Who's super excited for the holidays??? This girl right here is!! There is just something about the holidays with all the food, festivities, decorations and gathering of friends and family. Even though I am not the cook in the family I still enjoy cooking here and there. I personally like to keep it simple as can be. Since being introduced to using essentials oils in my health and home I have added them into my cooking and baking. One of my favorites to make using these amazing oils is Cranberry Orange Sauce and Peppermint Brownies. See below for recipe.
With so many uses of doTERRA essential oils, it’s hard to keep track of all the versatility. One incredible use you may not have considered is incorporating them into your cooking. Because of the high concentration of essential oils a little goes a long way, and the health benefits are bountiful.
Incorporating oils into your cooking does a number a wonderful things, some of which are:
- Enhancing flavor
- Providing the body with their health benefits
- Convenient and safe
There are specific oils we encourage you to consume. Oils like Basil, Thyme, Lemon, Ginger, etc. are great examples of delicious and beneficial oils to add to foods and even beverages. Of course, we encourage you check each and everyone bottle for directions on their use, as some are not meant to be consumed—like Wintergreen, for example. Another side note is not all oil brands are a like so make sure you are getting a certified pure theuraputic grade (CPTG) quality oil like doTERRA.
Because doTERRA oils are tested and retested for their consumption safety, you know you’re getting the best quality. Many companies add fillers and substitutions to enhance the scent and quantity of the oil, making them unsafe to ingest.
With the holidays just around the corner, nothing will make your family jump for joy quite like the warm scents of Cinnamon and Clove emanating from the kitchen. you can find incredible Thanksgiving recipes—like Citrus and Herb Butter Roasted Turkey, Apple Cream Cheese Rose Tarts, and more delicious and unique ideas that are sure to impress!
Since the oils themselves are highly concentrated, you really only need a few drops to gain the taste and full benefit of them, so your oils will keep. Another important thing to keep in mind is diluting your oils in some form of lipid—like olive, coconut, or another oil alike. Diluting makes it safe to consume the essential oil, but also helps with dispersing it throughout the dish for better flavor.
You also want to cook with volatile essential oils differently with hot dishes, as heat can destroy these fragile oils. Once you’ve finished cooking your dish, stir in your diluted essential oil. For your baked dishes, you’ll simply lose a bit of the properties, but not much is to be expected.
If you’re looking for ideas on which essential oils to start experimenting with adding to your dishes, try these:
- Basil: for a variety of dishes
- Bergamot: for teas (try mixing with honey)
- Cilantro: for a variety of dishes
- Cinnamon: for baking
- Ginger: for a variety of dishes and teas
- Lavender: for desserts and beverages
- Peppermint: for desserts and beverages
- Thyme: for a variety of dishes
Cranberry Orange Sauce
2-inch slice orange peel
1 drop whole clove essential oil
3 cups fresh (or frozen) cranberries
½ cup raw honey* ¾ cup water
½-inch slice fresh ginger, peeled or 1 drop of ginger essential oil
1. Stud orange peel with cloves. 2. Heat orange peel with cloves, cranberries, honey, water, and ginger in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cranberries are soft and sauce has slightly thickened. 3. Remove from heat. Remove orange peel with cloves and ginger from sauce; discard. Cool (if desired) and serve!
If you desire you can can also add a drop of wild orange essential oil to the mix. As mentioned before 1 drop of oil goes a long way so start with one drop and if you need to add more then do so til you find the taste to your liking.
Ok! So like I told you, I like to keep things simple. Here is how I make my peppermint fudge brownies. Are you ready????? Drum roll........Buy yourself a box of Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie mix. Follow direction on box and once mixed add 1-3 drops of CPTG Peppermint essential oil. And yep, that's it!! Once again one drop goes a long way to start off with a drop or two and then go from there. Depends on how strong you want the peppermint taste.
Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
- Preheat oven to 350°F for metal and glass pan, 325°F for dark or coated pan.*
- Grease bottom of pan.
- Empty brownie mix, eggs, water and oil in a large bowl.
- Stir until well blended (about 50 strokes).
- Add 1-3 drops of CPTG essential oil. Taste to your liking.
- Spread into greased pan and bake immediately.
If you would like more information on how to use essential oils in your health and home, please feel free to drop a message below or go to bottom of website page to submit a question. I would love to share these amazing oils with you.
