(Bee)utiful

It is no surprise that Burt’s Bees products are fantastic. Browsing their website, I was amazed at the breadth of product variety.  Here's a few of my favorite products made by Burt’s Bees.  Drum roll, please. . .

1. Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm:  What a gemstone of a product!  I purchased this product for a recent vacation because I didn't want the hassle of putting on lipstick but I wanted a little bit of color on my lips while staying casual at the beach.  I had seen this product in the drugstore and figured I’d take a swing at it.  I am so glad I made the purchase!  This product is butter-soft, non-fragrant, comes in a fun storage tube and keeps my lips feeling healthy and nourished.  This product is 100% natural and contains ingredients such as: coconut, vegetable, beeswax, sunflower and soybean oils.  They offer a variety of different tint colors but I chose Red Dahlia and I think it could be a suitable color for all.
2. Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream:  Who doesn't like the fresh smell of sweet lemon? No one.  My point exactly!  My mom gave me a Burt’s Bees sampler pack a few months ago and this product was one of my favorites in the pack.  I absolutely love the scent and nourishing power of this product.  I like to smear a dash of it on my cuticles before bed and there is no better scent to fall asleep to.  This cuticle cream moisturizes the cuticles with sweet almond oil, cocoa seed butter, vitamin E and sunflower oil and nourishes brittle nails.  Oh, la la.
3. Mango and Orange Sugar Scrub:  You had me at sugar scrub.  I think adding a sugar scrub to your bathing routine is both beneficial and totally luxurious.  What more?  This product can be purchased at your local drugstore!  Slather a generous glob on your hand and begin to lather all over your body.  Make sure to pay special attention to your knees and elbows; you can even hit your feet to eliminate dry stubborn skin.  You will feel awakened by the refreshing scent and your skin will look and feel absolutely radiant after one application.  Power ingredients: natural sugar crystals and orange peel.

What are your Burt’s Bees must-haves?

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Paula Dean's Sweet Potato Biscuits

I don't know if it is just the change of season but I am feeling the impulse to bake... a lot!  I'm feeling inspired by all of the amazing holiday recipes and I recently ran across a sweet potato biscuit recipe that sparked my interest.  Needless to say, I ended up making the sweet potato biscuits and they tasted phenomenal and were no chore to make. It is helpful if you have mashed sweet potatoes prepared prior to baking this recipe-- great for using left-overs! Just a few ingredients and a few dirtied dishes later make for a worthwhile baking experience!

Paula Dean's Sweet Potato Biscuits 

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 heaping tablespoons sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup mashed cooked sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) softened butter
• 2 to 4 tablespoons milk (depending on the moisture of the potatoes)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate, large bowl, mix the sweet potatoes and butter. Add the flour mixture to the potato mixture and mix to make a soft dough. Then add milk a tablespoon at a time to mixture and continue to cut in. Turn the dough out onto a floured board and toss lightly until the outside of the dough looks smooth. Roll the dough out to 1/2-inch thick and cut with a biscuit cutter. Place the biscuits on a greased pan and coat tops with melted butter. Bake for about 15 minutes. (Watch your oven: If the biscuits are browning too fast, lower the temperature.)

Subsitutions & changes to the recipe:  I did not use a biscuit cutter to form my biscuits.  I just rolled my hands in flour, formed a ball of dough in between my hands, placed the biscuit on a non-greased pan and flattened the top out a little.  I also didn't cook my biscuits for the full suggested cooking time of 15 mins.  Cooking in high altitude sometimes can be tricky but my biscuits came out SUPER moist.  Make sure you don't forget the drizzle of butter on top before you bake, it adds sweet texture and yummy flavor to the end product!  Forget about adding extra butter for serving--the biscuits are super rich on their own.  Dollop a bit of honey on top--presto!

Yummo.

Warm

Oh hey there, Starbucks Salted Carmel Mocha, you naughty little devil!  I had the pleasure of sipping a cup of this goodness while commuting on a business a few weeks ago and it quickly turned around my attitude.  What a tasty, delightful treat!

Consider yourself warned, this beverage has the potential to put a huge smile on your face for no reason at all.

So, if you are looking for a seasonal and indulgent treat--look no further than the Starbucks Salted Carmel Mocha.  Plus, everyone knows after the 20th cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season, you are looking for alternatives.  Try something new!

Seasonal Cupcake: Sweet Tooth

Pictured: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Pumpkin Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

A round of applause to my favorite food blog at the moment; Gina's Skinny Recipes.  This site is perfect place to look for nutritious and low-calorie/fat/sugar recipes.  The recipes featured are health-conscious yet naughty at the same time!

I especially love the "Under $10" recipes.  Each dish is well-photographed and the recipe description is always thorough.  If you are a Weight Watchers follower, all recipes give a PointsPlus value (and old points system value), added bonus!

You do NOT need to be Julia Child to enjoy this blog.  New recipes post nearly every day.  Check it out!

Bon Appetite.