How to Make Sunflower Potpourri

 I love having fresh flowers in the house when I can.  Once they begin to fade and wilt, I have a hard time throwing them out.  So if thy are especially pretty flowers I will make potpourri out of them. This year, I wanted to see if sunflowers would make a good potpourri. I had a few vases in the house, with some that I had picked from the yard and lane, and I had also gotten a bunch from the grocery store. Once they began to wilt, I  hung them so that their petals would dry in the forward position. Once dry, I arranged them with some other fall flowers, leaves and seed pods, pinecones, spices etc. dripped some extra essential oils on them, and made a lovely fall potpourri.

 This bouquet of flowers came from the grocery store. They came bunched with some eucalyptus leaves and a few other flowers that I thought would be nice to add to the potpourri.

 To make potpourri with Sunflowers, dry your sunflowers by hanging them or propping them in a downward position, so the petals will fall forward. Make sure they are out of traffic zones, because the petals fall of easily until they are dried.

 Gather a variety of  flowers, leaves, pods, spices, pinecones, or what ever you have at your fingertips.  Allow flowers and leaves to dry about a week. 

 Once they are dry, trim the stems off of flowers and leaves.

 Pinecones make a nice filler and base. They add texture, and are a lovely way to hold and distribute essential oils. I begin by placing them on the bottom of my potpourri display.

 Next comes a layering of leaves and various pods and flowers.

 I like to drip and spray the layers with essential oils.

 Top with sunflowers and various spices, then add a last drip or spray of essential oils, and you are finished.

Sunflower Potpourri

Ingredients:

• Dried Sunflowers
• Dried fall flowers
• Dried Eucalyptus, Bay leaves or any other leaves 
• Whole Spices, Pods, such as Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, Anise Stars, and foraged items.
• Pinecones
• Essential Oils, such as Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary, Lavendar, Orange, Tangerine or Lemon, or any combination of these.
• Scissors
• A bowl for display      

Instructions:

1. Dry the Sunflowers, as well as any other flowers you would like to use,  by hanging or propping flowers in a downward position, so that the petals fall in a forward position.  You can tie the stems with twine or string and hang them from a shelf or a rack that is out of the way of household traffic.  Allow them to dry about a week.
2. Gather all of the ingredients, and a nice bowl to display your potpourri.
3. Layer the ingredients, beginning with the Pinecones. 
4. Drip and spray essential oils on ingredients as you layer.
5. End with the Sunflowers, placing them gently on top, to preserve as much of the pretty shape as possible. 
6. Breathe and enjoy!   

 

 Click below for a few other Potpourri Ideas:

 Cinnamon Pinecones

Rose Potpourri

Yeast Free Fresh Tomato Pizza

This yummy "Fresh Tomato" Pizza, takes only ten minutes to make and 15 minutes to bake. It is yeast free, and low in calories, perfect for a healthy last minute lunch or dinner and a wonderful way to enjoy those garden fresh tomatoes before they are gone.  We have enjoyed it with just tomatoes, or loaded up with roasted green chilies, peppers, onions and mushrooms, either way yum!

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups Self Rising Flour (I use King Arthur's)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup Non-Fat Yogurt
• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• Fresh Tomatoes, sliced
• 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
• Garlic Salt
• 6-8 fresh Basil Leaves, sliced or minced
• Roasted Chilies, Sliced Onions, Mushrooms (optional)
• Parmesan Cheese to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  
2. In a medium bowl, stir together self rising flour and salt.
3. Add yogurt until well combined (if dough seems too dry or crumbly, you can add more yogurt if needed).
4. With floured hands, pat dough into a ball and then place onto a cookie sheet or pizza pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
5. Pat or roll out the crust onto the pizza pan, 
6. Drizzle and spread 1 teaspoon of olive oil over dough, and sprinkle with garlic salt.
7. Cover dough with sliced tomatoes.
8. Drizzle remaining olive oil over tomatoes, and sprinkle all with garlic salt.
9. Top with cheese, and bake 14 - 16 minutes, or until dough and cheese are lightly golden brown.
10. Top with Basil and a dash of Parmesan cheese.
11. Enjoy.

Makes 8 Large slices or 16 small
175 calories per large slice

Creamy Confetti Corn with Bacon

I've been craving this recipe for the last few weeks, as the corn has been coming into season, and finally got a chance to make it today. It is so delicious, you're going to want to add this side dish to your next family meal. You can use fresh corn right off the cobb, or frozen corn. I buy Organic Non-GMO, and use fresh peppers and onions from the garden . I love the combination of textures, flavors and colors in this wonderful creamy, slightly crunchy corn dish.

Ingredients:

6 slices Bacon (I use uncured)
4 cups, fresh or 16 ounces frozen Corn
3/4 cup diced Red Onion
3/4 cup diced Red and/or Green Bell Pepper (or if you like things spicy, add some Serranos or Jalepenos)
1 tsp Pepper
1 tsp Salt
1 (4-ounce) package Neufchatel Cream Cheese,
1/3 cup Milk (I used Almond Milk)

2 Greens Onion, minced

Instructions:

1. Cook bacon until crisp.
2.  Remove, drain and cool on paper towel; once cool, chop or crumble and set to the side.
3. Drain bacon grease, leaving one tablespoon in skillet.
4. Add corn, red onion, and peppers to skillet, and saute gently on low heat for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add Neufchatel cheese and milk and stir together until cream cheese is melted and nicely distributed throughout.
6. Add all but 2 tablespoons of bacon bits, and half of the green onions to corn mixture.
7. Stir together, and pour into a serving bowl.
8. Top with remaining bacon bits and green onions.
9. Serve and enjoy.

Serves 8
142 Calories per serving

ENJOY!

One Pot Beef Stroganoff

Don't you love meals that can be made in one pot, and take less than 30 minutes to throw together? Simple, to make, with so little clean up... a perfect meal for a busy day when everyone is tired, but dinner still needs to be made.  I think that is probably why "Hamburger Helper" was so popular when in he 70's and 80's.  This delicious Beef Stroganoff is one of those recipes, and it is also a "Skinny Recipe" that is easy on the waist line,  but so delicious, and satisfying, that your whole family will love it.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 of a large onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, trimmed and finely minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 -8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 lb extra lean ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 16 ounce package bow tie or Rotini Pasta
• 32 oz organic beef or mushroom broth
• 1 cup water
• 2 ounces light cream cheese
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 Tablespoons "better than bullion beef base"
• 3/4 cup nonfat Greek Yogurt
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 green onions, minced or chopped

Instructions:

1. Place butter in a medium stock pot and turn to medium heat. 
2. Add onions, garlic and celery and saute until tender.  
3. Add mushrooms and saute until softened. 
4. Add ground beef or turkey, stir into vegetables and brown lightly. 
5. Add broth, water, cream cheese, onion powder and beef base. 
6. Stir well, and cover. 
7. Bring to boil and simmer approximately 10 minutes, or until pasta is "al dente" done. 
8. Remove from heat and add Greek Yogurt. 
9. Stir until well distributed. 
10. Add salt and pepper to taste. 
11. Garnish with minced or chopped green onion.
12.  Enjoy!

Makes about 13 "1 cup" servings
223 calories per serving

Summer Zucchini Pie

What is creamy, cheesy, crunchy, healthy and comfort foody, made with fresh Zucchini, basil, garlic and onion? The answer is, this delicious Summer Zucchini Pie.

 Its that time of year again; Zucchini is coming out of the garden in abundance, and I am trying to use it up as quickly as the garden spits it out.  I always like to have all of my garden vegetable recipes at hand this time of year, to stay on top of all of those wonderful, fresh, veggies.

This is a recipe that I have made over and over this summer; it is so delicious, and easy to throw together, and works nicely as a main dish or side dish. It is also low in calorie, but a very satisfying  comfort food;  You can eat healthy, but have your comfort food and eat it too right?

Slice the Zucchini moderately thin.

Layer it in the bottom of a prepared dish.

Top with thinly sliced onion.

Sprinkle with half of the cheese.

Repeat all three layers.

Pour egg mixture evenly over the top.

Sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Drizzle with butter.

Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.

Cool 5- 10 minutes and slice into servings.

Serves 8

Yum.

Approximately 188 calories per slice.

Summer Zucchini Pie
2 large Zucchini sliced thin
1 large onion sliced thin
2-3 cloves garlic 
2 cups grated cheese (Mozerella, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan or any combination of these I've been using Trader Jo's light cheeses, to keep the calories low)
3 eggs 
3/4 cup milk of choice (I use almond milk)
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 - 2 cups fresh bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter
6-7 Fresh Basil leaves or 1 tsp dried
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Prepare a 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Slice Zucchini and onion and set to the side.
4. Place eggs, milk, garlic, basil, salt and pepper into a blender and blend together, then set to the side.
5. Layer as follows: Zucchini, onion, cheese, Zucchini, onion cheese.
6. Pour egg mixture evenly over all.
7. Sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over top.
8. Drizzle with butter. 
9. Bake at 350 for 50 -60 minutes, until top is lightly browned and pie is set. 
10. Slice, serve and enjoy

 Serves 8
Approx 188 calories per slice.

How to Host an Essential Oil Roller Bottle Party

 Essential oil roller bottles are the  perfect way to create recipes and remedies that are natural, uplifting and healing, all in one easy to apply little bottle.

Recently I have learned how much fun it is to host an essential oil roller bottle party, and have hosted a few, with great success and enjoyment all around. I don't know what it is that is so much fun about dripping wonderful smelling concoctions of various essential oils into bottles, with  daughters, girlfriends, food and drink, but I love it. 
 

Hosting a Roller Bottle Party is a wonderful way to share, teach, learn and enjoy  all the benefits of essential oils with friends, and will allow each person to take home a roller bottle or two of their own creation. It is the best of fun to make these amazing and beautiful little jewels of healing, together in a wonderful atmosphere of friendship.
And I might add, that making Roller Bottles is a great activity to add to any party, such as a birthday party, wedding shower, craft day, luncheon, or just a "stand alone" Essential Oils Roller Bottle Party, I promise, it'll be a hit.

 If you want to make a roller bottle, I put together an essential oil roller bottle guide in a previous post, which you can read here, as well as some of my favorite recipes in another post, here; feel free to check them out.
 
If you're thinking about hosting an Essential Oil Roller Bottle Party, read on for a few ideas.

Some tips to plan your roller bottle party:

• Be prepared to supply enough essential oils, bottles and supplies for each person to create a roller bottle.
  

• Give yourself enough time to order supplies, allowing  time for their specific shipping. I order my bottles, labels and any other supplies from Amazon and Etsy, all of which have varied times of delivery.  (I don't have any affiliates with any of these, except with the Young Living, but I highlighted some Amazon links just to make it easier to find some of the items). Young Living Oils take approximately a week, so is best to check and plan accordingly. 

• Send invitations.  Phone call or mail works fine, or create a group event on social media platforms; ask for an RSVP, so you can know how many to plan for.

• Decide on a dollar amount needed to create each roller bottle, and mention it in the invitation.  I set a small price to cover my expenses of bottles and oils, but you could ask anywhere from $5.00 to $15.00 dollars, depending on your cost.

What you will need:

1. A Good Variety of Essential Oils:  Try to offer a nice variety of Essential Oils that are well known favorites, and also what you know will be needed for many of the recipes you will be providing. I buy my essential oils from Young Living , because of the quality of their oils and their "seed to seal" commitment. You can find them through my shop on the link above, or under my header if you're interested in them.
2. A Good Quality Carrier Oil or Message Oil: Such as Fractionated Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil or  Grape Seed Oil .  Young Living also makes an excellent message oil with a combination of high quality oils. 
3. Empty Roller Bottles: Most of mine come from Amazon I usually order the 10 ml size, but have also order the little half sizes, to give as gifts.
   
4. Small funnels or droppers: these are optional for the oils, because most oils have a drip top, allowing good control, but when pouring the carrier oil into the bottle, you will want either a pump top on the bottle, a funnel or a dropper to give you better control when adding to the roller bottle. Many of the roller bottles come with droppers.
5. Labels: Write in lables or Pre-printed 
6. Recipes:You can either print off multiple copies of each recipe for each person to take and keep, or provide blank recipe cards and recipes, and allow each person to copy the recipes they choose.
7. Recipe Cards and Pens: For writing down recipes, as mentioned above.

More Options:

1. Organic Dried Flowers, Small Gemstones, or Tiny Seashells: to add some loveliness to your roller bottles with tiny naturals.
   
2. A Carrier to place bottles in while loading with oils: this prevents toppling bottles and wasting oil; believe me, it breaks your heart when you do it, and I have.  Many of the roller bottles come in a sponge type block, and you can reuse these when you are loading  your bottles with oils, another good idea is a lipstick holder such as what you use to organize cosmetics.
3. Refreshments: Coffee and tea, with cookies or snacks, are always so nice to offer. Having a brunch, lunch or light meal with Roller Bottle Party to follow is great fun as well. 

Supply a variety of essential oils, labels, roller bottles and lids;

These are some of the roller bottles and lids that I provided at my recent roller bottle party.

I ordered organic rosebuds and flower buds, petals and gemstone chips from Amazon. These are optional of course, but they add such a pretty dimension to the roller bottle, and they also have their own therapeutic components which may leach into the oils.

Before the party begins, prepare by setting up a work table with elbow room for everyone. Set out your oils so that they are visible and accessible for anyone at the table to grab. Putting the top labels on the lids will help. I  also grouped the oils into categories  to help even further. Here were some of the ways I categorized them:

• Flower oils (lavender, geranium, rose, chamomile, etc)
• Citrus oils (lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime, etc)
• Spice oils  (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove etc)
• Woodsy oils (cedarwood, spruce, sandalwood, etc)
• Herbal oils  (Oregano, Basil Thyme, Rosemary, etc)
• Raindrop oils 
• Immune support oils

I printed out copies of my own essential oils guide, with some recipes for each girlfriend, and also provided recipe cards for them to write down recipes that I provided, or for them to create their own recipe.

I cut up the packaging bases that the roller bottles arrive in, and now I have plenty of bottle holders for everyone to use while creating their roller bottles.

Providing recipes is important, but it is also fun to allow everyone to create their own recipes. I provided an essential oil guide that shows what oils can be used for what ever symptoms someone might have, and from that chart, they were able to create a recipe themselves.

Click here for the DIY Essential Oils Roller Bottle Guide

Click here for 10 of my favorite Essential Oil Roller Bottle Recipes

Don't you love how pretty those petals look in there? More on
 "how to" in the  Roller Bottle Guide.

Have Fun