Home made Detergent

4 cups Hot Tap Water
1 Fels-Naptha Soap Bar (I found this on the top shelf above laounry soup, etc.)
1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
Grate bar of soap, it needs to be grated to dissolve faster. Add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket 3/4 from top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

The next morning add more hot water and stir, you will find it went like a gel overnight.

To make it easy to use, pour into an old laundry detergent container. As you use it you will need to roll or shake the container once in a while.

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Some ideas are lavender, rosemary, tee tree oil. I like the way it smells just the way it is.

Yields: 5 gallon

Top loading washer: 1/4 cup (320 loads)
Front loading washer: 1/8 cup (640 loads)

A great idea is to purchase the ingredients and put them in your food storage. They all fit into one regular grocery bag and will give more than 1,200 loads from under $20.00. that turns out to be uinder $.03 per load. (I am not sure if those figures are for the top loading or front loading machines, but either way it is still quite a bit cheaper and I hear it cleans very well.)

Yummy Lemon Bars

Crust:
1 cup softened butter
dash of salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour
Mix. Press into 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Filling:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
6 tbsp. lemon juice
Pour Over slightly cooled crust. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Five Minute Chocolate Cake
I feel like maybe you will love me and hate me for posting this. You can blame my mother-in-law for this one, or thank me for it in the moments of serious cravings and no chocolate to be found in the house.

Ingredients:
4 Tablespoons flour (non-self rising)
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons oil
3 Tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
small splash of vanilla
chocolate syrup (optional)
whipped topping (optional)

Directions:
1. Add dry ingredients to a mug and mix well
2. Add egg and mix thouroughly
3. Pour in milk and oil and mix well
4. Add chocolate chips (if using), vanilla, mix again
5. Set mug in microwave and cook for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes at 1000 watts
6. Cake will rise over the top of the mug, do not be alarmed
7. Some report that 2 1/2 minutes works best. It depends on the microwave. So watch carefully to not overcook.
8. Allow cake to cool slightly, then tip out onto a plate if desired.
9. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with whipped topping if desired.
10. Enjoy! (serves 2)

Moulton Meatballs

As per Alisha's request. . .
1-1 1/2 lb. thawed hamburger
1 cup crushed cornflakes
1/3 cup evaporated milk
season salt
pepper, etc.
1 can golden mushroom soup

Mix ingredients except soup in a bowl and form into balls. Pour golden mushroom soup over them in a frying pan and cook medium heat. Add 1/2 to one can water as it cooks.
I like serving it over rice. Yummy. Yummy.
p.s. I think it is actually something like #367 in our files. I just found it! Good job Mom!