My Vegetarian Holiday Recipes

My approach to holiday cooking is to make a dish that I make every year and try a new dish. This way, people enjoy their favorite dishes, but also get introduced to a new dish. Although I eat some organic/grass-fed meat these day, I am still focusing on vegetarian recipes for the Holidays. This year's vegetarian Christmas recipes include an Easy Cranberry Sauce, a decadent and creamy Triple Onion Tart, and hearty Cranberry Pecan Quinoa salad.

Easy Cranberry Sauce (the rum is a must!)

Triple Onion Tart

Cranberry Pecan Quinoa (I substituted couscous for quinoa)

>> What is your favorite holiday dish??

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All Natural Hand Therapy [Review]

Between the cold and dry air and hand washing dishes several times a day, my hands have been dry, cracked, and burning. I try to use the most natural products I can find. I have been using Argan Oil, Coconut Oil, and Jojoba Oil with fairly good results. However, I find that I have to reply multiple times a day. The oils get absorbed or rub off. Keomi All Natural Hand Therapy cream works immediately to leave my skin softer, smoother and more supple.

Keomi All Natural Hand Therapy           ($11.97, 2oz)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Works immediately	Some low-medium toxicity ingredients
Long lasting	Plastic jar
Natural ingredients	Scent is a bit overpowering at first

I received a 2 oz jar of Keomi All Natural Hand Therapy cream. This cream is definitely therapy for my dry and cracked hands. The cream is whipped and is very thick. I rubbed a little bit of the cream on my hands. A little goes a long way. The cream immediately started working! My hands felt silky and my skin felt supple. I was impressed with the immediate results. I usually don’t see such immediate results from other creams I have tried in the past (and not really from my oils either).

 The citrus and lavender scents were very pleasant, though a bit overpowering at first. I am not used to scented body products, but for someone who is, they would enjoy the smell. The scents subsided after about 15-30 minutes and were not as overpowering for me. I like that this cream is scented with natural essential oils. Let’s take a look at the ingredients and how they are rated by EWG’s Skin Deep database.

Keomi All Natural Hand Therapy Ingredients:

Purified Water - 0
Rice Bran Oil - 2 (contamination concerns)
Avocado Oil - 0
Grapeseed Oil - 0
A Proprietary Blend of 6 Organic Herbs – n/a
Green Tea - 0
Shea Butter - 0
Cocoa Butter - 0
Beeswax - 0
Emulsifying Wax – 4 (could be derived from petroleum-based wax and emulsified with added detergents)
Vegetable Glycerin - 0
Essential Oils of Lavender - 1 (potential endocrine disruption)
Rose Geranium - 0
Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) - 0
Aloe Extract - 1
Rosemary Oil Extract - 0
Citric Acid - 2 (extract solvents/chemicals concerns)
Sorbic Acid - 3 (potential synthetic production, organ system toxicity)
Benzoic Acid – 3 (potential synthetic production, possible impurity, organ system toxicity)
Xanthum Gum (Xanthan Gum?) - 0

Keomi All Natural Hand Therapy cream is made with natural ingredients. The oils and butters that are toward the beginning of the ingredients list (meaning there is the most amount of them) paired with the waxes are the heart of this cream. The waxes help to keep the oils and butters on your skin to protect it from harsh conditions. Shea and cocoa butters are my favorite ingredients for naturally healthy skin.

I would like to see the company move toward Organic certification to reduce the exposure to pesticides and contaminants. Since water is the first ingredient, preservatives have to be used to allow this product to keep for longer than 2 weeks. Otherwise, you would have to store the cream in the fridge and use within two weeks. There are several ingredients that are used as preservatives (rosemary oil extract, citrus/sorbic/benzoic acids), which is not preferable. I would like to see Keomi reduce the amount of preservatives used in the product, since everything we put on our skin goes into our bodies. I would also like to see emulsifying wax be substituted with something else since there is a high likelihood that it is derived from petroleum and could be processed with solvents).

 

If you are looking for a natural hand cream that will work wonder for your skin, I would recommend Keomi All Natural Hand Therapy cream. Though some of the ingredients do pose low to medium risk to our bodies, this product is probably the most natural that you could find. I was very impressed with how quickly my skin transformed.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

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reCAP Mason Jar Caps [Review]

I have acquired a number of glass Mason jars over the past few years from my canning endeavors. From the small 4 oz canning jars to the big 1/2 gallon canning jars, I love the versatility for more than just canning. The 4 oz canning jars are perfect for storing leftovers for my toddler. The quart and half gallon canning jars are great for storing grains and dried beans. However, Mason canning jars can be used for so much more! Not only do reCAP Mason Jar caps transform ordinary glass jars to containers that can store and pour, but they also allow you to make your own homemade cleaning and beauty products with the pump and sprayer caps.

Mason Jar Pump Cap                 ($7.00)
Mason Jar Sprayer Cap              ($7.00)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Transform Mason jars into usable containers	Caps are made from plastic
Reduces use of plastic containers	Regular size only
Easy to install and use	Does not dispense stream

I reviewed the reCAP Mason Jar Pour Cap a couple of months ago and I loved it. Being able to use all of the glass Mason jars that I have lying around for other purposes is very eco-friendly. reCAP offers many other types of caps for Mason jars, including the Pump Cap and the Sprayer Cap.

reCAP Pump Cap and Sprayer Cap are made from plastic and are 100% BPA free. The caps are made in the USA.

reCAP Pump Cap worked as expected. After a few pumps to prime the pump, the liquid soap was coming out nicely. This is a regular pump (not a foaming one), so it would be perfect to use with soap or with lotion or any similar liquid. The tube is 6" long, so it could work with the smaller Mason Jars (8 oz). The pump outputs 2cc with a lock down saddle in case you want to "close" the pump. The 6" tube was a little tight with the 8 oz Mason jars, but I was able to get it in there with the tube being bent a little. This did not hinder the ability to pump.

reCAP Sprayer Cap also worked very well. The sprayer only sprays mist, not stream. It has a dial at the end of the sprayer to turn off or on. Both "on" sides dispense mist. The mist is good for covering a large area, but not for targeted areas where a stream would do better. I poured my homemade shower cleaner into a quart 32 oz Mason jar. The tube on the Sprayer Cap is about 8" long and it fit well inside this Mason Jar with a little bend in it. This did not hinder the ability of the sprayer to work.

I was a bit skeptical about using a quart (32 oz) Mason jar as a prayer jar because of the bigger width of the container. After trying it, I was was able to hold the jar with one hand and spray with the same hand. I love that I can make my own homemade cleaner sprays and reduce the amount of plastic I use.

I would recommend reCAP Mason Jar Adapta caps in the Pump and Sprayer Caps. They fit regular sized Mason jars and allow you to use Mason Jars for other purposes. Reducing exposure to plastic and reusing the items we already have in our home is eco-friendly and economical. Plus, you can decorate the glass Mason jars to match your decor, or give them as gifts.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

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John Boos Cutting Board [Giveaway]

A good cutting board is an essential tool for any cook, whether amateur or professional. John Boos' cutting board have always rated well because of the high quality craftsmanship. Enter below for a chance to win a round John Boos cutting board.

Sponsored BY: John Boos & Co.

Hosted By: Deliciously Savvy

Co-Hosted By:

2justByou

Michigan Saving and More

Heartbeats~ Soul Stains

&

Just Another Mom

Deliciously Savvy is hosting this giveaway! This is a professional cutting board made for chefs and chef "wannabe's" and will last a lifetime with proper use and care. It is 1 1/2 " thick and is a nice dark color. It is made of American Black Walnut and made in the USA! 

• American Black Walnut Edge Grain Construction • 18" Dia x 1-1/2" Thick - Reversible • Boos Block Cream Finish w/ Beeswax • Made In The USA

Follow John Boos Co

FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ YOU TUBE

1 Lucky Winner will receive this Professional Cutting Board
from John Boos Co. (ARV $130)

Giveaway Dates: 12/17 12AM EST until 1/11 12AM EST

Giveaway Valid for Continental US Residents (48 states) ONLY and must be 18+ to enter

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook,

Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. 

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Blogger Opp: NuWave Cooktop [Giveaway]

Sometimes, we all need an extra burner, especially around the holidays when we are cooking large meals. NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop (PIC2) is portable and convenient. I love that NuWave offers temperatures settings from 100 F to 575 F and precise temperature control. My glass top range can vary in the temperature output, so having an extra burner when you need to keep a specific temperature would be very useful. Below is a FREE blogger opportunity to host the NuWave Cooktop giveaway and help spread the word. You get 2 FREE links for posting the announcement post.

Hosted By : Deliciously Savvy

Deliciously Savvy uses this portable NuWave cook top regularly and I love it! I do everything with this product! Deep Frying, boiling, steaming, fondue, sauteing….. you name it, this cook top can do it! I figured that I would share the amazing convenience of this cook top with me readers! This cook top came in extremely handy for Thanksgiving! And I know that I will be using it for Christmas and so many holidays/occasions. You just never seem to have enough burners when you have those large meals to prepare and sometimes you need such an exact temperature for certain cooking methods, that this burner works better for the precise temperature that certain meals and/or cooking scenarios require versus your traditional stove top! That is why everyone should have a Nu Wave! And Deliciously Savvy wants to share!

Check out the Detailed Info from Nu Wave Below:

The NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop (PIC2) as seen on TV offers precise temperature control, adjustable in 10-degree increments. With a minimum temperature setting of 100F and an upper limit of 575F (Sear), the NuWave PIC2 offers a wider temperature range than competitor models. This permits the appliance to act as more than just a cooktop. The NuWave PIC2 does the thinking for you. It offers state-of-the art programming technology with 100 hours of memory that allow you to prepare complex recipes with ease. A “Delay” function allows you to initiate cooking when it’s most convenient for you, including an automatic shutoff function when cooking time is completed. The NuWave PIC2 was engineered with a circular design scheme, doing away with excess space that serves no cooking function. The PIC2’s round design also echoes the traditional feel of an intimate gathering place like the kitchen or dining room table. Mealtime is about community and the PIC2 was designed with that idea in mind. Despite its portability and compact size, the NuWave PIC2 offers a large cooking area, measuring 9 inches in diameter. In this case, bigger is better, with the PIC2 allowing for greater diversity in cooking vessels and portion sizes.

Complete energy saving cooking solution
Uses up to 70% less energy
1300 watts
6 pre-programmed temperature settings
Precision temperature control
Lightweight and portable
Can deep fry, stir fry, sauté, boil, steam, sear, slow cook, barbecue or grill

1 Winner Will Receive This Cooktop! ($99 ARV)

Sign Ups Close: 12/26

Giveaway will run from 12AM EST 12/27 through 12AM EST 1/25

Open to residents of US Only and Must be 18+ years old to enter.

As Always, I need Your Help Promoting! Simply Post The Announcement and receive 2 FREE Links! Choose from Facebook Visit, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Instagram! Also, you can receive the 2 Links without announcement post for a flat $3 Fee Payable to mcushing7@hotmail.com at PayPal.

ANNOUNCEMENT POST HERE

Co-Hosts Needed: $6 for 5 links for your choice PLUS the 2 FREE gives Co-Hosts 7 links total PLUS a co-host page linked to their website as well as extra follow and secret word pages (# depends on # of sign ups so the more we promote the more we receive!) Enter NuWave On PayPal Message & Co-Hosts are not required to Post Announcement but it is greatly appreciated. 

Other Sign Up Options Available On Sign Up Form

SIGN UP HERE
  

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