Quick and Easy Oatmeal Bath - Bath Blend of the Month

The long-standing breakfast cereal oatmeal is full of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium. Oatmeal is a fiber-rich superfood that lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and helps keep arteries clear, thereby supporting healthy heart function when eaten.

When used on the skin, oats hold a lot of water, due to an abundance of starches and beta-glucans found in oatmeal. Oatmeal has a natural anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and can naturally soften the skin due to the phenols found in oats. When ground into a powder, oats are more easily absorbed into the skin.

On the skin, oatmeal functions as a skin protectant. Bathing in an oatmeal bath soothes dehydrated, itchy, and inflamed skin. 

This DIY Oatmeal Bath contains only three ingredients. It’s all-natural, smells wonderful, and can be whipped up in five minutes. Use it as a detox bath for skin irritations or make it an addition to your self-care routine. It’s simple and helps keep your skin silky smooth! 

Quick and Easy Oatmeal Bath

1 cup regular oats

¼ cup baking soda

1/8 cup dried lavender

In a grinder or food processor, grind the oats and lavender together until you reach your desired texture. (I like to leave some of the oats intact to help exfoliate but it does make for a messier bathtub.)

Mix the baking soda into the oatmeal until combined. Toss in a jar and tighten the lid until you’re ready to use it!

NOTES:

And of course, you can easily substitute lavender essential oil in place of dried if you don’t have any on hand. Depending on your brand, 5-8 drops should give enough of a scent but add as many as you wish. 

 

Southwest Scrub - Bath Blend of the Month

The main ingredients in this scrub is blue cornmeal.  Blue cornmeal is an ancient food that can also make a full-body treatment that is rejuvenating.  The Hopi Indians of New Mexico have used blue cornmeal ritually and to improve vitality and make their skin more youthful.  If you cannot find blue cornmeal you can substitute white or yellow.

Southwest Scrub (makes 12 oz.)

• ½ cup ground blue cornmeal
• ½ cup grated castile soap
• ¼ cup oatmeal
• 1 tsp dried calendula petals
• ½ tsp rosemary
• 1 tsp lavender buds

Place corn meal and soap in a large bowl.  Finely grind the oatmeal and herbs together using a spice grinder of a coffee grinder.  Add this mixture to the cornmeal mixture, stir well. Pour into a clean airtight container.

TO USE: Combine 2 Tablespoons to ¼ cup of mixture with enough water to make a paste and apply to damp face. Gently scrub and rinse off with warm water, then moisturize skin with a natural oil rich body lotion.  If you have sensitive skin you should avoid using this on your face.

 

Oatmeal Floral Deluxe Milk Bath - Monthly Bath Blend

October is a month where your skin starts to dry out.  The heat may be on in the hime, the sun screen is not liberally applied anymore, and because it is no longer hot you are drinking less water and your skin begins to dry out.

Bath sachets (also known as bath tea) make a lovely, luxurious soak that can be beneficial to skin, ease stress and help soothe aches and pains. These steep in the tub, making a luxurious soak. If some tender therapy is needed to ease sore feet, you can try these as a foot soak instead.

Obtain a drawstring pouch or make a bag out of cheesecloth, organza, terry cloth or muslin, large enough to hold anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of this herbal mix. Tie them tightly shut so the loose ingredients won’t float out. After use the contents can be emptied, the pouches rinsed out then washed to be refilled and reused.

These amounts will make a batch at a time to be stored in an airtight container until needed.

Oatmeal Floral Deluxe Milk Bath 
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/8 cup baking soda
2 Tbls cornstarch
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup lavender

Preparation:
Fill the bag with a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the Sachet Blend. Two ways these can be enjoyed, either hang them on the tap while the hot water is running, making sure the water is running through them. Once the tub is filled, let them float around.  Or the Infusion Method: Boil a quart of water, turn off heat, add pouch, cover, then steep (for at least 20 minutes for best results). Add the piping hot infusion (and the bag) to a full tub, being careful while pouring to avoid burning yourself.
Note: Do not steep in an aluminum pot.

Oatmeal Cookies & Milk Bath - Bath Blend of the Month

Bath Blend of the Month - Oatmeal Cookies & Milk Bath

1 cup cornstarch
2 cups powdered milk
1/2 cup oatmeal (not instant)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (or use Backyard Patch Cinnful Dessert blend for other useful and healthy spices)

Mix all ingredients in blender or food processor until it is a fine powder. Store in a tightly lidded jar.

TO USE: Just add 2 tablespoons of the mixture to your bathwater for a soothing bath.

If giving as a gift, place in a decorative jar and attach a spoon for measuring!

Healthy Trail Mix

Trail mix is a great snack because it packs a caloric punch, but doesn’t take up a lot of space. When car traveling, biking, gardening, or just spending a day away from home, trail mix can easily fit into a backpack or purse and give you the energy you need when your resources run low. But, not all mixes are created equal, some are just sugary snacks that provide little besides sugar and fat, so rather than buy something you can easily craft your own healthy snack. Trail mix is supposed to provide your body with the calories and nutrients necessary to keep you moving. A bit of sugar is not bad, but don’t overdo it.

There are a few items that are a must in any good trail mix:

·         Almonds

·         Dark Chocolate

·         Oats

·         Unsweetened Fruit

Our recipe is going to have more nuts (as we are competing in a contest with nuts.com) but I find the protein in nuts makes a trail mix stick better and give more energy, especially when I am out gardening or riding my bike.  And if you are wondering where the herb is… it is the chocolate!

The first thing I did to make this mix was prep some oats. Oats are high in fiber and have been shown to help reduce cholesterol and protect the body from heart disease. When making your own trail mix, toast rolled oats in the oven on a baking sheet to cook, then add flavor with a few drops of vanilla extract or a sprinkle of cinnamon. I went one step farther and stirred mine with melted dark chocolate that I drizzled over the oats while they were warm then gave a quick stir to create little morsels of oat and chocolate. You need only a small amount of oats in a blend because they give large amounts of energy.

Next thing I wanted was nuts, I went with peanuts, cashews, pistachios and the almonds. Stay clear of salted varieties that might make you feel extra thirsty out on the trails. I opt for dry roasted peanuts, unsalted cashews and Pistachios. Pistachios are a nut that has all the good cholesterols and fats you need for heart health and for feeling full which helps you eat less. For the Almonds I actually went with dark chocolate and coconut covered almonds.  I get the antioxidant properties of dark chocolate and the vitamin E in the almonds. The reason I use dark chocolate is because unlike milk chocolate or sugar-coated candies, dark chocolate has a strong, rich flavor and a little bit goes a long way.

Along with these I like the natural sweetness of dried fruits.  A dried fruit concentrates the natural sugars so there is no need to get sugar dusted or coated fruits.  The added vitamins and minerals along with the energy from the natural sugar (fructose) is very satisfying and the calories provide lasting energy instead of a quick high.  I am choosing two super fruits cranberries and goji berries.  Goji is the English translation of the Chinese word gouqi.  They are actually called wolfberries and are in the nightshade family, but is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Adding superfruits is a strong energy and health related addition to trail mix.

My husband has diabetes and superfuits give him the sugar regulating energies his body needs and keeping them unsweetened means we are not adding too much sugar to his diet.

For fun I am adding a few peanut M&M and chocolate covered expresso beans. Just enough that you get a bit of a surprise in each handful, but not so much that it ruins all the healthy benefits of the remaining ingredients.

So let’s blend:

Dark Chocolate and Fruit Trail Mix

1 cup cashews

½ cup dark chocolate oats

½ cup cranberries

½ cup goji berries

½ cup peanuts

¼ cup pistachios

2 Tbls peanut M&M

2 Tbls. coconut dark chocolate almonds

Blend it all in a big bowl by hand, then transfer to individual containers or bags for easy grab and dash.  Snack-size zip locks or single serve reusable plastic work perfect.. 

Lavender Oat Sachets - Bath Blend of the Month

Lavender Oatmeal Sachet

2 cups plain old fashioned oats
1 tablespoon dried lavender buds
2 tsp. chamomile flowers
1/2 cup baking soda
small muslin bags

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or a food processor and pulse until the mixture looks like flour.

Fill each muslin bag with the mixture and tie shut. If you don’t have muslin bags, you can simply add about 1/3 cup to a hot bath, under running water.  I prefer using a muslin bag to hold homemade bath soaks because it cuts down on clean up time.

This blend can be stored in a glass jar and just fill the muslin bag as needed.  When done, just dump out the contents and rinse the bag out to dry for next time. 

We currently make these as a product of Backyard Patch Herbs, so you can get 5 draw-string tea bags of this mixture in a colored canning jar.

Once a Month Bath Recipe - Hard Days End Bath Blend

January is a hard month.  The recovery from the holidays as well as the cold and harsh winter weather in the north combine to make this month difficult for the skin and the mind.  A soothing bath will help to soothe these ills. Here is a perfect blend to create.

Hard Days End

• 1/2 Cup Lavender
• 1/2 Cup Uncooked Oatmeal
• 1/4 Cup Dry Orange Peel
• 1/2 Cup Chamomile
• 1/4 Cup Rosemary
• 12 Bay Leaves, Crushed

Mix any of the following blends as dry ingredients. Stir well and stuff a metal tea ball or muslin bag with the blend (lace or cotton fabric will also work). As you run your bath, place the tea ball or bag in the tub, under the running water. Then, relax and enjoy!

** Each month around the fourth, we post a bath salt, scrub, or other blend or recipe that you can make at home for your bath!

If you love Bath and Sap items, check them out on our website.

Soothing Bath Sachet - Monthly Bath Recipe

Soothing Bath Sachet

• 1 1/2 cup powdered milk
• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
  
• 1/8 cup baking soda
• 2 Tbls. cornstarch
• 1/2 cup Oatmeal 
• 1/4 cup Rosemary 
• 1/4 cup Chamomile 

Blend all ingredients together, then divided into muslin bags or other pouches.

Make drawstring pouches out of cheesecloth, organza or muslin, enough to hold anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of the mixture. Tie them tightly shut so the loose ingredients won’t float out. After use the contents can be emptied, the pouches rinsed out then washed to be refilled and reused.

TO USE: Two ways these can be enjoyed, either hang them on the tap while the hot water is running, making sure the water is running through them. Once the tub is filled, let them float around. or the Infusion Method: Boil a quart of water, turn off heat, add pouch, cover, then steep (for at least 20 minutes for best results). Add the piping hot infusion (and the bag) to a full tub, being careful while pouring to avoid burning yourself.

Weekend Recipe -Banana Bread Oatmeal

I have been experimenting with Carrot Cake Jam (trust me when it jells right, I will post the recipe!) so when I located this version of a favorite breakfast of mine, I was just so on board.  

Twice a month I teach a licensing class for the State of Illinois.  The class is 20 hours and runs from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM.  It is a long couple days for both my students and myself.  I am not a big fan of breakfast, at least making it myself. So when I found this quick microwave recipe that was both nutritious and a wonderful collection of morning flavors, I was hooked.  Try it -- You'll like it!

Banana Bread Oatmeal 

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1 cup water or milk (I use milk for the extra calcium and creaminess)

3/4 tablespoon brown sugar

1 large, ripe banana mashed

Toppings:

Sprinkle of ground cinnamon (I use Cinnful Dessert Blend from the Backyard Patch!!)

Sprinkle of ground nutmeg

Pinch of salt (optional)

Low-fat vanilla yogurt (optional)

Pecan halves (optional)

Banana slices (optional)

Directions:

Combine oats, liquid, and spices in microwaveable bowl. Microwave for 2-3 minutes, stir and add more liquid if necessary. Then, while oats are still hot, stir in mashed banana. Top with a dollop of low-fat vanilla yogurt, banana slices, pecans, and extra spices if desired.

Bath Recipe of the month - Sunflower Soak

Cooler weather brings heated homes which results in dry and irritated skin. This recipe will help you soothe away itches and rejuvenate you.  The seasonal scents will help bring out your holiday spirit.

All you need to make this is a food grinder or food processor.  You can whip this up in a few minutes.  Sunflower seed powder can go rancid, so do not blend up too much in advance.

SUNFLOWER SOAK   

Yield: 4 ounces, enough for one bath

1/4 cup shelled, raw unsalted or roasted sunflower seeds

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil

In a coffee grinder or food processor, grind sunflower seeds and oatmeal until you have a smooth

powder the consistency of whole-grain flour. Stir in spices and vitamin E oil and mix well. Store

mixture in an airtight container. 

To use: Pour bath soak into a warm tub of water and stir well to mix. Moisturize your skin after bathing with some sunflower oil or a rich cream.

Bath Blend of the Month - Comforting Lavender Bath

I thought I would rummage through my recipes and find a great seasonal bath blend to share each month.  I am starting this recipe share with a recipe I think I obtained through the now gone Herb Companion Magazine.

If you like Bath recipes I suggest taking a look at Natural Beauty at Home or Natural Beauty from the Garden by Janice Cox.  In fact I found this slightly older YouTube video of her making colored bath salts.  Kinda fun, please check it out!

This month's blend is perfect for the winter months which can be very drying, the bath Blend has no salt.  The combination of oatmeal and lavender make it soothing to the skin and relaxing to the mind.  You can also use it in the summer months to calm the irritation of sunburn and insect bites.  It is pretty so you can also display it in a decorative container and it makes a nice gift.

COMFORTING LAVENDER BATH

Yield: 28 ounces, enough for seven baths

1 cup dried lavender flowers

2 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup baking soda

Place all the ingredients inside a food processor or blender. Grind until you have a smooth, fine

powder. The powder should have the consistency of whole-grain flour. Pour into a clean, airtight

container or resealable plastic bag. 

To use: Pour 1/2 cup into your bath as you fill the tub.

Weekend Recipe - Overnight Oatmeal

The weather is perfect.  There is a great harvest to be attended to or some bicycling that can be enjoyed or sight seeing as the leaves change.  These are all good reasons to spend as little time in the kitchen in the morning as possible so you can enjoy as much of the seasonal shortened days as you can.  This recipe will help you do just that.  You make it ahead in the slow cooker and serve in the morning.

Special note - it is not just because it "sounds gourmet" that I suggest the steel-cut oats.  Steel cut oats, which you can find in some stores called Irish Oatmeal, is a toasted oat kernel that has been removed from the husk and cut into 2 or 3 pieces.  You cannot substitute rolled oats in this recipe because they cook too fast and your oatmeal will be done before you wake up in the morning.




Overnight Oatmeal
adapted from cooking.com

8 cups of water
2 cups steel-cut oats
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup dried apricots or peaches
1/2 to 1 tsp. cinnamon (of if you have it Backyard Patch Cinnful Dessert Blend)
1/4 tsp. salt (or less to taste)

Combine water, oats, cranberries, apricots (or peaches) and seasoning in a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker.  Turn the heat to low.  Place the lid in and cook until the oats are tender and creamy.  Takes about 7 to 8 hours.

If you want to make them on your stove, you need to craft it in a double boiler and should use about 1/2 of the recipe.  You will cook the oat mixture over boiling water fro about 1 1/2 hours, being sure to check the water level under the the double boiler so you don't burn it off.

I serve with a sprinkle of brown surgar or more Cinnful Dessert Blend.