Hey bubblefairy, What kind of soap did you make with parsley? What is chickweed? I haven't made soap in awhile and now is probably not the time to get back to it. Our house is up for sale - a showing every couple of days it seems, sigh. I will be so happy when it's sold. I used a book, The Soapmakers Companion, wonderful recipes, everything turned out great. Well, the milk and honey soap was a bit soft. Maybe I should have let it cure longer but it was so nice and smelt good enough to eat. I made one with calendula petals from my garden so I understand where you're coming from - totally addictive, fun and everybody who received a bar of soap as a present acted as if I was a genius.

Also, just an FYI, the reason you can't melt & remake the "soap" from the stores, is that it isn't soap at all..... What you buy in the stores, the commerically produced "soaps", are really detergent, NOT soap. The same basic ingredients are used to make comercially produced "soap" that are used to make laundry & dishwhasing detergent. That is why the comercially produced "soaps" have all those ingredients on the label-all chemicals- & why those products leave you with dry skin-all the benificial things like glycerin aren't there, or have to be added, but in such small quantities that they do no good. Once you have used good cold process soap, or M&P glycerin soap, you will see a trememdous difference in how your skin looks & feels & won't ever want to go back to store bought soap again. Okaay, time to step OFF the soapbox now....... Hazel

I'm looking for a recipe for gardener's soap. I've searched a little bit online, and found many recipes with pumice or coffee, but don't want to use them in mine. Are there any other "easy" recipes out there? I do like something with oatmeal, but wonder if there are any other sites with garden soap recipes to choose from.

I made this cake yesterday and it is delicious. It doesn't really need icing, but I added it, using my sister's recipe that tastes just like a praline without the nuts. But a sprinkle of powdered sugar would be enough. FRESH APPLE CAKE (Food Love Grace) 2 cups of sugar (or half white and half brown) 1 3/4 cup of cooking oil 3 large eggs 2 teaspoons of vanilla 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour 2 teaspoons of cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 3 cups fresh apples diced into really small pieces (do not cook) 1 1/2 cups of nuts (optional) Preheat oven 300F and grease a tube pan* (I just use Pam baking spray). Combine sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla mix until well combined with hand mixer. Mix flour and other dry ingredients together. Combine with first mixture, mix well. Add apples and beat with mixer for one minute. Stir in nuts. Bake in tube pan for 1 1/2 hours or until toothpick test comes out clean. *I baked at 350 degrees in two 9" square pans and baked both at the same time for 25 minutes. Caramel Frosting: 1/2 c. butter 1 c. brown sugar 1/4 c. milk 1-1/3 to 2 c. powdered sugar Melt butter and brown sugar over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Add milk, stirring until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and cool. Add enough powdered sugar to form the right consistency to spread. Spread immediately on cooled cake.