Homemade Deodorant

By Apple Blossom

I find joy in making and creating things that are natural and healthy and not full of chemicals. One product I have not had to buy in almost a year is deodorant. I make it myself. It works too! I have tried several "natural" ones available at health food stores with no luck. They didn't seem to work for me and I hated how expensive they were. I absolutely love that I am not rubbing a heavy metal (aluminum) on my underarms daily that has been linked to breast cancer and dementia. It is simple and very quick to make!

Homemade Deodorant

1/4 cup Baking Soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
about 4 TBSP coconut oil
10 or so drops your favorite essential oil

Mix dry ingredients together, then with a fork add the essential oil and the coconut oil until you like the consistency. I have melted the coconut oil and mixed it all up before-- it is easier to mix but it will separate a bit after it cools to room temp. You can store this at room temp (that is what I do) or keep it in the fridge. It wont spoil as coconut oil has a shelf life of 2 years. At room temperature it will be more like a cream that you dip your fingers and rub on. In the fridge it will be a solid-- use like any other solid deodorant -- but it will be cold. I found that in the summer time, my house gets too hot and is it constantly a liquid, so in the future for summer time, I will use less coconut oil so it will be 'drier'. As for essential oils, most coconut oils have a coconut sent so you might want to pick one that compliments that scent. I have found that I like grapefruit or lemongrass essential oils. Use citrus essential oils with caution as they may make you more sensitive to the sun. I have no problem with that as I don't go out showing my armpits to the sun.

Good Stuff

By Ember

When I started using essential oils, I was very fortunate to be able to order some from a Primavera distributor but have not been able to find one since that time. I've found the quality of these oils to be unequaled. The smell is the purest I've ever experienced and I hate to say it, but every other brand has been a bit of a disappointment in comparison.

Today, I was emailed some great news and want to pass it on. Primavera Essential Oils are now available online! They are more costly but worth every bit of the difference. Check them out. If you were to purchase one oil for everyday use, I would recommend Lavender. For food storage, I suggest Oregano Oil. Maybe if we ask nicely, Sassafrass will tell us why we should have these in our health arsenals.

***********

I love pizza, but I have only purchased store pizza a handful of times in the last three years since I discovered this dough recipe. We have pizza nearly every Friday night but we make it and add as many nutritious ingredients as we want.

Pizza Dough

2 C. warm water
2 Tbls. yeast
2 Tbls. sugar
2 tsp. salt
Mix together and let sit for 5-10 minutes to make a sponge.

Add:
4 C. flour (I use 2 C. white and 2 C. wheat)
Mix well and knead for a couple of minutes to a nice smooth consistency. Add more flour as necessary. (Fresh ground wheat tends to have more moisture and will require more flour).

Let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400*. Divide into two balls and roll out on floured surface or right on the pan, if you're tricky like that. I use a baking stone and a perforated pan for cooking pizza. I pre-cook the dough for 7 minutes on the stone and for 3 minutes on the perforated pan before adding toppings . Add sauce and toppings. Bake until cheese is melted.

I have cooked this for many guests and it's a hit!

UPDATED! This makes two crusts. It works just as well cut in half if you only need to make one pizza.