Not all coconut oil products taste like coconut. LouAna brand (I get it at Wal-Mart and Dillons - a Kroger-associated store) doesn't have any coconut flavor. The Grain & Salt Society sold a brand (they called it Coconut BUTTER, and then had to change it to oil) that didn't taste like coconut (it was the first brand I ever tried). Carrington Farms Coconut Cooking Oil and NOW MCT Oil is also tasteless, so a good choice for salad dressing, which is one of the more difficult things to make with regular coconut oil because it solidifies so easily. But don't discount the flavor of coconut oil that does have a mild coconut flavor. It's my "secret" ingredient in brownies, without being over-powering, and works well with cocoa/chocolate. It's also a good choice in other baked goods and power/protein bars. I mix coconut oil with raw honey and use it as a spread like you would use honey-butter. Coconut oil by itself is used by vegans for a bread-spread instead of butter and margarine. Coconut oil aids in homemade breads keeping fresh a little longer than those made with butter or shortening. I found homemade bread made with coconut oil AND chia seeds stayed fresh for at least a week - soft enough to be used for a peanut butter sandwich after a week. Coconut oil has a long history in food and was commonly used in commercial baked goods pre-1960's because the commercial foods had a longer shelf-life when made with coconut oil. I often find recipes in older books calling for copra oil, which is coconut oil. If was often added to frosting in order to help it "set" in cool temperatures. Coconut oil was used for popping corn at stadiums because they could pop huge amounts ahead of time and the coconut oil kept it "fresh". Just stay clear of partially-hydrogenated or hydrogenated coconut oil. This process damages the oil and it doesn't have the same healthful effects on the body as unrefined coconut oil. -Grainlady

Sure you can get the powdered gm at a health store, but try an animal feed store; they'll feed baby goats with the stuff. And, it's cheaper. I think it's an 8lb bag. You can get gm in small amounts but it's four times as much (at least it is here). I wouldn't mix the gm right into the lye, it'll turn bright orange and you'll burn the milk! And, .... it stinks! What's the problem with water? I use filtered water right out of the fridge. I don't use the tap water because I can smell the chlorine when I drink it. If your water is good to drink, it's good to wash with.

Hi - Thanks for responding - below is the reason for my question. Tell me, what you think? Thanks -Tina_2 Coconut & Olive Soap This recipe has been revised by Christin Ocasio, Owner, Wyndham Soapworks. See her notes in sidebar. 1 cup olive oil 1 cup coconut oil 1 cup melted tallow (animal fat) 2 tbsp lye (heaping) (*NOTE) 1/2 cup cold soft water has been changed to: 8 oz weight olive oil 8 oz weight coconut oil 8 oz weight rendered tallow 3.49 oz weight sodium hydroxide (pure lye) Red Devil brand 100% lye (*NOTE)scroll to bottom. 9 fluid oz water While wearing safety goggles and neoprene gloves, combine solid lye and liquid, stir well. Set aside and allow to cool (100° F to 125° F). This is best done outside while you are standing upwind. Combine oils and heat gently. Once the fats and oils are melted allow the temperature to drop to 100° F to 125° F. Combine lye solution and melted oils. Be careful not to splash while combining the mixtures. Stir until the mixture traces. If tracing takes more than 15 minutes, which it often does, stir for the first 15 minutes, then stir for 5 minutes at 15 minute intervals. Tracing looks like a slightly thickened custard, not instant pudding but a cooked custard. It will support a drop, or your stir marks for several seconds. Once tracing occurs... Pour raw soap into your prepared molds. After a few days the soap can be turned out of the mold. If the soap is very soft, allow it to cure for a few days to firm the outside. Cut soap into bars and set the bars out to cure and dry. This will allow the bar to firm and finish saponification. Place the bars on something that will allow them to breathe. Note: If you don't want to mess with tallow and lye, you can substitute shavings from any white unscented soap

Hello! Im new to the forum, but i am an avid soapmaker, who uses mostly oils from the grocery store. . .I also have 'rendered' my own beef tallow (which makes a nice hard soap!) Please Note: I use a 25% water discount, so you may add about 4oz. additional water to the amounts below. . . anyway, here are 2 recipes/formulas for you to try (3-lb batch-- divide or double as you need) 16 oz. Store-brand Shortening (Not all-veg.) 8 oz. all veg shortening 10 oz coconut oil 8 oz. All veg. oil (soybean) 6 oz castor oil (Walmart has 6 oz bottle in H&B) ------------------ - 2 OPTIONS Here: 13 oz WATER mixed with 6.5 oz LYE ----------------- 2nd option: 6.5 oz. WATER mixed with 6.5 oz. LYE ADD 6.5 oz coconut MILK to oils and blend BEFORE adding Lye/water This makes a decent *no frills* soap --add scent before pouring. ------------------------- NEXT Recipe: No-Frills All Veg Soap 14oz Coconut 12 oz. Olive oil 8 oz soybean (vegetable oil) 6 oz Crisco (new w/palm) 4 oz Walmart all veg shortening 4 oz Castor oil ------------------------- 12.5 oz Total Liquid mixed with 6.5 oz LYE ------------------------- As with any recipe/formula, it is best to run it thru a soap calculator-- I use soapcalc . net, Hope this helps a little! Here is a link that might be useful: soapcalculator