Quick + Easy Chocolate Orange Bark Recipe

This deliciously quick and easy, orange-infused chocolate bark has an ulterior motive.

Last week I was in Ottawa for work and I tacked on a few extra days to my trip so I could visit my friend Ashley.  Since moving from Ottawa I've visited her every year but the gaps between visits widens as we both get busier, so I was so thrilled to capitalize on this opportunity to see her.  We always squeeze in some shopping and crafting (Exhibit A and Exhibit B), but spend most of our time just chatting and catching up.  She recently started selling doTERRA brand essential oils and I use a lot of essential oils in my crafts on the blog (like my DIY air freshener, my handmade soap experiments, and my pretty soy candles), so this time we chatted a lot about essential oils.  Because she's starting her own business, I shared my knowledge about connecting with people on social media, taking styled product photos and - of course - we brainstormed a ton of fun projects.  Ashley taught me all about the difference in quality between doTERRA oils and the (much, much) cheaper kinds of essential oils I've been using in my DIYs.  I learned about the true cost of making quality essential oils - especially when a company like doTERRA empowers growers and cultivates healthy working relationships. 

But I still wasn't sold on the massive price difference, so to demonstrate the quality Ashley whipped up this delicious chocolate orange bark using a doTERRA brand essential oil.

You can pretty much convince me of anything if there's chocolate or turquoise involved!

I had never in my life made chocolate bark, but it was so delicious that I wanted to share it with you.  If you're looking for a pretty dessert to whip up in two seconds flat, you might want to try this easy chocolate bark recipe.  It's simple to make but looks so fancy!  Here's what you need:

• Orange essential oil - 6 drops
• Shredded, unsweetened coconut - small handful
• Semi-sweet baking chocolate - 8 oz
• One large orange (to zest)
• Baking sheet with rim
• Parchment paper
• Small pot
• Zester - must be turquoise or mint for recipe to work ;)

Making this chocolate bark is too easy to even call this a recipe: simply melt the baking chocolate on low heat in a small pot, add 6 drops of orange essential oil and combine well, then pour into a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Let cool a few minutes and top with orange zest and shredded coconut.

Pop into the freezer for a couple of hours and - ta da!  World's easiest dessert!  But it tastes phenomenal - dangerously addictive, with a very satisfying orange flavor. 

I've only ever cooked/baked with extracts, not oils, so this was a fun experiment!  Have you ever tried cooking with essential oils?

I have so many more DIY projects in the bath and beauty realm I'm excited to try, so I'm definitely tempted to start splurging on better quality essential oils.  Until my conversations with Ashley, I didn't realize how many fillers and harmful contaminants were lurking in essential oils marketed as "pure". 

But darn it, the prices are so intimidating!  It makes sense though, if 30lbs of lavenders are what's required to make 15ml of oil...  Plus doTERRA reportedly has excellent relationships with farmers, who are paid fair wages and have healthy working conditions.  I will always pay more for a product if I know that the money goes to workers.  And, really, you need so little that a bottle really goes a long way! 

If you're going to experiment with some essential oil recipes or DIYs, or pop some oil into a pretty diffuser to naturally add a fabulous aroma to your home, check the ingredients and quality of the essential oils you buy because some brands actually contain really toxic stuff.  If you've been intrigued by doTERRA and the concept of a high quality oil, I'd love to put you in touch with my friend Ashley, a new Wellness Advocate for the brand (the only way to purchase these oils - the "doTERRA" labeled products available on Amazon are knock offs).  It doesn't matter where you live in the world, she can set you up and she's just so, so knowledgeable about the products and company.  She has actually worked in health advocacy for much of her career, so she's especially interested in the health benefits of essential oils and uses them to enhance her family's wellness (like using certain oils as a decongestant for mild colds and diffusing calming aromas to help her family relax and unwind).   

Plus she'll ply you with goodies, so there's that added incentive...

Make Your Own DIY Citronella Candles for Summer

When I made my first batch of DIY poured soy candles, I didn't add any essential oils because I was addicted to the clean smell of the soy wax.  It was such a nice break from the heavily perfumed candles I had purchased in the past.  But then I made an Earl Grey tea scented candle that had such a fabulously light and delicate scent, so I started thinking about making some other scented candles.  While perusing Amazon, a bottle of citronella oil caught my eye and it dawned on me that I could make my own citronella candles for summer!

Full disclosure: we don't often get a lot of bugs living beside Lake Superior.  So far I've only seen - and been bitten by - one mosquito this year.  We sometimes get a couple of buggy weeks, but usually the breeze from the lake keeps them at bay (pun intended).  Out of habit, I like to light a citronella candle in the evening anyway, largely because I love the smell - it reminds me of summer!  Plus it does deter the occasional mosquito from snacking on us.  Because I tend to...burn through them (I'm on fire with the puns today), I thought it would be fun, and cost-effective, to make my own.

Candle-making requires some precision and patience, but after making a few batches, I have to say that it is incredibly fun!  Being able to turn random, discarded kitchen wares into useful, beautiful candles is really satisfying.  Once you have the supplies rounded up, it becomes easier - and cheaper - to keep churning out homemade candles.

Supplies:

• Soy wax flakes (I bought a 10 lb bag)
• Wicks (I bought these ones, which were easy to affix with a dab of glue)
• Hot glue gun (or wick stickers)
• Double boiler or candle making pitcher (I used an old Pyrex measuring cup in a pot of boiling water)
• Candy or candle thermometer (I used a meat thermometer)
• Stir stick
• Citronella essential oil
• Containers (jars, bowls, tea cups, etc.)
• Oven mitts 
• Newspapers or drop cloth

I won't bore you by repeating the candle-making instructions because my post about the Earl Grey Tea scented soy candle has step-by-step photos and instructions.  I followed those instructions to the letter.  Once the wax had been heated to 185F, I let it cool to about 135F before adding the citronella essential oil.  It's important to let the wax cool because if the essential oil is added when the wax is too hot, it can just evaporate!

I have read that the general guide for making scented candles is about 75 drops of essential oil per pound of wax.  I think that with citronella candles, it's better to be more generous!  I almost doubled that guideline, but you can experiment with an amount that's effective but not overpowering for you.  If you've been underwhelmed by store bought citronella candles before, check the labels.  It turns out that some store bought candles are simply scented with citronella and do not actually contain the essential oil, which is the key ingredient for keeping those mosquitoes away. 

I absolutely love the citronella candles I made because I re-purposed little French Onion soup bowls I found at the municipal landfill and the handles make them perfect for moving them around.  I'm so happy I saves these little bowls from being thrown away!

If you want to make your own citronella candles, check out my tutorial for making soy candles and just swap out the bergamot essential oil (in my tea cup candle, above) for citronella! 

And check out this post about my other batch of DIY poured soy candles for more inspiration for upcycling old glassware into sparkling new candles!

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