I adore the inbetweeny bit between Christmas and New Year (“Chrimbo Limbo” as one of my friends Christened it). For me it’s a time to review the year gone and make plans for the new one unfolding ahead.
2016 has to have been the biggest year yet in terms of growth for both Little Soap Company and personally for me too. Behind the scenes there has been the inevitable roller coaster that all small businesses face, but overwhelmingly we are moving forward with positive energy, an amazing team and with a growing portfolio of products I am so very proud of.
2015 Highlights:
- After six years , giving the handmade artisan range a bit of a facelift with updated packaging and labels…
- Being invited as one of a handful of suppliers to Tesco to meet their new CEO ‘Drastic Dave’ – this led to being asked on to their Supplier Network Panel, waving the flag for small suppliers and the issues we face.
- Our April Fool gag with our pals at Moorish about our pretend Hummus Soap and Face Mask that hit the broadsheets and went went viral!
- Launching our Artisan Liquid Soaps in the Spring.
- Hopping up on stage to collect Entrepreneur of the Year from the British Chamber of Commerce over at a swanky bash at West Midlands Safari Park.
- More unexpected industry awards for our products (FreeFrom Skin Care Awards Silver and Bronze and a Silver for our Artisan Range with Janey Lee Grace’s Platinum Beauty Awards – thank you)
- Adding more soap bar flavour lines to Sainsbury’s and Boots UK
- Some more great runs: The Wolf, BlackLight, ColourRun and of course, my first half marathon.
- Our team Firewalk Day (and we still have the scars to prove it!) helping to raise a combined £10k for charity.
- Being invited to Brussels to speak on micro-enterprise at the European Commission, an awesome experience in the biggest building I’ve ever been in! Then home to launch 9 new exclusive lines in Waitrose (which is positively flying – thank you!)
- Launching our new shiny Little Soap Company website and online shop
- Adding more courses to our Little Soap SchoolLittle Soap School day workshops.
- Saying thank you and goodbye to Pip who helped set up the offices amid our first year in Broadway and welcoming Anna, my right hand woman who has a tonne of energy and loads of great ideas to help take Little to the next level. In January Kayleigh will be joining us full time too, taking on the admin side of things to help us both!
Am *so* excited to get back to it all next week, the office will be abuzz, especially on days when Martin and Elaine’s in too and when Soap Schools are taking place in the workshop downstairs – so different to just me and the dogs at the kitchen table little over 15 months back! Wow!
We have *such* exciting plans for the next 12 months, some great new products and kits and books and so many things that I can’t wait to reveal as they unfold!
Happy, happy new year to you and a huge thank you for all your support, as always, in our quest to make pure, natural, organic soap accessible to everyone…. Here’s to 2016!
Love Emma x
P.S Three New Years Resolutions?!
Are you making New Year’s Resolutions this year? Tangible goals you know I embrace, but ‘resolution’ wise, sometimes it’s good to remember past ones, review and re-new them. Here are three of our long term resolutions that are easy to make, consider or reaffirm this year…
1. Ditch your chemical laden cosmetics once and for all
We’ve written many times about why we think you should be leading an all natural, organic life when it comes to what you put on your skin, and the new year is the perfect time to start. Go through your make up bag, chuck out the nasties lurking in your bathroom cabinet and make 2016 your naturally beautiful year. Read these posts for tips on how to do it:
- Detox your home
- Three ingredients for head to toe natural beauty
- Three ways to create a natural make up bag
- Make the switch to all natural beauty products
2. Feed your body well
Play and experiment with what works for your individual body: a few years back we bought our first Slow Juicer which is easily now the most utilised appliance in our kitchen. Taking head and cutting back on sugar the Sarah Wilson (I Quit Sugar) way, is now a way of life. This year Ella Woodward (Deliciously Ella) entered our world along with a handful of other beautiful books bursting with recipes (e.g. Tanya’s Uncook Book, Madeline Shaw’s Get the Glow etc). Just last month I went on my first Vegan Yoga Cookery Retreat to experiment making more raw food – suffice to say, now with a shiny new MagiMix adorning the kitchen worktop I am bouncing out raw carrot cakes, energy balls, amazing salads, soups, you name it…!
Make 2016 is the year where you take control of your body and what goes into it. Start the year the right way with fresh, organic produce and healthy raw food swaps that won’t leave you lusting after additives and sugar. We’ve shared so many wonderful recipes and tips this year, and here are just come of our favourites:
- Super breakfast ideas
- Start eating clean NOW
- Recipes that use chia seeds
- Cucumber recipes
- 10 ways to cut processed food from your diet
3. Move more
2015 saw me becoming the owner of my first FitBit Charge HR – it is a conscious effort to get those steps in on non-running days! Getting out in the fresh air and rewarding your body with exercise – even just walking – is one of the best resolutions you can make for 2016. We’re all huge advocates of moving more and loving what we do, so we’re sure you won’t regret this one. Here are some posts to refresh your memory and help you on your way to a better, fitter you this year:
- Revamp your exercise regime
- Habits that fit and healthy people swear by
- Your fitness regime in the winter
- Stress beating yoga moves
So those are our New Year’s Resolution Reminders for 2016. What are yours?
Christmas is almost upon us! It’s hard to believe the big day is this week, especially as we are rush around like mad things with last minute shopping and so on. But it really is coming, and it’s time to get prepared. So last week we looked at healthy dishes to serve up on Christmas day, and today we’re looking at Christmas Eve traditions. Some of these are really lovely, and they’re all prefect to start this year. Enjoy!
Have a Christmas Eve pamper session
Using all of your natural beauty remedies and your organic toiletries, why not indulge yourself in the bathroom for an hour or two? I can’t think of a better way to prepare for the madness of Christmas day!
Bake
Ok so you might not be making mince pies for Santa this year, but there is something special about baking on Christmas Eve. It doesn’t need to be full of fat and sugar either. Try this delicious gluten free chocolate cake. All you need is:
- 250g self raising gluten-free flour
- 100g cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 150g ripe avocado chunks
- 3 Tbsp grape seed oil
- 100g sugar
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- 420ml fat free milk
- 160ml plain fat free yogurt
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 60ml very hot brewed, strong coffee
- 425g cup semisweet chocolate chunks or chips
To make the cake, you need the over at 180 degrees C. Then line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper and set to one side.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Make a well in the center and set to one side.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl place the avocado chunks and use the back of a fork to mash them until they’re smooth. Add the oil, sugar, salt, milk, yogurt, and vanilla. Whisk until everything is evenly mixed, then whisk in the egg until it’s completely blended in.
Pour the wet ingredients into the well in the dry ingredients and mix only until combined, then fold in the hot coffee. Once it’s blended in, fold in the chocolate chips or chunks.
Pour the mixture into the tin, and bake until the cake becomes solid and is cracked on top, about 1 hour.
Let the cake rest in the pan for at least 20 minutes or so and wait at least an hour before slicing… if you can!
Give a gift to a loved one
Who says you have to wait until Christmas morning? We love the idea of this little tradition, and what a lovely way to wake up with a smile on Christmas morning?
Visit an elderly neighbour
Take a slice of your cake round. Take a Christmas card round. Or, just take yourself round. You’ll be passing on the Christmas cheer and deeds like this really don’t cost a thing yet mean the world to those who may not have many visitors this year.
Watch a Christmas movie
We don’t need to explain this one. Christmas Eve is the perfect time to do this!
Go for a walk
Get some fresh air and exercise ready for the big day. You’re going to want to be refreshed and ready!
What are your Christmas Eve traditions?
Christmas is truly a time for indulgence, and here at Little Soap Company HQ we’re all for letting our hair down and enjoying the festive season. But that does not mean we’re going to overindulge. There is a difference! Instead, we’re going to make sure that for every treat we consume, there will be something ‘clean’ waiting to follow. The 80/20 rule does not need to be abandoned over the Christmas period, so here are three healthy dishes to serve on Christmas day… you’re welcome!
A word on Christmas food
Not ALL Christmas food is bad. And if you really want roast potatoes with your dinner this year, there are really worse things that you can eat! So don’t beat yourself up about it (especially as it hasn’t even happened yet!) and if you want to choose so called ‘naughty’ foods then go for it. BUT don’t regret it. Plan your treats this Christmas and stick by your guns. It doesn’t mean that all your hard work this year has been for nothing. Christmas is one day, and one day only. Here are our three top tips on how to survive the day and its indulgences without feeling awful the next day:
- Start the day with a glass of water or four. Seriously, hydrate yourself, and keep water to hand all day so that your kidneys continue to function well and clear out the toxins in your body.
- Have a healthy breakfast. Yes, even a ‘fry up’ can be healthy. Choose your proteins and your carbs carefully and make sure that what you eat in this meal is going to work for you all day.
- Get out for a walk. There is nothing worse than sitting in all day, eating, drinking and doing little exercise. The fresh air will do wonders for your peace of mind and will get you away from more temptation too!
Three healthy dishes for Christmas day
So who said delicious food had to be unhealthy? Say no to heartburn this year, and make sure that at least some of your Christmas dinner is healthy! Here are our top three dishes:
Sweet potato fish cakes
These little beauties are perfect for your starter and they are deliciously sin free too! All you need to make them is:
- 1 rainbow trout
- 100g smoked salmon
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 50g goats cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 red chill, diced
- 1 egg, beaten
- handful chopped chives
- 50g gluten free breadcrumbs
To make the fishcakes, first you need to wrap the trout in foil and bake in the oven for 25 mins at 200 C. When it done, take it out and leave to cool. Then peel and boil the sweet potatoes, and once cooked mash and leave to one side in a bowl. Flake the trout into the mash, then cut the smoked salmon into small pieces and add, along with the garlic, chilli and chives. Mix all the ingredients together then leave to chill in the fridge for one or two hours.
When chilled, beat your egg in one bowl, and add your breadcrumbs to another. Use your hands to shape the fish/ potatoe mixture into cakes. Then you dip them into the egg, then the breadcrumbs and place on a baking tray. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until golden. Delicious served with a light salad.
Chestnut stuffing
Who can resist stuffing with their turkey dinner? And this recipe is completely clean, free of nasty additives and absolutely delicious too! All you need it:
- 450g minced pork
- 1 red onion, chopped finely
- 225g chopped peeled and roasted chestnuts
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon mixed herbs
- salt and pepper
To make the stuffing, mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Shape into balls and bake until they’re crispy on top. Simple!
Christmas Pudding
We absolutely love this recipe from My Goodness. Christmas pudding is one of those dishes that you either love or hate, and if you love it (but want to stay on top of your clean lifestyle over Christmas) then this one is for you! What we love about this recipe is that it is gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. It can also be made without eggs for those of you following a vegan diet.
Get the recipe here. And enjoy!
Avocado oil is being hailed as the new olive oil. So what’s all the fuss about? Well, we already know that avocados are packed full of antioxidants, good fats and essential fatty acids, so it’s little wonder the oil derived from the fruit is now being tipped your next beauty must have! Here’s what we think about it all, plus three little ways to use avocado oil…
According to our research, avocado oil pretty amazing. It’s high in vitamin E and unsaturated fats, plus it contains more protein than any other fruit, and more potassium than a banana; the oil offers many nutritional and medicinal benefits. Studies have found that avocado oil helps to boost the absorption of carotenoids in your food, which means that it’s pretty unique, seeing as most foods that are high in carotenoids are low in fat. Because the avocado is high in fat (the good kind!) it means it works as a super food when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle because carotenoids need dietary fats to work. Those who consume foods rich in carotenoids tend to live longer and are more able to fight illnesses, and avocado has been proven to help the consumption of carotenoids.
So now we know how amazing it is, what can we do with it? Here are our three favourite uses for avocado oil…
Use it to moisturise dry hair
Of course we had to try it on our hair! When applied to the ends, it works wonderfully on dry split ends, but what we really loved was this beautiful avocado hair mask. All you need to make it is:
- 1 tablespoon of avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
- ½ tablespoon of honey
- 1 egg
To make the mask, simply mix all ingredients together and apply to wet hair. Leave for around 10 minutes, before rising well and following with shampoo and conditioner as normal. Result? Beautifully soft and shiny hair.
Use it to moisturise your skin
Can you see where we’re going here? Avocado oil works so well as a moisturiser for the hair, so it makes sense that your skin is going to love it too! No need for any fancy ingredients here- simply apply the oil to your skin and massage. It’s quite a thick oil, so works best on the body rather than the face.
Use it to combat dark circles and puffy eyes
Oh yes. We’ve all been there with the puffy eyes and dark circles. And we’ve tried so many remedies to treat them too! This one is a really lovely little treatment that we think you’ll love. All you need is:
- 14ml avocado oil*
- 14ml sweet almond oil*
- 8 drops coffee essential oil
- 4 drops vanilla essential oil
To make the serum, simply combine all the ingredients in a small bottle. If you can get one with a dropper on the end, that’s perfect. Use one or two drops under each eye every morning.
Want a bonus use for avocado oil? Sure you do!
Use it to make healthy mayonaise
Who doesn’t love a turkey sandwich at Christmas? And now you can have one without the guilt of full fat mayo, or the dryness of a ‘healthy’ sandwich either. Home made mayonnaise is actually really easy to make, and it doesn’t have to be piled full of bad stuff either. To make it, you need:
- 340g avocado oil
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Quarter of a teaspoon organic mustard powder
Use a food processor or blender to combine the egg, egg yolk, lemon juice, and mustard powder. Add in the avocado oil slowly, one spoon at a time, while continuing to blend until the oil and lemon mixture emulsifies. Season with salt to taste and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for one week. Delicious! Make some a few days ahead of Christmas and enjoy that sandwich!
We’ve written so many times about how much we love coconut oil and indeed there are so many ways to use it too. But what about coconut milk? Are you onboard with this too? We are. And we’d like to share three little super uses for coconut milk, just to prove to you how amazing it is. Enjoy!
What’s so great about coconut milk?
Coconut is so ridiculously good for you. It’s packed with healthy fats and trace amounts of minerals, protein and carbohydrates. As milk, it works hard to help maintain blood sugar, hormonal balance and a focused mind. You can buy it easily in most supermarkets, OR you can make your own. In just five minutes. Here’s how to do it:
You need
- 85g coconut flakes
- 3 cups of room temperature water
- 2 medjool dates, pitted OR 2-3 drops of liquid stevia
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
To make the milk, simply pop the coconut flakes and water in a blender and blend. Leave for a few minutes, then add dates (unless you want it sugar-free, in which case add the stevia later) and blend thoroughly. Next, grab a jar, put the funnel over it, and a nut milk bag over that. Pour the whole mixture through to strain, using a spoon to scoop out lumps. Squeeze the bag to get as much liquid out as possible. Finally, add the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and stevia (if you went the sugar-free route). Mix it up and you’re done!
Delicious!
What to do with coconut milk
You can use coconut milk in just same way as you would ordinary milk- it’s delicious in cereal, smoothies and shakes. But there are also, obviously, some special ways to use it too. Here are our top three recipes:
Vegan Fudge
Yes, it’s ok to eat fudge! This recipe uses only three ingredients and it’s super easy to make. All you need is:
- 250g dark chocolate chips
- 250g full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
To make the fudge, pop the chocolate chips in a large bowl and set to one side. Then combine the coconut milk and coconut oil in a small pan, and bring to a boil, whisking occasionally to ensure the coconut oil melts properly and the milk heats evenly. Pour the hot mixture over the chocolate, and leave for 2 minutes. Whisk until totally smooth. Then you need to fill a cupcake tin with cases, and fill each one with the mixture. You can top each one with sea salt or chopped nuts etc. Then either freeze for an hour or pop in the fridge for two to three hours. Then enjoy! you won’t regret it.
Shiny hair wash
So, just as you can use coconut oil on your hair, coconut milk too has it’s beauty benefits. This shiny hair wash will leave your hair so soft and shiny, you won’t ever look back! All you need is:
- 85g coconut milk
- 110g liquid Castile soap
- ½ teaspoon jojoba oil
- ½ teaspoon avocado oil
You can also add a couple of drops of essential oils such as rosemary or peppermint oil here too. To make the shiny hair wash, simply combine all the ingredients in a bottle and shake well to mix. Then you need just one to two teaspoons worth, massaged into a wet scalp for a few minutes. Rinse well and finish with apple cider vinegar for an extra clean condition. Lovely!
Coconut ice cream
Another indulgent treat, but again it’s healthy! So totally allowed. To make it, all you need is :
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 85g brown rice syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
- 45g raw cacao powder, optional (for a chocolate flavour)
To make the ice cream, just mix all of the ingredients in a blender until it’s smooth and creamy. Then pour into a freezer-safe container and leave in the freezer for five hours. Alternatively you can use an ice cream maker. Yes. That’s it!
What are your favourite coconut milk recipes?
The chia seed is a rather recent phenomenon here in the UK, but over in the states they have long since been on the menu for those keen to live a healthy lifestyle. So, what are they? And what can we do with them? Originating from Mexico and South America, they are being hailed as the ‘ultimate superfood’, which means if you’re not already eating them, you might want to change that very soon! Here’s a very quick guide, along with three little ways to use chia seeds.
What makes chia seeds a super food?
These tiny little seeds, derived from the mint family, are so super packed with nutrients that they are literally second to none in terms of nutritional value. They have more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon; they contain plenty of antioxidants and minerals; they’re a complete source of protein and they have more fibre than flax seeds. In just 100g of Chia seeds you can expect 20.7g protein, 32.8g fat, 41.8g carbohydrate, 714mg calcium, 16.4mg iron, 613mg Niacin (B3), 0.18mg Thiamine (B1) and 0.04mg Riboflavin (B2).
What this means is, when you add Chia seeds to your daily diet, you are helping your body to reduce inflammation, improve heart health and stabilise blood sugar levels. If you lead an active lifestyle, eating Chia seeds in addition means that you are helping your body to build muscle, lower cholesterol, and further reduce your risk of heart disease.
Now we’re not saying it’s a miracle food… but it does seem to come close!
How to use them
There are many ways that you can use Chia seeds. Some serious athletes have been known to keep them in a canister and down them straight, washed down with water to help them with endurance during races. Some like to add them to smoothies, porridge or salads. There really is no right or wrong way to use them, but it’s worth knowing what happens to them when they’re added to other foods.
When added to liquid, Chia seeds can treble in size. So if you eat them straight, they will expand in your tummy. Bear this in mind! When mixed into soups and smoothies etc, they will thicken your liquid and they can also be used in place of eggs in some recipes. You can even use them to thicken jams!
How we like to use them
So now that we know how wonderful Chia seeds are nutritionally, we’re going to let you into a secret. You can use them to make sin free puddings! Yes, really. Here are our top three Chia seed dishes, starting with a pudding. Enjoy!
Chocolate Chia mousse
Who doesn’t love a chocolate mousse? If you’re following a healthy lifestyle but want something sweet, then this is the dish for you. It’s so simple to make and trust us- it’s delicious! All you need is:
- 1 can coconut cream
- 32g Chia seeds
- 85g maple syrup
- 64g cocoa powder
Pour all the ingredients into a blender and blend until it resembles tapioca pudding. Pour into dishes and allow to set for at least 4 hours. Enjoy!
Chilli Chia jam
This one is such a wonderful treat to serve either with crackers, or vegetable sticks of course. A great one for the Christmas buffet table- and they’ll never know they’re eating such a healthy dip! All you need is:
- 4oz red chilli peppers
- 11.5oz red, yellow, and orange bell peppers
- 4 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3.5 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- pinch of sea or Himalayan salt
- 1½ tablespoon chia seeds
To make the jam, you need to first remove the stalks and tops of the peppers. Take out the seeds and membranes (keep the chilli seeds in if you want an extra hot jam) and roughly chop them. Pop the chilli peppers into a blender and blitz until the consistency is fine, then add the bell peppers and repeat. Transfer the whole mixture into a saucepan and add the vinegar, maple syrup and coriander. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer like that for 15-20 minutes, stirring every now and then. Add a pinch of salt and remove from the heat.
Next, stir in the Chia seeds and transfer the whole lot into a jar. Pop in the fridge and allow to set. When cool… enjoy!
Overnight oats with Chia seeds
We love overnight oats! They’re so easy to make and so wonderfully nutritious, if you put the right ingredients in. This recipe will make creamy oats perfect for breakfast on the go! All you need is:
- 28g rolled oats
- Half a cup of coconut milk
- tablespoons greek yogurt
- Half a banana, chopped
- Half a tablespoon Chia seeds
- Two teaspoons cocoa powder
- Two tablespoons almond nut butter
Simply mix all ingredients together in an airtight container, and leave overnight in the fridge. Perfect!
Small Business Saturday is fast approaching and we’re stating to get really excited about it all! We’d love you to come and support us if you can!
Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.
The day itself takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses. In 2015 Small Business Saturday will take place on Saturday, December 5th.
Initiatives like this are crucial for small businesses like Little Soap Company, and we love being able to support other small business in our community too.
What we’ll be doing
We’re so excited to announce we’ll have a pop up shop in the workshop in Broadway on 5th December 2pm- 5pm. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to show our local community exactly what we’ve been up to this year. It’s also a chance for us to proudly display the work we’ve been doing to create jobs and help in the preservation of our neighbourhood. Small businesses are essential to local communities and we love meeting our customers face to face too.
Pop up shop
Of course, we’re hoping to help you make a really good start on Christmas shopping this year, so you really won’t want to miss it! We’ll be showcasing our new products (see this post for more info on our new range) as well as our firm favourites and best sellers. Don’t forget to ask us about Soap School too!
Broadway Christmas shopping
We’ll also be hosting two more pop up shops to support Broadway’s Christmas shopping events on the 27th November (4-7pm) and the 4th December (2-5pm) so if you simply can’t wait to see what we’ve got, do come along to one of those dates instead.
Here at Little Soap Company we really are passionate about getting the world back to basics, creating the purest organic soap possible and making it accessible to everyone. From hand-making soap on the Aga and selling in subzero temperatures at farmers markets, our business has grown with production runs now in the tens of thousands producing the first organic soap bar to hit supermarket shelves.
We launched on a small scale in Waitrose in 2010, then regionally in Tesco in 2012, nationally in Waitrose 2013 (best beauty launch and fastest selling bar soap) followed by Booths in the North. The range has then rolled out into other major national supermarkets including Sainsburys and Boots the Chemist.
We are so proud of all that we’ve achieved, and the support you have all shown us. We’d love to see you in the run up to Christmas, please do let us know if you can make it!
Brrrrrrr! Yes, it’s definitely here! Hopefully you’ve done all of your winter prep and you’re now ready for the chilly season? Good work! So we’e got our skin ready and we’ve got our natural beauty plans in place, but let’s not forget that we need to think about what we put inside our bodies too. It all comes out in the wash after all. As ever, we’re here with some of our top suggestions, with our guide to three super little foods to eat this winter. Get these on your shopping list now!
Fennel
A very underrated vegetable in our opinion! But did you know that fennel is an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber and folic acid? This means that a portion of this will help to keeps gums, blood vessels and bones healthy. It will also improve the absorption of iron and act as an antioxidant too. Not only that, but fennel can also help to regulate body fluids balance, aids in muscle function and metabolism, and will keep your digestive system in tip top condition too. The folic acid in fennel will work to form essential red blood cells too. Amazing!
Try it sautéed as a side dish this winter.
Kale
We are huge fans of kale, because it’s packed with iron and folic acid, and that’s especially great news for pregnant women. We like a handful in a smoothie of a morning, but now that it’s getting colder there are other ways to eat it too. Try some crunchy kale crisps as a healthy snack…
You need:
- Half a tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Three quarters of a teaspoon chilli powder
- Half a teaspoon onion powder
- Half a teaspoon smoked paprika
- One quarter of a teaspoon fine grain sea salt or pink Himalayan sea salt
- One pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Make sure you remove all the hard stems before you start- yes it’s time consuming but it’s worth it! And wash and dry the leaves thoroughly too. Then make sure you fully coat all the leaves in oil. Work methodically and take your time to make sure there is no leaf un-oiled! Do this step in a bowl, using your hands to massage well. Add the spices and mix thoroughly again.
Preheat oven to 150C and line a baking sheet with paper.
Then spread the kale out onto the baking sheet into a single layer. Work in batches so that there is plenty of space. Then bake for 10 minutes, turn the pan, and bake for another 12-15 minutes more until the kale begins to look a little ‘shrunken’. This will usually take around 25 minutes.
Leave to cool for around three minutes or so. Then enjoy!
Garlic
Garlic is an excellent source of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and a very good source of manganese, selenium and vitamin C. Not only that but it also contains other minerals, such as phosphorous, calcium, potassium, iron and copper. All that in one little bulb! This means that eating garlic regularly can help to build and maintain healthy bones and teeth, regulate nerve and muscle function and metabolism, prevent iron deficiency and also fight infections. Essential during winter!
It’s widely know that garlic will help to lower cholesterol, protect against cancer, lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots, cure symptoms of a cold. So what are you waiting for? Eaten raw it has the most benefits, but if you can’t face that just yet why not try it crushed, baked or sautéed with your favourite meal?
We’ve been super busy here at Little Soap Company HQ and today we’re proud to announce the launch of a new range of products! These little beauties are launching in Waitrose and to say we’re excited would be an understatement! Want to know more? Read on…
Organic Liquid Handsoaps
We have brand new delicious scents to choose from in our new liquid hand soap range: Lavender & Rose Geranium. All organic and also available on the shelves of Waitrose with absolutely NO nasties added!
Every bottle of our liquid Handsoap produces a rich, creamy lather that is gentle on the skin. They’re packed to the brim with powerful antibacterial properties too, making it perfect for naturally cleansing & protecting all the family. So you know that what you’re putting on your skin is the real deal. Of course.
Foaming bodywash
We also have two new foaming bodywashe varieties that we are just crazy about! Choose from Pure English Lavender or Pure Rose Geranium and rest assured that they both contain our signature organic ingredients, along with the right dose of tender loving care too.
This little beauties have been the subject of many moths worth of trial and error and NOW we are sure that we finally have the perfect recipe for our foaming body ‘mousse’. It’s been quite a challenge creating the consistency and lather without the use of SLS and other synthetic chemicals, but we’re thrilled with the result and hope you are too!
Pure Organic body mousse made with the finest natural ingredients and totally free from detergents, SLS, alcohol, parabens, sorbates, silicones, sulphates and preservatives. So again, you know what you’re getting.
Bubble bath
Oh, who doesn’t love a good soak in the tub on chilly winter evenings? That’s why we are so excited about our new range of bubble baths! You can choose from Pure English Lavender and Pure English Rose Geranium and once more we can assure you they contain no nasties at all.
As with the foaming body wash, making the bubble bath tricky because we absolutely did not want to be using SLS and synthetic chemicals. Our determination created what we lovingly referred to as “Bubble-gate” at Little Towers!
First of all there were no bubbles, then when we had bubbles they didn’t last, so again after much trial and error and many, many baths by all the Little Team (not all together we might add!) we have finally produced this … our luxurious, moisturising, (and bubbly!) bubble bath! We can’t wait to hear what you think, as this really does leave your skin feeling different to traditional recipes you may have used in the past!
Pure Organic bubble bath made with the finest natural ingredients and totally free from detergents, SLS, alcohol, parabens, sorbates, silicones, sulphates and preservatives. Directions: Pour under running water into your bath, sit back, relax and benefit from the essential oils.
Buy them instore
All of these products, along with our Pure English Lavender and Pure Rose Geranium bar soaps are available to buy in store at Waitrose. And yes, we still do a happy dance when we see them on the shelves! We are so passionate about bringing you the best organic, handmade products on the market and so thrilled that you love them as much as we do!
As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
As our winter prep continues, this week we’re looking at skin care.
Winter reminds us that everyone and everything needs some quiet time.
Katrina Mayer
Now is the time to take steps to ensure your skin care regime gets the TLC it deserves, because come the colder weather you’re going to be glad you did. Here are five little skin care tip for winter that you won’t want to miss!
Drink LOTS of water!
Yes, yes we do keep going on about this. But that’s because it’s so important! During the winter your skin can get so dry and itchy, especially when you go from warm rooms heated artificially to colder temperatures outside. Your skin is going to needs lot of re-hydration so keep that bottle with you at all times.
Keep lip balm with you at all times.
Your lips can take a serious beating in the cold weather, and there is nothing less attractive than cracked, sore, unkissable lips! So make sure that little pot of balm is always in your pocket this winter. To make your own you need:
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon beeswax pellets
- 2-3 drops essential oil (vitamin E is great)
All you need to do is mix the beeswax, oil and essential oil in a bowl and set to one side. Heat a post of water, bring to the boil then remove from the heat. Then place the other bowl inside the pot of hot water. Let it sit for a while until the beeswax is melted and stir occasionally. That’s it! Pour the mixture into little pots while it’s still warm and allow to cool before using.
Apply moisturiser while your skin is wet
Moisturiser is so important for your skin, and especially in the winter (remember the damage that the central heating does!), but not many people actually apply it properly. If you slater your skin while it’s still damp from the shower, you are more likely to reap the benefits because you’re trapping the moisture already on your skin. And take care what moisturiser you use too. All natural ingredients are best, and make sure you check labels for ethical practises too.
Exercise well and get lots of fresh air
It’s so tempting to stay indoors in the winter. But as far as your skin is concerned, that’s the worst thing you can do. Your body needs lots of fresh air and exercise to perform well, and your skin will benefit from this continued regime too. Eat well, get lots of vitamin D from the sunshine, and get the blood pumping with some cardio sessions such as walking briskly or running.
Exfoliate regularly
Your skin is going to need regular exfoliation to remove the dead cells sitting on the top, so make sure you don’t skip this step. Exfoliation also helps your moisturiser to penetrate the skin more efficiently too. To make your own, you need:
- 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tablespoon water/ apple cider vinegar
Simply mix the ingredients together and apply to the face with gentle circular motions. Rinse with warm water and follow with a good moisturiser while the skin is still damp.
What are your top winter skin care tips?
The Little Soap Box 