Crunchy granola...

...sweet

Righty ho, Neil Diamond fans. Here comes Doc's Ish Crunchy Granola.

You will notice that the main ingredient in my recipe is Ish. What is Ish, I hear you say (must be time to up my meds) well, let me tell you.

It is a form of measurement used to accurately(ish) determine quantities of a substance used to make up a recipe in amounts that are not really all that critical.

It can also be applied to the measurements for the handyperson when millimetres (or inches for those in the third world) are just waaay too precise.

You can see why NASA did not ask me to design their space shuttles, they want accuracy.

Anyhoo, this can be made up of pretty much whatever you have in your cupboard/store room/pantry etc

WARNING: Not suitable for people without teeth or incomplete control of their teeth - babies, toddlers, grand parents, drunks, politicians. Also, (when you add nuts), IT MAY CONTAIN NUTS so if you are allergic maybe don't add nuts - duhh.

Doc's ish crunchy granola
3 cups-ish rolled oats
1 cup-ish rolled wheat/rye/barley flakes
1/2 cup-ish wheatgerm
1/2 cup-ish bran
1/2 cup-ish sesame seeds
1/2 cup-ish crushed nuts
1/2 cup-ish sunflower seeds
1/2 cup-ish shredded coconut
1/4 cup-ish oil of your choice but not motor oil <---somebody will try it. Why do you think we have lawyers!
1/4 cup-ish honey

Preheat oven to 100*c (ish) (quite low) or if you have a cob oven, move the coals out of the way and kick the cat off the top of it.

This can also be cooked on top of a stove in a frying pan but keep the heat low and the pan moving and stir the stuff constantly whilst cooking.

You can also choose to eat this in the raw (the recipe not you).

I have done this but it is not for everybody (eaten the stuff raw, not eat it naked). In fact, I was not really all that impressed.

Step 1
Whack it all in a bowl and mix it up.


Step 2
Dollop onto trays. Spread it out in trays.



Step 3
Cook until golden brown or just before it starts to smell burnt.


Usually about half an hour but stick around so you can keep an eye on it.

When cool (the granola, not you) add as much as you want of chopped dried fruit: dates, apple, sultanas, bananas, more nuts, whatever, yadda yadda etc etc

If you look carefully and have a magnifying glass, you can see all the goodness in this mix.



This can be stored in an airtight container in a cool place for god knows how long and even longer in the freezer.

I wack it all in a great big zippy bag and stick it in the freezer.

I usually use it up within a month or two from the freezer. Pour in a bowl, add cows milk, goats milk, soy milk, water or beer <<----it all counts as liquid.

Should keep you pretty regular, too, I'm guessing

Until next time, remember those famous Neil Diamond words:

Deede-ee deet deet deet deet
deet deet deedle dee dee

(If that did not make any sense, you are probably a lot younger than I am. Google can be your friend).

Love, peace and mung beans

Doc

There's a hole in my bucket, dear..

...Scarecrow, dear Scarecrow.

But don't worry, it's supposed to be there!

Sprouting grain for the egg-layers

This tutorial is about creating an easy container set up to sprout grain for the chookens in your life. You could probably do this for your family, too, but being only two of us now, we use a smaller set up for that - the old jar and stocking jobby, but that's another story.

Anyhoo, the boss lady likes to feed the chookens (poultry, hens, chickens, chooks, fowl, ferals <--- just helping out search engines) a variety of sprouted grains - wheat, barley, oats, alfalfa etc. Apparently, these are really good for them. Must be, they are all healthy, mad and provide great entertainment around the place.

Wadjaneed
A couple of buckets - plastic is easier to make holes into
A drill and bit or a candle and sharp implement for hole making
'nother couple of buckets to put your holy buckets into - you'll see what I mean
Five minutes between other projects

Important warning
If you are an idiot: Do not attempt any of the following because it involves sharp things and spinning things. Idiots should not access either of these things.

If you are sensible: Watch out for flying sprue whilst drilling because it could get you in the eyes and hurt.

Here are two buckets.

Keeping up so far?


With your low speed, rechargeable drill or sharp, pointy implement, make holes in the bottom of the buckets.

Try not to drill holes that might look like some sort of secret message otherwise you are bound to offend some bunch of weirdos somewhere in the world.

Place your, now, holy bucket (wait for the Yellow Bucket Worshippers to surface) in an unholy bucket (?agnostic bucket).


Bung in a couple of scoops of wheat and cover with water. Cover and leave for 24 hours. The bucket, not you.

Drain and rinse twice a day - the bucket, not you. Save the water for the garden


When sprouts are visible, feed to chooks but anytime after the initial 24 hour soak is fine.

They have sprouted when the grain develops little tails, usually after a couple of days, depending on the weather, temperature, toxins in the water, phase of the moon or whatever.

Don't leave them too long without rinsing the grain or it ferments.

If you want to see what chooks look like after getting drunk on fermented grain sprouts, just watch your local members of parliament debate important environmental issues.

You will never see more dodging and weaving to avoid obstacles in your life.

Anyhoo, back to my other projects.

Til next time.

Regards

Doc

Slip, slidin' away...

...on Doc's easy-as soap.

Home made soap is easy and gives you that nice 'I did it' feeling.

They also make nice gifts for those of you who have friends to give them to.

It is not hard and as long as you have healthy respect for caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) - it burns - you can make soap safely.

You need a sensible approach to safety: Googles, gloves, free-flowing air, kids and pets at a safe distance in case of spillage etc etc I am frugal and a little slack with a lot of things but not when it comes to safety.

Other than that, let's party.

Watjaneed
A thermometer or two (one for the pot, one for the jug)
A pot (Stainless steel or enamel) to mix your soap mixture in (not aluminium)
A jug to mix your lye (caustic soda and water)
A wooden spoon or a stick blender (I am lazy - guess what I use)
Scales for accurate measuring of ingredients
Soap moulds
Soap ingredients - you would be amazed at what you can use.
An online lye calculator such as here to work out how much lye you need



For moulds, you can make one like I did a few posts ago or you can use anything to put soap into, such as my PVC pipe mould elsewhere on my blog.

For some of my soaps I use latex gloves as moulds - these make my - you guessed it - hand soaps. Great gimmick for markets.

You can even - wait for it - buy moulds from a soap supplier.

Who'd have thunk?

The steps that follow are pretty much what you would use for most soaps.

Use your search engine like this searching tutorial to find more detailed instructions and ingredients for soap-making.

I am just showing you how easy a process it can be.

For my simple soap I am using an olive oil recipe to make a quick and easy castille soap.

Before we start, get whatever mould(s) you want to use ready.



My recipe
Olive Oil 1058 grams
Water (to mix with lye) 133 grams
Lye 134 grams

Step 1
In a jug add lye to water - be careful because splashes burn. Hence the need for goggles, gloves and a ventilated spot, child/pet free.

This will bubble, smell and become quite hot. Allow it to cool to around 35 C.

Step 2
Whilst waiting for the lye to cool, select your ingredients according to your recipe and heat in a pot to around 35 C.

Step 3
When the temperature of both the lye and the oil is 35 C, pour the lye (CAREFULLY) into the pot with the oil.

Step 4
With a wooden spoon, stir for ages and ages and ages. Or, with a stick blender, buzz the mixture for a few minutes, mixing the soap thoroughly.



Step 5
When the soap has reached 'trace' (it thickens and a drop forms a thin trail on top, like a pudding mix) it is then ready to pour into your pre-prepared mould(s). Remember, we got the mould(s) ready before we started.

Many thanks to my lovely assistant, Scarecrow for help folding up the paper in the mould.



Step 6
Once you have poured the soap into the moulds you need to cover/insulate the mould(s) and place them somewhere safe to cool down. This should take up to about 48 hours. With this castille, you may need to gently stir every 12 hours or so but most other soaps can just be allowed to sit.

After 48 hours, the soap can be removed from the mould(s) and cut to size, then placed somewhere to cure (I know, they were not sick in the first place ) for about four to six weeks.

This allows them to solidify properly. Turn over as required - the soaps, not you, to ensure they dry nicely.

Be aware that the soaps will still be a little caustic early on so wear gloves.

Take said soap and wrap in something cute and voila! Frugal, but loveable gift for somebody (or some body).

You can add all sorts of gunk and smelly stuff (essential oils and the like) to the mix at 'trace' to make it smell nice or colour it prettily (?sp) or even add oats, flour, sand and other stuff to cleanse the skin.

I have poured this into my PVC pipe mould that contained a luffa. The soaps are sliced up and it makes a great exfoliate (?word) for babes with delicate skin.

Kinda like sandpapering the bare metal before painting a car, I s'pose.

As I mentioned, search the net for recipes and do not forget to bookmark your favourites.

For beginners in Australia, here are the translations of some of the ingredients that you can find online or (SHOCK HORROR ) in a book at your public library:

All/most of these ingredients can be found at your local supermarket
Lard = Pig fat
Tallow = Solidified Oil (inc rendered beef fat)/Supafry
Palm Oil = Frymaster
Coconut Oil = Copha
The above are usually in the diary fridge section

Olive Oil = Olive Oil (just testing)
Blended Oils = Usually blended vegetable oils
Above probably in the cooking oil section

Castor oil = Castor oil (may be in first aid section of supermarket)
Caustic Soda = sodium hydroxide, sold as drain cleaner in the cleaning section of the supermarket

Scrubbing up 'til next time

Doc

Ain't nothin' but a hound dog...

...but you still need dog biccies.

Doc's Frugal Dog Biscuits (well, Scarecrow gave me the recipe)
2 Cups Flour
1/4 Cup Sunflower seeds
1/4 Cup Cornmeal (polenta)
2 Tbs melted butter/fat/oil
1/4 Molasses
1/2 Cup soy flour
2 Eggs
1/4 Cup milk beaten with the eggs (actually, beaten into the eggs)

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl (or a bucket, for all I care)

Add oil, molasses and all but 1 Tbs milk/egg mix.

Add more plain milk as needed to make a firm dough.

Knead for a few minutes and let it sit (stand?) for 1/2 hour

Roll out to 1/2" thickness.

Cut into shapes and place on a cookie tray

Brush with the remaining milk/egg mix.

Bake 175c for 30 minutes and leave them to cool down in the oven allowing the biccies to become hard.



Feed to dog as a treat.


Store in a jar.



How hard is that

Love, peace and mung beans

Doc