Goats Milk Soap

Making goats milk soap is another of my favorite things to do.  I helped my Mom make lye soap when I was a little girl.  Well, actually I would watch her and sometimes she would let me stir.

I will be posting pictures and more recipes on making soap soon.
Some of the molds that I use:

This is a recipe from the Martha Stewart show for goats milk soap:

Tools and Materials

Protective mask and gloves

Stirring spoons or sticks

Candy thermometer

Electric hand blender

Spatula

Large bowl

Pitcher
Soap molds
Cookie racks
12 ounces partially frozen goats' milk
3 ounces lye
4 1/4 ounces extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces coconut oil
12 ounces soy or vegetable shortening

Making Soap How-To
1. Wearing a protective mask and gloves, place milk into large bowl and slowly add lye. Stir until the mixture is smooth and without lumps. The lye will interact with the fat molecules in the milk and should bring the mixture to between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Melt the olive oil, coconut oil, and shortening together in one pot and bring to 115 degrees.

3. Add the oil mixture to the milk and lye and use a hand blender to combine until the mixture demonstrates "tracing" (drips from the blender leave a noticeable path in the mixture). This will take 2 to 5 minutes.

4. Using a spatula, fold the mixture to remove bubbles. Transfer to a pitcher and pour the mixture into soap molds.

5. After 24 hours, turn the soaps out of the molds onto cookie racks. Allow to cure for 2 weeks.

Resources

Lye can be purchased at camdengrey.com. All other soap ingredients may found at Whole Foods.