Using essential oils in the Kitchen

When I tell people that I use essential oils in recipes, I get a somewhat confused yet curious look. If you want to enhance your digestion AND impart deep flavor to your food, I suggest the following:

~Add a drop of essential oil to your salad dressing. Lemon, dill, tangerine, tarragon, ginger and orange are all good choices.
~Stir a drop of peppermint in your vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
~Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme, Rosemary, and/or Basil are wonderful additions to a bowl of soup.
~All the citrus oils (orange, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, and a blend called Citrus Fresh) perk up your water AND aid in weight loss as they provide a gentle yet very effective detox for your cells!
~Flavor up your brownies with peppermint, cinnamon, or nutmeg.
~Make a fruit smoothie or sorbet with the citrus oils. www.greenfeet.com has some great recipes.

I hope this gives you some inspirational ideas. If you have some of your own, please feel free to add them in the comment section!

Remember that these medicinal quality oils will lose some of their healing properties when heated. Whenever possible, add the oils after you have heated up your meal.

I use only 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils from Young Living. Other oils may contain perfumes, fillers, or may have been processed with solvents. Order your oils from http://susie.younglivingworld.com

Celebrate Your Cravings!

Yep, you read it right.
Cravings are messages from your body. Your body has an innate intelligence that knows how to maintain a balanced state. When we are not in balance, our bodies send us cues and clues to let us know something is not quite right. A craving is one such example. The next time you have a craving, celebrate! Your body is communicating something very important to you!
What are you really craving? Is it food or something more? Sometimes cravings indicate a mineral deficiency. Often cravings are due to a hormonal imbalance. Usually they are a sign of dehydration. Sometimes cravings signify that you have a longing for something much deeper. Perhaps you are lonely and long for love. Maybe you are wishing for something comforting. You might be wishing for excitement or adventure. Once you can make the connection between your craving and what you REALLY want, you can begin to find ways to satisfy your craving with people and experiences rather than food. The following is a guide to encourage you to dig deeper and make the connection between your cravings and what may really be going on for you.

• Do you crave something sweet? You may really need some physical affection, a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend, or good cry.
• Do you crave spicy food? You may be looking for adventure or an exhilerating experience!
• Do you crave salt? Maybe you are seeking a deeper, richer flavor in your life or you are looking for a way to alleviate boredom.
• Do you crave sour flavors? You are probably ready for something new in your life. Try something you have always wanted to do, but never had the courage to do.
  
• Do you crave leafy green vegetables? Great! Your body is in a state of knowing what it needs to regain balance!

Addressing Cravings

1. The first step in alleviating cravings is to drink water. Hydrate yourself so that you have the energy to dig deeper within yourself to find out what you really want.
2. Eat balancing foods such as whole grains, beans, and vegetables. Sugar and meat create imbalances in some people.
   
3. Get support as you navigate your journey inward.
4. Be gentle with yourself. Procede slowly and deliberately and be gentle.
   

Make your time in the Kitchen Efficient

Do you think you do not have enough time to cook healthy? All it takes is a little time to prepare and you can have meals almost ready for an entire week. As long as you have a freezer and a refrigerator, you can prepare meals for up to a week at a time.
Here is how it works.

1. Set up your kitchen. Know where everything is and make it convenient to find and use.
2. Pick a day of the week for preparation.
3. If you use recipes, pick out a few for the week.
4. Make a shopping list as you think of things throughout the week.
5. Purchase your ingredients.
6. It is best to start cooking soon after you go shopping, but if you need to break it up into two days, at least you are getting it done in a way that works for you.
7. Cooking day! Take a morning or afternoon and dedicate it to being in the kitchen. Make a soup for the week and freeze some. Make beans and/or whole grains and scoop them out as needed as you go throughout your week. Use beans/grains in soups, salads, stir-fries or just eat them plain with your favorite condiment. Bake some root vegetables. Blanch and freeze vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, and kale for quick use later.

The key is to plan ahead. Although it may not seem like it at first, in the end, you save time and money and most of all your health!