Chicken Caprese Casserole

 Drop me a 💗 if you’re a menu planner too? 

Now that the home childcare is closed I am not nearly as anal about it like Monday we are having this but I do sit down each Sunday to plan the 7 family dinners we will be having than I cook whatever I feel like from that list on any given day. 

Menu planning is especially important for me right now because Paul is still doing all the in person shopping since I can’t keep the mask in long enough to do a full shop so I need to make sure I have added everything I am gonna need cause he doesn’t have the same intuition to have his memory jogged in the aisle that we need something I forgot to put on the list - so if it’s not on the list he’s likely not to get it. Heck thanks to supply issues these days  sometimes even if it’s on the list he’s not likely to get it all …. like apparently slim pickings in the frozen veggie aisle poor Alex is getting so sick of salad as a side cause Paul can’t find some frozen veggies to toss his way 🙁 

If the pandemic had reinforced any skills it’s definitely the ability to learn to accept the things you can’t control and pivot as required to adapt! 

It was a slow lesson for me but I am getting there! 

 

Thankfully he just got home and found everything I needed to try this chicken caprese casserole recipe this week except the fresh Basil but I can add a drop of basil essential oil to compensate and add some spinach chopped for colour! With the no frozen veggies to be found I’ll figure out a side dish! I think air-fried asparagus might go nice!  

Bon Appetite 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Elf on the Shelf ~ Santa's Favorite Hot Chocolate

Elf on the Shelf ~  shared Santa's BEST Hot Chocolate recipe!

It has been an amazing month of Holiday Cheer

Santa could not be any prouder of you my dear

You’ve done every task of which Santa could think

So now it is time to sit back and enjoy my favorite drink

A cup of homemade hot chocolate that is so tasty and fine

It is a very delicious and dairy free recipe of mine

I am happy to share it before I had back to the North Pole

I cannot believe the time has come again for me to have to roll!

I will be back again next year at the start of December

With lots of fun tasks and Acts of Kindness for you to remember! 

 The kids were very excited ~ they wanted to make it for lunch however I persuaded them to wait until AFTER nap cause even though it is low sugar I would still rather have it right before we can run it off outside! 

Dairy Free Hot Chocolate 

Serves 1

What You Need

• 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk
• 1 Tbsp unsweetened pure cocoa powder
• 1.5 Tbsp dairy-free semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate square chopped
• Sweetener of choice ~ we use either coconut palm sugar or organic Stevia
• 1/8th tsp peppermint extract or essential oil
• Optional: Whipped Coconut Cream 

Instructions

• Add almond milk to a saucepan over medium heat.
• Once milk is heated through add the cocoa powder, chocolate chips and sweetener and whisk to combine.
• Continue cooking on stove top until completely combined and has reached your preferred temperature.
• Taste and adjust sweetness as needed.
• Lastly, add in your extract of choice – I think peppermint is truly unbeatable. 
• Stir, and top with whipped coconut cream

This has to be my new all time favorite drinks ~ going to have to make an encore tonight and add a splash of Baileys! 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life

Spotlight on Cinnamon and Clove

Another amazing BOGO from over at doTERRA® today ~ buy 1 Cinnamon and get 1 Clove for FREE!

 To help show why these two are also another MUST HAVE in your Essentials Kit here is a little spotlight on the benefits and uses for both!

Spotlight on Cinnamon Bark

Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Cinnamon has a long history of culinary uses, adding spice to desserts, entrees, and hot drinks. When diffused, Cinnamon cleanses the air of odours. 

 Uses

• Supports metabloic health
• Maintains a healthy immune system
• Naturally repels insects
• Long used to flavor foods and for its internal health benefits

  

Health Benefits of Cinnamon (source) 

The health benefits of cinnamon can be attributed to its antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, astringent and anticlotting properties. Cinnamon is rich in essential minerals such as manganese, iron and calcium, while also having a high content of fiber.

The health benefits of cinnamon include the following:

How to use Cinnamon Bark

• Brain Function: Cinnamon boosts the activity of the brain and makes it a good brain tonic. It helps to remove nervous tension and memory loss. Research at the Wheeling Jesuit University in the United States has proved that the scent of cinnamon has the ability to boost brain activity. The team of researchers, led by Dr. P. Zoladz, found that people who were given cinnamon improved their scores on cognitive activities such as attention span, virtual recognition memory, working memory, and visual-motor response speed.
• Blood purification: Cinnamon can also help to remove blood impurities. This also makes it a great treatment for pimples.
• Blood circulation: Cinnamon helps to improve the circulation of blood due to the presence of a blood thinning compound within cinnamon. This blood circulation helps to significantly reduce pain. Good blood circulation also ensures oxygen supply to the body’s cells, which leads to higher metabolic activity. You can significantly reduce the chance of suffering from a heart attack by regularly consuming cinnamon.
• Pain Relief: Cinnamon is also an anti-inflammatory substance, so it helps in removing stiffness of the muscles and joints. Cinnamon is also recommended for arthritis, and it is known to help in removing headaches that are caused by colds.
• Diabetes: Cinnamon has the ability to control blood sugar, so diabetics find it very useful because cinnamon aids them in using less insulin. Research has shown that it is particularly helpful for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes patients are not able to regulate their insulin levels properly. Researchers at the US Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland studied the effect of various food substances that include cinnamon on blood sugar levels. They found that a water-soluble polyphenol compound called MHCP, which is abundant in cinnamon, synergistically acted with insulin and helped in the better utilization of that vital component of human health.
• Infections: Due to its antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic properties, it is effective on treating external as well as internal infections. It helps in destroying germs in the gall bladder and the bacteria present in staph infections.
• Healing: Cinnamon acts as a coagulant and helps to stop excess bleeding. Therefore, it facilitates the healing process.
• Heart diseases: It is believed that the calcium and fiber present in cinnamon provide protection against heart diseases. By including a little cinnamon in your food, you can help prevent coronary artery disease and high blood pressure.
• Colon cancer: It can also improves the health of the colon and thereby reduce the risk of colon cancer.
• Mouth freshener: Cinnamon is often used in chewing gums, as it is a good mouth freshener and removes bad breath.
• Perfumes: It has a refreshing aroma and is extensively used in perfume-making.
• Indigestion: Cinnamon is added in many ethnic recipes. Apart from adding flavor to the food, it also aids in digestion. Cinnamon is very effective for indigestion, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea and flatulence. Due to its carminative properties, it is very helpful in eliminating excess gas from the stomach and intestines. It also removes acidity, combats diarrhea and reduces the effects of morning sickness. Cinnamon is therefore often referred to as a digestive tonic.
• Respiratory problems: Cinnamon helps in relieving the symptoms of colds, influenza, sore throat and congestion.
• Menstruation: Cinnamon is effective in providing relief from menstrual discomfort and cramping.
• Birth control: Cinnamon also helps in natural birth control. Regular consumption of cinnamon after child birth delays menstruation and thus helps to avoid conception.
• Breastfeeding: It is also believed that cinnamon aids in the secretion of healthy breast milk.
• Cinnamon is diuretic in nature and helps in the secretion and discharge of urine. It is also commonly used as an aphrodisiac and is believed to arouse sexual desire in men and women.

Spotlight on Clove

Eugenia caryophyllata

Clove has been used for years in dental preparations, candy, and gum for its flavor. Clove naturally contains eugenol, which gives this essential oil a very sweet, stimulating and energizing aroma.

Health Benefits of Cloves (source)

• Better Digestion: Cloves improve digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes. Cloves are also good for reducing flatulence, gastric irritability, dyspepsia and nausea. Cloves can be roasted, powdered, and taken with honey for relief in digestive disorders.
• Antibacterial Properties: Cloves have been tested for their antibacterial properties against a number of human pathogens. The extracts of cloves were potent enough to kill those pathogens. Clove extracts are also effective against the specific bacteria that spreads cholera.
• Chemo-Preventive Properties: Cloves are of interest to the medical community due to their chemo-preventive or anti-carcinogenic properties. Tests have showed that cloves are helpful in controlling lung cancer in its early stages.
• Liver Protection: Cloves contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are ideal for protecting the organs from the effects of free radicals, especially the liver. Metabolism, in the long run, increases free radical production and lipid profile, while decreasing the antioxidants in the liver. Clove extracts are helpful in counteracting those effects with its hepatoprotective properties.
• Diabetes Control: Cloves have been used in many traditional remedies for a number of diseases. One such disease is diabetes. In patients suffering from diabetes, the amount of insulin produced by the body is not sufficient or insulin is not produced at all. Studies have revealed that extracts from cloves imitate insulin in certain ways and help in controlling blood sugar levels.
• Bone Preservation: The hydro-alcoholic extracts of cloves include phenolic compounds such as eugenol and its derivatives, such as flavones, isoflavones and flavonoids. These extracts have been particularly helpful in preserving bone density and the mineral content of bone, as well as increasing tensile strength of bones in cases of osteoporosis.
• Anti-Mutagenic Properties: Mutagens are those chemicals that change the genetic makeup of the DNA by causing mutations. Biochemical compounds found in cloves, like phenylpropanoids, possess anti-mutagenic properties. These were administered on cells treated with mutagens and they were able to control the mutagenic effects to a significant rate.
• Boosts the Immune System: Ayurveda describes certain plants to be effective in developing and protecting the immune system. One such plant is clove. The dried flower bud of clove contains compounds that help in improving the immune system by increasing the white blood cell count, thereby improving delayed type hypersensitivity.
• Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Cloves possess anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties. Studies on clove extracts being administered in lab rats suggest that the presence of eugenol reduced the inflammation caused by edema. It was also confirmed that eugenol has the ability to reduce pain by stimulating pain receptors.
• Cure for Oral Diseases: Cloves can be taken for gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. Clove bud extracts significantly controlled the growth of oral pathogens, which are responsible for various oral diseases. Cloves can also be used for toothaches due to their pain-killing properties.
• Aphrodisiac Properties: Spices such as clove and nutmeg have been said to possess aphrodisiac properties, according to Unani medicine. Experiments on clove and nutmeg extracts were tested against standard drugs administered for that reason and both clove and nutmeg showed positive results.
• Cure for Headaches: Headaches can be reduced by using cloves. Make a paste of a few cloves and mix it with a dash of rock salt. Add this to a glass of milk. This mixture reduces headaches quickly and effectively.

Have an amazing day

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Totallyawake4-life

Spotlight on Cardomom and Basil Essential Oils

 Another awesome BOGO pair today from doTERRA® .... buy 1 Cardamon and get 1 Basil for FREE today only November 18th 2015!

Cardamon Spotlight

Ellettaria cardamomoum

A close relative to Ginger, Cardamom is known as being the most expensive cooking spice and having a variety of benefits. Cardamom is added to traditional Indian sweets and teas for its cool, yet minty aroma and flavor.

Health Benefits* of Cardamom Essential Oil (source)

• Antispasmodic Cardamom oil is highly effective in curing muscular and respiratory spasms, thereby giving relief from muscle pulls and cramps, asthma, and whooping cough.
• Antiseptic and Antimicrobial Cardamom essential oil has very strong antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, which are safe as well. If used as a mouth wash by adding few drops of this oil in water, it disinfects the oral cavity of all germs and eliminates bad breath. It can also be added to drinking water to kill the germs contained there. It can also be used in foods as a flavoring agent, which will also keep them safe from spoiling due to microbial action. A mild solution in water can be used to bathe, while disinfecting the skin and hair.
• Digestive and Stomachic It is the essential oil in cardamom that makes it such a good digestive. This oil boosts digestion by stimulating the whole digestive system. It is also stomachic in nature, which means that it keeps the stomach healthy and functioning properly. It helps maintain the proper secretion of gastric juices, acids and bile in the stomach. It also protects the stomach from infections.
• Stimulant Cardamom essential oil stimulates your entire system. This stimulating effect also boosts your spirits in cases of depression or fatigue. It also stimulates the secretion of various enzymes and hormones, gastric juices, peristaltic motion, circulation, and excretion, thus maintaining proper metabolic action throughout the body.
• Warming: Cardamom oil has a warming effect. This means that it heats up the body, promotes sweating, helps clear congestion and coughs, while also relieving symptoms of the common cold. It also provides relief from headaches that result from illness and can be used to cure diarrhea caused by extreme cold.
• Diuretic It promotes urination, which helps people lose weight, lower blood pressure, remove toxins and clean calcium and urea deposits from the kidneys.
• Aphrodisiac Cardamom oil has an arousing effect that can help cure sexual weakness, erectile dysfunctions, impotence, loss of libido, and frigidity.
• Other BenefitsCardamom oil helps to neutralize the effects of tobacco, insect bites and even the ingestion of mild poisons. Furthermore, it can clear the bowels, cure colic, remove bad breath, heal oral infections, and alleviate the pain of toothaches.

A Few Words of Caution:

No toxic effects have been noticed from consuming cardamom essential oil, but an excessive amount of cardamom essential oil can result in an overdose. This will manifest as unrest and extra heating up of the body and the digestive system, resulting in loose bowels and irritation. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are advised not to ingest cardamom oil, since the irritation or warming effect may harm the baby.

Blending: 

Cardamom Oil blends well with Rose, Orange, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Cloves, Caraway and Cedar Wood Oil.

Chai Tea with Essential Oils
Serves 3 cups

Image Source Terra Thrive

 What You Need

• 1 drop cardamom essential oil
• 1 drop cinnamon essential oil
• 1 drop black pepper essential oil
• 2 drops wild orange essential oil
• 12 oz water
• 12 oz milk or milk substitute (I love almond milk myself)
• 2 bags black tea
• Sweetener of Choice to taste

What You Do

•  Boil the water and add the tea bags, allow to steep for 3-4 minutes.
•  In a separate pan, warm the milk over medium heat.  
• If you have a a milk frother, use it at this time to create the foam for the ‘latte’ part, otherwise, just pour the warm milk in to the steeped tea.  
• Then add the essential oils and sweetener of your choice.  
• Mix well
• Serve and enjoy while still hot

Other cooking with Cardamom Ideas

Hearty Molasses Oatmeal Rolls

Cardamom Banana Bread

Spiced Cream Cookies

Strawberry Chai Vegan Milkshake

 Basil Spotlight

Ocimum basilicum

Basil has a warm, spicy, yet herbal aroma that brings a feeling of calm. Basil is commonly used in cooking to add a fresh, herbal flavor to meats, pastas, and entrée dishes, but it is also cooling and soothing to the skin.

  
Health Benefits* Basil Essential oil (source)

•  Cosmetic Applications: Basil essential oil is used topically and massaged into the skin. It enhances the luster of dull-looking skin and hair. As a result, it is extensively used in many skin care supplements that claim to improve the tone of your skin. It is also commonly used to treat the symptoms of acne and other skin infections.
• Digestion: Basil essential oil is also used as a digestive tonic. Since basil oil has carminative properties, it is used for treating indigestion, constipation, stomach cramps and flatulence. It provides immediate relief from the gas in your stomach and intestines. It also has colic qualities and is therefore used to alleviate bowel pain.
• Illness: Basil essential oil is effective in providing relief from colds, influenza and associated fevers. Due to its antispasmodic nature, it is frequently used to treat symptoms of whooping cough.
• Respiratory: Along with its function in relieving coughs, it can also be used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and sinus infections.
• Infections: Basil oil is good for treating a variety of infections such as cuts, wounds, skin infections, and bladder infections due to its antibacterial properties. It is also good for viral infections that attack the body and can enter the body through other wounds.
• Stress Disorders: Basil essential oil has a refreshing effect when smelled or consumed, so it is used for treating nervous tension, mental fatigue, melancholy, migraines and depression. Due to the calming nature of basil essential oil, it is widely used in aromatherapy.  Regularly using this essential oil provides mental strength and clarity.
• Blood Circulation: Basil essential oil improves blood circulation and helps to increase and optimized various metabolic functions of the body.
• Pain Relief: Basil essential oil is an analgesic and provides relief from pain. That is why this essential oil is often used in the treatment of arthritis, wounds, injuries, burns, bruises, scars, sports injuries, surgical recovery, sprains, and headaches.
• Eye Health: It is ophthalmic and can quickly relieve bloodshot eyes.
• Vomiting and Nausea: Basil essential oil can be used to prevent vomiting, particularly when the source of the nausea is motion sickness, but also from many other causes.
• Itching: Basil essential oil is also a good treatment for itching from bites and stings from honey bees, insects and even snakes.

Word of Caution

• Basil essential oil and basil in any other form should be avoided by pregnant, breastfeeding, or nursing women. On the other hand, some people suggest that it increases milk flow, but more research needs to be done.

Blending

• Basil essential oil blends well with Bergamot, Clary sage, Clove bud,G eranium, Lime, Lemon, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Marjoram, Rosemary, Melissa and Lavender.

Parsley-Basil Steak
 

Image Source ~ Pinterest

More ideas for cooking with DoTerra can be found below
Roasted Marinara Sauce
Herbed Pasta Sauce
Basil Roasted Red Pepper and Cheese Sandwhiches
 Vegetarian Black Bean Burgers




Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Totallyawake4-life