Fortune Cookie Soap - What's New at Fortune Cookie Soap

Disaster Response: Chile

2010-03-02T11:33:29-06:00

As you know, an 8.8 earthquake struck Chile Friday night, making it one of the powerful earthquakes to strike the Earth in more than a century. Numerous tsunamis and aftershocks of 6.0 and higher followed the initial destructive quake throughout the weekend. Over 700 deaths have been reported (thus far) as nearly half-million buildings were destroyed in the quake. Untold numbers are missing and nearly 2 million people are displaced, injured or directly affected. In response to this tragic crisis and the urgent need for relief, Fortune Cookie Soap is making a donation today to Americares.

Want to help? There are many organizations mobilizing to support Chile. You can get involved right now:

For those who want to text a donation as with the Haitian relief efforts, the Mobile Giving Foundation has launched a text messaging campaign for micro donations, and the four major U.S. mobile carriers, Verizon, At&T, Sprint and T-mobile, have waived text messaging fees for donations.

Support Chile relief efforts through Convoy of Hope
Text “4CHILE” to 50555 to donate $10

Support Chile relief efforts through the World Program
Text “CHILE” to 50555 to donate $10

Support Chile relief efforts through Habit for Humanity
Text “CHILE” to 25383 to donate $10

Support Chile relief efforts through Operation USA
Text “REBUILD” to 50555 to donate $10

Support Chile relief efforts through the Salvation Army
Text “CHILE” to 52000 to donate $10

Support Chile relief efforts through World Vision
Text “CHILE” to 20222 to donate $10

Contest- Spring is in the air!....or at least we wish it was :)

2010-03-01T15:54:48-06:00

Enter to win our new Easter Egg Basket by posting your favorite springtime fragrance(s) on our facebook fan page. If we choose your fragrance for one of our new products, you win the basket! Easy peasy :) We can’t wait to hear ’em!

http://www.facebook.com/fortunecookiesoap

Easter Gift Basket

2010-03-01T13:34:20-06:00

A tisket, a tasket, an Easter bath bomb basket! Yes, we have a new Easter basket that has 5 bath bombs in it. They each are a 2oz half egg shaped mini bath bomb good for one bath in decadence. All the fragrances are incredible. Check them out…

http://www.fortunecookiesoap.com/collections/bath-gift-baskets/products/easter-egg-bath-bomb-gift-basket

Green Sauce Recipe using Cottage Cheese...

2010-02-24T12:44:10-06:00

There are a couple of things I usually do with cottage cheese. I make green sauce for whole wheat pasta, or Creamed spinach.

For the pasta…
I saute about a 1/2 pound of spinach and 1 onion in olive oil. Once the onions are cooked I add garlic and saute for a few secs. Then I add a handful of basil and about 8 oz or so of cottage cheese. Cook together.. add kosher salt/ black pepper and about 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Bust out the hand blender and cream it in the pan. Add additional olive oil and then add enough water to get it to the consistency that I want. Serve it over…. and whole wheat pasta.
http://www.fortunecookiesoap.com/blogs/news/1424192-restaurant-style-chicken-breast

The creamed spinach… add 8-16 oz of cottage cheese 1 tbsp olive oil, and about 1 lb spinach.. .cook together add salt, pepper and 1 cup parmesan cheese. Blend with hand blender.. ( I like it better than old fashioned creamed spinach… way better for you too.)

Also, just to let you know. I just made a pizza using the creamed spinach as sauce. I put some mushrooms and mozzarella cheese on top. Then cooked it in the oven.

I always have a bunch of pizza dough on hand in my freezer. I usually buy it by the case from Sams club ($15.95 for like 25 dough balls I think). I can make about 25 large pizzas for like 2 bucks a piece. Way better than bought pizza. If you would to know how I do these, let me know, and I’ll blog about it.

Luck o' the Irish!

2010-02-19T20:50:31-06:00

Who needs a green beer when you can have a green bath? Try our new “luck o’ the Irish” bath bomb, it smells like Australian bamboo grass. Amazing! Watch for new “kiss me I’m Irish” bath melt in the shape of lips :)

How do I use a bath melt?

2010-02-14T17:05:25-06:00

You guys have been asking me lately “How do I use a bath melt?” So, I thought I would do a little tutorial for you guys. Of course, I had to take a bath with one again, (shucks) so I could give you guys step by step instructions. I tell you, I have “had” to start taking baths almost every day, (don’t worry, showers on the off days :) just to keep up with all the new products and fragrances we are constantly testing. I know, I know, we need more lab rat volunteers!!
Anyway, here is how it went with the bath melt… First, I filled the bath all the way then I put in 1/4 of the melt, for me, a little goes a looooong way. It took a few minutes for it to melt completely in the warm water. I should also note that this bath melt will start to melt in your hand if you hold it long enough. It was just the right amount of oil and fragrance. Fast forward a half hour and all I did was stand up and rinse off (no soap). I didn’t need any lotion, and in the middle of winter, I need typically need lotion every day. My skin was soft and fragrant even later in the day! I hope this helps. Happy bathing :)

Valentine Day Store Wide Sale

2010-02-01T14:24:55-06:00

Pucker up! 20% site wide V-Day sale at FortuneCookieSoap.com. 4 days only! Code TRUELOVE

2009 Reviewers Choice Finalist

2010-01-25T10:07:40-06:00

Check ’em out! FCS was a 2009 reviewers choice finalist for buzzillions.com. This is a big deal to us. This means that our boxed set came in as some of the highest reviews on the site from people that actually bought the product. What a great compliment.

Iced soy Latte

2010-01-21T22:06:49-06:00

One of my favorite morning drinks is a “Iced Soy Latte”. I love the Starbucks version and will spring for it on a special occasion.

In my opinion, I have found a VERY close second that I make myself.

First you need a stovetop espresso percolator. I bought the larger (12 cup) version of this… http://www.amazon.com/Bialetti-06969-Venus-6-Cup/dp/B00067WCM6

I bought mine at Marshalls for $20.00. If you don’t have a Marshalls, TGMax is another place where I have purchased a different one. I do recommend the stainless steel one. Its more durable, plus it doesn’t corrode like the aluminum one does.

I fill up the bottom with water, then fill up the filter with a “French Roast” coffee. I prefer French Roast to Espresso Roast personally. I use “Seattle’s Best” French Roast because it is the best for the price ($5.99 for 12 oz). For a special occasion, I get a 12oz bag of Dean and Deluca Espresso Roast ($15.00 for 12oz)

While the espresso is heating up, you fill a glass with ice (I use a large 16 oz glass). Once your coffee is done, I fill the glass up 3/4 of the way with espresso. Next, fill the rest of the way with Soy Milk (regular milk is normally used). Now I just put a couple tsp’s of turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw).

Now you need to put a straw in it and enjoy. Be aware that the turbinado sugar won’t mix in all the way, so when you drink.. you just lift the straw slightly off the bottom of the glass, and you will get a few sugar crystals with each drink.

Homemade Bread

2010-01-15T20:08:13-06:00

OK this bread is perfect for bread and butter. It is my favorite right now. It’s super cheap and crazy easy. My neighbor has this book and gave me the recipe. The ingredients are 13 cups unbleached flour, 3 tbsp yeast, 3 tbsp kosher salt (never ever add table salt to anything you want to eat), and 6 cups warm water.

All you have to do is add the yeast to the warm water. let it proof for like 3 minutes. Mix the flour together with the salt. At this point I add about a 1/4 cup granulated garlic (not garlic salt) to the flour. Next you simply mix the water into the flour. Hand knead it until it forms a dough. This normally takes me about 2-3 minutes. Form into a ball, and sprinkle a little flour around dough. Cover dough ball with tea towel in large bowl.

After 3 hours, you’re ready to cook it. You don’t have to punch it down, or knead it more, or let it rise 20 times or anything. Seriously, I have cooked it about 1.5 hours after I mixed it. It came out perfect.

Ok, to cook it. Pre-heat oven to 450 with either pizza stone, or unglazed quarry tile (you can get one at any tile store). While your oven is preheating form about 1/4 of the dough ball into a long loaf. About 3 inches in diameter. Put a little flour around loaf so it doesn’t stick, and a little yellow cornmeal on the bottom. Now, you simply put the loaf on the pizza stone. Check it at 17 minutes.. if it’s light brown then take it out. Mine usually takes 23 minutes. The rest of the dough can be stored in your fridge for about a week.

A couple of variations.

(1st) I flatten out like a square pizza. Add about 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, 1 cup parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup kalamata olives. Roll up into a loaf. Seal all cracks by pinching the dough together. Brush top with the olive oil from the sun-dried tomato jar. top with about a cup of asiago cheese. Cook the same way as other loaf.

(2nd) Put some seasonings on your countertop… I use Parmesan cheese (here is the ONLY place I recommend dry), granulated garlic, kosher salt, chopped fresh parsley, black pepper, savory seasonings (unsalted). Roll your normal loaf completely around in seasonings until the entire loaf is coated in seasoning. Use a vegetable peeler to peel fresh parmesan. Lay the parmesan peels over the top of the loaf and bake as normal.

I have done more to the bread like making baguettes and things with great results. I’ve even used this bread for pizza dough and cinnamon rolls. Its great. Let me know what you think.