Record Bowls - Inexpensive Christmas Gift #11

I remember going to Tower records and picking up a new album. I accidently left it in my car. The summer sun warped the record. Lucky for me the guy behind the counter let me exchange it. I never made that mistake again but I did learn that the sun and heat will reshape vinyl. We have a lot of old records that we really didn’t know what to do with so I decided to take advantage of the heat advisory today and repurpose some old tunes.

photo credit: CK Worley

photo credit: CK Worley

Making a record bowl is easy and fun. I start out by laying the records over bowls and cups and setting them in the sun. They melt around the bowl or cup which makes the next step so much easier. The record melts and forms around the base almost like fondant on a cake.
Once the bowl is melted sufficiently in the heat of the day, which is to say it looks more like a bowl than a record you can start shaping it with your hair dryer.

photo credit: CK Worley

photo credit: CK Worley

Set the dryer on the highest hottest temperature. You may want to do this outside because it will smell up the room.
Take the dryer and set it on the edge of the record. As the record melts you can start to maneuver the dryer from side to side to create a crease in the vinyl.

photo credit: CK Worley

photo credit: CK Worley

Move the dryer up to the top of the record. Remember the base of your bowl is the area where the label is so if you go too close to the hole in the center you’ll have an odd shaped base and it won’t sit on the table evenly.
Once you’re happy with the shape you’re done. These are great conversation starters and if you have a music or movie room or just love to entertain these little bowls will be quite a hit.
You can pick these old records up at any thrift store for anywhere from 20 cents to 50 cents each.
A gift of three bowls would be a wonderful Hostess or Christmas gift. You have to start now while the sun is hot. If you try to do this with only your hair dryer the likelihood of the record cracking is high.

photo credit: CK Worley

And now for your Rock and Roll Joke of the Day from Yuksrus.com

My daughter was doing a project on 70's rock groups, and she
asked me to name 2 of them.
"Yes!" I said.
"Who?" she asked.
"There you go, there's two of them" I replied.

Eight Hour Roast Pork - Are you ready for some Football?

This Eight Hour Roast Pork recipe has been a favorite of ours for tailgating or just about anytime. I originally got this recipe from Suzanne Somers’ cookbook Get Skinny. Her recipe is called Twelve Hour Roast Pork but I find it’s hard for me to sleep with something sizzling in the oven so mine is simply an Eight Hour Roast. I've made a few other changes that I hope you'll appreciate. So lets go!

photo credit: CK Worley

Start with a whole picnic shoulder of pork with the skin on (7-10 pounds)
12 garlic cloves finely chopped (I buy a jar of peeled garlic to speed things along)
1 1.6 ounce bottle of fennel seeds (I use about a half jar)
Salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
Juice of 3 lemons
4 TBSP olive oil
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Score the entire skin of the shoulder by slicing deeply through the skin and into the meat. (I cut one way and then the other making a checker board design)
Then I put the garlic down into the slits along with the fennel seeds. Next I shake on the ground red pepper, salt and pepper over the whole thing.
Put the shoulder on a rack in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes, or until the skin begins to crackle and brown.

photo credit: CK Worley

Pour the lemon juice and olive oil over the meat.
Turn the temperature down to 250 degrees and roast for 8 hours.Baste occasionally.
The pork becomes crispy on the outside and moist from the juices on the inside.
Shred the meat and serve with your favorite BBQ sauce.

photo credit: CK Worley

It reheats wonderfully and travels well.
GO DAWGS!

Fresh Fig Upside Down Cake with lemon essential oil

My friend Kelly has a fig tree and it's so nice to just walk down the street and grab some figs right off the tree whenever they are needed.

I got this recipe off Caroline Rambo Dawson's blog "The Wanna be Country Girl"

Ingredients:
For the topping
1/4 cup salted butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
fresh figs cut in half (enough to cover the bottom of pan) The figs are small this year and they shrink when you cook them so pack them tight.

photo credit: CK Worley

For the batter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter
2 whole eggs plus 1 yolk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice (I used 8 drops of lemon essential oil instead and it worked great)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Here’s how to do it:
To a cake pan or 10′ skillet melt the 1/4 cup salted butter. Once completely melted evenly scatter the light brown sugar and drizzle the honey on top. Arrange the figs cut side down on top of the honey mixture.

In a medium size mixing bowl beat the 1 cup sugar and the 1/2 cup  room temp unsalted butter until light and fluffy. Next add the eggs and egg yolk followed by the sour cream.

In another mixing bowl add 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder.

To the wet mixture add the dry ingredients and beat until well incorporated then add the Lemon Essential Oil and vanilla  and beat a few seconds more.

Carefully spread  the batter over the figs and run into a preheated oven at 325′ for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick come out clean.

photo credit: CK Worley

For more information on how you can get the BEST essential oils at a 25% discount - please contact me at settersrun360@gmail.com. I can direct you to my web site once you contact me.

Backpack makeover class recipes

I had an essential oils backpack makeover class last Thursday. It was fun and informative. I made Lavender Black Bean Brownies that were a real hit. I also made Peppermint Granola Bars,  Orange Peanut-Butter Sandwiches, Citrus Bliss Fruit Dip and Orange Power Bites. Here are those recipes.

For more information on how you can get essential oils at a 25% discount - please contact me at settersrun360@gmail.com and I can direct you to my web site. From there I can give you my web page -  just click on “signup/join” under Quick Links on the bottom left hand side of the page.

Lavender Black Bean Brownies

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed.
2 large eggs
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2/3 cup honey
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
8 drops of Lavender essential oil
3/4 cup chocolate chips, divided

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place all ingredients (except for the chocolate chips) in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Pour batter into large bowl and stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Pour into greased 8X8 inch pan and top with 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool and cut into pieces. Store in the refrigerator.

photo credit: CK Worley

Peppermint Granola Bars

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups quick oats
1/2 cup rice crispies
1/2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup coconut
1/8 cup flax seed
1/8 cup chia seed
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
6 drops of Peppermint essential oil

photo credit: CK Worley

Directions:
1. Mix all dry ingredients together and set aside.
Mix all wet ingredients together . Melt in a sauce pan over medium heat.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix uniformly.
Allow wet ingredients to absorb into dry ingredients. If mixture is too dry, add more coconut oil or honey. If too wet, add more oatmeal.
(This recipe was too dry and I had to add more honey to make it stick together)
Line cake pan with parchment paper. Pour mixture in pan and pat down.
Cook at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown.

Orange Peanut butter Sandwich

Ingredients:
Peanut butter
Fresh banana slices
Honey
Orange essential oil
Whole wheat or gluten free bread

Directions:
Mix 2 drops of Orange essential oil into the peanut butter.
After placing on bread with bananas, drizzle with honey.
(Note: I mashed the bananas into the peanut butter with the honey and made it into a spread)

photo credit: CK Worley

Citrus Bliss Fruit Dip

2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup honey
2 drops Invigorating Blend essential oil
Use your favorite sliced fruit with this delicious fruit dip

photo credit: CK Worley

Orange Power Bites

Ingredients:
1 cups finely shredded coconut, divided
1 cup almond butter
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons chia seeds
6 drops Orange essential oil
Cocoa powder to coat

Directions:
Place all ingredients into mixer except for half cup shredded coconut
Add Orange essential oil and mix well
Roll into balls and coat in either the other half cup of shredded coconut or cocoa powder
Store in the refrigerator and eat whenever you need any extra boost of energy or before a workout. Great for an after school kids snack.

I also showed everyone how to make safe and effective essential oil hand cleansing gel.

5 Tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel
4 Tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil
8-10 drops Protective Blend essential oil
Small squeeze container
Mix and pour into the container. Shake well.

Most store bought hand sanitizer products are 60 percent to 65 percent alcohol by volume, according to the Maryland Poison Control Center, which is a higher alcohol content than most hard liquors - so why not make your own safe and effective gel?

For more information on how you can get the BEST essential oils at a 25% discount - please contact me at settersrun360@gmail.com-
I'll send you a link to my web page. From there just click on “signup/join” under Quick Links on the bottom left hand side of the page.