How could this happen? Where did this year go??? I still remember last Christmas how I made cookies, homemade Nutella and now… Adam is almost 8 months old! It’s going to be his first Christmas so it’ll be a very special Christmas in my heart! I love this cute, handsome little boy so much!
100% linen kitchen cloth – Kósagabi Textiles
Yes, you read the title right… it’s lavender coconut body butter. No, I’m not planning to change my food blog to a lifestyle blog but as I care what to nourish my body (inside) with I care about what to use to moisturize it outside. It is a rich, creamy lotion that you can use to feed your hungry skin. When you use it a light, fresh lavender scent fills the air around you. It leaves your skin feeling hydrated and soft. I mostly use it to moisturize my very dry hands. I gave this as a gift to all my family members for Christmas but it’s perfect for any occasion.
How coconut oil is good for your skin? A great explanation from Organic Facts:
“Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin. It is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.“
Lavender is used extensively with herbs and aromatherapy. Infusions are believed to soothe insect bites, burns, and headaches. Lavender oil is used to treat acne, it also treats skin burns and inflammatory conditions. Lavender has soothing, cell regeneration and fungicidal effect.
Thanks for the inspiration and the recipe for Sheena!
Homemade Lavender Coconut Body Butter
Ingredients (makes about 1 cup)
– 1 cup buttery coconut oil (not solid and not liquid)
– 6-8 drops of lavender essential oil (you can use any kind of scent)
Method
Add coconut oil to a bowl. Use hand or stand mixer on high speed and whip the oil for about 8-10 minutes. Drop the lavender essential oil in it, mix it and add your fluffy whipped coconut body butter to a small jar. Keep it at room temperature and it really stays soft!
First I made these cute energy balls for a hiking trips in October. These little bites were a yum trail snack, everybody loved them. They are great energy boosters and easy to store (in a box). Energy foods are engineered to enhance each stage of a workout or outdoor excursion and these coconut date energy bites are great for it.
Because of its success I decided to make them for Christmas as an edible gift. These balls are the healthy option to snack on something. I made two very similar truffles a couple of years ago, don’t forget to check them out to get more inspiration.
Coconut Date Energy Balls
(Recipe inspiration: Daily Garnish)
Ingredients (makes about 36 pieces)
– 1 cup rolled oats
– 1 cup desiccated coconut + extra for coating
– 1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
– 1/4 cup water
– 12 dates, pitted, chopped
– 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded
– 1 orange’s zest
– pinch of salt
Method
Add rolled oats, desiccated coconut and toasted pumpkin seeds to a food processor and let it spin. Add dates, vanilla, cinnamon, orange zest and salt, then let it process for 2-3 minutes. Slowly start adding the water until the mixture becomes a bit sticky and wet.
Form little balls with your hands and roll them in desiccated coconut. Eat them straight or keep them in a box in cool place.
Although this mustard was an edible gift for Christmas, it can be made without any occasion at all because it’s spicy and tangy and it goes very well with roasted meat, tofu or a nutritious grain salad. In Hungary eating mustard is popular at New Year’s Eve too.
New Year’s Eve (as we call it – Szilveszter) in Hungary is celebrated with home parties and street parties too. Fireworks and firecrackers are getting very popular. Champagne and wine are part of the celebration and traditional Hungarian New Year’s Eve dishes are frankfurter sausages (from soy too! luck for vegetarians! :)) with lots of mustard or horseradish, roasted pork and cabbage rolls. On New Year’s Day lentil soup is served because lentil is considered to bring luck and lots of money in the New Year.
Recipe inspiration from my friend, Giulia.
Spicy Walnut Mustard
Ingredients (makes about 1 cup)
– 50 g mustard powder
– 50 g walnut, chopped
– water
– 1 tablespoons of runny honey
– 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
– 5 pinches of salt
– small jar
Method
Place the mustard powder in a bowl and stir in the water (about 6-10 tablespoons) little by little until it gets its the desired consistency. Add chopped walnut, season with salt, honey and vinegar.
Pour into a sterilized glass jar and keep it in the fridge. Wait 12 hours before tasting it.
Is it possible to make homemade chocolate liqueur? Really? And it only takes 15 minutes! Chocolate liqueur can be consumed straight, as an after dinner drink rather than as aperitif. It can be used in mixed drinks and in desserts, especially in dessert sauces, cakes and truffles.
I love making edible gifts for Christmas and for birthdays. I put myself into the effort so the gift has my heart and my love. I gave homemade edible gifts for Christmas or any special occasions in the last two-three years for my loved ones. The success was always guaranteed. This liqueur is perfect for anyone for any occasion.
Chocolate Liqueur
Ingredients (makes 500 ml ~ 2 cups)
– 100 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa content)
– 150 g powder sugar
– 200 ml cream
– 250 ml rum
– 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
– 1 bottle
Method
In a pan mix together cream, powder sugar and cocoa powder. Start heating over low heat. Slowly add the dark chocolate. Stirring continuosly melt the chocolate. Remove pan from the heat and let it cool until lukewarm. Mix rum with this melted chocolate sauce, stirring until smooth.
With the help of a strainer pour the liqueur into the bottle and store it in a cold place. If it gets a bit too thick, dilute it with a splash of rum.