Coconut Butter Truffles

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Coconut butter truffles!

Here is a great and simple recipe to create some coconut truffles to go along with your chocolate truffles.

Coconut Butter Truffles

Coconut Butter Truffles

1 cup coconut butter (like Artisana)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4-6 drops mint, lemon, lime, or wild orange essential oil*

Truffle Coatings

shredded coconut
crushed peppermint candy
chopped nuts

Microwave coconut butter 30 seconds to 1 minute.  Stir until thoroughly mixed.

With a wire whisk, stir in powdered sugar and essential oils.  Mixture will thicken as it cools.

Scoop into balls using a spoon or small gauge cookie dough scooper and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet.  Refrigerate a few minutes, and then roll in your hands to smooth into bite-sized truffles.  Roll in coating of choice.

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*Use only PURE essential oils.  Check the label to be sure they are safe for internal use.

E-mail me for a free sample of the essential oil of your choice.

Pocket Hand Warmers

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Pocket hand warmers!

I'm one of those people that does not do well in the cold.  No matter how high I turn up the thermostat, my hands and toes are always frozen.  Here's a great idea to keep warm during these chilly winter days.  And these are the perfect size for stocking stuffers.

Pocket Hand Warmers

Pocket Hand Warmers

flannel fabric
thread
uncooked rice
essential oil (optional)

Cut two pieces of fabric 5 1/2" by 4 1/2".  Sew right sides together, leaving an opening at one end.  Turn right side out and fill with uncooked rice.  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.  OnGuard and Holiday Joy essential oil blends have a nice Christmas-y smell.  Lavender is always soothing.  And Balance has a nice, woodsy scent.  Sew the open end up, and you are finished.  Include a small card with instructions to heat in the microwave for 1 minute.

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E-mail me for a free sample of your choice of essential oil.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas!

Peppermint Ribbon Cake

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Peppermint ribbon cake!

And on a personal note, my true love and I are celebrating our 23rd anniversary today. :)  True love lasts.

Peppermint Ribbon Cake

Peppermint Ribbon Cake

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) white cake mix
3-4 drops peppermint essential oil*
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons crushed peppermint candies, divided
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon 2% milk

Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Transfer 1 cup to a small bowl; stir in the extract, food coloring and 1/2 cup crushed candies.
Spoon 2 cups of remaining batter into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Carefully top with peppermint batter; do not swirl. Top with remaining plain batter.
Bake at 350° for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
Combine confectioners' sugar and milk; drizzle over cake. Sprinkle with remaining crushed candies. Yield: 12 servings.

Recipe adapted from A Taste of Home

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*Use only PURE essential oils. Check the label to be sure it is safe for internal use.

E-mail me for a free sample of peppermint essential oil. And be sure to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Chocolate Truffles

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Decadent chocolate truffles!

Truffles are the simplest candies to make, and with a couple of holiday flavorings, they can help bring the Christmas spirit.

Chocolate Truffles

Basic Truffle Ingredients

8 ounces of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate (high quality, 62% cacao or higher), well chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Optional Flavorings

3-4 drops peppermint essential oil*
3-4 drops wild orange essential oil*
3-4 drops cinnamon or cassia essential oil*

Truffle Coatings

Cocoa powder
Powdered sugar
Finely chopped walnuts or almonds

1 In a small, heavy saucepan bring the heavy whipping cream to a simmer (this may take a while, be sure to stir and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula every few minutes). Add essential oils (if using) and mix.

2 Place the chocolate in a separate bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate. Add the vanilla only if you're not using essential oils. Allow to stand for a few minutes , and then stir until smooth.

3 Allow to cool, then place in the refrigerator for two hours. Remove and with a teaspoon roll out balls. Roll in your hands quickly (as it will melt from the heat of your hands) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

4 Roll in cocoa powder or chopped nuts and serve, or place back in the refrigerator until needed.

Makes 30-40 chocolate truffles.

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*Use only PURE essential oils.  Check the label to be sure it is safe for internal use.

E-mail me for a free sample of the essential oil of your choice.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Lavender Eye Pillow

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A soothing lavender eye pillow!

The scent of lavender helps you fall asleep.  This eye pillow is great for a quick nap, relaxation, to ease a stress headache, or to add scent to your lingerie drawer.  Make some to give away, but be sure to keep one for yourself!

Lavender Eye Pillow

Lavender Eye Pillow

Fabric of choice
Flax seed or dry rice
3-4 drops lavender essential oil

Cut fabric approximately 8" x 10".  Fold in half and sew inside out three sides.  Turn right side out and fill with flax seed or dry rice.  Add lavender oil.  Finish sewing the fourth side.

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E-mail me for a free sample of lavender essential oil.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Peppermint Bark

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Peppermint bark!

This is such a simple, easy way to bring the holiday spirit into your home.  It's a great gift for others, and it's a wonderful treat to add to your cookie platter.

Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Bark

• 12 oz. of high-quality white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips
• 5 regular sized candy canes, crushed up
• 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil*

1. Break up peppermint candy into little pieces. Melt the chocolate according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once melted, add the peppermint oil and stir.

2. Pour the melted chocolate out onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and spread out with a spatula or wooden spoon. Sprinkle the peppermint candy chunks on to the chocolate and gently press them in with yours hands.

3. Place in the freezer for 5 minutes or until hardened. Break into pieces and serve or store in the fridge in an airtight container.

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*Use only PURE essential oils.  Check the label to be sure it is safe for internal use.

E-mail me for a free sample of peppermint essential.  And be sure to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Lemon Lavender Cookies

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Lemon lavender cookies!

Here's another delicious recipe to try this holiday season.

Lemon Lavender Cookies

Lemon Lavender Cookies


3 1/4 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. butter
4-6 drops lemon essential oil*
4-6 drops lavender essential oil*
3 eggs
1 tsp baking powder


Cream butter and sugar, then ad lemon and lavender essential oils.
 Add eggs one at a time.
Add dry ingredients.
If the mix is too soft: cover and chill for 15-30 minutes.  If the mix is too dry: add milk one tablespoon at a time until the dough is wet and soft enough to pass through a cookie press.
Fill your cookie press with your dough, using whatever shape for your cookie you would like and press onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Alternatively – drop by the heaping spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes, or until puffed and slightly browned on the edges.  Transfer to a cooling rack.

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*Use only PURE essential oils.  Check the label to be sure it is safe for internal use.

E-mail me for a free sample of the essential oil of your choice.  And come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.