How to Make Homemade Peppermint Extract Part of the reason that I decided to grow mint this year was so that I could try making my own peppermint extract. Jesse and I are pretty much obsessed with mint (especially mint plus chocolate) so we go through a lot of mint extract. Even though I buy my extracts through Azure Standard, they’re not exactly cheap, so making my own seemed like a great way to save some money. I finally got down to it last weekend. The extract has only been sitting for a few days so far so I can’t tell you how it came out, but I wanted to share the method now in case anyone else has an abundance of mint just begging to be used for something. How to Make Peppermint Extract I did a quick Google search and found a multitude of recipes, all of which followed the same basic outline. Harvest a bunch of mint leaves from your mint plant. Harvested mint leaves Remove mint leaves from stalks (if applicable) and pack leaves into a measuring cup to determine how much mint you have. Mint leaves ready to be rinsed
DIY Natural Room Scents Don't miss my follow-up post to this one withNATURAL ROOM SCENTS FOR DIY GIFTS & CENTERPIECESCLICK HERE This post was featured in the April 2013 issue of Woman's Day magazine. Here's the thing. I'm married to a man who hates artificial scents of any kind. That goes for air fresheners, candles, perfume, soaps and anything else that is scented. We buy unscented everything. Turns out that King-Man may just be ahead of his time. But, the air in my house gets stale sometimes. There is a simple, all natural, truly lovely solution. Keeping the supply list simple. How to Make Natural Room Scents Fragrant items for naturally scenting your home: citrus -- I've tried other fruits. view whole spices on Amazon: cinnamon sticks, anise stars, allspice, cloves, vanilla beans Five Natural Room Scent RecipesThese are all scents that my nose likes. General procedure: Combine the ingredients in a 2 cup (pint) jar or container, or in a pan on the stove top. view on Amazon: ♦pint jars ♦plastic lids for jars 1.
Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili So, it finally got cold here. Like, I actually had to wear a sweater when I left the house the other day! :o That made me crave chili. Warm, hearty chili… But of course, I needed to try something new. Ever since I discovered how awesome spicy Mexican chorizo and sweet potatoes are together (remember these enchiladas?) Anyway, the combination of spicy chorizo and creamy sweet potatoes didn’t disappoint once again. Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili Total Cost: $8.63 Cost Per Serving: $1.44 Serves: 6 (8 cups total) Ingredients 3 links (3/4 lb.) Instructions Squeeze the chorizo out of its casing and into a large pot. Notes Optional toppings: cheese, tortilla chips, sour cream. Step by Step Photos This is the Mexican chorizo that I used. Squeeze the chorizo out of the casings and into a large pot. While the chorizo is browning, dice the onion and mince the garlic. While the onions and garlic continue to cook, start dicing the sweet potato. I dipped some tortilla strips in it.
126 Super Healthy Snacks (Low Calorie & High Protein) If you’re searching for healthy snacks it’s best to walk briskly past the snack aisle in stores. Many of them will be full of GMOs, preservatives, chemicals, and artificial flavors and sweeteners. This list of snack idea includes foods you can make at home, several in a matter of minutes so you can curb hunger before it gets the better of you. You’re sure to find a few favorites here, and a healthy twist on some old classics. Meaty Roll-Up A Fruit Roll-Up won’t get you too far in terms of satisfying you until it’s time for a full meal, but a Meat Roll-Up gets the job done. You’ll also be avoiding the sugar and chemicals that you’ll find in fruity packaged snacks at the store. What You Need: 2 Turkey slices (or sliced Chicken Breast, or lean Roast Beef) 1 Mini Carrot (or Celery Stalk, or Asparagus Spear) Steps: Roll the meat of your choice around the vegetable of your choice. It’s good to smell the roasted flavor and get good and ready for a snack right when the timer dings. What You Need:
Recipe homemade vanilla-extract | 4Pure Vanilla extract. You come upon it in recipes, mostly American and English recipes , but also increasingly in Dutch recipes. You can get to a supermarket and think you buy it, but it ‘s actually fake, it’s chemical vanilla aroma. If you want the real thing, then you must already be in a special baking store. And you pay a lot for a small bottle. A day on the homestead Today I transplanted outside the seedlings of tomatoes and peppers to their own cup . 4Pure: Roses and crocuses Recipe vanilla-extract Ingredients: bottle of vodka (750 mL);5 vanilla-beans. Preparation Take 50 ml of vodka from the bottle. Tips and tricks: Mint extract is created by taking the vodka and put in 5 sprigs of mint;Cinnamon extract is created by taking the vodka and add 3 cinnamon sticks. 4Pure: recipe vanilla-extract homemade
DIY Naturally Scented All-Purpose Citrus Vinegar Cleaners I've been on a quest to rid our home of toxic chemicals for both health and environmental reasons. Did you know? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be 10 times to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. One of the culprits is common household cleaners emitting toxic fumes. UGH! After my recent post about using fruit, herbs, and spices for making natural home fragrances, it occurred to me that I could use some of those same scent combinations for making natural cleaners with vinegar. These scented cleaners don't completely eliminate the vinegar scent when first sprayed. THESE MAKE COOL, INEXPENSIVE GIFTS. HOW TO MAKE NATURAL CLEANERSwith vinegar, citrus, herbs, and spices Assemble these ingredients: view on Amazon: essential oils, bulk pricing on cinnamon sticks, whole cloves Assemble these supplies: Jars or other sealable containers. view on Amazon:half gallon mason jars, quart mason jars, spray bottles,jar funnel, mason jar lid strainer, wire mesh strainer 1.
13 Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away Want to be notified each time we publish a new blog post? Then make sure you like Natural Living Ideas on Facebook here where we share not only our blog posts, but the best natural living ideas from around the web. I’m sure everyone reading this right now has experienced the redness, the swelling and the uncontrollable itching that comes with a mosquito bite. Many people turn to store bought insect repellents to keep mosquitoes away, but these insect repellents often contain a toxic pesticide that is dangerous to human health. Heavy exposure to DEET has been linked to memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath in humans and is particularly toxic to children. Needless to say, this is a pesticide we do NOT want to be using – especially when there are so many more effective ways to keep mosquitoes away using natural remedies and ingredients. Homemade Citronella Candles Find out how to make these citronella candles here at GardenTherapy.ca
Award Winning Dunkaroo Dip Recipe 10 Delicious Chia Seed Pudding Recipes Despite their minuscule appearance, chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse: They’re packed with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, calcium, fiber and protein. Plus, these small ingredients are simple to make into a pudding because they absorb up to 10 times their weight in water! Not only does this make chis seeds a great starting point for breakfast, a healthy snack, or textured dessert, but it also means that they will help you stay hydrated. Try making one or all of these chia seed pudding recipes — and don’t be afraid to put your own spin on them, too. 10 Must-Try Chia Seed Pudding Recipes 1. RELATED: 9 Easy Overnight Oats Recipes 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. RELATED: 9 Smoothie Bowl Recipes You’ll Want to Eat Every Morning 7. 8. 9. RELATED: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies Recipe 10.
Pure Vanilla! Make Your Own Homemade Vanilla Extract | The Earthy Delights Blog Homemade Vanilla Extract You may not have ever thought about making your own vanilla extract, but it’s incredibly easy to do. Why would you want to make your own vanilla extract? Well, it’s less expensive, for one thing. For a modest investment, you can make enough high-quality vanilla extract to last you for years. For another, you’ll know that it’s 100% real vanilla extract – no artificial ingredients or flavorings. It’s also a very simple process: The only required ingredients in homemade vanilla are alcohol (the drinking kind, not the rubbing kind) and vanilla beans. A Few Words About Vanilla Somehow the term “vanilla” has come to mean simple, plain or ordinary. The aromatic vanilla bean, once reserved for royalty, is among the costliest spices on earth, second only to saffron. The price of vanilla is very volatile, in part because of continued political & social unrest in Madagascar, the major producer of high quality vanilla. “Vanilla” by David McCall Johnston A Little Vanilla History
26 Tips and Tricks To Simplify Life I have been collecting all kinds of clever tips to make life just a little bit more simple. Here are some of my favs! 1. Cord organization tips. I am SO doing this. {link} 2. 10. 19. Simple Lemon water. Want to be eco-friendly but not have to mess with cloth diapers? More From New Nostalgia: How To Make Glow In The Dark Paint How to make an amazing decor for kids rooms ? It’s easy, because Rust-Oleum Specialty Glow In The Dark glows for up to 2 hours. Apply to wood, metal, plaster, masonry or unglazed ceramic. Washes with soap and water.
Backpacking Recipes from Chef Glenn Backpacking Recipes for Supper Dining out tonight? Follow Chef Glenn's backpacking recipes to create healthy, hearty, homemade meals for the trail. These dehydrated meals pack up light and tight and are easy to cook at your campsite using minimal fuel. How to Make Backpacking Meals: Cook a big pot of chili or stew, dehydrate and divide into individual servings.Dehydrate vegetables, meat and beans separately and assemble into meals.Enhance store-bought boxed meals with additional dried meat and vegetables.Create saucy backpacking meals by blending and dehydrating starchy foods like potatoes and beans into bark.Dehydrate tomato sauce for Italian style meals. All of the backpacking recipes linked below are for a single serving. Increase the ingredients proportionally by 1.5 or 2 times if you have a large appetite or you are cooking for two in the same pot. Chili & Stews Beef & Bean Chili Cook a big batch, dehydrate, and divide into meal size portions. Root Bark Stew Ratatouille Tuna Fish Casserole