Homemade Peanut Butter

Okay this post was a long time coming. I made this back in February.

This was another one of those things I was super excited to try until I found out how it actually cost more, not to mention all the time and dirty dishes, than just buying it at the store.  In fact, the week after I bought a pound of peanuts to try this recipe, the 32 oz (2 lb) jars of peanut butter went on sale for the exact same price of the peanuts.  How bitter!

Out of annoyance I did not buy the peanut butter nor did I make my own.  Of course we go through a lot of peanut butter at my house and it wasn't too long before we ran out of peanut butter and my toddler really wanted some. (Side note- I just found out peanut butter on a spoon can be a choking hazard for toddlers, oops. We've been doing peanut butter with raisins for a long time now.  Oh well, not like I can do anything about it now.)

Back to making peanut butter.  I figured it was the best time to make the peanut butter.  How hard could it be put some peanuts, oil, a little salt in a blender and blend and blend and blend.  My poor food processor (yes I tried it with that to) could barely take it.  Once it started smelling funny I tried a real blender, thus you get my opinion of making peanut butter in a food processor versus a blender too.   Luck you!

First the recipe

Homemade Peanut Butter

• 2 cups peanuts
• 1 tablespoon oil (peanut is recommended, I used whatever I had- no way I was going to spend more than I had too for my already too expensive peanut butter.)
• Some salt
• Honey if you want it sweeter.

If you want crunchy peanut butter I would recommend and food processor.  If you want creamy a real blender works better.

Put it in the kitchen appliance of your choice (toaster not recommended) and blend, blend, blend.  At first is is lumpy, and then it becomes more liquidy.  It takes about five minutes so prepared to stand and watch the amazing process of grinding a solid into a liquid.  Awesome, science.

After it is runny, place it in a jar of your choice, cover and store in the refrigerator.  It will firm up a little. Then eat!  It doesn't store as long as the stuff with preservatives in it of course, but it taste very similar.

My Conclusion- that was a pain to make.  If I lived somewhere where peanuts (and peanut oil) were three or four times cheaper than peanut butter itself it would be worth it. Or if I loved peanut butter and was in a country where they don't sell peanut butter (I'm thinking of you, Jacob) then I would be all for making my own peanut butter.  It's also a cool thing to know how to do, although not as cool as making your own brown sugar.  In the end, why dirty dishes and stand for five minutes holding the blenders lid on if going to the store is faster and cheaper.  Now I'm sad I missed that sale.

Sunscreen

I admit, I was originally intrigued by the idea.  Before I continue I feel it important to note my family are not big sunscreen users.  Only a day in prolonged sun would constitute the need. (camping, biking, trip to the zoo, etc)  That being said here is my experience and opinion.

I began researching different homemade sunscreen recipes and discovered I did not have all the ingredients for any of them and the SPF on all of the was controversial.  If you have lower than SPF 15 it doesn't do much.  None of the homemade sunscreens could grantee that kind of protection.

Furthermore, if I am going to spend the day in the sun, I certainly want more that SPF 15.  Although according to skincancer.org SPF 15 blocks out 93% of sun's harmful rays, SPF 30 blocks out 97%.  Don't be fooled into thinking higher SPF's above 30 protect you a lot more than that.  They don't. According to the same site SPF 50 only blocks 98% of the rays.  So, if it cost more money for a higher SPF save your pennies.

After researching both options, if you want an everyday light sun protection, homemade might be the way to go.  If you want protection from hours of sun exposure, I would recommend an SPF 30 for best protection.  Plus sunscreen companies have researched and formulated the perfect amounts of each ingredient and tested their product for safety and accurate SPF's.

Once again, I have no say on if one brand is better than another.  I'd go with the generic of your favorite kind.  For babies or people with sensitive skin, the baby sunscreens are probably the safest route to go.  Feel free to look into the different kinds as I know many companies put various chemicals into them.  The product to buy is your choice.

Happy researching.

Toilet Paper

Unless you have a whole lot of extra time and saw dust laying around, just buy it.

Toilet Paper, as we know it, was invented in 1857. (Put on rolls in 1860) Before this time people would use whatever alternative was available.  Newspapers were a commonly used item.  Royal families would use soft cloth, wool, or even lace centuries before our paper on the rolls.

Personally, I am grateful we don't have to use old newspaper, and I also feel this is one area it is okay to spend money on.  Get the kind your family likes.  Of course, buy it on sale in in bulk to save money but don't rub yourself raw trying to save a few pennies.  It's just not worth it.

Fortunately, for you even cheap brands can be good.  Our favorite is a generic brand, so don't be afraid to try them out if a sale (or coupon) arises.  And be grateful you don't live in 1856.

Update- Some people go cloth here too- just cut up some flannel into 5X5 squares, and there you go.  If you're willing to wash to save a lot of money go for it, but my position on this one remains the same- I'd rather buy.

Diapers

Call me lazy, but I'm all for disposable.  My husband talked a lot about it and determined that was the best for us.

Cloth diapers are a big expense up front.  Then there is the storing and cleaning of dirty ones.
They can be reused for multiple children, and for a friend of mine with three little ones under the age of two, they were worth it to her, but the time, supplies, and cost just weren't balancing out for us.
They can also be bulky on a newborn.

Having chosen disposable, we chose wisely.
For a new born-  We used a brand name with an umbilical cord cut out. Sorry, I can't remember if it was Pampers or Huggies that had the deeper cut for the cord which was a plus in our book.  Guess I will need to research that again.

When it came to after the cord was gone, my favorite during the day was Luvs.  Cheaper than Huggies and Pampers and still held it all.  For the first while we used a brand name (which ever was on sale) during the night until night wetting became less frequent.

We had bad experiences with store and generic brands  so I cannot recommend the hassles, and messes, being worth the money you would save.

In all it comes down to your preference and what you are willing (or not willing) to put up with and the individual needs of your little one.

Happy Parenting.

UPDATE
As our little one grew older, I found an awesome deal on cloth diapers. The upfront cost was not as big as I first thought.  Looking back now I do not regret keeping a newborn in disposables but I cringe at the wasted money of diapers for an older infant.  I would wholeheartedly recommend cloth diapers!  I even have a recipe for cloth diaper detergent.  Post on cheap diapering to come soon.

Baby Wipes

Baby Wipes  (And a little on diapers)

Wet some paper towels.  Ring them out and store them in a container so they stay moist.  Simple enough.  Well, I like good wipes that don't tear.  So to make good home made wipes I wanted good paper towels which ended up being more money.

Then the paper towels were too large, so they needed cut, more time.  Then there is the fact that they don't come out one after the other all nice like the store bought baby wipes.  The time and effort and money just weren't worth it to me when I could by wipes that come out to a little over 2 cents a wipe.  (I always shop sales)

I don't do generic on wipes, this is one area I am willing to pay for quality.  Personally, Pampers are my favorite, but Luvs (which is made by the same company) is my choice when factoring value for your dollar.  Luvs is also my diaper of choice for during the day- cheaper than others and works well, plus my little one is not allergic to them as was the case with cheaper brands.  SEE UPDATE!!!

I will post later on my opinion of diapers.


Amendment:  While I do not like these as baby wipes they are GREAT for hand and face wipes.  Going on a trip? Make a few ahead of time.  It's an easy way to wipe food off kids faces and little hands.  I put mine in a reusable baby wipe container- they do go dry after a day or two, so another container may be better.



WIPES UPDATE:    
Did not want you to miss this.  While I don't like making disposable wipes, I love cloth wipes.  I wrote this post about nine months ago and laugh now.  I do not pay anything for wipes! Okay, let me rephrase that I pay $.0023 or less per a wipe. They are 10 times better than Pampers and are ten times cheaper.  I love cloth wipes, as does my toddler.  Cloth wipes post to come soon!

Marshmallows

Marshmallows

  There are recipes out their for grommet marshmallows.   I only use them for rice krispe treats and s'mores.  You can get the generic or store brands (I am all for generic labels) for really cheap.  So in all, it is not worth the effort or time to make something I can get for about a $1 on sale and that we end up melting down anyway.