Herb Butters and Oils

Herbs mixed in butter can be spread on bread, vegetables, meats, and sauces.
Just chop up four to six tablespoons of herbs, your choice (basil,chives, dill, parsley, cilantro, thyme or sage) Blend herbs into butter (yes I have been known to use margarine) with a fork. Place butter onto wax paper and roll up. Refrigerate twenty-four hours. Slice the roll into pieces or shave into curls for serving, or just add to the dish you are making.
One of my favorite italian restaurants serves olive oil with sprigs of rosemary in it to compliment their french bread. It tastes wonderful and is easy to duplicate. Get one of those pretty oil bottles with spouts from Pier One, or any store you know that carries these, add fresh sprigs of rosemary and pour olive oil into bottle. Let set at least overnight. Pour onto pretty plate and dip your warm french bread in it. At the restaurant they also suggest adding ground pepper and parmesan cheese before dipping.
Happy Herbing !!

Dill: has wonderful cool, fresh taste and aids digestion !

Finally the snow is melting and it looks like eventually spring will come to Minnesota. We had over six feet of snow this winter..unbelievable..this too shall pass!! In the mean time the simple act of sprinkling dill weed on my salads and on other food items such as salmon, rice, or green beans gives me that fresh taste that reminds me of spring and growing fresh herbs. I love dill weed on salads and in the summer when I have fresh dill I pinch off sprigs of the fresh and shred it over my salads. For now even the dried dill weed from the store tastes fresh and cool. Sprinkle liberally. Also just an FYI Dill aids in digestion to ease gas, bloat and heartburn. ( it is the limonene in the dill that helps with the digestion) who knew !!

Herbal Vinegar Bath

This slightly acidic bath helps rinse away soap residue on your skin and reinstate your own natural acidic balance. The combination of herbs gives your bath an uplifting scent and helps reduce stress. Who doesn't need that?
Use one tablespoon each dried rosemary, tarragon, mint, and fennel. Use only mint if you like, use whatever dried herbs you have dried from your garden.
Mix together herbs with one cup apple cider vinegar. Microwave or heat on stove to just boiling. Let cool, strain off herbs, pour into bath and soak your body!
Apple cider vinegar is awesome, it is a natural antibacterial and for women helps to counteract yeast infections because the acidic enviroment helps to kill harmful bacteria. We here in Mn. have a record 65" of snow a hot bath sounds great !!

Happy Holidays

Well here it is December 7th already. Can hardly believe how the time flies. Thought I would have a ton of time when I retired from my traditional job but I find that is not the case.Well here in Minnesota we are having some cold snowy weather. Am always looking for something that is comforting and warm to drink. Here is a fun easy recipe for Ginger Tea. It is warming for the body and tends to settle the tummy as well. You can find ginger root at just about any grocery store and I like to grate it up or chop it then put extra in the freezer in little bags to pull out and use as needed.
Ginger Tea: Bring three cups of water to a boil, add about eight slices fresh ginger to the water and boil ten minutes. Strain out ginger pieces add honey to taste enjoy !!

Show Your Skin Some Love

A body polish that will seem decadent and almost yummy enough to eat..1/2 Cup Raw Sugar,1/4 Cup Oil  ( I use almond, walnut, or olive oil )  1 Tbs. chopped walnuts, and 1 Tbs. of cocoa powder, 1 Tbs lavender.(you can also use dried rose petals)  Massage into damp skin rinse off, the sugar and nuts will exfolliate dead skin and the cocoa will add a touch of brightness and the oil will lock in the moisture...Skin dessert..how fun.

The brew that can help clear skin breakouts !!

You are washing your face and feel the beginning of a pimple on your face. Using a teenage acne cream left your skin dry and flaky last time you used it. For an adult remedy steep one tablespoon of basil ,dried or fresh, in one cup water. Boil for twenty minutes, then dab this liquid on the spot that may become a pimple.Basil is rich in estragole, an antimicrobial compound that can kill bacteria at the root of the breakout, this should help clear your skin by morning. It works !!

Body Scrub...yes you can do it !!

It is simply easy and costs very little. Use any plastic or glass jar four to eight ounces is a good size. (old peanut butter jars are great, I prefer glass.) Get Epsom Salts at any large store in their pharmacy section usually. They now even have scented salts and it is available in small and large sizes. Get some dried or fresh lavender or bay leaves chop up and mix with salt. About a tablespoon works well. Pour salts and herbs in jar, add baby oil to cover...and wow you have a body scrub. You can do this without the herbs but is so fun to include them, think of it as a little bit of the earth's spirit added to your scrub. You can add a few drops of food coloring shake to disperse color, do not use too much. Also you could add a few drops of essential oil. If you use essential oil be sure you know how to use them. There are some you would not use if you were pregnant and some you would not use if you had serious medical conditions. Apply generously to feet,legs,and arms (I like to do this while in tub)..slip into the water, rinse,..... smoother skin than you have ever had for pennies....