blissful domesticity- falafel and diy laundry detergent
Loving the fact that we can now bring in fresh flowers from our garden daily! Araina is my morning flower gatherer.
Fauna helped make falafel and a creamy cucumber yogurt sauce for dinner. Served with grapes and edamame make this a family favorite.
Falafel- I really don’t use exact measurements in this recipe, more like a couple pinches here and there, depending on my mood. I’m providing estimates here, use the amount of spices to your preference.
2 cans garbanzo beans drained and rinsed or 3 cups cooked beans
1 medium onion
3 cloves garlic
1 t salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup bread crumbs + more for dusting
1/2 cup fresh parsley
pinch of pepper
olive oil
-Mash garbanzo beans to a coarse texture, we like chunks of bean in our falafel so we leave it a little chunky; mash to your preference.
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a food processor blend garlic, onion, and parsley into a coarse texture. Don’t blend it too much or your patties will be too moist.
-Mix spices, garbanzos, lemon juice, and onion mixture together, then add bread crumbs a little at a time, mix until you are able to form patties that stay together (all the bread crumbs may not have to be used).
-On a parchment paper covered baking sheet coat with olive oil. Place patties on oil covered spaces, sprinkle bread crumbs atop each patty.
-Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, flip patties then bake again for 10-15 minutes. Serve in pita pockets with a creamy yogurt cucumber sauce.
Cucumber Sauce
-3 cups yogurt, drain liquid using coffee filter or cheese cloth, drain for an hour or two
-add 1/2 of a finely chopped cucumber
-add juice of 1 lemon
-mix and chill for at least 30 minutes
Laundry never seems to end around here, which I know I’m not alone- after missing a couple days of this domestic activity, mountains start forming. Today I needed to play catch up.
Homemade Laundry detergent (from Natural Cleaning for Your Home by Casey Kellar)
1/2 cup baking soda
1 bar glycerine, castile, or Ivory soap grated finely (the finer the soap the longer the shelf life)
1/2 cup washing soda (Arm and Hammer)
1/2 cup borax
Mix ingredients together and keep in a closed container. Use about 1/2 cup for large full loads. A few tablespoons for smaller loads.
Visit Elizabeth at Heartfelt Homemaking for directions on making a liquid laundry detergent.
“That’s all.”
Comments are closed.
Love your recipes. Just started making my own hand soap and body wash. Can’t wait to try the laundry detergent! Thanks!!!!
funny, I just made my first batch of laundry soap today! it’s basically the same recipe…slightly different.
Speaking of recipes, I think I’ll give your falafel one a go. I haven’t had much luck with homemade falafel…I like that these are baked.
I make ours with washing soda, borax, and fels. I only use a tablespoon per load. If it’s my husband really dirty clothes and it’s an extra large (we have a top loader), I use 2 tablespoons. It’s working really well for us. We have pretty med. water. My baby clothes have no stains on them at all. It’s seem to work fine with the diapers and isn’t causing anyone rashes.
I really want to try a bar of castille soap next time. But, I’m wondering if it’s the Fels that keeps everything from staining. I’m planning to make a small batch and see about it next time. But, I made a big jar last time and it will be a couple of months (even with two loads a day!) before I’m out.
Thank you for posting the recipe. My former meat and potatoes daughter just came home from Wellesley College for the summer (she will be a senior in the fall) and announced that she was now a vegetarian. I think that’s great, unfortunately she is a very picky eater and vegetables are not one of the things she usually picks. We made the falafel together last night and she really enjoyed it.
Great recipes! I am lucky to have a friend who makes me laundry detergent, but one of these days I will make it myself!
suzy
Thank you for sharing the delicious recipe. I, also, cannot wait to be able to pick a fresh morning bouquet. We have another month here I think.
Warm wishes.
Oh that recipe looks so yummy, especially with the cucumber sauce
I made the falafel recipe last night and it was awesome. I would reduce the amount of salt though.
Mmmmmmmm…..falafel. I need to look up a GF version of that one. It’s been a long time since I’ve had that.
I started using soap nuts from Naturoli for laundry. They clean really well, Naturoli carries quality soap nuts, they are super economical and compostable. (And it’s one less thing that I have to mix. I make all my own cleaners.)
I love falafel! I wonder how it would be with gluten free bread crumbs…I will have to try it!
Falafels are my absolute favorite!
I look forward to sharing your soap recipe on my next “wash wednesday” post : )
LOVE all these recipes. Thank you!!
We had a SPECIAL day!
http://thefiveofus2000.blogspot.com/2010/05/really-special-moment-for-us.html
Jen
I used to make that same recipe for laundry detergent and somehow fell out of the habit. I don’t know why….it worked great!
Thanks for the recipe for the falafel and cucumber sauce. That sounds delicious.
mmmm, falafel! Congratulations on your flowers! And thanks for the recipe. I have been hesitant to try because we have the HE washers. My sister made me a batch, and we haven’t had any trouble. Its on my list of things to do….
Your falafel looks amazing! I love making my own laundry detergent too – I make a liquid/gel version though – same ingredients…
Thanks for the recipe. I’ve been gearing up to make my own.
What is “washing soda?”
The recipes sound yummy!
I have been saving some containers for homemade laundry detergent…perhaps now I will be motivated to make it :0
happy day!
~marcia
I know of an even easier way to make your own laundry detergent…use liquid castile soap! It doesn’t suds as much but it cleans well. It eliminates the grating and then melting of the bar of soap. Hope you like it.
Here is the recipe: http://householdways.blogspot.com/2010/04/homemade-laundry-detergent.html
-Phyllis
I haven’t made falafel in a million years! I have never made them from scratch either. Thank you for the recipe Lisa. Both recipes.. xo Kyndale
The falafel looks great. We will have to try this recipe. Thanks for the laundry detergent.
I like the home-made laundry detergent recipe. It reminds me of my high school days working as a stock clerk in the soap at the Grand Union grocery store, and my college days when I actually had to start doing laundry. Borax may be the greatest substance on earth–it also kills roaches and cures poison ivy (both by its surfactant effects, i.e. it absorbs and dries up oils)! Can you tell I also worked in the chemistry department stock room in college?
One other cool laundry item is blueing agent, although I couldn’t guess how to make it at home. There are a few brands out there, Mrs. Stewart’s comes to mind. If you can find them they are usually on the very top shelf of the laundry detergent aisle. They are whitening agents often used to get karate uniforms and other cottons bright white (even with a faint light-blue tinge).
Thanks for the post!
I’ve been making my own laundry detergent off and on for several years and love the using Zote or Fels Naptha soap. The Zote is a large pink bar that smells so fresh and so it is actually my choice over the Fels. I love knowing that I can make so much soap for such a minimal cost and it works!!!!
Marilyn in NM
I’ve been reading a bit about Zote. I will have to try it sometime. Thanks for the tip.
lisa
Ok, now you’re making me hungry! I’ve never made falafel, but my husband loves it and I love the cucumber sauce. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Mmmm, the falafel sounds so good!
Becca
Mmmmm, falafel! When I make our yogurt sauce I add some mint to it, tastes amazing!
I really need to plant more flowers. Your daily flower picking is making me jealous!
I’ll add mint next time. Great idea!
It makes it more tzatziki like. Add some garlic to it and you have it!
The falafel sounds wonderful. You may see it on my menu next week. Thanks for sharing.
We have been making our own liquid laundery soap for ages. You can see our recipe here: http://heartfelthomemaking.blogspot.com/2009/02/homemade-llaundry-soap.html
Mmmm! Love falafel and cucumber sauce! Have’nt had it in such a long time – since I’ve had picky kids. So now I’m craving it!
xo – Erin
I can’t wait for ‘daily’ flowers! We still have a way to go yet.
I can’t wait for ‘daily’ for flowers! We still have a way to go yet.
That is an AWESOME recipe and I can’t wait to try it out!
I’m so glad you posted this recipe! My college roommate used to make falafel, and I haven’t had it in years! This is going on next week’s dinner menu!
A friend of mine just shared her method of making laundry detergent, and it seems to be very similar to what you described here. I’m eager to try this out — she claims it works just as well as regular detergents, and saves her a fortune as well!
oh thanks for the recipe! i haven’t made falafel in ages. yumm….
garden mama is doing a lovely series called *wash wednesday*. i’m sure she would love to see your laundry recipe!