20 REASONS TO KEEP COCONUT OIL IN YOUR BATHROOM

1. Shave Your Legs. That’s right! Coconut oil is a girl’s best friend when it comes to shaving. If you want baby soft legs, rub a small amount of coconut oil on your legs before shaving.

2. Oil Pulling - Have you swished with coconut oil? Oil pulling is a traditional way to cleanse the mouth of bacteria. Start your day with oil pulling by swishing a teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth. Try to swish for at least 10 minutes. If you can, swish up to 20 minutes. (CAUTION:do not spit it out in the sink, it will clog the drain.)

3. Wash Your Face. It’s called oil cleansing and it’s amazing! It may sound strange but oil can actually help clean your face.

4. Hair Treatment – Coconut oil helps reduce protein loss when used as a pre or post treatment. Pre-treating your hair by adding a 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil to the roots and work the oil down to the ends. Leave the coconut oil on for an hour before rinsing.

5. Skin moisturizer. Coconut oil is known to help reduce scaring, stretch marks and prevent sagging skin. It’s a natural “miracle” cream! Try my whipped coconut oil body butter here.

6. Rash and Burn Cream. Coconut oil helps to sooth rashes and burns. A small dab of coconut oil has always helped to reduce and even eliminate diaper rash.

7. Eye Makeup Remover. Another wonderful reason to have coconut oil on hand in the bathroom is for removing makeup! Wash your face and then use coconut oil to remove the remaining eye makeup.

8. Cuticle Treatment. Coconut oil does wonders for your nails! Massage your finger nails and toe nails with it as often as you like to help keep rugged cuticles tame. The anti-fungal properties of coconut oil are also helpful for keeping toes clear of fungal infections.

9. Frizz Tamer. Coconut oil is a go-to when you need to tame wild hair. Only use a small amount though. Too much coconut oil will leave your hair with an oily look.

10. To lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin.

11. To get rid of cradle cap on baby- just massage in to head, leave on for a few minutes and gently rinse with a warm wash cloth

12. Mixed with equal parts sugar for a smoothing body scrub (use in the shower)

13. Rubbed on lips as a natural chap stick

14. Use on feet to fight athlete’s foot or tor fungus

15. In place of Lanolin cream on nursing nipples to sooth irritation (also great for baby!)

16. As a natural personal lubricant that won’t disturb vaginal flora

17. When used consistently on skin it can help get rid of cellulite

18. Use as a natural deodorant

19. By itself or with baking soda as a naturally whitening toothpaste

20. Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling:
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apples:
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9x13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Serve cold and enjoy!

Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. I like to really combine it by using my clean hands to thoroughly combine the butter into the mixture.

Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Pops (FOR DOGS)

Ingredients:

Three 6 ounce Containers of Plain, Low-Fat Yogurt
1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter (Low Sodium)
1 Four Ounce Jar of Banana Baby Food
1 Tbsp of Honey

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Blend well. Pour mixture into small cups (I used Dixie Cups). Place dog bone in mixture (to serve as the handle). Freeze. Once frozen, peel away paper cup and serve! Yummy! 

Teriyaki Chicken Pineapple Boats

What You Need
1Tbsp. oil
1lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1-1/2cups water
1/3cup teriyaki sauce
1/2tsp. garlic powder
2cups instant brown rice, uncooked
Pineapple cut in 1/2 and take out insides
Chinese noodles (optioanl)

Make It
HEAT oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 5 to 7 min. or until done.
ADD next 3 ingredients; stir. Bring to boil. Cook on low heat 5 min. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 min. Fluff with fork.
Cook rice and set aside.
Slice the Pineapple directly down the center long ways to form 2 bowl halves. Use a knife and a spoon to cut the pineapple meat out of the inside leaving only the shell.
Enjoy!

Mayonnaise Biscuits

INGREDIENTS 
YIELD 12 biscuits

2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease a muffin tin.
Combine all ingredients well so that the dough is smooth.
Drop the dough by spoonfuls into the muffin tins.
Bake in the preheated oven approx.
30 minutes or until biscuits are done.

**DO NOT use skim milk or low fat mayo, they won't be as Tender 

25 Alternative Uses for Fabric-Softener Dryer Sheets

1. Dusting: used dryer sheets can knock the dust off nearly any surface, including furniture, blinds, car interiors, baseboards/molding. Also works for sawdust and drywall compound.

2. Keep bugs away: Tuck some in your picnic basket or under lawn furniture to repel bees from your juicy flesh and encourage them back to the flowers, where they belong. You can also rub a sheet directly on your bare skin to discourage would- be buggers from leaving their mark.

3. Keep your clothes fresh: tuck a few fabric-sheets in your drawers to keep that ‘just-washed’ smell happening for weeks. Throw one in your dirty clothes hamper to prevent any rampant, residual odors from escaping into your bedroom.

4. Scrub your showers: Lightly wet a used dryer sheet, and scrub to remove soap build-up and mineral deposits.

5. Freshen your home: Place (or tape) a dryer sheet on your HVAC vents to scent the air circulating through your home. You can even place one alongside your filter in your central heating unit to distribute the scent. Also works on ceiling fans, and on the back of box/portable fans.

6. Reduce static cling: Pat your self with a sheet to combat static on your clothes, stockings, and even long hair!

8. Clean your laundry room: When you finish drying a load, hold on to the dryer sheet, and wipe down the inside of your dryer’s drum, your lint trap, the outside of your washing machine and dryer, and scrub away any excess or spilt laundry detergent.

9. Scrub the bugs from your car: Summer drives often equal insect gut polka dots all over your auto’s body and windshield. Simply wet your car down, and use a dryer sheet to scrub away carnage with ease.

10. Wipe up hair: The cling of a dryer sheet is perfect to wipe up pet hair from your furniture, or even your own hair from your bathroom.

11. In your shoes: Toss a dryer sheet in the toes of your shoes to minimize odors and prolong the just-purchased smell.

12. While traveling: Place a few dryer sheets in between items in your suitcase to keep both your clothes fresh and to prevent your items from picking up any mustiness from old luggage.

13. In your crafts: Use dryer sheets to add texture to cards, scrapbooks, etc. Also use for reinforcement in appliqué and quilting work.

14. For diapers: Keep your used dryer sheets in your diaper bag, and roll one up in the diaper to prevent odors before you have to chance to throw it away.

15. In the kitchen: Soak cookware with burnt or baked-on food in warm water, with a dryer sheet or two. Makes clean-up easier than you’d expect. Also works on cook tops and dingy cabinet doors.

16. Clean paint brushes: Soak your used paintbrushes in warm water with a dryer sheet, and that pesky latex paint will come off in under a minute.

17. In books: placing a dryer sheet in new books or photo albums will keep them smelling fresh, and can combat the musty paper smell of used or old books. Also works as a killer bookmark.

18. In toilet paper: Roll up a dryer sheet in your toilet paper roll. Each time you spin, it releases a little freshness into your bathroom.

19. As you sleep: keep a fabric-softener sheet in your pillow case and under your mattress or mattress pad for sweet dreams of summer all year ‘round.

20. While sewing: use a dryer sheet to store your needles while threaded to keep them from tangling, for paper piecing whilst you quilt, and for backing for embroidery.

21. Repel rodents: Use dryer sheets to keep out mice, skunks, squirrels, rats, etc from your basement, garages, boats, campers, and clubhouses.

22. In your car: stash dryer sheets under your car seats and floor mats, and in your glove box and trunk for fresh scents as you travel.

23. At work: Hide dryer sheets in drawers, behind computers, and in cabinetry to keep your workspace fresh, and combat your co-workers awful perfume or stale cigarette scent.

24. In you vacuum cleaner: Place a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag or dust containment unit. As the hot air moves as you vacuum, you’ll bulk up your cleaning efforts. (Make sure this is in NO WAY a fire hazard)

25. In storage: tuck dryer sheets in your rarely used items such as luggage, camping gear, sports equipment, or specialty craft or kitchen items to prevent the inevitable smells of basements, attics, and garages.

Layered Pudding Delight

14 graham crackers ...
1 pkg. Instant Vanilla pudding
2 cups cold milk 
1 cup cool whip
1 can cherry pie filling

Mix pudding with milk and cool whip.

In 9x9 pan layer bottom with crackers
½ of the vanilla pudding mixture
next crackers
next last ½ of pudding mixture and top with cherry pie filling
Chill over night
serve

Double recipe for 9x13 pan.

Variations:
use vanilla wafers in place of graham crackers
use chocolate pudding in place of vanilla pudding
use blueberry pie filling in place of cherry

Crockpot Cashew Chicken.

Ingredients:

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thigh tenders or chicken breast tenders
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup cashews

Directions:
Combine flour and pepper in large Ziploc bag. Add chicken. Shake to coat with flour mixture. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken about 2 minutes on each side. Place chicken in slow cooker. Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sugar, garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes in small bowl; pour over chicken. Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Add cashews and stir. Serve over rice. Makes 4-6 servings.
If you want like sauce and want to have some to pour over the chicken and the rice, double the sauce ingredients.

Blueberry Crumb Cake

ingredients

For the crumbs:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

For the cake:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 x 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang and set aside.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the butter, sugars, cinnamon and salt. When the butter is melted, turn off the heat and stir in the flour. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together till light and fluffy. Add the vanilla, egg and sour cream, and mix till incorporated. Add the dry ingredients and mix until fully combined. Fold in the blueberries.

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and use a spatula to spread. With your hands, form small to medium-sized balls with the crumb mixture and scatter on top of the batter. Bake in the oven till a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 to 55 minutes. The crumbs should be golden brown and feel firm. If they begin to look too brown, cover with a piece of foil till the cake is done.

Cool in the pan until the cake is just warm. Grasp the parchment paper with both hands and lift the cake out of the pan. Cut into 9 squares.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 1/2 c flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/4 t baking soda
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
2/3 c butter, softened
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 bananas, mashed
2 c chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease cookie sheets. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together and set aside. Cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the mashed bananas. Add the flour mixture, and stir until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls.

Ale and Cheddar Soup

Ingredients

1/2 pound bacon (double smoked is good), cut into 1 inch slices
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2-4 jalapeno peppers, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
1 bottle ale
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
cayenne to taste
salt and pepper to taste
Directions

1.Cook the bacon in a pan over medium heat and set aside on paper towels to drain, reserving 1-2 tablespoons of the grease in the pan.
2.Add the onion, celery and jalapeno and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
3.Add the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
4.Add the butter and let it melt and get all bubbly then sprinkle on the flour and let it cook until it starts to turn golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
5.Add the ale followed by the broth and bacon and let cook for 10 minutes.
6.Add the cream, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and cheese and cook until the cheese has melted but do not bring it back to a boil.
7.Season with cayenne, salt and pepper to taste. and enjoy.

Caramel Breakfast Cake

Ingredients
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/3 cup butter or 1/3 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°.
Sprinkle sugar on bottom of well-greased 9" layer pan; cover with nuts.
Pour topping over nuts.
Dip biscuits in butter; arrange in pan with 15 biscuits overlapping around outer edge and 5 in center.
Bake at 400° for 23-25 minutes.
Let stand 5 minutes; invert onto serving plate.
Serve warm.

Shrimp Casserole

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) packages farfalle pasta
6 tablespoons butter or 6 tablespoons margarine
3 garlic cloves, smashed
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white wine or 1/3 cup chicken broth
2 3/4 cups half-and-half cream
1/2 cup clam juice
1 tablespoon seafood cocktail sauce ( or ketchup)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 lb uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 teaspoons dried dill weed
3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Graese 3-quart casserole.
Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
Melt butter in 2 quart saucepan over medium heat.
Cook garlic in butter 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Stir in flour.
Cook, stirring constantly with wire whisk, until smooth and bubbly.
Stir in wine or chicken broth.
Stir in half and half, clam juice, cocktail sauce, salt and cayenne.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
Stir in shrimp, dill weed and 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Stir shrimp mixture into pasta, pour into casserole.
Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
Baked uncovered 35 to 40 minutes or until light brown and hot.

Skillet Cranberry Chicken

Ingredients

2 tablespoons margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
8 cups hot cooked brown rice

Directions

Melt margarine in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add onion & chicken strips & saute 2-3 minutes until tender.
Except for the rice, stir in the rest of the ingredients, & bring to a boil.
Reduce heat & simmer 15 minutes.
Serve over hot rice.

Chicken Doritos Casserole

Ingredients:
3 cooked and shredded chicken breasts
1 can of cream of mushroom (or your choice of cream of xxx soup) or Alfredo sauce
2 cans of Rotel (tomato's with chili's)
1 (8 oz) bag of shredded cheese
1 bag of Doritos

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the shredded chicken, cream of mushroom soup and Rotel.
Crunch up 3/4 of the bag of chips and spread on the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Spread chicken mixture over the top of the crunched up Doritos. Add remaining Doritos over the top of the chicken mixture. Add shredded cheese over the top.
Cook at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese is melted and slightly browned.

Sesame Crusted Wild Salmon

Ingredients

6 salmon fillets, 5-6 ounces each
4 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 red onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons ginger, minced
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 cup coconut milk or 1 cup 35% cream

Directions

Pre- heat oven to 450 degrees.
Toast the sesame seeds in the oven for 5 minutes or when browned.
rub the top of the salmon with the sesame oil and sprinkle to taste with salt and pepper.
Dredge the tops of the salmon onto the toasted seeds lightly butter a baking dish and place salmon on top then place in oven for 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon.
Once the salmon is baking melt the butter on med high heat and glaze the onion and ginger in the butter for about 5 minutes.
Salt and pepper the mixture and then place the rice vinegar in until vinegar evaporates.
then stir in the coconut milk or cream and boil for 2 minutes turn heat down low and wait for the salmon.
Place portions of the mixture on a plate and top with salmon with your rice and veggies on the side.

S'more Brownie Please

1 brownie mix... do according to directions
Graham cracker.. squares approx 7 full size pieces
2 cups mini marshmallows

Mix up your brownie mix and pour Half into a sprayed 9 x 13 pan
place graham crackers over all... then put your marshmallows over your graham crackers... pour the other half of your brownie mix over ...
Bake according to your brownie mix directions... the toothpick trick won't work so go by your edges....
Enjoy

Valentine Rice Krispy Treats

Ingredients

3 tablespoons margarine
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups crispy rice cereal

Directions

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add crispy rice cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.