Essential Oils Work!

For all of you scientifically minded people out there, like me, this is a really amazing graphic showing papers soaked with 3 of Young Living's essential oils and bacterial growth after one week as compared to hand sanitizer.  The results speak for themselves!

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Crustless Sausage and Veggie Pizza

If you're allergic to tomatoes and gluten (wheat) like me, it

can be really hard to satisfy your craving for a good pizza. I love making traditional pizza with gluten free frozen pizza crusts but some of them do NOT taste so great. This is a great recipe that is super easy but also cuts down on calories since there is no crust.  It's also great for those people who are eating low-carb.  It's very loosey-goosey as my mother always says.  You can use whatever leftover meat and veggies you have in the fridge. It's the olive oil, garlic and Italian seasonings that really make it taste like pizza.

First, brown your favorite ground meat - I love to use turkey sausage but it works the same for any ground or shredded meat - like chicken or pork! Add 2 tsp of olive oil (or oil of your choice) to the bottom of the pan. I also like to add a clove of minced garlic and a chopped onion to the meat while it is cooking. Crumble the meat as it cooks until it gets "browned" like the picture above.  (When I took this picture it didn't have the garlic or onions added).  I then add Italian seasoning (or oregano, basil, and thyme), salt and pepper to taste.

While the meat is browning, slice and/or dice up the veggies of your choice and add them to a 9 x 9 square pan.  (You could also use a round one, it doesn't make any difference.)  I normally like to dice the veggies but this time I didn't. I used red pepper, zucchini, and asparagus. The oil from the meat will be enough to keep it from sticking to the sides of the pan.  If you're worried there isn't enough, then spray the pan with cooking spray.  Add the ground meat on top of the vegetables, then cover with shredded mozzarella.  Pop it in the oven at 350 degrees until it's melted and bubbly and viola dinner is served!

Ingredients Needed:

Salt, pepper and Italian seasoning to taste

1 lb. ground or shredded meat 

• turkey sausage, sausage, turkey, chicken, or beef

1 onion

1-2 garlic cloves

4-8 oz. shredded mozzarella

2 cups veggies of your choice cut or diced

• I've used carrots, sweet peppers, zucchini, squash, broccoli, cauliflower but really any will work.

Foot Reflexology and Essential Oil Application

This graphic is one of the best I've seen on foot reflexology to use with essential oil application.  I like to use Lavender essential oil on the arch of my feet before bed.  The arch of the foot is one of the most absorbent places on your body. This not only helps me fall asleep within 10 minutes but it is also calming to many of my body's systems.  Apply lavender to the various spots indicated on the chart to soothe these organ systems or pump some unscented lotion/massage oil into your palm and add 1-2 drops of lavender, mix then apply to the whole foot.  

13 Ways to Make Hummus

I just LOVE hummus!  This is such a great graphic or cheat sheet from Shape Magazine  on variations for making hummus.

Click Here to be redirected to the 

originalSelf Magazine article

Migraine Trigger Foods

This is a comprehensive list of the most common migraine trigger foods.  Not everyone is sensitive to everything on the list, but this list is a good place to start investigating which ones you are sensitive to.

Aged cheeses (cheddar, blue, brie, hard and moldy)

Alcohol

Apple juice and cider

Artificial sweeteners - Aspartame, Sucralose

Avocados

Bacon

Balsamic vinegar

Beans - string, navy, kidney, lima

Beer

Caffeine - although used to enhance some pain medicines, too much caffeine will trigger a migraine

Chili peppers - sometimes used in research to trigger migraines

Chocolate

Chocolate

Chocolate

Citrus fruits Aged cheeses (cheddar, blue, brie, hard and moldy) Alcohol Apple juice and cider Artificial sweeteners - Aspartame, Sucralose Avocados Bacon Balsamic vinegar Beans - string, navy, kidney, lima Beer Caffeine - although used to enhance some pain medicines, too much caffeine will trigger a migraine Chili peppers - sometimes used in research to trigger migraines Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Citrus fruits Cocoa Coffee Corned beef Cured meats Cured, smoked, pickled, canned foods Deli meat Dried fruit - prunes, figs, apricots Ham Hot dogs Hydrolyzed or autolyzed yeast Hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP) Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) Jerky Kombu extract (often used in Japanese foods) Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Nitrates Nitrites Nuts Olives Overripe bananas Pepperoni Phenylethylamine Pickled foods Pork Processed meats Red plums Red skinned apples and pears Red vinegar Red wine Red wine Salami Sausages Sausages Sherry Sodium caseinate Soy based foods Sulfite containing foods Tannin containing foods Tea Tyramine containing foods Vermouth Yeast breads Yeast extract

Cocoa

Coffee

Corned beef

Cured meats

Cured, smoked, pickled, canned foods

Deli meat

Dried fruit - prunes, figs, apricots

Ham

Hot dogs

Hydrolyzed or autolyzed yeast

Hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP)

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)

Jerky

Kombu extract (often used in Japanese foods)

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Nitrates

Nitrites

Nuts

Olives

Overripe bananas

Pepperoni

Phenylethylamine

Pickled foods

Pork

Processed meats

Red plums

Red skinned apples and pears

Red vinegar

Red wine

Red wine

Salami

Sausages

Sausages

Sherry

Sodium caseinate

Soy based foods

Sulfite containing foods

Tannin containing foods

Tea

Tyramine containing foods

Vermouth

Yeast breads

Yeast extract

Sneaky Migraine Triggers by Yahoo Health

This clip has some great suggestions that were all true in my case.  One of the best things I did to help reduce my migraines was to stop eating foods that I was allergic or had a sensitivity to.

Click Here to View Clip

Magnesium and Migraine Prevention

Migraine headaches have been linked to having low magnesium counts.  I love Shaklee's supplements because of their purity and lack of synthetics in their products.  I have had success adding VitalMag to my supplement regimen to help prevent migraine, cluster and tension headaches. Please contact me for information on ordering.

Yahoo Health Clip Suggesting Taking 400mg of Magnesium Daily to Prevent Migraines

Sustained Release VitalMag®

Peppermint Essential Oil - A must have for migraine/headache relief.

Peppermint is one of my all time favorite essential oils.  I use it almost daily to help with migraine and tension headache relief.  (I have been fighting migraine, cluster and tension headaches for over 26 years.)  I also use it to help settle my stomach when I have nausea or an upset stomach.


Peppermint -  "is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for supporting normal digestion, including promoting healthy intestinal function and gastrointestinal system comfort.*" 







Add one drop of it to the site of migraine/headache pain and massage in (which for me is usually above my left eye on my forehead and sometimes my temples). Make sure not to get it too close to your eyes, as it will irritate them. Since I am applying it so close to my eyes, I have to close them for about 5-10 minutes or they water quite a bit.  At that point, I typically have light sensitivity anyway so closing my eyes is a relief. If I apply it across the top of my forehead though, my eyes don't water.  Sometimes, I get a "cluster migraine" and my pain is at the top of my head near the crown (it feels like an ice pick being driven into your head).  I have applied the peppermint oil there as well with much success. The application all depends on where the site of your pain is. Shortly thereafter you will begin to feel a soothing cool tingling sensation as it begins to work.

Also, add 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil to hot water to make a stomach soothing drink.  I get a lot of nausea with my migraines and this really helps settle my stomach.  Plus, I always find it relaxing to sip something warm. Make sure to use a glass or ceramic mug.  Essential oils do not react well with Styrofoam or plastic.  I do not like to use plastic anything since it has been linked to potentially causing breast cancer.

Easy Gluten Free Fried Chichen

My kids really love this one.  My son said it's better than a local fast food chicken restaurant!

• Chicken pieces or sliced chicken breast
• Vegetable Oil (enough to fill the pan 1/4 way up)
• 3 Eggs
• 1 cup Gluten Free Flour Blend
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Pour the vegetable oil into a frying pan and put it on medium/high heat.  Don't get it too hot or it will splatter everywhere and scorch. Yuk!  Then in a shallow dish add the eggs and beat until fully combined.  In another shallow dish mix the Gluten Free Flour Blend salt and pepper.  You could also add garlic power and onion powder if desired.  Roll one chicken piece at a time in the eggs, then in the flour mixture.  Add to pan when the oil is hot.  Repeat for the rest of the chicken.  Cook until golden brown on the outside and "white" on the inside.  That's it.  The picture above features the Sauteed Garlic Brussels Sprouts and Stir Fry Summer Veggies.

Sauteed Garlic Brussels Sprouts

This is one of my go-to recipes for both family dinners and when we have friends over.  It is a variation of a recipe I got from friend's of ours.  (Thanks Kelly & Jason!)  It is super simple and tastes delicious! 

1 bag fresh Brussels Sprouts
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1-2 cloves Garlic, minced
Salt and Pepper to taste

Wash, pat dry and trim the Brussels Sprouts, then cut them in half.  If you leave a little extra room when cutting off the stem, they are less likely to fall apart when cooking.  Pour the Olive Oil in a frying pan, then add the minced garlic before turning on the heat.  If you add the garlic to the olive oil before it is hot and let it gradually heat up, it is less likely to scorch so you don't accidentally have to start over!  After the garlic starts to brown, add the Brussels Sprouts then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.  Let them brown on one side before turning them over.  The less you flip them, the less likely they are to start coming apart.  Cook until they just start to turn soft.  Serve and enjoy!  The picture below also features the Easy Gluten Free Fried Chicken and Stir Fry Summer Veggies.

My Trick To Freezing Chili & Soup!

I wanted to share my trick to freezing the extra soup from all of the recipes I've been posting lately. This trick will allow you to make large batches of soup or other meals and freeze them in individualized portions to pull out for a quick meal or take to work for lunch.  A bonus for taking the frozen jar in your lunch is you then don't need a freezer pack to keep your lunch cold.  Your frozen jar will keep your food cold way past lunch time!  (I have forgotten I'd brought my lunch to work until I went home and the jar was still frozen.)

FoodSaver makes an attachment to utilize wide mouth Mason jars used for canning with their product to remove the air and seal the Mason jars.  This does not replace canning as you cannot store the food without refrigeration or freezing.  However, this process will allow you to freeze the contents of the Mason jar for much longer periods of time and avoid freezer burn.  I have frozen soup for over a year in my deep freezer and it comes out just as delicious as when I froze it.  After the initial investment of the FoodSaver, this is a very inexpensive way to keep your food fresh.  The FoodSaver is around $100 depending on where you buy it and which one you choose and the attachment is $9.99.  I bought the most basic unit over 5 years ago and it still works great!  The Mason jars are then super cheap (around $9 for a dozen) and the lids too (around $2 for a dozen).  When you first buy the Mason jars, they come with lids and rings.  The jars and rings are reusable but the lids are one time use with the FoodSaver.   Here's what you will need:


16 oz. Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Lids and Rings
Wide Mouth Funnel
FoodSaver with Mason Jar Attachment

Wash all parts before use.  Each Mason jar will hold approximately 2 cups and still allow enough space for the contents to expand when frozen.  Using a ladle (I like to use a 1 cup measuring cup) and funnel, fill each large mouth Mason jar with 2 cups of soup.  Wipe down the sides of mason jars if there were any drips.  Using a permanent marker, label the lids with the date you are freezing and the contents.  Place the Lid on the top of the first mason jar and cover with the FoodSaver mason jar attachment.  Make sure to push the attachment all the way down onto the jar or it won't seal.  Connect the hose from the Foodsaver unit to the Foodsaver mason jar attachment, then press the "container" button on the Foodsaver to seal the mason jar.  Screw the ring on the sealed Mason jar and freeze. Repeat for all the jars you want to freeze.  It's that easy.

Stir Fry Summer Veggies

This is a super easy recipe perfect for this time of year!  Produce from farmer's markets/stands is very abundant. All I did is put about a Tablespoon of olive oil into the bottom of the pan and add a couple of cloves of minced garlic. Then heat your pan to medium heat to brown the garlic.  As soon as the garlic is ready, add the rest of the veggies.  I used zucchini, onion, and mushrooms because that's what I had at the time. However, this is great with any veggies you have on hand!  Saute them until they are just turning soft and that's it.  Dinner is served.  Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Cheesy Potato Soup

This recipe is the same as my other recipe called Cheesy Potato Soup but a lot easier! 

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Butter
3 cups Onion, diced
8 Potatoes, diced
9 cups Chicken broth
3 cups fat-free Half & Half
4 1/4 cups Cheddar, shredded
1 1/2 teaspoon Dill Weed
1 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon Salt

First, cut the onions into quarters and remove the skin.  Then pop them into a Ninja blender/food processor and dice them.  Add the butter to the bottom of a large stock pot and cook them until they are soft and translucent. 





While the onions are cooking, cut the potatoes into 4 pieces give or take depending on how large they are.  Leave the skin on.  Then toss those into the Ninja blender/food processor and dice them too. You may have to readjust the potato chunks as sometimes they are too big.  


Add the potatoes to the onions then add everything but the shredded cheddar.  Simmer everything until soft.  Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth.  Add the cheese and half and half then stir until melted.  Serve right away.  Enjoy!

This recipe makes a ton of soup.  I like to make large batches of soup so there is lots left over to freeze.  See My Trick to Freezing Soup for more information.  The recipe can easily be halved if you don't want to end up with so much.

Essential Oil Homemade Night Cream with Frankincense, Lavender and Lemon

This is the easiest, most economical way to make your own night cream using essential oils. Not only does this oil smell amazing but I have found that it makes my skin softer than anything else I've used (which is a lot!).  It is also helping to reduce fine lines and dark circles.  In short, it is amazing and you won't be disappointed!


I only recommend Young Living's essential oils because they are "100% pure essential oils backed by our Seed to Seal® promise."*  All of the oils are therapeutic grade and many of them can be beneficial when ingested, and used in cooking.  Please see the Product Guide for more information on which oils can be taken internally vs. externally.  All of the oils can be beneficial when diffused and of course they make your house smell great!

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons Organic Coconut oil

• 1 Teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive oil

• 10 drops Young Living Frankincense essential oil

• 11 drops Young Living Lavender essential oil

• 12 drops Young Living Lemon essential oil

• Small jar - I like to use the smallest of the mason jars

• Mixer

In your mixer, add all of the ingredients and blend on low until they are combined. Then carefully whip on high until the cream is nice and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Unless you have a spatter guard on your mixer, increase the speed slowly otherwise it will splatter all over!  Use a spatula or a spoon to scoop out your new night cream into the jar you've chosen.  Don't worry - the cream will harden as it sits.  If you have a small bathroom that gets really hot (like mine) the cream may liquefy again but don't worry, just shake it up then let it sit and it will harden again.  I've left mine out while taking a shower and this has happened.  Try leaving it in your medicine cabinet when not in use.  

This Night Cream makes a great gift for any occasion!  If you use the small mason jars, you can put a small circle of pretty fabric in between the jar lid and the screw top part.  (The lid comes in 2 parts).  Enjoy!

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Essential Oil Diffuser Combos

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Using Essential Oils to Help Relieve Headaches

I have been suffering migraine headaches for over 26 years. Recently, I have started to supplement my prescription medication with essential oils to battle all of my symptoms. Here a a few that have really helped me:


Peppermint -  "is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for supporting normal digestion, including promoting healthy intestinal function and gastrointestinal system comfort.*" 






I add 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil to hot water to make a soothing drink.  I also add one drop of it to the site of pain which for me is usually above my left eye on my forehead or on my temples. Make sure not to get it too close to your eyes, as it will irritate them.

Eucalyptus Globulus -  "has a fresh, penetrating scent. It contains a high percentage of the constituent eucalyptol, a key ingredient in many mouth rinses. Applied topically, it is often used to support the respiratory system* and to soothe muscles after exercise.*" 



One of the migraine medications I take always causes my nose to become stuffed up.  Using 1-2 drops Eucalyptus Globulus essential oil (aplied to my upper chest in the center under my collarbones) really helps to relieve that feeling.



Lavender - "has a sweet, floral aroma that is soothing and refreshing. It's aroma is great for relaxing & winding down before bedtime; add to bath or diffuse to create a calming & comforting environment. It also may compliment your favorite shampoos, lotions & skin care products.*"



I find Lavender essential oil to be very comforting and soothing.  I apply 1-2 drops across my forehead along the hairline and gently massage in.  

After applying these three essential oils, I go lie down in a quiet, dark room if possible.   This whole process really helps me to relax and compliments my prescription medication(s) to work better in my humble opinion.


*Information taken from the Young Living website.  This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.