Fresh Basil Pesto

Thanks to some landscaping changes last summer we moved our herb garden. That means I took advantage of as many fresh herbs from the garden as I could while I had the chance. If you’ve never made your own fresh basil pesto, you have to try it. It’s easy and by adding just a drop of basil essential oil to it you can find another way to experience the benefits of essential oils. Basil essential oil has a spicy and herbal aroma that can help with memory function as well as reduce stress and tension. Basil provides restorative benefits to both the mind and body due to its high linalool content. That gives me a perfect excuse to add a drop to every batch of pesto I make and I made a lot during the summer.
Combine the following in a food processor, chopping the basil and pine nuts first, then add in cheese and garlic before adding in the olive oil and if you are including it a drop of basil essential oil. Finish it off by adding salt and pepper to taste.
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1 drop Basil essential oil
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 medium garlic cloves
Salt and Pepper to taste
Enjoy. I like to serve mine on pasta or spread over a little toast.
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Natural Stain Remover

Want another natural stain remover for your laundry?  Try this one out.  Combine a half cup of vinegar with about 20 drops of lemon essential oil for a safe stain removing alternative.  Just soak the stain with your solution before throwing it into the wash.  Lemon essential oil is pretty powerful too.  Did you know you can remove permanent marker from a dry erase board with a little lemon oil?  Who knew?

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Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park

To quote Hippocrates, "Nature itself is the best physician".   This photo was taken with my iPhone at Oxbow Bend in the Grand Teton National Park.  The view is just too amazing for words.

Cucumber Salsa

With the internal cleansing benefits of lemon, lime and cilantro oils you really can’t go wrong enjoying cucumber salsa. We made this for a recent gathering and it was gone before we could get it to the table. Who knew eating healthy could taste this good?

2 cups chopped cucumber

1/2 cup chopped tomato

1 chopped anaheim pepper

1/4 cup onion (Red or Green)

1/8 cup minced fresh parsley

1 garlic clove minced

1/4 cup sour cream or plain greek yogurt

6 drops lemon essential oil

3 drops lime essential oil

1 drop cilantro essential oil

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp salt (we use pure sea salt that has not been treated with any anti-caking agents)

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Tea Time

I love a good cup of tea. Earl Grey is my favorite. Now that I always keep bergamot essential oil on hand, I can turn any cup of ordinary black tea into Earl Grey. Bergamot has long been used for it's calming and soothing aroma. When my stress levels get high I love reaching for a cup of this wonderful smelling tea to unwind.

Finest Moments

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”  Scott Peck

Power of Being Still