Thursday, September 28, 2017

Bend Soap Company - Family Run, Family Values

Dwight and Marilee Johnson (no relation to us!) and their family of 11 live on a 40-acre farm in beautiful Central Oregon. I know that area well. Back when I was playing airline pilot we had a run into the Redmond/Bend airport and it was one of my favorite trips as we had a layover long enough to enjoy the amazing scenery.

 As the Johnson's raised a herd of happy healthy goats that ate only good food and were given natural substances to keep them healthy rather than medications that would then end up in their milk – they got the idea of making some soap with it. With a long history as a successful entrepreneur and the support of his creative and clever wife, Dwight's  initial soap soon became a family effort as a result of crafting some soap from their farm’s goats to help with eczema that their young son Chance was suffering with.
Making some goat milk Kefir in my "cowboy wineglass"
 - no milking involved, just a trip to Whole Foods.

Consuming goat milk (which I drink in place of cow’s milk which I don’t digest well) the Johnson family knew the benefits of the milk nutritionally.

• Goat’s milk is full of vitamins, proteins, and minerals
• Is easily absorbed by the body
• And has a pH that is relatively close to that of the human body

Could that also help young Chance's skin if used topically?

They found that by putting a couple bars of their newly created honey and oatmeal soaps into the bath and letting Chance play and soak in the water for 15-20 minutes gave him great relief, and his eczema was practically gone after one week of daily baths like this. This is great news because it’s often recommended that you avoid frequent bathing if you have eczema as it dries out the skin, making the itching worse.
That’s the secret behind their amazing milk bath product. This was one of the first products I ordered, the online ordering easy and the products arriving quickly (with a free sample bar of tea tree soap - thanks!)

Rather than a powdery, strongly scented product like many bath additives, it’s fine shards of the purest soaps with essential oils (except the unscented one which has no essential oils) that dissolves in your bath like a cloud. Goats milk also has natural alpha-hydroxy acids which will gently exfoliate the skin. I used some for the first time last night, the “English Garden” scent and my husband commented on how smooth my arms were when he gave me a hug as I came out of the bathroom in my pajamas. He also commented on how clean and pretty the scent was.

He then used a bar of unscented goat milk soap in his shower to wash his hair. When we first married and I moved into his home, I noticed he only used this one generic brand of dandruff shampoo. I told him several years later that it must work as he had no dandruff. He laughed and said, “I never have, I just hate the strong scents of drugstore shampoo.” Well, the dandruff shampoo was kicked to the curb. So much of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies that I didn’t want him using a medicated product he didn’t need. He'd found a couple of natural shampoos he liked but he loved the idea of a bar he can use to shampoo as much as he travels in his engineer job.

He washed his fine blond hair with the unscented Bend Soap and his hair was SO soft and shiny. I’m loving the soaps as well, the unscented for my face cleared up some acne-like bumps I get on my arms after working out and sweating a lot. Within two days, my skin looked 100% better.

Got Pets with sensitive skin?  Made to lather well, the goat milk soap is easy to use on your dog or cat's coat.  It will get their fur clean, but it is a LOT easier to rinse off than most other pet shampoos.  Gentle and non-irritating on the skin it also doesn't contain chemicals that their bodies will absorb, or remain on the skin to be licked off later.  Always do a patch test first like any new product, but Abby has her baths with goat milk soap (a much more expensive brand so I'm happy to find this) since we got her and her fur is SO soft and shiny.

For a shower or bath for we humans, it’s great. Most commercial skincare products are made with a mixture of alcohols, synthetic fragrances, and other chemicals which strip our skin of its natural oils that keep it protected and are intended to defend it against becoming dry, irritated, and unhealthy.I had a little rubber bucket of assorted bath products for my nightly bath, but I couldn't use them every night or my skin would dry out and itch.  (I hadn't learned yet that the GMO oils used in cheap bath products, even those touted as "moisturizing", can irritate and dry the skin.)

The Bend Soap and Bend Milk Bath have made a huge difference in my skin in only a few days and the milk bath is soothing and inexpensive enough I can use it frequently! I can’t wait to use the goat milk lotion on my face and body instead of the scented products that often make me itchy or break me out.
With the quality ingredients including palm oil, that they ensure is sustainably harvested, it’s no wonder.

So for my book fans and readers some questions

 •Do you suffer from harsh skin sensitivities, like me, spending thousands of dollars over the years trying to help?

 •Are you allergic or sensitive to many skin care products and can’t use them?

  •Are you concerned about toxic products in your body and the effect on you and your family's long-term health?

  •Would you love to use wonderful products to make your skin and hair soft and supple without spending $9 a bar or $30 a jar?

 Natural, gentle, deeply moisturizing, healing and convenient products from a family run company that's had years of happy customers.  What's not to LOVE?


There's soaps, lip butters, scrubs, lotions, and even a natural deodorant and lots of information on their company and products and it's obvious how close this family is.
I so enjoyed the photos on their website of their children helping with the chores and the production - growing up as I did doing things with my brother around our Western home to earn a little money, learning responsibility, sharing, and commitment to something.  As I look at the smiling faces of the Johnson family, I can't help but think of what wonderful family memories are being made right now as they provide a product that supports and nourishes a community of people.

Go check them out, especially the gift tins with the holidays coming up (and seriously- orange Sugar Scrub? - I am SO ordering that!)

Monday, September 25, 2017

Triple Berry Sourdough Muffins

Thanks for your patience everyone - I've got a new Novella being published in October (part of an anthology with other authors) and I've been busy finishing that up with my editor.  Fortunately, I got on the scale and though I've been eating somewhat haphazardly being busy and with a husband that's been traveling for work a lot, I haven't gained any weight.

So time for some baking.

My sourdough starter has been doing really well, so I made another batch of muffins.  My husband eats one of these every morning as a snack and they are always a hit. I vary the berries in them and sometimes use  1/4 tsp. Cardamon in place of the Cinnamon. They also freeze really well so I can take some into work to share.  They aren't particularly low-fat or low-sugar (you could replace some or all of the oil/butter with applesauce to make them healthier), but for a homemade snack they are really moist and tasty and the slight tang of the sourdough pairs nicely with the fruit.

You can get sourdough going two ways:

(1)  Find a friend that has some going and borrow at least a half a cup.  Store in a glass jar covered with a coffee filter and rubber band.  You will need to "feed" your new sourdough, then feed it again in a few days.  Feed by adding equal parts flour and non-chlorinated (always) water, stir with a wooden spoon (sourdough does NOT Like metal) and let sit in a warm room (68-70 degrees min.) for an hour or two before and after feeding. If the room is cold, set it on top of a heating pad set on "low". Then store in the refrigerator between feedings.  Feed it with equal amounts flour/water mix at least once a week (I don't feed more than a cup of flour at a time, usually a half cup). In a few days with a couple feedings, it will be ready for baking. Always leave a 1/2 cup in the jar to grow additional starter.

Every two-three weeks I pour the starter into a clean dry bowl, thoroughly wash the glass jar, dry and re-add the starter as some of the starter eventually dries on the side of the jar as you pour it into a measuring cup.

(2)  Or you can make your own starter if you have a warm kitchen and about 5 days (daily upkeep is minimal but it takes several days for it to "take off").

Directions are here:
http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2012/04/05/creating-your-own-sourdough-starter-the-path-to-great-bread/

Triple Berry Sourdough Muffins

In one bowl stir until well combined:

2 cups flour (if using gluten-free add 1/2 tsp Xanath gum)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup plus 3 Tablespoons brown sugar

In another bowl mix:
1 cup sourdough starter (mine is about the consistency of Kefir - if your starter is thicker you may wish to add another Tablespoon or two of water to the recipe).
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) melted butter
1 egg (whisked)
1 Tablespoon honey
pinch of lemon zest (optional)

Mix wet and dry ingredients and fold in:

1 and 1/2 cups clean and dry berries (I used 1/2 cup each of blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries).

Sprinkle muffin batter with a tiny bit of granulated sugar and bake in a preheated 375-degree  F. oven for 27-30 minutes (or until lightly browned and toothpick inserted comes out clean)