Kitchen Kneads

If you think your dishes aren’t getting as clean as they used to, you’re probably right! As of July 1, 2010, all the detergent makers removed phosphates from their detergents. This has caused a rash of washability complaints because the phosphates did a number of important things to help the detergent clean better.

For example, phosphate causes food to break apart and dissolve by removing the calcium that binds foods together. It also reduces spotting and filming during the wash cycle. Phosphate also helps break up and get rid of grease, helps control water hardness, and suspends soils within the wash water so they are not redistributed onto the plates.

The old-formula dishwasher detergents had about 30% phosphates. Now, with the phosphates removed, the calcium is free to run around inside the dishwasher slurry causing trouble.

But all is not lost. I have the solution. After being plagued with this horrible film that not only made my dishes look terrible, but also made them taste funny (glasses), I got fed up and went on a search for a recipe to make my own dishwasher detergent. I searched and searched and happened upon a recipe that goes as follows:

1/2 cup Borax

1/2 cup Washing Soda

(NOT Baking Soda. Washing soda can be found in the laundry aisle of some stores. I found mine at Macey's.)

1/4 cup Citric Acid

(Not as easy to find. The only place I know of to find it is at Kitchen Kneads. And even if I did know where else to find it, I wouldn't say because [come on] this is a Kitchen Kneads blog.) The citric acid is what creates that *sparkle and shine*. It basically does what the phosphates do.

1/4 cup Coarse Kosher Salt

(The salt is your scrubber)

Mix it all up well. Use 1 Tablespoon per load. That's really all you need.

As a rinse agent, forget the Jet Dry and just pour some vinegar in the rinse agent spot. It's awesome!

Not only is this an awesome dishwasher detergent, but it's also tons cheaper. The top 2 photos are what was plaguing me - a horrible white film that wouldn't even scrub off. These last 2 are what happened to the same dishes after washing them with this detergent. Amazing difference, huh?

*Note: You may have to wash your dishes a few times before the white residue is removed.

This food was created by Ruth Graves Wakefield in the 1930s, near Whitman, Massachusetts. Ruth and her husband owned a small Inn and she came up with the recipe by accident when she had to substitute ingredients in a recipe.
Name this food. Check back tomorrow for the answer.

ANIMAL CRACKERS
"Animal crackers, and cocoa to drink,
That is the finest of suppers, I think.
When I'm grown up and can have what I please,
I think I shall always insist upon these."
by Christopher Morley

In 1902 the National Biscuit Company's Animal Biscuits assumed the legal trademark name of BARNUM'S ANIMALS. They designed the colorful five-cent box that looked like a circus wagon cage, and attached a string so the box could be hung from the Christmas tree. In total there have been 37 different animals represented since 1902. The current lineup is tiger, cougar, camel, rhinoceros, kangaroo, hippopotamus, bison, lion, hyena, zebra, elephant, sheep, bear, gorilla, monkey, seal and giraffe.

The product we know today came into being in 1902, but it had existed in similar forms for generations. During the Christmas season of 1902, packaging became an important factor. It was designed with a string attached to it so it could be hung as a Christmas tree ornament. In total, there have been 37 different varieties, currently there are 22. More than 40 million packages of these are sold each year, and they are exported to 17 countries. They are turned out at the rate of 12,000 per minute, and nearly 6,000 miles of string are used on the packages. Poet-philosopher Christopher Morley wrote a poem named for them.
What are they? Check back Monday for the answer.

[Source: Today I Found Out]

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to put away the shorts and sun dresses and pull out the sweaters, mittens, and hats. Gone are the days of summer salads and outdoor barbecues - it's time to start the holiday baking! Warm country kitchens and the smell of warm bread, pumpkin and spice, and apple pie dominate this time of year. The question is, are you ready?

Are we ever! This is our favorite time of the year. Here at Kitchen Kneads, we are stocked up and full of knowledge to help you with chocolate making, bread baking, and whatever you decide you're going to make this holiday season. We have all the basics, from flour and sugar to eggs and cheese. We carry name brand foods like SAF Instant Yeast, Peter's chocolate and carmel, and Frontier herbs and spices. And when it comes to making your cooking easier and more enjoyable, we have all the toys! Make dinner rolls with ease using the Bosch Universal Plus Mixer and the Wonder Mill. They'll make all your baking quick, easy, and lots of fun! We have what you need to enjoy not only eating your holiday treats, but to enjoy baking them as well.