a better homemade sidewalk chalk

I did an experiment making homemade sidewalk chalk using: 1 cup plaster of Paris, 3/4 cup water, & 2-3 T powdered tempera paint. This recipe is ALL over the internet. While it works, the chalk is super hard.Unless used on VERY smooth pavement, it doesn't write very clear, crisp lines. So, I decided to try adding things without compromising the integrity of the chalk.  Through many small batches of adding things like rice flour, glycerine, and cornstarch (in varying amounts), I came up with this recipe: 3 part plaster of paris to 1 part cornstarch   (3/4 c pop to 1/4 c cornstarch) and about 3/4 c to 1 cup water. I added just enough water so it mixed easily. I discovered using a wooden or plastic stirrer worked best, using metal, for whatever reason, I had clumping problems, even though the end result turned out fine. I also replaced the powdered tempera paint with some food coloring, and it seemed to work just fine. and since the kids aren't eating it(for those of you who avoid artificial food dyes), it was cheap and easy. so there we go, simple, inexpensive, slightly better than the typical recipe. oh, and it seems to dry faster. just thought i'd share

Cabbage bean potato ham soup

Thought I would put my newest recipe I made up here today. This was made over the course of a few days. The broth was slow simmered first, then refrigerated then made into soup. It takes a while to make, but it really is simple, most of the "while" is cooking/simmering. This is also a HUGE recipe. Made in a large stockpot. Think of your average "dutch oven" and multiply it by two or three. This is a rough recipe, as I tend to do everything by taste, smell and look. I rarely measure so most amounts will be guestimates, and feel free to change them. A big plus for this recipe is we are making a bone broth. Though, I will probably blog about this again later. Here are few links on the health benefits of bone broths: Top 5 reasons, Dr Auer, health benefits.

Ingredients 

Ham broth:

• 2 ham bones (with some meat left one them, i use leftover ones, if you have one from a joint, even better!) Ham chunked (if there is not enough on the bones to have sufficient amount in the soup)
• 1 tsp thyme, more or less to taste/smell for all herbs/spices
• 4-5 whole cloves of garlic
• 1 large onion, large chunks. about a rough cup and a half
• 2 bay leaves (if you have them) remove after broth is done
• 1 stem or two of rosemary, remove after broth is done unless ground or chopped VERY fine or FRESH
• 1 cube or two of chicken bouillon (if necessary, some bones are more flavorful than others)
• salt (if necessary, i usually find that ham is salty enough as it is) 

Fill the pot about half way or or so making sure all the ingredients are covered. Throw everything in the pot as it's ready. If you don't have an herb, it will be fine. In my opinion, the thyme and garlic are the two most important. Put on high until it starts to simmer, then turn down till it stays at a low simmer or just below simmer. Stir as needed. Let cook for several hours until the meat falls off the bone and fat and cartilage are cooked down. The longer you cook, the more nutritious it is (see the bone broth links).

I cooked mine for 2 days on low on the back burner, was easy, just stir occasionally.  When the whole garlic cloves cooked, I just mashed them with the back of my spoon against the side of the cooking pot and stirred it back into the soup. Strain if wanted, I just used a slotted spoon to scooped out the solids. I then pulled out the bones and pulled apart the meat. Finally, I put it back in the broth

Soup:

one large onion chopped coarsely
1 lb? potatoes, cubed, dice sized or a little smaller (peeled or not is your choice)
beans, I used 4 normal sized cans, if you used dried, make sure they are well soaked and add first and probably about an hour early to the broth, almost any bean will do
1 head of cabbage about half inch pieces

herbs: (optional) all to taste
some more thyme
marjoram (adds some brightness)
some more garlic
small amount of cumin
cilantro

(cumin and cilantro go well with black beans if you want a more Latin flavor)

Add onions, garlic and potatoes, cook till the onions are starting to become translucent, add beans. Cook for another 10 minutes, chop and add the cabbage and any more herbs and optional add-ins(see below). Cook for about 20 minutes, taste, add any more herbs and seasonings now. Cook for a few more minutes, until the cabbage is soft and faded, but still retains texture.  Overcooking will not destroy your soup, but it just won't be as tasty, besides, who likes slippery cabbage?


other optional add ins:
carrot or squash baby food: almost no flavor but adds some nutrients, I try to be creative about how to get extra veggies into my kids/husband
one can reduced sodium cream of mushroom soup
one large can of mushrooms
about .5-1 cup of whole milk

The mushrooms are just because we like mushrooms. The goats milk and soup were just to add some depth and richness to the broth. Keep in mind I made well over two gallons of soup, so this was very thinned out.

A plethora of items

I have several things coming down the pipes: Master tonic; 5 days until completion, Citrus enzyme cleaner; 4 days until completion, gingerale-like kefir water; testing phase(my own recipe), Baking soda and apple cider vinegar "shampoo" for EXTREMELY oily, fine hair; just need some pictures; carrot oatmeal granola cookie, also my own recipe, testing phase.

I have been sick for several days, so the house is a disaster and I am still sick, but on the mend. I am getting nasty migraines due to a bad neck and a nasty head cold. My husband has been wonderful and very helpful taking care of a needy teething baby. As I am pregnant, many of the medicines I would normally take are out. So far sleep, resting in general, honey and lemon in hot water, hot showers, vitamins, and decongestants seem to be the most helpful. I am utterly thankful that this happened over the ONLY weekend in the month where we don't have the other three kids.

The cleaner are going to be tested this weekend! I plan on trying it out on laundry, dishes, mopping, bathroom and cat pee (at my moms). hopefully all goes well, either way, you will hear about it.

There will probably be two or more blogs about the Master tonic. the first one will just be an initial run down on making it and how it turns out, after that it will be if we find it effective or not.

I am probably going to be posting some recipes, some from pinterest, some self made. Will give reviews from not just myself, but what the family says too.

So more or less this is just a filler piece because i am sick.

Why Blob? Why a blog?

Well, I shall start with the second one first; Why a blog? well, mostly because my husband keeps pestering me to do one. He says I have good ideas...Well honestly most of my ideas come from other moms or other blogs. So what do i have to offer? My experiences with those ideas, my quirks and tips to make their uses better.
Secondly: I would love to be all organic, all natural, all local, all holistic, etc....but I like my sanity. I have an extremely tight budget, one 14 month old daughter, three step kids (whom I love!) on weekends (ages 9-13) and one more on the way. I have a tiny kitchen with approximately 4 feet of counter space...maybe. That's if there are NO dishes, or miscellaneous items milling about. So productive work space is at a minimum, and making kefir, or home-made broth, or medicinal teas, TAKES SPACE. Specifically, more space than i have available most days. So when I do those things, it is a big deal. So i intend to write about what i CAN do with my limited time, patience, space and finances.
Third: It's cathartic and makes me feel productive. Writing down what i have accomplished makes ME feel better at least.

So why Blob? Well, my first intention was just Bethany's Blog, simple. But also taken. Next, i was going to do Bethany's big blog, also taken. So, sticking with the alliteration theme, i thought of Blob and the more i thought about it, the more I liked it.
Also, anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a bit...eclectic. I have a veritable cornucopia of interests. So essentially, you will probably end up with a mish-mash of all of them. maybe one day I'll focus, but I doubt it. Basically, it fits.

So this is it: Bethany's Blob Blog. A journey in holistic living on a tight budget in tight spaces with 4, soon to be 5, kids while attempting to still retain SOME sanity.