Holiday Cranberry Sauce

Holiday Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 bag fresh cranberries
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1/2 cup water 
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 thin slices of orange, halved and any seeds removed

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium high, and continue to simmer until all or most of the cranberries have popped.
3. Turn heat to low, and continue to simmer for about 20 min.
4. Pour into a decorative serving dish, and cool at room temp. Serve immediately or transfer to refrigerator until ready.

Gingerbread Spice Sugar Scrub

 

Bring the comforting scents of fall into your shower with this sweet, spicy, and warm Gingerbread Spice Sugar Scrub. It’s great for exfoliating your skin while showering, leaving it silky smooth without the need for lotion. Or keep a bowlful next to the kitchen sink to help moisturize your dry hands throughout the day.

It’s also perfect for gift giving! Find a jar, add a pretty label, and you have the perfect gift for a neighbor, teacher or friend.

Gingerbread Spice Sugar Scrub 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon Apple Pie Spice
• 2 tsp ground allspice
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp ginger
• 2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla flavor or extract
• 1 cup olive oil (or coconut oil)

 Directions:

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
2. Slowly add in your oil and break up any clumps that may form.
3. Mix until well combined.
4. Spoon into a jar and seal with a lid.
5. To use, gently massage on to areas of dry skin and rinse clean.

 

 Combine all dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.

Note: The Apple Pie Spice and Ground Allspice are not included in the first picture of the dry ingredients because I ended up adding them as well as vanilla afterward since I wasn't satisfied with the scrub at first attempt.

 

Slowly add in your oil and vanilla and break up any clumps that may form.

 

I used vanilla flavor because I found the scent was stronger and more pleasant than the extract, and I was trying to make the scent of the scrub stronger than the scent of the olive oil.

 

 Mix until well combined.

Spoon into a jar and seal with a lid.

To use, gently massage on to areas of dry skin and rinse clean.

Make Your Own Apple Pie Spice

Despite it’s name, Apple Pie Spice is not just for pies. It's great in crisps, oatmeal, granola, muffins, and cakes. I've heard that a lot of places have stopped carrying Apple Pie Spice, but no worries! It's super simple to make your own!

Apple Pie Spice

Ingredients: 

• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon 
• 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg  
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom 
• 1 teaspoon ginger (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine spices in a small bowl, mix well to combine. 
2. Store in a small jar or spice container.

Kickin' Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

 

With a wide variety of nutrients ranging from magnesium and manganese to copper, protein and zinc, pumpkin seeds are "nutritional powerhouses wrapped up in a very small package." They also contain plant compounds known as phytosterols and free-radical scavenging antioxidants,which can give your health an added boost. Check out this article to read more about the nutritional benefits of pumpkin seeds.

In my last post on making your own pumpkin puree, I said to save the seeds to turn into a crunchy snack. Pumpkin seeds are a great, healthy snack option and and taste a lot like popcorn, so of course we love them in this house. We have made both sweet and spicy batches of seeds in the past, but I wanted something that would hit all my tastes buds this time. Just like my favorite Cajun trail mix, I wanted these seeds to be salty, sweet, and spicy. They were a huge hit, and disappeared in no time at all. 

Kickin' Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup, washed and dried pumpkin seeds 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons raw honey
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with Silpat nonstick baking liner, or parchment paper.
2. Rinse and clean fresh, raw pumpkin seeds after removing from pumpkin. Allow to dry thoroughly on a paper towel.
3. In medium microwave-safe bowl, combine coconut oil, butter, and honey. 
4. Microwave 30-60 seconds, or until butter is melted. 
5. Stir in pumpkin seeds and coat evenly.
6. Add cinnamon, sea salt, and cayenne pepper and stir until well combined.
7. Spread pumpkin seeds in the middle of the lined baking sheet and place into the oven. 
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the seeds are a deep golden color, stirring every 10 minutes. 
9. When the seeds are done, remove from the oven and stir once or twice as they cool to prevent them from sticking into one big clump.
10. Eat when cooled, or store in airtight container.

 

 Rinse and clean fresh, raw pumpkin seeds after removing from pumpkin. Allow to dry thoroughly on a paper towel.

 

 In medium microwave-safe bowl, combine coconut oil, butter, and honey.

 

 Microwave 30-60 seconds, or until butter is melted.

 

Stir in pumpkin seeds and coat evenly.

 

Add cinnamon...

 

...sea salt...

 

... and cayenne pepper.

 

Stir until well combined. 

 

 Spread pumpkin seeds in the middle of the lined baking sheet and place into the oven.

 

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the seeds are a deep golden color, stirring every 10 minutes.

These did end up just sliiiightly too dark, but they still tasted great.

Pumpkin seeds, especially when coated with honey, tend to burn quickly and easily. Keep a close eye on them. Stir often and if they appear to be getting too brown too fast, turn down the oven temperature a bit.  

 

 When the seeds are done, remove from the oven and stir once or twice as they cool to prevent them from sticking into one big clump. 

Enjoy once they are cool enough to eat, or store in an airtight container.