Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Winter Recipes for 2013

I love trying to find ways to make things at home, naturally and cheaper.  Some work out wonderfully such as making our own sparkling water at home, http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/how-tuesday-build-your-own-seltzer-maker/; and some need more tweeking, like my homemade potato chips I tried this past summer. 

But over the break I found two recipes that are fantastic that I would like to share here. 

First, a wonderful Healing Salve.


It heals dry skin, small cuts, rashes and minor burns.  Each of my children's households received a winter care box for their Christmas stockings with this included.  It's a little greasy but it's the best thing I've ever tried for healing winter dry skin.  You can download the recipe here: http://whipup.net/wp-content/images/2012/11/Apothecary.page_.HealingSalves.pdf

Ingredients:
2 cups olive oil
1/2 cup grated beeswax (Tip: I used a vegetable peeler, much easier!)
2 cups of herbs: calendula, comfrey, nettle and lavender (all easily found at natural grocers)
15 drops each of rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil

In a large metal bowl place all of your herbs, cover with the olive oil and warm on the stove.  Turn off the heat, cover and let sit in a warm place for 1-4 days.  I did 4 days.

Strain oil.
Place the oil in a saucepan and warm through.  In another smaller pan melt your beeswax and add it to the warm oil.  Mix thoroughly.
Place a spoonful on a plate in the freezer for a minute to test for hardness.  Adjust by adding more oil or beeswax. (Mine was fine as is.)
Pour warm mixture into jars and let set.   
Bonus: smells wonderful!

Next: Mexican Hot Chocolate


This was a craving and there was no mix in the house.  I read several recipes and came up with the following:

2 cup non fat milk
just shy of 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cinnamon stick
a splash of non fat creamer
1/4 tsp Mexican chili powder

Simmer on low heat, whisking periodically.   Can be served with a peppermint stick and a dollop of whip cream:) 

Enjoy!  And Happy New Year!!



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