Back to work ...

It's time to get back to work. And excited to do so. I'm in need of a serious soaping fix. Currently in my shower are the Pumpkin, Anouhea, Buttermilk Shea and Ivory Cream. Let's just say I'm in bathing heaven right now. I am using the Ivory Cream as an in-shower lotion bar and my skin tells me it's fabulous. Definitely no dry patches to be found anywhere. Loving that a lot. The lather is lotion-like and feels silky. Of course there aren't any sudz and that was to be expected of the Ivory Cream. But one thing for sure is that it is definitely creamy. It's a winner in my book. Well off I go to the wonderful land of soap to dream up some more fabulousness. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Keepin' it Clean, Naturally.™

Urban Sudz

100% Unrefined Ivory Shea Nut Butter ...

. . . in a soap. Yes, that's right. I made soap using "only" Shea.

Dreamy, creamy ivory unrefined shea nut butter.

Ivory Cream

100% Shea Butter Soap

The properties of this soap are super conditioning and super creamy. I know this will be only mildly cleansing, because cleansing and bubbly are both at zero on this one. I hope to use this, more so, as an in-shower lotion type body bar; since Shea butter contains many non-saponifiable fats, elements that cannot be fully converted into soap, that moisturize and seal moisture into the skin after washing. I will definitely keep all updated on these ivory, creamy bars of luxurious conditioning.

All this ivory & creamy talk makes me want to make a White Ivory Cream Cake. No, I don't mind at all sharing the recipe with you.

White Ivory Cream Cake

Cake:
8 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
3 cups sifted cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk

Filling and Frosting:
1 1/2 pounds white chocolate, finely chopped
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
Garnish: White macadamia nuts and strawberries or raspberries

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans.

Make the Cake: In a double boiler, melt the white chocolate over hot, not simmering, water. Set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, add the melted chocolate and the vanilla. In three additions, on low speed, alternately beat in the flour mixture and the milk. Beat until just smooth, about 20 seconds.

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until the top is golden and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Set the cake pans on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto the racks to cool completely.

Prepare the Filling and Frosting: Place the white chocolate in a medium bowl. In a small heavy saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups of the cream and the butter to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Refrigerate the white chocolate mixture until firm enough to spread, about 1 hour.

To Assemble: Spread the bottom layer with 1 cup of the chilled white chocolate mixture. Arrange the chopped macadamia nuts over the filling, and top with the second cake layer.

In a medium bowl, beat the remaining 1 cup cream until firm peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the remaining white chocolate mixture. Spread this over the top and sides of the cake. Arrange whole macadamia nuts around the rim and base of the cake. Chill until ready to serve.

Garnish each piece with a fanned strawberry or raspberries.

Anouhea

[Pronounced: Ah-New-Hey-Ah]

This cool, soft fragrance is an incredibly unique, floral spa aroma that contains notes of gardenia, jasmine, cyclamen, lilac, hyacinth, mimosa flower, rose, muguet/lily.

This is a "whipped" cold process soap. It's the soap that floats. Made extra special with Mango Oil.

I used this same fragrance in a salt bar made with Euro mineral spa salt. Down to just a couple bars, will need to put it on my to-do list.

I am in love with this Kai rendition fragrance. It's one of my Top 3 favorite fragrances, of all time, for all year-round.

Yummy Pumpkin Soap

Real Pumpkin Puree & Spices

Goat's Milk, Shea Nut Butter,

Pumpkin Seed Oil & Clover Honey

This Yummy Pumpkin Soap

is Rich, Sweet & Buttery

with just a hint of Spice.

This soap will be ready just in time for Thanksgiving and I can hardly wait. Real Pumpkin Puree & Goat's Milk paired with 25% Unrefined Ivory Shea Butter, a touch a sweet Clover Honey, real spices of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clover & Allspice, superfatted with Pumpkin Seed Oil. Not to mention, the fragrance of this soap is to-die-for yummy goodness.

I must admit, this is a tricky one. You have to cross all your T's and dot all of your I's when making this one. Traces faster than a New York minute, so put down the stick blender. My whisks were my best friends on this one. Be sure to have no distractions near by. Definitely soap this one with the oils at 80-90 degrees F. and milk at 80 degrees F. Put that semi-frozen slushy Goat's Milk in an ice bath before adding the lye. I dumped the lye in all at once and it worked out just fine. My pumpkin puree was already measured and waiting for me in a mixing bowl. Speaking of measuring, everything to be added to the soap was measured out and waiting for me prior to beginning. There is not even an extra second to spare. I whisked the Goat's Milk & Lye solution into the oils, and as soon as they were combined I poured about a cup of the soap mixture into the Pumpkin Puree, whisked it smooth and added it back in. Then added the Honey, my superfatting oil and the spices at light trace. Then I gave it one last really good whisking and poured into my mold.

Once I added my Goat's Milk & Lye solution to the oils, I was ready to pour into my mold in 4-5 minutes. I used a wooden mold and did not insulate. It set up and was ready for me 24 hours later. It started out the most perfect Pumpkin Orange. It was the same color as the puree. However, as you can see in the picture above, the bars have darkened considerably since on the curing rack. I thought as they darkened I was going to be bummed out because they weren't the perfect Pumpkin Orange color they started out as in the picture to the right, but I was wrong. I actually love the darker color. When I smell this bar, with the real spices blended this particular pumpkin fragrance oil that I've used, the darker color lends itself to it. So I am satisfied.

I admit I was a bit intimidated by this one, but of course that isn't enough to stop me. I'm am so glad I made this. I already have to make a second batch because all the bars from this batch are already spoken for.

Thanks for stopping by.