Cocoa Butter Hint o' Mint Lip Balm

I've wanted to make my own lip balm for quite some time.  Here's the recipe I came up with for my first attempt (there will be more!).  I've looked at some recipes online for inspiration and created my own version with ingredients I had around the house for a nourishing lip treatment.  Just a hint of essential oil results in a delicate and yummy scent.  The mint doesn't overpower the cocoa butter so it's a cocoa treat with a hint o' mint...

Ingredients:

2 tbs coconut oil
1 1/2 tbs beeswax
1 tbs cocoa butter
1 tbs jojoba oil
several drops of pure vitamin E
drop of peppermint oil
drop of vanilla oil



Directions:

Using a double-boiler melt the coconut oil and beeswax together, stiring frequently.  If you do not have an actual double-boiler, like me, place a smaller metal pot or bowl into a larger pot with a couple inches of water in it.  Since this just makes a small amount I just used a metal 1 measuring cup inside my smallest saucepan.  Heat the water up but don't let it boil or water will end up splashing into the mixture, and it's not necessary to get it quite that hot anyway.

After the beeswax has melted into the coconut oil, add the coco butter.  Stir until melted.  Now, remove saucepan from burner (but keep the mixing area in the hot water so the mixture doesn't cool off enough to set -- If it begins to set before pouring into containers at the end, simply place back on heat) and add the remaining ingredients one-at-a-time, mixing thoroughly before adding the next.  

Finally, place the liquid mixture into lip balm tubes or containers of your choice.  I order some new tubes from Mountain Rose Herbs but you could save, clean out and reuse old tubes or use other little containers such as mint-tins to place the mixture in.   

Okay, so getting the mixture into the tubes is probably the most challenging part of this entire process.  I use what items I have around the house and am glad I found a funnel that was JUST small enough to fit the tube.  I spooned the mixture through the funnel very gradually trying to not overfill.  I did overfill a few times, that was no problem, just leave the tube up and once it sets a bit you can clean off the outside.  Once I got the hang of it I realized it's not so bad.  It simply requires a little patience and focus!  So, not to worry...

Now, I have 8 tubes of natural lip balm that would have cost me roughly $3 total to create (would be less if you reuse your containers, too)!  If you bought 8 tubes of $3 lip balm at the store that would come to $24!  Sure, the ingredients add up but they last a very long time and can be used for many other amazing things such as hair and skin care (jojoba oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, vitamin E), cooking (coconut oil), didgeridoo (beeswax and PVC!), making candles (beeswax), making body lotion/butter, etc...

Make Your Own Stevia Powder!

So, I've been using Kal stevia powder extract for over 10 years now.  I've tried several other brands but they often have more of that bitter after-taste.  This stevia powder has had the best taste, even over their liquid extract (to me).  Well, it's very processed and I recently realized it's from China.  There was something unsettling about consuming white powder from China!  I mean, anyone else with me on this?!  Well, I'm still using it (I've got to do something to cure my never ending sweet-tooth!) but wanted to try using stevia that's closer to the original (plant) source so I decided to grind up some of my own stevia powder!  Unfortunately, this powder does have more of a bitter taste.  It also gives more of a "green" flavor which can be interesting in some scenarios, undesirable in others.  Just like learning to appreciate stevia in the first place, it can be an acquired taste.  I ordered these crushed leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs but you can certainly grow your own to REALLY make it your own personal powder!  These leaves were grown in Israel; I know I could have gotten them a little closer to home, I admit with going the easy route.  BUT, at least they're "organic!"  I've grown it before from seeds and from a starter plant that you can (sometimes) find at your local home improvement store such as Home Depot or Lowe's.


What you'll need...

- DRIED stevia leaves (if growing your own be sure to remove stems)
- high speed blender or coffee grinder (a regular blender may not blend into a fine enough powder)
- glass jar or spice shaker to store powder (I reused a clean spice jar)

Grind the dried stevia leaves in your high speed blender (I use a Vitamix) or coffee grinder in batches.  To fill the entire spice jar it took me two batches in the blender.  I don't like to put too much in at one time as it doesn't always grind it up well enough.  Grind until you get a fine powder.  I left my blender on approximately 1 minute each batch.  With the coffee grinder it might be a little faster, depending on how sharp the blades are.

My blender has openings in the top that allow the powder to come out into the air.  So that I'm not breathing it all in I place a damp towel (my dish towel tends to be damp so it's easy to grab) over the top and keep it on there for a minute after grinding to allow the powder to settle. 

Next, I like to dump the powder into a bowl and then spoon the powder into the storage jar.  It really makes things easier.  I'd recommend labeling the jar somehow so you don't get it confused with the kelp.  I tend to use what I have around and have either written on it with sharpie marker or put a sticky label on it.

I am still using the Kal stevia but am supplementing the green powder when I can!  Does anyone have any stevia products from a trusted and pure source that you'd recommend?  Let us know!

Who wins?

Lemony-Coconut Cake

Here's a recipe for another yummy cake.  It is best served warm, I find.  The texture reminds me of corn-muffins and the lemony flavor is delicate, not overpowering.

Ingredients:

4 eggs
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 cup almond meal
1 - 1 1/2 cups milk
juice from 1 lemon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tbs vanilla extract
stevia, to taste

unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)

*Note: the ingredients listed above make a delicately lemony flavored cake.  If you would like something with a stronger lemon flavor you could try adding more lemon juice and using less milk (for correct liquid-ratio).*


Directions:

Use a wire whisk to whisk the eggs.  Heat the coconut oil on stovetop over low until melted.  Whisk well into the eggs.  Next, mix in the 1 cup milk and coconut flour, mixing to get out any lumps.  Add the almond meal and mix.  Add the lemon juice, baking soda, vanilla extract and stevia and mix well. Add in more milk if the mixture is too thick.  It's amazing how the coconut flour absorbs the liquid so well! 

Grease pan and sprinkle with a layer of shredded coconut on the bottom (optional).

Pour the mixture into the greased cake, pie pan, or muffin tin.  Sprinkle some more shredded coconut on top (optional).

Place in an oven preheated to 350 for 30-35 minutes (for cake or pie pan, less time for muffin-size) or until the edges *just* begin to brown.

This cake is very good when served still warm but it is also good out of the fridge as a left-over! 

For the chocoholic, you could add some home made chocolate sauce, but I do find that does overpower the lemony-aspect of this cake. 

Rosemary-Dill Yogurt Deviled Eggs

I love deviled eggs!  Here's one version of the recipe using fresh herbs and yogurt...

Ingredients:

12 hard boiled eggs
1/3 cup whole milk yogurt
3 tbs. olive oil
2 tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp mustard powder
1/2 tsp cayenne powder
1 tbs each of finely chopped fresh rosemary and dill
Sea salt or Himalayan salt, to taste


Directions:

Hard boil the eggs and allow to chill in the fridge (I prepared my eggs the night before).  Peel the eggs and rinse them, draining off all excess water.  Cut eggs in half and remove the yolk.

Place all yolks I a medium size bowl for mixing the filling.  Mash all the yolks to a smooth consistency using a strong (does not bend easily) fork.  Add the remaining ingredients and continue to mix, combining thoroughly.  I like to taste it to see what else it might need before filling the eggs (i.e., if you want more salt, pepper, etc.).

Once the filling is ready, use a teaspoon to scoop the filling into each one of the eggs.  I don't like to use a lot of plastic containers but this Rubbermaid one (pictured below) is made just for eggs and I love to use it to hold deviled eggs...

Enjoy the eggs alone or on a salad!

Strawberry-Banana CHOCOLATE Almond-Meal Cake with Faux-Ice-Cream Frosting!

I needed to make a birthday cake recently so wanted to make a new and very yummy cake for the occasion.  So, here's what I came up with!  It is SO delicious & a REAL treat!  It reminds me of eating cake and ice cream together or like a banana split.  The frosting smells and tastes like a creamy strawberry ice cream and the cake is so rich and chocolatey with a boost of strawberry-banana.  This cake is not light and fluffy like an angelfood cake, it's more dense and rich like a flour-less chocolate cake.  That, in combination with the yummy strawberry frosting, make this a very rich and naughty-tasting treat.  It tastes MUCH naughtier than it actually is...


Ingredients:


Cake:
5 eggs
2 tbs melted butter or coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

2 ripe bananas
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tbs apple cider vinegar

2 1/2 cups almond meal (directions for making your own here)
1/2-2/3 cup cocoa powder/carob powder mixture (your choice-- I used mostly cocoa)
1/8 tsp sea salt
stevia powder, to taste

1 cup fresh chopped strawberries

milk, to add in small amounts to add if batter is too thick



Frosting:
1 1/2 cup milk (I use soy or almond)
3 tbs arrowroot powder
9 tbs butter or coconut oil, soft consistency (not melted!)
2 tbs food-grade vegetable glycerin
stevia, to taste
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped strawberries (approximate equivalent: you don't need to actually chop them as you will be putting them in the blender)


Directions:

Cake:

Beat the eggs, whisk in the butter or coconut oil and vanilla extract.   In a separate bowl mash the bananas while heating the chocolate over low heat, paying close attention to it so it doesn't burn.  Mix the melted chocolate, baking soda and apple cider vinegar along with the bananas.  In a third bowl completely mix together the almond meal, cocoa powder/carob powder mixture, sea salt, and stevia.

Combine ingredients from all three bowls into the a large bowl and stir until mixed but don't over stir.  Add small amounts of milk if the batter is too thick.  Fold in the strawberries.

Grease two cake pans, then lay wax paper cut in a circular shape to fit on bottom of each pan (you can see I pressed the wax paper in the bottom to get an idea of the size to cut out).

Pour batter evenly between the two cake pans.

Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Frosting:

Warm the milk on high in a saucepan until it just starts to boil (keeping an eye on it so it does not burn).  Turn heat down to medium and slowly add the arrowroot, mixing constantly with a wire whisk.  If the arrowroot doesn't mix in smoothly, that's okay, you can get it all smoothed out when you add it to the blender with the strawberries.  In the end, though, you want to make sure it is heated with the arrowroot powder in it enough that it thickens (but doesn't burn!).  Place in the blender along with the strawberries and blend on high for about a minute.  (You might want to let it cool a bit before adding to the blender, so as to not overheat the blender).  If the mixture hasn't yet thickened, you can place it back on the stovetop at a simmer and stir until it thickens.  Once the mixture has thickened, place in the freezer to cool down while you prepare the rest...

Use an electric mixer on high to whip up the butter or coconut oil (make sure it's got a soft consistency, NOT melted, before you do this) thoroughly.  Fully cream the butter or oil, THEN add the stevia, glycerin, and vanilla extract, then mix well.

Mix in the mixture out of the freezer thoroughly with the electric beaters.  

Removing cake from pans is easy, all you to is turn them upside-down over plate and it should come out easy.  Be sure to peel off the wax paper!

Spread the frosting over the first layer.  Next, place the top layer over it.  Finally, apply the rest of the frosting to the top and sides.  Cover (without disturbing frosting) and refrigerate until ready to eat.  It should keep for approximately 5 days (unless you live with me, then it would not last that long!:)).

I found a bowl in the cabinet that fit perfectly over the top of the cake on the plate and this worked very well for refrigerating without messing up the frosting with any cling wrap, etc., or having to find a container made just for cakes:

Strawberry for garnish looks nice...

And it makes a perfect birthday cake!

It's tasty and might go quickly, so make sure you get a piece.  :)

How-To Make Almond Meal (quick and easy!)

This is what I use for breading chicken, making cakes, cookies, muffins, and even a yogurt topping!  I first bought some almond flour years ago and, when I saw how expensive it was I decided to make this "almond meal" instead.  I might not be able to grind it up as finely as the flour but it's okay, my pocket-book thanks me and, in turn, I can use a lot more of it! 

All you need is:

raw almonds

&

a food processor or high speed blender (you can try a regular blender but you might need to do smaller batches)

All you do is:

Process the almonds in batches of reasonable size.  I probably processed about 2 cups at-a-time in both my food processor and Vitamix blender.  Process until the pieces are as small as possible.  You want it to be as "flour" like as possible, not bigger pieces, yet be sure to stop before you get almond butter (especially with the high-speed blenders)!

In my food processor it doesn't really clump up.  But, in my blender it does start to do that (it was going to make butter if I didn't stop).  So, you can use a fork to loosen those clumps up if you need to.  I dumped all batches in a bowl.

Then, transferred to glass storage jars.  It doesn't have to be glass but, be sure to store in an airtight container in your fridge or freezer to have on hand for whenever you need it.

Just a couple ways to use it:

Savory...

This real super delicious recipe for chicken nuggets.  I was super surprised the first time I made these just how fantastic they are.  The almond meal locks in the moisture while holding on to all the yummy flavors you mix with it!  The photos I have for that one don't do it justice... try it yourself and see what you think!

Sweet...

A REAL decadent treat, try this Super-Naughty tasting cake that isn't so naughty after all.  

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Simple, easy and delicious: Stevia-sweetened strawberry frozen yogurt!

Ingredients:

1 cup milk of choice (I use soy or almond)
1 cup whole-milk yogurt (or non-dairy alternative)
1 cup strawberries
1 tsp vanilla extract
stevia, to taste


Directions:

Combine strawberries and milk in a blender and blend on high about a minute.  Add the remaining ingredients and blend thoroughly.   I recommend Trader Joe's Organic European Style plain WHOLE MILK yogurt, but any yogurt would do.

Add to a ice cream maker and follow the directions on the maker.  I use a Donvier Ice Cream Maker and it works real well.

If you do not have a maker you could freeze the mixture in ice cube trays, take out and allow to partially unthaw and then process in a blender.

Creamy and yummy-yum!