TIPS for using Essential Oils in cooking!

 

Sugar Scrub

Here's a wonderful body scrub. This is helpful for exfoliating dry, dead skin on your legs, elbow's, heals etc... I used it today and man, it worked awesome!
I made a FB video of this and the Baked Feta recipe. I posted it on YouTube if you want to see it, CLICK HERE!

Baked Feta with Tomatoes

We made a video of this one! You can see it on YouTube HERE. This was a fun Make & Take project to learn about the Vitality oils and how you can use essential oils in your cooking! Holidays are coming and this is an easy one to throw together and look like you are a gourmet cook...LOL

BODY BUTTER- Made Simple

One thing I've learned about Body Butter is that there are many options for ingredients. It's all about the ratio of the butters vs the oils. Here is yet another option you can make and one I really liked too! Mostly because of the simple ingredients. I did this one because a friend was allergic to nut butters and oils. So this one I chose to use Shea butter, Mango butter, Coconut oil and Jajoba oil.

How to Make Body Butter

This new recipe has similar ingredients to the lotion bars, but removes the beeswax and whips the mixture as it cools to create a cloud-like lotion that is extremely nourishing! This Body Butter is great for babies or sensitive skin, and scents can be added to make it a custom gift for anyone (or to keep for yourself!).

The combination of shea and cocoa butter with two nourishing oils makes a highly moisturizing combination, but whipping the mix helps it go on smoothly without being oily.

My current favorite is a peppermint scented version for the holidays, but I also like a citrus/lavender combination.

Body Butter Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Shea Butter
• 1/2 cup Cocoa Butter or Mango Butter
• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup light oil (like almond, jajoba or olive)
• Optional: 10-30 drops of essential oils of choice (I use Lavender and Citrus from YOUNG LIVING)
• 1-2TB Arrow root (optional) helps to be less greasy feeling.

Body Butter Instructions

1. In a double boiler or glass bowl, combine all ingredients except essential oils.
2. Bring to medium heat and stir constantly until all ingredients are melted.
3. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
4. Move to fridge and let cool another 1 hour or until starting to harden but still somewhat soft.
5. Use a hand mixer to whip for 10 minutes until fluffy, adding desired EO's.
6. Return to fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.
7. Store in a glass jar with a lid and use as you would regular lotion or body butter. If your home stays above 75 degrees, it may soften and need to be kept at the fridge, but it will stay whipped at a temperature lower than that.
8. Enjoy!

AN EVEN EASIER VERSION: 

Using all the same steps as above I tried this easy 2 ingredient version (not including EO).

•  12 oz Shea Butter (1 1/2 cups)
•  3 oz Coconut Oil (1/3 cup)
• 1/8 tsp (about 8-10 drops)Essential Oils (EO) of your choice

Best Whipped Body Butter

Here is a wonderful Whipped Body Butter we made with our group for the first time.

Someone was allergic to nut butters, so I made it again and loved it just as much if not more!!!

I called it "Body Butter-Nut Free" (see another post!)

This BEST WHIPPED BODY BUTTER whipped up nice but got very stiff after a few days. Some people didn't mind it, but I preferred it to stay soft and liked the Nut Free version a little better for that. Otherwise, this felt AWESOME on my skin!

This is just before it got whipped....(sorry I forgot to take a picture afterwards...But it looked like cool whip!)

BEST WHIPPED BODY BUTTER

1/2 cup mango butter   

1/4 cup shea butter   

1/4 cup kokum butter  

1/4 cup cocoa butter   

1/4 cup coconut oil (the kind that’s solid at temperatures below 76 degrees)  (you probably already have coconut oil in your pantry, but if not, it can be found in any grocery store)

1/4 cup sweet almond oil   

1 Tbsp arrowroot powder  (you can find this at most grocery stores in the spice aisle)

up to 30 drops of essential oil (optional)...I use Lavendar and Sandalwood!

An Overview of How to Make Whipped Body Butter

Soft & silky whipped body butter is very easy to make.  Below I’ve given you step-by-step instructions of what to do  but here’s an overview of the 5 simple steps to making whipped body butter.

1. measure out your butters and oils into a heat-safe glass bowl or measuring cup (or you can use a kitchen scale)
2. melt your butter and oils
3. whisk in your  arrowroot powder
4. freeze for 20-30 minutes OR refrigerate for a couple of hours
5. Add your Essential Oils and whip until soft and fluffy (about 5 minutes)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Just exactly how do you make whipped body butter with essential oils?

 1)  Measure out the following ingredients into a glass bowl or Pyrex measuring cup (this will be the top of your double boiler)

2)  melt your butter and oils

I use the double boiler method to do this, but you could also use a microwave if you’d like.

For the double boiler method, fill a saucepan with a couple inches of water and then place your heat-safe glass bowl or measuring cup (Pyrex works great!)  inside the pot.  Set your stovetop heat to medium and stir constantly.  Usually only takes a few minutes, but make sure everything is completely melted before you move on to the next step.

Microwaving is very similar. Use 50% power and make sure you take it out to stir every 30 seconds.

3)  whisk in 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder, making sure everything is blended and there are no lumps

4)  freeze for 20-30 minutes or refrigerate for 1-2 hours

You want the mixture to start to solidify but not completely harden, a consistency similar to soft wax or softened butter.  It should cool to a temperature of 55-65 degrees.

tip:  no room in the freezer or refrigerator?  In the winter, try covering the mixture and setting it outside to cool.

5)  transfer to a large bowl and whip until soft and fluffy and add your Essential Oils(about 5 minutes)

whip with mixer until stiff enough to hold its shape.

tip:  you’ll need to use a power mixer for this (unless you have super hero arm strength), but either a hand mixer or a stand mixer (like the one in the photo below) will work.

tip:  if you forgot about you mixture and it stayed in the fridge/freezer/backyard for too long, no problem.  Just let your mixture sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes until it’s about 55-65 degrees and the consistency of soft butter, then you’re ready to start whipping.

tip:  If you are having trouble getting it to whip up, you might have to blend a bit and put back in fridge for 20 minutes or so to get cold enough again to get stiff enough.   If the mixture won’t whip or stay whipped, you need to chill it longer.

tip:  If the mixture has lumps in it after you’ve whipped it, let it set to soften a bit and then try again.

tip:  one signal that your whipped body butter is on the right path is that it will change color from  yellow to pale yellow to white (see the photos below)

when you’re done, your whipped body butter should be like this…

white

stand on its own (see how it stays up in peaks on the beater)

light, fluffy, soft, and silky texture

Why Use Those Ingredients?

mango butter

  • smooth and creamy (lighter consistency than even shea butter)

• very moisturing and soothing for the skin– great natural source of fatty acids
• light, subtle scent
• solid at room temperature, but melts at 87-90 degrees, so when you apply it to your skin it melts and absorbs in (exactly what you want in a body butter)

shea butter

• soft, smooth, and creamy
• high in vitamins A and E as well as essential fatty acids
• intense moisturizer for dry skin
• note:  unrefined shea is best, but be careful of which brand you buy.  Many brands of shea butter can have a strong unpleasant smell.  click here for the shea butter I buy.  It’s creamy, moisturizing, and has a nice, subtle scent.  Other brands of shea butter can have a strong, kind of “funny” smell, not this one.  If you’re not a fan of other shea butters, give this one a try.  I think you’ll love it!  I do.

kokum butter

• unlike shea and mango butter, kokum is a hard and flaky.  It’s a dryer butter, meaning it absorbs more quickly into your skin and leaves a dryer, less greasy feeling
• loaded with fatty acids and antioxidants
• supports skins elasticity

cocoa butter

• like kokum butter, cocoa butter is also a hard, brittle butter that adds a rich and creamy texture to this whipped body butter
• emollient and moisturizing
• velvety texture on skin
• delicious cocoa aroma (keep its heavenly chocolate scent in mind when choosing which essential oils to add to your whipped body butter)

coconut oil (solid kind that melts at 76 degrees)

• light oil — so it helps make a light and fluffy whipped body butter
• sinks in quickly to the skin
• but coconut oil is not the best at moisturizing– so I’ve combined it with the other butters and oils in this recipe to create a light, soft, silky, less greasy, AMAZING whipped body butter

sweet almond oil

• one of the gentlest oils
• extremely nourishing, rich in Vitamin D
• excellent emollient known for its ability to soften and recondition the skin

arrowroot powder

• helps to cut down on the greasy feel of the body butter
• adds to the silky texture