April 24, 2017

Blackberry Basil Healing Mask

Disclosure: I’m honored to have received an advanced copy of Lily Diamond’s debut cookbook, KALE & CARAMEL: Recipes for Body, Heart and Table. I hope you all enjoy this little sneak peek!

Today’s recipe is a little bit different from what you might typically find here. That’s because today’s recipe isn’t specifically intended for eating (although I’d be lying if I said I didn’t eat some of it!). Instead, today’s recipe is meant to help soothe and nourish your skin. It’s an effortlessly fabulous three ingredient Blackberry Basil Healing Mask that will help you “get your glow on”. And it’s a concoction straight from Lily Diamond’s debut cookbook, KALE & CARAMEL: Recipes for Body, Heart and Table.

It’s truly an honor to have a copy of Lily’s cookbook in my possession. And I’m thrilled to be able to give you all a little sneak peak into it’s pages here today. Although, I worry that my words won’t be able to do it justice. My writing feels clunky and awkward in all the places where Lily’s writing excels. Admittedly, I am no poet. Whereas Lily Diamond, most certainly is.

Lily is real and authentic in a way that the majority of people don’t dare allow themselves to be for a public audience. Each week she pours her whole self into the virtual pages of her blog. And now, that journey has transcended onto the actual pages of her cookbook. From her childhood in Maui, to her Mother’s death, to navigating the sometimes hilarious world of online dating, Lily’s storytelling will make you feel all the things. Joy, heartbreak, frustration and every emotion in between. It’s all there in a deeply personal way that I find mildly addicting to read.

KALE & CARAMEL: Recipes for Body, Heart and Table is unique from the other cookbooks in my collection. The recipes are designed to engage and awaken all five of your senses. And they are meant to be nourishing in a way that goes way beyond basic calorie consumption. This isn’t just eating. This is living.

The chapters in this book are organized by either one of two things: herbs or flowers. And friends, I simply cannot overstate just how lovely I think that is. Fresh herbs and edible flowers have been a staple in my kitchen for years now. And I’m so excited to finally have a cookbook dedicated to showcasing those ingredients. Herbs and flowers are often treated (or mistreated) solely as a garnish. But I think they deserve to be in the spotlight. And Lily proudly gives them all the attention they deserve.

There are eight chapters which focus on herbs, ALL of which we have in abundance on our family farm (pictures from our hydroponic greenhouse above). Which means this cookbook is going to be my Summer project. I can’t wait to cook my way through those chapters. And I’m really looking forward to learning to use some of those herbs in ways which I hadn’t really considered before, like in this Blackberry Basil Healing Mask. Admittedly, I haven’t always been kind to my skin over the years. But as I age, I realize more and more everyday that needs to change.

I’m giving away one copy of KALE & CARAMEL: Recipes for Body, Heart and Table over on Instagram right now. Just click this link and go enter! You have until April 26, 2017. Good luck! Update: This giveaway had ended and a winner has been selected. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Cheers,

Liz

Get the Recipe:

Blackberry Basil Healing Mask

At a Glance:

Yield: 1/4 cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 5-6 blackberries
• 3 tablespoons raw, unfiltered honey
• 5 basil leaves, minced

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, crush the blackberries until they release their juices. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, pushing down on the solids with the back of a spoon to help get out as much of the juice as possible, collecting it into a clean bowl. Discard the solids.
2. Add the honey and basil to the blackberry juice, stirring until fully incorporated. The mixture can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 1 week.
3. To use, spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons onto clean skin and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Then wash off completely.

Notes

This recipe has been reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2017 by Lily Diamond from KALE & CARAMEL: Recipes for Body, Heart, and Table published by Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.