Citrus Cleaning Spray Recipe

This fragrant all natural citrus spray is my go to cleaner this spring. I wanted to find an Eco friendly cleaner with a fresh scent, that was effective without an overpowering chemical smell. I found a great recipe on apartment therapy and made my own version to share with you. (original here)

Homemade Citrus Cleaning Spray

Supplies:

- large glass jar with air tight lid
- orange peels from 3 or more oranges (enough to fill jar)
- white vinegar
- strainer
- filtered or distilled water
- sweet orange essential oil

Directions:

1. Fill glass jar with orange peels

2. Pour vinegar over peels, filling the jar

3. Seal jar with lid and let sit (out of the sun) for two weeks

4. Strain peels and pour liquid into spray bottle

5. Add water 1.1 ratio

6. Add a few drops of sweet orange essential oil

(Note: this orange peel cleaner is all natural, but as with all household cleaners it should be kept out of reach of children and pets)

Rosewater Facial

When I was a teenager my best friend and I loved to try exotic skin care recipes found in books and magazines. We slathered our faces in goop, baked chocolate chip cookies, and watched Ann of Green Gables into the early morning.

Years later my taste in movies has changed a bit, but i still love a good facial. Made from only four all natural ingredients, this Rosewater facial recipe both soothes and tones combination skin. It whips up in a snap, and is the perfect way to relax on a rainy April day. Enjoy!

RosewaterFacial Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp natural yogurt
2 tbsps rosewater
6 fresh rose petals

Preparation:

Soak rose petals, then crush them in a bowl.
Combine ingredients.
Mix well and apply to the skin with makeup brush.
Leave on for 10 minutes.
Rinse.

The Perfect Roast Chicken

A whole roasted chicken can seem a bit intimidating, but really it’s one of the simplest and most beautiful home cooked dinners that whips up in a snap.

This recipe by Ina Garten filled about 25 minutes of my afternoon, and resulted in a succulent, perfectly cooked bird. I served it with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and gravy made from the chicken drippings. I also set aside the bones and giblets for a homemade chicken stock, and refrigerated the cooked leftovers to use in a salad for lunch.

This delicious roasted chicken is a healthy and savory dinner, easy enough for a mid week meal and impressive enough to serve for company. Bon Appetit!

(If you are roasting a chicken for the first time, this video is a helpful visual aid. )

Bath Mitt Pattern

I created this knitted bath mitt to replace my old washcloths. It’s a fairly straightforward pattern that is knit in the round and accessible to knitters of all experience levels.

Soothing to the skin, the soft cotton is the perfect addition to any facial cleansing routine, and is ideal for bathing little ones. Knit in an assortment of colors, they are also a unique and thoughtful gift for any baby shower or house warming party.

Bath Mitt Knitting Pattern

Supplies:

- double point needles us size 6
- one ball of cotton yarn
- marker
- darning needle

Pattern for women’s size small:

1. Cast on 24 stitches, join in the round (careful not to twist), place marker

2. Knit 2 pearl 2 for 4 rows

3. Knit 1 make 1, knit 12 make 1, continue knitting until the end of row (26 stitches)

4. Knit one row

5. Knit 1 make 1, knit 13 make 1, continue knitting until the end of row (28 stitches)

6. Knit one row

7. Knit 1 make 1, knit 14 make 1, continue knitting until the end of row (30 stitches)

8. Knit one row

9. Knit 1 make 1, knit 15 make 1, continue knitting until the end of row (32 stitches)

10. Knit one row

11. Knit 1 make 1, knit 16 make 1, continue knitting until the end of row (34 stitches)

12. Knit one row

13. Knit 1 make 1, knit 17 make 1, continue knitting until the end of row (36 stitches)

14. Knit one row

15. Knit 1 make 1, knit 18 make 1, continue knitting until the end of row (38 stitches)

16. Knit every row until piece measures 5 in (or desired length)

17. Bind off all stitches with three needle bind off

18. Weave in ends

(note: this pattern is for women’s size small. If you want to knit a larger mitt, increase cast on stitches by 4 per inch, for a custom size)

Saturday

After weeks of rain, I woke with relief on Saturday morning to a warm sun and bright skies. I threw open every window in the house and put on a cotton sundress. Friends stayed close to home to avoid the holiday crowds, and we gathered on the back porch where we drank ginger beer floats and ate pulled pork sandwiches.

After lunch I sat for hours reading on a blanket in the grass, and felt the sun painting my winter skin pink. I finished one novel and began another, and drank ice water from sweating glass bottles.

In the evening the open house was cold with fresh sea air. I set about preparing for Sunday’s Easter dinner and retired early, refreshed by a slow day in the sun.

Lemon Bar Recipe

My mother’s lemon bar recipe is her way of bringing spring to the table. She serves them at lady’s tea parties and community potlucks, just as the trees outside are beginning to bloom.

An instant crowd pleaser, this dessert is also the perfect recipe to have on hand for the Easter holiday. The lemon filling is a gooey taste of sunshine, and the flakey butter crust simply melts in your mouth. With very little effort, these lemon bars are a sweet and refreshing way to welcome the season. Enjoy!

Lemon Bar Recipe:

Ingredients:

Crust:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Filling:
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350

2. Combine crust ingredients and press evenly into 8×8 inch pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

3. Lightly beat eggs. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend well.

4. Add lemon juice and zest. Mix well.

5. Pour filling into baked crust.

6. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until golden and set.

7. Cool pan on wire rack and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

8. Cut into squares and refrigerate for 20 minutes before removing the lemon bars from the pan

Natural Easter Egg Dye

This year I was inspired to try Easter egg dying, the green way. Instead of buying the usual synthetic dye tablets, I purchased bags of frozen berries and grape juice to create a pallet inspired by the sea. The process takes a bit more time than the old fashioned way, but it was also a lot more fun!

The cherry, blueberry, and raspberry dyes produced a variety of subtle shades in lavender, blue, and grey. The spackled ombré effect reminds me of sea foam when the tide is receding, and the variety of colors subtly recall the changing moods of the ocean. I recommend experimenting by mixing the berries to create different dyes, and varying the dying time to intensify the colors.

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Ingredients:

- white eggs
- 1 bag of frozen blueberries
- 1 bag of frozen cherries
- 1 bag of frozen raspberries
- salt
- vinegar
- boiling water

Berry Recipe:

1. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over two cups of berries (in any combination)

2. Add one tablespoon of salt and let the berries stew for 20 minutes

3. Drain the berries and add 1 tablespoon of vinegar

4. Add eggs and let them sit for 10+ minutes (these eggs sat in the dye from 10 minutes to 2 hours)

Grape Juice Recipe:

1. Combine 2 cups of grape juice, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of vinegar

2. Add eggs and let them sit for 10+ minutes

(Note: the results of this dye range from soft grey to lavender, depending on how long the egg sits in the dye)