Hot Cocoa Body Butter

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I can’t say enough good things about this body butter: From the texture, to the aroma, to the silky smooth feel of it on my skin. It has become my favorite body lotion! The combination of oils is super moisturizing and nourishing to skin. You better make up enough of this Hot Cocoa Body Butter to keep some for yourself! Add an extra special touch with the free downloadable label for your finished product!

A Few Tips Before We Get Started

I love the gentle cocoa aroma of this recipe that comes from the cocoa butter. Personally, I do not feel the need to add essential oils to the lotion. However, if you want a different aroma or benefits of essential oils, feel free to add them in.

A little goes a long way. When you first apply the body butter, it feels a tiny bit greasy. However, I find that it absorbs almost instantly for a smooth, satiny feel. It does not leave skin greasy.

Hot Cocoa Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Create a double boiler by placing a small glass bowl in a saucepan with water. Add coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter to the glass bowl.
  2. Turn heat on medium and bring water to a gentle boil. Stir mixture frequently until shea butter and cocoa butter melts completely.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in vitamin E oil and essential oils (if desired).
  4. Place the bowl in the freezer for about 10-20 minutes. When the mixture starts to solidify and turns opaque, remove from the freezer.
  5. Scrape the edges of the bowl and stir to incorporate. Then pour mixture into a mixing bowl for a high speed mixer.
  6. Beat mixture at high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. If you overmix, it will become dry and crumbly. If this happens, simply warm the mixture slightly, and start again.
  7. It should resemble whipped butter or cream when it’s done.
  8. Store body butter in a glass jar.

Download the Hot Cocoa Body Butter gift tag here!

Complete your gift with this Coffee Body Scrub or Pumpkin Pie Sugar Scrub!

Winter Wonderland Foot Scrub

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When you think of the people on your gift list, who do you know who could use a bit of pampering? Maybe someone who spends a lot of time on her feet? This relaxing foot scrub will rejuvenate those tired tootsies! Pair this Winter Wonderland Foot Scrub with a pair of cozy socks for a perfect thoughtful gift.

Winter Wonderland Foot Scrub Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Combine epsom salt and baking soda in a small bowl. Cut open tea bag and pour into salt mixture.
  2. Add essential oils and stir to combine.
  3. Store in an airtight jar until ready to use.

Download the Winter Wonderland Foot Scrub labels here!

To Use

Massage a small amount of foot scrub into moistened feet. Pay special attention to rough dry areas. Rinse with warm water and follow with a moisturizer or body lotion.

For an extra special gift, make up a batch of this healing Essential Oil Foot Repair.

Chocolate Mint Lip Balm

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This recipe creates a velvety smooth, moisturizing balm for dry, chapped lips. But the best part is the aroma. . .it smells like a mint patty! With a small amount of ingredients and just a few minutes, you have a thoughtful, inexpensive gift for so many people on your list. This Chocolate Mint Lip Balm is perfect for stocking stuffers for kids, and gifts for teachers, coworkers, and friends.

Chocolate Mint Lip Balm Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Combine beeswax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil in a small glass jar.
    Create a double boiler by pouring a few inches of water in a small saucepan, and carefully set the jar of ingredients in the water.
  2. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in almond oil, vitamin E oil, cocoa powder, and peppermint oil.
  3. Carefully pour into small plastic containers. Allow mixture to solidify before using.
  4. This recipe made enough to fill 7 five-gram jars.

Download the Chocolate Mint Lip Balm label template here!

Complete your gift with some homemade Sugar Lip Scrub!

Risotto

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Making risotto is almost a meditative process. It takes love and patience to simply add broth slowly over the course of time. But when you do, the result is a rich and creamy rice dish. Many vegan websites recommend making this with very little fat, but to me, this makes for a very bland dish, so I pumped mine up with vegan butter and vegan parmesan. Lemon juice and zest helps to cut through the sweetness.

This traditional Italian dish is a bit of an exercise in patience. You can’t just throw the ingredients together and walk away. Rather, making risotto is a gradual step-by-step process. For this reason, a lot of people shy away from making risotto altogether.

Who Has the Time to Make Risotto?

In today’s fast-paced, get-dinner-on-the-table-in-30-minutes-or-less mentality, you might be wondering, “Why would I cook a rice dish that I have to babysit?” I’ll tell you why.

The result is a delicious, creamy, comforting dish that compliments a variety of other foods, but is also filling enough to stand on its own. Not only that, but the reward is in the process. When you put thought, time, and careful preparation into a meal, it somehow tastes better. The love and energy you put into your cooking is almost as important as the ingredients you choose. This is a different kind of nourishment, and we just don’t get enough of it.

So while risotto may not be a Monday night dinner for the average busy family, it is a dish that is worth the time. Plan ahead and set aside an evening to enjoy the process of cooking and not just throw dinner on the table. Then pay attention to how everyone enjoys the meal. Take note of the pride you feel for not just feeding your family, but nurturing them. Notice how you may have actually enjoyed cooking the meal.

Now, go make some Risotto!

Make it a Meal

Traditionally, Risotto is served as the first course of the meal. However, it is also a great base for a variety of recipes. Try it with this Mushroom, Artichoke, and Red Pepper Paella.