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.

Jo, I am making oodles of soap loafs cut into 1" thick bars (goats milk base), several clear M&P soaps, decorative soaps (bakery line, Xmas, cello bags w/dinosaurs for kids, festival fish and adorable hearts, butterflys and flowers for little girls), body butter, lotion bars, bath bombs and lip balms. I have been swamped but can't wait. My revised body butter has been a hit, almost all the recipes I got were to waxy and oily, I love mine, it is alot more work but worth it. I just made Hazel's bath bombs and love them due to the lack of oil in them so I am making quite few different fragrances in those. I am really unhappy with my flavor oil person for the lip balms, some of them are really lacking in fragrance and flavor, will be looking for a different supplier b4 next show. Gotta run, TIME TO MAKE THE SOAP!

chartrbee2, on melting them to use as oils..... what would be the harm to try one? they melt with the heat of your hands so whats so diff about in a warmer. the only thing I see is leaving it melted (hot) for long periods of might diminish the smell ( being that when I make them the mix is removed from the heat before I add essential oils for smell because excessive heat makes the essential oil "break down" or evaporate in a sense).... I love the bars and use them daily. they are a GREAT seller for us as well. My Dad and I keep bees so I am fortunate to have as much beeswax as I could possibly EVER need. good luck with testing out the melting use, let me know i do have friends that also are massage therapists ( could be a new avenue for my bars!) LOL

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.