Ready for a little fall cooking? Check out these recipes!

fallcooking

Fall is perfect for baking...and for all those smells in your home, especially now that the windows are closed more often as summer temps have slipped away...

Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients:
  • 3 C Sugar
  • 1 C Coconut Oil
  • 4 Eggs
  • 3 1/3 C Flour
  • 2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 2/3 C Water
  • 1 15oz Can of Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 6 drops of Nutmeg Essential Oil
  • 2 drops of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
  • 1-2 drops of Orange Essential Oil
  • 1 drop of Clove Essential Oil (clove is optional)
How-to: 1. Mix sugar, oil, and eggs 2. Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. 3. Stir in water and pumpkin by hand 4. Add essential oils and mix well 5. Pour batter evenly into 3 greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or until toothpick/fork comes out clean. 6. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before removing and letting fully cool on wire racks
  • Let cool completely before wrapping up to store or freeze
Apple Pumpkin Butter
  • 15oz can of Pumpkin
  • 1 3/4C applesauce
  • 2/3C agave
  • 1 in grated ginger
  • 1t pure vanilla
  • 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality
  • 2 drops Clove Vitality
  • 2 drops Nutmeg Vitality
    In a pot simmer all ingredients for 45 minutes. Then add the vanilla and essential oils. Place in a jar and enjoy or share!
FAVORITE FALL BEVERAGES: 

Pumpkin Spice Latte
  • 2 cups strongly brewed coffee or espresso
  • 1.5 cups milk (I like to use 1/2 almond milk and 1/2 full-fat coconut milk!)
  • 3T pumpkin puree
  • 3T maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2tsp vanilla extract
  • 1-2 drops Thieves Vitality 
    Combine all of the ingredients except the Thieves Vitality in a saucepan over medium-high heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally until it is slightly frothy on top. Let cool for a few minutes and then add 1-2 drops of Thieves Vitality or spices. Use an immersion blender to stir or put it in a blender on high for 30 seconds. Divide into 4 mugs and serve!
Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
  • 2 cups cooled strong coffee or espresso
  • 3/4 cup milk of choice 
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract 
  • 2T maple syrup or honey
  • 1 drop Thieves Vitality (Cinnamon Bark, Nutmeg, Ginger, or Clove Vitality would all work!) - add oil to sweetener before blending
  • Large handful of ice
    Add all ingredients to a blender and blend well to desired consistency. Top with homemade whip or coconut whipped cream, caramel drizzle, a sprinkle of cinnamon, whatever makes you happy!
Maple Cinnamon Latte
  • 12 ounces brewed, strong organic coffee
  • 1/4 cup milk of choice
  • 1T organic maple syrup (add more to taste)
  • Organic ground cinnamon for dusting
  • 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
  • Optional: Electric milk frother 
    Grab your favorite coffee mug and line the bottom with maple syrup, about 1T. Pour the brewed coffee on top and stir gently to mix. Add the milk and essential oil (if using) to the frother, hit the button once, and wait while it warms. When ready, pour the milk into your coffee, top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a small drizzle of maple syrup or a small sprinkle of raw sugar if desired!
Homemade Wassail:
  • Organic apple juice, about 3/4 of a bottle
  • Organic pineapple juice, about 2 cups
  • 10 drops Orange or Tangerine Vitality essential oil
  • 5 drops Lemon Vitality Essential oil
  • 5 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality Essential oil
  • 3 drops Clove Vitality Essential oil
  • 2 drop Nutmeg Vitality Essential oil
  • Cinnamon sticks, dried cloves to taste
  • Orange slices, lemon slices, fresh cranberries, apple slices to garnish
    Fill a slow cooker, about 3/4 full with organic apple juice, then top with organic pineapple juice. Add in essential oils and dried species and let simmer. Just before serving add plus orange slices, apples, cranberries, etc. to garnish! 
Wassail Champagne Punch:
  • ½ Gallon Apple Cider
  • 2 cups organic orange juice
  • 2 cups organic pineapple juice
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 10 drops Lemon Vitality
  • 5 drops Orange or Tangerine Vitality
  • 5 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality
  • 3 drops Clove Vitality
  • 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality
  • Optional: whole cloves, orange peel, lemon peel
  • Optional: Champagne
    In a large sauce pan or dutch oven, combine apple cider, pineapple juice, orange juice, essential oils, cinnamon sticks and citrus peel and cloves (if using). Let simmer for about one hour, stirring occasionally.

    Allow to cool, then remove the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate.

    When serving, pour the wassail mixture into a glass and fill about half full. Top with champagne or for a non-alcoholic version try adding Cran-Orange LaCroix or Trader Joe's Winter Sangria sparkling water! Garnish with orange slices or cranberries if you're feeling fancy!

    You could make it and serve it hot too, just stop before after the second step or use a slow cooker for the entire process. You can easily prep this at home and take to a gathering as well! 
Be sure to tell me what your favorite is, or share your favorite fall recipe! I am a wee bit of a collector of recipes... ;) 

Watch next week for fall diffuser blends and  diy home cleaning essentials!

Fall DIY fun for young and not so old ;)

It's the season of cinnamon spice, pumpkins, and your favorite hoodie! The air has a chill, the leaves start falling, and the summer season winds down. My favorite time of year...

Do you love to DIY?? This is for you. But, if you are like me, and diy isn't your favorite thing on a fall day, stick with me anyway...there are some fun things in here others may enjoy - feel free to share or let your kiddos make some of these! There is even a special activity for those favorite littles in your life...


Halloween Diffuser Cauldron or Autumn Pumpkin 
Here is a simple and fun seasonal decor using your diffuser + favorite fall oils! 
You will need:
  • Your diffuser
  • A plastic decorative cauldron or galvanized pumpkin
  • Orange & Clove essential oils 
    Poke a hole on the side/ bottom of the cauldron/pumpkin, if plastic, for the diffuser's cord. If using metal, simply set the diffuser in and lift the cord out the back. Fill with water, add oils, turn on. Add spider web or tissue paper on top of the cauldron as desired!

  • Pumpkin Succulent Diffuser
    Create a cute, fun and festive centerpiece with a pumpkin, some succulents and essential oils! 
    • Plastic pumpkins - real work as well but don't last as long
    • Potting soil 
    • Small succulents 
    • Natural materials - wood slices, Spanish moss, small pine cones, wood rings, etc. (find them at the craft store)
    • Essential oils of choice
      Simply cut the top off your pumpkin and scoop out the insides if you're using a real one. Fill about 3/4 with soil, then plant 2-3 small succulents into the top. Add moss, wood slices and rings, small pinecones, anything fall and festive that will soak in essential oils. Add 3-4 drops of oil to the porous materials for a 'diffuser' or spritz with a DIY room spray (witch hazel + water + EOs) every few days! *NOTE: If you use a real pumpkin, this will only last about a month at most. Using a plastic or ceramic pumpkin will extend the life of the diffuser/succulents indefinitely.

  • Festive Wreath Diffuser 
    Create your own festive wreath (and switch it out each season!) with some florals and essential oils.
  • DIY Scented Pine Cones 
    This is a fun one because you get yourself outside and collect pinecones in various shapes and sizes. If you have kids they will love doing this with you!
    • Preheat oven to 200°
    • Line an old baking sheet with aluminum foil
    • Place pinecones on baking sheet
    • Bake pinecones for 30 minutes
    • Remove from oven and let cool completely
    • In a ceramic, glass or stainless bowl add pinecones, then add essential oils of your choice about 30 total drops. Seal the bowl & shake so that the oils soak into the pinecones. Leave the bowl in a cool dark place for at least one week. The longer you can leave the bowl covered the better your pinecones will be scented.
    • Now they are ready to be displayed on your favorite tray!

  • Cinnamon Pinecone Fire Starters 
    This craft is a very simple one that kids LOVE! It starts with gathering pine cones, which is always a fun fall task.
    • Pine cones in various sizes
    • Yarn of desired color (or even dryer lint!)
    • Essential oils
      • Gather your pine cones and spray with diluted Thieves Cleaner, then let sit overnight to dry. Once dry, wrap the yarn around the pine cones as desired. You can wrap all of it in the center or cover the whole thing - it's up to you! Just weave the yarn through the individual ‘leaves' of the pine cone. Drop a few drops of Cinnamon Bark essential oil onto the yarn and let it sit overnight. Store then next to the fireplace, and add 2-3 to the wood when starting a fire!
Pumpkin Preserving Spray 
Do your pumpkins get eaten by squirrels or rot super quickly after you put them on your porch? Save them with this super easy DIY! 
To a 16 oz glass spray bottle add:
  • One capful of Thieves Household Cleaner 
  • 10 drops of Tea Tree. 
  • Fill the rest of the way with water!
    Use this to clean your pumpkins once before putting them all out (and try to keep them out of direct sunlight so they last even longer!), then spray as needed to preserve them as long as possible. Spritz your pumpkins every other day to keep the squirrels away!!

  • Pumpkin Pie Play DoughAn activity for the kids with the option of being free of harmful dyes and ingredients and leaves the house and their little hands smelling AMAZING plus it has immune boosting properties! You can make this together, super easy, then let them play the crisp, fall day away!!
    • 2 cups cornstarch
    • 1 cup Kidscents lotion
    • 4 drops Cardamom
    • 2 drops Orange
    • 1 drop Cinnamon bark
    • 1 drop Clove
    • Mix all the ingredients together and let their imaginations run wild!

      Next week we'll get you in the kitchen and bringing in all those smells of fall!!