How To: Easy & Delicious Elderberry Syrup

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Have you heard of elderberry syrup?

Elderberries have been used since ancient Egyptian times for their many health benefits. Hippocrates, the "father of medicine", called elderberries his "medicine cabinet.”

Here's why:
- Elderberries are an excellent general immune system booster. The berries contain chemical compounds called anthocyanidins, which are known to have immunostimulant effects. Fights colds and flu!! Source

-Sinus Infection Aid
With elderberry’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it makes sense that it can help sinus issues.

-Balances Blood Sugar 

Taking a dose every day is a great way to be proactive with your health in the fall & winter!! Let's start taking care of our immune systems NOW so that they are strong and ready to work when we need them to LATER. No one wants to spend the holidays in Urgent Care! (Been there, done that, never ever want to do it again.)

The truth is our bodies were designed to heal themselves (immune system) but with environmental factors and just not always taking care of ourselves the way we should sometimes we need to "jump-start" our systems so that we have the best chance of staying well through the next few months. What's that saying...the best defense is a good offense? This most definitely applies to our health.

You can do a quick google search to read more about why these things are important, or check out more info here: https://draxe.com/elderberry/

You can buy elderberry syrup pre-made, but it’s super easy and much cheaper to make your own! Here’s a yummy recipe that adds the power punch of Young Living essential oils:

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DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD HERE

You want to get this in your body DAILY, so make it a habit! Take it straight up (dosage on the recipe card), or add it to sugar free juice or Ningxia Red (Young Living antioxidant drink). My kids and husband get theirs in the morning before school when they take their multivitamins and Ningxia Red. I take mine in the afternoon as a fun little mocktail that I look forward to: Ningxia Red, Ningxia Nitro, elderberry syrup, and Grapefruit Izze.

It’s fun to make a big batch, so call some friends, grab some jars, and get to cookin’!

A Relaxing Bath with Lavender + Pine Essential Oils

 
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Baths are one of my favorite ways to unwind and relax, and since we've moved to the new house I have spent a lot of time my tub reading.  It makes me happy!

I love to add a cup or so of epsom salts with essential oils to the water.  A favorite combo is Lavender + Pine.  I enjoy the mix of floral and woodsy aromas and regularly diffuse it and add it to our wool dryer balls, but there's more to it than just smelling good! There's a reason I often choose these two for bathtime.

Lavender is well-known as a calming oil. Linalool, one of it's natural chemical constituents, is responsible for this reputation.  It has shown to reduce stress levels and create a calming atmosphere. It can totally be used alone, but I like to mix it with a less floral oil to tone it down a bit.

Pine was historically added to baths to revitalize people struggling with mental or emotional fatigue and/or nervous exhaustion. It helps soothe mental stress and relieve occasional anxiety. And BONUS: Pine may also stimulate the adrenal glands and circulatory system.* 

Other favorite calming/relaxing blends:

Lavender + Orange

Lavender + Pine + Rosemary

Pine + Frankincense

The next time you find yourself stressed or anxious, grab these Lavender + Pine and get to sniffin'!

Learn more about how we use Lavender HERE and HERE.

 

*Reference Guide for Essential Oils, Higley

Cooking with Essential Oils

 
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Everyone knows that oregano, basil, and cinnamon are great seasonings for flavorful dishes, but did you know that those same herbs, and many others, in their essential oil form, are even MORE potent? It’s true - not only is the flavor stronger, but essential oils offer health benefits when you cook with them that the dried herbs do not.

You can ingest (and cook) with any of Young Living’s Vitality oils, which is the Dietary line of oils.

Benefits of cooking with Young Living Vitality essential oils:

With just a drop of oil (or less!), essential oils give food incredible flavor. Fresh herbs and dried herbs eventually go bad, but essential oils last MUCH longer and can be more cost effective in the long run. Each individual essential oil has a multitude of health benefits unique to it, and you can reap those benefits by cooking with them (as well as through inhalation, applying them topically, and ingesting via capsule).

How much oil do I substitute for herbs?

Well, that differs depending on the oil. Generally, you will want to start with less and then add more to taste as needed. 

Herbaceous Vitality oils, like basil, oregano, thyme, dill, etc are very potent. Start by running a toothpick in the rim of the oil bottle then dipping it into your dish. Repeat as necessary to get the flavor you want.  I like to add these oils early in the cooking process and then add more before serving if necessary.

For citrus oils - Lemon, Lime, Orange Vitality, etc - I typically use 1-2 drops per tsp of juice/zest

For Peppermint and Spearmint Vitality, try using 1 drop per tsp of dried mint. 

Cinnamon Vitality essential oil is also strong in flavor, so I use 1 drop per 1 tbsp of ground cinnamon. 

Remember, you can always add more later, but you can’t take it back after you’ve already added it! A little bit goes a long way. When in doubt, start with a toothpick dip and just addmore a little at a time.

A couple of my favorite ways to cook with essential oils:

Peppermint Brownies

Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Pie

**Only cook with and ingest Young Living Vitality essential oils.**

 

Oil Cleansing with Essential Oils

 

Oil Cleansing.

It's a thing.

Every time I tell people that I wash my face with oil they look at me like I've lost my ever-loving mind. And I get it - it sounds gross and counterproductive, but it actually works.

When you strip your body's natural oils with traditional face cleansers, it works overtime to restore them which can leave your skin oilier and breakout prone. Cleansing with oil is gentle and leaves the natural oils (while cleansing impurities and makeup) so your body doesn't need to over compensate. I add essential oils that are great for skin to my oil cleanser to help combat the signs of aging.

My Oil Cleansing recipe:

4oz bottle of Leven Rose Jojoba oil

40 drops Elemi essential oil

15 drops Geranium essential oil

10 drops Lavender essential oil

For moisturizing after cleansing:

Add one drop of Frankincense essential oil to a few drops of the Oil Cleansing recipe and gently massage onto face and neck.

 

Peppermint Essential Oil Brownies (Gluten Free/Dairy Free)

 

Kick your brownies up a notch and knock the socks off everyone at your holiday gatherings with this gut-friendly recipe! Peppermint Vitality essential oil is the secret ingredient.  This is one of my favorite uses for Peppermint.  I hope you enjoy it too!

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Gut-friendly Peppermint Brownies

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. melted

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup refined coconut oil

3 TBSP water

1 cup Coconut Sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup Gluten Free flour

1/4 teaspoon Pink Himalayan salt

3 - 5 drops of Young Living Peppermint Vitality Essential Oil

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Grease an 8x8 baking dish and line with parchment paper, letting the paper hang over the sides of the pan on 2 sides (for easy removal).

In a bowl, whisk together the melted chocolate chips, cocoa powder, oil, and water until smooth.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar.  Whisk in the chocolate mixture. Fold in the flour and salt until just combined (do not over work this). Transfer to baking dish and spread to all corners.  Bake until set and the brownie edges start to peel away for the dish. Usually 25 - 28 minutes.  Brownies will be moist and slightly gooey.  Fully amazing.

Sprinkle *lightly* with powdered sugar as a garnish if you're feeling froggy.

 

Coconut Energy Bites

 

I quit coffee and pretty much all processed sugar on the same day.

Apparently I like to torture myself.

J/k. I actually feel so much better once I detox from the caffeine and sugar.

Thankfully, the withdrawal has been minimal, and I'm giving all the credit to 2 things:

1. Young Living's Ningxia Red high antioxidant drink

2. Coconut Energy Bites

I looked at several recipes that I found online for inspiration, and then in the end I just threw some things in the food processor and hoped for the best.  Man. I was not disappointed. They are super yummy (I'm a hard sell), and are really good for you. Omega 3s and the good sugar. And they help me get through the afternoon slump, which means they've endeared themselves to me forever. ha

Make some and try them out! It's easy peasy.

COCONUT ENERGY BITES

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup walnuts

10-12 pitted dates

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Throw everything into a food processor until it starts to stick together and ball up. Line a 9x9 baking pan with wax paper, leaving the width of the pan in wax paper hanging out. Pour the mixture onto it. Press it down making sure that it's an even thickness throughout.  Cover with the excess paper and press down.  The oil from the nuts will make it stick. Place in freezer for an hour or until it firms up.  Cut into bite size bars and transfer to a sealed dish. Store in refrigerator.  

They'll stay good in the fridge for 2-3 weeks, and in the freezer for 3 months.

I've also made Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites (on the right in the picture) and Pumpkin Spice Bites.  I'll share those recipes soon!