| How to Make Peppermint Sugar Scrub Posted: 17 Sep 2020 05:00 PM PDT Peppermint sugar scrub is a great DIY gift that you can make for your friends and family around the holidays. Since it only takes a little bit of time and a few ingredients, you can throw together a batch in a single afternoon for a quick, thoughtful gift. Try adding twine or a ribbon to your jar of peppermint scrub to dress it up and make it look adorable. [Edit]Ingredients - 2 cups (256 g) of granulated sugar
- of melted coconut oil
- 15 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops of red food coloring
Yields about 2 cups (256 g) of peppermint sugar scrub. [Edit]Combining the Ingredients - Pour 2 cups (256 g) of granulated sugar into a bowl. In a medium sized bowl, pour 2 cups (256 g) of white granulated sugar. If there are any clumps, sift it through a strainer as you pour it into the bowl.[1]
- The sugar is the main ingredient in your scrub, which is why you need so much.
- Mix in of melted coconut oil. Scoop of coconut oil into a microwave-safe bowl, then microwave it on high for about 15 seconds. Pour the oil into the sugar, then mix it in with a wooden spoon.[2]
- You can also use fractionated coconut oil since it's already melted.
- If you need to, you can add more coconut oil to get the scrub to the right consistency.
- Coconut oil is the best carrier oil to use for a sugar scrub since it's moisturizing.
- If you don't like coconut oil, try using jojoba oil or almond oil instead.
- Drop 15 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil into the mixture. Open up the lid of your essential oil and carefully use the dropper to drop it in. Add a maximum of 20 drops for an extra peppermint smell, or stick with 10 for a more mild scrub.[3]
- Use caution around essential oils, and keep them away from children and pets.[4]
- Never put essential oils on your skin without diluting them first.[5]
- Divide the scrub into 2 equal parts. Grab a second bowl and scoop out about half of your sugar scrub. You don't have to be precise with your measurements, but get the bowls to roughly the same amount.[6]
- There should be about 1 cup (128 g) of scrub in each bowl.
- Mix in 2 drops of red food coloring into 1 part of the sugar mix. Grab a bottle of red food coloring and carefully drop about 2 drops into the mixture. Use a metal spoon to stir the coloring into the scrub to make it a bright red.[7]
- Try not to use too much food coloring to avoid staining your skin when you use the scrub.
[Edit]Storing the Peppermint Scrub - Add alternating layers of white and red scrub to a glass jar. Grab a tall glass jar and start adding spoonfuls of your scrub, alternating between white and red. Keep going until you fill the entire jar to make a cute candy cane design.[8]
- The red may bleed a little bit into the white layers, but they'll just turn slightly pink for an even cuter candy cane.
- Depending on how large your jar is, your mixture could fill 1 to 3 jars.
- A regular 16-ounce mason jar can hold all of the sugar scrub, and it looks super cute too.
- Press down on the sugar scrub with a spoon to compact it. Once you've filled your jar, press down on the top with the back of a metal spoon. This will push down the top layer of the scrub to make it easy for the lid to go on.[9]
- If you need to, you can scrape off a little bit of the top layer to make it flat.
- Seal the jar with a lid to keep it airtight. To keep your scrub from drying out, screw the lid onto your jar tightly. If you use your scrub, make sure to seal it back up before you store it.[10]
- Try to use your sugar scrub within 6 months.
- You can use a sugar scrub to exfoliate your legs, hands, and feet and remove dry, flaky skin.
- Stick a label onto the front of the jar for a cute gift. If you'd like to, print out a label that says "Peppermint Scrub" or use a sticker to add a label to your jar. You can also tie a piece of twine around the neck of the jar for an added holiday decoration.[11]
- Sugar scrubs make great gifts around the holidays.
- Try taping a real candy cane to the outside of the jar for a sweet treat.
- Try giving peppermint scrub as a gift during the holidays.
[Edit]Warnings - Use caution around essential oils, and never use them without diluting them first.[12]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - 2 bowls
- Wooden spoon
- Metal spoon
- Glass jar with lid
- Labels (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Bake with Coconut Flour Posted: 17 Sep 2020 09:00 AM PDT Whether you're following a paleo, gluten-free, or low-carb diet, you've probably seen recipes that use coconut flour. Since coconut flour is also high in fiber and protein, it's a great choice for anyone who's trying to limit carbohydrates in baking. It's important to adjust your recipe slightly, so the baked goods hold together and don't crumble. Once you've tried a few recipes, you'll feel confident in adjusting your favorite recipes. [Edit]Replacing All-Purpose Flour with Coconut Flour - Buy high-quality coconut flour that doesn't contain fillers. Check the ingredient label on the bag of coconut flour to see if it only lists coconut. Don't buy coconut flour that also includes sugar, flavorings, or fillers.[1]
- If you're baking with coconut flour to avoid gluten, check that the package also says "gluten-free."
- Fluff the coconut flour with a fork before you measure it for your recipe. Pour some of the coconut flour into a bowl and break it up with a fork until you don't see clumps. This helps you accurately measure the coconut flour for your recipe.[2]
- Breaking up the clumps also helps the coconut flour absorb the liquids in your recipe evenly.
- Replace just 20% of the all-purpose flour with coconut flour. You might be surprised to see that most coconut flour recipes only use a small percentage of coconut flour while still relying on wheat flour. This is because coconut flour is very absorbent and if you use all coconut flour, the texture of the food will be grainy.[3]
- For example, if a recipe calls for 3 cups (360 g) of all-purpose flour, use 2/3 cup (74 g) of coconut flour with 2 1/3 cups (280 g) of all-purpose flour.
- Use a measuring scale instead of measuring cups for accuracy.
- Add 1 extra egg to the recipe for every 1/4 cup (28 g) of coconut flour you use. Recipes that use coconut flour need extra eggs to bind the batter or dough together so your baked goods don't fall apart. Add the extra eggs to the wet ingredients of your recipe.[4]
- If you replaced 1/2 cup (56 g) of coconut flour, add an extra 2 eggs to the recipe. If the recipe already called for 2 eggs, you'd use a total of 4 eggs.
- If you're only adding 1/8 cup (14 g) of coconut flour, beat an egg and add only half of it to the recipe.
- Increase the liquids by for every 2 tbsp (14 g) of coconut flour. Because coconut flour is so high in fiber, it quickly soaks up liquid, which can make your standard wheat recipes too dry. Plan on adding an extra of liquid for every 2 tablespoons (14 g) of coconut flour that you use in the recipe.[5]
- For example, if you're replacing 1/4 cup (30 g) of all-purpose flour with coconut flour, add an extra of liquid, such as oil or milk.
[Edit]Trying Coconut Flour in Common Recipes - Whip up coconut flour quick bread or muffins for breakfast. It's easy to add coconut flour to your breakfast baked goods since the mellow coconut flavor works well in spiced quick breads and muffins. Make coconut flour quick bread or muffins in any of these flavors:[6]
- Banana
- Zucchini
- Pumpkin
- Blueberry
- Apple spice
- Use coconut flour for rich brownies that have a hint of coconut flavor. To make cake-like brownies, choose a recipe that also contains all-purpose flour. If you'd like fudgy or gluten-free brownies, bake from a recipe that only uses a little coconut flour. These brownies will be similar to flourless chocolate cake.[7]
- To make the coconut flavor more noticeable, use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil or butter.
- Make a batch of your favorite cookies using coconut flour. Since cookies are so flavorful, they're a great choice for experimenting with coconut flour, especially if you don't care for the taste of coconut. If you do like the tropical flavor of coconut, you could make macadamia nut cookies with flaked coconut. Any of these cookies are also great with coconut flour:[8]
- Oatmeal raisin
- Gingersnaps
- Chocolate chip
- Shortbread
- Bake a tender cake with coconut flour. In order to make a cake that holds together without crumbling, remember to replace just 20% of the all-purpose flour with coconut flour. The coconut flour is great in delicate cakes, such as white or yellow cake, and it also works well in chocolate cake or cupcakes.[9]
- Of course, coconut flour is fantastic in coconut cake. Choose a recipe that contains flaked coconut or coconut milk for the boldest coconut flavor.
- Add coconut flour to breakfast batters, such as pancakes or waffles. Most pancakes and waffles don't contain much protein, so you usually find yourself hungry pretty soon after breakfast. For pancakes or waffles that stick to your ribs, use a coconut-flour recipe.[10]
- Try baking savory muffins or bread with coconut flour. Experiment with savory baked goods by adding shredded cheese, herbs, ham, or bacon to the batter. You can also spice the batter with various seasonings, such as paprika, cayenne, or curry powder.[11]
- You could also add olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, or jalapenos, for instance.
- If you're vegan and want a vegan egg replacement, whisk 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with of cold water. Use this mixture in place of 1 egg.[12]
- Coconut flour has a mild flavor, which isn't very noticeable in baked goods.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Measuring scale or cups
- Fork
[Edit]References |
| How to Season Salad Without Dressing Posted: 17 Sep 2020 01:00 AM PDT Sometimes you might want a healthier alternative to a store-bought dressing or you might not have all the ingredients on hand to make a homemade dressing. If this is the case, you're probably wondering what you can do to spruce up your salad and make it taste good without dressing. Luckily, you probably have plenty of ingredients around your home that you can use to season your salad. Try out some different combinations to find a flavor you like and don't be afraid to get creative! Who knows, you might decide you never need to buy or make an actual salad dressing again. [Edit]Making Your Own Dressing - Toss your salad with tahini for an alternative to creamy salad dressing. Add of tahini to your salad. Toss the salad using tongs or a salad spoon and fork until it is coated evenly.[1]
- Tahini has a very strong flavor, so it's a good idea to start with a little bit and see how your salad tastes. You can always add more if you want a stronger flavor.
- Tahini is made of ground sesame seeds.
- Hummus gets a lot of its flavor from tahini. You could also try using a couple spoonfuls of hummus as a creamy dressing if you have some handy.
- Shake your salad with avocado slices to coat it in buttery goodness. Slice 1/2 or 1 whole avocado and put the slices on top of your salad in a sealable container. Put the lid on the container and shake it gently to cover the salad ingredients in creamy avocado flavor.[2]
- You could also try mashing the avocado if you want it to coat the salad ingredients even more.
- Mix in olive tapenade for a blast of flavor. Scoop 1 or 2 spoonfuls of olive tapenade into your salad. Stir the ingredients around with salad utensils to distribute the tapenade evenly.[3]
- Olive tapenade can be made out of all types of olives, so you can choose a variety that you like. For example, if you want a stronger flavor you could use kalamata olive tapenade. If you want a milder flavor you could try black olive tapenade.
- Combine olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a quick homemade dressing. Splash approximately equal parts extra virgin olive oil and good balsamic vinegar onto your salad. Toss the salad with tongs or salad utensils to coat the ingredients in the oil and vinegar.[4]
- Olive oil and balsamic vinegar form the base of many different salad dressings. You can pretty much add any other wet or dry toppings and seasonings to this base to create quick homemade dressings.
- Olive oil can actually make your salad more healthy because it is a healthy fat and your body needs fats to absorb the most nutrients from your salad's ingredients.[5]
- Squeeze lemon juice onto your salad for a citrusy flavor. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze 1 of the halves all over your salad. Toss the salad to coat everything with the lemon juice.[6]
- You could also use another citrus fruit like a lime or an orange instead of a lemon. Feel free to experiment!
- Drizzle your salad with coconut oil for a nutritious and tasty option. Slowly pour of coconut oil over your salad ingredients. Toss everything together to coat it all in coconut flavor.[7]
- Coconut is another type of healthy fat that can add an energy boost to your salad.
- Coat a salad in plain Greek yogurt for a creamy and tangy choice. Drizzle about 1/2 a cup (118 mL) of plain Greek yogurt over your salad. Toss everything together to coat all the salad's ingredients in the creamy, tangy yogurt.[8]
- Greek yogurt is also full of protein, healthy probiotics, and other vitamins, so your salad will get an extra nutritional boost.
- Use salsa as a Southwest-style salad dressing. Pour about of your favorite salsa into your salad. Toss the salad thoroughly to distribute the salsa throughout and mix it in with the salad's ingredients.[9]
- This could be a good option if your salad contains other "Southwesty" ingredients, such as beans and corn.
[Edit]Using Tasty Ingredients and Toppings - Start your salad with fresh, tasty ingredients to create a flavorful base. Begin by putting fresh mixed greens like lettuce, spinach, and arugula. Add depth to your salad with other fresh vegetables like sliced or grated carrots, sliced tomatoes or baby tomatoes, corn, beans, and anything else you like.[10]
- The fresher and better the ingredients, the better your salad will taste. If you have a local farmer's market nearby, this is a great place to get your salad's base ingredients.
- Add fresh fruits to your salads for some sweetness. Try adding berries like strawberries, blueberries, or cranberries for little bites of sweetness. Experiment with adding wedges of larger fruits like pears, peaches, and apples for some more texture and sweet flavor.[11]
- Other fruits you can try for adding sweetness and interesting flavors to your salads are raspberries, blackberries, plums, nectarines, grapes, and oranges.
- Season your salad with salt and pepper to bring out the flavors. Just like with other types of foods, salt and pepper are the most basic seasonings that help to bring out the flavor of the ingredients. Sprinkle or shake salt and pepper on to taste.[12]
- For the best flavor, use fresh-ground pepper. You can also try using special salts like sea salt flakes.
- Add herbs and spices to give your salad bold flavors of the world. Mix in different combinations of fresh and dried herbs and spices to achieve different flavors. Try fresh oregano, basil, and thyme for an Italian-style flavor, or cumin, coriander, and sumac for a Middle Eastern vibe, for example.[13]
- Mint and basil go well together in summery salads. Try combining these herbs with a splash of lemon or another citrus fruit to create a really bold summer flavor.
- Be careful not to overdo it with strong dried spices. Sprinkle on a little bit at a time and taste your salad as you go until you find the flavor you want.
- Put cheese in your salads for a salty, savory flavor. Grate or crumble Parmesan cheese or another type of savory cheese over top of a freshly-made salad to add a flavor boost. Feel free to use pre-grated or pre-crumbled cheese if that's more convenient.[14]
- For example, you could crumble blue cheese onto a salad as an alternative to using a blue cheese salad dressing or you could use feta cheese for a Greek-style salad.
- Mix nuts into your salads for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. Try adding a handful of walnuts, almonds, peanuts, or any other type of nut you like into a salad. Toss the salad to mix the nuts in with all the ingredients, so you'll get a nutty crunch in every bite.[15]
- Remember that you can combine different kinds of dry ingredients for big flavor boosts. For example, walnuts and blue cheese go really nicely together.
- Try adding chopped or grated hard-boiled egg for flavor and protein. Hard boil 1-2 eggs, depending on how much you want in your salad. Grate the egg if you want smaller pieces or chop it with a knife if you want bigger chunks. Put the egg bits on top of your salad or toss them in with the other ingredients.[16]
- Hard-boiled egg will add protein to your salad and make it more filling. If you want a salad to be the main course, adding some grated or chopped hard-boiled egg can be the way to go.
- Add whole grains or seeds for a fiber boost and more texture. Try mixing whole grains like couscous, barley, and quinoa into your salads. Sprinkle seeds like sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, or chia seeds on top of salads.[17]
- Other ideas for seeds and whole grains you can use are flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, farro, and cracked wheat.
- Try different combinations of wet and dry toppings and seasonings to bring your salads to life. You can create flavors as good as or even better than salad dressings this way.
- Fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables go a long way towards building a tasty salad. If you start with good salad ingredients, the amount of seasoning you need to do should be minimal.
[Edit]Warnings - Always start by adding a little bit of a seasoning ingredient at a time, mix it in, and taste your salad before you add more. That way, you won't ruin your salad with too strong of a flavor.
[Edit]References |
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