lbs. (large bag) of dried pinto beans overnight.  In a.m. rinse again, drain and put in crock pot with 1 onion quartered, 1/2 jalapeno (fresh or jarred), 3-5 cloves garlic, 4 tsp. salt, 1 3/4 tsp. pepper, 1-2 tsp. cumin and enough water to cover beans.  Cook on low all day.

Around supper, spoon into food processor keeping a little liquid in the beans.  I usually split the beans 2 or 3 times to not overload the food processor.  Process until you get the consistency you like.  If too thick, add some liquid from the crock pot.  If too thin, add some more beans. 

Serve.  They freeze great and it makes a large amount so it's perfect for Mexican buffet when hosting a large group of company for supper or for taking a meal to friends.

Free Bread DVD

I meant to share something with you on the bread post.  If you are even remotely interested in milling your own flour to bake bread, you can order for free a great DVD from Bread Beckers about the nutritional benefits of milling your own flour and about what the Bible says about wheat and bread.  It's fascinating.  The link is here.

Homemade Granola Bars

 Have any of you noticed that packaged granola bars are getting smaller?  Not to mention, less healthy?  I have been making homemade granola bars for years.  They are easy to make.  A 9x13 makes more than a box of granola bars.  They are filling and they are healthy.  And the Fish Sticks love them.  So do their friends because folks ask me all the time for the recipe.

I have tried many, many recipes for homemade granola bars over the years.  Some ultra healthy, some not so healthy and some that tasted like cardboard.  My tried and true recipe is the one my mom made for us all the time growing up.  It's kind of a 2 step recipe but easy to make.

First you make a batch of the Granola Mix:  (I mix mine up in a gallon Ziploc bag.)

4 c. rolled oats

1 c. coconut

3/4 c. wheat germ (I substitute whatever I have on hand like ground flax seed, oat bran, etc.)

3/4 c. almonds

2/3 c. brown sugar (can substitute sucanat if you prefer)

optional 1/2 c. dry milk

Granola Bars

5 1/2 cup granola mix (above)

1/2 c. brown sugar/sucanat

1/2 c. honey

1/2 tsp. almond OR vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

12 Tb melted butter (1 1/2 sticks)

optional 1/2 c. peanut butter

optional 1/2 - 1 cup chocolate chips

Mix honey, extract, salt and butter (and peanut butter if you like).  Add to mix, sugar and granola mix in large bowl and mix well until dry ingredients are coated.  Press into greased 9x13 pan and bake for 15-20 minutes on 350.  Before cooled, you can sprinkle chocolate chips over top and spread when melted to form a coat or just leave them as is.  I have also tried mixing the chocolate chips in the bars and that is good too.  Makes 18 bars.  Wrap individually or serve from pan.  If they are crumbly, put in fridge.