Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins + doTerra Lemon Oil Giveaway

A blog friend of mine, Joelle, recently sent me some amazing essential oil samples. She was kind enough to share my favorites: lemon, lavender and peppermint. Plus, it's amazing how much knowledge she can share when it comes to how these oils treat and deal with so many everyday issues and symptoms. I just love soothing a health issue with a plant based oil rather than a drug, chemical or even something you have to swallow. She was also generous to offer one of you a bottle of some amazing lemon essential oil... so see the end of post for details in winning a bottle of your own...

I have used the lemon essential oil for baking, and I also made a nice cleaning spray to use as an air freshener and also cleans the surface as well. I used a 8 ounce spray bottle with 4-10 drops of lemon oil and viola you have a very simple fresh smelling cleaning spray. It is seriously SO uplifting and fabulous in the home!  I have also done something similar with lavender oil to help with freshening my rugs or home after dusting or cleaning. The doTerra oils are very potent, so you really only need a few drops. Learn more about them here. So a bottle will last forever, but also it is perfect for this pregnant momma who has a hard time with toxic cleaning smells and it also keeps me and my baby healthy. What are some of your favorite essential oils and how do you prefer to use them?

I also love how you can cook and bake with many of these essential oils. The lemon flavor in these muffins are just wonderful-with full scent and flavor of a fresh lemon tree. Which has been perfectly satisfying to me, because I have had an intense lemon craving lately, like all the time! I just can't get enough of the fresh and sunshiny flavor. Especially in the dead of winter when you are looking for bright and beautiful distractions from the grey and cold outside. The smell is also energy boosting and brings immunity with it when it is digested.

Tangent...
I saw this recipe post today and will be making these Lemony Bars from Green Kitchen Stories very soon... sorry, tangent... it's my pregnancy brain. And, it's easily distracted by beautiful pictures of yummy and healthy food that involve lemons.

Now, back to my own kitchen... I made these not too sweet muffins with one of my favorite combos of lemon and blueberries. I also experimented and made this recipe as a coffeecake instead of muffins in a  9 or 10 inch square or circle pan and you have to bake in double time, but it turns out fabulous as well. Especially still warm with a drizzle of vegan butter and honey.

 Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Muffin Recipe 
{gluten, dairy, nut-free, vegan option}
1/2 cup of brown rice flour
1/2 cup of millet flour
1/2 cup of tapioca flour
1/2 cup of fresh ground buckwheat or certified GF oat flour
1/4 cup of coconut flour
1 1/2 ts. of baking powder
1/2 ts. of baking soda
1/2 ts. of sea salt
2/3 cup of coconut sugar + more for sprinkling on top
1/3 cup of honey
1/3 cup of melted coconut oil, or light olive oil
1 fresh egg or chia-egg replacement (1 TB chia meal to 3 TB of water wisked)
2/3 cup of coconut milk beverage (I used So Delicious)
   plus juice of 1 lemon (2 TB of juice) and can add some zest from lemon for more flavor
   plus 4 drops of lemon essential oil (I used doTerra)
   plus 1 ts. of pure vanilla

1 heaping cup of fresh or frozen blueberries (I used frozen this time)

In a large mixing bowl, blend your mix of GF flour and for best results use a fresh ground buckwheat flour that you grind from buckwheat groats in a high powered blender. Blend all of the dry and then add the rest of the wet ingredients and the "buttermilk-lemon milk" blend last after you let it sit by itself for a few minutes to curdle. Mix the batter well and then lastly add the blueberries and just fold them in so that you don't allow them to bleed too much into the rest of the batter. Use a 1/3 cup to measure out each muffin batter into a muffin tin or cup. This recipe will make 12 medium to large muffins. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with some coconut sugar or fresh lemon zest before baking. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 22-25 minutes depending on your oven and elevation. 

Pull from oven, test the middles with a toothpick and then let cool for at lest 15 minutes before moving to cooling rack or eating. 

Serve with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. And, ENJOY!

OK, so how can you win a fabulous bottle of doTerra lemon oil of your own....?

Here are the details to follow:
1. Leave a comment below on this blog post and tell me your favorite essential oil and why.
2. Become a follower of Joelle's blog, under the RSS feed, and then leave another comment here
3. Become a follower of Joelle's facebook page, and then leave another comment here.
4. Check out Joelle's website to learn more about doTerra's oil and what they have to offer, then leave another comment here.

So you have 4 chances to win, and the winner will be chosen by random out of the full order of comments below and will be chosen on Monday February 4th at 1pm EST. I will announce the winner on the blog and then will ask the winner to email me to get your full name and info to get your reward.

Hope you are staying warm, finding some sunshine and Vitamin D, and good luck with the giveaway!

Much love,
Stephanie