Herbal Candles : Lavender and Rose

This is a fun and quick little craft. If you happen to have a candle warmer then this will be a snap. I used  small pan on low heat.on my stove.

Turn on you candle warmer and place a few tea light on it. Once they start to melt, sprinkle a few rose petals on to each candle. Then remove and allow to cool. The candle will absorbed the oils from the herbs and there should be a faint scent once burned. They make cute gifts.

now, this can be done on the stove top. Just keep and eyes on them as to not cause a fire, like someone else (>.>) .

This were so fun and quick to make. I am thinking about making a few more. They would make nice stocking suffers. Add a bit of essential oils to make other scent combinations. This is a craft that can be adapted to any taste.


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A Walk in the woods

This was a foray into sweet Mori, but with pants. Well, I added linen pant to the outfit and rose shirt. I know rose is not the only sweet color, but it dose look so nice with the light brown and the dark brown. The long vest is from forever ago. It is very light weight , great for layering and has a nice rich color.



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Roes Elixier a how to

Rose Elixir is a lovely treat and medicine, it is also very simple to make.

Ingredients: 

A pint canning jar or another glass jar that seal well

Fresh rose petal

About a pint of high quality brandy, rum or whiskey

About 1/3 pint of raw honey, a lighter type such as clover or wildflower. 

Directions

First fill the jar to the top with rose petals. There is no need to pack them in but press them back a bit.

Pour the honey in slowly, stirring as necessary, until the petals are well coated.

Fill to the top with you choice of alcohol, stirring to remove the air bubbles. Then cover with a tight fitting lid and shake.

Let the petals macerate in a cool, dark place for four to six weeks. 

When straining, save both the liquid and the petal. 

The petals can be eaten alone or used in salad or to top a cake.

As a medicine

This elixir is relaxing and uplifting.

 It could be used for trauma ,grief, depression, anxiety, heartbreak and chronic stress and fatigue to good effect. 

Rose has also been known to help restore the flora in the gut and settle  gastric disturbances. 

Source

http://www.learningherbs.com/news_issue_35.html

Dark and stormy Mori

 So it was a dark and stormy day and instead of change my colors and rebelling against the weather . I dress for it. The weather was the inspiration for this mori look. I pulled out my black maxi dress, and started there. I added a grey black skirt and a grey lace vest. Then a rose sweater, to cover my arms and to give some live to the outfit. below is a shot of a few bits of jewelry. Both the cuff and the necklace ore older than I am and were gifted.

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Rose herbal oil

So there are many way to make an herbal oil. But, you really only need three things: a carrier oil, the herb and crock pot. You can add a fourth which is cheesecloth.

To make the herbal oil get a good cooking grade herbal oil, like grape seed oil, sunflower oil or the like. Something with out it own scent. So while you could use olive oil, it would over power the herb. It might also not smell that great with the herb that you are working with.

The ratio I was given that tens to work for most herbs is 1/4 of an ounce to 4 fluid ounces of oil. This should be enough herb to cover the surface of the oil. put these two items in to a crock pot and turn it on low. If you have cheese cloth wait and secure your herb in the cloth. Make a small bag and tie it close so none of the herb get out. Then walk away for four to eight hours. Now if you  used the cheese cloth lift it out with a clean spoon and press gently against the side of the pot to extra the oil that is in it. The pour the oil in to a clean, sterile jars.

If you did not have cheese cloth that is okay, there is just a little more work. Strain the oil through a sieve or remove all particles with a slotted spoon. Once this is done then store in a clean jars away from sunlight.

This oil can be use for massage, one the face or body and even the hair. It also can be used in a oil burner or reed diffuser . It should impart a wonderful scent.

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Strawberry Lassi

A Lassi is a type pf smoothie, that comes from India. It is a refreshing drink that is great with spicy foods nad the dairy in it cuts the heat. On it own it can be a sweet and healthy snack, a refreshing way to beat the heat.

The Strawberry lassi  is not traditional, but it is a nice way to add seasonal fruit into a transitional drink. I found a lovely recipe here. One of the most important things I have noticed in researching how to make a lassi , is to have good, fresh yogurt.

Ingredients: 
* 1 to 1 1/1 cup Strawberries
* 1-1 1/2 cups full fat yogurt
* 6 -7 tbsp sugar or honey based on the sweetness of the strawberries.
* 1 -2 tsp of rose water
*  roses or sliced strawberries to top

Direction:
Rise, hull  and roughly chop the strawberries. Then blend to a smooth puree.
Add the yogurt and rose water.

 Pulse the mixture at intervals, until smooth and creamy.

 Top with roses or strawberries.

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Dark chocolate and Rose Fudge.

So wanted to do something sweet with the roses. Summer is ending and I want to capture a bit of it in this treat. I was clicking  through pinterest when I cam across a nutella fudge. I love nutella. I have made this fudge before and it is quick and simple. Yet, I wanted to change it up.


To make this you will need the following ingredients: butter, sweetened condensed milk, rose water, chocolate, Nutella, cranberries and almonds.

 This is a simple adaption.

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Butter, For Greasing 8 x 8 baking square
1 can (14 Oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
2-3 teaspoon Rose water
8 ounces, Chocolate Chips, I used dark chocolate.
1 cup Nutella at room temperature
3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter at room temperature. Cut these into 1/2-inch pieces, they will melt faster.
A handful of almond and dried cranberries.
Roses for topping

Directions: 
Grease the bottom and sides of an 8- by 8-inch baking pan with butter. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overlap on the sides. In a medium glass or stainless steel bowl, combine butter and sweetened condensed milk.Add the rose water. Add the chocolate chips.

And finally, the Nutella. 

 Stir all of the ingredients together. The mixture will be very thick.

 Now you can great a double-broiler, by setting the bowl of a medium pot of water. I happen to have a double-broiler, so I just used that.  Sir, for about 5-7 minutes, or until the  chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth.  Once the chocolate is melted added in the almonds and cranberries. Stir, the mixture for about a minutes, incorporating the the nuts and berries into the chocolate. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and spread the top smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle the fudge with roses if you would like. Refrigerate until the fudge is firm, at least 2 hours, or over night.

Once the fudge is chilled, run a knife under hot water, dry it off, and run it around the edges of the pan to loosen the fudge. Using the overhanging parchment paper, lift the fudge out. Peel off the parchment paper.
Cut the fudge into 3/4-inch squares. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or wrapped well in plastic wrap and foil.

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How to make rose water

When looking up how to make rose water I though it would be very hard. It just took about 20 minutes to make. It just required distilled water and roses . Roses water has been used for centuries in beauty and cooking. It is a natural astringent, and is helpful in reducing redness and inflammation. It is very genital and can be used on sensitives skin. This water can be spritzed directly on to the skin or mixed into creams a lotions. 

Once made this water should smell faintly of roses. The stronger the  scent to start off with , the stronger the fragrance with be at the end. 

   

To make Rose water, place the petals in a pan an fill with distilled water. The water should just cover the roses. Place a lip on the pot a simmer over low heat, until most of the color had fade. This should take anywhere from 10-20 minutes. Be careful not to boil the petals as it could damage the beneficial properties and the color. 

Once the flowers have paled, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer. The remaining solids make for excellent compost . The water can be stored in glass jar ans should keep in refrigerator for a month or two.

The rose water can be used on it own, in a mist or dabbed directly on to the skin. Ti can also be added in to food and drinks. 

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About Roses

Roses have been used in medicine your centuries. They have been used in many types of folk/ traditional medicines around the world. The rose has been used in Avdurydric Medicine, traditional Chinese Medicine, Greek and Roman and Egyptian medicinal practices. With current technological when have been able to refine the use of the rose, not only in medicinal practices but for beauty. Yet, some of the best uses are the oldest. While there are many varieties of roses grown only a few should be used in herbal preparation, as many of the more modern species of rose have been breed for appearance  and not scent. The scent it indicative of the oil that the rose produces. Some of the best roses to use in food or in medicine are:

Family Rosaceae
Rosa species
R. canina (Wild Rose, Dog Rose, Rose Hip, Brier Hip, Hip, Brier Rose, Eglantine Gall, Hogseed, Dog-berry, Sweet Brier, Witches’ Brier, Hep Tree, Hip Fruit, Hop Fruit, Hipberries)
R. arkansana (Prairie Wild Rose, Sunshine Rose, Arkansas Rose, Meadow Rose, Pasture Rose)
R. laevigata (Cherokee Rose)
R. gallica var. centifolia (Apothacary’s Rose, French Rose, Cabbage Rose, Hundred-leafed Rose)
R. damascena (Damask Rose)
R. rugosa (Rugosa Rose, Saltspray Rose, Beach Tornado)
R. multiflora (Japanese Rose)

The rose is one of the has been distilled to make rose water and rose oil. Rosewater can be used as a facial wash or incorporated in to lotion and creams. Later on in the week, I will be posting about how to make rosewater.  The scent of the rose is said to lift depressive moods, and create feeling of well being and mild euphoria.

All parts of the rose can be used in may different ways. The petals along can be placed on the skin as a mask or on wounds to help cleanse and stop bleeding. Rose water can be used as a mild cleasener and facial toner. The petal and rose hip can be used in tea. The rose hips are know to pack quite a bit of vitamin C.

 Beware of synthetic rose ingredients if you are buying your rose water or rose oil.

The rose also offers soothing property to the nervous symmetry, clam the mild. It is a mild sedative and anti-depressant. It would combines well with lavender in teas. It has been used in treatment for conditions of stress: nervous tension, peptic ulcers, and heart disease. Rose water can also be used a compress to treat eye infections and wounds.

The rose hips are a wonderful source of  vitamins A, B3, C, D and E. They also contain bioflavonoids, citric acid, flavonoids, fructose, malic acid, tannins and zinc. When taken in the form of tea the hips are good for infections, particularly bladder infections.

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Please consulate your doctor before taking any herb or using any recipes or remedies. A berry orange day is not responsible for how this information is used.


Sources:
http://www.positivehealth.com/article/flower-essences/the-healing-properties-of-rosewater-and-rose-oil

http://www.rosemagazine.com/pages/therapeutic.asp
http://www.cloverleaffarmherbs.com/rose/

Strawberry, rose water shrub

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