Basic Lip Balm

Ingredients:

1 t. beeswax
2 t. coconut oil
2 drops vitamin E oil
2-3 drops flavor oil

Instructions:

1. Melt beeswax and coconut oil.
2. Stir in vitamin E oil.
3. Add flavor oil
4. Place in tube or pot.

Note:  This can be made without the flavor oil if you don't have any on hand.

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

This is a handy shampoo to combat dandruff or scalp build up.

What You Will Need:

• 1 Bottle Shampoo (preferably dye and fragrance free)
• 1 Bottle Tea Tree Oil
• Dropper

Directions:

1. Using a dropper, add 2 drops of tea tree oil per ounce of shampoo.
2. Replace the shampoo bottle cap and shake well to mix.
3. Shake shampoo before each use.
4. Use shampoo as you normally would.

Notes:

• Do not ingest tea tree oil.
• Do not use tea tree oil undiluted
• Watch for allergic reactions, especially if it is your first time using tea tree oil.
• Do Not use tea tree oil if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
• As with any essential oils, use with caution.

Easy Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:

1 stick butter
1 lb. shrimp cooked shrimp, deveined.
1 lemon
2 t. Italian Seasoning

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Melt a stick of butter.
3. Line a baking sheet with foil.
4. Thinly slice lemon and lay out on the baking sheet.
5. Layer on the shrimp over the lemon.
6. Pour the butter over the shrimp.
7. Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning.
8. Bake for 15 minutes.

Parmesan Zucchini

Ingredients:

4 medium zucchini, cut in half
olive oil
¼ c. Parmesan cheese
1 T. Rosemary (fresh)
1 T. Thyme (fresh)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Brush cut zucchini lightly with olive oil.
3. Place zucchini on foil lined baking sheet.
4. Mix Parmesan cheese, rosemary and thyme.
5. Sprinkle cheese mixture on zucchini halves.
6. Bake 15 minutes
7. Broil 3-4 minutes, until cheese is golden brown.

Note:  If using dried herbs, use sparingly because the Rosemary can be overpowering.

Modification:  Try Mozzarella instead of Parmesan, and Italian Seasoning instead of Rosemary and Thyme.

White-Bean and Sausage Stew

Ingredients:

6 (3 oz.) Italian sausages  
1 T. olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 clove garlic, chopped  
2 (15 oz.) cans white beans (Great Northern or navy), rinsed and drained  
1 (28 oz.) can chopped tomatoes, drained  
1 T. chopped fresh or 1 tsp. dried thyme  
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Poke holes in sausages and put in a large nonstick skillet. 
2. Add ¼ cup water; bring to a boil. 
3. Lower heat and cook sausages, turning, until lightly browned and water has evaporated, about 10 minutes. 
4. Transfer to a plate. 
5. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. 
6. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, about 3 minutes. 
7. Add beans, tomatoes and thyme.
8. Put half of bean mixture into a slow cooker. 
9. Arrange sausages on top, followed by remaining beans. 
10. Cook on high for 4 hours. 
11. Check after 2 hours and add water if mixture looks dry.
12. Remove sausages; slice thickly. 
13. Season beans with salt and pepper. 
14. Return sausage to stew. 

Note:  Stew can be kept, frozen and tightly sealed, for up to 1 month.

Prep. Time:  15 minutes
Cook Time:  4 hours, 15 minutes
Serves 4

Tortellini & Zucchini

This is a pretty versatile recipe.  Pick your favorite tortellini.  Add peppers and/or mushrooms if you like.

Ingredients:

2 medium to large zucchini, sliced thin
¼ c. diced onion
1 T. Olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
9 oz. tortellini, cooked according to package directions
2 - 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
½ t. basil
1 t. parsley

Directions:

1. Cook the tortellini according to package directions
2. Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet
3. Sauté onion until translucent
4. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds
5. Add basil and parsley
6. Add zucchini to skillet and sauté until lightly browned
7. Add cooked tortellini to zucchini mixture
8. Add tomato sauce, stir.
9. Cook until everything is heated through.

Pork Cutlets

Ingredients:

¼ c. Parmesan cheese (shredded into fine powder)
¼ c. coconut flour plus a few tablespoons for dredging
2 eggs
4 small, boneless porkchops 
salt, pepper, seasonings 
Worcestershire (optional)
Cabbage
3 - 4 T. Coconut oil 

Directions:

1. Pound pork lightly until thin
2. Season pork with salt and pepper
3. Dredge pork in coconut flour
4. Beat eggs, dip pork into egg mixture
5. Combine Parmesan and coconut flour and then dip pork into that mixture as well
6. Heat oil 
7. Fry porkchops until dark golden brown and then flip it on the other side (10 min, depending on thickness)
8. Serve with cabbage