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Dryer Balls: The Healthy Alternative to Toxic Dryer Sheets

Hola friends! In Part 1 and 2 of this series, we talked about how to make your own laundry detergent and the importance of adding vinegar to your laundry .  Continuing on with Part 3 lets green up your laundry with a switch to wool dryer balls! Dryer balls are an awesome trade for your dryer sheets! They have been gaining significant popularity which is no surprise. Conventional dryer sheets contain artificial fragrances or other toxic ingredients know to cause skin irritation and respiratory health problems. Wool dryer balls, on the other hand, are biodegradable, naturally antimicrobial, and free of chemicals or dyes. 3 Awesome Reasons to Use Wool Dryer Balls and Ditch the Dryer Sheets 1. They shorten drying time by up to 20%, which means saving energy and money. 2. They are a Zero Waste option. They replace the disposable sheets and last up to 1,000+ loads 3. They soften laundry naturally without chemicals. How do Wool Dryer Balls Work? Wo...
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8 Reasons Why You Should Use Vinegar in Your Laundry

Hola friends! In Part 1 of this Laundry series, I talked about how to make your own laundry detergent . Continuing on with Part 2 lets touch base on the benefits of adding vinegar in your laundry! It took me over a year to figure out one of the top secret laundry hacks that no one ever talks about. I was so fed up with the static in my dryer that I was on the edge of giving up with using my dryer balls. Everyone said that they help reduce static but I was having a hell of a time believing them. I kept looking for a solution because I was determined to find something and sure wasn't going to go back to those toxic filled sheets. Low and behold a month later I came across this gals blog that talked about adding some vinegar to her load to help combat static because she was having the same problem as I was. So naturally I dived into research because my brain never shuts off! I found out adding vinegar to laundry has a whole heap (no pun intended) of benefit...
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Simple Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder

Hola friends! Ya know that amazing feeling when all the laundry is washed folded and put away, yeah me neither! I'm going to do a three part series that will cover laundry detergent powder and liquid versions, dryer sheets/ dryer balls, and softener/ vinegar rise. After becoming aware of all the junk that was in my every day products I started to do some research to find alternatives.  One of the first things I wanted to changed was my laundry detergent. I couldn't find one that was 'clean' and didn't have fragrance in it, so I decided to make my own. As my Dad always says if you want something done right, do it yourself! I have been making my own laundry detergent for over a year now. I have been very pleased with how it has worked! It is gentle and doesn't irritate my skin (see notes below) but is tough enough to cut through all the grease, grim, and dirt that gets on my farm clothes and my boyfriends shop clothes. The recipe is super ea...
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Crunchy Molasses Dijon Mustard Glazed Chicken

Hola friends! Do you have one of those fancy dutch ovens that never gets used? I was gifted one from my Ma a while back and have been looking for ways to use it.  So I know this gal that raises organic chickens around my neck of the woods and I was able to purchase 2 before they were all spoken for this past year. They are the best I've ever had for home grown ones and man are they huge! I started thawing this bad boy out on on Monday so it would be ready by Wednesday. In the mean time I started looking at different ideas for how to make it. I came across 2 separate recipes one for a garlic chicken and the other for a molasses one. They both sounded delicious, so why not combine them. Ya got to be a little adventurous in the kitchen right? I didn't have a pot big enough for my two ton chicken... the thing weighted 7 1/4 pounds! So I grabbed my dutch oven to see if that would work and by golly it was a tight squeeze but it fit. I recently make a l...
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Delicious Sour Cream Banana Bread

Hola friends! Can you ever have to much pasta or bread... asking for a friend. So I go through banana phases where all I want for a snack is a banana. After a week I burn myself out and I end up with a few stragglers that never got eaten. As I was paging through my recipe book this morning I came across my Great Grandma Dorothy's Sour Cream Banana Bread. I thought to myself "Is this God telling me to use those 3 browning bananas on my counter that have been eyeing me the last 4 days??" Since it snowing out (whats's new) and since calving season is approaching I'm stuck to the farm house and the barn. S o I figured why not whip up a batch in the few hours I have between calf checks and get those guys used up. So that is what went down after chores. I first mash my bananas on a plate with a fork. I have learned to not "puree" them, leave some chunks. From there I cream together the sour cream and sugar. After that is done I add 2 e...
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How To Clean Produce- Fruit and Veggie Wash

Hola friends! Lets talk some fruit and veggies!   If I get the opportunity to buy organic food, I often times take it. For the simple reason is there is often times less ingredients and they are normally cleaner (as in less processed/ preservatives).  I live in a tiny rural town in North Dakota that has a population of about three thousand, so our grocery store is pretty small. I will give them props because they are getting more and more organic options all the time! But when it comes to fruit and veggies its slim pickins. Have you ever heard of the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15?    The Environmental Working Group (EWG) release an annual list of foods with the most pesticide residue aka Dirty Dozen. On the flip side they also have a Clean 15 List which are foods that tend to have the least pesticide residues. Now, if you are in my position and can't buy organic fruit and veggies all the time, ...
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Crispy Fried Chicken

Hola friends! When I was younger my Ma would make homemade chicken strips that were fantastic! She came across this recipe for fried chicken in one of our old farm house cook books and played around with it and formed this recipe that we have come to love today. This is a pantry staple in our house (along with our bulk taco seasoning.) We not only use it on chicken but its lovely on fish too! All the spices blend together so nicely and the flour and corn meal create a crunchy crust.  A little goes a long way with this dry mix, so a jar will last you a long time. Which, who doesn't love something that lasts a long time? Ok lets dig into this! Ingredients for Fried Chicken Dry Mix 2 cups Flour 1/2 Cup Corn Meal 1 Tbs salt 2 Tbs Paprika 3/4 Tbs Celery Salt 2 Tbs Dry Mustard 1 Tbs Garlic Salt 1 Tbs Pepper 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme    1 tsp Ground Ginger 1/2 tsp Oregano Mix and Store in a quart jar. To use just place a little into...
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