From: "Crystal R. Brazzel" <jcarey@texhoma.net>
Subject: Re: Cracklins
Date: 1998-07-25 22:13:33
Soap was originally made from Lard and Wood Ash. The prepared Lye available was probably a modern convenience. Pure, fluffy wood ash was used - not any heavy stuff from the bottom of the hearth. I know a Science teacher whose grandmother still makes and uses Lye Soap the old-fashioned way. Her skin is remarkably wrinkle-free for a woman of advanced age (according to her grandson) I guess a "mild" acid wash is a pretty good exfoliant. I don't think I am going to wash my face with it to find out. Janice ---------- > From: Wildwudy@aol.com > To: [old-list] > Subject: Cracklins > Date: Friday, July 24, 1998 10:02 PM > > Hey everybody, > This is Woody and I messed up on defining "cracklins" when I typed up > Betty's memo. Nona and Betty are right: cracklins are bacon rinds or skin. > See memo from Nona below: > ~~~~~~~~~ > From: HILLN01@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us > To: Wildwudy@aol.com > I was interested in the Lye soap recipe; but I think the cracklins are the > pig skin after the fat or lard is drained off. Isn't it great to be able to > talk to cousins ! and I hope we can meet one day soon. Love, Nona > ~~~~~~~~ > Here's another recipe from the same Tribbey book and you can see where I got > confused on "cracklins". > > LYE SOAP > by Jack Fogle > Build a fire under a large black kettle. Put 2 gallons of bacon grease in the > kettle. Also add a number of bacon rinds (if available). Then add 1/2 can of > lye. Cook and stir until solution thickens. This may take 2-3 hours. Drop > some of the solution off the wooden spoon into a glass of cold well water. If > it balls up it is ready - if not cook until it balls up. > Let finished soap sit over night to harden. Then slice into bars about 3 or 4 > inches square. Soap will be brown. If you do not have lye, use two large > glasses of wood ashes as substitute. > Soap will turn out grey in color. > This soap was used with a rub board and a no. 3 wash tub. > It can also be cut or shaved into a 2 gal. galvanized bucket to wash wood > floors. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > And THAT is where I got confused on the wood ashes being "cracklins". There > are four more lye soap recipes in that book, but only that one substitutes > wood ashes for lye. > Seems my "oops" are just as frequent as ever. > > Woody (and Betty)