Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars!

12.17.2010



Recipe:

Cake Part:
1 c.  -  Butter (softened)
1 1/4 c.  - Brown Sugar
3  -  Eggs
1 1/4 tsp.  -  Ginger Powder
1/4 tsp.  -  Salt
1 1/2 c.  -  Flour
1/2 c.  -  Cranberries (Chopped)
6 oz.  -  White Chocolate Chips
1 tsp.  -  Vanilla Extract
1/4 c.  -  Orange Juice

Frosting Part:

8 oz.  -  Cream Cheese (Softened)
3 c.  -  Confections Sugar
4 Tb.  -  Butter (Softened)
2 tsp.  -  Vanilla Extract
3/4 c.  -  Cranberries
1 Tb.  -  Orange Juice

Directions:

Cake:
Pre-heat oven to 350F. Prep cookie sheet. Lightly spray cookie sheet with flour spray. Then top with wax paper. The spray helps with removing your wax sheet easier from your pan. It also helps it stick without sliding around when adding batter.

In a large mixing bowl add softened butter, brown sugar, orange juice, vanilla, eggs. Lightly blend. Then add salt, ginger, flour. Blend well till all clumps are gone. Then add cranberries - blend. Lastly add white chocolate chips - blend. Pour onto cookie sheet and spread out evenly. Place in oven for about 15-20 depending on your oven, till lightly golden.

Remove from oven and allow to cool. I cool mine on a cookie rack.

Frosting:
In another mixing bowl add softened cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla, and orange juice - mix. Then add powdered sugar. Mix well. Lastly add cranberries - Mix. I find this goes faster with a hand blender.

When the cake part is completely cool cut into triangles. Add frosting then garnish with a few extra chopped cranberries on top.

Tips & Suggestions:
You can just frost the whole sheet and cut later but I find it make a lot more of a mess. Individually frosting the bars looks much prettier. Whether you are making these for yourself or for a gift I suggest these are chilled in the freezer for about 5 min before you cover with plastic wrap. This will prevent frosting from sticking too much. If you have a hard container that doesn't touch the bars then you can skip that step. I do however keep my bars in the frig till ready to eat. This keeps the frosting stiff and they get tastier with age. So if you bake these ahead of time and chill them in the frig over night they will taste even better... I think it's the frosting softening the cake!

Hope you enjoy!
If you make some we would love to hear how yours turned out and see photos! Post them here!

Air Freshener

12.05.2010


What you'll need:
  • 1 Spray Bottle (new unused would be best)
  • Distilled Water
  • Vodka or Witch Hazel (I'm using Vodka, it's cheap)
  • Essential oils and/or fragrance oils
  • Pipette or Teaspoon (for measuring essentials or fragrances)
  • Label
  • Packing Tape (to put over label and apply to bottle)
  • Measuring Cup

Recipe:

1 c  -  Distilled Water
1/3 c  -  Vodka or Witch Hazel
2-3 mL. Essential Oil or Fragrance ( or 2tsp)
 

Ready for making air fresheners! Coffee is also a must!

Ready to pour my liquids, I would use a funnel if you have one. I sadly didn't have one and just used my measuring glass.

Pouring straight in bottle.


Lastly I added my essential oils. You can add more or less depending on what you use and how strong you want yours to be.


Directions:
This recipe is VERY simple and cheap. Just measure and pour into your spray bottle. Blending possibilities are endless. I chose a cranberry cinnamon scent for one and pine needle with mahogany for the other.

Note:  Just remember to keep this out of children's reach, especially if you use vodka in yours. And if you plan to make as gifts, make a warning label too... drinking this with added essentials and fragrances can be harmful and should not be consumed. Also remember to shake your bottle well before each use as oils and water do not stay mixed. Ours smell fantastic! Where to find supplies? Our bottle came from the dollar tree. Essentials oils can be found at local natural grocery stores or online. Fragrances can be found in any candle section at stores, like walmart.  If you use witch hazel, that also can be found anywhere, like walmart in their pharmacy department.

Hope you enjoy! We would love to hear from you too! If you make one please send us your photos and what scents you made!

Toothbrushing Powder

12.01.2010

4 1/2 Tb.  - Kaolin Clay
4 1/2 Tb.  - Baking Soda
2 Tb.    - Dead Sea Salt (fine)
1/2 tb.   -  Dried Sage (powdered)
18 drops Spearmint Essential Oil

10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil







In a small bowl mix kaolin clay and baking soda together. Then add fine Dead Sea salt. Next add dried sage powder. Alternately you can use dried sage leaves and grind it yourself using a mortar or coffie grinder. Just be sure it’s a fine powder… Lastly add your spearmint and peppermint essential oils, do not use a fragrance oil. Blend well with a metal spoon or whisk till all clumps are removed. Pour into a clean, dry jar – mason jars work great! When ready to use, just sprinkle a small bit into the palm of your hand. Wet tooth brush and then dip your toothbrush into the powder in your hand. (Keep unused powder away from water! This will help it not grow bacteria, Eeww) Brush, Spit, and rinse mouth well!

Info about this powder, Kaolin Clay is actually used in the polish dentist use. This mixture can actually prevent plaque buildup and promote healthy gums. Baking soda is a great cleansing agent and has been used so for centuries.  Sage helps white teeth. Dead Sea salt, is said to freshen your breath, ward off infection, even whiten your teeth slightly. While peppermint & spearmint oil can't reverse the effects of gum disease, they can delay the process of gingivitis, reduce bacteria, and bleeding associated with gum disease.
Note: This info is a collection of gathered material. I make no personal medical claims. If you are unsure about using this consult with a doctor. However for the all natural seeker I personally think this is a great and affordable alternative to toothpaste. It leaves your teeth feeling very clean and fresh. You can actually feel the tingling as it cleans!
This powder is awesome but be prepared it is a bit salty. If you can get past the the first few seconds it’s not bad at all… just thought I would let ya know!

Hope you enjoy! And please leave me your thoughts and comments. If you made your own send in your photos on here or our facebook page!
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