Homemade Lip Scrub

It's so cold and dry outside and my lips are always chapped, so I decided to try and make my own sugar lip scrub.  I researched it on the web and found a really easy recipe using coconut oil!! Needless to say it's fantastic, easy to make, and very versatile.  I made a variety of flavors and they all turned out great.  Always wanting to put my traditional flair on everything, (if you know me well, you know this is so true) I made bizcochito lip scrub it smells exactly like the real thing!!! Here's the recipe:

1 c coconut oil
1 c sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp chopped anise seed
1/4 tsp cinnamon flavoring (found in the candy making section)

Mix oil, cinnamon, anise, and flavoring in a bowl thoroughly add sugar and mix sparingly.  If you mix it too much the sugar will start to dissolve. Keep it in an air-tight container in a cool place.

Some Things in Life Just Don't Have a Recipe

My everyday cooking consists of mostly my Grandmother's and Mother's recipes, and if you've ever experienced them in the kitchen, you'd know that they hardly ever followed a recipe.  I remember asking my grandma, what recipe do you use for the tortillas?  She said look, come here "you put your flour in the bowl, get a scoop of crisco (I use lard they come out softer) and put it in, pour some baking powder in your hand like this look, then put a little bit of salt in your palm like this and put it in," and I said well how much is that and she said "you know, just a little".  So this is how I was taught to cook, not very precise, so whenever someone asks me for a recipe I don't know what to say.  Yesterday I decided to make empanaditas, its a long tedious process but the fruit of the labor is out of this world.  I remember as a little girl, the night before making empanaditas, we would go to my grandmas house and sit at the table and crack piñon with a bolillo to use in the meat it was a long process!  Anyhow, I made the meat exactly how my grandmother and mother make it and the result is divine however, it didn't occur to me to keep track of how much of the ingredients I used, you put just enough apple sauce in the meat until it's moist "enough", sprinkle on the sugar and cinnamon until it is well incorporated, sprinkle on the piñon and raisins and bake it long enough for the flavors to merry with the meat you know, until it tastes "right".  I have no idea how much of anything!!!! Maybe next year I'll try and measure it out so that I can share the recipe with you...maybe.  I think some things in life need to be left a mystery and maybe this is just one of them. heehee  So after a long days work in the kitchen, I sit and enjoy along with my family the fruits of my labor with a little cafecito.  By the way my Mom stopped by after work and approved, and said they were delicious and, that I was amazing so, I guess I made them right and they are "Mother Approved".  If you don't get that seal of approval it makes for a worrisome night.  Well, until later, stay warm out there it is freezing and my house smells like it was deep fried and I can't open the doors to air it out, oh well what can I do. 

Christmas Crafts

I have been busy, busy, getting Christmas cards and a little Christmas crafting done.  I just wanted to share a few things I'm working on, hope you like.  

Gift Bags

It is cold out there!!!

Boy winter sure is here.  I myself am not a fan but my children are, it means time for fun, new hats, and new gloves! Here's Marisol showing off her new heart gloves and Isaiah with his new bear hat.  They bring so much joy to my life.  I remember on cold days like today my Mom would make me hot chocolate with real milk, real chocolate, and a little cinnamon it was the best.  Stay warm out there amigos.

Bizcochitos

De mi cocinita los bizcochitos

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my little casita, and the aromas are deliciosos!! I had a request for a recipe for bizcochitos so here it is however, you must promise to always make these cookies with your whole heart in mind and make them with pure love just like my Grandma Connie did.  Just in case you didn't know her, my grandma was the best grandma in the world and I miss her everyday.  I'm also sharing with you a picture of her, she instilled in us the love for life, so many traditions, and many delicious family recipes.  

Blaza Luz Consuelo Trujillo

Bizcochitos

1lb. Lard

1 C Sugar

2 eggs

1tsp. vanilla

1tsp. salt

6 C flour

1 tbs. anise seed

3 tsp. baking powder

Cream lard, sugar, eggs, salt, and anise seeds, then gradually add the flour and baking powder.  You can use a cookie press or roll the dough out and use festive cookie cutters.  Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.  In a small bowl mix 1 cup sugar and 2tsp cinnamon.  Right as you take the cookies out of the oven dip them in the sugar mixture and set on a platter to cool.

                                               

Cranberry Bliss Oatmeal Cookies

"Cranberry Bliss" Oatmeal CookiesBy Melissa Vredenburg

Don't you just love the Cranberry Bliss Bars from Starbucks?? Well so do I but my waistline doesn't!!! lol So I decided to make an oatmeal cookie with the same flavors and wow, they came out great!!!!

So here's the recipe:

1 1/2 C Flour
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 C Oats
1 Egg
1 C Packed Brown Sugar
1/2 C Oil
1/2 C Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
The Zest of One Orange
3/4 C Dried Cranberries
3/4 C White Chocolate Chips

Bake on an un-greased cookie sheet on 350 degrees until golden brown.