DIY Wool Dryer Balls


Did you see doTERRA's new holiday products? There are so many great ones and they all have the most beautiful packaging. I want all of them! There are herbal teas, special Christmas blends (love Holiday Joy) diffusers, linen spray, and travel size products not usually available. 

When I have so many things like this that I want, I usually narrow down my spending by what I can and cannot make myself. Even though the Nepalese Wool Dryer Balls are amazing, and come from the same areas where we source our Wintergreen oil, they are so easy to make, and I could probably make 3 sets of dryer balls as well as gift 5ml of the same Wintergreen oil that comes with it for the price on one set from doTERRA. When I have less time and just need something convenient, then I'm all about just buying the pre-made sets. 

Have you heard about using wool dryer balls? They have been getting so popular over the last few years. I think all of us are starting to recognize how harmful all the chemicals are that are put in so many of our products and the damage they cause to our bodies i.e. respiratory problems like allergies and asthma, disrupting our hormones and endocrine systems and so much more. One easy way to fight back and lower our toxic load is by cutting out unnecessary toxins when it is easy to do so. Dryer sheets are one of those places and it will save money in the long run because you can use the same dryer balls for about 1000 cycles! They are fragrance free (unless you want to add essential oils), baby safe, anti-static, lint free and usually last 2-3 years!

Fabric softeners come in all different shapes and sizes, and have scents that range anywhere from “Tropical Breeze” to “Lavender.” Did you know that most lavender-scented fabric softeners actually contains no lavender—only chemicals that have been blended to give you an impression that you are smelling the real deal? 

Substitute these chemically-driven fabric softeners for an all-natural, toxic-free alternative with this easy step-by-step tutorial to make your own wool dryer balls that can last for many years and can easily be scented with doTERRA essential oils leaving your fabrics fragrant and soft.

What You Need:
  • 100 percent wool yarn or other 100 percent animal yarn
  • Pantyhose- I like to reuse pantyhose with runs in them so I'm not ruining a new pair or use knee-highs.  
Directions:
  1. Take the end of the yarn and wrap it around your middle and index finger 10 times. Remove it from the fingers and wrap 2–3 times around the middle (it should look like a bow). This will be the start of your ball.
  2. Continue tightly wrapping the yarn around the start, working toward making a round shape. Once your ball is roughly the size of a tennis ball, cut the yarn and tuck the ends into the sides of the ball. Repeat this process until you have created four or more balls of yarn.
  3. Cut one leg off of the pantyhose. Place one ball into the bottom of the leg and tie a knot right above the ball to secure it in place. Repeat until all the balls have been added and secured.
  4. Once the balls are tightly secured in the pantyhose, put them in the washer (can be with a load of dirty laundry) and wash on the hottest setting. This will allow the yarn to felt. Felting will make the yarn fuse together, resulting in a solid ball. Once washed, dry the balls thoroughly in the dryer at the highest heat setting.
  5. After the balls are completely dry, remove them from the pantyhose and they’re ready for use! Before drying your next load of laundry, add your favorite doTERRA essential oil to 4–6 dryer balls, toss them in the dryer, and enjoy your soft, fluffy, wonderful-smelling laundry!
Extra Tips:
  • 2–3 drops of essential oil per ball should last a few loads. Add more drops if you would like a stronger scent.
  • Add a few drops of Lemon essential oil to your wash cycle to help remove grease and oil from fabrics. 
If you want to gift these with doTERRA's wintergreen essential oil, you can get a 15ml bottle and then grab some 5 ml bottles to distribute it equally between 3 here. 

Check back for my easy Linen Spray next week!

XO,

Tiara
-The Provident Princess
DIY, Essential Oil DIY, Essential Oil Gift Guide,
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Meghan Markle's Sweet Potato & White Bean Bisque

I don't particularly love testing and developing recipes. There are enough people who are way more talented than I am in that area. What I do love is collecting delicious plant-based wholefood recipes. This is one of them. Way back in December of 2016, before anyone but Suits fans had heard of her, Meghan Markle ran a website called The Tig that focused on clean living and using your power for good. It was really good and I miss it. I love hearing that even though she is a princess now, she still loves to cook and that she has converted Prince Harry to a cleaners, whole foods diet.

During a cold December day in 2016 she shared this delicious Sweet Potato & White Bean Soup and I just happened to have all the ingredients on hand to try it. I absolutely loved it and think it would just be a shame if the recipe died with her now defunct blog. Sweet Potatoes are so nutritious. They are one of the best sources of beta-carotene and can supply almost all of your daily needs for Vitamin A. They are also high in Vitamin C, Manganese, copper, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, biotin, fiber, potassium, and more of the B vitamins.

Fresh Sage From My Garden Made this Sweet Potato & White Bean Bisque Amazing
Most of us probably think of the orange colored sweet potatoes from Thanksgivings past, but they can also come in white and a beautiful purple. They are loaded with anti-oxidants and have amazing anti-inflammatory benefits helping to regulate blood pressure.

Now that you know how good they are to have in your diet, let's dig into the recipe.

"This soup is free from dairy and gluten, and the white beans add body and protein without distracting from the rich sweet potato flavor.

This vegan sweet potato and white bean dish delivers all the goodness of a hearty, creamy soup without any of the heaviness to bog you down. Serve it at your next holiday gathering or take it out for lunch; no matter how you choose to share it this season, we guarantee you will be surrounded by happy tummies!

DIRECTIONS      _________________________________________________________________

  1. Wash the potatoes with water, peel and cut them in large pieces.
  2. In a large pot, melt coconut oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, garlic, turmeric and sage. Sauté for 2 minutes, until translucent.
  3. Add the potatoes, stock, coconut milk, water and season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and lower the heat to medium. Cook for 30 minutes, until the potatoes are soft. Add the canned beans and turn off heat.
  4. In small batches, transfer the vegetables to a high-powered blender. Add broth as you go, depending on how thick or thin you want the soup to be. For thicker, add less broth, and for thinner add more broth. Blend until smooth.
  5. Pour the soup back into the pot. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
  6. Ladle soup into bowls and enjoy with any of the suggested toppings!
Try serving it with chopped green apple and a spoonful of Greek yogurt to add a tangy flavor. For my vegan friends, skip the yogurt – it tastes just as good!"

This is a great way to use air-dried sage from your garden. 

Enjoy,

Tiara
-The Provident Princess
Cooking From Your Garden, Plant Based, Plant Based Diet,
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Explaining the Value of the doTERRA Loyalty Reward Program (LRP)

Once you have your wholesale customer account you have access to purchase all of doTERRA's products at 25% off whenever you want for an entire year!

You also have the option of participating in doTERRA's monthly wellness program called the Loyalty Rewards Program or LRP.

It is the best way to buy your oils... keep reading to find out why.

If you're like me you became a doTERRA customer because you wanted natural, high quality products to support your physical, emotional and environmental heath in a positive way. Understanding the value of the LRP program is really important and once you know why, you will never want to order you oils another way.



You get to customize your own WELLNESS BOX every. single. month.  I love that doTERRA recognizes our efforts in taking care of ourselves in a healthy way and rewards us for it!

You'll end up spending less on your oils because you have the option of getting the free oil of the month and you'll earn points back on every purchase to use on free product while you are at it. It is a great way to grow your oil collection for free!

The average person on our team earns at least $244 in free oils every year through their LRP

You are in complete control. One month you might order a lip balm- the next month you might order the Athlete Kit.

No cost to join. No cost to stop. No monthly minimums.

Most importantly- you have access to the best natural lifestyle and wellness products for all your health and self-care needs. And they show up on your doorstep!


Questions about the Loyalty Rewards Program- LRP

1. How do I start ordering through the rewards program?

Easy, just log into your doTERRA account and click 'create new LRP', choose your monthly ship date (hint- your order needs to process by the 15th in order to receive the free product of the mont). Next add whatever items you'd like to try out or stock up on this month. You can click 'ship now' even if it isn't 'your date' and your order will process right then and you will have the option to go in and edit your cart with what you would like to receive the next month and it will auto-process on the date you selected. Make sure to note the ship date you chose so that you can remember to login and change anything in your monthly order each month before it processes.

2. What is PV?

Every product doTERRA sells has a product value or pv attached. Some products, especially oils have equal pv to the cost of item. There are some oils and other products where the pv is less than the cost of the item so make sure you check your order pv before you process your order. This is what determines your points you earn back and qualifying for the free product of the month. You need to have an order of at least 50 pv in order to receive points back. An order of 125 pv or more qualifies for the free product of the month on promo.

3. How do I earn free products?

Most people start getting 10 percent of their purchase pv back in points. If you make a purchase on your LRP once a month that is over 50pv for 3 months you will bump up to getting 15% back. That continues from months 4-6 and will bump up to 20% for months 7-9. 25% for months 10-12. Once you hit one year or 13 months, you will be earning 30% back on every order!

Once you have enough points you can use them to get a free product based off of the purchase price of the item. You cannot use points towards a partial amount for getting a product. You need to cover the entire price with points.

4. Do I have to order a certain amount each month?

You only have to order 1 product (over 1pv) a month to stay in the rewards program. You want to place an order of at least 50pv to earn points back and work on increasing your percentage back but
but if you feel like you don't need anything, you can cancel your LRP (make sure to use any points you have saved up, and you will lose your percentage you've built up) or you can place an order of at least 1pv to keep your LRP active and keep you at the percentage back you've built up to. You can do that for as many months as you like, then when you place an order of over 50 pv in the future you will start right back up at your percentage back in earning points and able to keep moving up with out having to start back at the beginning again.

5. When and How do I receive my free product points?

On the 15th of each month, you will see your point bank updated based on your order from the previous month. When you place your next order, you can select to pay with points for any item in your new order. You have to hit process now in order to apply points to your order instead of whating for it to auto process on your normal ship date.

This is the highest paying natural health rewards program out there. In just 2018, doTERRA paid out over $321 million in free products to the customers that order this way! I love getting 30% back on every purchase, and have loved using my points to try products out that I normally wouldn't buy.

This month has a great promo. Anyone who places a 150 pv order automatically ups their percentage to 20% back. This effectively lets you skip to month 6!


As always, I am here to help with any questions. 

XO, 

Tiara

Here's a short video (2 min) if you need a visual.
https://youtu.be/jRL9NzFZhkU
Doterra Loyalty Rewards Program, Doterra LRP, Essential Oil FAQ,
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Homemaking Series - Best Way to Peel and Store Fresh Garlic

This no fuss way to store, peel and use garlic is a major time and produce saver. Using fresh garlic can make such a difference in the flavor profile of a recipe but it can be tricky to know how to use. Most of the time, recipes call for it to be grated but that leaves a huge stringy mess. Let me share with you a trick I learned from my mom as a young girl. 

We usually have to buy garlic in a big chunk, but most recipes only call for a piece the size of your thumb. Instead of leaving it in your fridge until you can remember to use it again, why not freeze it? 

Freeze it you say? Yes, freezing it keeps the nutrients at their peak and it actually makes it way easier to handle. 


Just pull your ginger root out of the freezer, break off the size you need.


Then using a spoon, scrape the skin off the root in a downward motion.


Continue all the way around. The spoon really helps get in all the nooks and crannies without wasting a lot of the flesh like a knife would.


Proceed to grate or cut with a knife as desired. Grating the ginger while frozen really makes fine, little shavings which are perfect to flavor your food without worrying about someone getting a bite full of garlic. It's happened to me before. It's pretty spicy. I've found when you grate ginger fresh, it tends to mush on the grater and you just kind of get pulp and juice on one side and a bunch of strings on the other. 

This is such an easy little tip and a great way to make sure you can use all your ginger before it goes bad. 

XO, 
Tiara
-The Provident Princess
Freezing Ginger, Ginger, Homemaking Series,
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The Healthiest (and Cheapest!) Way to Dry Herbs

It's been a little quiet here on the blog this summer but I just wanted to jump on and share with you how I am preserving all the fresh herbs I have coming out of my garden right now.

My Sage is going crazy!
There are basically 2 ways to preserve fresh herbs. Historically, they have been dried. The advantage to this is that they shrink to a least 1/3 their fresh size and a fraction of their weight and will keep for a very long time.

Another option I've shown you is how to preserve fresh herbs by freezing them in ice-cubes. This is a great option if you really want that fresh from the garden taste in your food (and have room in your freezer!). I think it works best with parsley or basil, even cilantro would be good. Those herbs are frequently thrown in at the end of a meal for a little pop of flavor.

Sturdier herbs like sage, rosemary and oregano are usually added at the beginning of cooking and don't need to be fresh. Basil can be added like that as well so these ones aren't necessary to keep fresh and are perfect for dehydrating.

Dehydrating just means drying out and getting the moisture out of them so they won't mold during storage. Some people use dehydrators or ovens to dehydrate their herbs but you really don't need anything fancy and the way I'm going to show you is actually the healthiest because it keeps the most nutrients in tact. It is also the cheapest. Air drying.

Yep, we are going to do this the old fashioned way. There are just a few things you want to keep in mind.
  • Start with washed herbs. Once they are dried, you won't have the chance to wash them before you use them, so any dirt or other particles that are on there when they are picked will go straight into your food. 
  • Dry as much as you can by patting with a towel or running through a salad spinner. This will help lesson the drying time.
  • Don't place in direct sunlight. Just as we turn the oven to the lowest temperature possible when dehydrating to preserve the nutrients from being affected by the heat and cooking out, we don't want the sun to do that either. A family friend grew up in Switzerland in the 1940's and they would actually take their herbs (and green beans!) up to the attic to dehydrate in the dry, motionless, hot air. 
  • Find a place that is not drafty. You might think that having something blowing softly on your herbs would help them dry faster, and it is true, but it will also dry out the essential oils in the leaves making your herbs flavorless. 
  • Although you don't want air blowing across your herbs,  you do want there to be enough space for air to travel around and through so you don't have dense little pickets of herbs that don't dry out all the way and end up molding a ruining the whole batch. 

  • Here is my sage. It grew really heavily and the leaves are very thick too, so I made sure to separate the stems and only bunch 4-5 together to make sure it wasn't too dense. If you live in a more humid space, you may need to just do 1-2. Alternatively, you can also pick the leaves off the stems and air dry them on a drying rack used in baking. Just flip the leaves over a few times a day when you walk by to make sure none are sticking together. This is some basil my friend gave me. Can you believe how big the leaves are? They're longer than my hand! I love having dried basil on hand. It is essential in my favorite homemade Greek Salad Dressing. 
  • Next, all you need is time. A couple days. You will know when they are ready when they are completely dry and brittle. They should audibly crisp and snap when you bend them. If there is any bending without it breaking, it isn't dry enough yet.
  • Last just find an airtight container and pack it full leaving as little airspace as you can.
  • These dried herbs should last you well past next year's harvest (if you can keep them that long)
Sage Leaf Tea

I love using my dried sage with my Thanksgiving turkey and for healing herbal tea. Sage is most well-known for its benefits to the immune and digestive system as well as anti-inflamatory properties which help to regulated blood pressure, lower cholesterol and blood clots.

Try it, it's yummy.

XO,

Tiara
-The Provident Princess
Basil, Canning & Preserving, Canning and Preserving,
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Top Ten Essential Oils for Travel

My husband and I are preparing to take our kids on our first international vacation and in the midst of my ever growing piles of clothes and swimsuits, I thought it might be helpful if I shared the top ten essential oil product I like to bring while traveling. Granted, most of these I bring whether we go stateside or international, but there are a few considerations to make when going to a foreign country.

While I would love to have my entire collection on hand, space is usually at a premium so I try to focus on what my top health concerns would and how many I could address with one oil.



One thing I love about essential oils is that they are so versatile. There are so many chemical constituents that make up the structure of each oil and each of those constituents make it useful for different purposes. For example, Lemon oil has the therapeutic properties of being anti-anemic (helps blood flow),  antimicrobial (immune support), anti-rheumatic (arthritis), anti-sclerotic, antiseptic and bactericidal (cleansing-surfaces, wounds, skin/hair), diuretic (digestive support), insecticidal (bug repellant), and tonic (energizing). It is such a useful oil, but it is also phototoxic; which means it makes skin especially susceptible to UV radiation . Since we will be spending most of our days outside, I don't want any sensitized skin reactions. Most citrus oils are photosensitive and are not recommended to be put on topically if skin will be exposed to sunlight in less than 12 hours. Taking it internally does not have the same effects though. 

Ok, let's have a look at what I will be bringing!

TOP TEN ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCTS FOR TRAVEL   _______________________________

Peppermint- Next to lemon, I think peppermint is the most versatile oil. You can use it for everything it seems like! This is what I think it will be most useful for- headaches, congestion/ clear airways, anti-itch for bug bites, scratches, sunburns, over-heating (you wouldn't think it, but it actually has amazing cooling properties making it great for fevers too).

On Guard or Stronger-  Ours bodies are usually a little more susceptible to illness when we travel and I don't want anything getting in the way of our vacation fun. These are DoTERRA's protective blends and I will be rolling this on the soles of our feet every day to keep any sickness at bay. You can also buy or make a sanitizing spray to use one everything from spraying down airplane surfaces (especially if you have a baby touching and sucking on everything), doorknobs, on hands before meals etc. Stronger is the protective blend in the kids line and it comes diluted and reading to use in an easy roll on which can also just be rubbed on little hands if you don't have a spray. 

Lavender-  Lavender is multi-purpose as well for soothing (think sun burn), itching, pain management, calming (anxiety and stress), and restful sleep which is a must when sharing hotel rooms with little kids. 

Digestzen- I love this digestive blend! There are always things we eat that don't agree with our tummies so I love to have Digestzen on hand. It runs the gammut from helping heartburn, stomach discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, carsickness etc. 

Terrashield- Any time you head into the jungle you need a good bug spray. One thing to keep in mind is that if you plan to visit Mexico and go to a Cenote, you absolutely won't be allowed to use a bug spray with DEET in it. You shouldn't put that stuff on your skin anytime but that is a topic for another day. Mexico requires an all-natural, biodegradable bug spray to help keep the water pure since locals use it for drinking and to help keep the ecosystems from being taxed too much. Terrashield is a blend of oils shown to have repellant properties like ylang ylang, arbor vitae, cedarwood and especially eucalyptus. There are some studies showing that eucalyptus works even better than DEET which is awesome considering how destructive DEET is. Terrashield comes in an oil and a spray option.

PB Assist + probiotics- This one might seem like a weird one to include but it is vital especially if you are travelling internationally. I know I said that this will be our first international trip as a family but technically we took a carribean cruise with the 2 older girls when they were younger, but all we did was snorkel at Cozumel, Mex and spend a day at the Disney island of Castaway Cay so I don't really count it. All our food was prepared by american standards and we didn't spend any time at the Cozumel port. One of the best things about travelling internationally is trying all the different cuisine. Usually though, you have no control over how your food is prepared and all the ingredients used. Every country/ region/ culture actually have been shown to have different digestive flora and when our bodies come in contact with these foreign microbes we sometimes experience major stomach upset. Did you know that over 70% of our immunity comes from our gut? Since that is true, we can't afford to have anything disrupt our gut and immune system so taking a high quality probiotic is key. I love that doTERRA offers a kid probiotic too and it comes in a powdered form and my kids eat it just like a pixie stick. There is no sugar but a natural strawberry/melon taste so my kids love taking it. 

Correct X- Think all-natural neosporin. It is a gel with frankincense, helichrysum, cedarwood, melaleuca and lavender for anti-bacterial properties, inflammation, skin healing, and pain management. It's great for bruises, cuts, scrapes, and bug bites. Another tip I love comes from the Duchess of Sussex (Meghan Markle) from all her plane travel. Just swipe a little of this in each nostril after you sit down in your seat or before you get on your flight and since it has anti-microbial properties it will help neutralize any airborne pathogens from the recirculated air we breathe for hours helping to keep you from getting sick. And it also helps keep your nose from drying out as well. I just love this tip. 

After Sun Spray- Ok now we are down to my DIY products I love. If you are going to be spending a lot of time in the sun, you will need this After Sun Spray. My husband and daughters have extremely fair skin and burn so easily and this spray has peppermint, lavender and frankincense in it that really helps get the heat out with such a nice cooling sensation, calms the itching and hurt and helps speed healing. Usually when my husband gets burned, he gets really red then it peels and goes straight back to white skin. Well my husband and I got REALLY burned one day and we used this After Sun Spray for a few days and he was amazed at how nice the peppermint felt on his skin, and his skin never peeled and actually became a tan. Check out my recipe here. 

Hair Detangler- this one isn't a must, but it sure makes my life easier with my long hair as well as three daughters when we spend every day at a pool or the beach. One thing that I like is that not only does it work to get the snarls out, but it is made from essential oils that are actually good for your hair and will help nourish and protect hair at the same time which is so nice with all the salt and chlorine exposure. You can make one with rosemary,  lavender, melaleuca and a little coconut oil or your favorite conditioner or if you want a short cut like I've started to use, the Root to Tip serum has all those oils and more like argon oil that are good for your hair and scalp and is a product I already use at home after showering, so I just squirt a few pumps of that into a spray bottle and fill to the top with water making it so easy. 

One other thing you can use that spray for is as a poo-pourri. Some of the hotels really don't have too much privacy between the bathroom and living areas so it is nice to have an air freshener. Just spray the top of the toilet water and when you go to the bathroom everything will be encapsulated in the oil and keep the smell and airborne germs at bay. 
 
How to Get Your Oils   ___________________________________________________________

Well, there you have it. All my favorite oils for travelling with. I got a lot of these oils when I bought my 1st doTERRA oil kit because I knew I wanted to overhaul our lives and reduce our toxic load in as many areas as I could and wanted the best value for my investment so I got the Home Essentials Kit for $275 since it is a bundled package of doTERRA's top ten oils that comes out to less than wholesale prices, comes with a diffuser and came with a wholesale account that gets me 25% off anything else I want to buy. 

If you aren't ready to make that kind of a financial commitment but really want to get started with a few oils, I would recommend the mini kit that comes with the 3 most versatile oils: peppermint, lavender and lemon for $55. This also gives you a wholesale account so you can add on CorrectX and Terrashield (or anything else!) for 25% off retail if you want. And, Terrashield is an extra 10% off this month as well! That makes it $86.50 for all 5 products and the wholesale account. You can check it out and add or remove anything you like here.

I hope this was helpful and a good jumping off point for you to start planning how you can support your family's health on your next vacation. 

Tiara
-Provident Princess
Essential Oil Series, Essential Oils, Essential Oils for Travel,
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Sour Cherry Jam Recipe

Hooray! Can I just tell you how excited I am now that it is cherry season? It means it is the beginning of all my summer and fall canning. And I've got so much planned that I am excited to share with you. First up is Sour Cherry Jam. Have you ever heard of Sour Cherries or Tart Cherries before? They are not easily found in stores and most often at food stands or farmers' markets for a very limited time at the beginning of Cherry Season. Just like their name says, they are sour. They are beautifully bright red and are best used in another creation like jams, syrups, ice cream topping, pies, or dried and not really eaten as a table fruit. You can find dried tart cherries in the grocery stores for about $5.99/lb. At least that's how much they are in the health section of my local Kroger store. 

In Utah, the best sour cherry variety is Montmorency and it is the most common tart cherry grown in the US. It is heary and can withstand more front than sweet varieties because it blooms latest in the spring avoiding late frosts. 

Tart Cherries are perfect for pies or crumbles because they really let you control the sweetness factor  and they hold their shape wonderfully when cooked. These are what are standard for commerical pie filling cherries.  Once you find a source for Sour Cherries you'll be so excited finding ways to use them up. If you need time to decide though, pit them and freeze them because they won't last long fresh and actually really hold up to freezing well.

I happen to have found an old neighbor with a Sour Cherry tree in his yard. I was driving my girls over to a friend's house and I looked out the car window at this tree we were driving by and thought "that looks like a cherry tree" so of course I had to go have a look. Yes I am that type of person. I noticed that the cherries were quite a bit smaller than other cherries and very bright, shiny red so I figured I had just found one of these rare cherry trees. I knocked on the person's door and he was very happy to let me come back and pick as much as I wanted. I hauled my girls back there the next day and we picked 3 grocery bags full and hadn't even made a dent in the tree!

We returned all hot and sweaty from being out in the sun and sure enough when we bit in to one we found out they were tart cherries!

I thought about all the ways I wanted to use them up and we tried Sour Cherry Jam, Sour Cherry Syrup (awesome in my Tart Cherry Lime Mocktails!) and I dried a whole bunch for the kids. 

Making Jam is so easy. Every recipe is different depending on the type of pectin you use. I like the low sugar one and feel like it is plenty sweet. You can even find a no sugar fruit pectin as well. Look for a recipe that has 3 cups of sugar or less for 4 cups of fruit. 

DIRECTIONS  ___________________________________________________________________
First you want to wash, pit and chop the sour cherries and measure the EXACT amount on your pectin box instructions into a sauce pan. (Making jam really is a science so you have to follow the amounts exactly or your jam won't set)

2.  Add water and pectin package into fruit and bring mixture to a full rolling boil on high heat,  which means that it doesn't stop bubbling when you stir it. And stir constantly. (You can also add a 1/2 tsp butter to reduce foaming if you want)

3. As soon as it hits a rolling boil, pour in the sugar called for all at once and return to a rolling boil. Time for 1 minute at a full rolling boil on high heat stirring constantly then remove from heat and skim off any foam. 

4. Ladle quickly into clean glass jars. I like to use the 6 oz jars. You only need 1/8 inch of headspace. Wipe jar rims  and cover with lid and screw on the band to finger tight.

5. Place onto water bath canner rack and lower into the water to cover jars by 1-2 inches. If you need more water, have some boiling water waiting nearby. 

6. Cover the canner and bring water to a gentle boil. Process Sour Cherry Jam 10 minutes (add 5 minutes for elevations 1,0001-3000 ft and 10 minutes if your are at elevation 3,001-6,000 ft above sea level.)

7. Remove jars after alloted time and place upright. (Some people turn jars upside down but you shouldn't do this). Just set on a towel and let it cool completely for at least 24 hours. Check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. If the lid springs back, it means it is not sealed and you can either refridgerate and use immediately or you can reprocess it again with a new lid if you have any other batches of jam to do. 

That's it. It really goes so quickly. One of the best ways we love enjoying our Sour Cherry Jam is by swirling it through a little bit of plain yogurt. In fact, that was one of my tricks to slowly get my babies to start eating plain yogurt.

As an aside, I remember being an exchange student in Germany and trying to buy yogurt and being so confused why it was so sour. I didn't realize what real yogurt was supposed to taste like. Ours is like melted ice cream in the states! Slowly I got used to it and now I love it. If you want to start weaning your family off the high sugar yogurts,  start with 1 tsp of Jam/ Jelly (that is only 4 grams of sugar) and compared to the amount of sugar that is dumped into store-bought yogurt, it is infinitely better. Then slowly I would add less and less til they would eat just plain yogurt with berries mixed in. Try it, it works! 

I hope you find yourself lucky enough to snag some tart cherries this season. There are some U-pick farms as well as farmers' markets where they will be available for about 2 weeks in July.

Happy Canning!

Tiara
- The Provident Princess
Canning & Preserving, Canning and Preserving, Cherries,
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Make Cornmeal from Popcorn in a Blendtec or Vitamix!

Are you wondering if you read that right? Yes, yes you did.

I know we've all heard it said that "Necessity is the mother of invention", but Plato was really on to something. All my best breakthroughs have come from needing something I didn't have yet. Case in point. I wanted delicious cornbread to go with the ribs my husband was smoking but all my cornmeal was rancid. So I needed a way to grind my own cornmeal because there was no way or time for me to run to the store to grab some before dinnertime.

(side note- You might have seen that I am trying to work my way through my freezers and pantry. I had gotten a great deal on Bob's Red Mill Cornmeal over a year ago and I had been saving it so long it went rancid before I remembered about it. oops. Luckily I only had 2 packages left)

I do have a grain mill. But, did you know that most grain mills aren't strong enough to grind corn? It's true. In the instructions, most mills will say it absolutely can't grind corn or it will break. I got a Blendtec forever ago for green smoothies and grinding my own flour but one of the things I was most excited about was that it can grind corn! I was soooo excited. And it is so easy.

Directions ________________________________________________________________________



I like to use NON-GMO or ORGANIC popcorn to make sure my family is avoiding an exposure to genetic engineering or chemicals, pesticides or herbicides. I needed 1 1/4 Cups for my recipe so I started with about a cup and a half of popcorn and it was just about perfect.


I just turned it on to the highest setting (10) and let it go until it auto shut-off after 50 seconds.



It was the perfect consistency. It took me about 2 minutes from start to finish, using just plain old popcorn from my pantry. I don't think I'm ever going back to packaged cornmeal. Obviously I can't manage to get through it without some of it going rancid. Popcorn on the other hand keeps for years.


And it made a pretty incredible cornbread. I use a soaked cornbread recipe based off of Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions.

INGREDIENTS ___________________________________________________________________
1½ cups cornmeal
1½ cups flour
2 cups buttermilk (or 1/2 plain yogurt and 1 1/2 cups milk or 2 cups milk + 2 TBLS vinegar)
2 Tbsp. lard or coconut oil
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. baking powder
3 eggs
⅓ cup non-GMO sugar (you can use honey but all the goodness is killed off by te=he
¼ cup melted butter

INSTRUCTIONS  _________________________________________________________________
Combine the cornmeal, flour, and buttermilk in a bowl, mixing to moisten everything. Cover and leave in a warm place for 12-24 hours.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Place a 12-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven with 2 Tbsp. lard or coconut oil.
In a small bowl, mix salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
In another small bowl, whisk eggs and mix in honey and melted butter.
Pour wet ingredients into the soaked flour and fold in. Dump the dry ingredients over and continue mixing until thoroughly combined.
Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven, swirl the melted oil around to evenly distribute and cover the edges, then scrape the batter into the hot skillet.
Place skillet in oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Serve with honey butter (1:1 ratio) and enjoy!

This cornmeal turns out delicious every time. I've even just soaked it for only 6 hours and it still was amazing. It's one of my husband's favorite dishes. Let me know if you try it or what else you use ground cornmeal for. I love making polenta as  well.


Tiara
-The Provident Princess
Cornbread, Grinding Popcorn, Healthy Food,
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Fresh Lavender Wreath DIY

Isn't this warm weather amazing? I'm loving seeing my garden and yard come alive again. Just look at my lavender plants! Aren't they so beautiful? I just felt like I had to do something with them and thought a homemade lavender wreath for my front door would be perfect!



Aren't they beautiful? My older sister gave them to me one year for my birthday and I just love remembering that and thinking about her as I walk past and smell their beautiful fragrance. It's not quite the same as having her live nearby (she and my younger sister live across the country from me), but always a lovely reminder of our friendship.

I always love finding ways to use my lavender. I have shared my easy lavender bath salts, and have plans to try making soap but many times I just cut them and hang dry in my house for some good smelling decor. 

I was at Dollar Tree the other day and found a wreath form and thought it would be perfect to use for a homemade lavender wreath. And it is so easy. I just put it together on the driveway while I was outside watching my kids play, although by the end all four of my kiddos had gathered around and wanted to help. My older girls loved helping my clip, group and place our floral bundles but I think I probably lost half my lavender to my 2 and 3 year olds who were just thrilled they could use scissors to help cut anything. 

I heard something a long time ago that has stuck with me in my attitude toward letting my young children "help" outdoors or with anything else. There was a women visiting her friend who looked out the window and saw the friend's children out in the garden. They were watering everything in sight with gusto and pulling at plants and digging and picking at things that weren't even ripe yet. She was worried and said to her friend, "Oh, do you want to go stop them from ruining your garden?" and the friend looked out the window calmly and said "No, I'm not growing a garden, I am growing children."  I love that. Really, my goal is to help my kids learn to love gardening and learning the patience that is required before getting the reward of fresh strawberries, tomatoes or flowers. I want to encourage them in any way I can to love the outdoors and appreciate nature, and if I have to lose a few lavender stems or tomato plants (or all my red onions this year -that's another story), so be it.

This really was such and easy project and it comes together so quickly. I had everything on hand, since I had bought the wreath form a few weeks ago. But you could even make one yourself from grapevines or any other vines growing in your yard. That would be a really fun project for the kids.


Supplies   _________________________________________________________________________
  • a wreath form 
  • fresh lavender (dried could work but a lot would break in the process and not form very well to the shape)
  • Any other branches, greenery or flowers you would like to use that dries well. I was going to do just lavender buy my oldest suggested mixing in something else so we used some Karl Forester Reed Grass and I ended up loving the mix.
  • floral wire (I just used my wire I use for my tomato vines) 
  • rubber bands to hold your groupings together (I used clear, plastic hair ties)
That's it!



As you cut your lavender, you will want to bunch them in about 1-2 inch bundles


Start laying them out on the wreath form. I don't like to attach them with the wire until I am sure I have everything where I want it so I place everything first then wire at the very end so I have freedom to adjust things as I go along. I'm glad I did, because this is about when we decided to add the reed grass. 



 I love the different interest and texture it brings. Keep adding until you make it all the way around.


Check and make sure everything is the way you want it. Now it's time to attach to the wreath form with the wire. Make sure the wire is hidden underneath the bundle on top.


Perfect. Now hang on your door and enjoy!

Something that would be fun is to make a mix of lavender essential oil and water and mist your wreath with it every few days so you (and people who visit) can enjoy the scent of lavender as they walk past. You know I love doTERRA oils, they are the best in my opinion. 

Let me know in the comments some ways you love using lavender.

I love how this turned out and think it would be such a nice and inexpensive present to give as well. And it should dry beautifully too!

Tiara
-The Provident Princess
DIY, Essential Oil DIY, Homemade,
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Father's Day DIY- All Natural After Shave with Essential Oils

Hi! I just had someone ask me to put together a bottle of aftershave for him. You all know I love using my essential oils to make homemade products. Even better when it is something thoughtful I can give as a gift. With Father's Day around the corner, this is perfect!

This one is so easy to whip up too.



INGREDIENTS _____________________________

6 oz spray bottle
1/2 cup of Witch hazel (try to find a non-alcohol one like this to prevent drying)
2 Tablespoons Aloe Vera
10 drops Cedarwood Oil
3 drops Rosemary Oil
3 drops Siberian Fir Oil

DIRECTIONS
1. Add Aloe Vera followed by all oils then top with witch hazel.
2. Make sure to shake well before using.
3. Spray onto fingers or palm and pat onto face after shaving.

Enjoy!




For more Essential Oil DIYs check out my Non-toxic Wood Polish or Lavender Bath Salts 

If you want to find out more about Essential Oil usage and safety click on the Essential Oils drop down above, if you are ready to grab your own kit at the best price, Get Started.
After Shave, All Natural Aftershave, DIY,
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How to Make Powdered Sugar Using Granulated Sugar

You won't believe it. It was my son's birthday recently (he turned 2!) and my girls had made some cupcakes and we were starting to make the frosting but when we went to grab the powdered sugar, it was no where to be found! I could have sworn I had a few bags as back up downstairs in our storage room but nope, I was wrong. What I did have though was a few bags of granulated sugar.

I know I have heard about making homemade powdered sugar before but I have never felt the need until now. I grabbed my awesome Blendtec Blender, oh I love that thing. It had ground an assortment of grains and beans but never sugar yet. 

I like using cane sugar because I know that it is Non-GMO. Even if it isn't labeled that way. GMO sugar comes from sugar beets never sugar cane.

2 Cups Granulated Sugar
 I needed 3 cups of powdered sugar and wanted to be on the safe side so I filled it up to the 2 cups mark and blended it on HIGH for 90 seconds.

Homemade Powered Sugar From Granulated Sugar

Magic. 

My 2 cups of granulated sugar became 4 cups of soft and fluffy powdered sugar before my eyes. We were able to go back to our lovely afternoon of baking together without having to run to the store or disrupt our Sunday afternoon family time.

And the cupcakes were so good! I didn't even get a picture before they were all gobbled up. But Nawna's Chocolate Buttercream Frosting definitely was a hit like always.

I love having tricks like this up my sleeves. Not only did it save me a trip and extra annoyance but buying granulated sugar is less expensive than powdered sugar so it saved me money too. Win, win.

Let me know if you try it out. You may need to blend it a little longer to get it as fine as you want.

Happy Baking

PP
DIY, Homemade, Homemade Powdered Sugar,
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