...Milk is unique in its natural ability to moisturize and nourish the skin, It is a fragile miracle of nature that can't be synthetically reproduced.

Milk is rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals.   Chemically, milk is a lipoprotein.  Lipids found in most skin creams in the form of animal or vegetable oil, or wax, helps seal in moisture.

Soap-making is a blend of science and art. Once you have mastered the technique of mixing fats and alkali's to make soap, you can unleash your imagination. Learn the basics of soap making, then experiment with colors, shapes, scents, and textures to create one-of-a-kind handicrafts. Soap is created when a fat is mixed with an alkali. When the two ingredients combine, a chemical reaction occurs. This reaction is know as saponification.

 Soapmaking is a process that cannot be hurried.  This is especially true with milk soap.  Every batch will be slightly different, even if you follow the recipe exactly every time.

**Soap Making is a lengthy process.  At first, it will take several hours to make a batch of soap.  Because the batch must be continually stirred while portions are blended, it's much easier to work with another person.

**Choose quality ingredients.  Do not lessen the quality of your soap by cutting corners to save a few pennies.  Soap[ that is not as lathery, long lasting, Nice smelling or even colored as it should be waste the time and money you have invested.

**Measure accurately.  Soap making is a science.  for best results, measure as precisely as possible. 

**Be Patient.  Once the soap is poured into molds, it must be allowed to sit for 24-48 hours until it is hard enough to be cut .  Then, bars must be allowed to cure, undisturbed, for six weeks. 

The time that it will take to make the cure the soap will be well worth your time and money.

The best milk to use for this recipe is straight from the cow. As is, it is ready to go. Goat Milk is also great but Whole Milk works fine. Never use Skim or lowfat, the higher the fat the more lathery your soap will be. Take the six cups of milk and let if freeze overnight and use after it has thawed. This is very important, I ruined a batch thinking " What's the Difference?"

Materials needed for making soap:

** 2 two quart stainless-steel saucepans  (never use aluminum containers or your containers ans soap will be ruined.

**1 four quart stainless-steel saucepan

** Ice water bath (Fill sink with cold water and add 4 to six trays of cubes)

**16 oz. measuring cup

**2 heavy duty plastic or stainless-steel spoons (never use wooden spoons, the lye will destroy the fibers

**Glass candy thermometer

**Plastic ladle

**Blender

**Molds (use you purchase molds or see below for simple ways to use molds)

**Curing Rack (a bread rack or something similiar)

INGREDIENTS

** 3 Pounds pure vegetable shortening (Crisco or store brand)

** 17 ounces extra-light olive oil

** 12 ounces safflower oil

**8 ounces canola oil

** 3 pounds or 6 cups of cold milk, prepared for soap making

** one ounce of borax

**1/2 ounce white sugar

1/2 ounce glycerin

1.  Melt the vegetable shortening in an 8-quart saucepans over low heat.

2.  Add the liquid oild to the shortening.  Heat the combined ingredients just until the shortening is completely melted, then immediately remove from the heat.  Do not overhear or scorch the oils, you will ruin them and have to start over.  Set aside the oil mixture until you are ready to add the lye/milk mixture.

3.  Create an ice water bath by filling the sink with cold water and adding 4-6 trays of ice cubes in the water.

4.  Place the prepared cold Milk (see above) into a 4-quart stainless steel sauce pan.  Carefully placethe pan into the ice water.

1. While wearing gloves and safety glasses measure the lye into a glass measuring cup, accuracy is essential.

2. Very slowly pour the lye into the cold milk in the ice-water bath, stirring constantly with a heavy duty plastic or stainless-steel spoon.

the pouring process should not take no less than 15 minutes. It's very important to introduce the lye slowly into the milk so that the lye does not reach extreme termperatures and react with the milk, causing the milk to burn

3.  Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature of the lye/milk mixture constantly, do not let the temperature fall below 80 degrees.  You want to keep the mixture cool enough to prevent the milk form scorching, but warm enough to prevent the milk and lye from saponifying.  Saponification occurs between the milk and the lye at this temperature because there is enough fat in the milk to cause this action.  The two main mistakes you might make at this point are allowing the lye/milk mixture to congeal into a useless mass.  So guard the temperature and keep stirring.  Keep the temperature at 80 degrees at all time keeping extra ice handy if needed.  You will notice that the milk turns a bright yellow once the lye has been successfully combined with the milk.

1. Over low heat, reheat the oils to a temperature 123 degrees Fahrenheit, do not scorch the oils, when reached desired temperature, remove form the heat.

2.  Slowly pour the lye/milk mixture into the oils.

3.  Add the borax, sugar and glycerin. 

Stir the mixture constantly, the mixture will begin to warm as the lye reacts.  You might also notice that the mixture doesn't want to combine and that is separates readily if you stop stirring.  Just be patient and keep stirring.

This next step you may need a partner.  Not recommended for children.

This is where a partner may be critical.

1. Using a plastic ladle, scoop evenly mixed amounts of the soap mixture into the blender. Fill the blender halfway.

2. Run the blender for 1 minute on medium speed, remember to keep stirring the the remaining mixture at the same time. The liquid in the blender will turn a pale cream color.

3. Pour the blended mixture into a clean sauce-pan.

4. Repeat this complete blending process 2 times remembering to constantly stir the mixture waiting to be blended again.

5.. After the second blending, the mixture should have thickened up, if it is thin it should still be ready to put into molds but if too thin blend again.

Soap molds can be purchased at any craft store or sometimes mass merchandisers (walmart, etc).   

Once you have your soap molds ready just pour the mixture in the molds let them sit in a draft free area for 24 hours.  You will notice sweat beads on top of the soap.  This is normal. 

After the soap has started to harden, remove and put in curing rack for six weeks undisturbed. Put the rack of  molded soap in a cool dry place and cover with saran wrap to avoid dust. 

Let cure for 6 weeks and you are ready to use!!