Black Pumpkin

My first "swirl in the pot" was not a total success, but I am really happy with the results, in both molds! I made a seven pound soap batter with no color. Now, usually I swirl in the molds. Good control, understandable outcome...etc. However, my swirls, never came close to the intricate ones I see in other soaps, so I needed to try the swirl in the pot swirl, so I did. Of course I had to try an activated charcoal in with a cream colored soap batter, you know, because that is the most contrasting kind of color you can get, and, let's be serious.... When I need to test something, I need to be waving my big inexperienced flag way up high for all to see. With my big fat training helmet on, too. That is the way I roll. You can spot me in a crowd with my helmet if we lived closer.

OK, so I have about one heaping teaspoon of charcoal powder and a cup of batter and mix that up separately, then right before I was ready to pour my soap into my two 3 1/2 pound loaf molds, I dumped the black batter in and gave it a one-two-three swirl (didn't want to make a grey batter). I then poured the soap into the first mold (looked very black as I poured). Then to the second mold, I poured and there was very little black... I mixed it well, how did it miss this section? Grrr.

So here it is. My Black Pumpkin in one mold and Not Black Pumpkin in the other, which I still think is beautiful. :) They both smell like pumpkin bread and every time I pass by them, I wonder what that amazing smell is. I must make more. I've only made 26 bars so far. These will go quickly.

tops of Black Pumpkin

tops of Black Cream Pumpkin

Black Cream Pumpkin and Black Pumpkin

oh look! I didn't make swirly tops. Crazy, I know.

Sometimes simple can be perfect when it's gone crazy inside. :O)

cured and ready for sale: October 5, 2010