Homemade Chicken Soup

 Even though it's Springtime, we've been having lots of cold and windy days.  I made a big pot of this soup recently.  It is so good for the soul and the body!

I bought a small chicken, around 5 lbs and put it in a big pot of water.  I put the flame on high and waited for it to boil.

I also use my crock pot on low for 8 hours to cook the chicken.  The results are the same to get wonderful broth!

While waiting, I chopped 2 medium yellow onions and scrubbed 8 carrots and a head of celery. 

I quartered the carrots lengthwise try to make the cuts as even as possible.

I cut the celery stalks in half lengthwise and chopped.

Once the chicken came to a boil, I lowered the heat and let it boil for 1 to 1.5 hours until the meat was falling apart.

Then I removed the chicken to a platter to cool.

I added my onions to the chicken broth first to boil for about 15 minutes because I like them soft, not crunchy.  I also added 1 teaspoon of salt and some granules of chicken bouillon to taste.

Then I added the carrots and celery.  Once they came to a full boil, I let them go for about 5 minutes before turning off the heat.

Once the meat was cooled, I pulled the meat off the bones.

Then I added the pulled meat to the pot.

We like Basmati rice with our soup, but pastina, orzo, or other small pastas are great too.

Look at this beautiful bowl!!  There's nothing like a bowl of steaming homemade chicken soup on a cold day!

Let me know how yours turns out!

Tried and True Homemade Laundry Detergent

 I've been making my own laundry detergent for over 10 years.  I only wish I had known about this when my boys were little.  Their clothes and cloth diapers (yes, I used them!) would have been so much cleaner!

I found this recipe from Mary Hunt at EC and it's been a staple in our home ever since.  One batch lasts a long time because you only need 2 tablespoons per load.

I pair this with white vinegar as a rinse agent, NO fabric softener needed.  My clothes are clean and soft, no soap residue or waxy build-up.

Ready to give it a try? Here are the 3 ingredients:

These can be found at Wal-Mart, and some grocery stores.

First I measure 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Super Washing Soda into a large bowl.

Next I cut the Fels-Naptha soap into 1-inch cubes.

I put them into a small food processor.

I process until the soap is in granules or powder.

Hint: The dryer/older the soap is, the better it breaks down!

Add it to the bowl and mix.  You're ready for the cleanest, softest clothes ever!

I store mine in a plastic container with a lid.

Use 2 tablespoons per load, no more!

It doesn't make bubbles, but it pulls the dirt out of clothes well!

Let me know how you like it!