Cake in a Jar

Lately I've seen a couple Ladies asking about this and with my brothers Birthday in a few days, now is the perfect time for me to blog about this and send them his way.

My carrot cake in a jar! (I would have wrapped them all pretty but it's late and I'm tired.)

 WARNING: In researching the "expiration" or freshness of the jarred cakes I found conflicting rules. One site says as long as you hear the jar "pop" and seal, it's good for a year! while another says "Cakes are not recommended for canning; choose recipes that you can freeze. These cakes are not really "canned." The directions call for baking in the jar and then closing with a canning lid. These recipes are low-acid and have the potential for supporting the growth of a bacteria like Clostridium botulinum if it is present inside the closed jar. One university's research showed a high potential for problems. You will see these products made commercially; however, additives, preservatives and processing controls not available for home recipes are used. Canning jar manufacturers also don't endorse baking in their canning jars."

So... I've decided that my batch is going to stay in the freezer until I am ready to eat them or send them, and have them eaten right away.

Make the cake batter of your choice. About one cup batter is used for each jar so make enough accordingly.

Grease all the insides of the jars with cooking spray.

                                                                 

                                                                                     
             Fill each jar no more then 1/2 way (about one cup) place them all on a cookie sheet, and bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Remember if the cake is under cooked it could harbor bacteria growth faster. Check the center with a toothpick when you think they are done.

While your cakes are cooking, boil all the lids to sanitize and then keep them in the warm water until the cake is done.

When cake is done, take one jar out at a time and cover with hot lid. Screw on jar ring tight. The lid will seal as it cools. Listen to hear the "pop" as they seal. (Above is my 5 seconds video of it "popping"...wait for it..wait for it...Aaaahhhh.. POP..haha I was watching Tangled -that is where the screaming noise is coming from)

•  As the cake cools, it will pull away from the jar slightly.
• DO NOT FROST cake in the jar! Send frosting along.
• Cover the lid with a circle of fabric, burlap, doily, ribbons, raffia, etc..

And "Let them eat cake!"

DIY Chalkboard Paint in ANY color

In the process of organizing my pantry, I REALLY wanted some old fashion jars (just because I think they look pretty) and I've been wanting to do something with the chalkboard paint I made- here is my project combining the two!

CHALKBOARD PAINT

• 1 c Paint ANY color
• 2 tbs Grout (non-sanded, powdered)

(Yay! for free mailed samples, I got 1 c paint in my color choice, a paint roller and pan- all Free in the mail. It pays to fill out those online forms for free samples!)

Tape off with painters tape whatever you're painting (space on the wall, the glass to a frame, table top, back of pantry door or cupboard..etc.) I painted 3 coats but the glass was not primed, so keep painting until it looks like a good thick layer.

 

After the paint is all dry, sand with very fine sand paper careful not to scratch off the paint (I used the fine side of a nail file since that was all I had) Wipe clean with a damp sponge and dry before you write on it.

All done! I wrote on them with chalk but I need to go buy the chalkboard markers because I think they write so much better! REMEMBER: You don't have to use black paint. You can use funky colors for kids room projects or even the same color as your wall or door to have kind of a "hidden" chalkboard for shopping list, chores...whatever. HAVE FUN! 

Clean your house, not you bank account!

All these recipes are tried and true by me. Can't beat paying pennies for what everyone else pays dollars for! True, they do cost a little up front for the HUGE bottle of ammonia ($1 haha) or to buy spray bottles (some people just refill the "real" bottle once they are out and see they can make it themselves cheaper, but once you have the ingredients, you'll have enough to make it again and again.

MULTI PURPOSE CLEANER

• 1 c Hydrogen Peroxide
• ¼ c Lemon Juice
• 2 c Water

Mix in spray bottle.

Little Tidbit: Hydrogen Peroxide. It’s cheap, non-toxic, and easy to find. It's a nearly odorless liquid that is commonly used on open wounds and therefore safe to use around pets and children. Hydrogen peroxide has stronger cleaning capabilities than vinegar and works much like bleach, just without any harmful health or environmental effects. You can also add about half a cup of this mix into laundry water to whiten clothes. The acidic lemon juice helps break down grime and add a fresh citrus scent. Water helps dilute the mixture.

  

WINDEX

• 1/8 c White Ammonia ($1 at Walmart for a huge bottle)
• 1/4 c Rubbing Alcohol
• 1 drop Laundry Detergent
• Water - To Fill The Bottle 

This copycat works AMAZING!  No streaks & it even smells like the real thing!

FEBREZE

• 1/8 c Fabric Softener (your homemade one from my previous blog of course!)
• 2 tbs Baking Soda
• Hot Tap Water - To Fill the Bottle to the Top

MMMmmm smells so good (like the conditioner I used to make the fabric softener)

Now if only our houses would stay clean!

DIY Laundry soap (over 350 loads!) Oxiclean & Fabric Softener for under $5!!!

UPDATE: I've had A LOT of traffic to this post via Pinterest and I'm going to be re-blogging with an even EASIER way to make the powdered laundry soap in a huge batch all at once that wont take up as much space, and much easier and faster to make. One batch last most families over 3 months and cost around $7 to $8!


  I am BIG into couponing, and while I think  I am a master at finding great deals, laundry supply deals are very hard to find. I just happened to find a recipe to make my own laundry soap, fabric softener, and stain remover that no coupon, sale, or ANYTHING can beat...and I couldn't be more excited! (And of course I did use coupons to get the items needed)

LAUNDRY SOAP:

• Borax
• washing soda
• natural bar soap ( I used fels-naptha, but ivory and zote work too)
• essence oil if desired (I did not use)
• five 1 gallon containers

  

I like EASY directions (no need to elaborate on simple things) Grate the soap bar in a pot, add 4 cups water and cook on low until the soap dissolves. Then add 1 cup borax and 1 cup washing soda, stir until dissolved and then divided equally among five 1 gallon containers. Fill the rest of the way with water and overnight it will thicken. Use 1/4 cup per load like normal laundry detergent.

  

  OXICLEAN:

• 1 part baking soda 
• 1 part hydrogen peroxide
• 2 parts water

Mix it all in a container to spot treat or just add straight to laundry if presoaking. (I've tried it on a couple things and it works AMAZING!) You just have to shake it before you use each time.

YAY! I finally found a use for my huge

stockpile of free conditioners!

            FABRIC SOFTENER:

• 1 part hair conditioner
• 1 part white vinegar
• 2 parts water

Pour it all in your new fabric softener container and stir (don't shake because it will foam a little) and the mixture will thicken. Use like normal.

  

                     

Perfect Pancakes

Make perfectly round pancakes with an empty washed out ketchup or catsup bottle filled with your pancake mix with a funnel!

 I made over 100 buckwheat, egg white, coconut oil pancakes to freeze and later throw in the toaster for a quick breakfast. Tip: If you use coconut oil and you use anything cold (example: cold milk or water) it will solidify in little chucks and get clogged in the hole. I learned the hard way so I just warmed my pancake mix up a little the keep the oil a liquid. :D

Just one of three bags!

Smoothies

       Today I went to the 99 cents store for a few things and ended up leaving, spending $60 (haha that always happens) well I found some yogurt that was a great price at $0.99 and since it was a flavor we wouldn't eat alone, I bought it for smoothies.

        Fruit, protein, coffee (and even GREEN!) smoothies are a daily thing in our house. Here is how I make them quick and easy!

Freeze in an ice tray- yogurt, juice, baby food, or chopped spinach or kale to add to your ready-to-blend smoothie bag.

Bags all ready-to-blend in different flavors and combinations.

    This morning Brad and I shared a pineapple, peach, apple, yogurt smoothie. Yummy!

RIBBON LOVE

      Ribbon! I love it! I can never have enough, especially with my bow making, diaper cakes, wrapping presents, wreaths, and all the other fun stuff you can do with it... I'm currently turning my guest bedroom in my craft room (YAY!) and over the weekend I'll be posting some of my storage solutions for taming the TONS of craft and art materials/mediums/supplies I have. Here is what I did with SOME of my ribbon tonight.

Here I used a pant hanger I got from Ross today for $5. Perfect to put in the closet and have it all displayed nicely. Too bad they only had one because I need a couple more. Make sure if you decide to do this with your string or ribbon, you get one with the arms that swing! If they don't, you couldn't put the spools on. DUH! 

              

  

Here I used a container I bought from the dollar store. I just put the spools onto a wooden dowel and put that through the holes to hold everything in place, and then fed the ribbon through the holes on the front and back.

 

Here is another view where you can see the dowels better. Can't forget the Fray Check or Stop Fray and lighter -should be a tool for everyone who uses ribbon!

WELCOME!

     Welcome to: My Life. My family. My Loves. My favorites. My ideas. My dreams. My shopping trips, tips, and savings. My arts, crafts, DIY, repurposing, and decorating. My cooking, hosting, and party ideas. My wifey duties and parenting. The life of a "REAL" Housewife and Mommy!

      I hope to share with whoever cares to read this, things that have made me happy and I hope, can do the same for you! Whether it's a funny story, or a great recipe, an awesome coupon, or deal, a shopping trip I made and saved 90% that you can go out and buy for yourself as well, or just something nice to do for a loved one, or something to make your house pretty, I could go on and on... I'm not much of a writer or blogger, but I promise everything I post, I'm posting because I know all you "REAL" women out there will enjoy it just as much as I do!