| Today begins our fouth day of using kitchen spices in soap by using Red Chili Pepper Powder, which is simply powdered red chili peppers.
Chili powder is typically blended with other spices in Indian, Spanish, Caribbean and Tex-Mex dishes. Chili con carne, enchiladas, curries, spiced rice, and many other similar dishes are popular uses for chili powder. Collect needed items:
We are going to use the higher end of the water recommendations in the Lye Calculator so we can mix the red chili powder in easily. We are also making this soap in dry weather so the soap will dry/cure quickly. If you are making this in a humid location, please use a dehumidifier to help dry out the soaps. Measure fixed oils on your scale. Warm the fixed oils on the stove or in the microwave. I melted the oils in the microwave. Add sodium hydroxide to the water. Mix well. Combine oils and lye solution. Stir until thin trace. Upon light trace, add the red chili powder. Stir well. Pour soap into molds. I used the Rubbermaid Drawer Organizers #2915 as the mold. Allow to sit until soap is firm. The next morning cut into bars. Stack to allow good air circulation. Allow to cure for several days before using. Longer curing will result in a harder bar. Notes: After looking at the finished soap, I think the best scents for this soap would be Orange, fruity or spicy scents like Apple Jack, Plumberry Spice, Bitter Orange Orchid or Mardi Gras. The Red Chili Powder soap samples have been sent to the Shipping Department to send out in orders. I really want to hear your comments about this or any of the other soaps with kitchen spices. I hope that anyone wanting a sample soap will request one and if we have any samples we will send them to you. Here is where I generally use chili powder …….. CHILI!! Here is our favorite chili recipe. Chili Recipe: Soak 2 cups of red or pinto beans or some of each in water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda overnight. Drain water and rinse beans several times. Cover with water and salt to taste and cook until done. Approximately 3-4 hours. While beans are cooking, cook 1 pound of burger with 1 large onion and 1 stick of chopped celery. When beans are done, pour off enough water that the beans are barely covered. With a potato masher, mash beans just a little to make the soup thicken up. Add 1 quart or 2 large cans of tomatoes (I like the diced ones) and 1 teaspoon of chili powder (or to taste). For a little nip, add just a bit of cayenne pepper. Cook until flavors are blended. If you want more meat, you might have to add more tomatoes. I’ll usually add tomato juice. Good chili is mostly just messing around with the basic recipe. Good luck!
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 Cut soap after 24 hours.  Red Chili Powder.  Adding the lye to the water.  The lye and water need to be mixed together.  Stirring the lye solution.  Adding the lye solution to the melted fixed oils.  Mixing the lye solution and oils together.  Continuing to mix until light trace. |
 Adding 1 tsp red chili powder.  Completely mixed raw soap. |
 Blending raw soap and red chili powder.  Raw soap into the mold. |