If you have been wanting to experiment with including essential oils but are not sure where to start I have rounded up some of my favorite ideas for adding oils to your food and beverages. Not only do they add an amazing burst of bright flavors they also deliver many benefits-digestive, healing, and You should always research the benefits and drawbacks of ingesting essential oils and choose what is right for you family. After my research I feel 100% safe doing so but only recommend using 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils- always do your homework! Every essential doesn’t taste amazing in your recipes but many are a great way to get a pure natural form of items you would use anyway.
I have 12 tried and true essential oils that I like to keep in my kitchen to spruce up recipes or flavor up boring old water. It really only takes a few drops even in large batches to add flavor as well as other healthful benefits. Here is what I recommend you add to your pantry….
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Cilantro
- Oregano
- Dill
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Cinnamon
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Grapefruit
Essential oils are very potent so I recommend starting with just a drop or two and giving it a taste test when possible- you can always add but it’s impossible to take it out! I want to give you a few ideas on how to use your oils.
Beverages- Add 1-2 drops of lavender, lime, bergamot, peppermint or orange to your favorite lemonade to kick it up a notch and create a gourmet refreshing lemonade flavor. Drop some in hot or iced tea, cocoa, or straight water to dress it up!
Soups- Stirring in a few drops of basil, rosemary, or cilantro will give them an incredible flavor, they will also help boost your immune system so you definitely want to add them when you are sick-especially oregano! If you want to take canned tomato soup from eh to mmmmm add a drop of basil to make it sing.
Baking- Skip the imitation extracts and get you flavor right from the source! Use lemon essential oils in sugar cookies or angel food cake. Peppermint essential oil adds a flavorful kick to peppermint bark or chocolate brownies. We love to add a few drops of orange oil to cranberry orange muffins to take them to new heights! Banana bread, snickerdoodles, or carrot cake will all improve with a bit of cinnamon essential oil.
Salads- From pasta salad to chicken salad essential oils can make your dishes extraordinary. Add dill essential oil to chicken or egg salad, lemon essential oil to your salad dressing, basil to mayo to make a gourmet condiment, or lime to grandma’s pasta salad.
A few more…
- Cilantro essential oil for homemade salsa.
- Peppermint Essential oil into ice cream.
- Cinnamon essential oil dropped into applesauce.
- Basil essential oil for homemade pesto.
Are you ready to purchase some of these awesome oils! You can purchase high quality Young Living Essential Oils (my favorite brand!) over here or you can read about how to get a wholesale discount and the potential to earn FREE essential oils. Read all my past posts on how I use Essential Oils.
