Fresh Finds

Posted on Dec 29, 2017 in FEATURES

By Alisa Murray –

Winter is a fabulous time to make butters to moisturize your body, healthy food and some bath goodies that you can make ahead and give as gifts perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Alisa’s Peachy Spicy Avocado Toast

There are so many varieties of avocado toast popping up in some of my favorite restaurants. Many of them have a simple, salted, squished avocado smeared onto a piece of French bread. My recipe includes some veggies making it a more heartier version, and it is well-paired with my tomato basil cream soup.

Ingredients

  • Sourdough Bread, sliced
  • 2 Large, Ripe Avocados
  • 2 Cups of Ripe, Peeled Peaches
  • 1 Small Red Onion, chopped very finely
  • ½ Cup Raw Sweet Corn, freshly cut off the cob
  • ½ Red Pepper, cut into small squares
  • ½ Jalapeño, chopped and seeded
  • ¼ Cup Cilantro, chopped
  • ½ Teaspoon Cumin
  • ¼ Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • ½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 2 Limes, juiced

Slice the bread and avocado, squeeze the juice over the avocado and fan out across the bread. Combine all other ingredients in a bowl and spoon over the avocado and bread. Yummy!

Alisa’s Go to Green Tonic with Sunwarrior Protein

This little number is packed with protein and nutrients that my body loves! When you are running around like I am, and there’s not a lot of time for “you,” this is a great way to make sure you get into your body what it needs.

Ingredients

  • 12 Ounces of Water (I prefer Dasani
  • because of the extra minerals)
  • 1 Ounce Sunwarrior Liquid
  • 1 Scoop Sunwarrior Ormus Super Greens
  • 1 Lemon, squeezed
  • 1 Ounce Apple Cider Vinegar (I prefer Braggs)
  • ½ Tablespoon shaved fresh Ginger
  • ¼ Teaspoon Turmeric
  • ¼ Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • ¼ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
  • ½ Teaspoon Coconut Oil
  • 1 Dollop of Whipped Cream
  • Handful of fresh Blackberries

Place all ingredients in a blender along with a 1/2 cup of ice. Blend together and garnish with dollop of whipped cream and a blackberry.

Alisa’s Carrot Seed and Roses Body Butter

When you figure out how to make body butter, your whole world will change! This one is possibly my favorite for this time of the year. It has a beautiful orange color, and the added benefit of rose oil makes you smell, well, like a rose! If you would like to give them as gifts for your Valentine, I recommend finding a beautiful glass container with a sealable lid so that it can stay air tight.

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup of Coconut Oil (the solid kind)
  • 16 Drops of Carrot Oil
  • 10 Drops of Rose Oil

Whip the coconut oil until it looks like whipped cream. Add the drops of oils, and continue to whip until blended.  Transfer into a glass container and seal for gifting.

Alisa’s Nice and Spicy Chai Tea Milk Bath

The warm spices of cinnamon and cloves always remind me of winter. Their aromas comfort us in the colder months. I created a salty milk bath that soothes the skin from the dryness of cooler months and the senses from the daily grind.

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Epsom Salts
  • 2 Tablespoons of Cloves
  • ½ Cup of Cinnamon Sticks, shaved
  • 1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 1 Teaspoon All Spice
  • 1 Handful of Fennels Seeds
  • and Cumin Seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon of Dried Orange Peels

Run a hot bath, and put all of the salts and spices into the tub. Add a cup or even two if you want to be even more luxurious of whole milk. Slip into that wonderful mixture and feel rejuvenated!

Nana’s Violet Infused Aloe Vera Gel

My grandmother always had violets in her window seals, and I remember loving the deep purple colors. Aloe Vera gel is soothing for cuts and burns, sunburn and scrapes. I mix violet powder to regular Aloe Vera gel to give it a beautiful color that reminds me of my grandmother. If you want to really dress it up, add a few drops of lavender oil.

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Aloe Vera Gel
  • 1 Teaspoon Lavender Powder
  • Few Drops of Lavender Oil

Place all in a bowl, and mix. Pour into an air tight container, and for added effect, keep in the refrigerator. You can alter this recipe to be seasonal. Make it red, and add Peppermint Oil for your special Valentine!