whole foods

Updated Muffin Recipe

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Gluten-free Dairy-free muffins

Fall hasn’t truly set in here but the urge to spend more time in the kitchen has shown up on time anyway. We didn’t need muffins in the house, especially now that we are down to two, but muffin baking beckoned regardless. My original vegan take on Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free recipe for blueberry muffins can be found here, but it never quite right to me. Yesterday, instead of looking at what I’d done before, I started from scratch with Bob’s recipe and modified it anew, but this time I used eggs instead of an egg replacer. If you want these to be vegan, just use your favorite egg replacement. (Mine is simply to use 1 tablespoon of flax seed meal with 3 tablespoons of warm water per egg.) As last time, my recipe does not include any berries because my son prefers baked goods without berries, but 1.5 cups of blueberries can be added, or if you have raspberries, those would be especially good with the vanilla and cinnamon. These muffins are great without any berries though and taste almost like a biscuit, but not quite. (I think the 2 teaspoons of baking powder are also what give it a biscuit-y taste.)

This recipe that I manipulate is right on the back of Bob’s Red Mill’s Gluten-free One-to-One flour which is my favorite gf flour for baked goods. It’s easy to use and it saves me from buying a handful of different flours to mix and match trying to find the perfect blend. The other main thing I do with this recipe is to reduce the sugar by quite a bit, and to use both cane sugar and brown sugar. This might be why my muffins end up tasting somewhat like a biscuit instead of just a pure muffin, but they are still tasty as can be. Whenever I make these, I go ahead and double the ingredients to make 24 muffins, but the following is for 12 regular-sized ones.

Vanilla-Cinnamon Gluten-free, Dairy-free Muffins

(I am affiliated with Mountain Rose Herbs but not with any of the other pages I have linked to.0

2 Cups Bob’s Red Mill GF 1-to-1 Baking Flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup vegan butter

1/2 cup cane sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract (here’s how to make your own!)

2 eggs

1/2 Nutpod French Vanilla Oat Creamer

1.5 cups of optional ingredients such as blueberries, raspberries, or even chocolate chips

Start by preheating oven to 425 degrees and prepping your muffin pan with either paper liners or spray oil. Add the dry ingredients (besides the sugar) together in a bowl and stir. Cream the sugar and softened vegan butter together with a hand mixer. Add the vanilla and mix again. Add the eggs and mix, then add the dry ingredients a bit at a time while mixing, rotating with adding the half cup of oat creamer. At this time, you can add in any other ingredients that you want, such as 1.5 cups berries or chocolate chips, but they taste great just plain. It’s a very thick batter, not runny at all. Scoop the batter into a prepared muffin pan for 12 normal sized muffins. Put the pan in the oven and immediately turn down the temperature to 375 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes, then let them cool on a cooling rack for at least five minutes before digging in.

Gluten-free, Dairy-free Muffins that you can add berries to if you like or eat plain like we do

I hope the call to the kitchen continues and I get back to soup making soon, but where I live has a tiny kitchen compared to my old place which makes it a little less inviting. I shouldn’t complain, and I’m not because honestly, I love where I live and think it’s far better than my old place for many reasons, but cooking just hasn’t been the joy it once was lately. I’m finding joy in other things though, and I hope you too are indulging in joys every day.

Happy fall y’all! 🍂 (And happy spring to those in the southern hemisphere🌷).

Easy Homemade Hostess Gift: Vanilla Extract

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I have another post on making Vanilla extract if you like to read more than watch, but even so this quick video will show you how to pick out the right vanilla beans. You can often find these in bulk bins at natural foods stores such as Whole Foods, or they might be sold in the spice aisle in ones or twos in a glass jar or plastic bag. To be certain you aren’t buying old beans, make sure they are the texture in the video.

The basic recipe is at least 4 Vanilla beans per cup of alcohol. For the alcohol, vodka, rum, brandy, or bourbon will work, but I always use vodka because I use my extracts in perfume making and vodka imparts the least amount of scent. Let it sit at least 6 weeks but really 10-14 weeks will be better, and the longer it extracts the more the vanilla scent/flavor will develop. Be sure to shake the container each day for the first week, then at least every other day after that, and you want the alcohol to completely cover the vanilla pods so if they want to stick up out of the liquid, use a wooden chopstick to push them back down.

As far as making holiday gifts goes, this is about as easy as it gets. Put the finished extract in a pretty glass jar and it doesn’t even need to be finished~ just keep the vanilla beans in there and let the recipient know they can take them out in a month or however much longer they need. For real vanilla lovers, you could give them vanilla oil too for body and/or baths. Vanilla is a luxurious product in any form as the pods are the second most expensive herb (after saffron) and have a long history known as an aphrodisiac, so these herbal crafts also make a superb Valentine’s gifts! Keep that in mind if you start your extract too late to gift for the holidays and don’t want to give unfinished extracts.

May your November be full of gratitude and your holidays be full of peace. Every year I make an effort to not get caught up in the frenetic pace and overwhelm of the holidays and this year is no different. So far I have not made it through an entire holiday season without the stress seeping in, but I’m holding out hope that this year I can stay centered. Be well!

How to Make Vanilla Extract

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This is one of those things that’s so easy to make yourself that you’ll wonder why you never did it before. It’s basically the exact same thing as making an herbal tincture although you don’t need to pack it so tightly with the vanilla beans, and you might want to let it cure a bit longer than the average tincture.

Bulk Bin
Prepackaged

All you need are a few vanilla beans which you can buy in grocery store bulk bins, online, or packaged in jars or bags like above in a spice aisle, alcohol such as vodka, rum, bourbon, or brandy, a jar and time.

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I chose vodka because I want to use this extract in my DIY natural perfumes as well as in baking, and vodka has the most neutral scent. I’ll definitely be using the extract in the waffles that I make all the time, and these zucchini muffins too, so it’ll be versatile and well used with the vodka. As with all things herbal, there are plenty of variations with which to experiment, but basically you want at least 4 vanilla beans per cup of alcohol. First split the vanilla beans down the middle lengthwise with a sharp knife.

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It’s hard to tell, but the bean closest to the knife has a long slice down the middle. Next, put the beans in a clean glass jar, then pour the alcohol over them, making sure they are completely submerged.

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Cap the jar or bottle tightly, then shake it daily (or at least every other day after the first week) for at least four weeks.

Day 1
Day 1 with label
Four weeks

At this point the vanilla extract can be used, but you will probably still smell the alcohol, so it depends on whether you are baking with it or using it in a non-heated recipe like frosting if you taste just vanilla or the alcohol as well. (The heat in baking and cooking will get rid of the alcohol taste/scent.) After two to three months, the vanilla extract should smell only of pure, rich vanilla. That means, if you want to make holiday gifts of homemade vanilla extract, you will want to get this started by early October. (Yup, already thinking along those lines!) Also, the more beans you originally put into the mixture, the more vanilla-y it will be, so keep that in mind. You want at least four per cup, but you can definitely add more than that. Vanilla beans are the second most expensive spice, after saffron, due to the delicate harvesting and curing of the beans, so sticking with four per cup is perfectly fine.

You don’t have to ever take the beans out actually, though if you are giving some of yours as a gift, taking out the old beans and adding a fresh one to the container looks lovely and continues to add depth and richness to the extract. (You don’t even need to cut it down the middle at that point.) Vanilla extract lasts indefinitely if stored in a lidded container in a relatively cool, dark place.

Enjoy, and if you love making your own herbal concoctions, check out my latest course on the Art and Craft of Herbalism. Take care and enjoy the transition to cooler days, crisper nights, and crunchier walks. Please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share this with anyone who might be interested.

Toner DIY with Infused Ingredients

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Toner is used to balance the skin’s pH after cleansing, and it can be made from a multitude of natural ingredients, which makes it especially easy to blend your own at home. You can even just simply use a hydrosol as a toner, or witch hazel, or even just make green tea, let it cool, then bottle it and spray it on your face/body. (That green tea toner needs to be kept in the fridge and should be used within three days.) I like making toners that have more ingredients in them because I enjoy getting as many benefits out of my products as possible, and infusing those ingredients with herbs makes them even more nutrient dense and beneficial. My first toner recipe is very similar to the one below, but this time I first infused vegetable glycerin (also spelled glycerine) with rose buds to get all those wonderful rosy healing attributes as well as the gorgeous color and scent. You certainly don’t have to do this, but adding glycerin to your toners or other products makes them more emollient and protective because it brings the moisture from the air into your skin and adds a protective layer to the skin as well. Food grade glycerin can be taken internally as well, and makes for a kid-friendly extract because it’s sweet and alcohol free. Aloe is a firming agent and can be used alone as a mask on your face for quick toning and firming action. Witch Hazel is astringent and pH balancing and can also be infused with herbs. I used Geranium essential oil because it is good for all kinds of skin, and Carrot Seed essential oil for the vitamin A. I added a drop of Turkish Rose essential oil to complement the rose infused glycerin. Use whatever essential oils you like best, no more than 10 drops in 4 oz. of liquid though, and less than that if your skin is sensitive. This actually smelled quite nice without the essential oils but I like the therapeutic effects of the ones I added, but do start with smaller amounts if you are new to making your own skin care.

Recipe for Rose infused Glycerin:

Fill a jar 1/2 to 3/4 full with rose petals or whatever herb you are using. If using buds like I did, bruise and chop them up a bit first.

Add a mixture of vegetable glycerine and distilled water in a proportion of 1/4 distilled water to 3/4 glycerin. If you are using fresh herbs, no distilled water is needed.

Make sure the herbs are covered completely, shake them up daily for two weeks, then strain. Glycerin is ready to use.

The rose buds I used went from dark pink to white in about 24 hours. I was so surprised! Keep both the marinating product and finished product out of heat and light.

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Toner:

4 oz. Bottle (dark glass preferable)

1/4 C Witch Hazel

1/8 C Aloe Vera gel 

1 teaspoon rose infused glycerin (or plain glycerin)

Distilled water (enough to almost fill the bottle, just leave room for the essential oils if using)

1-2 drops Turkish Rose essential oil

4 drops Geranium essential oil

4 drops Carrot Seed essential oil

Put the first four ingredients in a dark glass bottle and shake it up. Add the essential oils (if using) and roll the bottle in your hands to blend. Shake before using.

Be sure to label your bottle and write down your recipe.

Making your own toner is a great place to start with DIYing your natural beauty regimen because it can be as effortless as one ingredient, and it’s hard to go wrong. Start simple and add ingredients as you figure out what works best for your skin and your sense of smell. Most of all, have fun creating, and please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share with anyone who might benefit from this article.

 

Chakra Balancing Essential Oil Set

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Yogis, healers, Reiki masters, and those who meditate agree, chakras are the keys to our body’s health on all different levels. Actually, they might be better described as keyholes, and essential oils are the keys to opening blocked ones and balancing out others. If you feel unbalanced or stuck in some area of your life, it just might be worth it to look into what chakra that stuck pattern might fall under, and administer some healing. Self-care is as simple as taking a moment to put essential oils around your chakras which will show intention of healing, and the essential oils will do their part in opening and balancing out the chakras deep through the body and in the aura.

There are fabulous articles on chakras out there, including this one which is intended for beginners. I’ve been reading up on using essential oils specifically for certain chakras for a while now with the intent of making a complete set and thought I’d share the process here. It’d make a fabulous gift for anyone who meditates or does yoga or Reiki, or is just interested in optimal health and well-being, or perhaps someone who obviously needs a bit of balance in an area (or two or seven) in his/her life.

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All you need are seven bottles, essential oils that correspond to the different chakras, a base oil or two, labels of some sort and of course a notebook to write down what you have concocted. I personally like the idea of presenting these in a lovely box so they are kept together safely and in a dark place. Above are some of my ingredients, but not all of them. If you don’t feel like you have a range of essential oils, don’t worry, I’ve actually read that in a pinch, lavender works to open and balance all the chakras, and if someone only has one essential oil in their possession, it’s most likely lavender, am I right?

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For the base I’m using sweet almond and jojoba oil combined. The base oil goes into the little bottles first, filling them up most of the way, but leaving room for the essential oils. For this size bottle (.33 oz), plan for 4-6 drops essential oil. (A little goes a long way!) Ideally, reuse your old bottles, or find new ones here, then reuse them.

InstagramCapture_0d7cf70b-5d22-4e4a-a917-e2e4f3a1fea4[1]That’s my son’s little finger helping there. He helped me out the day I made these~ you’ll see more of his fingers later.

Adding the essential oils to the base oil is the fun part! I have saved several charts on my pinterest page dedicated to pairing chakras and essential oils but I encourage you to get creative, use your intuition, use the many resources online, or you can just use my combinations below:

Root Chakra: 3 drops Frankincense and 3 drops Cedarwood

Sacral Chakra: 2 drops each Jasmine (absolute), Bergamot, and Sandalwood (absolute)

Solar Plexus: 2 drops each Frankincense, Rosemary, and Basil

Heart: 2 drops each Rose (absolute), Neroli (absolute), and Geranium

Throat: 2 drops each Jasmine (absolute), Clary Sage, and Sandalwood (absolute)

Third Eye: 5 drops of Lavender

Crown Chakra: 2 drops each of Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, and Clary Sage

In the above I’ve linked to absolutes instead of the pure essential oil in cases where the pure oil is very expensive. If you prefer not to use absolutes (which means the essential oil is already blended with a base oil, such as jojoba), then by all means, use the pure essential oil. If you can’t find them on amazon, try Mountain Rose Herbs. Aura Cacia and Mountain Rose Herbs are both reputable brands and their sites are worth checking out for recipes and information regarding their products.

Be sure to label them right away and don’t forget to mix them by rolling them back and forth in your hands. There are my youngest son’s fingers again! InstagramCapture_cfd82edb-914f-4b56-b6f8-b2d849a9346d[1]

Great times to use these oils include right before meditating, yoga, or when feeling ‘off’ in any way. They can be used one at a time or all at once. You just need a couple of drops to rub in a clockwise circle where the corresponding chakra is. If you are unsure on where the chakras are there are many images online. Here is one, but a simple search will turn up many more. The root oil can be added to your feet instead of trying to find that chakra since the important part for the root is to be grounded anyway. The others are fairly straightforward and easy to access.

Another idea for gift giving, since we are rapidly approaching that time of year, is to add a stone dedicated to each chakra along with the oils. Or if you know someone who is working on a certain chakra, such as the heart due to heartbreak or heart health problems, then make a larger bottle of just that particular chakra oil along with a dedicated crystal or two. To find out which stones go along with which chakras, I’ve posted some on my pinterest board.

I’ll be using these myself, but if I were to give them as a gift I’d put some pretty material in the box to keep the glass bottles safe, and maybe some  instructions for use, depending on the person.

Poor Bailey thinks these are for her. Sorry B, you can sniff but you can’t touch.

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This an updated piece on making your essential oil chakra set for yourself or to gift someone. I originally wrote this for MindBodyGreen.com and also posted it on my first blog. This version includes basic editing plus links to my pinterest boards with saved pins on essential oils, crystals/stones, and the chakras they correspond with. I’ve also included links to ingredients for easy shopping. For more info on that, check out my affiliation policy.  Happy creating and healing! 

Please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share this with anyone who might be interested.