Random gluten free DIYs

Lip Gloss

Ingredients;

1/4 cup sesame oil
2 tsp. beeswax
1/2 tsp. oil of menthol or other flavor of your choice (available at most health food stores)

Directions;

Melt beeswax in small pot on low heat. Add sesame oil and flavoring, stir until blended well. Remove from heat. Continue stirring until mixture cools (this prevents separation). Pour in small airtight container. Continue stirring until it is set.

Yield: 1/4 cup

To use: dab some on your lips :-)

Dandruff Rinse

Ingredients;

4 tsp. (heaping!) dried thyme leaves
2 cups water

Directions;

Add thyme to water and bring to a boil. Boil 10 minutes. Strain through coffee filter. Let cool.

Yield: 2 treatments

To use: Pour one cup of solution over CLEAN damp hair. Work into scalp, massaging gently. Do not rinse, let hair dry naturally (that's right, so put that blowdryer away)!

Sugar Scrub

Ingredients;

1 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. warm water

Directions;

Place sugar in palm of hand, add in water slowly to make a paste.

Yield: 1 tablespoon

To use: Rub gently over face and neck (not your eyes!). Massage gently, rinse with warm water followed by cool water. Great exfoliant :-)

Massage Oil

Ingredients;

4 cups almond oil
1 ounce dried sage
8 drops essential lemon oil

Directions;

Combine almond oil and sage in a pot, bring to slow rolling boil, simmer 10 minutes. Let cook, strain to remove sage. Add in your lemon oil. Stir well. Store in a light-proof bottle/container (like a clean dark wine bottle with a cork). Also a good idea to label it so no one takes a swig.

Yield: 1 quart

To use: Rub small amount of this oil on skin and massage into tired muscles.

Herbed Vinegar

Ingredients;

1 cup white wine vinegar
2 sprigs fresh sage
1 sprig fresh parsley
1 sliced shallot

Directions;

Place sage, parsley, and shallot in a glass jar (needs to hold about a cup). Heat vinegar in saucepan. Do NOT boil it. Pour vinegar over herbs in jar. Let cool. Seal the lid tightly and store in a cool dark place to steep for at least 3 weeks (or up to one year). It's helpful to label and date it also.

Yield: 1 cup

To use: Use in salad dressings and marinades.

Air Freshener

Ingredients;

1 cup distilled white vinegar
25 drops essential oil of your choice (peppermint and lavendar are nice ones)
1/2 cup water plus 3 tbsp.

Directions;

Fill a squirt bottle with the vinegar, water, and essential oil. Cap and shake vigorously.

Yield: 12 ounces

To use: Shake well and spray to get rid of odors around the house.

Glass Cleaner

Ingredients;

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

Directions;

Filk a spray bottle with water and vinegar. Shake up. Label to avoid confusion.

Yield: 2 cups

To use: Spray glass and wipe clean!

*These recipes were slightly adapted from Joey Green's book "Incredible Country Store Potions, Notions, and Elixirs of the Past and How to Make Them Today" which I highly suggest buying a copy of. It is a great read to learn the history of many products and covers a lot (like soap, candle, and potpourri making). I also must stress that this book has been on my shelf for at least 5 years and I am in no way being paid to say this, rather I wanted to credit the incredible source!*

Here's an amazon link if you're interested :-D

http://www.amazon.com/Greens-Incredible-Country-Store-Past/dp/1579548490/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

5 minute gluten free ice milk!

Yes, it's true! You can make delicious ice milk in minutes using 3 ingredients and a few other household items. Originally I saw the idea on   http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/chow/make-your-own-ice-cream-five-minutes.html

All you need is;

1/2 cup of milk
(I used homogenized/whole milk for this)

1tbsp. sugar
(I have tried this with white granulated sugar and brown sugar, both work well, the brown sugar lends a more caramel like flavor)

1 tsp. vanilla
(I use vanilla extract but would try other extracts)

You will also need a sandwich baggie and a larger sized plastic baggie, both need to have seals!

5 tbsp. course salt
(I used leftover pickling salt)

2 cups ice cubes
(I used freshly snow too)

Got all that? Great! Now the fun part!

Mix your milk, sugar, and flavored extract together in the smaller plastic baggie, seal that sucker well!

Put your salt and ice in the larger bag, toss the small bag in on top. Now seal the larger bag, I usually leave a little air inside for movement.

Now just shake the bags vigorously for about 5 minutes (you may want gloves!), or until you have a thick ice cream like substance in the inner baggie. Pull out the small bag (discard the salt and ice mix) and put your ice milk in a bowl.

I have been known to add chocolate sprinkles, caramel sauce, fruit, or other yummy things as topping. Experiment and have fun.

Enjoy!