SECRETS TIPS IN MAKING GOAT MILK SOAP
  1. Always freeze and thaw your milk the night before you want to make soap to stabilize the proteins and prepare them for contact with lye.
  2. Always wear goggles and a long sleeve shirt to protect yourself
  3. Make sure that kids and pets are safely out of the way
  4. Remember that vinegar counteracts lye, so have some on hand
  5. Soap takes 21 days to “cure,” that means go from an alkaline to a neutral state. It is dangerous when it is uncured yet it needs lots of air and a constant temperature, so keep it out of the way in a well-ventilated place (like on top of your refrigerator.)
  6. Never use cheap fragrance oils to scent your soap - they can mess it up!
  7. If a batch flops, you can usually still use it if there is not complete separation (it just won’t be as pretty.)
  8. It is normal for a white powdery layer to form on soap as it cures. This is soda ash and is a waste product of saponification.

THE SECRET RECIPE
  1. First, set out all molds.
  2. In an ice bath, in a glass or stainless steel bowl, pour in 18 oz prepared milk.
  3. In a DRY container, measure 6.6oz of lye.
  4. SLOWLY add lye to the milk, stirring with a whisk ALWAYS ADD LYE TO LIQUID NOT LIQUID TO LYE! (Snow on the lake)
  5. Keep the temperature between 90-100F
  6. Meanwhile, in a stainless steel pot on very low heat,
  7. Combine 32 oz olive oil, 8 oz palm oil and 8 oz coconut oil
  8. Bring to a temp of 110F. When oils and lye\milk are at the same temp (100-110F), pour the lye\milk into the pot on the stove. Stir with a stick blender until it reaches “trace” ie: you can trace patterns in the surface and they stay. Add 1 oz chosen essential oil. Wisk to blend and pour immediately into molds. If you are adding extras like apricot kernels, oatmeal, flowers etc., add ½ cup right at trace. You can also pull out 3/4 cup of soap and blend in any powders, etc. and stir into the top of the soap in molds. Remember that any additive will affect your chemistry so be cautious. A flopped batch is always caused by either wrong proportions or failure to trace. Keep soap in molds 24hrs, then place in freezer 1 hr so that they pop out easier. Let “cure” on paper towels, wooden racks or bags 21 days. Makes 4 lbs.

Yummy ... and easy cheese recipes!

Caprine cooking article from Dairy Goat Journal, March/April 2012
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