11 Feb DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas with Christine Waltermyer
DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
with Christine Waltermyer
Christine Waltermyer is a local Wellness Chef, private chef to celebrities, published cookbook author and founder of the Natural Kitchen Cooking School, which offers an online Plant-Based Cooking Program. She also loves shopping at Basil Bandwagon! Visit naturalkitchenschool.com to get your FREE copy of her cookbook, “7 Days of Deliciousness.”
Vegan White Chocolate Bark
with dried cranberries
Makes 16 Hearts
Ingredients
6 oz Sunfood organic cacao butter, melted
⅓ cup vegan vanilla protein powder
2 tablespoons dried cranberries (sugar free if possible)
2 tablespoons hemp hearts
2 tablespoons chopped goji berries
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
A few drops – ½ teaspoon SweetLeaf Sweet Drops Vanilla Creme Sweetener
Equipment: Silicone heart-shaped molds (or you can just make bark in an 8 x 8-inch pan lined with parchment paper), pretty boxes for packaging
Method
1. Heat an inch of water in a saucepan. Place a metal bowl over it. Add the cacao and heat until melted.
2. Add the protein powder, vanilla, sea salt, and stevia drops. Whisk to blend.
3. Working quickly, use an immersion blender to blend smooth.
4. Pour into silicone molds or an 8 x 8-inch dish lined with parchment paper.
5. Sprinkle the hemp hearts, dried cranberries and chopped goji berries across the tops.
6. Place in the refrigerator to set for 2 to 4 hours.
7. Carefully release the chilled hearts from the mold (or break the bark into random pieces). Place the chocolate in gift box of choice. The white chocolate will keep at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Or you can store in the refrigerator for a firmer texture.
Homemade Natural Bath Bombs
with Essential Oils
Makes 2 Medium Size Bath Bombs
Ingredients
½ cup baking soda
¼ cup organic cornstarch
¼ cup epsom salts
¼ teaspoon Decorative Food Colors from Nature (color of choice) or other natural powdered food coloring
2 ½ teaspoons jojoba oil (or castor oil, almond oil or melted coconut oil)
½ teaspoon water
½ teaspoon essential oil of your choice (lemon, grapefruit, lavender, etc.)
¼ cup citric acid
Equipment: Bath bomb mold
Method
1. In a medium size bowl, combine the baking soda, cornstarch, epsom salts, and food coloring. Whisk to blend.
2. In a small glass jar, combine the jojoba oil, water, and essential oil. Place the lid on the jar and shake well. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients in the bowl. It should be the consistency of slightly wet, crumbly beach sand. It should stick together and you should be able to form a small ball with it. If it seems too dry, you can add a few drops more of the jojoba oil, just enough to achieve the right consistency.
3. Add the citric acid, working it in quickly.
4. Using a bath bomb mold, scoop up a generous amount of the bath bomb mixture and press the two halves of the mold together. Press the two halves together firmly, then lightly tap the mold to release it. Place the finished bath bomb on a plastic tray lined with parchment paper.
Herb-Infused Massage Oil
Ingredients
4 or 5 sprigs of your favorite dried herb such as rosemary or lavender
Enough almond oil combined with a neutral oil like avocado oil to fill a medium size glass jar
6 drops essential oil such as clary sage, rosemary or lavender
Equipment: A pretty gift bottle and ribbon
Method
1. Fill a medium size glass jar with the oil. Place the dried herbs in the oil. Cover the jar and place in a cool, dark place for 2 to 4 weeks. Strain out the oil, removing the herbs, and pour the oil into the gift bottle, adding 1-2 new sprigs of the dried herb. At this point you can add a few drops of essential oil such as clary sage. Place the lid on the bottle and add some ribbon for the perfect Valentine’s gift!
Thank you to Christine Waltermyer and the Natural Kitchen Cooking School for working with us to help promote healthy, nutritious meals and products that are affordable, full of nutrients, and simple to make at home!