From the Farm
Add Ba-ah to Your Bath
G
oat milk soap is worth the effort to make at home. Goat milk is packed with essential nutrients and vitamins, which feed the skin and leave it silk soft. The benefits range from helping clear up acne to soothing damaged skin. It is relatively simple to make if you follow the directions and use lye safely.
MATERIALS LIST Here’s what you will need to make soap—in addition to the ingredients in the soap, which will depend on your chosen recipe. These tools should be dedicated to soap making and not used for food purposes: t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t
Stainless stockpot (small to medium-sized) Stainless or glass mixing bowl (medium-sized) Sink or plastic tub that will hold the mixing bowl over ice Stove or electric burner Wooden mixing spoons Silicone spatulas Glass measuring cup(s) Long-stemmed food use thermometer Motorized electric stick blender Kitchen scale that measures in grams and ounces (digital) Waxed paper disposable cups for measuring lye Soap mold (loaf or tray style) and liners or waxed paper Safety goggles Safety gloves (nitrile gloves) Paper towels and a trash bag for “oops” patrol Plastic, sealable sandwich bags or ice cube trays for freezing milk Soap bar cutter (orfe)
Lye is a necessary component of soap making as it acts as the base in the soap while the oils act as the acid. Combined carefully, the two undergo a process known as saponification, creating the soap. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is an incredibly caustic substance. A little powder on your skin will itch and burn, as will a splash of raw soap mix. Wear long sleeves and safety goggles, as well as gloves, every time you work with lye. Inhaling lye powder can cause respiratory burns, so consider wearing a mask while you measure your lye, or at least measure gently. Never add water or liquid to lye. This can cause a violent reaction. Always add lye, a little at a time, to your liquid and fully incorporate what you add before adding more.
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edible INDY winter 2014
