Carrot Crazy – 2 Awesome Organic Recipes You Will Love
08 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, organic food, recipes Tags: Carrot, Coconut milk, Cooking, olive oil, Potato, Soup
Ok, yes I know I am getting a little carried away with the recipes but I keep getting asked to share some of the dishes we make at home, so here you go!
I love carrots and I often juice them and shred them in salads, mashed potatoes and carrot bread. Here are some easy to make carrot recipes you can make with little to no effort and its kid and toddler approved!
Carrot Crazy™ Soup
18 organic unpeeled carrots, chopped
1 organic sweet potato, chopped
1 organic potato
1 small squash or zucchini, sliced
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of organic allspice (pimenta dulce)
2 large peeled and chopped onions
1 handful of raw almonds
2 cups of organic coconut milk
2 cups of water
Salt to taste
Place all washed ingredients (except nuts) into a pot and bring to a boil, then cover a simmer on low for 20 to 25 minutes. Once the soup is cooled down a bit, place in a food processor or blender along with raw nuts, I use my Vitamix which blends everything in just a few seconds. Blend until smooth and enjoy!
Patatas Ala Carrot™
10 medium-sized washed and semi peeled organic potatoes
2 cloves of garlic, mashed in mortar and pestle or pressed
2 tablespoons of organic extra virgin coconut oil or organic olive oil
1/4 cup of organic coconut milk
small tiny pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
salt to taste
2 organic carrots washed and shredded
Cook your potatoes. Once cooked smash lightly with a fork or masher. Mix in the rest of the ingredients until well blended and enjoy!
This Carrot Crazy minute was brought to you by La Chica Organica – Making healthier families one recipe at a time!
Inexpensive DIY Herbal Face Masks
07 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Beauty and Skin Care, God's Green Herbs, Green Living, recipes Tags: herb mask, herbal face mask, natural mask, olive oil, rosemary
If you have normal to dry skin and keep it cleansed and toned regularly, you need only occasionally use face masks for deeper cleansing and conditioning. If your skin is particularly oily you could use a face mask about once a week to tone the skin, particularly after steaming the face. When you have chosen and made your recipe, spread the mask mixture evenly over clean skin, avoiding the delicate areas around the eyes and lips. Lie down and relax, leaving it on for about ten minutes or until it sets. Rinse off thoroughly with tepid water and apply toners or fresheners to enhance the tonic effect. Herbal infusions to suit your skin type can be mixed with fuller’s earth to make “mud” packs. 
- An oatmeal face mask
- This recipe combines two ingredients-oat-meal and almonds-traditionally regarded as deep-cleansing agents that are highly beneficial to the complexion. You can use prepared almond meal or you can make it by grinding almonds to a fine powder in a blender or food processor. For a smoother-textured mask, substitute the special colloidal oatmeal sold at the drugstore. Refrigerate the leftover infusion and use it as a face wash.
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
- 1 1/2 tablespoons regular oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon almond meal
Pour the boiling water over the rosemary, steep for 15 minutes, and strain. In a separate bowl, crumble the dried oatmeal with your fingers; then mix in the almond meal. Add just enough of the rosemary infusion to make a thick paste. To use the mask, first wash your face and steam it or apply a warm, wet washcloth for a few minutes. Gently spread the paste on your face, avoiding the eyes and lips. Leave the mask on for 15 to 30 minutes, letting it dry completely. Wash it off with a soft cloth soaked in lukewarm water.
An astringent mask. For oily skin, substitute an astringent, tannin-rich herb such as agrimony, lady’s-mantle, raspberry leaf, or yarrow for the rosemary.
A stimulating mask. Instead of rosemary, use peppermint, elderberry flower, eucalyptus leaf, or some other herb that has an invigorating effect on the skin.
A smoothing mask. To help soften rough, dry skin, heat 1 or 2 teaspoons flaxseed, kelp, or another mucilage-rich herb in water until it thickens. Then add it to the oatmeal-almond mixture instead of the rosemary infusion. Dampen the dry mixture with a little water first. Aloe vera gel can also be substituted.
A richer mask. For dry skin, substitute an egg yolk mixed with 1/4 cup honey for the rosemary infusion. If the mask is too thick to apply easily, add a little milk or yogurt.
- Papaya skin treatment
- The enzyme in papaya (a fruit that resembles a melon) helps remove dried flaky skin. Do not leave the papaya on your face too long, since it also tends to dry the skin.
- 1 wedge of papaya fruit
Cut a wedge from a ripe fruit and save the rest to eat. Scrape off the seeds. Scoop out the fruit pulp and mash it. Smooth the pulp over your face. After a couple of minutes, wipe it off with a washcloth. Splash your face with cool water.
MASKS FOR OILY SKIN
Egg white and lemon face mask-
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Beat the egg white stiff, and add a few drops of lemon juice and the honey.
- Brewer’s yeast and witch hazel face mask
-
- 4 oz (120 g) brewer’s yeast
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) witch hazel
- 2-3 drops peppermint oil
Mix together into a paste and apply.
- Strawberry face mask
-
- 4 oz (120 g) mashed fresh strawberries
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) powdered milk
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice
Mix together and apply. Rinse off with a little lemon juice or cider vinegar in warm water.
MASKS FOR DRY SKIN
- Brewers yeast and comfrey face mask
-
- 3 teaspoons (15 ml) ml strong comfrey leaf infusion
- 1 teaspoon runny honey
- 1 teaspoon brewer’s yeast
- 1 teaspoon natural yoghurt
- 1 teaspoon avocado or olive oil
Blend together the honey and yeast. Then add the yogurt and comfrey, stirring until it makes a paste. Pat your face with the oil then apply the paste.
- Egg yolk and olive oil face mask
-
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Beat the two ingredients together, and apply.
Sources:
Herbs2000
LCO Herbal Reference Guide
What do carrots, cucumber and bananas have in common? Find out why you should be using natures bounty as a first resort for your skin?
10 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in Beauty and Skin Care, organic food, Preggo Mama, recipes Tags: Carrot, Cucumber, Facial, natural facials, olive oil, organic Beauty
Image via Wikipedia
You know there is so much to remember these days. Between the pesticides in fruits, the cancer causing ingredients in cosmetics, the bigger and better super duper fish oil supplement they want you to invest in and the toxic chemicals that seep into my breast milk; I get a little frazzled. Thank God I am a wellness educator so most of this stuff is easy peasy to me but lately, being sleep deprived, working full time, and nursing full time has really taken a toll on my sanity.
I find myself forgetting my keys in the fridge when I go grab a glass of water. At the grocery store I stare blankly at the green leafy vegetables and wonder where I put my grocery list, only to remember a few minutes later that I typed it into my phone.
At the same time I call my daughter by my sons name and visa-versa. My daughter actually got snappy with me one day and complained saying “Mommy, but I don’t have a pi-pi” A few minutes earlier I told her to go and wash up and not to forget to soap well around her pi-pi.
She started complaining and I kept saying just go and do as you’re told and stop talking back. Oh my Goodness, it was madness and very hysterical. All this was happening while I was cooking, rocking baby on my hip and talking to grandma trying to explain to her that the plantain she is going to make tea with is not the one you cook with. Whew. I am tired already just recalling all of this, I think I need a nice nap or a house keeper would work too. Got one? Send her over, lolol.
If you have ever been in this predicament and you can’t remember anything to save your life then this article is for you.
Next time your at the store just pick up your regulars and be sure to include organic carrots, cucumber and bananas. Now you’ll have to remember this OK?
These three items are great for cleansing and treating the skin. Both men and women can do this, so guys don’t click away. You’d be surprised that my mucho macho husband indulges in these treatments from time to time as well and he is still a manly man except he’s got nicer skin.
OK so here is what you can do:
Carrot Facial – Carrots make a great astringent and they are high in vitamin A which is vital for healthy skin. Just place a carrot with the skin in your blender with the juice of a half a lemon. Blend and apply to oily skin several times a week. This is a great and super cheap facial you can do anytime.
Cucumber Facial – Cucumbers unlike what most people think are wonderful for bleaching and cleansing the skin naturally. It’s also a wonderful astringent. Just juice one cucumber or blend it in your blender if you don’t have a juicer. Apply to normal or oily skin and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes then rinse.
Banana Mask/Moisturizer – Blend a banana with 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and add in a few drops of lime juice to preserve. Keep in the fridge for 3 days. Use as a moisturizer or as a facial.
I hope you enjoy these recipes and are a little less stressed out about all the stuff you have to remember.
Blessings
A sleep deprived but happy Chica Organica – Remember to live life as a gift and give that gift away everyday!™
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How to Make Herbal Baby Wipes
10 Jan 2011 2 Comments
in Baby & Child Health, Beauty and Skin Care, God's Green Herbs, Green Living, Preggo Mama, recipes Tags: baby, herbal baby wipes, lavender, non toxic wipes, olive oil
You don’t have to be a baby to use these either.
Really, anyone that wants a nice gentle non-toxic cleanser will benefit from making their own cleansing cloths and tossing the toxic wipes which are loaded with cancer causing parabens and formaldehyde.
You will need:
-organic disposable cotton pads or you can make your own cloth squares by cutting organic cloth baby diapers into 3 equal parts and sewing around the edges. If you are too lazy to do that or your life is crazy busy like mine, just chop up a 100% die free cotton tee shirt into 5inch by 7inch rectangles.
-5inch by 7in glass dish with airtight cover or you can use the size you have available. When traveling you can use a smaller container or a resealable water proof cloth bag that replaces the traditional zip-lock bags or just use a small travel size baby wipes container like the one pictured above, but make sure its chemical free. No BPA, PVC or Phthalates please!
-1 pint of distilled water
-3 drops of essential oil of lavender
-3 drops of essential oil of rosemary
-3 drops of essential oil of calendula
-2 drops of organic tea tree oil
-1 tablespoon of organic almond or olive oil
-1/4 teaspoon of organic vinegar
-1/2 cup of 100% pure organic aloe vera gel you can purchase or make at home
To make:
Mix your essential oils in with the tablespoon of almond or olive oil. Add this mixture to the distilled water and add in the aloe and vinegar. Mix well then place your cloth pieces into your glass container and pour mixture over. Seal and use within one week. Store any extra solution in the fridge.
I know this might seem time-consuming and crazy but its the better choice for the environment and for your health. Why give the baby wipes manufactures money when they are using toxic ingredients in their products? Better yet, why expose your families skin to cancer causing solvents and ingredients?
**Note** I always keep extra liquid in my container with the wipes, because I use some to wash off our little one’s tush and I cleanse my face with the wipes as well from time to time.
**Travel Note**You can carry your cloth pieces with you in one of the containers or bags mentioned above and place your liquid mixture in a spray bottle. When its time for a facial cleanse or diaper change just spray your cloths with the desired amount and use right away. If you’re at home set dirty cloths aside in a wash pail with some soap and launder later in the day. If you are out and about, place the soiled wipes in a baggie until you get home.
Do you need more ideas and recipes for making your own wipes? Then check out these related articles I found for you.
- Handmade Cloth Baby Wipes (peasloveandcamelot.wordpress.com)
- Make Your Own Diaper Spray: Eco- and Wallet-Friendly (ecochildsplay.com)
- Cloth Wipes Solution (peasloveandcamelot.wordpress.com)
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Free Bare to Butter Tester & Free Organic Coupon Book – Over $18 in Savings
19 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
in Baby & Child Health, Beauty and Skin Care, God's Green Herbs, Green Living, Preggo Mama Tags: Beeswax, Butter Shea, cure for stretch marks, dry skin, Eczema, free coupon book, free offer, Herb, olive oil, Organic Coupons, Organic salve, organic snacks, stretch marks, vitamin e, wrinkles
Starting on September 27th until October 15th, if you order Moms Miraculous Salve™ in the 2 ounce signature tin you will receive a free coupon book full of great organic product coupons and a free sample of my Bare to Butter. Click here to order.
Moms Miraculous Salve™ is made with 100% organic ingredients because I don’t want my family or customers using toxic things. It can be used by the whole family and can be applied to cleaned wounds, sprains, bug bites, stings, sores, diaper rashes, and dry chapped skin. We use this instead of Neosporin.
This salve contains herbs that help draw out infection and reduce inflammation so its uses are endless and a must have for anyone who does not want to use toxic ointments or creams for everyday needs.
This salve is also very effective as a diaper rash ointment for baby and its the only one we use in our home. It’s really fantastic and keeps baby rash free all the time without the use of toxic creams.
For a limited time you will get a free .5 ounce tester signature tin of my Bare to Butter Shea body butter. This fantastic mix has all the uses that you want to have for it. I use my Bare to Butter to style my hair, for hair treatments, body wraps, body moisturizer, and so much more. This soft butter contains *Unrefined Shea butter, Vitamin E, *Beeswax, *Essential Oil of Lemon. *Organic Ingredient.
You can apply generously to wrinkles, dry skin, stretch marks, itchy skin & rashes, eczema, dermatitis and dry damaged hair and more. Use externally as often as needed for adults, children and infants.
For details on the free coupon book see below.
Soon you will able to order all La Chica Organica’s products on my new site that is up and coming. Until then please click here to order or email me at LaChicaOrganica@gmail.com for other ordering options.
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