Welcome! Let's get Cooking! 

Seed to Seal

Not all essential oils are created equally. When you shop with Young Living you are getting quality products backed by a ‘Seed to Seal’ guarantee that you won’t find anywhere else. You can expect that Young Living will provide you with only the BEST!

• plant material that is grown on corporately-owned farms or carefully vetted partner farms (that you CAN visit!)
• sustainable farming and sourcing practices, providing the purest oil
• great care taken to preserve and protect natural resources
• hand-weeded fields and ZERO use of pesticides
• oils that retain all their natural constituents and therapeutic properties
• use of food-grade distillers with state-of-the-art design and distillation methods
• low pressure and low temperature distillation, without the use of solvents or synthetic chemicals
• rigorous testing on each batch by internal labs and third-party facilities
• oils that are carefully reviewed through every step of production in order to meet or exceed industry safety and purity standards (beyond organic!)

And the best part… if the oils do not meet these high standards they are rejected and will not be bottled as a Young Living product. Now that’s amazing!! 

Usage and Safety 

Essential oils can be used in three main ways: aromatically, topically, and internally. For the purpose of this class, we are going to focus on internal usage.

Remember that Seed to Seal stuff we mentioned earlier? That’s how you know you’re getting SAFE, quality essential oils. Just remember - these oils are pure, unadulterated, and potent. For this reason, it’s recommended to start slow, read the labels, do your own research, and feel empowered to determine your comfort level with ingesting essential oils. Young Living makes it super easy and has an entire LINE of essential oils approved for ingestion called the Vitality line. The oils have also been non-GMO project verified. 

Cooking with oils is not complicated but we’ve got a few tips for you!

• Store your oils in a cool, dry place; oils often do well in the refrigerator.
• Put your ‘cooking’ oils in a dedicated food-grade dropper bottle to make measuring easier.
• Use stainless steel or glass prep/mixing bowls; oils and plastic don’t mix well.
• Keep bottles sealed tightly to preserve their quality and shelf life, but not so tight that you crack the lid. 
• Add oils to your dish at the end of the cooking process; this will extend the life of your oils by requiring fewer drops to achieve the same desired flavor.

Cost & Convenience 

Do you buy fresh or dried herbs and spices from the grocery store to cook with? Are they organic? Have you ever done a breakdown of how much that is actually costing you per dish?

One thing that I hear very often is, "Oils are too expensive!" Actually, they aren't!  

Let’s do some math!

Since Amazon is a household name, I picked a product from there - “Frontier Co-Op Organic Rosemary Leaf, Fancy Grade.” (I didn't know there was a face grade of Rosemary, but let's go with it).

You can get a 0.85-ounce bottle for $4.69. It contains approximately 7 tablespoons of organic dried Rosemary leaves, which ends up being $0.67 per tablespoon.

According to our conversion chart, 4 drops of Rosemary essential oil is equal to 1 tablespoon. An entire bottle of Rosemary Vitality (90-100 drops) costs only $7.75, equaling just $0.08 per drop - a total of $0.32 for a ‘tablespoon’ worth of Rosemary.

I’m no math whiz but I think $.32 is less than $0.67. That’s more than a 50% savings! Right? 

So let’s say you are making a dish and the recipe calls for 1 tbsp of Rosemary, you could run to the store (or wait for it to be delivered from Amazon) and pay for the dried stuff. Or you could grab fresh Rosemary, probably pay even more, only to use what you need, and then end up throwing out the rest because it turned brown.

The best (and most affordable) option? Have a well-stocked oil cabinet and you can grab your Rosemary Vitality instead, spending only $0.32, and give your dish a fresher, more robust flavor profile! And guess what? You can keep using that SAME bottle of oil for 25 more dishes and still get great flavor and freshness every time! 

That all adds up to a win in my book!

Good to the Last Drop 

Another savvy way to cook with oils and get the best BANG for your buck is to infuse #allthethings … butter, salt, olive oil, water, pretty much anything your heart desires! 

Flavored Butter: Add one drop of essential oil to 1 tsp of softened butter.

Flavored Salt: Grab your empty Lemon, Lime, Basil, Rosemary, or Thyme essential oil bottles and fill them up with good quality Himalyan or Celtic Sea Salt; let sit for at least 24 hours. Voila! Oil-infused salt for your dishes! 

Flavored Sprays: Combine 1 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 10 drops of your desired essential oil, and filtered water in a 2-ounce food-safe, glass spray bottle. Shake well before each use and spray on food at the end of cooking. Perfect for pasta!

Flavored Kitchen Oils: You get to play around with this one! Grab a 2-ounce food-safe dropper bottle (preferably glass) and fill it with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or your favorite kitchen oil), leaving room for some essential oil flare. Start with just a few drops of your desired essential oil and add more until you’ve reached the preferred level of flavor.  

Flavored Water: Citrus essential oils are a great option for flavoring your water. They’re cold-pressed from the rind so they aren’t hard on your tooth enamel. Plus they’re filled with antioxidants! Start with one drop in a glass of water (remember oils and plastic don’t do well together) and add more if desired. 

Try this delicious recipe for starters! Remember, you are the chef here! Add whatever ingredients or oils your palette desires. Use your imagination and get creative!

Citrus Vinaigrette 

½ cup Olive Oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 shallot, minced

2-3 drops each Lemon and Lime Vitality

3-4 drops Tangerine Vitality

1-2 tbsp sweetener, to taste (raw honey or liquid stevia)

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Four Seasons of Flavor

 One of the best things about cooking with oils is that they never go out of season. You could be in the dead of winter and still whip up a dish that tastes as fresh as spring! Let me show you some ways to do this… 

• Add Black Pepper Vitality to your scrambled eggs.
• Add Orange or Thieves Vitality to melted chocolate and drizzle over sliced fruit.
• Add Peppermint Vitality to brownies or hot chocolate.
• Add Cinnamon Bark or Nutmeg Vitality to pancake batter.
• Add Oregano and Basil Vitality to spaghetti sauce.
• Add Lemon Vitality to marinades for chicken and fish.
• Add Dill Vitality to your favorite potato salad.
• Add Cilantro Vitality to your rice on Taco Tuesday!

A Taste of Spring 

“Spring is nature’s way of saying let’s party.” ~Robin Williams

What do you think of when you think of spring? My mind goes to sunshine, fresh air, flowers blooming, new life, and Lavender!

So let’s get the party started with some recipes that are perfect for celebrating spring!

Sunrise Nitro Smoothie 

Ingredients

• 1 tube NingXia Nitro
• 4 drops Orange or Tangerine Vitality
• ½ cup coconut water
• ½ cup strawberries
• ½ cup blueberries
• 1 peeled navel orange
• ½ tsp chia seeds
• ½ cup cubed ice (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until desired consistency.
2. Add additional coconut water if needed.

Lemon Lavender Vegan Cheesecakes  

Crust

• 1 cup mixed nuts (I used a mix of walnuts, almonds, and cashews)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 cup dates

Filling

• 2 cups raw cashews, pre-soaked in water for 4 hrs
• ½ cup lemon juice (I used 3 small organic lemons; add 3-4 drops of Lemon Vitality for added flavor)
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
• 4-6 drops Lavender Vitality
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Grease muffin tin with nonstick spray or coconut oil.
2. Place long strips of parchment paper in each muffin mold for easy removal. 
3. Blend dates, nuts, and chia seeds in a food processor until a rough, sticky texture is reached.
4. Transfer mixture into muffin pan by the spoonful; press down firmly and evenly. Set pan in freezer.
5. Blend all filling ingredients until smooth and creamy. Add liquid if needed (ex: almond milk). 
6. Remove muffin pan from freezer and add filling to each crust, smoothing out to eliminate air bubbles. 
7. Decorate, if desired (ex: use lavender before freezing and lemons after freezing).
8. Freeze for at least 5 hours.
9. Gently pull each cake out using parchment paper. 
10.  Enjoy when ready! Makes 12 cakes.

Seasonal Wellness Lavender Lemonade 

Ingredients

• 1¼  cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup local honey
• 1 drop Lavender Vitality
• 2 drops Lemon Vitality
• 6 ½ cups of water, divided 

Instructions

1. Add lemon juice to glass pitcher, including lemon pulp. 
2. In a small saucepan, combine honey and ½ cup of water over low heat. Stir until the honey has combined with the water, creating a syrup. 
3. Add 1 drop Lavender Vitality and 2 drops Lemon Vitality to syrup {not the water!}. 
4. Pour syrup into lemon juice; add 6 cups water and stir well. 
5. Serve over ice and enjoy!

Savoring Summer 

“Summertime is always the best of what might be.” ~Charles Bowden

Oh sweet summer! Sunshine, outdoors, beaches, barbeques…

What are some of your favorite things about summer?

For me, summer means giving my oven a break; it's firing up the grill, cold salads, and frozen desserts; sitting around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and making S'mores and memories with family and friends. 

These recipes are perfect for all your summer celebrations - or if you just want to bring some warmth to the winter!

Mediterranean Marinade

Ingredients

• ¾ cup olive oil
• ½ cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 drop Oregano Vitality 
• 2 drops Lemon Vitality 
• 1 drop Black Pepper Vitality

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl. 
2. Set meat in a shallow glass bowl or baking pan.
3. Pour marinade over meat; cover and refrigerate 1–4 hours before grilling.
4. Discard any unused marinade.

Spicy Potato Salad 

Ingredients

• 6 medium-sized gold potatoes, peeled
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tsp ground turmeric
• 2 drops of Coriander Vitality
• 4 drops Lime Vitality
• 1 drop Black Pepper Vitality
• 1 cup dried Wolfberries
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped & packed
• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped & packed
• 1 cup fresh dill, chopped & packed
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Place peeled potatoes in a large pot of boiling water and cook until soft (about 10 minutes).
2. Drain potatoes; dry and cube.
3. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a cast-iron skillet on medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and dried wolfberries. Cook for 2-3 minutes then add turmeric.
4. Toss in potatoes; mix well to coat. 
5. Add cilantro, parsley and dill. Cook 4 additional minutes. Remove from heat.
6. Mix 2 tbsp olive oil with Coriander, Lime, and Black Pepper Vitality oils.
7. Drizzle over potato salad until fully mixed.
8. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
9. Top with additional red pepper flakes and remaining fresh herbs.
10. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Homemade Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream 

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen blueberries
• 1 cup full-fat coconut cream
• 4 tsp Blue Agave
• 4 drops Lavender Vitality
• Up to ⅓ cup coconut water

Instructions

1. Line small casserole dish with wax or parchment paper.
2. Add frozen blueberries, coconut cream, Lavender Vitality, and agave to a high-powered blender or food processor.
3. Pulse ingredients together, adding coconut water 1 tablespoon at a time to help ingredients blend together smoothly. Be careful not to add too much liquid or ice cream will become too soft.
4. Pour blended ingredients into the prepared dish, cover, and freeze for 4 hours.
5. Scoop into bowls, garnish with your favorite toppings & enjoy!

Winter Warmth

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ~John Steinbeck

Use these recipes to add a touch of sweetness and warmth to your winter season. 

French Toast with Apple Cranberry Sauce 

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup juice (ex: grape, apple, orange)
• 1 cup berry preserves
• 1 large Granny Smith apple, chopped
• 4 drops Orange Vitality, divided
• 3 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality, divided
• 3 eggs
• ¾ cup milk
• ½ cup melted butter
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality
• 1 drop Clove Vitality 
• 1 drop Ginger Vitality 
• 8 large slices of bread or 12 regular slices

Instructions

1. Combine cranberries, juice, preserves, and apples in small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat. 
2. Remove from heat and add 2 drops Orange Vitality and 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality. Stir and set aside.
3. Heat griddle to 375°F. 
4. Combine eggs, milk, butter, vanilla, Nutmeg Vitality, Clove Vitality, Ginger Vitality, plus 2 drops each Cinnamon Bark Vitality and Orange Vitality in shallow dish and stir well.
5. Dip bread into egg mixture; allow excess to drip off before setting on griddle.
6. Cook each side about 3-4 minutes each or until golden brown.
7. Spoon apple mixture over top and serve immediately.

Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Mousse 

Ingredients

• 3 large avocados, peeled and pitted
• 1½ cups raw unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup raw agave
• 15 oz. can coconut cream, refrigerated overnight
• ½ tsp vanilla powder
• 4 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality (or substitute 8 drops Orange Vitality)
• 1 pinch finely ground pink Himalayan salt

Instructions

1. Place avocados in food processor and puree until smooth.
2. Add cocoa powder, maple syrup, agave syrup, vanilla powder, Cinnamon Bark Vitality (or Orange Vitality) and salt.
3. Mix until smooth.
4. In a separate bowl whip coconut cream until fluffy.
5. Gently fold in chocolate mixture to whipped cream until thoroughly combined.
6. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Homemade Hot Cocoa 

Ingredients

• 4 cups unsweetened almond milk (or sub)
• 8 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 tsp honey, or more to taste
• 4 drops Lavender, Peppermint, Orange or Cinnamon Bark Vitality

Instructions

1. Heat milk in saucepan on medium-high heat.
2. Add cocoa, vanilla extract, and honey; whisk until smooth.
3. When warm, remove from heat and stir in essential oil(s) of choice.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Reward Yourself 

Once you embrace the Young Living lifestyle and hop on Essential Rewards, you will be prompted to set up your very own wellness box. Login to your YL Account and click on Essential Rewards. Go ahead and start swapping out those dried herbs in your kitchen. In the next few months use your customizable box to replace toxic products that might be hiding in your cabinets - get that home filled with oily goodness! Thankfully Young Living has over 600 oils and oil-infused products to help you do that! 

We aren't asking you to spend more money. Essential Rewards is taking what you are already purchasing at the store, and now purchasing it from Young Living. Safer products for you and your family - once we know better, we do better. There are many benefits of being a part of Essential Rewards:

• Earn points to spend on future product 
• FREE loyalty gifts along the way
• FREE promotional items available every month (sometimes it’s a FREE Vitality oil!)
• Exclusive discounted ER bundles
• Completely customizable and flexible
• No cancellation fee
• Access to FREE shipping subscriptions