Recipe of the Week 3 Apple/Pear Crisp

This recipe can be made using apples, pears, peaches... really, it's great with any fruit. It is vegan, but you can replace the Earth Balance with BUTTER if you like. I like to make a double recipe so I can freeze one and eat the other. Enjoy!

*PREHEAT OVEN TO 375 degrees*

CRISP TOPPING:
5 Tbsp. Earth Balance vegan margarine
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1/4 tsp. salt
2 drops Cinnamon oil

Mix together brown sugar, oats, flour and salt. Add margarine and Cinnamon oil.
Either combine ingredients in a food processor and pulse just until blended. OR, use hands to mix margarine and dry mixture until it is crumbly.


FILLING:
2 lbs. sliced apples, pears or other fruit
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 drop Cinnamon oil
1 drop Nutmeg oil
1 drop Clove oil

Mix together filling. Pour into an 8x8 oiled pan. Arrange crumbly topping mixture evenly on top.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until fruit is soft, and topping is browned. Serve with Almond milk for breakfast, or with Ice Cream for dessert.

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

New Packaging for LFH

Don't know if you noticed in the shop, but Lotus Flower Herbals recently got new packaging!

AND 

a few new products as well, that will debut in our 

Fall/Winter collection in mid September. 

One of them is a nail oil that I created combining 

herbal wellness and aromatherapy, along with 

nourishing oils to moisturize and care for natural nails. 

We are also adding some hydrating cleansers, toners, 

moisturizers, AND A few really sweet 

{think creamsicle ...citrus and vanilla with some ylang ylang} 

other additions to the skin care section of the shop. 

It is common to need a change in your skin care as the weather changes. Especially here in the midwestern USA! I always need to add a little bit more moisture to my routine, change from mud masks to hydrating masks, and use my facial oil after I cleanse and tone at night.

In mid September when the new products are launched I will be doing a few $25 gift vouchers to celebrate! Connect with me on Facebook to hear more about it!

Recipe of the Week: Squash Soup

This is the creamiest, yummiest recipe for squash soup that I have come up with. You can choose to leave out the curry powder, or add more to taste. I like curry as a background flavor, so I only use 1/4 tsp. It is very thick, so if you would like to make it thinner, use up 1/2 cup water, broth or milk. You can also leave it unblended if you would like a chunkier soup.

This soup is very versatile. It is amazing reheated for lunch, or over pasta and leftover veggies for a quick dinner.

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes
1 red onion, diced
3 small carrots sliced
2 TBSP. olive oil 
1 large apple, chopped. I used honey crisp variety
1 cup rinsed Basmati rice
5 1/2 cups of water or broth
4 drops Cinnamon Essential Oil
2 drops Clove Essential Oil
3 drops Ginger Essential Oil
2 tsp sea salt
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. yellow curry powder 
2 TBSP Blue Agave syrup

In large pot, saute onions in olive oil until soft. Add water or broth. Bring to a boil, then add the rest of the ingredients. Boil for 20-25 minutes until everything is soft. The rice will be the last thing to be done, so make sure you check that it is done. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Blend soup in the blender, or use a hand held blender. I usually put the mixture into a large bowl, and blend it in 3 parts, so I don't overwork the blender, then return the blended soup to the pot. Reheat for  a few minutes.

Serve soup with biscuits or warm bread. I like to make garlic cheese biscuits with this soup. Yum. Enjoy!



ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

Anti-Aging Facial Treatment

Here is a great way to get healthy skin this summer: 

An anti-aging & brightening facial treatment 
made with all natural organic ingredients!

 

Start with an exfoliating brown sugar facial scrub:

Dry dullness is easily removed, replaced with healthier, brighter, softer skin with the help of a mild glycolic peel. Brown sugar scrubs are gentle for sensitive facial skin and contain natural glycolic acids that exfoliate, brighten, and smooth skin. 

Then apply a hydrating, anti-aging facial mask:  

This facial mask is very soothing and very hydrating. It reduces inflammation and softens skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

  

End with a few drops of Herbal Facial Oil 
for dry/sensitive skin: 

This oil has been formulated to moisturize and soothe dry, sensitive skin. Use nightly after cleansing, or apply to dry areas as often as needed. I have used this successfully in treating eczema in children and adults. You can also use this oil blend to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and even helps with stretch marks!

Your skin will thank you, and you will notice results immediately. At least once a week, repeat treatment for improved tone, elasticity and glowing skin.

Help Haiti

 Help Us Help Haiti!

Tuesday, January 12, the worst earthquake in 200 years struck the island nation of Haiti, leaving utter decimation in its wake. While we still don’t know the full extent of the damage, we can be confident that an already fierce, daily struggle to survive has taken a disastrous turn for many Haitians.

Thousands are feared dead, and without adequate water, food, shelter, and medical care the survivors won’t last long. There is an immediate need for worldwide support of the Haitian people.

In order to provide much needed funds, Young Living has partnered with The D. Gary Young Foundation: Young Living Outreach, and from now until January 31, 2010,
10% of all proceeds from the sale of Lavender and Peace & Calming® essential oils will go directly to relief organizations working in Haiti.

We have the opportunity to help make a difference. Haiti’s infrastructure is completely demolished. The people of Haiti have no clean water to drink, no electricity, and all hospitals and aid centers have been severely damaged or destroyed entirely.

If you or anyone you know uses these oils, help us give more by increasing your order this month, and pass this message on to anyone who would be interested.

You can also make a monetary donation through The D. Gary Young Foundation: Young Living Outreach.

The need is immediate. Please help. Order Lavender and Peace & Calming.

ORGANIC Teething Oil

My amazingly wonderful and effective 

Organic Teething oil is back!

Visit Lotus Flower Herbals on Etsy.

Each 15 ML amber glass bottle of Teething oil contains:
Organic Olive Oil and Vitamin E, with Clove, Myrrh, and Lemon Organic Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.

• Clove oil has immune-enhancing properties, and it's principal constituent is Eugenol, which is used in the dental industry to numb the gums. It is amazing for babies and children who are teething. Always dilute clove oil for this purpose.

• Myrrh is widely used in oral hygiene products. It is antiseptic and helps relax and calm the emotions, making it a perfect choice for teething!

• Lemon has a strong, purifying, citrus scent that is revitalizing and uplifting. Lemon consists of 68 percent D-limonene, a powerful antioxidant. It has been shown to help calm the emotions of teething.

 

*This blend is also helpful for 
a toothache for all ages.*

Don't just take my word for it! Here is part of an e-mail I received last week from a customer:

Since my son has not quite started teething I had just bought it (teething oil) to be  prepared.  My friend has a baby who has been having quite a hard time cutting some teeth.  She was at her wits end.  He hadn't nursed in over a day and had kept them up all night.  His gums were so red and sore.  She was tired of giving him tylenol and was asking me about your oil.  Since he was hurting now and not wanting her to wait to order it, I let her use my bottle.  She said it worked so good.  He ate and slept and the oil soothed him.  NOTHING else had helped but your oil did.  She plans on buying some from you for herself and family.  And depending on how much of mine she uses, I may need a new bottle too! I just wanted to let you know how grateful we both are for the product!  -C.T.

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS! 
Lesser oils contain hazardous chemicals that are toxic when applied to the body or inhaled. Read more about Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils HERE.

New Product! Ocotea

I am sorry to have been away for so long, I have been so busy studying! I am back, full of renewed energy and ready to share some new things with you!

Young Living has released a few new products recently. I have been learning about their origins, uses, and effectiveness. I am always excited to learn more about the ever-expanding world of Essential Oils!

My favorite new product, Ocotea, is extracted from an Ecuadorian tree. Ocotea has the highest level of alpha humulene of any Young Living essential oil, which is a compound that helps aid the body's natural response to irritation and injury. Ocotea also has natural cleansing and purifying properties.

Ocotea, pronounced oh/ko/TAY/ah, is distilled from the leaves of Ocotea Quixos tree deep in the forest of the Amazon.  The leaves are gathered and loaded into a bush plane and flown 14 hours back over the Andes Mountains to the farm for distillation, thus wild crafted and distilled at Finca Botanica Aromatica- Young Living’s farm.  Ocotea is related to the cinnamon species though the aroma is different from any common cinnamon.  It also has far less skin sensitivity than cinnamon bark or cassia.

An unusual cinnamon-like plant that also has a lot of eucalyptol--3.46. Ocotea has the highest level of alpha-humulene of any essential oil and is known to balance the body's internal response to irritation and swelling. Only Copaiba essential oil has a comparable level of this natural plant compound.

MEDICINAL USES 

Blood glucose, local antiseptic, prevents blood clots, anti-cancer, candida, anti-diarrheal, fungal skin infections, anti-asthma, reported weight loss, foot fungus, non-adaptive sustained stress (death, divorce, etc.)


WONDERFUL FOR DIABETICS AND JUVENILE DIABETICS!

·     Ocotea is very good for lowering blood glucose levels.
·     1-3 drops under the tongue dropped glucose levels 30 points in less than 10 minutes. Then monitor.
·     Lowers cortisol, which lowers insulin.
·     3 drops, 3 times a day or 4 drops, 4 times a day has proven to be better than glucaflague

·     The local natives use it for diarrhea and as an anesthetic....by drinking a tea infusion.
·     Balances body levels of irritation.
·     It also regulates liver and balances metabolism.
·     Works like the anti-inflammatory drugs without the side effects.

WEIGHT LOSS

A recipe for using Ocotea for weight loss is to take 2 drops 4 times a day encapsulated, or just 2 drops in a glass of water.

ALSO GOOD FOR CANDIDA AND PARASITES

There has been a study going on in Ecuador concerning Candida and Strep elimination. Three months ago they started a research project on 88 children at a school in Ecuador. Sixty had parasites and 36 of them also had candida. They mixed 1 drop of Ocotea with 8 oz. of water. Then they gave 1 oz portions of this mixture to the children daily and diffused it in the classroom.  It killed both the parasites and the candida.


PROMISING RESULTS

A video was shown at Young Living's 2009 convention of a Naturopathic Doctor in Utah using Ocotea with a patient. He made a tincture out of it along with a couple of drops of cinnamon oil. Patient had low energy, cold feet, and had high blood sugar, around 340. Blood sugar levels responded as follows:

4/21/09-- blood sugar level at 340
4/28/09-- came down to 212
5/7/09-- down even lower to 140
Patient also noticed a feeling of well being and peace.
Weight loss was noted.

Research Link: http://tinyurl.com/yhz7qzd
Antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of essential oil from wild Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) calices from Amazonian Ecuador

ALWAYS USE THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS