A Little About Azure

Azure Standard runs like a co-op. They deliver their goods once a month to many delivery drop locations, or drop site, throughout the United States. When you make an order you are committing to meet the semi truck at the delivery drop location and pick up your order straight off the delivery truck at a specified time on the designated date. 

Azure Standard is known for and believes in the benefit of organic foods. Although they do have some non organic products they are very diligent to source good quality foods. They are also known for the ability to order bulk quantities, they do also offer smaller or smaller quantities for their products. Flour for example, their organic all purpose flour has size options of 30oz, 5lbs, 10lbs and 25lbs. I buy 25 lbs at a time.

Azure Standard is a family and community motivated company. They strive to provide affordable and healthy food to their customers. From the way they grow their organic foods to the way the deliver, their motivation is for the benefit of the family and community.

A Little About Costco

Costco is a popular store that is known to have everything you will need. From organic groceries to swimming pools and insurance. They carry clothing and dog food, household appliances, pharmacy… Its designed to be a one stop shop. This is great! Some of their items are even in ‘bulk’ form, meaning you are getting more for your money. The prices at Costco are in someways are simply unbeatable. Especially for organic foods.

They have high quality prepared foods available such as their rotisserie chicken, big bags of chips, Sanders dark chocolate sea salt caramels, granola bars, the whole bakery section! They have a ton of organic or high quality snack foods. Good meats, bulk toiletries, and other household supplies.  

The Main Differences Between Costco and Azure Standard

Ingredients or Prepared Foods

Costco and Azure both have a great selection of healthy options but have one big difference in the items they carry. Costco leans towards more prepared food items while still having a good base for ingredients while Azure leans towards ingredients at its simplistic form before prepared foods. 

For example, Azure and Costco both sell organic flour. But Azure also sell wheat berries so you can make your own flour and Costco has a whole bakery where you can buy prepared breads, bagels, cakes, cookies, pies, muffins and more. Costco does not sell wheat berries, Azure has no bakery. (They do sell breads, bagels and cookies but nothing like Costco’s awesome bakery.)

Here is a list of a few things Azure sell that Costco does not and some items that Costco sells and Azure wont have.

Azure Standard has, but Costco does not.

• Dry Beans (even canned beans are hard to find at Costco)
• Organic Wheat Berries
• Raw Honey
• More Spices and Herb Options
• Raw Cheese
• Essential Oils
• Apple Cider Vinegar (Costco has some online only)
• Elderberry Syrup/juice/whole
• Organic Chocolate Chips
• Tallow
• Tons of delicious snacks without artificial flavoring and colors or chemical preservatives.

Costco has, but Azure does not.

• Muffins, Cakes, Pies other Bakery Items
• Pork
• Alcohol
• Shell fish
• Flowers
• Rotisserie Chicken
• More meat option in general
• Appliances and Electronics
• Tons of delicious snacks with artificial flavoring and colors or chemical preservatives.

There is so much more to both Costco and Azure than this simple list. But what I desire you to see is the different direction both of these store take in what they sell.

The quality and standard

Both Costco and Azure have great quality standards but… Azure Standards product standards are like not one else’s. Costco does a great job and with quality products but Azure goes above and beyond. Azure products, including all products they sell have to meet the very high standards of Azure.

To Learn more about the 50+ ingredients Azure Standard will not sell you that is often found in our local grocery stores, including Costco. “Azure Product Standards”

The standard the Azure Standard holds for the products they produces and sell may not be your own standard. To be honest, my standards are lower then Azures, but my standards are also higher then Costco a lot of the time. Azure’s product quality standards are high and you should never feel ashamed if your personal health convictions are not as the same as someone else’s. But we can still be thankful that someone else cares enough to offer me their very best.

Costco and Azure Standard Price Comparison

Where to buy bulk foods

So now, to determine whether to buy from Costco or Azure Standard we looked at the difference in what they sell, their quality standard, and the price difference. 

If you want already prepared foods and snacks in bulk then shop at Costco. If you like shopping in one spot for all your needs. Shop at Costco.

If you want high quality ingredients in bulk shop at Azure Standard. Also, if you don’t want to check labels and ingredients list, shop Azure Standard.

If you are like me you will probably shop at both! I order from Azure Standard monthly. I get oatmeal, sugar, wheat berries, raisins, beans, rice, spices, fresh/frozen fruit and so much more.
At Costco I shop for meats, dairy, nuts, toiletries, and a few treats here and there. Because I live in the central valley of California I get a lot of our fresh produce from a lady who has a delivery service that sources fresh produce form many local farmers in the area. If I didn’t have her I would shop produce mainly at Costco.

Let me know in the comments where you shop and if there is any other stores you would want me to compare.

The post Costco Or Azure Standard? Where To Buy Bulk Foods appeared first on Embracing The Home.

• Meal Planning for a Month Vs. a Week
• How To Meal plan for a Month
  • Start with Base Ingredients
  • Create a List of Family Favorite Meals
  • Meal Plan According the Ingredients You Have
• What Happens When My Schedule Changes?
• Free Meal Planning Templates

Meal Planning For A Month Vs A Week

Most people I know plan weekly meal plans or don’t plan and all. When I was trying to plan my family’s meals a week at a time I kept struggling to actually get it written out done each week. There was always a day or two that I’d be struggling to think of something last minute because I failed and getting a menu plan written out in time. 

January of 2024 I decided to try planning my meals for a entire month. I planned the whole month out and it took so much stress away! I thought that if I had a hard time planning a weekly menu then monthly meals would be worse, but it was easier.

New Recipes

When planning the month I was able to be more consistent and more creative with new recipes with my meals. When meal planning for a week at a time I would find myself trying think of different meals for each week. If we had it last week I though I couldn’t plan for it again the next week because we would get tired of eating the same foods all the time. 

As I planned a month out I was able to see how often I was repeating meals and how often I was adding in new meals more clearly then when I was planning for a week. I no longer felt guilty keeping the same easy quick meals ever Tuesday and Wednesday (our busiest evenings) because I was being more creative on all the other nights.

Staying in Budget

As I meal planned monthly I found I was able to make a more accurate grocery shopping list. I was not longer buying food because we might eat it but because we planned to eat it on a specific day of the week. I was not buying food that would go bad and it reduced my food waste in our house by a lot. 

At the beginning of the month I would plan my meals based off of what foods we had in our house at that time. If we have rice, I made sure it was on the menu. If we have left over chicken or an abundance of potatoes, those foods made it on the monthly menu. Then I would make my shopping list. Going over each meal and making sure I had everything I needed for the entire month on my grocery list. I would brake up the produce into 2 weeks and shop for the second part of the month in another two week to keep fresh produce in the house. 

This planning process kept me from spending money on items that we would not eat. I was also able to plan creative meals using the ingredients we had or that I knew would not be expansive to purchase. Without last minute trips to the local grocery store we have been able to keep our food budget.

How To Meal Plan For A Month

To meal plan for a month may seem daunting. You may be tempted to think you can’t do it because you don’t know what or where you will be on 3 Friday’s from now. Or you might have had a hard time thinking of 7 different meals how am I going to think of 30? 

Here are my 3 tips for for successful meal planing. Plan by base ingredients, create a master list of family favorite meals, meal plan with ingredients you already have.

Plan your meals by base ingredients

The base ingredients are the foundation of your meal. Just to name a few… pasta, rice, potatoes, chicken, fish, ground beef… You can make many different recipes with these bases. For each day of the week I choose a base. (Your list may look different with a lot more meat, we eat mostly vegetarian in our house)

• Mondays – potatoes or soups
• Tuesday – Rice and beans (Taco Tuesday)
• Wednesday – Picnic sandwiches (we don’t eat at home on Wednesdays)
• Thursday – Rice and fish
• Friday – Salads and meat
• Saturday – Random/special meals

Again, I do not stick to this perfectly, I am not a slave to this list. I mix things around all the time but this weekly base ingredient list gives me something to work off of if I can’t think of anything else to make.

Here an example of meals that go with each category or base ingredient.

• Potatoes – Baked potatoes with baked beans and cornbread, Mashed Potatoes with lentil stew, Shepherds Pie, Potato soup…
• Rice and Beans – Tacos, burritos, nachos, bean bowls…
• Rice and Fish – Shrimp stir fry, shrimp scampi, shrimp saganaki (greek dish), balsamic glazed salmon, honey mustard salmon, crispy fried cod…
• Big Salads and Meat – Taco salad, greek salad with lamb or chicken, Italian salad with pizza or chicken, sweet broccoli salad with stake…
• Pasta – Lasagna, spaghetti and meat balls, alfredo, pesto, pasta salad, lemon pasta…

I hope these lists help you see how you can take base ingredients and think of many different meals to eat throughout the month. Keeping it simple with lots of verity.

You can also make a goal is to choose a protein, vegetable and starch/grain for each meal. 

Proteins 

• Meat
• Eggs
• Fish
• Beans

Vegetables

• Broccoli
• Salad
• Green beans…

Starch/Grains

• Breads
• Pasta
• Rice or quinoa
• Potatoes
• Sweet Potatoes 

Add one of each of these three food categories to each day and you will have a healthy meal plan.
examples:
Chicken – rice – roasted broccoli and cauliflower
Pot Roast- Potatoes – Carrots
Ground Beef – pasta – Salad

Create a list of family favorite meals

When meal planning for your whole family its always helps to know what everyone likes to eat. Another list that might be helpful is of what your family does not like. How to you find out your family’s preferences? Ask. When you sit down the meal plan ask your husband and kids what they would like to each this month. Fit their meal ideas in where they make since to you. If you have younger kids who only want pancakes and chicken nuggets for dinner, you can also take note on which meals they finished and what meals are a struggle to finish. If they ask for seconds, its a keeper. 

Here is a list you can download for free of lots of different meal options. Keep this list near your meal planner or on the refrigerator to help you when planning out the month. Once you’ve tried a meal and you notice your kids love it or hate it, rate it on your list. Give it a star, or cross it out. This way the next month you will be able to remember how to bring meals to the table the whole family can enjoy.

Meal plan According To The Ingredients you have

To help you save money, cut down on food waste and get the idea’s flowing for meals, look not to Pinterest, but in your cabinets, refrigerator and freezer to see what you can make with what you have first. Check the back of your freezer, find that bag of frozen green beans or that can of kidney beans that’s been in the pantry for months. Minestrone Soup, perfect, you can use both the green beans and kidney beans in that recipe. 

I’m all about stocking up on bulk items to save money and be prepared. But when you stock up, don’t make the mistake of not using those items. Continue to use what is on your shelf now instead of always buying more just to make what sounds good in the moment.

What happens if my schedule changes?

Its true, we often don’t know everything about our social calendar a month in advance. But planning meals that far in advance is not a hindrance but a help. 

When you plan meals for the whole month we can first look at the family calendar and see what days we know will will be gone for most of the day. There are times when I know we will be out doing one thing or another. So I either plan to meal prep the day before, plan to make extra of something earlier on in the week to eat leftover that day, or plan a slow cooker or crackpot meal. 

But, when something comes up unexpected and your planned meal won’t work for you that specific day, you can trade it with another day’s meal. I first ask myself, “can I make this in the crackpot?” If the answer is “no” I find another meal that is on my plan, that I already have the ingredients for, that will work in the crock pot. 

Another trick I use is to have extra pasta and sauce in my pantry for days when I was unable to make anything in time or when my husband has to make dinner. Quick meals like that, not on your meal plan, is great to have in your pantry when your in a pinch. 

Don’t be a slave to your meal plan. We plan ahead so we have freedom, not bondage to the plan.

Free Meal Planning Templates

Now that you know the benefits of monthly meal planning its time to get organized. Personally I like to use a calendar for my meal planning. I keep it on the side of our refrigerator so everyone can see what’s for dinner. This is super helpful for my husband as he sometimes gets nervous when it looks like I’m making a super healthy meal. He gets to look at the menu and see although we are having lentils today we will be having pizza tomorrow and he has hope. 

Some people keep a binder with their grocery list and chores list in, some people just write out a list on a scrap paper and keep it in the kitchen while other keep the list on their phones. There’s no right or wrong on your own organization preferences. As long as it helps you.

What you must do is write out your full plan. Again, start with whats in your cabinets now, using the base ingredients to come up with a variety of recipes. Don’t be afraid to repeat recipes on a specific day of the week. Pick days you know you will be home all day to try new recipes. Then finally make your grocery shopping list that revolves around your planned menu.

With that being said here are few free printable templates that you might like.

Edit For Yourself in Canva

Monthly Meal Planning List Layout

2025 Monthly Calendar

2025 Monthly Calendar Lined

175+ Meal Planning Dinner Ideas

Ready To Print!

Meal Planning Monthly List

2025 Monthly Calendar

2025 Monthly Calendar Lined

175+ Meal Planning Dinner Ideas

More meal planning tips and tricks

I know I didn’t cover everything on the subject of meal planning so comment below if there more tips or ticks to meal planning that my readers could benefit from. I would love to hear from you all the success you have had in your own meal planning.

The post How to Meal Plan for a Month – Save Money with Simple Meals appeared first on Embracing The Home.

To clean all the dry burnt food out I had to take the whole top off. This was not hard, it is made to come off for cleaning. Once it was off I was able to see how bad it truly was.

Natural Cleaning (no harsh chemicals)

I do not keep a lot of chemical based cleaning products in my house and I am a great advocate for warm water and a little soup. With a little patience you will find the warm water and a little soup cleans very well. Patience is the key.

Often the ads are showing how quickly you can get your stains and scrum off with a little spray of this beautiful foaming, fragrant, cancer in a bottle. I believe they work wonders and work quickly. The chemical based cleaners will eat away at the scrum to loosen it for an easy wipe down. Warm water will take long as it softens without breaking down the scrum off your stove. It takes more time but often is just as easy to wipe down.

Lemon Vinegar Cleaner

My go-to all purpose, all natural cleaner is my homemade lemon vinegar cleaner. Cleaning with natural products in our home is important. I want to embrace my home and family with healthy living by protecting them from harmful germs and bacteria as well as harsh chemical.

I did not use my lemon vinegar cleaner till the end of this cleaning although I’m sure it would have worked well if I had. The acid in the vinegar and lemon would have helped deteriorate the muck off my stove a little faster, not as fast as some other chemical cleans but probably a little fast then just water.

Learn how to make your own lemon vinegar cleaner here.

Products I Used To Deep Clean

• Warm water
• A little soup
• Bowl
• Rag
• Dish scraper
• Soft bristle brush
• Soft bristle toothbrush
• Lemon vinegar cleaner

I didn’t use much cleaning products and this made for a very simple cleaning.

Step By Step, How To Deep Clean

Step One: Water

Get any loose food off the surface. After that, take your warm soupy water and a rag and gently get everything wet. Do not dry, get it all water. Let water sit on the really dirty parts. If the water is not staying where you need it set the soaking wet rag on that spot and leave it there for 5 minutes. This will keep the water were the rag is.

Step Two: Scrape

Once everything is soft from the water soak it up and ring out your towel till most of the water is up. This way you don’t make a splashy mess. Take your scraper and gently scrape the needed areas. If it is too hard and not coming off, use more water for longer. 5-10 minutes more.

As you can see the underneath of this stove was so gross that I got another bowl to clean my scraper off into. There was a lot of build up.

Step Three: Brush

Once the majority of the crud is scraped off use your soft bristle brush to get more detailed closer cleaning. You may need to wipe down with your rag and fresh clean water a few times.

Use a toothbrush to get into or around some even smaller parts if needed.

Step Four: Wipe Down

Use your rag and fresh clean soupy water to do the final wipe down. At this time I might also use an all purpose cleaning to disinfect and get more of the unnoticeable germs away.

Step Five: Repeat

Repeat any steps that are needed as many times as need to get your realistic desired results.

Progress Over Perfection

The top is stained and scratched from my younger years of still learning how to care for my stove top. I clean it now with progress and not perfection in mind.

When cleaning anything you might have an unrealistic expectation to clean everything till it looks brand new. This is a dangerous way to think. My stove top is used daily. If I expect it to look new all the time I am going to be greatly disappointed and stressed that I’m not living to my expectations.

It is important to me to keep things clean. I feel more comfortable and less stressed in a clean environment. With four kids and cooking everything we eat from scratch, its possible to let the untidiness and used look of our house overwhelm me. But that is no way to live.

I want to embrace my home as it without being irresponsible with what I have. I want to keep my stove clean and usable with realistic exceptions of the outcome. When I can’t easily clean off stains I leave them. I embrace the used looked remember how delicious the pasta sauce or chicken tacos are that make the mess in the first place.

My motto is progress over perfection. If my home is cleaner in the evening they it was in the morning I have had great success. It may still need a lot of work, but progress has been made. If my stove is cleaner after I work on it then I have succeeded, even if I didn’t get it back to looking like new.

The post Deep Cleaning Gas Stove appeared first on Embracing The Home.

How To Puree a Pumpkin

Step One: Pick Your Pumpkin

Pick out a nice baking pumpkin, one that is one that seems heavy for its size. At the store they may be marked as sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins. I do not recommend using a carving pumpkin. Read above to learn more about the differences.

Step Two: Cut and Gut Your Pumpkin

Cut the top off you pumpkin then proceed to cutting the pumpkin in half using a large chefs knife. Watch out for fingers! Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds.

This pumpkin had a bruise and was a little moldy on the bottom. I simple cut the bottom off and threw it in the compost. The top was full of good pumpkin I made sure to double check and make sure there was not more mold and there wasn’t all was good.

Step Three: Cut and Boil Pumpkin

Cut you pumpkin into medium sized pieces and place in a pot. Fill your pot with water and boil for 1 hour.

Step Four: Blend the Pumpkin

Once cooled, peel the pumpkin and place in your vitamix, blender or food processor. Blend on high until very smooth.

Step Five: Store Your Fresh Pumpkin Puree

When its all blended smooth and the perfect pumpkin puree, pour it into mason jars, zip-lock bags or any airtight container you plan to store it in. You can leave it in the fridge for 7-10 days or in the freezer for up to a year. I like to freeze mine and use it through out the fall season in all my pies, breads and soups.

Is it better to Boil, Bake or Steam your Pumpkin?

When you boil your pumpkin, the pumpkin absorbs a little bit of water. When you bake it some of the water evaporates. You’ll notice the difference when you go to blend it. If you bake it you will most likely have to add water in the blender to get the pumpkin smooth. When you boil your pumpkin you will not need to add any water.

When I bake my pumpkin I also add a little bit of water to may baking sheet with my pumpkin and so that my pumpkin doesn’t dry out. It works great and I never have to add water when blending.

When steaming my pumpkin I still didn’t need to add water but the pumpkin puree was defiantly thicker then when I boiled it.

I don’t think if makes a big difference on whether you boil, bake or steam. The process is very similar and so are the results.

FAQs

What is the difference between a carving pumpkin and a baking pumpkin?

A baking pumpkin (or pie pumpkin) will be a little smaller and heavy for its size. The heavier the pumpkin typically the better for baking. Baking pumpkins have thicker walls and are sweeter then the carving pumpkins.

A carving pumpkin is typically large and light. The inside walls are thinner and stringy. Carving pumpkins are not as sweet and once cooked can have a little bit of a bitter taste to them. The taste is not always noticeable in your recipes but the baking pumpkins make your desserts and soups and breads so much better.

Can I make pumpkin puree from a carving pumpkin?

If you have already carved the pumpkin and you had it as decoration for Halloween then NO. Once its been cut open the pumpkin it will start to slowly rot. So do not use your carved pumpkins to for eating. You can however bake our boil the scraps and pieces you cut out of your pumpkin and make them into pumpkin puree rather then throwing them in the trash.

If you are just asking if the carving type of pumpkin is good for eating and making puree, the answer is… they are not the best. Carving pumpkins are edible and taste fine. They are not as sweet as baking pumpkins and they are stringy. They also often have thinner walls not giving you as much meat to work with.

Can I make pumpkin puree from pumpkin guts?

Pumpkin guts are the stringy insides that we pull out of our carving pumpkins. They are not ideal for making pumpkin puree but you absolutely can. I would add them to a pot of boiling water for 30 minutes then drain the water and put them in the blender. You will then have a little pumpkin puree to eat.

What is the best pumpkin to use for puree?

The best pumpkins are the baking pumpkins. There are lots of different verities of baking pumpkins and they are all a little different but will still work great for cooking and baking with. There are some verities that are considered carving pumpkins because of there thin walls and light weight.

Pumpkin Puree (Boiling)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 1 Pumpkin

Instructions

1. Cut your pumpkin in half and clean out the seeds.
2. Cut pumpkin into medium-large pieces.
3. Place your pumpkin pieces in a large pot and fill it with water.
4. Boil the pumpkins for 1 hour, then turn off the heat.
5. Peal the pumpkin pieces and place the pumpkin in a blender or food processor and blend till smooth.
6. Store in a mason jar, air tight container or zip-lock bag for 7-10 days in the refrigerator or the freezer for up to a year.

The post How to Make Pumpkin Puree by Boiling appeared first on Embracing The Home.

What Does It Mean To “Season” A Cast Iron Pan?

Seasoning a cast iron pan is the process of heating oil into the pan to create a layer of protection making the pan non-stick and easy to clean.

Without a good seasoning on your pots and pans your food will stick to the pan and it will be very difficult to clean and cook with. You might also experience your cast iron rusting if it doesn’t have the protective layer of oil seasoning you pots and pans.

What Oil Should I Use To Season My Cast Iron?

You can technique use any oil but there are some that work better than other. Linseed/flax seed oil is the best for seasoning and cleaning cast iron pans. I use avocado oil to cook with so instead of buying multiple oils for different reasons I just use my avocado oil to season and it works just fine. Olive oil, grape seed oil are also good for season your cast iron pans.

Do not use butter or margarine, lard or meat fats. Those oils and fats are too saturated and don’t give the nice clean thin layer that we are looking for. Some might say that coconut oil is not a good oil to use because its a saturated fat but others say its a wonderful oil to season your cast iron with. I have used it and had not issues, coconut oil has worked great for me.

Why Does My Pan Get Rusty?

You might notice you cast iron pan has a little or a lot of rust on it, this is due to excess moisture. Your oil coating is supposed to repel any extra moisture on your pan but if you are not oiling and drying it properly you will not repel the water and you pan will rust. Make sure, after you cook with your pan to oil the inside and outside, handle and all and dry with heat on the stove top.

If you have rust on your cast iron pots and pans clean with the salt scrub and re-season in the oven.

How To Wash Cast Iron

Rinse With Hot Water

Wash like you would wash any other dish. Use hot water and soup if needed. Use a rag or sponge to get food off you pots and pan until its perfectly clean. The important part of cast iron is not how you wash it but how you dry you it.

Avoid scraping the surface with rough sponges or steel wool. This often chips the seasoned layers already on our cast iron.

Do not wash in dishwasher.

Can I Use Soap On Cast Iron?

Yes, you can use soap. Although we want to get the old dirty grease and food out we don’t want to remove the embedded oil seasoning. It is not recommended to use a lot of soap on cast iron because soap is a de-greaser and we want to keep our pots and pan well oiled.

How To Dry Cast Iron

Wipe Down With a Towel

Just like any other dish, wipe it down with a towel or paper towel to get till dry.

Oil Your Cast Iron

Pour a little bit of oil on you pan and wipe with a paper towel the whole pan, inside & outside, the handle and all with a little bit of oil. Repeat with new paper towel until it comes back clean.

Heat on Stove Top to Dry Completely

Place on the stove and heat it up just until it starts to smoke. Turn off the heat and let cool before putting it away.

How To Deep Clean Cast Iron

Clean You Pan Normally

Clean your pan by rinsing it in hot water and drying it. Then apply a salt scrub.

Salt Scrub

Pour in a couple tablespoons… maybe 1/4 cup of salt into the pan with a little bit of oil and scrub the salt all around with a rag or sponge. If you pan is real dirt the salt will turn black pretty quickly. Rinse the salt out, and repeat the salt scrub with fresh salt a few times till the salt looks clean or clean enough when scrubbing. Depending on how dirty you could repeat this process multiple times. Once clean its time to season your pan.

How To Season Cast Iron

Cover your pan from top to bottom, handle and all with a thin layer of oil and place upside down in the oven at 500 (or the highest your oven goes) for 1 hour. Turn off the heat and let the pan sit there a cool down in its own time in the oven.

For a really good seasoning you can repeat this process of oiling, and baking multiple times till you have it at your desired seasoned state. Or you can just cook with your pan to create a nice seasoning over time.

For me, I season my big pot twice in one day a few times a year simply because I don’t cook with it often. I use my pan regularly and it has a nice season on it to were it doesn’t require the salt scrub or seasoning in the oven but if I’m doing my big pot I will often oil up the pan and heat in the oven too.

Cleaning Cast Iron

Prep Time: 1 minute

Active Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 minute

Print

Materials

• Cast Iron Pan or Pot
• Flax Seed Oil (or oil of your choice)
• Oven
• Salt
• Rag or Sponge

Instructions

1. Clean you cast iron with hot water.
2. Pour a few tablespoons of salt into your pan and scrub the pan down with a rag or sponge. Once the slat is all dark and dirty rinse and repeat till the slat comes out clean.
3. Rub a thin layer of flax seed oil all over your pan. Inside and outside even the handle.
4. Place your pan upside down in your oven and bake at 500 degrees (or as high as your oven goes) for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and let the cast iron cool down in the oven.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 a couple more times if desired for a better seasoning.

The post How To Clean and Season Cast Iron appeared first on Embracing The Home.

FAQs

What is the difference between a carving pumpkin and a baking pumpkin?

A baking pumpkin (or pie pumpkin) will be a little smaller and heavy for its size. The heavier the pumpkin typically the better for baking. Baking pumpkins have thicker walls and are sweeter then the carving pumpkins.

A carving pumpkin is typically large and light. The inside walls are thinner and stringy. Carving pumpkins are not as sweet and once cooked can have a little bit of a bitter taste to them. The taste is not always noticeable in your recipes but the baking pumpkins make your desserts and soups and breads so much better.

Can I make pumpkin puree from a carving pumpkin?

If you have already carved the pumpkin and you had it as decoration for Halloween then NO. Once its been cut open the pumpkin it will start to slowly rot. So do not use your carved pumpkins to for eating. You can however bake our boil the scraps and pieces you cut out of your pumpkin and make them into pumpkin puree rather then throwing them in the trash.

If you are just asking if the carving type of pumpkin is good for eating and making puree, the answer is… they are not the best. Carving pumpkins are edible and taste fine. They are not as sweet as baking pumpkins and they are stringy. They also often have thinner walls not giving you as much meat to work with.

Can I make pumpkin puree from pumpkin guts?

Pumpkin guts are the stringy insides that we pull out of our carving pumpkins. They are not ideal for making pumpkin puree but you absolutely can. I would add them to a pot of boiling water for 30 minutes then drain the water and put them in the blender. You will then have a little pumpkin puree to eat.

What is the best pumpkin to use for puree?

The best pumpkins are the baking pumpkins. There are lots of different verities of baking pumpkins and they are all a little different but will still work great for cooking and baking with. There are some verities that are considered carving pumpkins because of there thin walls and light weight.

Can I make pumpkin puree without baking it?

The pumpkin must be cooked in order for it to puree. You can cook it either by baking the pumpkin or by boiling the pumpkin. To boil it you have to cut it in to smaller pieces and when baking you only have to cut it in half. I like to bake my pumpkins.

How To Puree a Pumpkin

Step One: Pick Your Pumpkin

Pick out a nice baking pumpkin, one that is one that seems heavy for its size. At the store they may be marked as sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins. I do not recommend using a carving pumpkin. Read above to learn more about the differences.

Step Two: Preheat Oven

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees while you cut and gut your pumpkin.

Step Three: Cut and Gut Your Pumpkin

Cut the top off you pumpkin then proceed to cutting the pumpkin in half using a large chefs knife. Watch out for fingers! Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds.

Step Four: Bake Your Pumpkin

Use a large baking sheet to place your pumpkins on cut side down. Add a little water to the bottom of the pan and Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour.

Step Five: Blend the Pumpkin

Once the pumpkin is done baking let it cool down at least enough to handle it. Use a large spoon to scoop out the inside of the pumpkin and add it to your Vitamix, blender or food processor. Blend on high until very smooth.

Step Six: Store Your Fresh Pumpkin Puree

When its all blended smooth and the perfect pumpkin puree, pour it into mason jars, zip-lock bags or any airtight container you plan to store it in. You can leave it in the fridge for 7-10 days or in the freezer for up to a year. I like to freeze mine and use it through out the fall season in all my pies, breads and soups.

Recipes With Pumpkin Puree!

Pumpkin Puree

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• Baking Pumpkin

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Cut the top of the pumpkin off and then cut it in half. Take all the seeds outs.
3. Place the pumpkin face down on a large baking sheet with around 1/2-1 inch of water.
4. Bake for 1 hours at 375 degrees.
5. Once baked, scoop the insides into your blender or food processor. Blend the pumpkin on high till it is a smooth puree. You might need to add a little water to the pumpkin if it is not blending.
6. Store in an air tight container in the fridge for 7-10 days or in the freezer for up to a year.

The post How To Make Pumpkin Puree From Scratch appeared first on Embracing The Home.

Are Chemical Cleaners Bad?

YES!!! VERY BAD! …okay, maybe I’m overreacting… Let me just say right now, I have Bleach and Comet (Natural version here) and even Windex in my house right now that I use. Now, you are not going to keel over and die from them as your spray your window to clean it. With the chemical store-bought cleaners the danger is in long term exposure. 

Lets use bleach for example. Breathing in bleach fumes irritates your lungs. Sometimes while cleaning with bleach you might cough a little, feel a burning in your noes or throat… that is the chemicals burning your lungs. The feeling might goes away with a drink of water or some fresh air but that doesn’t mean there’s no damage. Healing is needed. Breathing in bleach everyday keeps the healing from happening. The more chemical burn your experience the longer its going to take to heal. Then you get a cold… and your lungs struggle. The coughing hurts, it turns in to bronchitis and then it goes crazy and you have lung cancer. It’s the constant damage, without healing that causing tissue and cell damage. To learn more read “Is Breathing in Bleach Bad?“

Yes, I keep these bad cancer causing chemical cleaners in my house. No, I do not use them daily, or even weekly. My daily and weekly cleaning needs are met with all natural cleaning products.

Benefits of Lemon Vinegar Cleaner

Lemon Vinegar Cleaner is Natural

Both lemon and vinegar are natural products that you can literally consume. Not just are they edible but good for you! Although, I do not recommend drinking this cleaner, that would be gross. There are also different types of vinegar, and some are better to consuming over others. The best vinegar to use when cleaning is called cleaning vinegars. You could also use distilled vinegar or white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, or cooking vinegar is not recommended for cleaning.
When you clean with lemon and vinegar you are not breathing anything harmful into your body. Nor will this citrus vinegar cleaner irritate your skin with like other store-bought cleaners can.

Lemon Vinegar Cleaner is Cheap

Another added benefit is that making your own cleaning products is so much cheaper. Like by a lot. 

Lets do some math…
1/4 gallon, Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Spray, Lemon Breeze Scent, 32oz – $2.58
2.5 gallons, Homemade Lemon Vinegar All-Purpose Cleaner – Lemons free from my tree, Cleaning Vinegar 64oz – $2.62

So right there the vinegar is about 1/2 the price of the cleaner. But don’t forget, we are going to dilute the vinegar with water. The directions on the Cleaning Vinegar bottle say 1/2 cup vinegar to a gallon of water. With that math you can get 8 gallons of cleaner for lesson than $5 (depending on if you need to buy lemons or not). The Lysol cleaning is $2.28 for a quarter of a gallon.

Myself I don’t dilute the vinegar that much. I do a 2:1 ratio of water and vinegar. This gets me about 2.5 gallons of homemade vinegar cleaner for the cost of 1/2 gallon (64oz) of vinegar. That’s 10 times the amount of the Lysol bottle. To buy 2.5 gallons (320oz) of Lysol that would cost about $40.

So yeah, its cheap.

Lemon Vinegar Cleaner is a Antibacterial

Lemons and vinegar are both acidic creating a hostile environment for bacteria making them inactive but not always killing the germs… There’s a lot of different thoughts on this. We are all taught and know that there are good germ and bad germs but its not always easy to know when to kill germs and when to embrace them. This cleaner is simply a cleaner, not a disinfectant, but it still has antibacterial properties. Disinfectants kills all germs both good and bad. Cleaners remove dirt, debris, grime and germs, making some germs inactive but does not kill them. Cleaners make it so germs don’t grow. 

If you want to make your vinegar cleaner a disinfectant you can add rubbing alcohol.

How to Make Lemon Vinegar Cleaner

Step 1: Juice Your Lemons

For the cleaner we only need the lemon rind (peel). So juice your lemons and make some lemonade! If you are interested in more things to do with your lemon juice, I have more idea’s here.

Step 2: Place Lemon Peels in Jar

After you have juice you lemons, take all the lemon rinds and put them in a quart or 1/2 gallon size jar.

Step 3: Fill Jar With Vinegar

Fill the jar up with vinegar to the top. You want all the lemons rinds to be fully covered.

Step 4: Wait 2 Weeks

Seal the jar with a lid and let the lemons and vinegar sit for two week before using.

Step 5: Dilute with Water in Spray Bottle

Once all the oils have released from the lemons the vinegar is ready to use. Pour Into a spray bottle 1/3 full. Fill it the rest of the way with water. Use a strainer when pouring just in case any little lemon pieces get in and clog the spray bottle. Now you are ready to clean!

FAQ

Can I use any vinegar to clean with?

There are lots of different types of vinegar and not all of them are ideal for cleaning. Cleaning Vinegar, or distilled white vinegar are you two best vinegar for cleaning. I personally wouldn’t use Apple Cider Vinegar, or Rice Vinegar, or any other cooking vinegar for cleaning with.

What types of lemons are best?

Any type of lemon works for cleaning. I have a Meyer lemon tree and although the rinds are thinner and the lemon less acidic then most it still cleans great. Meyer, Citron, Eureka they all work the same.

Can I use other Citrus in place of lemon?

Yes! You can use any type of citrus peels, orange peel, lime peels, and even grapefruit peel for you natural cleaners. 

Can I use essential Oils in place of citrus rinds?

Yes! You can use any citrus essential oils instead of socking the rinds in the vinegar. Use 10 to 15 drops of essential oils in your 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 cups water in a reusable glass spray bottle. Here are more essential oil cleaner recipes.

Do I need a glass all purpose cleaning spray bottle or can I use plastic?

No, you don’t have to use a glass spray bottle for your lemon vinegar cleaner but I do recommend it. The vinegar and acid from the lemon will brake down the plastics over time. If you use essential oils in your cleaner be sure to use a reusable glass spray bottle, or the power of the essential oil will absorb into the plastic.

Can I add soap to a vinegar cleaner? 

Yes, Castile soap is a great way to boast the cleaning power of your homemade lemon cleaner. Just add a tablespoon of Castile soap to your spray bottle and remember to mix/shake your own cleaning spray bottle before use.

What can I NOT clean vinegar with?

Vinegar is an all purpose cleaner but there are a few things to avoid cleaning with vinegar.

• Natural Stone. The acid in the vinegar can cause pitting in natural stones like Marble or Granite.
• Grout. Vinegar can cause deterioration of grout.
• Stainless Steal. Again, the vinegar can cause pitting the the steal.
• Waxed or unfinished wood should not have full strength vinegar but diluted is fine. The vinegar can cause discoloration if full strength.
• Cast Iron. Again, the vinegar can cause pitting.
• TV’s, Computers or other screen as the vinegar will take off the anti glare coating.
• Rubber. Rubber with lots of exposure to vinegar will start to deteriorate. A little here and there wont hurt it too badly.
• Hardwood Floors. Vinegar can dissolve the finish on the hardwood. For hardwood I suggest Murphy’s Oil Soup

What is safe to clean with vinegar?

• Glass, windows and mirrors. Mix a little rubbing alcohol for with the vinegar and you will get a quick dry, streak free cleaning.
• Toilet. For a deep clean you can put 2 cup of vinegar in your toilet and let sit for 2-3 hours. Clean with a toilet brush to help remove/prevent hard water lines and odor. Dust some baking soda on the floor around the toilet and let sit for 20 minutes or longer spray with your vinegar cleaner let it bubble and do its work then wipe up.
• Bath/Showers. Your vinegar helps prevent and remove watermarks as well as preventing mildew. Use your cleaner for weekly wiping down of your shower and bathtubs. For deeper cleaning use undiluted vinegar.
• Faucets. If you have hard water cleaning your faucets with vinegar is almost a must. The hard water build up can ruin your new faucets and daily or weekly cleaning with vinegar can prevent hard water build up to keep your
• Floor. Except hardwood floors or waxed floors. All other floors are safe for cleaning with vinegar.
• Dishwasher. Again, keep your dishwasher safe from hard water build up and crud with vinegar.
• Appliances. Microwave, stove tops, oven, refrigerator etc, vinegar is a great cleaner for these appliances. I also have such a peace of mind cleaning around my food with a safe, natural cleaner.
• Laundry. Deodorize your clothes, sheets, rags by washing your laundry with vinegar. Just be sure to not mix bleach and vinegar in the same load.
• Coffeemakers. Run equal parts of vinegar and water through your coffee maker for a good cleaning.
• Wood. If you want to clean natural wood with vinegar add an equal part of olive oil to your vinegar.
• Carpets and Upholstery. Spot clean you carpets with with vinegar. The profession carpet cleaner we use at our church told me to use vinegar for coffee spill and hot water and dish soup for sugar based spills (soda, lemonade).

Homemade Lemon Vinegar All-Purpose Cleaner

Print

Materials

• Lemon Rind/Peels
• Cleaning Vinegar

Tools

• Glass Jar with Lid
• Spray Bottle

Instructions

1. Juice your lemons and place the peel in a 2 quart or 1/2 gallon jar.
2. Fill the jar with cleaning vinegar covering the lemons.
3. Let sit for 2 weeks on the counter, top of the refrigerator, under the sink. Anywhere safe.
4. Combine a ratio of 1 part lemon vinegar to 3 parts water into a spray bottle and start cleaning!

All Purpose Cleaner

• 3:1 Water & Lemon Vinegar

Disinfectant Vinegar Cleaner

• 1:1 Ratio Water, Lemon Vinegar & Rubbing Alcohol

Wood Cleaner

• 1:1 Ratio Olive Oil & Lemon Vinegar

The post How To Make Lemon Vinegar All Purpose Cleaner appeared first on Embracing The Home.

There are many ways to clean and polish copper and to be honest I was skeptical of a few of them… Today I found 3 copper pots at a yard sale for $2! They looked pretty bad and I wasn’t sure if the natural remedies and cleaning tricks where going to work on these copper pots. I want to avoid commercial copper cleaner and see if natural acids really does work to clean copper pans. After doing a little research I decided to try three different cleaning methods and see which one was the best way. These three methods are all made out of natural solutions. By using natural acids to clean copper the acids dissolve the oxidized copper exterior making it shine like new and safer to use. Here are the results and cleaning process so you can determine which is the best methods and best results.

1. Lemon and salt
2. Vinegar, flour and salt
3. Ketchup

Lemon and Salt

The first pot I used a combination of salt and lemon. This method is simple. Cut a lemon in half and dip it in table salt or sea salt. Then rub the lemon with salt all over the pot in circular motions, dipping into the salt as needed.

My daughter loved helping with this one and as you can see in the photo it started working right away! This made me very excited because I wasn’t sure how well the natural cleaning tricks would work.

To clean the copper pot off you can wipe it down with some warm water and dry with a clean cloth.

Vinegar, Flour and Salt

The next pot I mixed together a combination of white vinegar, 1/4 cup fine sea salt and 1/4 cup flour, just enough vinegar in it to make a paste in a small bowl. I spooned the paste onto the pot and scrubbed it down with my scrub pad. You can also use a soft sponge.  

The vinegar is the true cleaning agent in this method but the flour helps keep it from just flowing off the pot. I can place more paste on the more affected area and the stubborn stains and let sit for longer. The flour and salt paste keeps the vinegar on the surface of the copper pot for a satisfying result.

Ketchup

Now to try the Ketchup. I know by now the vinegar and lemon both work well. Both vinegar and lemon are both acidic foods and that seems to be the trick. Ketchup is also an acidic food, both from the tomatoes and the vinegar in the ketchup. So in theory this should work…

And it did! I was actually very surprised with the ketchup method but it works really well.

Copper Pots Results

Now let’s look at all three natural ingredients compared them to each other.

I’m super impressed! And a little disappointed that they all work so wonderfully. I thought I would be able to compare and tell you all which one work better and which one didn’t work. So let me see if I can find fault in one of these methods…

Lemon and Salt:

The lemon and salt worked great but I felt like I couldn’t scrub it the same as the other. I still used my scrub pad and got a little cleaner. As I scrubbed I felt like I couldn’t keep the lemon juice where I wanted it like I could do with the vinegar paste and ketchup.

Vinegar and Four:

I like this one the best. Although the results of all three turned out the same this was the easiest to scrub with. I could see the vinegar at work because of the flour and I could paste the worse areas with more and let it sit there for a while for an easier clean. I could not do that with the lemon and salt mixture.

Ketchup:

Ketchup worked just as well as the others! This one was super easy to just grab out of the fridge and clean with. Its a little sticky because of the sugar but it all washes off well with hot water. For simple cleaning/maintenance for my copper pots I will probably just use ketchup. It was quick, simple and worked great. Although, if I have another deep clean that needs to happen I will use the vinegar and flour.

In Summery – Before and After

These were all very effective ways with simple steps to cleaning the surface of copper pots. Cleaning copper items are a lot easier then I expected. The Lemon, Vinegar and Ketchup are all acidic and clean the copper equally well. So there are no needs to buy any special commercial copper cleaner or harsh chemicals to get your copper clean. You can use natural cleaner that you already have in your kitchen. 

Note: I do not advice using steel wool on your copper item. Copper is a soft metal and is easily scratched. Although you may make it shine again by de-oxidizing the copper you will most likely leave swirl marks and scratches on your copper pots, pans and cups. Use a soft sponge, soft cloth or microfiber cloth you clean copper with.  

You can try this with other copper items such as copper cups, copper pans, copper sink, really anything that is made with a copper surface.

Want a Natural All Purpose Cleaner?

Did you know that you can make your own lemon scented all purpose cleaner? Its really easy and effective. Simple take lemon peels and put them in a jar. Fill the jar with vinegar and let sit for a week or two before you use. Pour into a spray bottle and you have a natural, effective all purpose clean!

The post How To Clean Copper Pots appeared first on Embracing The Home.

Molasses is a by product of sugar cane or sugar beets just like granulated sugar. To make it you take the juice from the sugar cane or beet and boil it down. Once all the water is evaporated you are left with a syrup. This syrup is then crystalized and separated into dry sugar crystals and the remaining syrup which we call molasses!

To learn more about how brown sugar is made from the molasses and sugar read, “How To Make Brown Sugar” here.

Heads up! My post do contain affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Different Types of Molasses

As the sugar cane juices are boiled down the molasses and sugar are separated.

• After the first boil you get light molasses.
  Light molasses has the highest content of sugar of the three.
• The second boil a dark molasses
• And then the third boil gets you Blackstrap molasses.
  Blackstrap has the highest concentration of all the good nutrients.

Some of the more common labels to see in the store would be,

• Old Fashioned Molasses. Old fashioned hasn’t had all of the sugar removed (typically a light molasses) from it so it is a little sweeter but has a lower concentrate of nutrients then blackstrap molasses. Molasses can be bitter so the sweeter flavor makes it more popular for recipes and desserts and will work great for making brown sugar.
• Blackstrap Molasses. Blackstrap has more of the sugar removed, which makes it less sweet or more bitter. The benefits is in its richer concentrate of iron and other nutrients. Light and dark molasses have these same nutrients but as you continue to boil it down it becomes a thicker and richer concentrate of those nutrients.
• Unsolphured Molasses. If the sugar cane is unripe when the molasses is extracted from it, sulphur dioxide is added to preserve it. Unsolphured means that the molasses has not been treated with sulphur dioxide.

Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap has a higher concentrate of all the nutrient benefits that come in molasses due to it being boiled down further than the other types. So lets look at the nutrient for 1 tablespoon.

Calories 50 g

Carbohydrates 13 g

Manganese 0.7mg (37 percent DV) – Fatigue, Brain Health, Digestion

Manganese is a mineral that nourishes the brain and nerve centers. It also helps with digestion metabolizing sugars and fats. Manganese helps with fatigue, nerve irritability, lower back pain and seizures.

Copper 0.6 mg (29 percent DV) – Blood Production and Health

Copper helps in absorbing iron, protein metabolism (converting food into usable protein), and helps with red blood cell production. It can also help keep your hair healthy with color.

Iron 4.7 mg (25 percent DV) – Anemia, Fatigue, Immunity

Iron helps produce hemoglobin with copper and proteins, hemoglobin then carries oxygen through the body in red blood cells. Similar to copper, iron will also help keep that color in your hair, along with bright eyes and strengthens immunity. Iron reducing fatigue, anemia and muscle weakness.

Calcium 226 mg (15 percent DV) – Bone Health, Heart Health, Nerves System

Calcium works to build solid bones and teeth. It also works with magnesium to aiding in cardiovascular health. Lowing blood pressure, helps blood to clot, prevents muscle cramping, and helps maintain your nervous system. Calcium helps with quality sleep and rest, reducing anxiety and depression.Calcium 226 mg (15 percent DV) – Bone Health, Heart Health, Nerves SystemCalcium works to build solid bones and teeth. It also works with magnesium to aiding in cardiovascular health. Lowing blood pressure, helps blood to clot, prevents muscle cramping, and helps maintain your nervous system. Calcium helps with quality sleep and rest, reducing anxiety and depression.

Potassium 334 mg (8 percent DV) Acid/Alkaline System, Electrolyte, Brain Health, Hormone Health

Potassium helps balance the acid/alkaline system in your body. It is an electrolyte and works with sodium (another electrolyte) to regulate the body’s water balance. Potassium helps oxygenate the brain and helps reduce anxiety, depression and stress. It helps keep a healthy hear, muscle function, energy, nerve stability, enzyme and hormone production.

Magnesium 60 mg (15 percent DV) – Nerve Function and Muscle Function, Kidney Health and Heart Health

Magnesium enhances the absorption of other minerals. It is necessary for nerve function and muscle function. Magnesium reduces stress and nerves, it helps calm twitching (nerves and muscles) and promotes endurance and exercise capacity. It also aids in the healthy of your kidneys and heart.

Vitamin B6 0.2 mg (10 percent DV) – Nervous System, Natural Diuretic

Vitamin B6 also known as Pyridoxine is a great help to the nervous system. It is especially helpful to those with epilepsy or convulsions, and carpal tunnel syndrome. It works as an natural diuretic especially during per-menstrual time, also helps with acne, and alleviates morning sickness.

Selenium 5 micrograms (7 percent DV) – Immune System, Blood Health,

Selenium is a powerful anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and stimulates the immune system. Working with Vitamin E it prevents fat and cholesterol build ups in the bloodstream by doing so it protects the heart.

All that to say, blackstrap is full of very good things!

If you want to know more about foods, vitamins, minerals and herbs that help heal our body I recommend “Healthy Healing” by Linda Page. It is a great resource for natural healing.

To summarize, the minerals and vitamins we receive from consuming blackstrap molasses helps aid our nerves system, brain function, blood function, immune system, and has electrolytes.

Molasses helps with fatigue and stress, menstrual relief, stabilizes blood sugar and slows down glucose, aids in digestion, can also be used as a stool softener. Molasses is an anti-imflammaotry and arthritis reliever. Its great for those who have epilepsy or heart arrhythmias. Its a natural sleep aid as well as increasing stamina and energy creating balance in your life.

There is so much good but how do I add molasses into my diet?

Easy Ways To Add Molasses Into Your Diet

Add It To Your Drinks

• 1 teaspoon to a tablespoon in your coffee
• 1 teaspoon to a tablespoon in your tea
• 1 teaspoon to a tablespoon in milk
• 1 teaspoon to a tablespoon in hot chocolate
• Pumpkin Gingerbread Molasses Smoothie
• Spinach Smoothie With Molasses

More Molasses Recipes

• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Molasses Vegan Chili
• Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
• Ginger Cookies
• Gingerbread Loaf
• Molasses Banana Bread
• Maine Molasses Cake
• Best Southern Baked Beans
• Sweet Brown Bread Rolls

There are so many more recipes out there that include molasses in them. So many of them sound delicious that I myself want to try to make but and most of them desserts. When trying to add nutrition to your diet its best to first find the easiest and healthiest way to add it. If its about flavor, try all the cakes and cookies and enjoy! If you are truly trying to add molasses to your diet to improve your health I encourage you to find a way to add it in at least 5 times a week. I personally have been experimenting with adding to my daily spinach smoothies. Finding the right combination that my kids will also enjoy has been the hard part. When I figure it out, I’ll share the recipe. *UPDATE, Here’s the recipe!

If you have some recipes featuring Molasses that you think I should try let me know in the comments below. I’m excited to continue to find new recipes and cook and bake more while improving my health.

Where To Get Blackstrap Molasses

Molasses is not very hard to find, but Blackstrap can be tricky. Our local Walmart carries Grandmas Original Molasses, but does not carry any Blackstrap. Often stores will carry molasses as a seasonal item for the holidays but its usually, again, not blackstrap. You may be lucky and have a local grocery store that carries blackstrap but if not try looking at the local health food stores.

Online is probably the easiest way to find it. Amazon has Golden Barrel Unsulfured Blackstrap Molasses among other good brands.

I get my blackstrap molasses from Azure Standard. I love the quality, the price and the bulk sizes. Azure Standard is a online store focused on high quality organic foods. Azure runs like a co-op and deliver monthly to a drop off location near you. Read my “Azure Standard Review” to find out more about Azure Standard.

The post Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses appeared first on Embracing The Home.

Brown sugar is made of 2 ingredients. Granulated sugar and molasses. Simply mix 1 cup sugar to 1 tablespoon molasses and done. It truly is as simple as that. There’s literally nothing else to it.

Keep reading to find out more on Different Mixing Techniques, Different Types of Molasses, What is Molasses and How its Made, FAQ so you can improve your from scratch home cooking knowledge and skills.

Heads up! My post do contain affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you make a purchase using these links.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

4 Different Mixing Techniques

There are some different techniques in the way you mix the two ingredients but no right or wrong, just preference. There is also different opinions on what you what type of sugar or molasses is best. All types of sugar and molasses work.

I’m sure you can probably come up with a few more ways to mix two ingredients and if you think of another way that works for you, great! Do that.

• Bowl and spoon. This techniques works great for small amount. If you just need 1 cup or 2 cups of brown sugar you can just quickly mix them together and add them to your recipe.
• Electric Hand Mixer. If you don’t want to mix by hand or maybe you have a need little be more then just a cup or two an electric hand mixer can be just the right tool for you.
• KitchenAid Mixer. Now if you are making a lot of brown sugar like I do you may want to use a bigger mixer like a KitchenAid. It will mix a larger quantity (6-8 cups) with minimal work on your part.
• Food processor. Because I use organic sugar that has somewhat larger crystals I prefer to use my food processor. It mixes as well as granulates my sugar just a little bit more. The food processor does do as much as my KitchenAid so I just do a few batches in order to fill my container.

Different types of Molasses

As the sugar cane juices are boiled the molasses and sugar are separated.

• After the first boil you get light molasses,
• The second boil a dark molasses
• And then the third boil gets you Blackstrap molasses.

Other names you will see for molasses are,

• Old Fashioned Molasses. Old fashioned molasses hasn’t had all of the sugar removed (typically light molasses) from it so it is a little sweeter but has a lower concentrate of iron then blackstrap molasses. Molasses can be bitter so the sweeter flavor in this molasses makes it more popular for recipes and desserts and will work great for making brown sugar.
• Blackstrap Molasses. Blackstrap molasses has more of the sugar removed, which makes it less sweet or more bitter. The benefits is in its richer concentrate of iron and other nutrients. Light and dark molasses have these same nutrients but as you continue to boil it down it becomes a thicker and richer concentrate of those nutrients.
• Unsolphured Molasses. If the sugar cane is unripe when the molasses is extracted from it, sulphur dioxide is added to preserve it. Unsolphured molasses means that molasses has not been treated with sulphur dioxide.

What is molasses? How is it made?

Molasses is a by product of sugar cane or sugar beets just like granulated sugar. To make sugar and molasses you take the juice from the sugar cane or beet and boil it down. Once all the water is evaporated you are left with a syrup. This syrup is then crystalized and separated into dry sugar crystals and the remaining syrup which we call molasses!

So you might be thinking that the brown sugar in the store is processed by not separating the molasses and sugar fully, resulting in brown sugar. Close, that’s possible but not how they do. The brown sugar you find in the store is more often separated completely, so that if fully a dry crystal, granulated and processed and then they add the molasses back in so that we have that fine texture of granulated brown sugar.

Raw sugar, turbinado sugar, and organic cane sugars are less refined resulting in a larger crystal (not fine and granulated) and holds on to some of the original molasses giving it a light brown coloring. Its not enough molasses to be considered brown sugar but not refined enough to be considered white granulated sugar.

FAQ:

How to keep brown sugar from getting hard?

To be honest I don’t experience this problem with brown sugar as much as I do with my organic cane sugar. This happens when the moisture from the molasses evaporates from the sugar and the crystals clump together creating a hard block of sucrose. This happens to organic cane sugars as well because the still have traces of molasses in them.

To prevent this from happening store in an airtight container capturing the moisture. If brown sugar is not filling up the container there could be too much air exposure causing the problem. You can place a layer of plastic wrap over the it to help retain moisture or keep the sugar in a Zip-lock bag. You can also purchase a nifty terracotta brown sugar keeper on Amazon. Terracotta holds on to moisture for a long time. So the idea is that you can soak the terracotta disc in water for 15 minutes and place it in your sugar. It will help keep the moisture in the container and you sugar softer for 3-6 months.

How to soften brown sugar?

If you have hard brown sugar in order to soften it quickly you can use the microwave. Measure out the amount you need in a microwave safe bowl and place a damp paper towel on the top. Microwave in 20 second increments until it is soft. Brake up any larger clumps with a fork as you go.

If you have the time and don’t want to use the microwave you can also place a slice of bread, or a few slices of apples or a terracotta brown sugar saver in your brown sugar for 24 hours. They will slowly add moisture back into your brown sugar and you will be able to break up any large clumps with a fork.

Is it cheaper to make my own or buy brown sugar?

Okay, lets do some math.
2lbs Great Value Light Brown Sugar: $2.57 – 8.0c/oz
2lbs C&H Dark Brown Sugar: $3.43 – 10.7c/oz

4lbs Great Value Pure Granulated Sugar: $3.24 – 5.1c/oz
4lbs C&H Premium Pure Cane Granulated Sugar: $3.73 – 5.8c/oz

12 fl oz Grandma’s Original Unsulphured Molasses: $3.66 – 30.5c/fl.oz

If my recipe is for every 1 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of molasses and there is 8 oz in a cup and 1/2 oz in a tablespoon. My homemade brown sugar equation comes to S(8oz X 5.1c) + M(.5oz X 30.5c) = 56.05 cents per cup (8oz) of brown sugar. Divide 56.05/8oz = 7.0cents/oz for homemade brown sugar. The answer, its CHEAPER by 1 cent per oz.
If you don’t like my math feel free to challenge it in the comments. I enjoy figuring number and seeing how other figure these types of problems out.

Can I substitute molasses with something else to make brown sugar?

You can’t actually substitute molasses with anything else by mixing it with the sugar to get brown sugar. But you can substitute, in your recipes, brown sugar with maple syrup or honey.

What type of molasses should I use?

For making brown sugar it doesn’t matter. The lighter Old Fashioned molasses will create a lighter brown sugar you will need more to make it darker. Blackstrap molasses will get you a dark brown sugar with less. The sweet flavor of the old fashioned and the bitter flavor of the blackstrap doesn’t matter when you are mixing it with sugar.

When it comes to recipe like molasses cookies, ginger bread houses or molasses banana bread, the recipe might call for a specific type of molasses. Depending on the flavor you want you should use the correct molasses. Lighter molasses will have a lighter flavor, blackstrap has a stronger flavor. There are some tricks you can use if you don’t have the right one. For example, if your recipe calls for 1 cup light molasses but all you have is blackstrap you can substitute 3/4 blackstrap and 1/4 honey or maple syrup to lighten it up. If it calls for blackstrap and all you have is light molasses… You could technically boil it down and get a blackstrap but I usually just add another 1/4 cup of the or so of molasses and take out a little oil or butter, depending on the recipe, to even out the moisture.

Should you refrigerate Molasses after opening?

It is recommended that if you molasses is unsulphured you should refrigerate after opening. Personally, I didn’t know this until doing research this post. I have never refrigerated my molasses and I have never had it go bad. In the past I have left 1/2 used jars of molasses in my pantry for almost a year and it was still good. So should you refrigerate the molasses? Yes. Can un-refrigerated molasses keep in your pantry. Yes. Can un-refrigerated molasses go bad. Yes. Refrigerated molasses will keep longer, and safer.

Comment below if you have any other questions about brown sugar or molasses. You can also read more about the health benefits of molasses here. And follow along for more recipes featuring molasses. Have a great day and happy baking!

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