The (Coconut) Oil Spill

So there was a large oil spill the other day. In my kitchen. More than half a large (54 ounce) jar of organic, raw, extra-virgin coconut oil was wasted on the kitchen floor. I scooped up as much of it as I could by the handful and managed to save about 8 ounces. The rest I rubbed all over my body...my skin still feels so soft.

Coconut oil is a favorite skin-care ingredient. It contains medium-chain fatty acids which helps it to moisturize, soften, and smooth skin. Due to its lauric acid content, which is converted by the body into monolaurin, it has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxident, and anti-aging properties. The vitamin E and proteins in coconut oil aid in recovery of skin damage, such as scars, cuts, burns, dry, chapped or cracked skin, and wrinkles. Besides that, it smells so tropical!

It is said that indigenous people in tropical climates used coconut oil to help protect their skin from the sun. Coconut oil screens about 20% UV exposure. It can also be used after spending time in the sun, to replenish moisture and soothe and heal a sunburn. It is best to not use coconut oil the first day you get burned, though. Coating a fresh, hot sunburn in oil can lock in the heat. It is better to cool the sunburn first with aloe, cool water compresses and other natural remedies, and wait until the next day to apply coconut oil.

(Disclaimer: These statements have not been approved by the FDA and this information is for educational purposes only)

So now I have a jar of coconut oil which is not fit for consumption, after bathing the floor...what to do with it? Make coconut oil lotion bars, of course!

Coconut Oil Lotion Bars

They are so simple to make. You will need:

• Coconut oil (raw, extra virgin, and at room temperature...if yours is solid, warm it until it is pourable)
• Essential oil of your choice

• Silicone cupcake molds 

Here are the recipes for the bars I made this week:


Vanilla Coconut Lotion Bars (makes two bars)         
1/2-2/3 cup coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Lavender is also lovely for soothing sunburned skin

 Lavender Coconut Lotion Bars (makes two bars)

  1/2-2/3 cup coconut oil
  10 drops lavender essential oil

        

 If your coconut oil is solidified, place the jar in a bowl of hot water to liquify it first. Measure the coconut oil and pour it into a bowl. Add the vanilla extract or lavender essential oil. Mix well. Pour into silicone cupcake molds and place in the freezer until solid. You can either store them in the refrigerator or freezer once they are hardened. Rub the bar on your skin whenever you want to moisturize and soften your skin. It feels so refreshing, especially after being out in the hot sun!
                             

They start to harden right away in the freezer.

Orange Creamsicles and Strawberry Basil Popsicles

Hello Lovelies,

I hope you are having a great summer! One of my favorite things about summertime is making popsicles. They are so refreshing on a hot, sticky afternoon and I have been known to eat four or five of them in one day. I regret nothing.

Now one of the hottest months of the year is here and I have been on a popsicle-making spree. It is my mission to keep the freezer stocked with popsicles at all times until cooler weather arrives.

I have tried several different flavor combinations and recipes the past few weeks, and sadly, most of them were...just ok. I'm still working on flavor combinations and tweaking recipes. Watermelon Mint? Great idea, but I used way too much mint and it overwhelmed the watermelon flavor. Strawberry lemonade? It made a pretty popsicle, but they were too sour. Lemonade fruitsicles? Again, way too sour. I guess when in doubt, I should add more sweetener. At least when it comes to the lemonade-flavored treats.

But...two of my popsicles were a huge success, and I'll share those recipes with you now. They are: *drum roll please* Orange Creamsicle and Strawberry Basil!

I really love orange creamsicle flavor. I think I had one once when I was a little girl, when the ice cream truck made a rare visit to my neighborhood. I have also had healthy, whole food variations which I have enjoyed very much. This summer I was determined to make my own.

 I knew from the moment I conceived the thought, that I would be using coconut milk. Being dairy-free, my go-to creamy dairy replacement in all recipes is coconut milk. I love the consistency, but I also love the flavor for its own sake. I even put a dollop of coconut milk on top of my chili in place of sour cream. But even if I were not dairy-free, I think I would still use coconut milk in this recipe. It is just so delicious mixed with the orange juice flavor, I cannot imagine not pairing the two. 

When buying coconut milk in a can, please beware the added ingredients! Many contain preservatives and sugar, which are totally unnecessary. The coconut milk I buy has only coconut, water, and guar gum. The fewer ingredients, the better. Same goes for the orange juice concentrate. It should be 100% juice.

 
Orange Creamsicles

1 13 ounce can coconut milk
3/4 cup orange juice concentrate
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons raw cane sugar


Combine the ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth and thoroughly mixed. Taste a bit to make sure the overall sweetness and the intensity of orange flavor are both to your liking. (Add more sweetener or orange juice concentrate if necessary.) Pour the mixture into your popsicle molds and and freeze for at least 5 or 6 hours.

There is a basil plant at my house that was in need of some pruning. So I used that as an incentive to make these strawberry basil popsicles. 

Strawberry Basil Popsicles
3 cups strawberries (I used frozen, but fresh is fine too)
A handful of fresh basil leaves (I used about 4 sprigs of basil with stems and leaves. It was about 15 leaves.)
2 Tablespoons raw cane sugar or honey
1/4 cup water for processing


Combine the ingredients in your blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Fill your popsicle molds and freeze for at least 5 or 6 hours.

I will post more popsicle recipes as I continue to succeed in my popsicle-making experiments. Stay cool!