Thursday, March 13, 2014

Homemade Concentrated Laundry Sauce




Homemade Concentrated Laundry Sauce
adapted from Budget101.com Super Laundry Sauce for Dummies
http://www.budget101.com/myo-household-items/5-minute-no-cook-laundry-detergent-recipe-4075.html

 
What you'll need:
1 Entire 5.05oz Bar of Fels Naptha Soap (you can find this in most laundry isles of your local convenience stores, Menards has everything you need all in the same section of the isle)
3 c. water
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax Powder
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not Baking Soda)
2 (1 qt) Mason Jars










Directions:

Unwrap the Fels Naptha soap and cut the bar in half. Take (1) half of the bar and slice it, cutting it into pea sized chunks. Place all of those chunks into a 1 qt mason Jar. Cut up the other half and place those pieces in the second mason jar.

Add 1 1/2 cups of Boiling Hot Water to each jar, cover and leave it alone overnight.

The next day (or several days down the road, depending on your schedule!), open the jar, use a butterknife to make a "criss-cross" pattern to loosen the gelled fels naptha off the bottom when you whip it. Add 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup washing soda to each jar.

Add enough hot water to bring the level up to the "shoulder" of the Jar (just where the bottle starts to narrow-about 2 inches or so from the top of the jar)

Carefully seat the gasket and blender blade onto the bottom of the jar. If the rubber gasket is wet or has any contents of the jar on it, it will get chewed up into your laundry soap.

Place the jar on the blender base and Whip until it is light and fluffy with the consistency of Creamy Mayonnaise.

To USE, add 1 Tablespoon to a load of laundry in any type of machine, conventional, Front Loader, High Capacity & High Efficiency (HE), etc. Do not add the detergent to the "detergent compartment" but instead directly with the dirty clothes. (It WILL get stuck in the compartment, I can assure you!)
  1. start the water, (hot- Cold- or warm- doesn't matter)
  2. Measure out 1 Tablespoon (literally) of super laundry sauce
  3. stick the measuring spoon of detergent under the running water, let it fall off the spoon.
  4. Close the washer lid, go away and do something else while the machine runs.
  5. Do NOT Use Baking Soda or Oxyclean in this recipe hoping it will be an added "Boost". Your jars will likely explode within 7-10 days in storage


Monday, March 3, 2014

Sausage Spinach Risotto



Sausage Spinach Risotto
3 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 (8-ounce) package presliced mushrooms
5 ounces sweet Italian sausage, casings removed (about 2 links)
1/2 cup chopped red onions
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
1/3 cup dry white wine  
2-3c chopped baby spinach
1/4 cup (1 ounce) shaved fresh Romano cheese
Preparation
  1. 1. Bring broth and 1 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan (do not boil); keep warm over low heat.
  2. 2. Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add salt and mushrooms to pan; cook for 8 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Remove mushrooms from pan, and set aside.
  3. 3. Add sausage to pan, and cook for 3 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Add onion and garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium. Add rice; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine, and cook until liquid is nearly absorbed, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
  4. 4. Stir in 1 cup broth mixture; cook for 2 minutes or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining broth mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of broth mixture is absorbed before adding the next (about 30 minutes total). Remove pan from heat. Add mushrooms and spinach; stir until spinach wilts. Top evenly with cheese. Serve immediately.

Friday, February 28, 2014

30 Day Push-Up Challenge

30 Day Push-Up Challenge-10 repetitions of each of these 3 push-ups by the end of the month

Military Press Push-up video Military Press Push-up (or Shoulder Push-up


  • Place feet slightly wider than hip distance. Bring your hands to the floor, creating a V with your core.
  • Lower your head toward the floor as if you are coming down into a head stand (you'll be rocking on the balls of your feet). Push back up with your exhale.
  •  Rocking or lowering your head down will put the focus on your shoulders rather than your chest.
Regular Push-up video Regular Push-up
  • Come into plank position with your arms and legs straight, your hands are placed slightly wider than shoulder width. Tuck your pelvis and keep your abdominals and glutes engaged.
  • Keeping a straight line from the back of your head to your tailbone, bend your elbows out to the sides and lower your chest toward the ground. Don't let your forehead or hips drop toward the floor. Stop as soon as your shoulders are in line with your elbows. Exhale to straighten the arms. This counts as one repetition.
  • If this is too difficult, do this exercise with your hands on an elevated surface (chair, bench, coffee table) rather than coming to your knees. Bringing the hands up off of the floor will decrease the intensity. 


Close Arm Push-up video Close Arm Push-up


  • Come into high plank position with your hands shoulder width apart, fingers pointed forward. Keep your back and abdominals straight and strong, creating a straight line from the back of your head to your tailbone.
  • Pull naval toward your spine, engaging abdominals and glutes.
  • Lower your chest toward bench, keeping spine in alignment, and elbows tucked close to your sides. Press up with your Exhale. 

DAY OF MONTH
EXERCISE
TOTAL PUSH-UPS
Day 3/1
1 rep of each
3
Day 3/2
2 reps of each
6
Day 3/3
Rest
0
Day 3/4
2 reps of each
6
Day 3/5
1 rep of each, repeat 3x
9
Day 3/6
Rest
0
Day 3/7
2 reps of each, repeat 2x
12
Day 3/8
3 reps of each
9
Day 3/9
Rest
0
Day 3/10
2 reps of each, repeat 3x
18
Day 3/11
4 reps of each
12
Day 3/12
Rest
0
Day 3/13
3 reps of each, repeat 2x
18
Day 3/14
4 reps of each
12
Day 3/15
Rest
0
Day 3/16
5 reps of each
15
Day 3/17
6 reps of each
18
Day 3/18
Rest
0
Day 3/19
4 reps of each, repeat 2x
24
Day 3/20
6 reps of each
18
Day 3/21
Rest
0
Day 3/22
7 reps of each
21
Day 3/23
8 reps of each
24
Day 3/24
Rest
0
Day 3/25
8 reps of each
24
Day 3/26
9 reps of each
27
Day 3/27
Rest
0
Day3/ 28
9 reps of each
27
Day 3/29
5 reps of each, repeat 2x
30
Day 3/30
10 reps of each
30