I just wanted to show my Northern Hemisphere friends how 'cold' it gets here in Queensland and I know you will laugh yourselves silly.
This is the frost we had the other morning when it was 1 degree Celsius (33.8 F). Now when you live in an old wooden house and you don't turn the heater on it is very cold. Brrr! However a frosty morning gives way to a beautiful sunny day so we all try to find a sunny spot to warm up. It was colder just south of us though with really heavy frosts but there was no snow. It has been snowing at our snowfields though and all the skiers will be very happy about that.
I left a comment on Annabel's The Bluebirds are Nesting weekly Feather Your Nest series that I had made calendula soap last week and she asked if I had done a tutorial. I had a look through my soapmaking posts and found this one and I used the following recipe to make it:
SOAP WITH COPHA
- 600g rice bran oil
- 460g olive oil
- 440g copha
- 570 mls water
- 213g caustic soda
If you are into soap making most of my recipes are in the post What Soap Recipe Do You Use? You can also read the individual soap making posts by clicking on Soap Making in the 'Labels' section at the bottom of the page.
Do check out Annabel's blog as she has just started a Crock Pot Cooking Series. The first in the series was very informative as I usually just cook casserole style meals in mine but I knew that you could also cook all kinds of things in them but had never really bothered. However, seeing as she has proven it is more cost effective to use the crock pot instead of the oven I will experiment a bit more especially as we are now getting an electricity bill despite installing solar panels a few years ago.
Then again, is it really worth it in this household as twice this week the CEO has turned off the Crock Pot when he turned the kettle and toaster on and used both the kitchen power points and....guess what...he forgot to turn the Crock Pot back on again! I put Pea and Ham Soup in it this morning and when I checked to see how it was cooking a little while ago it was almost stone cold. Grrrr! Just as well he has gone out. LOL! So now it is cooking on the hotplate using up more electricity :-)
Enjoy the long weekend if you are having one in your state and I hope my Northern Hemisphere readers are taking pity on us while we suffer through this cold weather. Ha ha!
Oh no! You poor thing, thinking your crock pot was cooking away and it was turned off. That would make me put my cranky pants on! We have been having lovely weather here. I hope it doesn't get too cold your way.
ReplyDeleteSherri, I had cooled down by the time hubby got home. LOL! It turned out alright as I cooked it on the stove.
ReplyDeletePop it all in the pressure cooker.....done in 15 mins with a similar result.
ReplyDeletePhil, I had a pressure cooker years ago but it frightened the life out of me. I can't even remember what became of it :-)
ReplyDeleteI have a five in one cooker, slow cooker, soup make, rice cooker, steamer and browner. It makes the most delicious soup, under low pressure, in 25 minutes. Just love it!
ReplyDeleteJane I don't think I have seen those. They do sound interesting.
DeleteI will not laugh at you, it just turned warm here today and I am already complaining about the heat! ;) 85F at the hottest or about 29C!! Now whose laughing?! I have saved your soap posts and I am determined to do it this year!
ReplyDeleteHa ha Kathy, wait till it gets to 39C ;-) Haven't you made your soap yet ??? Well I never! LOL!
DeleteOh my goodness Nanna Chel this soap looks beautiful. Thank you very much for this tutorial. I will link to it during this week as it is a tutorial that makes soap making friendly... many people are worried about using caustic soda.Can you tell me does this soap harden up over time in just the same way?
ReplyDeleteAlso I love the shapes and patterns you have used.
Thank you so much! Now planning my soap making! xxx
Annabel, it hardens up as much as other handmade soap. Of course it is not a good idea to leave such soap sitting in water as it will go soggy but I have no trouble with leaving mine on the shower rack after the six week hardening period has finished. Using the caustic soda puts a lot of people off but if precautions are taken it is not an issue. Once a person has made soap they realise how easy it is and also how nice it is to use something on your skin that you have made yourself and to know exactly what is in it unlike the bought soap.
DeleteThank you! I have made a goats milks and olive oil soap using caustic soda. It is ages ago but it did turn out really well.xxx
DeleteThank you for sharing this tutorial Nanna Chel.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't found the courage to try my hand at soap making. I do buy handmade soap though and it feels and smells absolutely lovely.
We haven't had our first frosts yet, but I think it is going to go close this week. Time to cover the veggies in the garden. I still have sweet potato, tomatoes and capsicums growing, they do not like frosts. I am yearning for Spring already ~smiles~.
xTania
Tania, just do it!!! You will be amazed at how easy it is. Just make sure you wear gloves and I usually wear my glasses when I make it too. Have some vinegar nearby in case of accidents but I am sure you won't need it. Just take simple precautions and follow the instructions and you will be fine. I can't wait to see a photo of your first batch. Rhonda has step by step instructions on her blog which I have added my recipes to and printed out and I read them to refresh myself every time I make my soap.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a clever girl. We've been shivering down here all week but its been a lovely weekend. My bestie and i sat in the winter sun having tea yesterday in front of my chimnea fireplace outside in the pot garden.
ReplyDeleteLynda, it is lovely in the sun during winter. Not so nice in our summers though eh?
DeleteWE had a small frost as well. I have used my calendula infused oil to make body butter in the hope that it will help with the winter eczema.
ReplyDeleteHope it works for you, Deb. I don't get eczema thankfully.
DeleteThank you for sharing your tutorial! I love calendula and have some growing. We love to make bath projects with them as well. I found you via the Bluebirds are Nesting. Have a lovely week :)
ReplyDeleteJes, welcome to my blog. Yes, the calendula flowers can be used for a lot of skin products, can't they?
DeleteNanna Chel, I just looked at that tutorial, and this looks really easy. Thankyou. I'm an ambitiously amateur soapmaker, and enjoy trying new ideas. We love Goats Milk Soap the best but it is fiddly! Mimi xxx
ReplyDeleteGoats milk soap is really lovely, Mimi. I have made it a couple of times and I was pleased with how it turned out as it can be a bit iffy apparently.
DeleteI love the idea of using infused oil in my soap Nanna Chel. Why didn't I think of it before! I don't have any calendula at the moment but I wonder if rosemary, nasturtium or lavender would work? Might have to experiment.
ReplyDeleteHutchy, I am not sure about using the other herbs but I think you probably could. I will have to check that out.
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