Homemade Chocolate Syrup

The most delicious chocolate syrup!!!  As if you can go wrong with chocolate, right?  I took a few recipes, tried them and tweaked them into this:

1 cup cocoa powder
1.5 cups water
1.5 cups sugar
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp butter

Mix the cocoa, sugar, salt and water in a saucepan.  On medium heat, stir frequently until the the surface barely starts to bubble.  Stir constantly until it breaks into a full boil.  Stir for 5 minutes, making sure to stir the sides and bottom to prevent scorching.  Remove from heat and add the vanilla and butter.  It will thicken as it cools.  Refrigerate between uses.

The finished texture is an even cross between hot fudge and store-bought syrup.  And is oh, so much better than anything commercial that  I've ever tried!

Legacy Drawer / Financial Organization

Many wise financial leaders agree that an essential part of stewardship is being aware of where your money is going. Right alongside that is having a way to organize all your financial and personal paperwork into one grab-and-go binder. Here are some forms that you can use to get started. I recommend writing your passwords in pencil, as it is a good idea to change them periodically. Print off as many as you need for each page.  This is something you do to benefit yourself, as well as anyone who may need to step in for you (and believe me, they will thank you!).

This blog has a limit on document sizes, so you can copy and paste either of the links below to get your printable forms.  Here are a few previews of what you will find.  I made two sets, one  colorful and another more masculine.

Via Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151607353304111.1073741827.712239110&type=1&l=d9a74cdb37

or via Picassa:  https://picasaweb.google.com/sh.simonsen/FinancialFormsOrganizationLegacyDrawer?authuser=0&feat=directlink 

When you are finished, keep a copy in an easily accessible place, as well as a copy in a safe secondary location.  I keep a digital copy on my computer as well so that I can change and print as needed. If you have access to Acrobat Pro, you can use this locked format and simply enter your customized information.

For more information on getting your finances in order, I highly recommend Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course.   

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

2 ¼ cup borax
1 ¾ cup baking soda
¾ cup uniodized salt
¼ cup citric acid* (optional, but very effective for hard water)
OR
30 drops lemon or orange essential oil
White vinegar

Use 1 Tbsp. for each load.

Add vinegar as your rinse aid (as you would Jet-Dry), or about 3 Tbsp. straight into the dishwasher before starting the wash cycle.

Double the salt if you have very soft water in your home.

*Citric acid can be found in the canning section as a preservative, as vitamin C tablets, or the main ingredient in lemon flavored powdered drink packets (like Kool-Aid).  If you use drink packets, please be aware that colored varieties may stain acrylic soap containers of certain dishwashers.  It will take about 10-15 packets to equal 1/4 cup.  Or substitute about 1/2 Tbsp. bottled lemon juice per load, added to the dishwasher before starting the wash cycle.

Spray Bottles for Homemade Cleaners / Essential Oil Cleaners

Homemade Glass Cleaner

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup warm water
1 Tbsp. white vinegar

¼ tsp. dish soap

1 tsp. cornstarch (optional, but really cuts down streaking)

Use this glass cleaning spray recipe for windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures and for a shiny finish on hard-surface ceramic tiles.  I prefer using an old cotton towel or washcloth when cleaning with this spray (vs. a paper towel).

Homemade Thieves All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe

After a little experimenting this afternoon, I am quite pleased with the results!  I had family walking into the room wondering what smelled so good.  Mission accomplished!  Although it has a portion of white vinegar, the other ingredients help neutralize the odor so it can do it's job quietly.  If you haven't heard about Thieves Oil blend, you are in for a treat. Cinnamon, one of it's ingredients, is a natural hero in the germ world--even ranking right up there with Lysol claims!

3/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
3/4 cup hot water
1 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
15 drops Thieves Essential Oil blend* (more if desired)
6 drops liquid dish soap (optional)

Combine the vinegar, soda and water, and let it rest until the bubbles have subsided.  Add the remaining ingredients and blend.

Makes about 24 oz. of cleaner.

*Though there are many brands of Thieves out there, this recipe assumes that you are using one that is fairly pure.  That means there is not any or a very small amount of carrier oil.  If your Thieves blend creates distinct oil pockets at the top of your cleaner, you have a diluted oil.  I have found that Young Living oils are superior when using them to blend in cleaners.  If you want to know more, visit my Facebook page at Sweet Eden Oils and contact me for more information!

Homemade Ranch Dressing

This has become a staple in our house!  In fact, making all our own salad dressings has become routine now for supreme flavor and frugality with minimum elbow grease.  Too many dressings contain MSG, including our once go-to ranch mix.

2 Tbsp. dry parsley flakes

½ tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. garlic salt (or 1/8 tsp. garlic powder + 3/8 tsp. salt)

1 Tbsp. onion salt (or ¼ Tbsp. onion powder + ¾ Tbsp. salt)

½ tsp. salt or powdered bouillon

2 cups mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream (can substitute plain yogurt + salt to taste)

1 cup buttermilk, or 1 Tbsp. white vinegar, fill the rest of the measuring cup up with milk

Chill before serving.  Makes 1 quart.  Keeps for 2-3 weeks refrigerated.