When the World Stinks, Make Deodorant

You know the whole: When life gives ynou lemons, make lemonade? Yeah, well, this week the world has been stinking a bit (see this ABC article about the USDA deregulation of GMOs, motherf**&$!!).

So, I decided, when the world stinks, make deodorant.

Homemade Coconut Deodorant
This recipe allows me to reuse a plastic container (no more tossing out used deodorant containers), use organic products I already have in my home, and make something I need with my own arm-power (instead of having it made in a factory with fossil fuels).


Ingredients
organic, cold-pressed coconut oil
baking soda
organic corn starch

There are a lot of recipes online--with slightly different proportions. So, it really depends on how much you want to make. I used 4 T of oil, and then I started out by mixing in 4 T of baking soda and 2 T of corn starch. I kept mixing in more (more than what I found online) until the deodorant was the consistency of thick cake batter. Once it cools to room temperature, it solidifies more.

Here are some links to various instructions, if you want to check out other's recipes:
* a recipe with just powder and starch from 1greengeneration
* a recipe similar to mine but with addition of essential oils from associated content
* a recipe with instructions for making deodorant the consistency that can be put into an empty deodorant stick from little house in the suburbs

TIPS & INFO
* My delightful neighbor gave me a sample of her homemade deodorant a few months ago, similar recipe, which I've been using. And I think that it is BETTER than store bought deodorants, natural deodorants, or salt deodorants. I find this recipe does a better job dealing with odor than any other deodorant I've ever used. And, I get to smell like coconut to boot!
* In general, the coconut oil will be more solid when it's cooler out and more liquid when it's warmer. Most recipes online need more soda and starch to be the thick consistency I like--you might find you need to add more to get the consistency you like as well.
* If the deodorant liquifies during warmer months, you can add more soda and starch if you like.

Here are more pictures from the process.

Ack! Busy .... But still enough time to sign a petition against Monsanto!

So I've been working days, nights, and weekends ... this doesn't mean I'm not cooking or making sure to try to eat decently. But it does mean I don't have time to take photos-n-stuff.

In the past couple weeks, I tried to make split-pea soup for the first time. After 12 hours of cooking, the dehydrated split peas were still not fully rehydrated. So, I strained them out of the soup and ate the broth. Delicious, but nothing to write home about ...

And I recently made excellent mashed potatoes (with skins for the nutrients) and used organic vegetable broth and cumin instead of the traditional high-cholesterol options of milk or cream. Success! Super tasty! But no time to take photos, and I have no idea about the exact measurements, potato to broth ratio.

Anywho, even if your 2011 has started out with a bang like mine, then I urge you to still make time to sign this petition at Food Democracy Now!!!

Es muy importante. I mean, can you believe that this whole Monsanto fiasco/crappola is still going on and that they're still such a powerful malicious force in food? So, sign the petition to say "Hell No! Monsanto should not grow GMOs!" I want this corporate regime out of my belly! I like to think of my signature on this petition as a typed-out middle finger.

A Healthy Replacement for Brownies? Cherry Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

I swear, when I first tried baked oatmeal, I never meant to be so smitten and stuck on it. But here I am, months later, still insanely enthralled! It's such a versatile recipe that I can play with it and turn it into a myriad of different flavors.

Unlike my earlier breakfast version, this version is for dessert. And my husband agrees with me: this cherry chocolate baked oatmeal is as good as a brownie, chocolate rice pudding, or chocolate cake. It's that good!

Sweet-n-Healthy Cherry Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
I posted an early version of this recipe. This version is for a smaller batch (I did not have enough oats in my cupboard for a full batch).


4 c. organic steel cut oats
1 c. organic bran flakes
1 T. yogurt
3 organic, free-range eggs
1/2 c. organic soy milk
1/2 c. organic milk
1/4 c. fair trade cocoa powder
3 T. organic maple syrup
3 T. organic agave nector
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. organic dried cherries, finely chopped (Michigan cherries!)
1/4 c. chocolate chips (not Nestle brand)

1) Put the oats, bran flakes, and yogurt in a large container or bowl. Completely cover with water and mix to combine the yogurt throughout. Cover the container with its top, a clean dishcloth, or plastic wrap. Let sit overnight.
2) Strain in a colander. Lightly with the back of a large spoon to be sure most of the excess water drains.
3) Beat the eggs and milk together. Stir the eggs and milk into the drained oats and bran flakes, along with the cinnamon, vanilla extract, maple syrup, agave, and cocoa powder. Then, stir in the dried cherries and chocolate chips.
4) Grease an 8 x 11 glass baking dish with coconut oil or vegetable oil. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
5) Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 35 minutes, at which point the baked oatmeal should be solid yet moist.
6) Allow to cool for a few minutes. Then, slice into about 20-24 squares and serve immediately. They're delicious for more than a week.

Meaner, Greener, Leaner!
* I mention the value of organic oats and soaking oats in my initial baked oatmeal post.
* Let's compare this to brownies. The traditional brownie recipe contains 2 sticks of butter, 4-6 eggs, 1-2 cups of white sugar, baker's chocolate, and a half cup of processed flour. This is to make a batch of brownies in only an 8 x 8 inch baking dish (approximately 16 servings). This cherry chocolate baked oatmeal recipe, by contrast, contains healthy oats, no butter (i.e. prime source of LDL/bad cholesterol), and half as many eggs. In addition, this recipe gets its sugar from pretty terrific sources and still only contains about half the sugar (this is when I calculate by including the full quantities of dried cherries and chocolate chips as if they are just sugar). And this recipe makes a lot more servings.
* Seriously, you gotta' try it!

Here are more pictures from the process.

I love the reflection off the mixing bowl. Double trouble. The mirage of sweetness and the real thing.

Hi! Time to Get Cooking!

Just saying "Hi!" Back from vacation.

How was your vacation and holidays and time with family and candles and reindeer's bright noses? I hope it was good.

I got to spend my vacation eating delicious casado after casado and hanging around with these puppies. (One night I literally turned into a granny and stowed away leftover crusts off bread from dinner into a napkin in my bag to hand out to the town's pup population.


While I had a great time, it's nice to be back. Time to get cooking!