Continuing on with ridding chemicals from my family's life, I tackled lip balm and was pleasantly surprised with the results! I think this recipe is sooo much better than Chapstix or Burts Bees and since it is petroleum-free my wonderful husband can even kiss me without dealing with his reaction to petroleum products!
I use my "improvised double boiler method" to make lip balm, lotion bars, lotion, deodorant so that I don't have to do extra dishes!
- Place all ingredients in a glass jar and place the jar in a pan of hot water on the stove. You can easily keep the water hot (and melt your ingredients without dirtying a pan or worrying about burning your ingredients. This is especially helpful since I have little ones and can't keep a constant eye on my projects :-) When you are done, just cool the jar and leftover ingredients in the jar, put the lid on the jar, label the jar and save until next time. Dump the hot water out of your pan and place in dish drainer to dry -- no dishes!
Natural Lip Balm
3 Tbsp Bees Wax
2 Tbsp Palm Oil or Coconut Oil
2-3 Tbsp Shea Butter
1 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
Melt everything together in your jar. Use a small dropper or syringe to fill empty lip balm tubes. Cool filled tubes and use! Makes about 25-30 tubes.
I'm still trying to figure out how to add beet powder to make a tinted lip balm...so far my beet powder has not really mixed in and not really tinted enough to
As I've tried to make my lifestyle more healthy I've come to realize that in addition to changing our eating and cooking habits, I needed to change our personal hygine products to eliminate chemicals. I also discovered that these "natural" and "green" products available at our local stores are often not "natural" or "green" and are expensive! I've done some research, stumbled upon great ideas and experimented. I'll be sharing what I've discovered and what is "cooking" in my kitchen for body care products.
This is my favorite banana bread recipe -- nice and moist but not "mushy" like some I've tried.
Alas, I rarely get to make it because we eat SO MANY bananas at our house that we rarely ever have any "past their prime" to use for bread! I'll have to start buying "old" ones just for bread!
Mix together:
3 mashed bananas
1 egg
3/4 c. sucanat (or brown sugar)
1/4 c. melted coconut oil
Add:
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
Mix well. Pour into one loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes.
This recipe easily doubles to make two loaves. Loaves also freeze well for later use!
Oh, I love muffins! Especially hearty ones! They are great for breakfast or an easy take-along snack. This recipie is great because it works with whatever you have on hand.
Mix together:
1 c. oatmeal and 1 c. yogurt (or milk)
Let sit for 20 minutes (I've skipped this part and it works fine)
Add:
2 c. total pureed harvest produce (apples, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, etc.)
- I usually use 1 c. apples (or applesauce) and 1 c. pumpkin or sweet potatoes
1/2 c. melted coconut oil (or butter)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sucanat (or brown sugar)
Mix well and add:
3 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Spoon into greased muffin pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes 24 muffins. Muffins freeze well for later use -- if they last that long!
These are so good! We eat them at least once a week!
Put in a large mixing bowl:
4 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
Mix well and add:
1/4 c. oil (extra virgin olive oil, melted butter or melted coconut oil)
Mix well and add:
1 1/4 c. water
Mix well and continue to mix/knead with hands unil all the flour is mixed in and you have a nice dough. Let dough rest for at least 15 minutes (cover with a towel if letting sit longer)
Divide dough into "large golf ball sized balls" and roll thin -- the thinner the better.
Cook on a hot skillet on the stove top about 1 minute on each side.
Makes about sixteen 10-12 inch tortillas.
These freeze well for future use!