Prepped Living Blog

We have been trying different options for better oral health. We already make a mouthwash that we like really well, so it was time to try making something else. We chose to make our own tooth powder. While most recipes claim these ingredients make a "re-mineralizing" tooth powder, we found that whether or not it re-mineralizes, this recipe gets your teeth sparkling clean. After reading through several recipe options, we came up with our own based on the ingredients we had on hand. Here is the recipe we created: Note: This blog post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through these links helps support our website and blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support. Tooth Powder Recipe Ingredients 1/4 c. bentonite clay 3 T calcium carbonate 1 1/2 T baking soda 1 t. cloves 1 t. cinnamon 1 t. sea salt 1 T dried mint leaves, ground to a powder 5 drops peppermint oil (or more, to taste) Directions Mix all ingredients together. Store in a glass jar with a lid.  To use: Scoop a...

By Frances Thomas In our first blog post I wrote: "My hope is that this becomes a space where knowledge can be shared, successes celebrated, and failures viewed with humor." Well, here is a bit of humor...in one of our newsletters in early 2024, I stated the following two goals for the year: 1) Improve my sewing skills. I love making quilts and have made small items – bibs, aprons, simple skirts, and even a pair of lounge pants – but this has been the extent of my skill. I would like to learn to make some serious clothes – shirts, pants, dresses, etc. – and learn how to do zippers and button holes.    2) Make homemade soap. We have a couple of friends who have been gracious enough to let me watch them make soap, but I have not yet ventured to make it by myself. I have been searching for a recipe that uses ingredients to which I have easy access (I love tallow, but cannot always get it) and that I can store for a long time. I think I found a recipe to try. Now I just have ...

Refrigerator snacks are especially nice in the summertime when it is hot outside. Prepare these in advance and store in the refrigerator for a cool, healthy snack. Pudding Cups Pudding cups are a great option because there are so many possibilities. Chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, and tapioca are just a few flavor options you can make at home. You also have the freedom to choose your milk - dairy, coconut, almond, etc. - if making a cooked recipe and you can even find egg-free recipes, such as the chia seed pudding recipe below. Taste of Home's Vanilla Pudding - This is one of our favorite vanilla puddings to make. It is easy and delicious! Minimalist Baker's Overnight Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Overnight Oatmeal Cups These have become popular for breakfast but there is no reason you can't make them as a snack as well! You can find recipes all over. Here are two options to get you started: Budget Bytes' Overnight Oats Love & Lemon's Overnight Oats Fruit Keb...

In line with our healthy snack series, we present some ideas for  hand-held healthy snacks Zucchini Chips - We have made these in the oven and in the dehydrator. Here is one recipe you can try: The Mediterranean Dish .  Kale Chips - Kale chips are similar to zucchini chips. The Kitchn has a recipe for these here .  Lacto-fermented vegetables - You can make fermented pickles , carrots , or a mix of vegetables . These are tasty and good for your digestion! Follow the links above for recipes from a variety of sources that you can try. Energy Bites - You can find the recipe we use on our website here . Granola - Our favorite granola recipe can be found on our website here .  Trail Mix - Trail mix can include whatever your favorite ingredients are. Basics include nuts and dried fruits. You can include small crackers, chocolate chips, and more. Nuts (regular, glazed, or candied) - Nuts are a good source of protein. We like them salted, seasoned, and glazed. Our favor...

Year-round gardening without a greenhouse? Check out our latest project! We were gifted an AeroGarden and are so excited to try out this indoor garden option. Deciding where to put it was the most difficult part of the whole process. Once we settled on  a location, we assembled the base. It was so easy to assemble that we really didn't even need to read the directions. This blog post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through these links is optional and helps support our blog at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! After assembling the base, the next step was to fill the basin to the fill line and add the amount of fertilizer indicated on the chart. Our gift included a box of Heirloom Cherry Tomato Pods and a a box of Grow Anything Pods  in which you plant your own seeds. Both boxes came with pods, plant fertilizer, and  fertilizer  measuring cup. The Grow Anything Kit also came with a set of grow domes, which are small plastic covers that act like a minia...

Chips and dip are an American favorite, but can it be deemed a healthy snack? If you find chips that avoid seed oil, or better yet, make your own, this can be a healthy option! You can also use vegetables or vegetable chips in place of potato chips or tortillas. This is the second in our healthy snack series highlighting delicious options for healthy, make-it-yourself snacks for feeding your family, serving at parties, and carrying to potlucks. Our family's favorite stand-by dip choices : Layered Taco Dip - For this dip, we layer refried beans, sour cream, salsa, and cheese. You can mix in homemade  taco seasoning with the refried beans, or with the sour cream for a slightly different and more flavorful variation. You can also turn it into a seven+ layer dip by adding a layer of avocado, and topping with your selection of chopped olives, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc. Salsa -   We like to make and can our own salsa whenever we have a bounty of tomatoes and peppers from ...

For those who have what is currently coined an "ingredient household" (a.k.a. low-tox, natural foods, "crunchy," healthy, etc.), snacks can be a challenge. This is the first in a series on healthy snack ideas. We recently had a request for more snack recipes for those who are trying to provide healthy food for their families.  We did a blog post featuring healthy snack options a while ago. Now, we want to focus on bringing you a wider range of snack options that includes links to recipes. We have spent some time searching the web to find recipe ideas to catalogue for easy reference.  Our first series post features frozen snack options. Although summer is not yet here, these frozen snacks can be enjoyed any time of the year. Here are a few ideas for freezer snacks you can prepare ahead of time to have on hand to satiate your hunger in between meals. Easy Frozen Jello Popsicles   - We discovered that using gelatin in our popsicles kept them from tasting watery and al...