Almond Joy Cookies

These cookies are super easy to make and so tasty. If you take a look at my recipe posts, you'll see that I like coconut. So here's yet another coconut recipe. These are great as snacks or dessert and they have the added bonus of being gluten-free.

14 oz bag sweetened, flaked coconut
2/3 cup chopped or sliced almonds
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 cups milk chocolate chips
14 oz can sweetened, condensed milk

Prepare cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Form mixture into balls and flatten slightly. This step is easier if you wet your hands with cold water periodically. Bake at 325 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until starting to brown. Enjoy!

Healing Lip Balm

I make this healing balm from natural ingredients and it is great for healing and restoring dry skin. It's good for chapped lips, but also any dry or irritated skin. It clears up my husband's eczema on his hands. It heals that dry, crusty skin on your nose after a cold. I use it on cracked, dry knuckles during the winter or on my feet. It's just all around great skin care. It's not very greasy, so it works even on your hands or face, but it also produces a sort of protective layer that helps keep skin from drying out again. 

Healing Lip Balm

2.4 oz (70g) cocoa butter
2.4 oz (68g) beeswax
1.2 oz (33g) shea butter
1.5 oz (42g) coconut oil
6 capsules vitamin E or 6-8 drops liquid tocopherols

In a double boiler, melt the cocoa butter, beeswax, and shea butter until just melted. Turn off the heat and add the coconut oil. Stir until melted and combined. Open the vitamin E capsules with scissors and squeeze the oil into the mixture or add liquid tocopherols. Stir gently.

While the lip balm is still warm and liquid, pour into lip balm tubes or a small jar. Allow to cool completely before disturbing.

This recipe fills about 50 0.15oz lip balm tubes.