How to make super easy guest soaps

Guest soaps are expensive, and regular bars of soap aren't very pretty. Here's a really easy way to make guest soaps on a budget. Regular guest soaps also don't look very nice after they've been used a few times.

You will need:

• Soap
• a sharp knife
• demitasse cup

The soap I used is a locally made soap. A lot of times soapmakers will sell "end cuts" which are cuts that aren't as pretty. The ones used were round. So to start, I cut them half. End cuts will usually include several kinds of soap in different colors which look wonderful together. 

Then it's just as easy as slicing off thin pieces. I liked my ceramic knife for this because it's the sharpest knife I have. You don't want them so thin they curl, but you do want them small. I found that cutting straight through with a sharp knife was neatest for the soap I used. That means putting the knife on top of the soap and pushing it through, with harder soaps, slicing might easier.

This is what the looked like after they were all cut. The ends that weren't sliced are going to be used in the kitchen for hand washing by my family.

Arrange them in a demitasse cup or a tea cup for an extra bit of fun.

If you're using regular rectangle bars of soap, you can cut them in half lengthwise, then make little squarish shapes and pile them on a dessert plate. This will also work beautifully with glycerin soaps.

I like the Kleenex Hand Towels for guests because it's a nice clean option instead of shared guest towels. The box can be stood up so the towels come out of the top or laid down as shown in the photo above. They also can be decorated easily with paper or even just wrapped in an embroidered cloth hand towel to fit your decorating scheme.

Join the 14 million people who have already joined the Clean Hands campaign by using Kleenex Hand Towels, and click here for savings and more! 
 I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.

Book Review- On A Stick!

My first review of 2012!

On A Stick! 80 Party-Perfect Recipes by Matt Armendariz is a themed cookbook built around the idea of foods on a stick. Think more fair type mini-meals on a stick than tiny little appetizers on picks. These foods are fun and not at all fussy.

When I get a new cookbook, my daughter and I both go through it with sticky notes marking which recipes we want to try out first. This one looks like it's exploded with sticky notes.

I started with the deep fried mushroom recipe because it's a family favorite. The mushroom recipe is simple and tasty and  it's paired with a roasted onion dip that's super flavorful and rich. The dip is one that I plan to make for a lot more things.

She wants to make the fried mac and cheese or the really cute take on Scotch eggs next, and I'm eagerly looking forward to warmer weather to try some of the grilled recipes.

A lot of the recipes in here are fried, but there is also a lot of selection for people who prefer not to eat fried foods. The Caprese Sticks are a fun way to serve a reconstructed version of the popular salad, and the beef teriyaki skewers have a not-too-sweet teriyaki sauce and are grilled for smoky flavor.

Lots of meat skewer recipes for people who want something heartier, as well as seafood recipes. Since my family is pretty crazy about seafood and Alaskan cod is very inexpensive in Alaska, the beer battered fish and chips are a meal I could see having at least once a month. I plan to make that later this week for dinner. (Using Alaskan grown potatoes and Alaskan brewed beer for a locally sourced meal!)

You could quite literally serve dinner all on a stick to guests with the recipes in here. Starting with appetizers and salads, a main course and side dish, dessert and even an after dinner cocktail.

The recipes that should have dips have recipes for dips and all the recipes are clear with ingredients on a side bar to the instructions for making them. They are well-photographed as well if you like to see photos of how the finished product should look.

It's a cookbook for people who like fun food that's well prepared with attention to detail but that's still easy to make and present. There are lots of Asian inspired and influenced recipes along side Western favorites which make it a great cookbook for people with a wide range of tastes.

Not recommended for vegans since so many of the recipes call for meat or dairy products. There are some good vegetarian recipes in here though.

Published by Quirk Books

My reviews are always my personal and honest opinion. You can read more about my review policy here.