Homemade crockpot applesauce with thieves & lemon

So simple, so healthy, so inexpensive, SO TASTY!! Apples are for sure a fall favorite. But applesauce is delicious and loved by most year round. My daughter LOVES applesauce and this is a no fuss, easy, and cost-effective way to make super yummy and healthy applesauce. I KNOW what's in it, and I know it's amazing!

Ingredients

8 Medium-Large apples of your choosing
1 1/4 cup hot water
3 Tablespoons raw honey (regular is OK if that's all you have)
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 drops Young Living lemon essential oil
1 drop Young Living thieves essential oil

Step 1

Wash your apples! I fill my sink with water and a splash of the thieves household cleaner, then swoosh the apples around. Rinse with water.

Step 2

Core, peel, and slice the apples. I prefer a little bit of peel in my applesauce. You can leave the peels on, or totally peel them. Have it your way!

Step 3

Put your apples in the crock pot. You'll want it nice and full! 

Step 4

Whisk together the hot water, vanilla, and honey until well blended. Pour the mixture over the apples, making sure to pour evenly over the top.

Step 5:

Set the crock pot on high and cook for 3 hours. Stir once an hour, making sure to mix well

Turn it down to low and cook for an additional hour 

Set aside 

At this point, add in your essential oils and stir 

Let the applesauce sit until lukewarm

Step 6

This step is really up to preference. You can leave the applesauce as is if you prefer it to be chunky. Other options include mashing with a potato masher, blending with an immersion blender, or pouring the applesauce into a food processor. Personally, I just use a potato masher and mash it up a bit. We like it a little chunky. Transfer into a container and store in the fridge. Enjoy!

Homemade Laundry Detergent using soap berries & YL Thieves Household Cleaner

Yes, I do make my own laundry detergent! Many people have asked me for instructions on how to make my laundry detergent so I decided to share my secret with you, dear blog friend!

I know you're probably wondering what soap nuts are, anyway. When you buy a bag of soap nuts, you're really getting the shell of the berry from the sapindus mukorossi tree found in the Himalayas. When introduced to water, a natural soap called saponin is released.

Many people simply put the soap nuts into a small burlap sack and toss that into their laundry. I was doing this myself for a long time, but found the small bags a real pain to open, especially when wet. I also had a hard time keeping track of how many times I'd used each bag since you only get about 5 washes out of each bag.

This is why I decided to see what else I could do with my large sack of soap nuts when I got to the point where doing laundry was too much of a PITA to do. That's when I came across some other blog posts discussing making a liquid from the soap berries that could be used for laundry AND dishes, skin care, fertilizer etc. I experimented with different recipes, but found that the liquid didn't last long before going bad. I didn't feel like making laundry detergent once a week. I have a toddler. Come ON!

I had also read that you can use the Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner for laundry, too! Ding, ding, ding! Mix the two! Now I have a huge container full of economic, eco-friendly, skin & fabric friendly soap that is also anti-microbial and lasts a long time! Huzzah!

What you will need:

• 1 Large Pot
• 1 Measuring Cup (liquid)
• 8 Cups water
• Approx. 30 organic soap nuts(berries)
• 1 Capfull of YL Thieves Household cleaner
• 1 64oz container for your detergent
• 1 funnel with straining device

Step 1: 

• Pour 8 cups of water into the large pot and bring to a boil
• Add approximately 30 soap nut shells into the boiling water
  
  

Step 2: 

• Bring the heat down to medium and stir
• Set timer for 30 minutes
• Stir intermittently during the 30 minutes while mushing the berries against the side of the pot
• When the 30 minute timer goes off, add an additional 2 Cups of water to the pot and set the timer for 10 minutes 
• Continue boiling for 10 minutes and stirring/mashing as before
• When the 10 minute timer goes off, add an additional 1 Cup of water to the pot and set the timer for 10 minutes 
• Continue boiling for 10 minutes and stirring/mashing as before 
• 8 cups- 30 min
• 2 cups- 10 min
• 1 cup - 10 min
  

Step 3: 

• When the final times goes off, you know that the liquid is done. Turn off the heat, and set the pot aside until it cools down enough to touch
• Place the funnel into the top opening of your large bottle
• Using the measuring cup or ladle, transfer your soap from the pot into the bottle while ensuring the berries don't get in
• Once you have emptied the pot into your bottle, remove the funnel and dispose of the used nuts in the garbage disposal or compost
• Pour 1 capfull of the Young Living Thieves Household cleaner into the bottle
• Place your pump or lid on the bottle and shake gently to mix
  
  
  





Step 4: 



• Do your laundry, ya slackah!





A great thing about this entire process is that you don't have to CLEAN anything! All you have to do is rinse out the pot, measuring cup, spoon etc. and dry. This process is self-cleaning!