dandelion creme ointment

This is what you make when your 7-yr-old son brings you a handful of dandelions and says, "Surely there's SOMETHING we can make with these!" We did a little research and lo and behold, we came up with a salve for eczema as well as cracked heals. 

You start with making dandelion diffused oil. We used canola oil in one batch and olive oil in the other with great results both times. Here's how you do it:

Get that same 7-yr-old boy to help you gather a gallon of dandelion blossoms. With a scissors, cut off the base of the petals so they fall apart into another container. Once you have a nice pile of petals, spread them out on a paper-towel to dry out overnight. You don't want all that water in your oil.

Next, fill a quart jar 3/4 full of dandelion petals and fill to the neck with either olive or canola oil. Place jar in double boiler and keep just below a simmer for several hours. (The amount of time isn't really all that particular; we did 4 hours with good results.) Strain oil off and press excess oil out of petals with a sieve. Throw out the petals.

Melt together in microwave: 

7 oz oil

3 oz beeswax pellets or fine shavings

Add:

essential oils of your choice and amount of scent your prefer.

Pour into small jars and let set an hour or two. It's ready to use!

white chocolate mint lip balm (SPF 60)

If you're like me and you get cold sores from the sun, here's a lip balm that WORKS besides being scrummy!

Melt together:

15 ml shea butter

10 ml bees wax pellets or fine shavings

15 ml cocoa butter

add:

1 1/2 tsp sesame oil (a part of your sunblock)

3/4 tsp coconut oil (Here's your main sunblock)

1/3 tsp almond oil (moisturizer)

4 drops Vitamin E liquid (or squeeze 4 capsules)

Let cool three minutes and add 5 drops peppermint essential oil. Pour into empty lip balm vials or small jar.

Okay I realize there are many ingredients in here that most of us don't have in our kitchens. I did go out and buy a bunch of stuff. It's important to me as we have skin issues at our house and find few solutions. This is the answer for one problem and so far has been so worth it!

iced espresso lattes (French Pressed)

In a French press, dump in 1 1/2 to 2 times as much grounds as you usual do. I used Jake's Blend coffee beans, freshly ground. Let brew as long as normal.
In large glass, dump 1 Tbsp sugar. Pour (hmmm I never measured...) maybe 1/2 cup hot brew. Stir till sugar is dissolved and add ice and milk to fill glass.
This is soooo good you'll keep drinking and drinking so much you won't sleep at night.
NOTE: My boys added some Torrani syrup yet, which was cheating IMO! Yes, I let them. Sigh! Theirs can't have tasted as good as mine. Like imagine cherry flavoring ruining a decadent glass of fresh latte??!! (Don't even GO there!)

salsa from Dena

"I thought I’d send this salsa thing I made to serve with Mexican food since your mango recipe reminded me. Just chop and stir.
The salsa thing is, begin with red onion, cilantro, salt, and lime, aka the Pioneer Woman. I think tomato is a basic for her too. Then just add whatever you find in the fridge.

This salad majored in cabbage and cilantro.

Cabbage

Black beans

Mango, the red and the yellow ones

Lime juice

Leftover corn from Sunday

Tomato
jalapeno

Cilantro

Salt

Avocado

Red onion

I haven't tried it yet, but it's right at the top of my to-try list. Basically anything Mexican and cilantro speaks to me and I can't resist! BTW someone told Dena they thought it was a salad; so maybe any way of eating it is perfect.

will someone please tell me

Why does my Mango Madness Cheesecake recipe have that weird white line through it? Or maybe it doesn't on YOUR computer? I've redone it and it just keeps on doing that same thing.

Mango Madness Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
3 large very ripe mangoes (each about 13 ounces), peeled, pitted, coarsely chopped
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
Sliced peeled pitted mangoes

Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Stir cracker crumbs and sugar in medium bowl to blend. Add melted butter and stir until evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom (not sides) of prepared pan. Bake until crust is set, about 12 minutes. Cool completely. Maintain oven temperature.
Puree mangoes in processor until smooth. Set aside 2 cups mango puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use). Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in large bowl until smooth. Add 2 cups mango puree and beat until well blended Add eggs 1 at a time, beating only till yellow disappears into filling. Pour filling over crust in pan.
Bake cake until set and puffed and golden around edges (center may move very slightly when pan is gently shaken), about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool cake 1 hour. Refrigerate uncovered overnight. Run small knife between cake and sides of pan to loosen. Remove pan sides. Transfer cake to platter. Cut into wedges and serve with whipped cream and fresh sliced mangoes.


OR~~~Make individual cheesecakes in muffin cups, using a vanilla wafer as the crust. Bake only 25 to 35 minutes. Couldn’t be easier!!

espresso cheesecake bars

"this recipe combines my two loves...coffee and cheesecake..."

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup soft margarine

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped nuts (opt)

Mix together and reserve 1 cups crumbs. Press the rest of it into 9 x 13" pan.

2 8oz cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar (or a bit more if using espresso powder in copious amounts!)

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

2 Tbsp (or more!) espresso powder dissolved in--

2 Tbsp water

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F. Beat cream cheese till smooth. Add remaining ingredients. Beat well. Spread on crust and top with remaining crumbs. Bake until lightly browned approximately 1/2 hour. Cool. Cut. Enjoy.

This is soooo good, I simply canNOT leave it alone. THAT'S not good!!!