DIY!: Lemon grass All Purpose Healing Salve

This is a great salve for eczema, diaper rash and itchy skin! When I first posted this I said it was great for dry winter skin but, it actually dried out my hands a bit. Not such a good thing for me when I wash my hands a lot.
It is great on all kinds of rashes and bug bites!
It does go on greasy but, doesn't stay that way for long.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup lemon balm infused olive oil
1/2 cup lavender infused coconut oil
4 vitamin e capsules
4 tablespoons beeswax
lemon grass essential oil
tea tree essential oil

2 four ounce jars to put finished product in.

Directions:

Combine oils and beeswax in a double boiler melt over medium heat until all the beeswax melts in nice and smooth. Remove from heat and pour into containers.
To each container add 10 drops of lemon grass essential oil, 6 drops of tea tree oil,and the vitamin e oil.I take and poke a small hole in the end of the vitamin e capsules and then just squeeze out the insides.
I always set the lids on the jars while they cool to keep all the essential oil vapors in while it cools and then tighten them when cool.

DIY:Soft Cinnamon Raisin bagels (Bread Machine)

Having a bread machine has really been a blessing. Not only am I making all our bread but I am  also making all our bread products. I loved the way these bagels turned out,so I thought I would share the recipe.

Soft Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Ingredients:
2 1/2 tsp rapid rise yeast or bread machine yeast
2 1/2 cups white flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup pre-soaked raisins  ( I just soak them in hot water for 10 min, then drain)

Egg wash
1 egg
1 tablespoon water

Directions:
Place ingredients into bread machine in the order that is recommended by your bread machine. Select the dough setting. Add raisins in before end of last kneading cycle (my machine beeps when ts time). When done remove dough from machine and place on a floured surface.
Divide into 8 equal balls, then use your thumb to make the center of bagel and stretch into a bagel shape. This batch doesn't have holes in the center, because my boyfriend doesn't like to lose butter in the hole!

Let rise on a baking sheet sprinkled with corn meal so they don't stick. It takes about an hour or so for mine to rise up big and fluffy.

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
Make up egg wash and brush the bagels with it or you can use a little vegetable spray.
Let bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

For What Ails You: Ear Ache Oil

For the last few weeks we have had illnesses running rampant in this house.It started with the stomach flu hitting the kiddos followed by days of high fevers, body aches and now an ear ache for me! I always reach for the essential oils first and they have always been very effective. So, I thought I would share a recipe for  ear ache oil.

Ear Ache Oil

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon lavender infused oil

5 drops tea tree essential oil

Directions:

Add 5 drops of  tea tree essential oil to one tablespoon of lavender infused oil and mix.

Apply oil behind ear and down the side of the neck. Place a drop of it in your ear and put a cotton ball in your ear, being careful not to put it in there too far. I  put mine just inside my ear to keep in the vapors. 

If you don't have infused lavender oil you can use 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil and 5 drops of lavender essential oil.

This is by no means medical advice, it is just a good natural remedy. Always do your research on essential oils before using them and consult a doctor to make sure this method is right for you!