It’s October, and in my mind, that means it’s officially soup season! Lately, I’ve been incorporating sourdough into recipes where you wouldn’t usually expect it—like noodles for chicken noodle soup. This recipe has quickly become a favorite, especially since I like to serve the soup over mashed potatoes. It’s hearty, comforting, and perfect for fall evenings.

Earlier this summer, I decided to explore a topic that I used to cover in Chemistry class many years ago in the Chemical Reactions Unit—Saponification. Put simply, it’s the reaction that creates soap. Not to bore you with the chemistry, but soap is just potassium or sodium salts of long-chain fatty acids. During the reaction, the ester (in the fats & oils used) reacts with hydroxide (from lye—Sodium Hydroxide) to produce alcohol and soap. The results differ based on the types of fats & oils used.

In this post, I’ll share some materials I use, a bit about how to build your own tea blend, and a few of my favorite tea recipes, along with the benefits of some key ingredients. Links to materials used are in the text sections below. If you are unable to grow or forage ingredients I have also linked some for you. One of the best Christmas gifts my husband has ever given me is a dehydrator. I dry my dandelion root, orange peels, and pretty much anything I forage.

For as long as I can remember, the coming of fall meant I would suffer from my allergies. I always thought that Goldenrod was the culprit. It wasn't until my 40s and allergy testing that I learned it wasn’t Goldenrod, but instead Ragweed. I rejoiced because I had always loved the fluffy, bright yellow blooms.

This week, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve finally completed two sets of vintage-style jar labels! These have been a labor of love all summer long, and after endless tinkering, it’s time to release them.

This week, I'm excited to share the second post in my homemade cleaners series. I'll be walking you through how to make Scouring Powder, an All-Purpose Spray Cleaner, and my tried-and-true Laundry Detergent. I've also been working on some jar labels, and I'll include a picture of a few prototype labels I’ve been designing.

Salsa simmering in a pot ready to be canned.