World Baking Day

May 17th is world baking day. I love to bake. I love to bake sweets. I love to bake sweets because I like to eat sweets. I have the best chocolate chip cookie recipe in the world.

I don't share it.

It's that good.


Seriously.


It will get passed down to my children's children's children. It really is one of my favorite things to bake-- Near instant gratification.



My husband woos me with bread pudding--
It was the dessert we had on our first date.
It was my first time trying it and the moans and food-gasm has had my husband making it for me every few years

This was this year's Mother's Day Bourbon Bread Pudding with Drunk Raisins and a bourbon cream sauce (not pictured).

Happy Baking Y'all.

Bourbon Bread Pudding with drunk raisins with a Bourbon cream sauce.

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Danger of Ingestion of Essential Oils and the fleecing by MLM companies

My Point of View

I use essential oils in my life. I am a believer. My favorite thing to do is to turn on the diffuser in my bedroom mid afternoon with lavender essential oil and my the time my husband and I turn in our room is a relaxing, pleasantly scented oasis. We sleep better and enjoy the scent. I like knowing it is not full of other 'junk' that lurks in commercial air fresheners or candles. I have tremendous respect for essential oils and have taken baby steps in incorporating them into my life. I have a lot to learn about them. I am most excited about essential oils is making my own bath and beauty products. I enjoy a wonderful sandalwood scented bath using a packet I purchased at my health food store. The thrifty woman in me knows I can totally make that. I know I can. :) 

I've been able to manage illnesses, my migraines, anxiety by diffusing and using in a carrier oil at the proper dilution rates. I take care avoid a list of EOs for my child as they are cautioned against use in children under 12. I never ingest or take EOs orally. The fad of MLM companies suggesting ingestion is to increase sales for their vastly overpriced oils makes me see red. Taking advantage of others does not set well with me, especially when injecting a religious slant to it.

One Item Switch Out -- May 2015

Switch it out

Slowly over the past few months I have given up my nonstick cookware and have switched over to cast iron and stainless steel--- Cast iron is fairly easy to find online and easy to strip & re-season (most new cast iron is seasoned with GMO soybean oil).

While many stores sell stainless steel cookware, however I lucked out and found some pieces at thrift stores for well under Ebay prices. I am learning how to cook on stainless steel and while I am using a bit more of my Nourishing Traditions oil blend, I am feeling better about avoiding nonstick cookware.

What are ONE item will you be switching out in May forever and ever..?