Gladys told Zelma

Sifting through my great-grandmother, Gladys Park’s, old recipes I came across so many correspondences between her friends Rozetta, Martha, Zelma and more.  Seems even a postcard sent to convey thanks or concern had enough space for a quick recipe or handy tip.  By the time I arrived at the ingredients for cranberry and orange gelatin salad I had my product (available soon!) title.

My great grandmother died before I was born, and she never could have even dreamed of blogging on line, but connecting with and supporting women and sharing best practices was second nature.  Today I just use my keyboard instead of a postcard.  I think I’m a lot like Great-grandma Gladys.  I like that.

Gladys told Zelma pays homage to the historic truth that when smart women share good ideas, great things happen.  I hope you like these homemade, natural and healthy products enough to tell a girlfriend or two…

Here’s Gladys Park, circa 1952!

Elderberry Syrup

Ingredients: 2/3 cup black elderberries (or 1/3 cup dried berries reconstituted–I could only find dried ones, btw), 3 1/2 cups water, 2 tbsp. fresh or dried ginger shredded or sliced (no need to peel), 1 tsp. cinnamon powder, 1/2 tsp. cloves or clove powder and 1 cup raw honey.

Directions: Soak 1/3 cup dried elderberries in 3 1/2 cups water over night.  Then put berries and liquid + everything except the honey into a pot.  Bring to a boil and then simmer for 45 mins. to an hour so the the liquid reduces to about half.  Let stand and cool until it’s still warm but not super hot.  Strain all liquid from the stuff you’ve boiled and collect in a bowl.   You may now toss your berries and spices as they have given their lives for your health.  Thanks guys.  Slowly stir in the raw honey into the remaining liquid.  Put into a cute bottle or recycled jar, store in fridge and there you go.

Dosage: For cold and flu prevention: 1 tsp. for a child and 1 tbsp. for an adult, daily.  If you’ve been exposed to something or feel something coming on, up dosage to a couple spoonfuls every few hours.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Ingredients: one bar natural soap  (I used Dr. Bronner’s Castile Citrus,) 2 cups Borax, 2 cups Washing Soda*.

Directions: Grate your soap with a food processor or cheese grater.  Mix with the other two ingredients and honey you ‘R done.  Yup.  It’s that easy.  Use one rounded TBSP (that’s all, seriously) per load.  It won’t make suds like commercial brand detergents and that’s OK.  It’s because it doesn’t have all the chemicals in it that they use.