Homemade Pedialyte

A friend of mine posted this recipe on her Facebook page and it reminded me that I used it when my boys were little. It was less expensive than buying a bottle of pedialyte that we wouldn't use all of. I always did have and still always have these items on hand.

Homemade Pedialyte

2-quarts water
1-teaspoon baking soda
7-teaspoons sugar (get those electrolytes up!)
1- (1/4 oz.) packet unsweetened kool-aid -OR- lemonade mix (any flavor)
1/2-teaspoon salt or salt substitute

Mix all together.
Store in fridge for NO more then 3 days. Can be made into ice cubes.

Freezer Meal Fun

Last week for our Military Spouse Appreciation Day we had various classes that we offered to our Spouses. I taught a class on Freezer Meals. We didn't really have a proper area to actually bring in food to demonstrate so my friend and I put together a video. On the actual day, we had technical difficulty and couldn't show the video so I just had a discussion and it went pretty well. I was really pleased with the turn out and the class itself. I promised the women in my class that I would upload the clips and I thought I'd share them here on my blog as well. We really had a lot of fun making the video. Our Commanding General's wife was kind enough to let us use her kitchen since my kitchen would have been super awkward. Overall I just had fun!

Here is my disclaimer....as you will obviously see I am not a professional, I tend to roll my eyes a lot and I was not working with any script. Now that being said...I am still happy with the final product.

You can watch the intro video on here then click on the video and go to the page where the other clips are. I figured it would be easier to watch clips instead of a full 30 minute video!

Super Easy Chicken Salad

I need to think of some more creative names but honestly this is what it is...Super Easy!

I love chicken salad but I'm weird about my food and often don't care for the store bought stuff. A few years ago I decided I could probably make chicken salad and enjoy it!

Whenever I see the rotisserie chicken on sale (a lot of times if they don't sell at the end of the day they will place them in one of the cold food areas at a discounted price). So I picked up a couple the other day and made Chicken Enchiladas with one and turned this one into Chicken Salad.

Here's my first note to you all. Make it how you want...this is how I make mine and it works for me but dare to be fun and adventurous!

I use the chicken, some pickles (sometimes I use celery, just depends on my mood) some mayo, Season All seasoning and some type of mustard. I tend to like the brown spicy or stone ground mustard over just the ordinary yellow mustard but add what you would like!
It makes your stuff lots better if you get a handsome helper to chop/food process your food. Now I like to use this handy little food processor to chop up my chicken because I like mine in very small pieces but you could dice or shred your chicken to whatever texture you like best! I also throw the pickles into the food processor to make my own relish.

There are no measurements for any of the ingredients it really falls all to taste. So add as much mayo, seasoning salt, mustard or whatever else you are going to add and mix it all up!

I love that I used my most ghetto tupperware plate but hey this is real life folks! I like to eat mine with Ritz crackers. The menfolk turn it into a sandwich but we all love it!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

So this isn't a food recipe but I consider saving $$$$ yummy so I think it still qualifies for my blog! I got the recipe from a friend over a year ago...and we've only had to make it twice since then. We figured out the cost to make (since you use all the ingredients except the bar of soap more than one) to be just over $4 for 10 gallons of detergent! Now THAT's a Deal! Another friend recently saw a recipe for a powder version and I'm considering trying that, so I'll let you know!

Homemade Laundry Detergent.
I ordered the Fels-Naptha on-line because I happen to live in the middle of nowhere (and quite enjoy it except when I have to shop online for things!) Everytime I order I have to google for the best price (and then I usually buy a few bars at a time to have on hand).
The washing soda I found at the Commissary but I'm sure can be found at other stores or online as well. The borax I found at walmart or the commissary.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.
Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.
Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

24 Hours later, this is what it looks like.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

I first had these muffins at a potluck and they were amazing! They were the moistest muffin I had ever had. When I found out how simple the recipe was I had to make them for my family. Now they are a huge hit and so easy to make. They also freeze nicely so you can make a huge batch ahead of time, put them in the freezer and pull them out for a nice snack or when your kids forget to tell you they have to take something to an event! (My 10 year loves this for breakfast on school mornings, so we keep lots in the freezer!)

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 handful chocolate chips
1/2 cup yogurt (lowfat vanilla is best)
1 capful vanilla
1 14 oz. Can pumpkin pie filling
Combine all ingredients.
Spray the muffin pan with Pam. Bake at 350 for 30 min.

The batter will be thick, almost like cookie dough.

Yum!