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2008 Recipe Archive

Ginger Cinnamon-Salt Body Scrub

This body scrub has the fresh, invigorating scents of both ginger and cinnamon!

1 cup sea salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup almond oil or olive oil


Mix all ingredients together, then gently rub over your damp skin (except your face) to slough off dry skin. Rinse with warm water.

Body Scrub

Honey 3/4 cup
sugar 1 cup
Sea salt 1 cup
Jojoba oil 3ml
Fragrance oil 3ml (orange & ylang ylang are beautiful combined with the honey)

Pour honey into medium sized bowl, then add sugar and stir to combine. Add the salt in increments, to adjust the consistency to your liking. (I prefer a consistency not unlike crytallized honey). When all ingredients combine, add oils and stir well. This recipe is particularly long keeping as the lack of water discourages bacteria.

Energizing Bath Salts

Ingredients:
2 cup Epsom salts
1 cup Sea salt
10 drops green food coloring, 5 drops blue
6 drops eucalyptus oil
10 drops rosemary oil
15 drops peppermint oil
Instructions:
Be ready to go, go, go with this recipe. In a large bowl mix salts first, then add the other ingredients slowly. MIX VERY WELL! Add 3-4 tablespoons to hot running bath water.

 

Relaxing Fizzy Bath Salts

Ingredients:
1 cup Epsom salts
1 cups Sea Salt
1 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Citric Acid
food coloring: 4 drops blue, 6 drops green
8 drops Lavender Essential Oil
15 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
15 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Instructions:
In a large bowl mix salts first, then add baking soda, food coloring and oils. ADD THE CITRIC ACID LAST!! MIX VERY WELL! Add 3-4 tablespoons to hot running bath water.

 

Sensual Fizzy Bath Salts

Ingredients:
1 cup Epsom salts
1 cups Sea Salt
1 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Citric Acid
food coloring: 4 drops blue, 6 drops red; makes purple
15 drops Lavender Essential Oil
8 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
8 drops Neroli Essential Oil
Instructions:
In a large bowl mix salts first, then add baking soda, food coloring and oils. ADD THE CITRIC ACID LAST!! MIX VERY WELL! Add 3-4 tablespoons to hot running bath water.

 

Brown Sugar and Lemon Scrub

A touch of lemon makes this scrub so refreshing!

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon lemon
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon of honey

Mix brown sugar and salt, then add lemon juice, coconut oil and honey, mix well.

Grapefruit Sugar Scrub
     
   Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of almond or grape-seed oil
15 drops of grapefruit essential oil. You may use any other essential oil.  If you do not have essential oil you may use lemon for fragrance or use it plain.
   Application

Apply to wet skin

You can use your hands a shower glove or a loofah to scrub all over your body

Avoid any cuts or delicate areas. Remember do not put salt in a cut.

Do not exfoliate if your skin is irritated for any reason including sun burn.

Be careful not to fall down due to slippery floors.

Follow with body lotion, if you think you need it. Eliminate the residues with water. Apply your favorite body oil or lotion if needed. Your skin will feel a little oily if you use thick oil; otherwise, it will feel soft and most people will not need additional moisturizer.

Sugar, Salt and Nut Scrub

1/2 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup ground oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup almond oil
45-60 drops fragrance or essential oil

Variation: Add 2 tablespoons of honey for an extra-moisturizing scrub.

Mix almond oil and fragrance or essential oil together in a glass bowl. Add the sugar, finely ground almonds and salt together in a separate bowl and mix thoroughly together. Add this mixture to the almond oil. Mix well with your hands to incorporate and you're done!

 

Oatmeal & Brown Sugar Scrub

Exfoliates and is very moisturizing but doesn't leave a greasy feeling. Before you turn off your shower scoop a small handful of scrub into your hand. Rub gently onto your skin. Rinse.

3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup ground oatmeal (not instant)
1/4 cup pure honey
3/4 to 1 cup (or to total saturation) Oil of choice - use Jojoba, Grapeseed or Sweet Almond
1/4 tsp Essential or Fragrance oil of choice (optional) Vanilla works nicely. Though this smells great on it's own.

Mix the brown sugar & oatmeal together in a large bowl. Now add the honey. Drizzle the oil over the mix. Mix well. When all your mix is saturated and sinks to the bottom of the bowl and you have oil on top you're done. Add your essential oil or fragrance oil. A six or eight ounce wide-mouthed jar works nicely.

Chocolate Lip Gloss Recipe

2 tsp. Petroleum Jelly
1/8 tsp. Honey
10 mini Hershey's Milk Chocolate Chips (any brand will do though)
1/8 tsp. Shortening (Crisco)

Carefully Mix all ingredients into a microwave safe container. Make sure they are all clumped together. (Do not put lid on) Heat at high power for 20 seconds, stir, then repeat until fully melted. Then pour into a small jar, and freeze for 15 min, or until solid. Then you can apply it on your lips!

 

No Bake Rum Balls
  
   1 3/4 c  Fine vanilla wafer crumbs
       1 c  Pecans; finely ground
       1 c  Confectioner's sugar -unsifted
     1/4 c  Cocoa
       3 tbsp Light corn syrup
     1/4 c  Light rum or bourbon
     1/3 c  Sifted confectioner's sugar
  
   Place all but the last ingredient in a bowl and mix well, using hands. Roll
   mixture into 1″ balls and dredge in confectioner's sugar. These cookies
   will keep up to 10 days when stored in airtight canisters. 
  
 
HOLIDAY RUM BALLS
 
     1       c            Confectioners sugar
    2       tbsp           Cocoa
    2 1/2   c            Crushed vanilla wafers
    1       c            Finely chopped pecans
    2       tsp           Vanilla
    3       tbsp           Light corn syrup
    3       tbsp           Rum
      1/4   tsp           Almond extract
 
   1.  Sift cocoa and confectioners sugar together and
   combine with cookie crumbs and pecans.
   2.  Add corn syrup, rum and flavorings. Roll into 1″
   balls, and then roll in granulated
 sugar.
   3.  Store in a tightly sealed container in the
   refrigerator.
 
BUTTERMILK PECAN PRALINES

   3       c            Sugar
   1       t            Baking Soda
   1                    Pinch of Salt
   1       c            Buttermilk
     3/4   c            White Corn Syrup
   2       tb           Butter
   2       c            Pecan Halves

  In a large saucepan, (5 or 6 Quart size) combine
  sugar, baking soda, salt, buttermilk and corn syrup.
   Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat to
  medium-low, continue cooking until mixture becomes
  caramel-colored and reaches soft ball stage (238
  degrees).  Remove from heat, add butter and pecan
  halves.  Beat until thick enough to drop from a spoon
  onto waxed paper.  If mixture becomes too hard, return
  to heat and add small amount of water.  Stir until
  smooth.  Yield: 44 to 48 Pralines. 
*** Variation ***
     Reduce sugar to 2 cups.  Omit corn syrup.  Increase
  butter to 3/4 cup, add 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Include
  butter in cooking stage.  Add vanilla with pecans.
 
BRANDY SMASHES
 
  4 1/2 c  Water
      1 c  Sugar
      1 cn Frozen lemonade
      1 cn Frozen orange juice
    1/2 pt Apricot brandy
 
  Bring water to boil, stir in sugar and return to boil.  Set off burner and
  wait until it quits steaming.  Add juices and brandy and freeze.  Form into
  balls with melon baller and return to freezer.  Remove from freezer
  immediately prior to serving.
 
Brandied Chocolate Truffles


     3/4  cup           Whipping cream
   3      tablespoons   Unsalted butter
     1/2  pound         Bittersweet chocolate -- OR- semisweet chocolate chopped
   2      tablespoons   Cognac or other brandy
     3/4  pound         Bittersweet chocolate -- OR- semisweet chocolate chopped

Bring whipping cream and unsalted butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan.  Reduce heat to low.  
Add 1/2 pound bittersweet chocolate and stir until melted.  Mix in 2 tablespoons Cognac.  
Let stand at room temperature until firm enough to mound on spoon, about 3-1/2 hours.

 Line cookie sheet with foil.  Spoon truffle mixture by rounded tablespoons onto
 prepared cookie sheet, spacing apart.  Chill until firm, about 1 hour.

 Roll 1 truffle between palms of hands into ball.  Place on same sheet.
Repeat with remaining truffles; refrigerate.  Melt 3/4 pound chocolate in top of
 double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently until smooth.  Remove from over water.
  Grasp 1 truffle between thumb and index finger.  Dip into chocolate, coating completely. 
 Shake gently to remove excess chocolate.  Place on same sheet.  Repeat dipping with remaining truffles.  
Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.  Remove truffles from foil.  
(Can be prepared 1 week ahead.  Refrigerate in airtight container.) Serve cold.

                   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

NOTES : Try putting truffle on tooth pick to dip in the chocolate.
 
BOURBON BALLS


   1       c            Finely chopped pecans
   2       c            Crushed vanilla wafers
   1       c            Confectioner's sugar
   1 1/2   tb           Unsweetened cocoa powder
   3       tb           Light corn syrup
     1/2   c            Bourbon
                        Confectioner's sugar

  1.  Combine pecans, vanilla wafers, sugar, cocoa powder, corn syrup,
      and bourbon, mixing together
 well.
  2.  Using slightly dampened hands, shape mixture into 3/4" balls.  Roll
      candy balls in sugar.
  3.  Store in a tightly covered container.
 
 BAKED CARAMEL CORN
  
       6 qt Popcorn; popped
       1 c  Butter
       2 c  Brown sugar; packed
     1/2 c  Corn syrup
       1 ts Salt
     1/2 ts Baking soda
       1 ts Vanilla extract
  
   Preparation Time: 1:30 
Heat oven to 250 degrees. Put popped corn into
   buttered roasting pan. Melt butter in saucepan, stir in brown sugar, corn
   syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil further without
   stirring for 5 minutes  then remove from heat. Stir in vanilla then soda.
   Stir well.  Pour over corn, stir well. Bake an hour, stirring every 15
   minutes. Any extract flavor can be used, try rum, or cherry!
 Baileys Irish Cream Truffles

  12      ounces        Semi-sweet choc morsels
     1/4  cup           Heavy cream
   1      tablespoon    Sweet Butter
   2                    Egg yolks
     1/4  cup           Baileys Irish Cream

Melt chocolate, Baileys and heavy cream together over very low heat.  Whisk in
yolks, one at a time; mixture will thicken.

Whisk in butter.  Refrigerate overnight, or until firm.  With spoon make small
balls.  Roll in powdered sugar, cocoa, chopped nuts, sprinkles, etc.
 
 ALMOND BARK
  
         1 c  Whole unblanched almonds
       3 pk (6oz)semisweet chocolate chips OR 1 lb White candy coating
       2 tb Solid vegetable shortening
  
   Spread almonds in a baking pan and toast in a 350 oven for about 8 minutes,
   shaking pan occasionally. Let cool. Line a rimmed 10x15 inch pan with wax
   paper, covering bottom and sides of pan. Place chocolate chips or candy
   coating in the top of a double boiler. Add shortening, stir over barely
   simmering water just until mixture begins to melt. remove from heat; stir
   until completely melted. stir in toasted almonds. Turn mixture into pan and
   spread to distribute nuts evenly; to spread more smoothly, drop pan onto
   counter several times from a height of about 8 inches. refrigerate candy
   just until firm. Break into pieces before serving. to store, cover airtight
   and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks. Makes about 1 1/4 pounds.
  
Recipe for Vanilla Skin Toner

1 cup vodka (do not even think about using cranberry, pepper or vanilla)
1 cup distilled water
1 teaspoon glycerine
40 drops vanilla essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a pint jar with a tight fitting lid. Store in a cool, dark area for 2 weeks to steep, shaking vigorously every day.
After this time, pour into a dispensing/storage container.
Refrigeration is not required, but for maximum freshness use within one year.

Application: Using a cotton cleansing pad, apply approximately one teaspoon to the face or more as necessary to the shoulders or back. Avoid eye area.
Lavender Skin Toner

1 tablespoon lavender buds
1 cup witch hazel
6 drops lavender essential oil

Combine ingredients in a tightly lidded half-pint jar. Store in a cool dark place for 2 weeks to steep, shaking vigorously everyday.
After this time, strain the liquid and pour into a storage/dispensing container.
Best if used within 6 months.

Application Tips: Using a cotton cleansing pad, apply approximately 1 teaspoon to the face or more as necessary as a soothing body splash. Avoid eye area.

Light Moisturizer

1/2 cup distilled water
2 teaspoons glycerine
5 drops lemon, geranium, grapefruit or rosemary essential oil

Add ingredients to a storage container and shake vigorously to blend. No refrigeration is required but use within 6 months for maximum effectiveness.

Application tips: This product can be applied to the face and throat with a cotton pad or by spraying the skin lightly and allowing to dry.
 
Vanilla massage oil

3 long vanilla beans (pods)
    Or substitute 100 drops of vanilla essential oil
1 ½ cups jojoba oil

Slice the pods down the centre and scrape out the seeds, putting them in a pint jar. Slice the pods into 1” lengths and put them in the pint jar as well. Add the jojoba oil. Shake for a minute.
Let the vanilla essence infuse the oil for 2 months. Each day shake the jar for 10 to 15 seconds.
After 2 months, strain the oil through a coffee filter, or multiple layers of folded cheesecloth.
Pour the oil into its final vessel from which you will pour its vanilla enhanced luxury.
 
Relaxing Massage Oil Blend

Ingredients:
1 cup jojoba oil
40 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil
40 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a suitable container, shake vigorously.
*Note. Jojoba oil hardens in cool temperatures, if this happens, place the vessel it is in in warm water for 10 minutes.

Application:

For Bath oil, use 2 tsp to running water. For body or massage oil, use as needed.