Happy, happy Thanksgiving, my friend! Thought you might find some of these recipes helpful whether you are hosting family and friends this week, having a night at home with your family, or just want a little something fun and festive in your day...I know those peppermint brownies are screaming my name...LOL
Peppermint Brownies
This might be the simplest essential oil recipe ever... Just add 4-5 drops of Peppermint Vitality Essential Oil to your mix (or from scratch recipe!) after you add the wet ingredients and bake as directed. Once cooled - use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to create fun shapes. You could even top them with a layer of chocolate frosting (with or without a few drops of Peppermint Vitality...) or powdered sugar. Always fun to make for parties, neighbors or just because!
Peppermint Mocha
- 2 cups strongly brewed coffee or espresso
- 2 cups milk of your choice
- ¼ cup cacao powder (you can also use 2T cocoa powder + 3 oz dark chocolate chopped)
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey
- 3-4 drops Peppermint Vitality
- Pour milk into a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Whisk in the cacao powder (or whatever chocolate you're using) and the maple syrup. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes, whisking as needed until smooth.
- Remove from the heat and when slightly cooled add 2 drops of Peppermint Vitality (the flavor is bold, so start with 2 drops and add more if you want!). Place the peppermint cocoa mixture and the coffee in a Vitamix or other high-powered blender (or use a handheld frother), and blend on medium speed for 30 seconds until frothy. Divide into 4 mugs, top with whipped cream, marshmallows...or both!
Eggnog Chai
- Chai Tea Bag & water to prepare it
- ½ cup eggnog
- 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality
- Ground Cinnamon
- Prepare Chai Tea according to directions. Heat eggnog on the stove or in the microwave until it's hot to your liking. Once the tea is prepared the eggnog is heated, combine in a mug and let cool slightly, then add a drop of Nutmeg Vitality. Use a hand-held frother, blender or electric milk frother to combine.
- This serves one, so you can double or triple if you need to, top with a sprinkle of Ground Cinnamon and enjoy! You could easily make this with coffee and can add sweetener to taste like honey or maple syrup if you want.
Homemade Hot Cocoa
Wind down and warm up with your favorite mug brimming with homemade hot chocolate. You can add any Vitality oil to your recipe, but these three are favorites - Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa, Lavender Hot Cocoa, and Peppermint Hot Cocoa! Or whip up some Mexican Hot Cocoa for a festive twist!
- Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
- 4 cups milk of your choice
- 8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
- 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality essential oil
- 1 drop Clove Vitality essential oil
Lavender Hot Cocoa
- 4 cups milk of choice
- 8 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tsp honey, or more to taste
- 4 drops Lavender Vitality essential oil
Peppermint Hot Cocoa
- 4 cups milk of your choice
- 8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tsp honey, or more to taste
- 2 drops Peppermint Vitality essential oil
Champurrado Mexican Hot Cocoa
- 4 cups milk of your choice
- ½ cup honey or agave
- 2 Mexican chocolate tablets
- ¾ cups masa harina (corn flour)
- 2 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
- 2 drops Orange Vitality essential oil
For all recipes: Heat all ingredients, except the oils, in a pot over the stove, until just hot. Don't boil. Remove from heat, add the essential oils and stir to combine. Serve in your most festive mugs and top with whipped cream, marshmallows, a candy cane, or all of the above!!
Holiday Mocktails
If you're having a party this season, these mocktail recipes are sure to be a hit! Family and friends will be so smitten with their look and taste that they won't even miss the alcohol!
NingXia Red Rosemary Mule
- 2 ounces NingXia Red
- 6 ounces ginger beer
- 1 drop Rosemary Vitality
- Rosemary sprig
- Pour all ingredients into a copper mug full of crushed ice. Stir well to mix and garnish with a sprig of rosemary.
Holiday Mary
- Lemon wedges
- Sea salt
- 6 ounces tomato juice
- 1 drop Black Pepper Vitality
- Toothpick swirl of Lime Vitality
- Toothpick swirl of Celery Seed Vitality
- Toothpick swirl of Lemon Vitality
- 1 drop hot sauce
- Celery stick (optional)
- The toothpick method allows you to get a more subtle flavor with the Vitality oils. Simply dip a toothpick in the oil and swirl through your ingredients. Salt the rim of a highball or old-fashioned glass. Fill with ice and set aside. Squeeze a lemon wedge into a shaker and drop it in. Add tomato juice, Vitality oils, a dash of hot sauce to taste, and ice to the shaker. Shake gently to mix. Strain into prepared glass and garnish with celery or your favorite Bloody Mary toppings.
Cranberry Mojito
- Mint leaves
- 1 teaspoon honey or sweetener of choice
- 1 drop Peppermint Vitality
- 1 drop Lime Vitality
- Splash of cranberry juice
- 1 can NingXia Zyng
- Fresh cranberries
- Lime wedges
- In a tall, sturdy glass, place a few mint leaves, the sweetener, a squeeze of lime, Peppermint Vitality, and Lime Vitality. Use a muddler to crush the leaves & combine the flavors. Add ice to the glass. Pour a splash of cranberry juice and stir.
- Fill glass to the top with NingXia Zyng. Garnish with cranberries, more mint leaves, and a lime wedge.
NingXia Red Punch
- 1 bottle NingXia Red
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
- ¼ cup honey or simple syrup
- Sliced apples
- Pomegranate seeds
- Cinnamon sticks
- In a punch bowl, pour NingXia Red, apple cider, pomegranate juice, and honey. Add fruit and cinnamon sticks. Mix well. Cover and chill in the fridge until ready to serve. The longer the fruit soaks in the liquid, the more the flavors will combine.
- Serve in short glasses garnished with more apple slices, pomegranate seeds, and cinnamon stick stirrers.
Spiced Cinnamon Cider
A steaming mug of cider is the perfect remedy to cold, wintry days to warm up from the inside out.
- 8 cups apple juice or cider
- 4 cups orange juice
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 9 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality
- 6 drops Cardamom Vitality
- 4 drops Clove Vitality
- 4 drops Nutmeg Vitality
- 3 drops Citrus Fresh Vitality
- Sliced oranges
- Cinnamon sticks
- Add all ingredients to a large pot and stir to combine. Heat until simmering. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve warm in a mug. Garnish with sliced oranges and cinnamon sticks.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving!! Enjoy every moment. Be present. Be good to you.
Well...they may not actually do the nitty gritty spring cleaning of your house, but they will help your home smell like you just did all the cleaning! Spring cleaning diffuser blends below!
Spring is coming so our food choices are going to start looking a little different, too. How about some new recipes to try with those vitality oils? (Remember, vitality and regular label oils are the same on the inside...they are just labeled for different uses to stay F D A compliant.)
Lavender Collagen Latte
You know I'm not a coffee girl, but I've heard this is pretty yummy...and it can help with those springtime blooms as well since Lavender Vitality is a great choice when the pollen begins to fly.
- 12 ounces brewed, strong organic coffee
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
- 1T organic maple syrup (add more to taste)
- 1 scoop Inner Beauty Collagen
- 1 drop Lavender 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 to the frother, 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!
Lemon Herb-Infused Olive Oil
Use these creations to spice up your cooking, dip your warm bread in, or as a finishing touch to salad dressing, roasted meats, or fish!
- 10 ounces olive oil
- 2 drops Rosemary Vitality essential oil
- 4 drops Lemon Vitality essential oil
- 2 drops Basil Vitality essential oil
- Handful of freshly sliced lemons
- Handful each of rosemary and basil Pour the olive oil into a big pot or saucepan. Keep on low heat until it starts to bubble. Mix in the herbs and let it cook until the oil is fragrant. Be sure not to brown the herbs. Turn off the heat and let the oil cool. Add the drops of Vitality oil into the mixture. (Remember, less is more. Vitality oils can be potent, so start with fewer drops and add more for a bolder flavor.) Funnel the mixture into the bottles.
Citrus Vinegar
- 12 ounces white wine vinegar
- 1 small grapefruit
- 1 small lime
- 1 small orange
- Orange Vitality essential oil
- Lime Vitality essential oil
- Grapefruit Vitality essential oil
- Slice your favorite fruit and put it in a 16-ounce bottle or jar. Pour vinegar into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Pour hot vinegar into your bottle or jar over the fruit. Let it stand at room temperature for 8 hours. Add Vitality essential oil. Shake well before using, as oil and vinegar don't mix.
Do you look forward to the free products each month as much as I do??
As promised, here are your spring cleaning diffuser blends...put away those candles, no more smoke to wash off the walls. Pull out those diffusers and welcome all the spring goodness into your home.
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