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A New Way of Savoring Food
Essential oils do more than make foods taste delicious. These aromatic essences promote health and well being through a series of actions that are age-defying. The vegetarian diets so often associated with good health rely heavily on the use of seasonings. But, you don't have to be a vegetarians to gain the amazing health benefits that these flavor enhancers have to offer.
When cooking with essential oils, you will receive the benefits of creating delicious food with natural, rather than artificial, flavoring agents while wonderful aromas waft through your kitchen.
There is no dish whose flavor cannot be enhanced with essential oils and no limit to the new possibilities for culinary delight that they offer. Using them is simple, too.
My aim is to give you some suggestions to get you started out cooking with essential oils. New ideas will come to you as you make these delicious recipes flavored with therapeutic grade essential oils!
When cooking with essential oils, you will receive the benefits of creating delicious food with natural, rather than artificial, flavoring agents while wonderful aromas waft through your kitchen.
There is no dish whose flavor cannot be enhanced with essential oils and no limit to the new possibilities for culinary delight that they offer. Using them is simple, too.
My aim is to give you some suggestions to get you started out cooking with essential oils. New ideas will come to you as you make these delicious recipes flavored with therapeutic grade essential oils!
Flavor and Health Benefits of Essential Oils
Techniques
Aroma is responsible for about 90 percent of our taste. Smell is the only sense that connects directly to the limbic lobe of the brain - the center of taste, emotion, and memory. This direct link gives scent its emotional power and is why we form such strong attachments to things that smell or taste good.Being concentrated, essential oils contain virtually all the plant's healing nutrients, oxygenating molecules, amino acid precursors, co-enzymes, vitamins, hormones, and more. And, because they are so concentrated, essential oils are 50-70 times more therapeutically potent than herbs. Essential oils provide natural preventative care with their antibiotic and other medicinal properties, as well as having a psychological effect.
Having essential oils in your pantry is like having a herb garden in constant full bloom, except the access is easier. Essential oils perfectly capture the essence of the living plant, in both aroma and flavor. With the exception of citrus oils, which need to be stored in the refrigerator, essences can be kept for years in a cabinet ready for use.
Tips for Using Essential Oils
* Not all essential oils are edible. 98% of essential oils sold should NOT be ingested due to lack of purity.* An edible essential oil will be labeled "therapeutic-grade" and have a "Supplement Facts" box on the label showing the nutritional value - do NOT use any brand of essential oil for cooking/flavoring foods. I only recommend Young Living.
* Essential oils are potent. One drop equals about 1 tablespoon of dried herb.
* "If the recipe calls for 1 teaspoon, I rub the edge of the bottle stopper on a piece of carrot or other chunky veggie. One-half teaspoon would likely be about what would stick on the end of a toothpick. Since everyone's taste is different you'll want to do the taste test." - Elaine Pinar
* Add essential oil towards the end of cooking as high heat will destroy the therapeutic benefits.
Rosemary Oil
Natural Antibiotic and Preventative Care
Do you eat potatoes, toast, crackers, chips, cereal, or other carbohydrate-rich foods cooked at high temperatures? If so, you're exposing yourself to acrylamide - a dangerous carcinogen that's been linked to several types of cancer in humans.To prevent exposure to acrylamide, your best bet is to avoid these high-glycemic, nutrient-void foods altogether. But, for the occasional indulgence, protect yourself with rosemary.
Recent research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that adding a small quantity of rosemary to dough prior to baking wheat-based buns at 225 C (437 F) reduced the acrylamide content by up to 60 percent.
If you choose to roast some potatoes or make bread from scratch - add a bit of rosemary to boost flavor and help protect yourself from this harmful carcinogen.
Savor These Delectable Recipes
Aroma + Health Benefits
Using nine common therapeutic grade essential oils, lavender, lemon, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, clove, basil, and oregano you can create delectable dishes that are powerfully attractive!
Savor these delectable foods at your next gathering.
Savor these delectable foods at your next gathering.
Lavender Roasted Vegetables
Easy to Make and Delicious
INGREDIENTS3 red potatoes
5 carrots
1/2 cup whole garlic cloves
1 large white onion, sliced or 2 cups of pearl onions, whole
2 cups zucchini, cut in 1/2 inch slices
3 Tbs. olive oil
sea salt to taste
2 tsp. dried lavender buds or 1 drop of lavender essential oil
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic with olive oil. If using lavender essential oil, mix with olive oil before coating. Sprinkle lavender buds or essential oil and sea salt over vegetables. Roast 25 minutes. Add zucchini and bake an additional 15 minutes.
Makes 4 servings.
Citrus Fruit Sauce
Breakfast in Bed
Being served breakfast in bed is one of life's little pleasures. Be spontaneous and choose a beautiful, sunny morning to show your spouse your love and appreciation for him or her by cooking this fabulous breakfast that is sure to please. First, make your favorite whole wheat pancake, waffle, or French toast recipe, then add a special touch with our Citrus Fruit Sauce drizzled on top:INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 c. frozen (unsweetened) orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 c frozen (unsweetened) apple juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 c water
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice or 1 drop lemon essential oil
2 Tbs. cornstarch
DIRECTIONS
Whisk cornstarch into orange juice concentrate, apple juice concentrate, and water. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add lemon juice or lemon essential oil. Serve hot. Makes 2 1/2 cups.
Garden Salad with Yardley Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
Energy and Stamina
Yardley Poppy Seed Salad DressingINGREDIENTS
Combine the following:
1/3 c. balsamic vinegar
1/4 c. Blue Agave
1 tsp. Real Salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 Tbsp. grated onion
1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
Whisk in very slowly 1/2 cup sunflower or olive oil.
DIRECTIONS:
Serve over mixed greens or mesclun mix.
Garnish with raw goat cheese, if desired.
Source: Yardley Inn and Spa
Butternut Soup
Warms From the Inside Out
INGREDIENTS2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
salt
pepper
2 lbs. butternut squash, peeled and cubed
4 c. vegetable broth
2 drops Young Living clove oil
3 drops Young Living nutmeg oil
1 drop Young Living cinnamon oil
plain yogurt (optional)
DIRECTIONS
In a soup pan over medium heat, saute onions, garlic, salt, and pepper in olive oil until tender. Add cubed squash and cook for 3-5 minutes. Next, add broth and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Continue to boil for 25 minutes or until squash is fork tender. Remove from heat. Using a hand mixer, puree until smooth. Stir in oils. Allow oils to infuse the soup for 5-8 minutes and then serve. Garnish with a spoonful of yogurt. Makes 5 1/2 cups.
Dill Deviled Eggs
Quick and Easy
INGREDIENTS6 hard boiled eggs, shelled and cut in half lengthwise
1/4 c. organic mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. minced celery
1 Tbsp. minced fresh chive
1 1/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
5 drops Young Living dill oil
pinch of sea salt
dash of red pepper
Garnish
6 Manzanilla olives, halved
12 short slices of chives
paprika
DIRECTIONS
Remove egg yolks into a small mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Add all other ingredients and stir vigorously until smooth. Spoon mixture into a piping bag with a large stir tip and pipe into empty whites. Garnish each egg with half of an olive, a piece of chive, and a dash of paprika.
Oven Baked Yams
Quick and Delicious
INGREDIENTS3 Tbsp. Young Living Blue Agave or maple syrup
5-6 drops Young Living Orange Oil
1 medium or large yam
DIRECTIONS
Mix Blue Agave and orange oil, set aside. Peel yam and cut in half. Cut each half lengthwise so the yam is quartered. Slice each quarter about 1/2 to 1-inch thick and place in baking dish sprayed with olive oil cooking spray. Drizzle half of the Blue Agave mixture over the yam and gently stir. Cover pan with tin foil and bake for 20-25 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Remove tinfoil and check for tenderness. If fork tender, drizzle remaining Blue Agave mixture over the yams and let sit for 2-3 minutes. Gently remove slices and serve. Makes 2 cups.
Note: Yams can be mashed and served with the Grilled Chicken Salad recipe found in the new Young Living Cookbook, Healthy Cooking for the Body, Mind, + Soul.
Spinach Frittata
Serve With Butternut Soup
INGREDIENTS2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 drop Young Living basil oil
1 drop Young Living oregano oil
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
10-oz. bag spinach
6 eggs
salt
pepper
1/3 c. plain yogurt
4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
DIRECTIONS
In a saute' pan mix olive, basil, and oregano oils. Add green onions and garlic, and saute' on medium heat until tender. Add spinach in small bunches until wilted and heated through. Set aside. Whisk eggs, salt, and pepper together. Add yogurt to egg mixture and mix thoroughly. Drain spinach and place in a nonstick cake or pie pan. Pour egg mixture over spinach and gently mix. Add feta and bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes, until firm. Let cool slightly. Slice and serve with fresh cut tomatoes. Makes 8 slices.
Note: Recipe can be made in an oven proof frying pan.
Orange Cranberry Muffins
INGREDIENTS1 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. fresh orange juice
1/4 c. Young Living Blue Agave
1 tsp. grated orange zest
6 drops Young Living orange essential oil
1/2 c butter
2 large eggs
2 c. rice flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. fine salt
1/2 c. almond milk
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a sauce pan, combine the cranberries and orange juice and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off heat and let cool. With an electric mixer, mix agave, orange zest, orange oil and butter until smooth. Add eggs and mix well. Fold in 1 cup of flour, baking powder, and salt. Next, stir in milk and add remaining cup of flour. Gently fold cranberries into mixture. Lightly coat a 12-muffin tin with butter or line with paper baking cups. Put a heaping tablespoon into each tin/cup. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until just barely golden brown. Serve warm with agave-butter.
Makes 24
Party Lavender Lemonade
INGREDIENTS4 1/2 gallons water
1 quart juice lemons
1 - 1 1/2 quarts Blue Agave
10 drops Young Living lemon essential oil
10 drops Young Living lavender essential oil
4-8 T concentrated lemon juice
DIRECTIONS
Mix ingredients together. Pour over pebbled or crushed ice. Garnish with a lavender swig, if desired.
Makes 5 gallons.
Sensational Brownies
"I just wanted to send you a story of how I used peppermint essential oil to enhance a regular batch of brownies. I put five drops of peppermint oil in the batter just to experiment. They turned out wonderful! They remind me of Girl Scout cookies. The only problem is that they were gone too fast." - Dana ChristisenFudge Brownies
Ingredients:
4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick unsalted butter)
1/3 c. natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c. coconut flour or whole wheat flour
1/4 t. aluminum-free baking powder (Arco)
1/4 t. salt
3/4 c. Blue agave or 1 cup sugar
2/3 c, sweet potato puree*
1 large egg
5 drops peppermint essential oil (Young Living)
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
1/4 t. instant coffee powder
DIRECTIONS
1) Heat oven to 350. Butter an 8 inch square pan; set aside. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Remove pan from heat, and stir in cocoa. Let cool slightly.
2) Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3) Stir in agave and sweet potato puree, then egg. In a small bowl, stir together peppermint essential oil, vanilla and coffee until coffee is dissolved; add to cocoa mixture.
4) Add flour mixture to cocoa mixture and stir until no traces of flour remain. Spoon into prepared pan; smooth the top. Bake until surface of the brownies look barely dry and an inserted knife comes out with a few moist crumbs, about 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature before serving.
*If you can't find sweet potato puree, make your own using baked or canned sweet potatoes. Puree in processor until completely smooth.
Cordon Bleu Ice Cream, Mousse and Yogurt
Here are a few ways to enhance your recipes using essential oils:Chocolate Mousse:
Add 1 drop of peppermint, lemon, or orange essential oil to 2 1/2 cups of mousse - you have to taste it to believe it!
Ice Cream:
To a half pound block of chocolate ice cream, add 2 drops of tangerine or mandarin essential oil.
Yogurt:
4 oz yogurt
2 drops citrus fresh essential oil (Young Living)
agave (blue) to taste
fresh made vanilla
1/3 smashed banana
Mixed together. It is heavenly. Imagine adding a few more ingredients and making a smoothie. The Citrus Fresh gives it such a clean fresh taste. Imagine a wholewheat lemon poppy cake with an icing made with Citrus Fresh. Or what about the fresh fruit salad with citrus fresh...
Tea Cozy
Healthy and So Delicious
INGREDIENTS1 c pure water
1 drop Young Living oil of choice...spearmint, peppermint, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, lemon, orange, etc.
DIRECTIONS
Heat water until hot.
Put one drop of essential oil in bottom of cup.
Add hot water and serve!
Usage tips: Drinking 1 drop of spearmint in a quart of cool water per day may help with mood swings. - Julia Ross
I put a drop of cinnamon bark in my apple juice. Tastes great! - Sue
Cookbooks - Bringing Back the Basics
Using Essential Oils in Everyday Cooking
Because the food you eat directly impacts the way you look and feel, incorporating essential oils into your daily diet can make it easier to obtain remarkable results. With the release of our newest cookbook, Volume 2, there are more ways than ever to prepare healthy and delicious recipes.Young Living Cookbook Volume I, Item No. 3947, Retail $18.36
Healthy Cooking for the Body, Mind, and Soul, Item No. 4369 Retail $18.36
Available online - see resource section below.
Great Books on Amazon
Cooking with Healthy Oils
Some of my favorite cookbooks for creating fabulous food and beverages using essential oils and healthy cooking oils.
Aroma: The Magic of Essential Oils in Foods and Fragrance
This book makes evident that aroma, not taste, is our primary experience of food. This seminal work will open your senses to the aromatic, even sensual, dimension of food and fragrance.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $21.90 (as of 07/11/2009) 
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Aromatherapy in the Kitchen: Fragrant Foods for Body, Mind and Spirit
This book brings the benefits of aromatherapy into the kitchen! You will discover ways to incorporate herbs and flowers into your cooking, as well as create the desire mood for your dining experience.
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health - Beauty - a Safe Home Environment
This book contains every conceivable use for essential oils and aromatherapy in everyday life. The author, a practicing aromatherapist for over 20 years, unlocks the power of essential oils in more than 600 recipes, most needing only a few essential oils. Unlike over the counter products, the recipes you make yourself contain no harmful preservatives. Most basic needs can be covered with just ten essential oils.
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Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/11/2009)
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The Coconut Oil Miracle (Previously published as The Healing Miracle of Coconut Oil)
Studies have shown that this uniquely curative oil actually has innumerable health benefits ranging from disease prevention to anti-aging. Now, in his revised edition of the first book to describe the therapeutic properties of coconut oil, Bruce Fife offers a nutrition plan with dozens of tasty recipes that will allow anyone to experience the healing miracles of what he deems the "perfect food."
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Amazon Price: $9.72 (as of 07/11/2009)
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Coconut Lover's Cookbook
Fans of coconut will find Coconut Lover's Cookbook by Bruce Fife to be a compelling little guide which packs in both sweet and savory recipes for use of the coconut, from healthy blender drinks to main courses, biscuits and breads, and desserts. No photos, but the easy dishes don't require them, while the range and variety of coconut dishes will delight coconut enthusiasts.
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Amazon Price: $16.00 (as of 07/11/2009)
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Equipment and Gadget All Stars
The Well Equipped Kitchen
In many ways, preparing for eating is like packing for a trip. You need to make sure you have the the equipment that you need to make delicious recipes. Having the right tools is essential to easy food preparation. Please add your favorite kitchen gadget.
World Cuisine Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
SPECS: L 11 7/8" x W 5 3/8" x H 8 1/4&qu more...0 points
Silvermark Toss and Chop, Green
The new way to chop food in a bowl! Great for chop more...0 points
Toastmaster 1740 Immersion 2-Speed Hand Blender, White
Equipped with a quiet, powerful motor, this two-sp more...0 points
AccuSharp 001 Knife Sharpener
Finally, a Knife Sharpener anyone can use! No more more...0 points
Welcome to the World of Essential Oils
Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils Direct
I use only pure therapeutic-grade essential oil. They are the most potent and effective oils.
- Young Living Essential Oils Direct
- Join Online: If you are not a member of Young Living yet, first go to Enroll Now . Then click on NO since you are not a member yet. Then choose Retail Customer, Preferred Customer (on autoship) or Distributor (wholesale pricing). Once you've signed up as a free member, you can then place your order. Then use the ID # you are assigned each time you place an order. Or call 1-800-371-3515 and use ID #703949.
Disclaimer: All information contained here is intended for educational purposes only. The ONLY essential oils we use are Young Living Essential Oils. We do not use others or would not. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. - Sage Hill Farms Link
- Sage Hill Farms is family owned and operated. Striving to be better land stewards by organic and natural methods of growing and processing of the foods they eat and market.
Culinary Links
- Taste and Smell
- Seventy-five percent of what we perceive as taste comes from the sense of smell.
- Culinary Equipment
- Nomi Shannon shares on kitchen equipment and recipes for preparing raw food.
- Yardley Inn and Spa
- Nestled near the Rocky Mountains, the Yardley Inn and Spa, located in Manti, Utah, is one of those perfect getaway places.
- The Story of Young Living Essential Oils
- Dedicated to the travels, discoveries, and work of D. Gary Young for over 20 years, Gary has traveled the world researching the health benefits of essential oils. He hopes to share and bring mainstream attention to the healing properties of essential oils and the joy it brings to millions around the world.
Learn more about the blessings that nature's oils can bring you.
Essential Oil Product Blog
Read and respond to the essential oil product blog.
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I want to hear from you. Please leave your comments or just say hi!
txmom wrote...
Hi Faye, great page. I've never tried cooking with essential oils. Good resource.
Posted January 28, 2009
RinchenChodron wrote...
Great lens. I cook with Young Living oils - taste wonderful!
Posted January 08, 2008
by faye_durham
My name is Faye Durham. I am a clinical research monitor and health care consultant in natural health care. I specialize in therapeutic nutrition, ar... (more)
