Cleaning With Vinegar and Baking Soda Tips

I hate to admit it but I really do like to clean. I also like to experiment with homemade cleaning products.  Making your own cleaning products is a great way to save money and reduce the number of toxins in your home. White vinegar is one of my favorite cleaning products. I think some people don't like to use it because of the smell, but trust me you can't even smell it after it dries.

• My favorite toilet cleaner: Pour 1/2 c white vinegar into the toilet bowl then add 1/2 c baking soda. The mixture will foam then settle down after a few minutes. Let sit about 20 minutes, use your toilet brush to scrub and you should have a beautiful toilet bowl. (I don't measure the amounts every time, you'll be able to guess once you have tried it). 

• On a side note, we used to have well water that left a water ring around the bowl. Using light pressure with a pumice stone (available at hardware or some grocery stores) you can remove the hard water ring. Be careful not to press too hard or you could scratch your toilet bowl, and only use it on the hard water ring and not the actual toilet bowl. Then use your vinegar and baking soda to shine it sparkly clean!

 

• For stubborn stains I mix 3/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup Kosher salt (and 20 drops of Lemon Essential Oil). I use this for the sink in my laundry room and bathrooms. One of the sinks is the one the guys use after they have been working on cars or in the garage, so there are a few chips in it. The baking soda is a natural deodorizer and is a mild abrasive. It's great to remove grease, can be used a whitener and disinfectant. I add a little water to my sink and sponge, the sprinkle the soda and salt mixture on the sink. I let it sit for 10-20 minutes (or until I remember it) and then scrub the sink - it works great! 

• My kitchen sink doesn't get as dirty so every day I use my favorite Spicy Sink Cleaner that we posted earlier.

Garage Sink - After

Garage Sink - Before

 Happy cleaning all!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Homemade Snickerdoodle Cookies

Another favorite cookie recipe from my baking days with grandma, snickerdoodles. I usually have to save some for the freezer right away because my husband and the children love them! Soft cookies are their favorites!
Ingredients:
1 c butter, room temperature but not too soft
1 3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 3/4 c flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
* Cinnamon and sugar mixture = mix together 2 T sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon. You'll dip your cookie dough balls in this.

• Preheat oven to 375F
• Mix butter, sugar, vanilla and eggs.
• Add the dry ingredients and mix together.
• Roll dough into one inch balls then dip into the sugar and cinnamon mixture - (just the tops are ok).
• Place on parchment paper lined baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes.
• Makes about 5-6 dozen. Sometimes I make mine bigger then I get 5 dozen cookies.
• Cool on a cooling rack. Freeze a few for later - they'll be gone before you know it!

Enjoy!
Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Chicken Tacos

Simply another one of the easiest meals ever! Chicken tacos are a quick meal idea and there are so many ways you can make them. Some of my friends even use precooked, shredded chicken... I do not - haha!!
I prefer to boil my chicken parts for about an hour, remove the skin and shred the chicken. Since I like to be frugal in the kitchen, I buy whole chickens and cut them up myself. Once you have shredded your chicken, you can freeze the leftovers in bags or containers, then thaw it out in the refrigerator when you want to make your chicken tacos. For soft shell tacos, I used the Simply Homemade Soft Flour Tortillas recipe. Then added the shredded chicken, fresh homemade salsa and some shredded cheese. I added shredded lettuce from the garden last, after I took the picture. Enjoy!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Banana Cake with Caramel Frosting

The other day I was cleaning out my freezer and found 4 frozen bananas that I needed to use up. Since we are still in temporary housing, I don't have my baking pans. I only had one pan for banana bread and my recipe makes 2 loaves. I did have a 9x13 pan, so I decided to find a recipe for some type of banana cake. I adapted this recipe from several others, it turned out delicious...and I love the caramel frosting on top!
Here's the recipe:

Banana Cake

1 c butter

2 c sugar

2 eggs

4 very ripe bananas, mashed ( I usually have them frozen and thaw before I need them)
1 c milk

3 c flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt (I don't add if I use salted butter)

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, add bananas and milk. Combine flour, soda, salt. Add to other mixture. Pour into greased 9x13 pan.

Bake 350 about 45 minutes.

Caramel Frosting

1/2 c butter

1 c brown sugar, packed

1/4 c milk

3 1/4 c powdered sugar (add gradually, I only used 3 cups)

Boil butter, brown sugar and milk over med heat for 2 min. Cool, (I let mine sit out for a little bit, it was still warm, I didn't want it to get too hard by cooling it).  Beat in powdered sugar until it's desired consistency. Pour over cake and spread.

I frosted mine when it was still warm, (because I'm impatient like that!) my frosting got a little stiff but it was still yummy!
~Simply Angie