Real Food Chocolate Fudge Recipe & Wholesome Comfort Cookbook Review {Giveaway!}

Today, I have the wonderful opportunity to share with you a recipe for a yummy, real-food chocolate fudge from Modern Alternative Mama's eCookbook, Wholesome Comfort: Whole Food to Warm and Nourish Your Family!

I own nearly all of Kate's eBooks, but I have to say Wholesome Comfort is my favorite. In this book, she takes old favorites and re-makes them the healthy, real-food way. The results are food you grew up with--minus the processed ingredients that could cost you your health. 

The recipe list alone has me drooling:

• Chicken and Dumplings,
• Macaroni and Cheese,
• Roast Beef,
• Italian Sausage,
• Chicken Pot Pie,
• Scalloped Potatoes,
• Green Bean Casserole,
• Mashed Potatoes,
• Apple Pie with Crumb Topping,
• No Bake Cookies,
• Chocolate-Peanut Butter Fudge,
• and more than 31 other recipes!

(You can check out the entire recipe list here!)

But I know what you really want--the Chocolate Fudge recipe!

Chocolate Fudge

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sucanat
• 1 cup milk
• 4 oz. semi-sweet baking chocolate
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 Tbsp. butter

Method:

1. Chop chocolate and set aside. 

2. Mix sucanat and milk in medium saucepan over low-medium heat, stirring constantly as you slowly raise the temperature. 

3. Continue stirring as the mixture comes to a boil.

4. Remove from heat and add in chocolate. 

5. Return to heat and let sit (do not stir) until temperature reachers 238 degrees F. with a candy thermometer. 

6. Remove from heat and place pan in a cold water bath. 

7. Add the butter and let sit until candy in bath until temperature reads 110 degrees F. 

8. Once temperature has lowered to 110, beat fudge until butter is completely mixed in and fudge as lost its sheen. Make sure all fudge is incorporated (on spoon, from bottom and sides of pan, etc.). 

9. Once fudge has reached the consistency of a thick frosting and isn't shiny, transfer it into an 8x8 dish. 

10. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. 

11. Cut into small squares--and enjoy!

Kate is giving all humbled homemaker readers 25% off Wholesome Comfort through 5/7! Use code:  HUMBLE25! 

Or, if you don't mind waiting, you can enter to win a copy of Wholesome Comfort below! This giveaway will only last through Friday, May 4! 

Check out all of Kate's books:

• Real Food Basics
• Healthy Pregnancy Super Foods
• Against the Grain: Delicious Recipes for the Whole Food and Grain-Free Lifestyle
• Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts
• Breast to Bib: Nourishing Healthy Children, One Meal at a Time
• Real Food, Real Easy (compilation book of 7 bloggers--including yours truly!)

I have included affiliate links in this post. Thank you for supporting The Humbled Homemaker! 

I'm linking up with: Growing Home, Far Above Rubies, Time-Warp Wife and Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots at Home, The Better Mom, Women Living Well,  Make Your Own Monday, The Prairie Homestead

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Recipe for a Toxin-Free Kitchen: 10 Homemade Kitchen Cleaners {at Keeper of the Home}

Today, you'll find me over at Keeper of the Home, where I'm giving 10 recipes for homemade kitchen cleaners! Here's an excerpt:

As we near the end of our "Spring Clean the Toxins" theme this month, let's develop a recipe for a toxin-free kitchen. After all, the kitchen is often the center of the home, and it's where we homemakers spend much of our time. 

We know that making ingredients from scratch and getting rid of hidden food/food prep toxins is a great start. And by using simple, natural homemade cleaners, we can eliminate many other toxins that could otherwise leach their way into our systems.

Hop on over to Keeper of the Home to read the rest of this post! 

Pregnancy Posts around the Web {A Natural Phenomenon}

As part of the "A Natural Phenomenon" pregnancy and birthing series, I want to direct you to some other amazing posts and resources from around the web. 


I'm only one person with only 2 1/2 pregnancies and 2 birthing experiences. I've brought in some great guest posters like Christy and Brandy, and you'll be hearing from other amazing bloggers over the course of this series--like Jen, Anne, Rachel, Mindy, Leigh Ann, Stacy, Mary, Sara, Jodi, Lexie, Kate, Justine and more!

Today, I'd like to give you some links to some helpful pregnancy and/or birthing posts I've recently found around the web:


Stacy from Stacy Makes Cents is expecting herself right now, and her Little Bean is due just a few weeks after Baby Girl #3! She's had several great preggo-related posts recently:

• In "7 Things I'm Doing Differently This Pregnancy," Stacy shares how she's navigating her second time expecting much differently from her first. 
• In "Partners for the Journey," Stacy's contributing writer, Brandy, outlines how birth professionals can make all the difference when it comes to the support women need to achieve natural births. 
• In perhaps one of my favorites, Stacy debunks "natural mama/real food judgement" in her popular post from last month: "Grace for a Pregnant Mama."

Brenda from Triple Braided is also expecting right now. Her very first bundle of joy will arrive sometime this fall! Her heartfelt posts are both convicting and encouraging:

• In "3 Hearts Made 1 Baby," Brenda recounts how the miracle of the child she's carrying came about after her husband's heart transplant. This one's a must-read...but be prepared to bring out the tissues! 
• In "New Rules for Announcing a Pregnancy," Brenda writes about what holds some women back from sharing the news of their pregnancies. 

And for those of you who are hurting as you read this: Perhaps you've had a pregnancy loss recently--or even in the past. Know you are not alone. I firmly believe your precious babies are in the presence of the Lord Jesus right now. 

Here are some posts from some friends of mine who have recently walked in your shoes:

• In "The Lord is My Comforter," Rachel from Day2Day Joys shares about the baby she lost in December--and the hope and healing she has in the Lord. 
•  In "When Life Hands Your Lemons...God's Making Something Beautiful," Mindy from The Purposed Heart shares about the baby she lost this spring--and how she's trusting that God is making something beautiful out of her pain. 

What are some recent pregnancy/birthing posts that have encouraged you?

Don't miss out on the other posts in this series:

• Real Food Pregnancy Cheats/Shortcuts
• Resources for a Natural Pregnancy
• Medicated vs. Natural Hospital Births, part 1
• Medicated vs. Natural Hospital Births, part 2
• How to Achieve a Natural Birth in a Hospital Setting
• A Comparison of Birth Settings: Home, Hospital and Birthing Center Births
• OB or Midwife: Finding the Birth Provider that Works for You

5 Shortcuts from Frump to Pump {at Christian Mommy Blogger}

Image by eflon
Today I'm posting over at Christian Mommy Blogger again. In this post, I'll give you 5 shortcuts to help you get rid of your "frump" and get "pump"! Here's an excerpt:

When I was a teenager--and even as a newlywed--I spent at least an hour getting ready every morning. I would shower, dry and curl my hair, slather on the make-up, and pick out posh jewelry to match my stylish outfits. 

When I became a mom, I quickly realized I didn’t have that extra hour in my day to get ready. And besides, I didn’t need all that make-up anyway!

But less time to get ready doesn’t have to mean you go from pump to frump! (Although, believe me, I’m there more often than I like to admit!) 

Here are 5 shortcuts I’ve learned that can help any mom go quickly from frump to pump:

Read the rest of this post over at Christian Mommy Blogger

Get Sarah Mae's book, From Frumps to Pumps, for only $4.99!

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I'm linking up with: Amy's Finer Things

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The Downward Spiral to Frump {at Christian Mommy Blogger}

Image by Joe Shlabotnik

Today and tomorrow I'm guest posting for Christian Mommy Blogger's "Frump to Pump" Challenge. Here's an excerpt of today's post:

When my husband and I first married, we both worked full-time outside the home. Naturally, we dressed up for work. My wardrobe consisted of lots of black dress pants and cute, colorful dress shirts. 

I curled my stick-straight hair daily, wore jewelry that matched my outfits, never left home without make-up, and always, always had a pretty purse in tow. 

And then...we had our first child. And then....I became a stay-at-home mom. And then...I quit dressing up. 

Hop on over to Christian Mommy Blogger to read the rest of this post!

Get Sarah Mae's book--From Frumps to Pumps for only $4.99! (I have included my affiliate link in this post, so I will receive a small percentage of all sales.)

I'm linking up with: Growing Home, Far Above Rubies, Time-Warp Wife and Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots at Home, The Better Mom, Women Living Well

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A Homebirth Transfer, Homemade Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets and Homemade Applesauce Fruitsnacks in this week's Healthy 2Day Wednesday!

Welcome back to Healthy 2day Wednesdays! I am so excited to be joining these amazing ladies in hosting every Wednesday:

• Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
• Day2Day Joys

Link up to any of our blogs with your favorite healthy post!



Top three this week:

Since you were one of the three "chosen"... you've been Facebooked and Tweeted by Erin!

A Homebirth Transfer Story from Simplify, Life, Love  (I thought this story went along great with my current pregnancy/birthing series!)

Homemade Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets from Beautiful Somehow

Homemade Applesauce Fruit Snacks from Vegan Mommy Chef

Rules for this Link-Up:

• Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going "green" tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
• If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here.
• Comment on another participant's post.
• Add button or link back to that day's link up.
• Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
• Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to's, the list goes on & on!
• If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health!

If you're not participating today, I hope you'll come back &  join in next week!

Easy Homemade Liquid Dish Soap {Homemade Homemaking}

Have you entered the Spring Blessings Blowout Giveaway for $360 yet?! Giveaway ends 4/25!

This month's homemade homemaking recipe is for an easy homemade liquid dish soap!


I'll be the first to confess that in this season of life I mostly use my dishwasher. With a toddler and a preschooler, my dishes dirty fast, and neither of my girls are quite old enough to help me hand wash--yet. :) 


But there are times I simply need liquid dish soap--whether it be for soaking a grimy pot or pan or for quickly washing a kitchen tool I may need to re-use within the same recipe. 

And this homemade liquid soap recipe couldn't be get any easier! I will admit that you may need to use slightly more than a conventional dish soap, and, although it does create suds, once you've soaked your dishes for a while, the suds will slowly disappear. 


But it still gets your dishes clean--with NO toxins found in many conventional dish soaps (like  endocrine-disrupting phthalates, which can potentially lower sperm count or even contribute to liver cancer!).


Without further ado, here's my recipe for an easy-peasy homemade liquid dish soap!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup liquid castile soap (unscented or whatever your favorite scent is...I like using tea tree for the added antibacterial properties.)
• 1/8 cup water
• 4 drops essential oil scent of choice (I use orange, as I make this into a citrus soap.)
• 1 tsp. homemade all-purpose citrus cleaner (1tsp. of vinegar can be an alternate here--but I simply LOVE my homemade citrus cleaner, and I always have it on hand. It also makes for a nice addition to this citrus soap.)

Directions:

Simply mix everything together and store it in an old liquid dish soap bottle! Use as you would store-bought liquid dish soap. 

Do you make your own liquid dish soap? What is your favorite liquid dish soap recipe?

More Homemade Homemaking:

• Homemade Hamburger Helper
• 10 Ingredients to Make from Scratch
• Amazingly Easy Homemade Garlic Salt
• Homemade Bread Crumbs
• Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
• Homemade Allergen-Free Graham Crackers
• Homemade Foaming Hand Soap

Want to learn how to make more than 30 homemade household cleaners? Check out: Simply Clean.


I have included affiliate links in this post. Thank you for supporting The Humbled Homemaker!


I'm linking up to:  Works for Me Wednesday, Make Your Own Monday,Frugal Friday, Fight Back Friday, Friday Food,Frugally Sustainable

She Took a Tiny Spark in Me and Fanned it into a Fiery Passion...

Image by redcargurl

Pen poised to paper...I sat in the hard, wooden desk and wrote. Anything and nothing...and soon it became everything to me. 

Freewriting. She instructed us to liberally write whatever came to mind. It didn’t matter if we wrote about our worst wounds or the smudged stain on the carpet. As long as we wrote. For we were becoming writers. 

And I wrote. Back before the days of ipad tablets or even laptops in every college classroom, I gripped my blue Bic pen until my fingers cramped. 

And what started with: “I don’t know what to write. It’s a beautiful spring day outside, and shouldn’t I be enjoying it?” turned into a record of my purest passions, my deepest pains, my most vivid childhood memories and what bothered me the most about this rotting-away world. 

And unlike many college professors who stood aloof at the front of their rooms as they worked on dissertations of their own, she paced the floors and looked over our shoulders--curious to know more of our scribbles, eager to lend a word of encouragement and passionately wanting to see us wield those jotted words into masterpieces of prose. 

Image by redspotted

“Don’t tell. Show,” she said. “Intersperse short sentences with long ones. Employ strong action verbs. Exercise caution when using adjectives.”

And my 21-year-old ears tuned to her ever-present wisdom. She--she who stood short in stature but strong in character. She who balanced friendly teacher with fierce constructive criticism. She who embodied both seriousness and humor, femininity and security. 

Truth be told, she frightened me a bit. But it was a fright wrought with the deepest respect and admiration. 

Long before the late-night feedings that painted dark circles under my eyes and two and a half pregnancies etched evidence on my belly, she help shape me. 

So instead of “telling” the memories from my Grandpa Amos’s farm, I showed the winding drive and the musty cellar that we hovered in during springtime storms. 

Image by clickit07

And with strong action verbs, I lamented the travesties of Christian college students addicted to pornography. 

And, perhaps most passionately of all, under her tutelage I wove a tapestry of long and short sentences to help heal the hurts of my mother’s cancer. 

Ovarian. We discovered that semester it had returned. And that pen and that paper and that wonderfully wise professor created some comfort when my bubble-of-a-world began to burst. 

********************************************


And when, six weeks ago, I heard of her cancer, I wept. 

Ovarian. 

Perhaps she would make it. Perhaps she would pull through--as my Mama had. 

In her last days I prayed, and I thought back to the class where I sat, pen poised to paper and wrote of my Mama. I wrote of the ugliness of cancer. And I wrote of the beauty of what God taught me through that trial. 

And when Dr. Price passed a few weeks ago, I cried for her family, for her friends, for her co-workers and even for her current students. Up until very close to her death, she continued to teach future writers at Gardner-Webb University. 

I thanked God for my short time with her. Ten years ago exactly. 

One spring semester. 

She took a tiny spark that began in me before I could read and fanned it into a fiery passion. 

If it weren’t for her, I may not be the writer I am today. 

This blog would not be. 

And, for her, I am eternally grateful. 

*This column first appeared in the April 6 issue of The Mooresville Weekly. 

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Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Winner!

Have you entered the Spring Blessings Blowout $360 cash giveaway yet? 

This is just a quick post to announce the winner of the Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil Giveaway! 

Congrats to: Entry #505--Stephanie! 

Stephanie, please contact me at thehumbledhomemaker at gmail dot com before 4/27 to claim your prize!!

Be on the lookout for some more great giveaways coming soon!! Have a blessed weekend! :) 

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