Homemade Lip Balm

Do you like spreading petroleum and chemicals on your lips? Or would you rather use something made from natural ingredients that actually heal and moisturize your lips? If natural is your choice, you will love today's lesson.

Besides the obvious lack of toxic chemicals plaguing your skin and leeching into your body, the ingredients used to make homemade herbal lip balm offer many benefits to your lips and health.

Coconut oil - makes a great lip product by itself, so combined with other ingredients in herbal lip balms really takes it to the next level. Coconut oil provides both a protective barrier and moisturizes. The high fat content in the coconut oil, along with the beeswax, helps this lip balm recipe harden nicely after it’s cooled off. The beneficial fatty acids within coconut oil help provide antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits when applied topically.

Shea butter - leaves everything feeling silky smooth. Shea butter i...

Frosting a Layer Cake

Basic cake tools...pans, cake decorating stand, piping bags, offset spatula, parchment paper, long bread knife.
Line your pans with parchment or waxed paper.
Bake your cakes and allow them to cool on a rack. Slice off any rounded tops.
Put on stand with parchment under. Put a bit of icing in the middle to keep the cake from moving around. Pipe around the layer and add filling (if desired). Add top layer. Apply crumb coat. Chill and allow to dry. Apply another coat on top and sides. Decorate with piping bag and tips if desired.

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
3 drops food coloring, or as needed (optional)

Cream butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth and fluffy.
Gradually beat in confectioner...

Homemade Marshmallows

Store-bought marshmallows have so many chemicals in them. You can feel better about giving your children these homemade marshmallows. And they are easy to make!

Marshmallows
From Farmhouse on Boone

1 cup cold water, separated
2 tablespoons gelatin
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch or arrowroot starch

Lightly grease a 9×9 or 10×8-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.

In a stand mixer bowl with a whisk attachment or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, pour in 1/2 cup of cool water. Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the top and whisk. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to bloom (soften and absorb the water).

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup of water. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then increase to medium...

Pasta Sauces

Do you get tired of the same old pasta sauce? Or would you just like to try something new? Well, here you go.
Need a quick dinner that uses pantry ingredients? Here you go.

Pantry/Staple Ingredients:
Pasta (mostly spaghetti or fettuccine)
Extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic
Red pepper flakes
Canned tomatoes
Parmesan cheese (buy a block)
Capers
Kalamata olives (or black olives)
Heavy cream
Parsley (grow it)
Basil (grow it)

Cook pasta in plenty of salted water.  Cook almost until al dente. 

Always reserve some pasta sauce for adjusting the thickness of your sauce.
Always undercook your pasta by about a minute and put your pasta into the sauce and let them cook together for a minute or so.
Always serve the pasta with a drizzle of EVOO, herbs, and some Parmesan cheese.

ARRABBIATA
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large garlic clove...