#tallow time

[casstaway-friend]

Guys! I did it! 3 weeks and many hours over a hot stove experimenting and... finally!

I didnt post progress past the rendering, but these are only the first out of many. I have 2 cows worth of tallow and this is only 1 quart. So my process is to come.

I find you dont need a lot of lotion and it goes far, so these half pints are actually huge for this. I need smaller jars!!!

I infused whole mint leaves and whole vanilla bean into the tallow (and a touch of olive oil to make it softer) in a double boiler today, and then after a few hours took it off the heat. Once i got the herbs strained out, i let it solidify and whipped it up!

Those of you who know me know I cannot stand essential oils. They give me headaches, and can be dangerous, so i avoid them. Thats why i used whole herbs. That being said, between the whole herb smell, and the slight animal smell (dont worry it doesnt linger on skin) these lotions are VERY different to store bought. They are very simple and earthy, but they work wonders and i am proud of them. More to come!

[casstaway-friend]

I ran into an issue with the tallow.

It IS properly rendered... it just... reeks of cow. To the point i cant use it for lotion unless I can deoderize it.

This will involve rendering it with water and baking soda, 2 or 3 more times. By that point, it will hopefully be scentless as well as clean and everything.

Wish me luck!

[casstaway-friend]

My first batch of tallow, done!

[casstaway-friend]

I am rendering the tallow once more. The beef smell is almost gone!!

In other news, i have reson to believe that even after 8 years of riding horses, i have developed an allergy. My hand is breaking out into a rash. I put tallow on it and that helped, but i have 4 more days of horse care to do. Last time i was down with them daily, i had hives all over my body for 3 weeks.

This will be... fun?

[casstaway-friend]

I am rendering down/ purifying the first batch of tallow, a fourth time. Time number 4, i am using a wet render and adding salt to try to see if that makes a difference. This stage when it isnt fully melted is my favorite texturally. I am going to make whipped lotion to see if i can get it to be this way as a final product.

The body fat i was processing the other day doesnt smell at all! This is the internal fat. This is supposed to be better for your skin, but it smells so bad. If this last render doesnt deoderize it like i want it to, i dont know what i am gonna do. Just use the body fat i guess.

I am trying super hard, have done lots of research, and really dont want to waste this cow fat.

[casstaway-friend]

Second batch of tallow going today. I am just going to try doing a batch a day if possible.