Category Archives: gallery

Peppermint Bark Recipe Featuring All Natural Candy Canes!

December 18, 2011 The Natural Mammas 1 Comment

We originally received the basics for this recipe from a family member one Christmas. They sent a nice tin of Peppermint Bark and attached the recipe as a lovely homemade gift; we all decided instantly we LOVED it!

The combination of the two different chocolates plus the candy canes – Fantastic!

But, the candy canes for sale in most stores these days are filled with High Fructose Corn Syrup, colors, dyes, and flavorings; not something I’m generally into. We really wanted to make this Peppermint Bark Recipe for our friends and family though the following Christmas so, off I went on a hunt for some more natural alternatives.

Thankfully, I found some!

There are natural and organic white and bittersweet chocolate chips available, and we found Organic Candy Canes too! Add to that a bit of organic peppermint extract and the end result is a much more natural Peppermint Bark recipe.

During the Holidays though money can be tight. And, if you’re giving this recipe to a lot of other folks as part of a gift, it may just be too much to spring for all natural ingredients.

To me, its the thought that counts overall and, if you can afford to buy the all natural (and often more expensive) ingredients great, if not, there’s no reason not to make this fantastic Peppermint Bark Recipe any way you can because it’s really easy and really amazing!

Peppermint Bark Recipe Featuring All Natural Candy Canes!

Recipe Type: Dessert

Prep time: 2 hours 30 mins

Total time: 2 hours 30 mins

Serves: 12

Ingredients

12 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate (I often use semi sweet chocolate and it tastes great too)
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract divided (can use more to taste)
12 oz chopped white chocolate
3/4 cup chopped candy canes divided

Instructions

Line an 11 x 17 in baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside
Melt the bittersweet chocolate in the top of a double boiler (aka a big pot with some water in it, then a sauce pan inside that w/the chocolate in it) stirring constantly.
Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract
Spread chocolate evenly onto the prepared sheet using a spatula and chill until set – usually about an hour or so. Be sure its really set well though.
Once bittersweet chocolate is set melt the white chocolate in the double boiler. Add the other 1/4 t of peppermint extract as well as 1/2 of the candy canes.
Now, spread the white chocolate mixture over the set bittersweet chocolate being sure to spread to the edge of the pan with a spatula.
Sprinkle remaining 1/2 of the candy canes over the entire sheet of peppermint bark.
Chill until set, about four hours or, preferably, overnight. Once completely set, break into pieces and serve. Keep cold unless eating and the Peppermint Bark will keep in the refrigerator for 5-6 weeks.

gallery, Nurturing The Natural Mamma

Nurturing Yourself Through Nature

December 11, 2011 The Natural Mammas 4 Comments

Ever since I can remember nature has been a place of solace for me. There are simply times I’ve got to step outside, take a deep breath, clear my head, and rejuvenate!

With all that goes on in my life though – I don’t get enough time outside by myself- but I got some today and it was FABULOUS!

Don’t get me wrong. I love playing in nature with the kids and watching them feel and enjoy all the beauty and wonder it has to offer. In fact, its usually how the whole family recharges together; kayaking, hiking, even just walking to the river here at the house. Its awesome and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.

Yet, that’s the same reason I don’t get a lot of time out there just me and the great wide world; which is an important part of nurturing myself to me personally so I can be a better mom, wife, and person over all.

But today, it was different. Everyone was occupied and instead of doing the dishes that desperately needed done, or folding the laundry that is the mountainous heep in the basement, working, or anything else – I grabbed the dog and headed outside. By. My. Self.

Here is some of what I saw so you can have a dose of nature and maybe nurture your natural self just a bit too…..

river and trees from natural mammas hike — A Frozen Spot on the River

image of pinecone and ferns from natural mammas hike — Pine Cone and Ferns

tree chewed by bever on natural mammas hike — Beavers! They've Been Working Hard

river and trees on natural mammas hike — The River Flowing

evergreen trees and sunlight on natural mammas hike — Trees, Majestic Trees!

Personally I think nurturing yourself through nature is so effective and so important because the energy running through the trees, the birds singing in the sky, the beavers doing their work, the river running through the field – its in us too! Because of this, setting ourselves in the middle of untouched nature with little to no man made interventions can strike a chord not many other activities can; one that is almost guaranteed to make you feel better about life and whatever you’ve got going on in it.

While I know many people who say they don’t feel this need, and we all recharge our spiritual and emotional batteries in our own unique ways, the deep restorative powers of spending time in the natural world, in my opinion, has something to do with whats at the core of life for all of us and, as a result, something we all can benefit from; especially us natural mammas who seem to always find something else to do besides nurture ourselves!

Entertaining Naturally, gallery

Tips and Tricks For Great Green Gift Wrapping

December 9, 2011 The Natural Mammas 1 Comment

Looking for a way to make your gifts greener? Here are some tips for wrapping your presents in reusable and/or recycled items so you make gift giving more eco friendly during the Holidays or any time of year! Your loved ones will enjoy the originality of the packages and, everyone will appreciate the earth friendliness of green gift wrappings!

Recycled Cards As Gift Tags

This one is wicked simple! All you’ve got to do is save the cards you get, cut the fronts off of them, find a nice spot to write the TO: and FROM: info, then tape it onto the package you’re giving and wallah – the card gets a new life as a gift tag!

Reusable Fabric Gift Bags

A reusable fabric gift bag can be an excellent way to not only create green gift wrap but, they become a little gift in and of themselves. The fabric bag you make can then be reused by your loved one to give a gift to someone else, and then they can reuse it, and so on.

You can buy fabric gift bags from several different online shops, or, you can easily make your own. Either way reusable fabric gift bags are a really neat way to wrap and give an eco friendly gift.

Recycle The Children’s Drawings Into Extra Special Green Gift Wrap!

A LOT of kids we know love to draw and a lot of their parents don’t ever want to throw any of those precious drawings away; ourselves included. Yet, this artwork can begin to take up tons of space very quickly. Recycling your child’s drawings into green gift wrap though is a win win.

Not only does your child’s art work find new life as eco friendly wrapping paper but, those receiving the gifts will think the wrapping paper is a gift all its own; especially when given to family members. At the same time, you get to move a few of those special pieces on to new owners and out of your house!

Reuse Brown Paper Bags

While many of us working toward living a more natural lifestyle try to remember our reusable bags when we shop, invariably, most of us forget them at one time or another. Don’t fret, just reuse the brown paper bags as gift wrap!

If you’re child is up for it, and you have no artwork to use as mentioned above, you can even have them draw on the paper for added effect. Better yet, use some other recycled decorations to add pizazz to your brown paper wrapping. There’s something simple about a package wrapped in brown paper tied simply with string or yarn too; classic style!

Save Gift Wrapping From Other Gifts To Reuse

Whenever possible try to save the wrapping paper, ribbon and gift bags from presents given to you for reuse as green gift wrap for your presents. Saving the actual wrapping paper may be difficult sometimes; although many are quite skilled at removing the tape just so! But saving ribbons and paper gift bags is quite easy if you just plan ahead and have a bit of storage space.

You can also find gift wrap made from recycled paper, make homemade paper for your packages, use the funnies, and, you can make green gift wrapping any number of other ways too.

Not only will using greener gift wrapping help you be more eco-friendly though – it’ll help you save money too! None of these options require new materials; which means no expense either! Even the fabric gift bags can be made of old flannel shirts or sheets for example so you aren’t spending a dime yet still using earth friendly gift wrap on all your presents!

In addition, you’ll also create conversation and awareness surrounding the waste that can be created from using new wrapping materials as well as about how easy (and cost effective) it is to use green gift wrap!