Dandelion infused body butter

Dandelion infused body butter!

Dandelion infused body butter

I have a country yard, we have a lot of dandelions. I have always liked them. Bright sunny little sweet smelling tickle your nose yellow blooms. A "weed" to the avid grass lover. They are usually the first flowers in spring and give much needed pollen to honeybees after a winter of dormancy.  I let them live, I think they are pretty!
Dandelion blooms have another interesting use, skin care. They can be infused in oil and help to soothe dry skin , reduce joint pain, muscle aches, tension and stress.

 Dandelion has the ability to reduce heat (like from the 5th sunburn on my shoulders this year) alleviate swelling and inflammation . Wow. So much from a plant that is much hated by lawn care folks.
Today I am making body butter with my infused oil and I will share the recipe with you.
Pick some dandelion blooms ( enough to loosely fill a pint mason jar) and spread them out on a towel to dry. Let them dry for 24 hours. Put the dried blooms back in the jar. Melt your coconut oil and pour over the blooms. Cover with a cloth and secure with a rubberband. Set in a sunny window to infuse for 2 weeks. The cloth lets moisture escape and prevents mold.

 After infusion, heat up your jar either in a pan of hot water ( put a lid on for this!) Or zap it in the microwave.  Strain out the blooms and press with a spoon to get all the good stuff out.

 Look how pretty it is! Beautiful bright yellow oil! You can jar and use this as is or add a few more things to make it even fancier. I will be adding a few more treats to my oil!
Pour oil into a small pan, heat on low. Add cocoa butter and beeswax and heat until melted. Pour into blender, add hot water and essential oils if desired. Blend on high 2 minutes . I am using young living's stress away because stress is my closest companion right now it seems, and sandlewood because I love it's scent.  Pour finished blender contents into jar and cover. It will harden up as it cools down
 It will also melt again if it's stored over 80° but no worry, just shake it up and use it.

 Here's the recipe, save the dandelions, I hope you learn to love them! See you next time-joy

Dandelion infused body butter
1&1/2 cups coconut oil
2 oz cocoa butter
2 tablespoons beeswax
1/4 cup hot water
20 drops essential oil of choice
Enough dandelion blooms to loosely fill a pint mason jar