This vegan potato soup is a quick and simple soup that’ll keep you warm on any cold night. I love the dill seeds in this recipe most of all! Substitute fresh dill for dill seeds to make a summer classic.
How to Pick a Potato
Believe it or not, there are actually hundreds of varieties of potatoes. Depending on the type of grocery store or farmer’s market you visit, the choices can be overwhelming. If you break it down into the basic types of potatoes, you will have an easier time choosing the right potato for the dish. Potatoes fall in to two basic categories: starchy and waxy.
Starchy Potatoes
Starchy potatoes are best suited for baking, mashing, and frying. The starch content produces an even color when frying as well as the fluffiest mashed potatoes every time. These potatoes tend to fall apart when cooked, so they are not the best choice for soups or stews.
Varieties of starchy potatoes include: Russet and Idaho.
Waxy Potatoes
Waxy potatoes are ideal for boiling into soups and stews because they hold their shape well. Their firm yet creamy texture also works well in potato salads and dishes like scalloped potatoes. Waxy potatoes are naturally lower in starch with more moisture and sugar. Waxy potatoes have smoother, thinner skin that you can easily scratch off.
Varieties of waxy potatoes include: Red-skinned, blue, purple, heirloom, and fingerling potatoes.
All-Purpose Potatoes
Some potatoes fall in-between starchy and waxy, making them generally all-purpose. These include Yukon gold, red gold, and more exotic varieties, like Kennebec and Norland red, and purple majesty.
Vegan Hearty Potato Soup
For this recipe, I like to use a combination of starchy and waxy potatoes. The starchy ones fall apart and act as a thickener, while the waxy potatoes hold their shape for a chunky, hearty soup.
Sweet orange essential oil is cold-pressed from the rinds of oranges, or Citrus sinensis. It contains 85-90% d-limonene, which imparts the bright aroma as well as many therapeutic benefits. A favorite for diffusing, orange essential oil blends well with many other aromas and is uplifting and deodorizing. But there are so many other ways to use orange essential oil! Check out 10 of my favorite ways use orange essential oil.
A word of caution: Orange essential oil contains furanocoumarins and is phototoxic. Use caution with any topical applications and avoid going into the sun for several hours after application. (Learn more here.) Additionally, if you are allergic to oranges, use extreme caution and perform a patch test before using this essential oil. Because it is cold-pressed and not steam distilled, there is a risk of allergenicity for those who are allergic to citrus.
Beauty and Hygiene
Make a Body Polish
Orange essential oil is loaded with antioxidant constituents that scavenge free radicals. This can help prevent signs of aging and keep skin healthy. Plus, it has even been found to be effective on reducing acne and other skin complaints. Try my recipe for this Smoothing Body Polish with orange essential oil.
Give Those Locks a Shine
With all those antioxidants, orange oil is also very good for your hair. Its anti-inflammatory effects can soothe an irritated scalp, while it also stimulates growth at the roots. Plus, it smooths dry, brittle hair and adds amazing shine (not to mention the great aroma). Just add a few drops of orange essential oil into your leave-in conditioner, hair tonic, or heat protectant to enjoy the benefits.
Health
Freshen Breath
The aroma of orange oil can combat bad breath, promote healthy gums, and reduce dental inflammation. Gargle this simple solution a few times a week or even daily to promote better oral hygiene.
Combine ingredients in a small jar or glass and stir to combine. Gargle mixture immediately for 30 seconds to one minute, and spit into the sink.
Soothe Inflamed Feet
Feet tired from walking or standing all day? Give them a relaxing massage with this recipe. The orange essential oil will combat inflammation and reduce edema to relax those sore feet. Combine 3 tablespoons sesame oil with 8 drops orange essential oil. Massage the mixture into feet (or better yet, get someone else to do it for you).
Kick a Cold
You wake up with that tell-tale scratchy throat. Or maybe you are just feeling run-down. You’re getting sick. Take action right away to give your immune system a boost and kick the cold before it gets you down. Orange essential oil is extremely beneficial for strengthening the immune system. To reap these benefits, you can add some drops of orange oil into some soothing hot tea or other beverage, or place it in a capsule and swallow. According to the study referenced above, the combination of orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary is even more powerful.
Emotions
Let Go of Fear
Orange essential oil is great for helping with release of fear and anxiety over a situation. Use orange oil in your diffuser or inhale a few drops from your palms while focusing on letting go of fearful thoughts.
Stimulate Energy and Creativity
The bright aroma of orange is very uplifting to the emotions. Diffusing orange essential oil in your office may help you overcome the afternoon slump and get the creative juices flowing. Plus, the boost in energy will increase productivity as well. If you prefer a roller blend, check out this post for some great recipes for motivation!
Cleaning
Freshen Sink and Tub Drains
Orange oil offers a quick and simple way to get rid of nasty odors from your sink and tub drains. Simply place a few drops of oil directly in the drain and allow to sit for at least an hour before turning the water on.
Boost Your Household Cleaner
A few drops of orange essential oil in your all-purpose cleaner will give it an extra cleaning boost and an invigorating citrus aroma. Or if you run out of your favorite cleaner, just use 4-6 drops of orange essential oil mixed with 8 oz. of water.
Freshen Your Carpet
Need to freshen carpet and remove odors? Check out Spring Cleaning DIYs for a recipe that’s sure to leave carpet smelling fresh and clean.
A quick Google or Pinterest search for a great fall-is-in-the-air diffuser blend will turn up a variety of spicy combinations. Blends with clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and other pumpkin pie-esque essential oils. But what if that just isn’t your jam, or if you want something a little different? I decided to come up with some unique fall diffuser blends that aren’t pumpkin spice or apple pie. To take it a step further, these blends all feature essential oils that may sit on your shelf and not get used all that often.
There is so much variety when it comes to essential oils. One of the most amazing things about oils is the sheer volume of options we have available. To think that each and every essential oil distilled from a plant has its own set of unique properties and aroma. But come on, there are some essential oils that we just don’t know that much about. I’m talking about the oils that would be dead last in a schoolyard pick.
Let’s pull hinoki, ravintsara, and tsuga off the shelf and find out what they’re good for. Xiang Mao, hong kuai, and lemon myrtle have all been patiently waiting their turn for a spin in the diffuser. Check out these fall blends as well as a bit about the benefits of these lesser-known essential oils.
Fall Retreat
Featured essential oil: Hinoki
Hinoki
Hinoki essential oil comes from a Japanese tree in the cypress family with a mild, earthy aroma. Its dominant constituent is alpha-pinene, which is great for skin as well as grounding, centering the mind, and promoting calmness. One study showed that inhaling hinoki actually increases parasympathetic nervous activity, thereby decreasing feelings of agitation and stress.
This blend is perfect for winding down after a busy day or for encouraging a peaceful night’s rest.
4 drops Idaho grand fir
3 drops lime
3 drops hinoki
Chilly Morning Wake Up Call
Featured essential oils: Tsuga and Lemon Myrtle
Tsuga
Tsuga is a conifer (pine) tree commonly known as hemlock. The dominant constituents of bornyl acetate and alpha-pinene impart a minty, piney aroma and make this essential oil a fantastic free radical scavenger. It is also great for the respiratory system and for stimulating the senses.
Lemon myrtle comes from Australia, where it is prized for culinary and medicinal purposes. It has a very bright, lemony aroma that is extremely invigorating and uplifting. The most notable characteristic of lemon myrtle is the high concentration of citral. This constituent is known for its benefits for regulating body glucose levels and promoting healthy body weight.
Diffuse this citrusy blend on those cool fall days when you just want to pull the covers over your head. It’ll have you up and at ’em in no time.
Xiang mao is a grass from Taiwan that is closely related to lemongrass with a pleasant aroma that is not quite as strong. It is great for respiration and especially for purifying the air.
Ravintsara
Ravintsara is high in eucalyptol and we see it in respiratory blends. Like xiang mao, it is great for purifying and clarifying. It also helps clear brain fog and uplifts the spirits. Learn more about ravintsara essential oil here.
This blend will infuse your home or office with a breath of fresh, crisp air.
Hong kuai is another tree in the cypress family. It grows in high altitudes of Taiwan and contains constituents that are relaxing and supportive of the respiratory system. It has a very pungent, earthy aroma, so it is best diffused with essential oils that can tame it down a bit.
This woodsy blend is great for freshening a room with the aroma of the great outdoors.
Mexican Roasted Chickpeas are a quick and simple snack. They are great to munch on by themselves or served atop salads or in other dishes. You can very the taste of these by using different spice combinations. Start with your chickpeas, and then simply add the spices!
Health Benefits of Chickpeas
Chickpeas were originally cultivated in the Mediterranean and Middle East, and are also known as garbanzo beans. Their influence on global cuisine is legendary spreading worldwide being used in soups, dips, salads, and have soared in popularity recently as a flour.
Chickpeas have a wide variety of potential health benefits.
High in Fiber
The high levels of fiber found in chickpeas may help to lower blood sugars in people with type 1 diabetes, and studies have shown that people who consume plenty of fiber have lower blood sugar levels.
In people with Type 2 diabetes, high fiber diets may improve lipids and blood sugar as well as insulin levels.
High fiber diets also help you to stay fuller long, and act as building agents in the digestive system. This means that you can stay fuller longer and thereby reduce calorie intake.
Sadly only a small fraction of adult Americans consume enough fiber, so Mexican Roasted Chickpeas are an easy way to boost your daily intake.
Bone Health
Chickpeas contain high levels of calcium, manganese, zinc, vitamin K, and phosphate all of which help to build and maintain the bones.
Calcium is the key building block, manganese, iron, and zinc help to build the bone matrix, and vitamin K supports absorption of calcium.
Heart Health
Large amounts of chickpeas in the diet may help to lower low-density lipoprotein. Minerals like potassium and vitamins like vitamins C and B6 all support heart health.
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Gut Health Impacts Your Overall Health In So Many Ways.
If you experience any of these conditions, it may be time for you to take a closer look at the health of your gut and microbiome:
Acne
Anxiety
Autoimmune Conditions
Brain Fog
Fatigue
Joint & Muscle Pain
Chronic Headaches & Migraines
This handout breaks down the 5 R's of Healing Leaky Gut to walk you through 5 steps to getting your gut health under control to experience better overall health.
