December 13, 2011: Oatmeal Blueberry White Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Here’s one more cookie recipe to get you all set for Christmas. This is one I got off the back of a package of blueberry flavored Craisins and modified a bit. These cookies combine all my favorite flavors in a very yummy cookie that would hold up nicely to shipping, if necessary.

Oatmeal Blueberry White Chocolate Cookies

2/3 cup butter flavored shortening

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 ½ cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking)

1 ½ cups flour

1 t. baking soda

½ t. salt

1 6-ounce package blueberry flavored Craisins

1 3.5-ounce bar white chocolate with blueberries

Cream together shortening and brown sugar. Beat in eggs. Mix together dry ingredients and blend into egg mixture. Break the chocolate bar into small pieces. Mix Craisins and white chocolate pieces into cookie dough.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet.

Makes 4 dozen cookies

February 25, 2011: Facial Mask Recipes

Right about now is probably when your facial skin is looking its worst – pasty white from being indoors and dried out from being subjected daily to a heated environment. Ick! What’s a girl to do to get a nice, healthy glow back to her cheeks?

The answer is an at-home facial made from natural products you have around the house.

I’m going to give you several alternatives so you can make a recipe appropriate for any skin type with anything you have on hand.

For Aging Skin:

Protein Scrub Mask

1 egg yolk
1 T. oil (the recipe calls for castor oil but you could also use melted coconut oil or even olive oil)
2 T. salt
1 t. lemon juice

Blend all ingredients and spread on face; leave on your skin for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Use a washing motion as you scrub it off but do so very gently as the salt in this recipe is very abrasive.

Honey Almond Scrub Mask
¼ cup honey
2 T. pulverized almonds (a coffee grinder works great for pulverizing)

Mix together and use as the Protein Scrub Mask.

For Acne-Prone Skin:

Almond Oat Scrub Mask

3 T. pulverized oatmeal (not the instant variety)
1 T. shaved castile bar soap
1 T. water
1 T. almond extract

Add shaved soap to the pulverized oatmeal; mix in water a little bit at a time until a paste is formed. Add the almond extract. Apply to face and use the same as the Protein Scrub Mask above.

Herb Protein Mask

1 egg yolk
1 ½ t. dried sage
1 ½ t. dried mint
1 ½ t. dried thyme

Whip the yolk until pale yellow and thick. Add the herbs. Apply to face and leave for 20 minutes; remove with a rinse of warm water.

For Oily Skin:

Lemon Oat Scrub

3 – 4 T. oatmeal (not the instant kind)
Juice of one lemon

Pulverize the oatmeal in a blender or coffee grinder. Strain lemon juice and add to oatmeal, a little at a time, until it forms a paste. Use the same as the Protein Scrub mask above.

For Dry Skin:

Avocado Mask

½ avocado, mashed.

Mayonnaise or Sour Cream Mask

Simply spread a scoop of mayo or sour cream over your face and remove with warm, then cool splashes of water.

Butter Almond Scrub

3 – 4 T. finely pulverized almonds
2 T. margarine

Melt the margarine. Add a little bit at a time to the pulverized almonds until the mixture forms a paste. Use the same as the Protein Scrub Mask above.

Simple, single ingredient masks for any skin type:

• Whipped egg yolk
• Whipped egg white
• Honey

For the full at-home spa treatment, follow these steps:

1. Cleanse your face
2. Steam (see February 12, 2011 post for steam facial recipes)
3. Apply freshener or toner (see February 18, 2011 post for freshener recipes)
4. Apply mask
5. Remove mask and rinse thoroughly
6. Apply freshener again (for oily or acne-prone skin)
7. Apply moisturizer

That’s it! At the end of your treatment, your skin should feel smooth and have a renewed glow.