Let there be soap!
Basic Goats Milk Soap
50 oz. of melted Lard --or-- Olive Oil, Palm Oil or Coconut Oil (I used the 3 oils)
6 oz. goats milk (I use powdered, mixed with water, since I didn't have fresh)
10.3 oz. distilled water
6.41 oz. Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
NOTE: It's very important to pre-measure all ingredients separately and have them handy. I used a kitchen scale that I ordered from Amazon.com, but Walmart or other discount stores carry them as well.
Melt the lard in the microwave into a large glass bowl at 30 second intervals until liquid (--OR-- pour the oils into a large glass bowl, if not using lard.) Set aside.
Mix powdered goats milk with water, according to directions. Measure out 6 oz. of liquid goats milk. Set aside.
Put on long sleeves, goggles and rubber gloves in a well-ventilated area. Measure the lye very carefully. ALWAYS ADD THE LYE TO THE WATER, not the other way around! You don't want anything to explode! Keep children and pets away.
Pour distilled water into a glass bowl and SLOWLY add the lye to it, stirring as you add it. Place thermometer in the bowl. Place the bowl inside another ice-filled bowl. It will get very hot, very fast. Let it cool to 100 degrees.
Once the lye mixture has cooled to 100 degrees, carefully pour it into the lard or oil mixture. Stir with a spoon, then use a stick mixer/blender to pulse it. Keep pulsing until mixture thickens slightly.
Add goats milk to mixture. Stir with a spoon. Now you can add essential oils and natural colors, if you desire. Then pulse again with the stick mixer/blender until you reach trace. (Think of “trace” as the time you see a “trace” of the swirls in the mixture. It should be the consistency of pudding.)
Pour into a soap mold, but do not overfill. Cover with cardboard and carefully wrap in a towel and cover all with a folded blanket. There’s still a lot going on in there, so you want to place it in a warm area for 24 hours. "DON’T PEEK. Let it do it’s thing!" <-- Wise words from my cousin!
In 24 hours, uncover and remove carefully from the mold.
Using a sharp knife or soap cutter, slice into even pieces. It will cut like BUTTER!
Stand on ends at least an inch apart to “cure.” This will take at least 3 weeks, but if you want a harder bar that will last longer, wait 6 weeks before using or giving as gifts! And enjoy!
This soap recipe is wonderful! I did not add coloring, but I added sweet orange essential oil and Orange Peel botanical inclusions (I used "Something Fabulous" brand of botanical inclusions.) This gives my soap pictured here the beautiful specks of orange.
