health and Beauty 4Ever

How to Make Lavender Essential Oil The mix of crisp morning air with an end note of the mid day heat to come makes morning my favorite time of day during the summer. When I can, I grab a cup of coffee and sip it while I watch the bees enjoy the lavender in my flowerbeds. It feels so decadent to start my Saturdays this way. I wish I could enjoy my fresh lavender in the dead of winter too. I can if I use my  fresh lavender to make lavender essential oil! The technique is similar I the directions I use to make orange essential oil from orange peels . Lavender Essential Oil Recipe You will need Lavender buds. If you don’t grow lavender, you can order lavender buds from Amazon for a good price . Grain alcohol or vodka (a cheap grocery store brand such as Popov vodka is perfect for this project because it tastes wretched if you drink it in a yummy Cosmo.) Bowl and spoon or a mortar and pestle if you have one. Coffee filters Two ja...

Pineapple, Coconut Water, Lime and Mint Detox Tonic Why you need to detox your body--> http://positivemed.com/2012/ 11/02/why-detox/ 12 ounces raw coconut wate r ½ cup filtered water 1 green apple chopped 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks Juice of 1 lime Juice of 1 lemon ¼ cup fresh mint leaves 1 large cucumber (optional)

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup in the Slow Cooker (or on the stove-top) Photo by Clair Buys/BYU Magazine Makes about 2 quarts (about 8 servings) 2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice 1 cup finely diced celery 1 cup finely diced carrots 1 cup finely diced onions 1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano 1 T dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil 4 cups chicken broth ½ bay leaf 1 cup Parmesan cheese ½ cup butter 2 cups half and half, warmed or canned coconut milk 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp black pepper 1.  Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to a large slow cooker. 2.  Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft. 3.  About 30 minutes before serving prepare a roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet. Stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup. Add another 3 cups and stir until smooth. Add all back into the slow cooker. Stir and add...

Raw Christmas Cookies By Nadia Petrova Who said cookies have be baked?  I know, I know, I love the smell of baked cookies around Christmas too, but I love my raw cookies as well.  And to celebrate Christmas accordingly, I decided to make some little cookie Christmas trees!  They are incredibly delicious, they melt in your mouth and they are healthy too, how about that?  Raw Christmas Cookies Ingredients 1 1/4 cup raw pistachios 2 tablespoon coconut flakes 1/3 cup melted coconut oil 1/3 cup honey or agave 1/4 teaspoon salt Instructions 1. Clean the pistachios from their outer shell and blend them into flour.  2. Mix everything in a big bowl using a spatula. 3. Roll into a salami form using some plastic foil and put in the fridge for 24 hours. 4. Using a sharp knife cut into small cookies. If you have some small cookie cutters, you can also shape them differently.  5. Serve garnished with coconut flakes...

Cuppa Chocolate ® Teas Indulge your craving for decadence with The Republic of Tea's Cuppa Chocolate Teas. Reward yourself with the flavors of chocolate-covered strawberries, peppermint chocolate candies and rich slices of cake — all with zero calories. Our selection of these naturally sweet Cuppa Chocolate Teas includes combinations that range from caffeine-free tropical essence of ripe banana to classic red velvet cake, finished with the rich flavor of chocolate and rooibos. Vanilla Teas The exotic vanilla bean adds a decadent twist to many of our teas, sending them soaring to the realm of dessert. Explore this sumptuous combination with our Vanilla Almond Sweeten the Mind Tea, a black tea with the smoothness of Madagascar vanilla beans and notes of nutty almond. Alternati...