Cooking with Essential Oils
When it comes to cooking with essential oils, some people ask: why would you want to do that when you have fresh herbs on hand? The answer: because it's fun! Essential oils give you the chance to liven up old dishes and give you something different to play with. The oils are easy to use, they take so very little -- 1 drop or less is the general amount -- and they give you the opportunity to add a bit of spark to your cooking.Getting Started
1 tablespoon of dried herb = 1 drop essential oil, approximately If you choose essential oils that are GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe by the FDA) you will have a huge selection of oils to choose from. Here are some ideas to help you get started:| Citrus | Orange, Lemon, Lime, Pink Grapefruit, White Grapefruit, Red Mandarin, Lime, Bergamot, Tangerine, Citrus Blend, Citrus Passion, Slim & Trim |
| Spice | Cardamom, Ginger Root, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Bark, Cassia, Nutmeg, Coriander |
| Flowers | Lavender, Geranium, Rose Geranium, Palmarosa |
| Mint | Peppermint, Spearmint |
| Herbs | Rosemary, Sage, Basil, Bay Leaf, Fennel Seed, Anise Seed, Oregano, Thyme, Cumin, Tummy Rub |
| Other | Cucumber Seed, Carrot Seed, Celery Seed, Dill Seed |
Ways to Liven Up Your Food
There are so many ways you can use essential oils in your food. Here are a few:- 1 drop of Cinnamon Bark in your hot chocolate, coffee, oatmeal, etc.
- Heat up 1/2 gallon of apple cider and add 1 drop each of Cinnamon Bark and Clove Bud.
- Add 1 drop of Cinnamon Bark to your cakes, cookies, etc.
- Add 1 drop of Peppermint, Orange, Tangerine, or Cinnamon Bark to the glaze or frosting for chocolate cake.
- Use oils in place of any spices in your soup.
- Add a drop of a flower oil to your cake recipe or your ice cream just to give it an exotically different flavor.
- Add a drop of oil to your bread recipe (1 drop essential oil to 4 ounces of bread dough).
- For a quick, flavored vinegar salad oil, add about 2 drops of essential oil to 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil or vinegar.
- Add a drop of essential oil to your water when you steam vegetables.