Sweet potato soups ideas

I am hungry for sweet potatoes this week. Probably craving their vitamin C.

But I want something other than the traditional sweet potato and ginger recipe.

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Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup Recipe

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INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tbsp (1/4 stick) butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 small celery stalks, chopped
• 1 medium leek, sliced (white and pale green parts only)
• 1 large garlic clove, chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 5 cups)
• 4 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth (use vegetable broth for vegetarian option and gluten-free stock for gluten-free version)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups half and half
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• The leafy tops of the celery stalks, chopped

METHOD

1 Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add chopped celery stalks and leek, sauté about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 2 minutes.

2 Add sweet potatoes, chicken stock, cinnamon stick, and nutmeg; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.

3 Remove cinnamon stick and discard. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return to pot.

4 Add half and half and maple syrup and stir over medium-low heat to heat through. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool soup slightly. Cover and refrigerate soup and celery leaves separately. Bring soup to simmer before continuing.) Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with celery leaves.

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Spicy Sweet Potato Soup

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root
• 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• salt to taste
• 1 large roma (plum) tomato, seeded and diced

1. In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream and lime zest. Set aside in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to blend.
2. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add sweet potatoes, and chicken stock. Season with cumin, chili flakes and ginger. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
3. Puree the soup using an immersion blender or regular blender. If using a counter top blender, puree in small batches, filling the blender just a bit past half way to avoid spillage. Whisk peanut butter into the soup, and heat through. Stir in lime juice, and salt.
4. Ladle into warm bowls, and top with a dollop of the reserved sour cream, a few pieces of diced tomato, and a sprinkle of cilantro

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http://www.marthastewart.com/355575/roasted-sweet-potato-soup-curried-apples 

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup with Curried Apples

2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (3 or 4)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, halved and sliced

Coarse salt and ground black pepper

1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, thinly sliced

2 jalapeño peppers, ribs and seeds removed, thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup dry sherry (optional)

4 cups vegetable broth, homemade or canned

2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

1/4 teaspoon curry powder

1 small tart apple (4 ounce) peeled, cored, and diced

1/4 cup plain yogurt

2 tablespoons chopped mint, for garnish

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast for 1 hour, turning once, or until potatoes are very soft. When cool enough to handle, scoop cooked potato out of the skins. Discard skins.

STEP 2

Meanwhile, in a 5-quart Dutch oven or large soup pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and caramelized, about 20 minutes. Add bell pepper, jalapenos, and garlic; cook for 5 minutes. Add sherry (if using), sweet potato, and broth; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes, until flavors have blended.

STEP 3

Working in batches, puree soup in a blender. Combine batches in a clean pot. The soup should be thick. (If you prefer a thinner soup, add water or a little more broth.) Taste and adjust seasoning.

STEP 4

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring vinegar, honey, and curry powder to a boil. Add apple; stir for 1 minute and remove from heat. To serve, ladle the soup into warm bowls, add a spoonful of apples, a spoonful of yogurt, and a sprinkle of mint.

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http://www.cookinglight.com/food/in-season/best-sweet-potato-recipes-00412000068144/page14.html

Creamy Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

• 3 tablespoons butter, divided $
• 1 cup chopped onion $
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 3/4 cups cubed peeled sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds) $
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth $
• 3 cups chopped carrot (about 1 pound) $
• 1/4 cup half-and-half
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream $
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1. 1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion to pan; cook 4 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Move onion mixture to side of pan; add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to open space in pan. Increase heat to medium-high; cook 1 minute or until butter begins to brown. Add sweet potatoes, 3 1/2 cups water, broth, and carrot; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
2. 2. Place half of soup mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining soup mixture. Stir in half-and-half, salt, and pepper. Ladle about 1 cup soup into each of 8 bowls; top each serving with about 2 teaspoons sour cream and 3/4 teaspoon parsley.

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http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/lentil-soup-with-sweet-potatoes-spinach/

Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes & Spinach

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 carrot, diced

1 celery stalk, diced

2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 1/2 cups brown lentils

4 (15 ounce) cans vegetable broth

2 cups water

2 cans (15 ounce) diced tomatoes

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 cups chopped fresh spinach

directions:

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic. Saute until onion is tender and garlic is light brown in color. Add carrot, celery, and sweet potatoes. Cook until vegetables soften, about 5-7 minutes.

2. Stir in the lentils, vegetable broth, and water. Add the diced tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Cook on medium-low heat for about 35-40 minutes or until lentils are cooked.

3. Add the fresh spinach and stir. If necessary, season with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaves and serve warm.

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Autumn Sweet Potato Soup w/ Peanut Butter

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large brown onion, peeled and diced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 1/2 lbs orange sweet potatoes (yams), peeled and cubed
• 1 lb zucchini, sliced
• 2 qts (8 cups) yellow vegetable stock or chicken stock
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (or more to taste)
• 3 medium tomatoes, peeled and diced (or 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes)
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• Salt and pepper
• Chopped roasted peanuts or fresh thyme leaves for garnish (optional)

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http://www.organicgardening.com/cook/caramelized-onion-and-sweet-potato-soup

Caramelized Onion and Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients
2 tablespoon butter
5 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 quarts chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions
1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt the margarine or butter.

2. Add the onions and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until browned.

3. Add the sugar and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes longer.

4. Add the sweet potatoes, broth, allspice, thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil.

5. Quickly reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sweet potato pieces are fork-tender.*

6. Adjust the seasonings and serve.

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Pomegranate potpourri ideas

Here are some ideas from commercial pomegranate potpourris and scents:

https://www.kirklands.com/product/Home-Decor/Home-Fragrance/Pomegranate-Potpourri/pc/2284/c/0/sc/2675/164099.uts

Features pine cones, frosted fruits, cinnamon sticks, and leaves

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http://www.potterybarn.com/products/homescent-candle-diffuser-potpourri-collection-pomegranate/

Featuring a fruity blend of orange, ripe pear and berries, combined with crisp bergamot, rose and mimosa, our Homescent Collection comes specially packaged to create a welcome holiday gift.



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Homemade potpourri

Want to learn to make my own potpourri, because commercial ones are probably using synthetic oils.

Soooooooooooooo, here we go. Selected articles.

http://www.dabneyherbs.com/potpouri.htm

STEP 1
Collect flowers such as mint blossoms, hydrangeas, roses, rudebeckia, Queen's Anne's Lace, and other available blossoms. Be adventurous! Try drying any leaf or bloom that you think might make a good potpourri ingredient. Place blooms on a screen, or a tray covered with paper towels. Keep them in a warm airy place (attics are too hot!). If drying on a tray, turn the blooms every day. Flowers may also be hung upside down in small bunches. When they are thoroughly dry, store in closed containers away from light. If you don't like the way it dries, just pitch it out and try something else! Remember, looks are more important than smell for your flowers; later you can add whatever fragrance you like using essential oils.

Helpful hints:
Flowers and leaves are dry when they feel slightly brittle. Check frequently! If over dried, they will lose all their oil and crumble too easily.
Store each kind of dried material in separate containers. Glass jars with tight lids are a good choice. Check the jars after two or three days. If any moisture is visible, remove the lid and dry more.
Continue drying flowers all summer; by fall you will have enough to make potpourri for yourself and all your friends.
When it is time to make the potpourri, you will need to decide on a fixative as well as which oils you will use to make a great smelling potpourri. Some good fixatives are orris root, calamus root, oakmoss and tonka bean. Whole or crushed spices like allspice, cinnamon sticks and cloves may also be added.
STEP 2
The material you have gathered may not have enough fragrance on it's own, or you may want a different scent. By blending different oils with the plant material you can have just about any fragrance you desire. Always use top quality oils and other ingredients. Your potpourri will not only smell better, but will hold its scent much longer. Some good scent choices are floral, citrus, herbal or spicy. If some of your flowers are very fragrant, then you will probably want to use their fragrance for your basic scent. If your ingredients are showy but with little odor, you can choose almost any scent. Just be sure that the look and smell of the potpourri go together. If you haven't had much experience blending oils, it would be wise to only use three. Choose your dominant scent, and pick one or two other oils for accents. Test to see if you like the mixture. Take a cotton ball and place it in a small glass jar which has a tight fitting lid. Put 4 drops of your dominant oil, and add two drops of the first accent oil, and one drop of the second accent oil. For instance: Four drops rose geranium oil, 2 drops lemon, 1 drop patchouli oil. Close jar for 24 hours. Then open the jar, let it breathe, then sniff. Don't stick your nose into the jar-hold it about 6 inches away. If you don't like the mix, either add more oil or start over with another blend.
STEP 3
When you are happy with your fragrance you are ready to make the potpourri. Always measure and write down the amounts of plant material and oils you use. Keep a notebook to remind yourself of your successes (and failures) for future reference. For each quart of leaves and petals you will need at least 2 tablespoons of chopped (not powdered) orris root, calamus root, or other fixative. (A note about powdered fixatives: They are properly used for sachets. In potpourri made to be displayed, the powder detracts from the looks and will not hold the scent as well as chopped fixatives.) Place the chopped root into a large glass container that has a tight fitting lid. Choose the oil(s) you want to use For a floral scent some good choices are rose, lavender, violet, lilac, honeysuckle, bergamot or ylang ylang. For a spicier fragrance, try carnation. Put at least 12 drops of your dominant oil over the chopped root, 6 drops of the second accent oil and 3 drops of the third accent oil, then stir. Stir again and close the top. Let the mixture sit in a cool, dark place for several days. Open the jar: if you like the fragrance, add your leaves and petals, stirring carefully and thoroughly mix well. Replace top, and set in cool dark place for several weeks. Every few days, shake the container gently. After 4-6 weeks the potpourri should be ready to use.
STEP 4
Now you're ready to reap the benefits of your endeavor. Put the potpourri into containers to give as gifts or keep for your own enjoyment. If you are not happy with the fragrance, crushed spices or more oil can be added. Oils which help blend scents are coconut fragrance, vanilla (vanilla oil is not the same as the vanilla extract used in cooking), tonka, sandalwood and lemon. Other ingredients which blend well with floral scents are dried peel of orange, tangerine, lemon or grapefruit, crushed seeds of fennel, or anise, crushed cloves, allspice, broken cinnamon sticks and bay leaves. Fixatives besides orris or calamus include clary sage leaves, oak moss, tonka beans and deertongue. Vetiver root is a good fixative for heavily-fragranced potpourri. Over the last few years, other fixatives have come into use such as ground corn cobs (called ground cellulose), or natural or dyed wood chips. Use as you would chopped orris. To get the most enjoyment from your potpourri, remember to stir it occasionally when you pass to release more fragrance into the air. When your potpourri begins to lose its fragrance you can add a few more drops of the original oil, or a new scent can be made by using a fresh fixative and different oils (your fragrance will last for many months if you used good quality oils in the proper amounts).
If you are using only one flower such as lavender or roses, you may still wish to add a few drops of the essential oil for a stronger, longer lasting scent. Dried leaves of lemon verbena will add a decorative touch and they smell great. Don't be timid! It's fun to experiment, and only you know what appeals to you most, so keep trying till you're happy. Potpourri ingredients are limited only by what is available and your imagination!
The following are two of my favorite recipes. Give them a try!
Easy Summer's Bounty Potpourri: 
6 cups of mixed flowers you have dried over summer
Enough mint, scented geranium, rose leaves, lemon verbena or lemon balm leaves to make 2 cups
Place 4 heaping tablespoons of chopped orris root or chopped calamus root in a large glass container.
Add 8 drops rose geranium oil, 8 drops bergamot oil, 5 drops honeysuckle oil. Stir, close top and let mellow for a week.
Add the other ingredients, stir to blend, close container and let mellow for 4-6 more weeks, stirring occasionally.
If you would like a sweeter fragrance use a few drops of jasmine, rose or ylang ylang oil. Too bland for your taste? Add some crushed cinnamon sticks, crushed allspice or cloves, patchouli leaves or lavender flowers. To mellow, use dried sweet woodruff, cut vanilla bean, crushed tonka bean or cut vanilla grass.

Winter Wonderland Potpourri:
4 cups of mixed small evergreen cones, acorn tops and cedar chips
1 cup broken bay leaves
1 cup boxwood branches snipped into 1" lengths (or use bayberry leaves if available)
1/2 cup bayberry bark, 1 cup oakmoss, 1/2 cup broken star anise
If you have some dried red roses add 1/2 to 1 cup for more color
Place 3 tablespoons of chopped orris root or chopped calamus root in a glass container with 3 tbs. of frankincense tears. Add 7 drops bayberry oil, 10 drops cedar oil, and 10 drops balsam or spruce oil. Stir till blended and oils are distributed evenly. Add to the remaining ingredients, then stir and place in a closed container for 3-4 weeks.
This potpourri is very attractive in brandy snifters tied with red and gold ribbons. A note about powdered fixatives: They are properly used for sachets. In potpourri made to be displayed, the powder detracts from the looks and will not hold the scent as well as chopped fixatives.

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http://www.womansday.com/home/decorating-ideas/make-your-own-autumn-potpourri-91216

 Take a walk during fall and pay attention to all of your senses. You see robust colors like orange and scarlet. You hear migratory birds and leaves crunching underfoot. Inhale deeply and you can even smell the autumn season. Bring all of those sensations indoors by creating natural, homemade potpourri using items commonly found in nature and in your own kitchen. Because the ingredients are natural, you will not need to be concerned about harmful chemicals, either."

Step 1: Go on a nature walk, taking several baggies along with you. Make it a family outing and take your kids or grand kids along, too. Collect interesting nature items to toss in your potpourri mix. Some good choices include acorns and other tree nuts, bark, interesting twigs and pine cones.

Step 2: Set several paper towels on a microwave-safe plate. Place orange peels on the paper towels. Cover the orange peels with three or four layers of paper towels. Microwave at fifty percent for five minutes, rotating half-way through if your microwave does not have a carousel. Remove peels and store in a cool, dry place for two to three days, until completely dry.

Step 3: Place cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves inside a sturdy paper bag. Use the hammer to smash the ingredients into small pieces. Breaking the spices up will also release fragrant oils.

Step 4: Measure 10 cups of natural materials, 2 cups of the spices and all of the orange peels into a large bowl. Mix all ingredients thoroughly, but gently. Use your hands or two large spoons.

Step 5: Store mixture in one or more lidded containers for at least two weeks. Shake the mixture gently once every day. To use, pour potpourri into a bowl and display in your desired location.

She also posted another potpourri recipe in the All Things Autumn group that I want to try:

Apple Spice

3 tbsp dried apple slices (see note)
1/2 cup pink and red carnation petals
1/4 cup dried sweet woodruff leaves
2 tbsp crumbled cinnamon or one 3" cinnamon stick
1 whole nutmeg, grated (1 1/2 tsps)
1 tbsp whole cloves
1 tbsp julienne orange peel
3 drops of cinnamon or vanilla scented oil

Note: To dry apples, slice paper thin and place slices in a single layer on a baking sheet in 150 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Mix dried apple slices with remaining ingredients. Store in a tightly covered glass jar.

For simmering potpourri, use a teaspoon potpourri per one cup of water. Place potpourri in water, bring to a boil and simmer on low until the whole house is perfumed; turn off heat. Strain and let dry if you wish to save and reuse the potpourri.

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http://www.mnn.com/local-reports/illinois/local-blog/homemade-potpourri-for-every-reason

Knowing what ingredients you want in your potpourri is one of the delightful challenges in finding the perfect blend. There are three components of potpourri, and they include the fixative, the fragrance and the filler. Fixatives are great scent absorbers that hold onto the potpourri's different smells and make the blend last longer. Good fixatives include oak moss and orris root. Fragrances include essential and fragrant oils added to the mixture to enhance its perfume. And lastly, fillers are flowers, herbs, woods, leaves and other components that either enhance the scent of the potpourri or simply the look of it.  

Herbs are great as well and can include allspice, bayleaf, cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, thyme and sage. These too can be grown at home — even in small, indoor containers that are perfect for the city dwellers or renters. Wood shavings are classic ingredients that give the mix a solid, rich undertone. Great woods to use are cedar, cypress and juniper.

Drying

The most important thing to do once your ingredients are collected is to dry them. Doing this preserves the ingredient's natural perfume. When it comes to flower petals, some extra care needs to be taken to prevent them from becoming brittle. The slower you dry petals, the more supple they will be.

To dry your herbs and flowers you can simply tie bunches of the ingredients together and hang upside down in a warm, dry place. You can also secure a sheet of cheesecloth across an open space, such as between two chairs, and place the ingredients on top. Then, cover the ingredients with a second layer of cheesecloth. This method allows for the ingredients to be dried above and below simultaneously, speeding up the drying process. Or, another option is to line a baking sheet with cheesecloth, place the ingredients on top, and place in the oven on the lowest temperature with the door open.

One thing to keep in mind when drying is that the ingredients will shrink. To compensate for this, use four times as many ingredients for how much potpourri you intend to make. Put simpler, for every cup of potpourri you want, use four cups of ingredients.

Basic recipes

Once you have all of your components, it is time to put them all together. There is no potpourri recipe that can't be altered and still smell terrific, so the recipes found in these resources can be taken for what they're worth or be used to get some fresh ideas.

Bohemianrevolution.com has assembled a collection of potpourri recipes for all sorts of seasons, including a citrus-rich blend reminiscent of summer and the tropics, as well as a pinecone recipe perfect for winter.

Other sites contribute to a few simpler recipes that allow more freedom to create your own unique mix.

Some tips to get the best result are to never use metal bowls to hold or mix the potpourri. Wood or plastic bowls are the best to stir the mixture while baskets, enamel or ceramic bowls are the best to hold it. Additionally, it is advised to combine crushed or powered spices in one bowl, oils in another, and then add them to the mixture.

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Carpet cleaning

The carpets in our house are disgusting - thanks to the 4 smelly dogs (now 3 smelly dogs). I have tried the talc powders from the store, but I heard that talc is not good for our health.

So, todays's research inspired me.
Here are non-talk suggestions from the web:

Baking soda and spices:

http://diyconfessions.com/category/cleaning-products/

Items Needed:
1 1/2 cups Baking Soda
Essential Oil or spice to desired smell {I used cinnamon}
Bottle to store it in {I used a mason jar with a parmesan cheese lid. It fits perfectly!}

How To:
Mix together your baking soda and essential oil/spice.
Shake well.
Sprinkle freely amongst your carpet. {I let mine sit for approx. 5 mins just to let it do it’s work.}
Vacuum

Baking soda and fabric softener for stains and smells

http://diyconfessions.com/category/cleaning-products/ 

Items Needed:

1/8 Cup of Fabric Softener
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot Water
Spray Bottle (I used an empty windex bottle)

How-To:

Using a funnel, pour the fabric softener & baking soda into your spray bottle.
Fill the spray bottle with hot water and shake well.
TIP: Don’t forget to twist the nozzle over to the LOCK position if you’re using a Febreze bottle, or you might fall on your hiney.
Now spray every stinkin’ inch of your house!

Hydrogen Peroxide for very tough carpet stains

http://diyconfessions.com/category/cleaning-products/ - this lady used H3O to clean paint drips from her carpet

Vinegar

I am going to try to put together all the info I have in vinegar in one post here, for all vinegar types.

WHITE VINEGAR

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/environment/a/Homemade-And-Natural-Cleaning-Products.htm
Vinegar actually cleans much like an all-purpose cleaner. All you need is to mix a solution of equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. It's always best to test any cleaner on a hidden area first to make sure no color change or damage occurs. Be aware that improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Vinegar isn't a good idea to use on marble surfaces, either. And, don't worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. Some common uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house are...

Bathroom: Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and counter-tops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of unsightly rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down before pouring the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. You can also mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. Vinegar will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile leaving them shiny and beautiful.

Kitchen: Clean the top of the stove with equal parts vinegar and water. Most appliances can be cleaned with this same all purpose mix of vinegar and water. Counter-top surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected with the same spray. Use vinegar to clean floors and be amazed at the fresh shiny results. (NOTE: I have seen another site where they suggest cleaning dishwasher by adding a cup of V to the empty cycle) and then following up with a cup of BC and doing another cycle)

Laundry Room: You can use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families with sensitive skin issues. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. I like to use vinegar to clean my washing machine as well.

http://www.cozi.com/live-simply/top-green-cleaning-tips

• To clean the mirror I use vinegar and water.
• To clean the tub, I found that a 40/60 solution of vinegar to hot tap water in the bottom of the tub works well. You let the vinegar/water solution soak for about 15 minutes and then scrub with a brush and drain. Rinse with hot water and done. If you don't like the vinegar smell, don't worry it will go away after you rinse the tub. Happy safe and natural cleaning.
• Put some vinegar in a baggy and use a rubber band to hold it on to the shower head to clean away buildup.
• To keep your plastic shower curtain free of mildew, keep a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and water by the tub. At the end of your shower, spray the shower curtain, especially along the lower edge. You'll be amazed by the difference!
• The cheapest way to mop your kitchen floor is to mix vinegar with water. Buy the large containers and it makes some cheap disinfecting mop water. The vinegar smell will go away when the floor dries.
• Here's how to clean your kitchen cabinets and any woodwork in an inexpensive, green way. Mix equal parts of white vinegar with hot water (you can use less white vinegar if your cabinets are not real dirty, smudged up, greasy prints, etc.) add a few drops of olive oil and use a soft rag to clean. The white vinegar cuts grease and grime effectively and safely and also disinfects. The olive oil leaves a nice shine behind. I also use this mixture to mop my hardwood floors - it leaves them beautiful. It is so easy to use and so very inexpensive.
• We use a spray bottle with plain white vinegar as a kitchen cleaning spray. It's cheap and green. But my favorite part is that it's safe enough for my young daughters to use. So, for less money, I can help train my daughters and get some needed help in the kitchen.
• I use vinegar for everything in the kitchen. It is so easy to use. I clean my stove with it, it cuts the grease very well and I use it to clean my counters and my floors. I double mop my floors but the vinegar first helps cut the grease on the floors from regular cooking troubles.
• Use vinegar on the bathroom floor to get rid of the urine smell if you have small children or your husbands friends are messy or for a cat litter box kept in the bathroom.
• For extreme hard water problems while washing dishes in the dishwasher add 1 cup of distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle. Simply open the door and poor it in. Not only does it correct old spots, but in prevents new ones. It also helps keep the mechanics of the dishwasher free of deposits.
• Tired of wasting money on a special or fancy solution to clean out your coffee pot? Simply use vinegar! Mix part vinegar with part water and run it through like you would if you were actually making coffee (be sure to keep the carafe underneath!). The vinegar combined with the heat will leave your coffee pot like new (and your coffee will taste better too!). P.S. This is also a trick I use when I want to use my coffee pot to make hot water (it removes all the coffee taste that would otherwise be there).
• The simplest way to soften your clothes naturally is to add 1/4-1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. I bought a softener ball and use it strictly for this purpose.
• Add just about 1/4 cup of white vinegar to sheets and towels, shower curtains and other household linens to prevent that mildew smell.
• White vinegar will also whiten your white clothes and it is not as damaging as chlorine bleach. You can use it in every load, not just once a month!

http://diyconfessions.com/category/cleaning-products/

1. Erase ballpoint-pen marks.
2. Erase crayon marks from clothes.
3. Remove stickers and price tags by dabbing a little vinegar on the sticker.
4. Disinfect cutting boards by wiping it down with vinegar after every use.
5. Remove carpet stains by mixing 1 tblspoon clear dishwashing liquid & 1 tblspoon white vinegar w/ 2 cups of warm water.
6. Get rid of water lines on furniture by mixing equal parts vinegar and olive oil and dip a cloth in the mixture and wipe the water ring.
7. Trap fruit flies by placing some in a small bowl.
8. Wash away mildew from your shower curtain.
9. Remove stains from pots and pans by mixing 1 cup vinegar 2 tbs baking soda 1 cup water.
10. Help bruises heal faster by applying a little vinegar.
11. Sooth a soar throat by gargling 1 Tb of apple cider vinegar with 1 tsp of salt.
12. Clean your toothbrushes.
13. Soak out blood stains.
14. Keep cut fresh flowers fresh.
15. Revive your paintbrushes by soaking in vinegar.
16. Kill weeds in the yard by spraying them with vinegar.
17. Peel off wallpaper by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar and spraying directly onto the wallpaper.
18. Clean and disinfect baby toys.
19. Get rid of stubborn bathtub residue.
20. Keep ants away by spraying vinegar along doorways.
21. Relieve a sunburn by slightly rubbing with vinegar.
22. Boil better eggs by adding 2 TB vinegar to the water – keeps them from cracking.
23. Make fluffier pancakes by adding 2 TB of vinegar.
24. Fabric softner by adding about 1/4 cup of vinegar to your laundry load to soften your fabric.
25. Gum remover – spray vinegar on the area where the gum is stuck & the gum will dissolve.
26. Air freshener – Remove odor by putting a bowl of vinegar in the place where the smell is emanating. You can also put it in a spray bottle with equal parts water and deodorize the air.
27. Wash your fridge. Clean your fridge by wiping it down with a mixture of water and vinegar (equal parts).
28. Unclog drains. Put a bit of baking soda in your drain, then pour some vinegar over it. Let it bubble over, then flush it with some boiling water.
29. Clean your microwave. Add 1/4 cup vinegar to a bowl with one cup water. Heat up the mixture in your microwave for a few minutes and let it evaporate. Then, wipe down your microwave and the condensed drops after removing the bowl.
30. Renew scuffed shoes. Wipe vinegar on your scuffed leather shoes to help them shine.
31. Clean windows. Mix equal parts vinegar and water and put the liquid mixture into a spray bottle and spray your windows. Wipe them down with newspaper to prevent streaking.
32. Tenderize and kill bacteria in meat. Add some vinegar to your marinade to kill the bacteria in your meat and to help tenderize it.
33. Wash vegetables and fruits. Mix three parts water to one part vinegar and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Before washing, spray fresh produce with the liquid to remove bacteria and pesticide residues.
34. Get rid of dandruff. Rub vinegar on your scalp and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then rinse it off. Do this once a week, and you should see less flaking.

Hard water rings in the toilet - eco-clean removal

I am on a mission to find a way to remove hard yellow rings in my toilet without having to pour commercial products that I am quite sure are not very gentle.


So far to contenders are:

VINEGAR:

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/environment/a/Homemade-And-Natural-Cleaning-Products.htm says:
Vinegar actually cleans much like an all-purpose cleaner. All you need is to mix a solution of equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Be aware that improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Vinegar isn't a good idea to use on marble surfaces, either. And, don't worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. 
Bathroom: Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and counter-tops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of unsightly rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down before pouring the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. 


http://organizedhome.com/clean-house/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products -


Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odors instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won't smell like a salad! Any vinegar aroma disappears when dry.)

For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by removing the sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls with the warmed generously, allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits.

Undiluted white vinegar--straight from the jug--makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum. Use undiluted white vinegar to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. Before you begin, dump a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides. Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove stains and odor. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard water rings.

LEMONS

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/environment/a/Homemade-And-Natural-Cleaning-Products.htm

Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home. Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper. Try mixing lemon juice with vinegar or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section of the lemon. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. Be aware that lemon juice can act as a natural bleach. Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for hardwood furniture. One of my favorite uses for the fruit is to put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results. Lemon juice can also be used to treat stains because of its natural bleaching qualities.

This lady demonstrated the use of straight cut lemon to clean faucets to make them shiny

http://broccolicupcake.com/blog/2012/03/spring-cleaning-natural-cleaning-tips-for-the-bathroom/

BACKING SODA AND VINEGAR

This lady uses a combination of baking soda and vinegar, and those make a foam, and she uses the mix for the entire bathroom, apparently, to get rid of smells, water stains, and what have you

http://broccolicupcake.com/blog/2012/03/spring-cleaning-natural-cleaning-tips-for-the-bathroom/ 

She says that "For extreme hard water stains, I would suggest pouring a little baking soda on the tough spots first, let it sit for 5 mins and rinse before doing this remedy."

I will certainly try this one with maybe Dr. Braumer's Pine Soap for best smelling results

VINEGAR AND LEMON JUICE

This girl uses vinegar, lemon juice, and liquid dish soap to clean her water stains. She mixes straight V with like a half a cup of lemon juice and then adds liquid dish soap of any kind to a spray bottle. Apparently, it works amazing things:

http://diyconfessions.com/2012/06/11/dull-to-shiny/ 

For a review of commercial products, this one is pretty cool:

http://www.themanlyhousekeeper.com/2011/03/11/solved-soap-scum-and-hard-water-stains/

I will make some pictures of before and after with just the vinegar, then vinegar plus baking soda if needed


---------

Well, I did try the vinegar + BC recipe.
Here is my toilet before.

This was taken about 3 minutes later. The soda really made alot of foam. Once the foam started to come down, I took a brush and brushed the rings off effortlessly. They just came off as soon as I touched them. I am now a believer!!!

Beets - one of my favorite veg

I just can't see to get enough of beets lately. I open a can and eat it straight up, and even drink the juice in it, and still want some more. So, I decided to see what is there in beets that I might crave.


===============

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=49

Antioxidant Benefits

What's most striking about beets is not the fact that they are rich in antioxidants; what's striking is the unusual mix of antioxidants that they contain. We're used to thinking about vegetables as rich in antioxidant carotenoids, and in particular, beta-carotene; among all well-studied carotenoids, none is more commonly occurring in vegetables than beta-carotene.

When it comes to antioxidant phytonutrients that give most red vegetables their distinct color, we've become accustomed to thinking about anthocyanins. (Red cabbage, for example, gets it wonderful red color primarily from anthocyanins.) Beets demonstrate their antioxidant uniqueness by getting their red color primarily from betalain antioxidant pigments (and not primarily from anthocyanins). Coupled with their status as a very good source of the antioxidants vitamin C and manganese, the unique phytonutrients in beets provide antioxidant support in a different way than other antioxidant-rich vegetables. While research is largely in the early stage with respect to beet antioxidants and their special benefits for eye health and overall nerve tissue health, we expect to see study results showing these special benefits and recognizing beets as a standout vegetable in this area of antioxidant support.

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Many of the unique phytonutrients present in beets have been shown to function as anti-inflammatory compounds. In particular, this anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated for betanin, isobetanin, and vulgaxanthin. One mechanism allowing these phytonutrients to lessen inflammation is their ability to inhibit the activity of cyclo-oxygenase enzymes (including both COX-1 and COX-2). The COX enzymes are widely used by cells to produce messaging molecules that trigger inflammation. Under most circumstances, when inflammation is needed, this production of pro-inflammatory messaging molecules is a good thing. However, under other circumstances, when the body is undergoing chronic, unwanted inflammation, production of these inflammatory messengers can make things worse. Several types of heart disease—including atherosclerosis—are characterized by chronic unwanted inflammation. For this reason, beets have been studied within the context of heart disease, and there are some encouraging although very preliminary results in this area involving animal studies and a few very small scale human studies. Type 2 diabetes—another health problem associated with chronic, unwanted inflammation—is also an area of interest in this regard, with research findings at a very preliminary stage.

In addition to their unusual betalain and carotenoid phytonutrients, however, beets are also an unusual source of betaine. Betaine is a key body nutrient made from the B-complex vitamin, choline. (Specifically, betaine is simply choline to which three methyl groups have been attached.) In and of itself, choline is a key vitamin for helping regulate inflammation in the cardiovascular system since adequate choline is important for preventing unwanted build-up of homocysteine. (Elevated levels of homocysteine are associated with unwanted inflammation and risk of cardiovascular problems like atherosclerosis.) But betaine may be even more important in regulation of our inflammatory status as its presence in our diet has been associated with lower levels of several inflammatory markers, including C reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. As a group, the anti-inflammatory molecules found in beets may eventually be shown to provide cardiovascular benefits in large-scale human studies, as well as anti-inflammatory benefits for other body systems.

Support of Detoxification

The betalin pigments present in beets have repeatedly been shown to support activity in our body's Phase 2 detoxification process. Phase 2 is the metabolic step that our cells use to hook activated, unwanted toxic substances up with small nutrient groups. This "hook up" process effectively neutralizes the toxins and makes them sufficiently water-soluble for excretion in the urine. One critical "hook up" process during Phase 2 involves an enzyme family called the glutathione-S-transferase family (GSTs). GSTs hook toxins up with glutathione for neutralization and excretion from the body. The betalains found in beet have been shown to trigger GST activity, and to aid in the elimination of toxins that require glutathione for excretion. If you are a person who thinks about exposure to toxins and wants to give your body as much detox support as possible, beets are a food that belongs in your diet.

Other Health Benefits

It's important to note two other areas of potential health benefits associated with beets: anti-cancer benefits and fiber-related benefits. The combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules in beets makes this food a highly-likely candidate for risk reduction of many cancer types. Lab studies on human tumor cells have confirmed this possibility for colon, stomach, nerve, lung, breast, prostate and testicular cancers. Eventually, we expect to see large-scale human studies that show the risk-reducing effect of dietary beet intake for many of these cancer types.

Beet fiber has also been a nutrient of increasing interest in health research. While many people tend to lump all food fiber into one single category called "dietary fiber," there is evidence to suggest that all dietary fiber is not the same. Beet fiber (along with carrot fiber) are two specific types of food fiber that may provide special health benefits, particularly with respect to health of our digestive tract (including prevention of colon cancer) and our cardiovascular system. Some beet fiber benefits may be due to the pectin polysaccharides that significantly contribute to the total fiber content.

Description

Both beets and Swiss chard are different varieties within the same plant family (Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae) and their edible leaves share a resemblance in both taste and texture. Attached to the beet's green leaves is a round or oblong root, the part conjured up in most people's minds by the word "beet." Although typically a beautiful reddish-purple hue, beets also come in varieties that feature white, golden/yellow or even rainbow color roots. No matter what their color, however, beet roots aren't as hardy as they look; the smallest bruise or puncture will cause red beets' red-purple pigments (which contain a variety of phytonutrients including betalains and anthocyanins) to bleed, especially during cooking. Betalain pigments in beets are highly-water soluble, and they are also temperature sensitive. For both of these reasons, it is important to treat beets as a delicate food, even though they might seem "rock solid" and difficult to damage.

Beets' sweet taste reflects their high sugar content, which makes beets an important source for the production of refined sugar (yet, the beets that are used for sugar consumption are of a different type than the beets that you purchase in the store). Raw beet roots have a crunchy texture that turns soft and buttery when they are cooked. Beet leaves have a lively, bitter taste similar to chard. The main ingredient in the traditional eastern European soup, borscht, beets are delicious eaten raw, but are more typically cooked or pickled.

The greens attached to the beet roots are delicious and can be prepared like spinach or Swiss chard. They are incredibly rich in nutrients, concentrated in vitamins and minerals as well as carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein/zeaxanthin.

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Calories

A serving of beets contains a total of 58 calories. Carbohydrates contribute 47 calories, protein accounts for 9 calories and fat provides the remaining 2 calories. A serving of beets provides about 3 percent of the daily value for calories, based on a daily diet of 2,000 calories.

Carbohydrates, Protein and Fat

Beets contain a total of 13 g of carbohydrates per serving, or 5 percent of the daily value for total carbohydrates. This includes 3.8 g of dietary fiber, which is 16 percent of the daily value for dietary fiber. A serving of beets also has 2.2 g of protein, which is about 5 percent of the daily value for protein. A serving of beets contains 0.2 g of total fat, which is less than 1 percent of the daily value for fat. This total consists entirely of unsaturated fat. Beets contain no saturated fat, trans fat or cholesterol.

Vitamins

A serving of beets contains about 37 percent of the daily value for folate, 11 percent of the daily value for vitamin C and about 6 percent of the daily value for riboflavin. It also contains 2.5 percent of the daily value niacin and 1.5 percent of the daily value for vitamin A.

Minerals

The magnesium content in a serving of beets is about 8 percent of the daily value. Beets also have about 6 percent of the daily value for iron in each serving. A serving of beets contains about 5 percent of the daily value for potassium, 3 percent of the daily value for zinc and 2 percent of the daily value for calcium.

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Then there is, apparently, such thing as a Mini Beet Protocol (MBP) that is supposedly for
Fluoride Poisoning
Pesticide Poisoning
Mold and Fungal Infections
Crow's Feet
Infertility
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Love Handles & Cellulite
Hormonal Imbalances
Free Radicals
Scars
Gray Hair
Parasites
Mycoplasms
Nano-Insects

http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/mini-beet-protocol.html


INGREDIENTS (organic, if possible):
* Ground Cinnamon
* Beets
* Asparagus (I see some people substitute fennel)
* Apples (any kind)
* Carrots