Bright Spring Salad Recipe with Pecorino

A lovely spring salad is one of my favorite things to have for lunch come springtime. I find that my energy levels are much higher when my fruit and veg intake is higher during the day. This Bright Spring Salad with Pecorino is exceptional with it’s bright flavors and depth of taste.

My husband and I came up with this spring salad recipe together when scouring the fridge for lunch options one day. It’s become a new household favorite. The red onions really add a nice depth of flavor. This spring salad with pecorino is simply delightful! Make it for 1, make it for 10…it’s delicious! The addition of the hemp seeds and the Pecorino as well as the olive oil make this a satisfying meal.

Bright Spring Salad Ingredients:

  • 1 cup organic herb salad mix (mixed red and green lettuce varieties with herbs…any kind will do)
  • 1/2 cup organic mixed baby kale
  • 1/2 cup shredded green cabbage
  • 1-2 tbsp chopped red onion (depending on preference)
  • 1/3 orange bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 tbsp hemp seeds
  • 1tbsp fresh squeezed organic lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp good quality extra virgin olive oil (my current go-to for salads is the unfiltered Tunisian one from Trader Joes. This is my all-time favorite olive oil when I can find it nearby.)
  • himalayan sea salt, sprinkled liberally to taste
  • freshly ground pepper
  • grated Pecorino-Romano cheese (to taste)

The quantities for the spring salad above are for one person. It can easily be multiplied for more people. Another good tip? Keep your Pecorino in the freezer. Since Pecorino is a cheese with big impact in small quantities, you usually don’t need much. Keeping it in the freezer preserves it so you always have it on hand when you need it.

bright spring salad

Bright Spring Salad Recipe Instructions:

  1. Layer herb salad mix on bottom, then baby kale, and then green cabbage.
  2. Sprinkle with himalayan salt and pepper. Let sit while you chop the red onions and orange bell pepper.
  3. Add onions and peppers.
  4. Sprinkle hemp seeds on top.
  5. Drizzle fresh squeezed lemon juice all over salad. Follow with the olive oil.
  6. Sprinkle with fresh grated (or pre-grated) Pecorino cheese.
Voila! A go-to spring salad worthy of any brunch, tea party, or any old ordinary everyday lunch. Mangeons!

 

 

 

Easy Non Toxic Sink Cleaner {Green Household Cleaners}

When we moved into our new house, I just had to come up with a homemade recipe for a non toxic sink cleaner. Our sink was downright disgusting…as in “never been cleaned” gross! Naturally, I had to do something about it without busting out the old toxic cleaners. So I came up with this super easy recipe for a non toxic sink cleaner. It can also be used for bathtubs or other areas that need deep scouring.

The best part about this green sink cleaner is that it’s made from items you probably already have on hand and it takes less than a minute to whip up a batch. It’s that easy!

Non Toxic Sink Cleaner Recipe

  • ¼ cup baking soda (I use this one for everything)
  • ¼ cup fine salt (bigger salt crystals do not work as well)
  • Ÿ1 tbsp vinegar
  • Ÿ6 drops high quality lemon essential oil (should be therapeutic grade for purity)
  • Ÿ1 tsp-1tbsp water (if needed)
  • small glass or ceramic ramekin or bowl – MUST be glass or ceramic! (These glass ramekins are awesome because they are cheap and they have lids, so you can save your mixture for later in the day by adding the lid.)

You can see how gross our sink was in the picture! The right side is pre-cleaning. See how disgusting it was? SO yucky!! Check out the left side after cleaning with this non toxic sink scrub…BIG difference, right?

easy non toxic sink cleaner recipe

Here’s the before (right) and after pictures of my sink (left)

Non Toxic Sink Scrub Instructions

  1. Mix dry soda and salt first in the ramekin.
  2. Then add vinegar…it will fizz.
  3. Next add the lemon oil and the water, if needed. The key is to get the mixture lightly grainy, but not runny. So if you need water, add a few drops at a time.
  4. Apply to desired area and let sit for 3-5 minutes. Scrub, scrub, scrub!
  5. For very severe stains, you may need to repeat the process as you would with any conventional sink cleaner.

non toxic sink cleaner recipe

Here you can see the mixture in the glass ramekin before I added a few drops of water. This consistency is too grainy and won’t spread well.

This is the desired consistency of the non toxic sink cleaner…see how it’s not runny, but it is no longer a coarse grain? You don’t want it too watery or it won’t be as potent.

One caution with the plastic ramekin lids. Since this mixture has lemon oil in it, make sure if you store if for a day or two that the sink cleaner does not touch the plastic lid as essential oils are potent and break down chemicals in the plastic.

Try it and let me know what you think! Have your own amazing non toxic sink cleaner recipe? Leave us your tips in the comment section?

#9 – Coconut Oil Hair Treatment {10 Easy Ways to Use Coconut Oil}

If you’re looking for an inexpensive and easy way to deep condition your hair, coconut oil hair treatment is the perfect choice! Coconut oil moisturizes and protects hair from sun damage and helps replenish and re-moisturize.

How to Use Coconut Oil As A Hair Treatment

The easiest way to use coconut oil as hair conditioner is to try to remember to apply it anytime you’re going to sweat and will need a shower later anyway. Going for a walk or jog? Gardening, mowing your lawn or just working around your house? Slather your hair with a coconut oil hair treatment and put it in a bun so it can really absorb and let the heat from your scalp work its magic.

Make sure you don’t put the coconut oil all the way up to your scalp, but leave about an inch of hair untreated so your hair doesn’t get too greasy and weighted down after the treatment.

Coconut oil hair treatment is also a perfect protector when you’re at the beach or swimming in a chlorinated pool. Just apply the coconut oil hair conditioner to hair about 15-30 minutes before getting in the water so it has time to soak in and really protect your hair.

coconut oil hair treatment

Add A Power Punch of Essential Oils to Your Coconut Oil Hair Treatment

You can also add high quality essential oils to your coconut oil for further hair treatment possibilities. Try lavender essential oil to prevent hair loss as well as stimulate new growth. Rosemary essential oil encourages new hair growth, inhibits graying, removes dandruff and can help a dry and flaky scalp. Adding tea tree (melaleuca) essential oil is known to increase the entire body’s immune system and also heal damaged hair.

Try rotating different essential oils each time you treat your hair with coconut oil hair treatment to see what gives you the luscious locks you’re craving.

#8: Coconut Oil Lip Balm {10 Easy Ways to Use Coconut Oil}

Coconut oil lip balm is not like ordinary lip balm. Since coconut oil is nourishing and healing for the skin, as well as a natural exfoliant, it has the ability to leave your lips soft and supple. And perhaps extra kissable with a tropical smelling twist? 😉

Remember…LESS is More When it Comes to Coconut Oil Lip Balm

We all tend to overcompensate when our lips are chapped. However, coconut oil lip balm doesn’t work by globbing on a thick layer to coat your lips like you might expect.  Since coconut oil has a melting point of 76° Fahrenheit, putting on more than you need will leave you with  messy coconut oil dripping down your chin…and no one wants to kiss you if you’re foaming at the mouth with coconut oil!

coconut oil lip balm

Here’s how coconut oil lip balm works best. Simply apply one very thin layer at a time. After it has absorbed a few minutes later, apply another very thin layer. For severely chapped lips coconut oil lip balm should be reapplied continuously throughout the day, always waiting until it is fully absorbed into the lips before applying a new layer. You’ll have to remember to be patient, especially at first, because you will not notice instant results if your lips are very chapped and peeling. Keep it up and within a day or two you should see some healing take place and the chapping should decrease. By the end of the first day, I usually notice a significant decrease in that chapped lips feeling.

Coconut Oil Lip Balm Recipe

  1. Start by using a very glass small lip balm container, such as this one. If you prefer your balm to be more solid, store it in a cool place. These glass roll on bottles would also work well if you plan to keep your coconut oil lip balm at a warmer temperature where the coconut oil will not solidify.
  2. Add 1 drop of your favorite essential oil. My favorites are tea tree, peppermint, palmarosa, or lavender. Remember that whenever you use essential oils, they should be pure, undiluted, therapeutic-grade from a reliable source.
  3. Add organic, food-grade coloring to desired color tint. I love these plant-based food colorings by Chocolate Craft. Alternately, you can use 100% pure, undiluted, organic cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, or beet juice.
Question: What do you use for non-toxic tints for your homemade organic cosmetics such as coconut lip balm? Post your experiences in the comments below.