Cooling Fennel, Apple & Cucumber Salad

 Crisp, bright, and ready in minutes. 

No cooking required.

• 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced with a mandolin
• 1 large apple, thinly sliced (Honeycrisp, Gala, or your favorite)
• 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced (optional)
• A handful of fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or more if you love the taste (optional)
• Salt, to taste

1. Shave fennel, apple, and cucumber using a mandolin for ultra-thin slices.
2. Place everything into a large bowl with the chopped parsley.
3. Drizzle in olive oil, lemon juice, and red wine vinegar.
4. Sprinkle with salt and toss gently until evenly coated.
5. Let sit 5–10 minutes for flavors to soak in or enjoy immediately.

• A handful of chickpeas or white beans for extra protein
• Toasted sunflower seeds or slivered almonds for crunch
• Fennel fronds for garnish
• Fresh mint or basil for extra brightness
• A small spoon of honey or maple syrup if your apples are tart
• A pinch of chili flakes if you like a subtle kick

 Crisp, bright, and ready in minutes. 

No cooking required.

• 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced with a mandolin
• 1 large apple, thinly sliced (Honeycrisp, Gala, or your favorite)
• 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced (optional)
• A handful of fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or more if you love the taste (optional)
• Salt, to taste

1. Shave fennel, apple, and cucumber using a mandolin for ultra-thin slices.
2. Place everything into a large bowl with the chopped parsley.
3. Drizzle in olive oil, lemon juice, and red wine vinegar.
4. Sprinkle with salt and toss gently until evenly coated.
5. Let sit 5–10 minutes for flavors to soak in or enjoy immediately.

• A handful of chickpeas or white beans for extra protein
• Toasted sunflower seeds or slivered almonds for crunch
• Fennel fronds for garnish
• Fresh mint or basil for extra brightness
• A small spoon of honey or maple syrup if your apples are tart
• A pinch of chili flakes if you like a subtle kick

 Crisp, bright, and ready in minutes. 

No cooking required.

• 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced with a mandolin
• 1 large apple, thinly sliced (Honeycrisp, Gala, or your favorite)
• 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced (optional)
• A handful of fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or more if you love the taste (optional)
• Salt, to taste

1. Shave fennel, apple, and cucumber using a mandolin for ultra-thin slices.
2. Place everything into a large bowl with the chopped parsley.
3. Drizzle in olive oil, lemon juice, and red wine vinegar.
4. Sprinkle with salt and toss gently until evenly coated.
5. Let sit 5–10 minutes for flavors to soak in or enjoy immediately.

• A handful of chickpeas or white beans for extra protein
• Toasted sunflower seeds or slivered almonds for crunch
• Fennel fronds for garnish
• Fresh mint or basil for extra brightness
• A small spoon of honey or maple syrup if your apples are tart
• A pinch of chili flakes if you like a subtle kick

 After eight years of living in America, I realized my skin and body weren’t processing every ingredient the same way. After a few unexpected hospital visits, I started paying much closer attention to labels, ingredients, and what I was exposing my family to.

That shift changed everything.
 

I began experimenting in my kitchen, making my own vegetable stock, face serums, sanitizers, toners, and more. Over time, that list grew to include laundry detergent, dishwasher pods, fruit and veggie wash, all-purpose cleaner, and even bug spray for the kids.

  The beauty of this lifestyle, you can tweak and customize your own formulas to fit your family's real needs.

Now I’m sharing them with you, because every mama deserves to feel confident about what she’s using in her home.

 • 1 cup Borax (20 Mule Team all-natural borax detergent booster & multi-purpose)

 • 1 cup Castile soap (Dr. Bronner's Organic)

 • 1 cup hot filtered water 

 • 15-25 drops of organic essential oils

Pro Tip: Make sure to shake and blend all ingredients together. This can be a bit difficult so add a little bit at a time. Hot water helps blend it together. Take your time adding the borax!

• Citrus Fresh: Lemon + Orange + Eucalyptus (bright and antibacterial)
• Lavender Mint*: Lavender + Peppermint + Tea Tree (calming yet deodorizing)
• Herbal Clean: Rosemary + Thyme + Lemon (antimicrobial and fresh-smelling)
• Warm Spice: Clove + Cinnamon + Orange (cozy, antibacterial blend)
• Floral Fresh: Geranium + Chamomile + Vanilla (gentle and fabric softening)

• Lemon – Fresh scent, natural degreaser, stain remover
• Tea Tree* – Antibacterial, antifungal, helps eliminate odors
• Orange – Uplifting scent, cuts through grease and stains
• Eucalyptus – Antimicrobial, removes tough odors and bacteria

• Lavender* – Calming scent, antibacterial, odor neutralizer
• Peppermint – Cooling, energizing, fights musty smells
• Rosemary – Herbal scent, antimicrobial, fights mildew
• Spearmint – Refreshing, deodorizing, antibacterial

• Chamomile – Gentle on sensitive skin, calming scent
• Geranium – Balances scent, fabric softener alternative
• Jasmine – Luxurious floral scent, fabric conditioner
• Vanilla (in jojoba oil) – Warm, comforting scent, gentle on skin

• Cinnamon – Antibacterial, antifungal, warm scent
• Clove – Strong antibacterial properties, removes odors
• Thyme – Powerful antibacterial, great for disinfecting
• Oregano – Antimicrobial, prevents mold growth

You can mix and match oils depending on your preferences! 

*Please note: some studies suggest that tea tree and lavender oils may contain chemicals that disrupt hormones in kids.

But I am not a doctor... so what do I know? 

Complementary Scents: Some oils blend better together. For example, citrus oils (lemon, orange) pair well with floral or herbal oils (lavender, rosemary).

Skin Sensitivity: Oils like cinnamon, clove, oregano, and thyme are strong and can be irritating to the skin. If using these, keep the total amount of essential oils on the lower side (closer to 15 drops per batch rather than 30).  Always perform a patch test by applying a small amount  to your skin to check for allergic reactions, such as redness, itching, or rash, before using it more widely.

Balance Strong Scents: Some oils, like tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint, have powerful aromas. Mixing them with softer scents (like chamomile, geranium, or vanilla) can help create a more balanced fragrance.