When I was younger my mate’s Greek parents used to run the Fish & Chip shop across the road. Not only did we get the best Fish & Chips but we also had the good fortune to be good family friends and were invited to many Greek parties and festivals. Greek Easter was phenomenal, not just the food but the celebrations as well. My mate and I also did a bit of (volunteer) work in the shop feeding potatoes in to the peeler and chipping machine, making batter, taste testing the final product, etc. 🙂

None of your pre-packaged food for these hard working people. All the food was prepared in the shop with the exception of the Dim Sims and Chiko Rolls. Great times and good memories.

I remember, every couple of weeks, his mum would take a load of the used frying oil and fat, clarify it in a big couldron and then make soap. It was a reasonably soft soap, unscented and with no colourings.

She would cook up the mixture of oils and fats and caustic soda over an open fire and when it cooled down but still quite soft she would take a massive carving knife and slice it up in blocks. When it had set a bit more, she would take out the individual blocks and cut them into large cakes.

His mum would give away some to family and friends and use the rest in the shop and around the house. They were old school and nothing went to waste.

The soap was a little greasy sometimes but worked a treat. You could even dissolve it in water and use to wash the clothes. I’m sure if they were around today, they would be making biodiesel as well to power their car.

I’ve made soap in the paste but it’s not something I’ve done for a while. So what triggered this trip down memory lane? Well, my Mate Gavin just posted an article on making soap on his website

http://www.greeningofgavin.com/2012/06/secret-of-good-soap.html

and it looked fabulous so I thought you should check it out.

Cheers