Laura Tucker

Southern Made Simple Has Been Live for 1 Month!

December 2, 2015 by Laura Tucker 9 Comments

Southern Made Simple Has Been Live for 1 Month! I think a small celebration is in order!

I’ll be giving away this fun little 3 pack of vinyl monogram decals to one lucky reader, just in time for Christmas! This would make an AWESOME stocking stuffer! Vinyl decals can go on nearly any hard surface and are easy to apply. Think car windows, mirrors, binders, laptops, etc. There’s so many things you can do with them, and they’re a fun way to make your items personalized!

The winner will get to customize the lettering and choose between red, green or white decals. If you’re really feeling festive, you can do one in each color! 😉

Just fill out the form below to enter! Be sure to sign up for our email updates so you don’t miss anything. We’ve got lots of great stuff coming up this month!

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Did you miss your chance to enter this fabulous giveaway? No worries! Be sure to check out my list of current giveaways going on so you can get in on the fun!

When Santa Has No Chimney {+ Free Printable!}

December 1, 2015 by Laura Tucker 4 Comments

As a child, I remember reading and singing cheerful Christmas songs about Santa Claus and his magic reindeer. For a while, my mother would decorate our home from top to bottom with Christmas decor. We had a HUGE fireplace where we displayed our stockings. Christmas was a big to-do in our house.

When the night before Christmas rolled around, we’d always break out the book, “Twas The Night Before Christmas” and read it as a family. We’d put on our Christmas pajamas and go straight to bed. At night I would fall asleep imagining Santa filling our stockings after squeezing down our chimney.

Because that’s what Santa does. He goes down the chimney.

That’s what all the books and Christmas carols said, anyway. But because I always had a chimney, I never once gave it any thought as to how he would enter if we didn’t have a chimney.

Now that I’m an adult and have a child of my own, I’m excited to share the magic of Santa with her as she gets older. I’m so excited for those few magical years where children believe in Santa, and you know it by the twinkle in their eye once December rolls around.

I’m looking forward to teaching my daughter all of the fun holiday songs, reading her my favorite Christmas-y books, and sharing with her that Santa and his reindeer fly around the world bringing people presents. He lands on the roof, slides down the chimney, nibbles on the cookies you leave him, and fills your stocking with fun surprises.

We just have one tiny little problem, though.

Our house has no chimney.

I looked everywhere, y’all. Sadly, it’s just not there. And then it occurred to me that this is actually a normal problem. And frankly, it’s really not a problem at all! People live in apartments, trailers, condos, and all sorts of different dwellings that have no chimney. Santa still visits them somehow, right?! Of course he does! And this is the type of thing that I know my daughter will inquire about one day. How DOES Santa come down the chimney when you don’t have a chimney?

Why, he uses his magic of course!

If that fat man can squeeze down a chimney and make his reindeer fly, then he can sprinkle some of that jolly ol’ magic on our special Santa Key and walk right through our front door!

The Santa key can only be used by Santa himself. We leave it hanging on our Christmas tree until Christmas Eve. Before we slip off to bed, we hang the magic key outside our front door so he knows how to enter.

My daughter is will be 7 months old this Christmas, so she will know nothing of the jolly ol’ elf this year, but it won’t be long before she starts picking up on who Santa is. We’ll gladly explain to her how he’ll come into our home quietly while she sleeps and work his magic filling stockings and leaving presents. When we put out his milk and cookies, I’ll let her hang the key on our door just for him.

If you find yourself in the same chimney-less situation as us, here’s a free printable that you can download and pair with your own magic Santa key!

I hope this brings a little more joy to you and your family this holiday season! If you don’t have a chimney, how has Santa been entering your home? I’d love to hear about all the ways he works his magic!

3 Delicious DIY Gifts Using Peppermint Essential Oil

November 27, 2015 by Laura Tucker 2 Comments

The holidays are among us!

Have you been as busy as I have trying to figure out what to get everyone on your shopping list this year? Sometimes gift shopping in our house can get crazy if we don’t stay on top of our game. My list currently has 22 people on it (and I feel like I’m leaving someone out! Eeek!). I try not to let the pressure of gift buying get to me. After all, we’re supposed to enjoy this time of year!

If you’re stressing about what to get some of the people on your list, don’t empty out your pocket book! Share the holiday joy by filling their tummies with a few yummy treats instead!

I’ve brought together 3 simple and delicious treats that would make a wonderful gift for anybody on your list! I’ve used Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil in all of my recipes, but you can substitute the oil for peppermint extract if you’d like. I’ll even share a few ideas on how to wrap them up. 🙂

If you’re interested in learning more about essential oils, I’ll include a link at the very bottom of this post that will direct you to a fabulous site with lots of helpful information!

Crazy Simple Peppermint Bark {Using Peppermint Essential Oil}

Copycat Peppermint Patties {Using Peppermint Essential Oil}

Double Mint Brownies {Using Peppermint Essential Oil}

I hope you find the perfect to give your friends and family members this year, and I hope these 3 delicious DIY gifts using peppermint essential oil come in handy! If you decide to try out one of these recipes, I’d love to hear how it turned out!

Interested in learning more about essential oils? Check out what my sister has to say about them on her blog! She’s put together some really great and helpful information to help you out. You can read more here.

Oribel Portaplay Activity Center Review

November 25, 2015 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Oribel Portaplay Activity Center Review

Some serious baby fun is going on RIGHT NOW over on Stuff Parents Need!

It’s amazing how fast babies grow. People tried to warn me that it would happen in the blink of an eye, but you don’t really begin to believe them until it starts happening to you. I’ve ugly cried quite a few times already when putting up clothes and toys that my baby has already outgrown. She’s just 6 months old, y’all!

We’ve traded those tears for smiles, though! We had the chance to review an AWESOME baby activity center that grows with your child. I won’t be putting this table away for a few years, because she’ll still be using it up until age 5. Seriously! (I’ll still probably ugly cry when it’s time to put it away, but at least it will be a while!) 😉

We’re guest posting about it over on Stuff Parents Need right now! You can see our full review and more pictures of our little love bug here. Head on over and take a look!

Pumpkin Layered Cheesecake Recipe

November 23, 2015 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Cheesecake.

It’s a beautiful thing, y’all. When I count my blessings, I count cheesecake twice. It’s basically the 8th wonder of the world if we want to get real here. At least, in my mind it is. 😉

You’d THINK a girl like me who loves cheesecake more than most would’ve been to The Cheesecake Factory a time or two. But nope! I really haven’t. Sadly, the closest I’ve gotten to The Cheesecake Factory is an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Weep not for me, my cheesecake lovin’ friends. I will go forth into the golden gates of cheesecake heaven one glorious day, and I will indulge. Hard.

In the mean time, I’ll just make my own! Now, I don’t know that this could hold a candle anywhere near to what The Cheesecake Factory cranks out, but this pumpkin layered cheesecake recipe is pretty ding dong good if I do say so myself! Right on time for Thanksgiving, too! 🙂

You may have seen me share my love of all things pumpkin before. It’s something I just can’t keep a secret! I recently shared a delicious recipe for Glazed Pumpkin Praline Mini Cakes, which would also be an AH-MAZING addition to the Thanksgiving dessert table. Just sayin’.

Right now, though, I’m all about this cheesecake. It’s pretty simple to make, and it only calls for 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree (which means you can totally use the remaining pumpkin puree to make those mini cakes I just shared.) #Yourewelcome

Here’s what you’ll need for this dish:

Ingredients:

2 packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 9 inch graham cracker crust pie shell

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F
Using a mixer, beat together cream cheese, vanilla and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Then add in eggs.
Dip out 1 cup of cream cheese mixture and set aside.
Try really hard not to lick the spoon.
Pour remaining mixture into pie crust.
Using your reserved cream cheese mixture, blend in pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Pour pumpkin mixture on top of cream cheese mixture in the pie crust.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the center of the pie is mostly set.
Allow to cool completely, then refrigerate for 3 or more hours.
Enjoy!

Are you a cheesecake lover, too? Maybe you’re crazy about pumpkin like I am? Do you have another fabulous cheesecake recipe you’d like to share? I’d LOVE to hear about it!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Babies Age 6-9 Months

November 20, 2015 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

Southern Made Simple is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. Although I participate in these programs and have sponsored posts, all opinions are my own.

Holiday shopping can be a ton of fun, especially when you’ve got little ones to shop for! However, sometimes babies can actually be kind of difficult to shop for. Picking out the bigger toys that will go under the tree is typically a little bit easier, but it’s the stocking that can be a real head scratcher! Shopping for a babies aged 6-9 months can be even trickier. A lot of milestones tend to happen during these months. They’re no longer newborns, and they’re certainly not toddlers. You’ll want to look for things that match them developmentally and actually be useful and even fun for them.

Don’t worry, though! I’ve put together a list of 15 stocking stuffer ideas perfect for babies, specifically ages 6-9 months. I hope this will be helpful to you all as you start making your lists and checking them twice!

I’ve found that Amazon Prime is definitely the way to go when doing holiday shopping, but ESPECIALLY last minute shopping. Most of the affiliate links below are through Amazon. If you’re like a FREE 30 day membership to try Prime out, you can view my post here and get these gifts to your door in just 2 days!

Click here for a FREE 30 Day Amazon Prime Membership!

Bath Toys
- At this age, babies are starting to learn how to kick their legs and splash in the water. I love the Munchkin Baby Bath Ball, because it is easy to grab (even when wet) and it makes noise. Babies love noise! Babies at this age aren’t exactly spending much play time in the bath, but little toys like this are great to keep them occupied while you’re busy washing them.
Body Wash, Shampoo and Bubble Bath
- This is one of those things that you really need to have in general. While you may already have some of these items on hand in your bathroom, perhaps now is the time to spring for the REALLY good stuff! Maybe pick out something nice that you can’t find in your typical big box store. I really love Little Twig All Natural Products. They smell great, last a long time, and are free of yucky chemicals that may be harmful for baby!
Sleepers or Cute Onesies
- This one is always fun. Pick out some cute little PJ’s that are straight from Santa himself! I’m really loving some of these adorable outfits from Mud Pie! You can also buy ahead and pick up some cute little onesies for the new year!
Pacifiers and Pacifier Clips
- If you have a baby who takes a paci, I really recommend getting a set of pacifiers that glow in the dark. We are very MAM loyal in this house, so our stocking will definitely include several of those this year. These are REALLY helpful when your baby may lose their paci in the middle of the night and need help finding it. A cute paci clip is also a great idea to go along with it!
Shoes and Socks
- While getting socks and shoes in your stocking may not be so exciting to a bigger kid, you can certainly get away with it with a 6-9 month old! They’ll soon be walking, so go ahead and get them a good pair of non-trip shoes. I personally love Pediped shoes. They have a leather soul as opposed to a rubber one. Rubber souls can be easier to trip on when you’re just learning how to walk. Pedipeds are perfect for early walkers and are really high quality! Don’t forget to get some new socks, too!
Teethers
- Teething is in FULL swing at this age. Put some cute little teething toys in the stocking this year! I wrote a full article about 4 fabulous teething toys that we are loving right now! You can read all about them here.
Feeding Utensils
- Babies begin eating solids by 6 months of age. Now is a great time to stock up on some great feeding gear for the little one! I recommend a few different things:
- The Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder is great to put fresh fruits and other foods in without worrying about the baby choking.
- The Munchkin Stay Put Suction Bowl helps make meal time a little less messy. The bowl suctions to the table or high chair lid, making it much harder for baby to grab and throw!
- Squeeze Pouches like the Little Green Reusable Food Pouch are awesome! If your baby loves those puree pouches you can find in store, consider this product! You can save LOTS of money by making the purees yourself and using reusable pouches.
Training cups
- They may not be ready for them just yet, but I recommend going ahead and getting a good training cup with handles for baby to practice with. These Soft Spout Training Cups by Dr. Brown’s are a great choice to help baby become a little more independent and transition from bottle to sippy cup.
SippiGrip
- The SippiGrip is a game changer! If there’s one things babies love to do, it’s THROW ALL THE THINGS! For some reason, babies just think it’s hilarious to watch you pick up their toys/bottles/cups etc over and over again. But no more! You can attach their cups and toys to the SippiGrip and then attach the lanyard to their highchair or stroller to prevent them from throwing stuff all over the place. It may be going in the baby’s stocking, but it’s really for you, parents! 😉
Splat Mat
- For the sake of your sanity, you need this item. For real. Remember me saying how much babies love to throw things? The same is totally true for their food, too. The splat mat goes up under your high chair and protects your floor from flying baby food. HOORAY! When a mess is made, you just wipe clean with a paper towel! SO much better than getting out the spot shot!
Snacks/puffs
- Assuming the baby has already gotten used to solids, they probably LOVE little snack puffs. I’ve never seen a baby NOT like them, actually. Spring for the good stuff on this one, too. I recommend trying an organic option if you don’t already! Happy Baby Organic Puffs are a great choice!
Cute diapers or diaper covers
- Have you considered giving cloth diapering a try? If you’re unsure about modern cloth, I have two reviews that just may help you out. You can find them here and here. My FAVORITE online boutique to purchase all things cloth related is Sweet Bottoms Baby Boutique – specifically..the Buttons diapers! (Plus, they have FREE shipping!)
Flash cards/board books
- Babies at this age are getting more and more curious by the day. Now is a great time to introduce them to flash cards! While they won’t read for a while, it’s never too early to start getting them familiar with words and pictures. Board books are also great for babies this age. They may not be able to hold their attention to the story for very long, but at least you don’t have to worry about the pages ripping when they grab it! And trust me, grab it they will! 🙂
Personalized Sticker Labels
- These are a great way to keep up with little things that may frequently get lost if your baby attends a daycare or if they are frequently around other kids. It helps others know what item belongs to who. This is especially great for bottles and sippy cups and can help prevent the spread of germs by letting others know which cup should be going in a babies mouth.
Learning Toys
- Babies typically love things that make sound. My little one loves trying to figure out where noise comes from, and she loves to make noise herself! I would say anything that is easy to grab, makes noise, and doesn’t require batteries would be a good fit for this category. This little 4 Piece Baby Band Set by Hohner would be a great choice! It encourages babies to learn while making music, and it’ll fit in the stocking. It’s a win/win!

What are some other items that you’re getting for a little one in your life? Do you have any other great ideas for stocking stuffers for babies? I’d certainly love to hear about them! Leave a comment below!

Our Top 4 Teething Toy Picks

November 18, 2015 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

Alright, y’all. Let’s talk a little bit about teething.

I know, I know. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Eh, let’s not”. And truthfully, I don’t blame you. Teething is the pits! It’s like this mean little monster that sneaks into your home, takes your sweet little baby and turns them into a fussy little drool machine. In fact, as I’m typing this I’m watching my daughter in the baby monitor. She has apparently woken up and is squirming around in her crib gnawing on the edge of one of her pacifiers. AND now she’s screaming. Sigh. If my thoughts here seem intrupted, it’s because they are. #RealLife

Anyway, back to teething. Wooho! My little Drooly McTeetherson child is constantly gnawing on her fingers to try and get relief, and sometimes she tries to fit her whole hand in her mouth. I can really tell when her gums are bothering her and it breaks my heart. Sure, we have a few different remedies that help a little, but sometimes even the strongest teething salve just doesn’t seem to touch it.

I’m not here to bring you life changing advice or to offer a supreme remedy for teething, unfortunately. (If you know of one, though, please share!) However, I am going to share with you 4 little things we just couldn’t live without during this season in our lives.

We have TONS of teething toys for her, but we have a choosy little one on our hands. She’ll typically gnaw on other teether toys for a few seconds and then toss them, but she has 4 specific teethers that you’d think might as well be her BFF for life. Seriously.

These are the teethers that make our world go round. The ones that I probably should have more than one of…as in one for every room in the house. The ones that I would ~~probably~~ definitely cry a little if I couldn’t find it. If you’re a parent and have had a fussy teething baby, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

So without further adieu, here are our little golden chew nuggets:

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe
- Made of the highest quality baby crack on the market, this little teether will likely never leave your baby’s side. SERIOUSLY, y’all. I don’t know what this giraffe is made out of, but it’s like a moth to the flame with my child. The texture is almost flesh-like. Seems a little weird to me, but if she likes it, I like it! It’s certainly on the pricey end ($19.99), but it’s worth its weight in gold in this house.
Nuby Natural Touch Teethers
- These are actually back teethers, but my baby chews on them in the front, in the back, upside down, sideways, etc. She doesn’t care! She specifically likes the one shaped like a hand. I guess since she chews so much on her own hand, she thinks she’s struck gold by having more fingers to chew on. Who knows! She loves it, though! These come in a two pack and are more affordable at just $12.00
Lifefactory Multi Sensory Silicone Teether
- We actually inherited this teether from someone. I’m not sure if it previously belonged to my sister’s children, or if a friend of ours gave it to us in a box of baby stuff she wanted us to have. Whoever it was, THANK YOU! Let’s high-five, because this one is a home run! It has 4 different teething textures for baby to chew on, and our little girl loves trying out each one. It’s super easy to grab and hold on to, and she loves to wave it around in the air. These also come in a two pack are are usually priced at around $12.00.
Razbaby RaZ-berry Teether
- A good friend of mine gifted this little gem to our daughter. It looks just like a raspberry stuck to the end of a pacifier. It’s adorable, y’all. It has bumps all over that my baby loves to gnaw on. She doesn’t stop there, though. She also likes to chew the leaves! This one is easy to attach to a paci-clip so they can’t throw it on the floor, which I really appreciate. This one is super affordable, coming in at around $5.00

I hope this little teething toy guide helps out the teething baby in your life! These are the top 4 teething toy picks that have worked the best for us. If you have a baby registry or are looking for a great gift to give for a baby shower, I encourage you to consider these!

What teething toys does/did your little one love to chew? Did any of the ones I mentioned make your list? I’d love to hear what works or has worked for you!

Southern Made Simple is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms (including Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest), I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. Although I participate in these programs and have sponsored posts, all opinions are my own.

Crazy Simple Peppermint Bark {Using Peppermint Essential Oil!}

November 16, 2015 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

Let’s just say you’re looking for something sweet to make for a holiday party or to give as a gift this season, but maybe you’re facing a few challenges. Maybe you’re terrible at following a recipe. Maybe looking on Pinterest for something great to make stresses you out or makes you feel overwhelmed. Maybe you’re strapped for cash. Maybe you realized 5 minutes ago that you’re supposed to bring something to an event, and that event is in half an hour and it takes you 15 minutes to get there. I get it. I’ve been there.

Fret not, my friends. I have a simple, quick, inexpensive and yummy solution for you! You can thank me later. 😉

Peppermint bark is the perfect festive snack to satisfy a sweet tooth. It has just 3 ingredients, and it’s actually pretty fun to make! Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

1 package white almond bark
a few peppermints of candy canes – crushed
5-7 drops peppermint essential oil

Directions:

Melt almond bark over the stove or in a crock pot, stirring frequently to avoid any scorching
Line a large cookie sheet with wax paper
Pour completely melted almond bark onto the cookie sheet
Sprinkle crushed peppermint on top quickly before the chocolate dries
Allow to cool. You can speed this up by placing it in the freezer for a few minutes
Once it’s cooled, break the peppermint bark into bite size pieces

That’s it, y’all! It’s insanely easy to make, and it makes for a really sweet gift to give during the holidays. Just wrap it up in a holiday candy tin (You can frequently find them in a 3 pack for around $3), put a bow on it and you’re done!

If you would like to learn more about essential oils, I recommend checking out this post that my sister wrote. You can find it here: Getting Into Essential Oils as a Skeptic. It’s packed full of great into and tips on how to get started.

Diapers That Are Cute As A Button! {Buttons Cloth Diaper Review + Video}

November 15, 2015 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Before I was even pregnant with my daughter, I knew that I wanted to give modern cloth diapers a try. I always love when people ask me about cloth diapering my child and tilt their head and give me a concerned look. It cracks me up! Seriously, I think people automatically assume that I bust out the safety pins and linens to diaper my child. I often have to take a step back and realize that even though modern cloth has been increasing in popularity over the last 10-ish years, many people still just don’t know about it. They think nothing has really changed since, I don’t know, the 1950’s?

But y’all, modern cloth rocks! It is leaps and bounds better than it was all those years ago. Heck, it’s leaps and bounds better today than it was last year, and the year before that, and so on! It just gets better. Every time you turn around, someone has found a way to improve modern cloth to make it easier for parents and better for baby.

When people approach me and want to know how to get started with cloth, they often ask me what brand they should buy. My answer is always this: Don’t buy just one brand! In my opinion, it’s important to buy multiple brands, because each brand may have something different to offer. What I mean is, certain brands may not fit your baby well, or you may not like the style, or maybe you find that they don’t do that great of a job. By trying multiple brands, you’ll find what works best for your baby. Once you find a brand that you love, you can then make a larger purchase. I have several diaper brands that I love, and some that I just don’t. I would have never known had I not decided to try several different kinds!

One of my favorite brands is Buttons Diapers. Hands down. I have fallen head over heals in love them for the following reasons:

Ease of use:
- There’s no stuffing. There’s no taking FOREVER to dry. There’s no awkward bulk. You just snap in a Buttons brand insert and go! So easy!
- You can also reuse the cover through multiple changes if it doesn’t get soiled. If it’s just a wet diaper, unsnap the insert and pop in another one. Hooray for less laundry!
The Prints:
- I’m not sure I really need to elaborate much here. You can see some of the adorable prints for yourself. Check them out!
The Double Gussets:
- Double gussets are one of my favorite features of ANY cloth diaper. Not all cloth diapers have them, but all Buttons brand diapers have them. They are so great and helping keep all contents of the diaper INSIDE the diaper. Double gussets are actually not specific to Buttons. I’m not sure who created this trend in diapers, but I want to hug them and invite them over for dinner. Seriously.
The inserts:
- They rock. I love love love them! They hold up really nicely and are very absorbent. I currently only have the daytime microfiber inserts, but I’ve put a word in with Santa Claus on Taralynn’s behalf. She’s got her eye on those nighttime doublers! 😉
The Price:
- From my experience, I’ve seen prices for cloth diapers range all over the board. I’ve seen some “China cheapies” for as low as $2, and I’ve seen some beautiful hand made diapers on Etsy as high as $60-$70+. We don’t purchase the cheapies (you get what you pay for), and I just can’t even fathom paying $60 for a diaper. Buttons are such an affordable option, coming in at just $11 for solid colors and $12.50 for prints. The inserts are sold separately. You can pick up a 3 pack for just $10.50! For the cost of 2 packs of disposable diapers, you can have a diaper that can be reused and will fit your child until they’re ready to potty train. Win/win!

My daughter and I put together this short little video clip to give you a full view of the Buttons Diapers – inside and out! If you’re new to cloth diapers and are looking for a great starter diaper, I think these are a great option. If you’re a cloth diaper veteran and have never tried Buttons before, DO IT! I think you’ll really like them!

I have not been compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are strictly my own. I only share what I love!

Copycat Peppermint Patties

November 14, 2015 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

I’ve definitely been on a peppermint kick here lately. I’ve been having so much fun buying stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts for my 6 month old this week, and it’s just really put me in the holiday spirit! While I’m not ready to start decorating my house yet (that absolutely comes AFTER Thanksgiving in this house), smelling and using peppermint essential oil certainly makes me want to!

I recently posted a delicious recipe for double mint brownies using peppermint essential oil. I mentioned how it would be a great gift to package up and give to family members or friends for the holidays. I then started brainstorming some other ways that I could use peppermint oil in the kitchen. I wanted to think of some yummy treats that would also be great to share with others as a gift. Then I thought of these:

Say hello to my little friends!

I was so excited to try my hand at making these. They’re pretty darn close to real peppermint patties as far as taste goes. They’re just missing that perfectly pressed/processed round shape that the real ones have. But who needs that anyway, right?! These are also a little bit healthier that the real deal, too. Here’s what you’ll need to make these:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup refined coconut oil (It doesn’t have a coconutty taste)
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 or 4 tbs corn syrup (Honey also works great!)
6-7 drops peppermint essential oil (You can also use 1 tsp peppermint extract instead of EO)
Chocolate almond bark or baking chips, melted

Directions:

Mix coconut oil, peppermint oil, corn syrup and vanilla together in a mixing bowl. The coconut oil will start to soften as you mix. (Tip: Before mixing, slightly melt the coconut oil in the microwave for a few seconds to ensure that you can stir it easily. Do not melt so much as to make it completely liquid.)
Place the mixture in the freezer for 10 minutes to allow it to harden a bit.
Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
Once the filling has hardened in freezer, take it out and dip out spoonfuls of the filling onto the wax paper. If you’d like, press them into a flatter shape. Be careful though, because the coconut oil will melt very quickly if you use your hands to press them.
Place back into the freezer for another 10 or so minutes.
Melt chocolate
Remove patties from freezer. Using a spoon, pour chocolate over each patty. *Note: You may find that the chocolate doesn’t stick right away because the coconut oil melts quickly. That’s OK. You’re going to repeat this process a second time, and it will stick much better the second time.
Place back in freezer for another 10 minutes. Remove and pour chocolate over each patty once more. If you’d like, you can repeat the process a third time to cover the bottom with chocolate
Place in freezer or refrigerator for a final time to allow to harden. Once you’ve done this, you’re all done! Enjoy!

While these can sit out, they are best stored in the refrigerator. Coconut oil can quickly melt if it is ever at a temperature slightly hotter than room temp.

If you’re making these to give as a little DIY gift, you can put them in a cute little Christmas tin or put in a cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon like I did! These are so yummy and just melt in your mouth. Anyone who loves chocolate and mint together would love these for sure!

If you would like to learn more about essential oils, I recommend checking out this post that my sister wrote. You can find it here: Getting Into Essential Oils as a Skeptic. It’s packed full of great into and tips on how to get started.

Laura Tucker

Did you miss your chance to enter this fabulous giveaway? No worries! Be sure to check out my list of current giveaways going on so you can get in on the fun!

Our house has no chimney.

Interested in learning more about essential oils? Check out what my sister has to say about them on her blog! She’s put together some really great and helpful information to help you out. You can read more here.

Cheesecake.

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Directions:

Are you a cheesecake lover, too? Maybe you’re crazy about pumpkin like I am? Do you have another fabulous cheesecake recipe you’d like to share? I’d LOVE to hear about it!

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Directions:

If you would like to learn more about essential oils, I recommend checking out this post that my sister wrote. You can find it here: Getting Into Essential Oils as a Skeptic. It’s packed full of great into and tips on how to get started.

I have not been compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are strictly my own. I only share what I love!

Ingredients:

Directions:

If you would like to learn more about essential oils, I recommend checking out this post that my sister wrote. You can find it here: Getting Into Essential Oils as a Skeptic. It’s packed full of great into and tips on how to get started.

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