Coconut macaroons!!!



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I am sooooo making these this weekend.  Usually I like to make things before I post them but I am gladly making an exception.  These look amazing.  If you like Amazon, look for their organic coconut flakes to go on sale and get a discount and free shipping with subscribe and save.  You can spread shipments out up to 6 months and you can cancel at any time.  Why organic coconut?  Look at the list of inactive ingredients and preservatives on a bag of sweetened coconut.  Organic cocnut also tastes amazing to say the least.  Lee and I usually get sick eating it by the cup when we open a fresh bag. 

Most macaroon recipes also use condensed milk and white sugar.  These ingredients are so much healthier!  Here's the recipe from Jordan Rubin's Extraordinary Health website:

Coco Macaroons

Makes about 4-5 dozen

Ingredients:

7 cups of dried coconut flakes

2 cups Rapadura or raw honey

6 Tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil

1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract



Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, mix the Rapadura or raw honey with the coconut oil and vanilla extract until well mixed. Slowly add the coconut flakes. Blend together well or knead with your hands if necessary. Drop mixture by the tablespoons onto baking sheets. Place in the oven with just the oven light and let them set for 24 hours or you may use a dehydrator set on 105 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours. Serve. Store the remaining macaroons.



Recipes courtesy of Extraordinary Health team

Coconut oil frosting recipe

For Caitlin's birthday, I made her a cake. Yes, I let her have real cake. Yes, it was the first time I think she had dessert. Babysteps, remember? When trying to find a recipe for more "natural" frostings, I wondered if there was a recipe using coconut oil as the base. I knew I did not want to use Crisco, splenda, or even some of the "healthy" alternatives like agave nectar. I wanted basic ingredients, healthy as possible, but tasty. I stumbled across this amazing recipe for frosting. The only downside is that it makes a very small quantity but I kept adding powdered sugar until I had a good consistency and amount.

Here is the recipe from My Petite Chefs:

¼ cup organic, virgin, unprocessed coconut oil (I like Nutiva)

16 oz powdered sugar

½ cup cocoa powder (I substituted more sugar because I needed white frosting)

1 tsp vanilla extract (I used very non-organic clear vanilla extract again so it was white)

¼ cup cream (added 1-2 TBS at a time)

Cream coconut oil. Add powdered sugar and/or cocoa powder to coconut oil. Slowly add cream to coconut oil mixture.

Happy Birthday, little man!

Wordless Wednesday

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Homemade deoderant

Ok, so I'm going to go out on a limb here.  This probably sounds crazy, right??!  Even Lee won't try this, but I have been making my own deoderant for a few months.  Guess what??  I love it!!  I was so extremely skeptical at first.  A very good friend of mine mentioned she was making her own and after reading the Great Physician Rx about eliminating toxins I was at least intrigued.  I asked a ton of questions...does it stain, how do you apply it, does it WORK...? 

I really wanted it to work.  Store bought deoderants work by blocking  sweat production.  No those toxins don't smell peachy...but they need to come out.  Sweat is normal, sweat is good.  We just don't want to smell it, right?  Well, I decided to give it a try.  If I can't find coupons for organic products, what beats not having to buy them??

Here's the recipe:
Homemade deoderant


1/4 cup corn starch or arrowroot powder

1/4 cup baking powder

6 T coconut oil (solid)

(optional) several drops of favorite essential oil
 
This makes a large batch.  I've used the same batch for at least 2 months now.  The true test is that I live in South Georgia, ok, Central Georgia but I consider it SOUTH.  It is usually 100% humidity or close to it.  It feels like a cloak outside.  I can count the number of times on one hand that I think I needed more deoderant, and I don't think any deoderant in the world would have cut it.  Yes, I have felt more moist than with typical deoderant...but again, I truly think it's a good thing to "perspire" every now and then.  Give it a try...if you're brave!  And, no, it doesn't stain.  Just mix it up in a small container and dip a little on your fingers.  It goes great with coconut oil as a facial moisturize :)))