Cold Process Soap: Alternatives to Water, What NOT to do!

Another wonderful experiment with cold process soap!  This time, I wanted to try to substitute water for another liquid in my soap.  I have had much success with beer.  So I thought, why not use apple juice using the apples from my tree (how full circle of me!)

Well, let me tell you a little secret... it was NOT a smart idea!  Thank god I had on gloves and goggles!
So, this is what happens to the lye solution when adding lye to juice:

...  it turns to sludge... in seconds....  it's called pectin ... Boy, did I learn my lesson!
So,  I disposed of the lye solution properly by waiting for it to cool, and transfered it into plastic bags  to throw away.  Then I tried it again... this time I dissolved all of the lye into half of the amount of water I normally use, and used the other "half" for the apple juice.  The key is to add the apple juice to your oils and lye just before you pore it into your molds.  Then it turns into something like this:

Apple Art

Here is another idea for using apples!  As you know, we have been talking a lot about apples around our house since I have been cooking with them so much.  My four year old said, "We should paint with them!" Hum... not a bad idea! We can make apple prints!  And so, we did!

Applesauce

 Our tree is loaded this year, and I have been spending most of my free time creating something with this wonderful fruit! Today, I made applesauce!  I forgot how fun it can be... especially with a 4 year old helper!  The basic recipe is simple.  I threw the following ingredients in my crockpot and cook it on high for 3 hours.  Once it cools, I pureed it, added any additional sugar or cinnamon to taste...  and bam....  GREAT APPLESAUCE!

Apples (about 5 lbs)

spritz of lemon

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup of H20

cinnamon to taste