Roses in the Bath

 

Rose petals add an element of softness to the skin when used in bath mixtures.  Either in Bath Bags or in salves, vinegar and other mediums, the softening as well as mildly astringent qualitiesalso reducing puffiness, edema and has a slight tightening effect (which means it reduced wrinkles!) The oil is most effective for moisturizing and hydrating the skin while having a general stimulant and antiseptic action which is good for all skin types, but especially so for dry, mature and irritated skin. It is used to repair broken capillaries, inflammation, as well as skin redness.

Today I thought it would be fun to share a few recipes using roses that are just for the bath.  But if you do not want to make your own and like roses in your bath items, the Backyard Patch makes two popular rose products.  My fun and simple Bath Tub Tea that is a combation of many herbs including rose petals and my rose petal infused Rose Hair Rinse which uses rose petals in vinegar and water to soften hair and help remove product build up from shampoo, conditioners and treatments.

 Here are recipes to try on your own:

Bath Bag

2 t. each

lemon verbena

 peppermint

 dried roses

 hibiscus

nettle

rosehips (for color)

Place the herbs in a cotton draw string bag or wrap up in a cotton wash cloth.  To use steep the bag in 2 cups water warm water for 15 minutes are pour into bath water.

Rose Vinegar Bath

A toner and fresher that brings skin back to normal pH after cleaning; this product is very good for your skin, especially if it is oily.  Apply after washing with a cotton ball or soft cloth.

1 cup apple cider vinegar

5 T. rose petals

4 T. sage leaves

3 T. raspberry leaves

2 T. rosemary

¾ cup rosewater (reserved)

Heat the vinegar and pour over the herbs.  Place the mixture in a quart jar and cap it.  (Do not use a metal lid).  Shake daily for 10 days.  Strain.  Add rosewater to vinegar.  Store, covered, in jars with nonmetallic lids.

(This recipe was by Linda Gannon, the Magick Garden  McFarland, WI – excerpted from Herbal Treasures by Phyllis Shaudys, 1990)

Basic Baby Powder

8 oz. arrowroot or cornstarch or a blend of both

4 oz. baking soda

1 Tbls. Ground Cloves

1 Tbls. slippery elm

1 Tbls. rose petals

1 Tbls. Lavender

Blend ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl.  Store in a large glass jar, covered, for two weeks, allowing scents to blend.  Shake jar well every other day.  You can boost the scent with 10 to 15 drops of rose absolute or rose geranium essntial oil.

Dust on body as a perfume or a way to stay dry in warm summer months.

Rose Bath Oil

Rose Petals (about 1/2 to 1 cup)
2 oz grapeseed oil
5 drops jasmine oil
5 drops ylang-ylang oil

Place rose petals in a glass jar and cover with the oils. Shake and allow to infuse overnight. I liked it best when it infused about 3 days. 

Add 1/4 oz. of the oil to your bath or sprkile over the tips of your fingers and work into your skin when wet fromt he shower.

How Tues-day Making Herbal Vinegar

This time of year, when the herbs grow large and beg to be harvested is my favorite time of year to make vinegar.  I make it in the spring too, but not as much as in the fall.  This year, I have made lemon verbena vinegar, Purple basil, lemon basil, and several new combinations, like chives and thyme together.

I thought I would share today the steps for making vinegar--

The most important thing you need when making herb flavored vinegar is the vinegar.  You want to obtain the best vinegar your money can buy.  As long as the acid content is 5% or more will not have to worry about bateria and your vinegar will have a great shelf life.  

The following instructions were included in my most recent article in the Essential Herbal Magazine.  In that particular September/October 2011 issue were articles about making oils and elixirs.  I recommend the magazine highly if you like exploring herbs and their uses.  Here is a link to check it out: The Essential Herbal Magazine.

Things to keep in mind:

• Cleanliness is essential.  Wash all your utensils, bottle and containers with hot soapy water.


• Use non-reactive containers for the steeping process, glass, plastic, porcelain and enamel coated steel with tight fitting non-reactive lids.


• Freshly picked herbs yield the best results.  I pick mine in the morning before the sun leaches the essential oil, rinse them and let them air dry while I prepare the bottles and jars.


• Steep your vinegar away from sunlight as the flavors are best maintained this way.


• Always be sure your herbs are completely covered with vinegar to avoid mold growth.


• Herb vinegars generally do not spoil, but they will lose their unique herbal character about 18 months after rebottling.

General Instructions:

Once herbs have dried from washing, place them in a glass jar and bruise them with the handle of a wooden spoon. 

Cover them with vinegar of your choice that you have warmed in the microwave on high for about 2 minutes. 

Seal the jar with a non-reactive (plastic) lid and let sit for at least two weeks shaking daily.

Strain using cheese cloth or a coffee filter and rebottle. 

If you want herbs in the finished product add new unbruised herbs.  Then enjoy!

If you wish to experiment with your own vinegar, good herbs to start with are lemon herbs, basils (especially colored ones like the purple basil above), chives (and chive flowers) and thyme (both lemon and regular).  They are perfect for cooking and easy to incorporate into recipes.

Recipes

Herb Shallot Marinade

I crafted this recipe for my first herb lecture back in 1995.  Great on pasta and vegetable salads.  Tenderizes less expensive cuts of meat.  Chicken breasts are delicious marinated 3 to 4 hours or overnight, then broiled or barbecued.

3/4 cup oil (olive)

3/4 cup of any Herbal Vinegar

3 Tbls. shallots, finely chopped

1 Tbls. fresh parsley, chopped

1 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Mix all ingredients in small shallow bowl, beating until well blended.

Basil Summer Salad

This is a great way to enjoy your fresh basil from the garden.  You can use a basil vinegar as well as the one recomended.

Slice fresh tomatoes from the garden.  

Top each tomato slice with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese.

Top that with a basil leaf.

Drizzle with chive blossom vinegar or thyme vinegar and good olive oil.

Makes a delicious summer salad.

Oven Barbecued Chicken

• 3/4 cup catsup


• 1/4 cup lemon herb vinegar


• 2 tablespoons chopped dried onion


• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce


• 1 teaspoon dry mustard


• 1/2 cup water


• 4 chicken breasts

Combine above ingredients (excluding chicken). Simmer 10 minutes. In a 9x13 inch oven safe dish, arrange chicken skin side up. Pour sauce over chicken. Bake at 350° for 60 minutes. Baste midway.

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts will work for this recipe. If you use skinless chicken, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Use less vinegar to suit your tastes.  You can substitue an herbed wine for hte vinegar in this recipes as well.

Lectures and programs

I just had to share what a marvelous time I had today doing a program for the Hinsdale (IL) Garden Study Group today.  They had about 40 members there and I did my program "INFUSIONS" which is about making vinegars, oils, water, sugar and salts infused with herbs.  I passed items around and demonstrated some techniques and shared the way to make each of the infused items.  The women were wonderfully attentive, even though I ran long and had extraordinary questions.  Overall it was a great experience and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Tomorrow I will be presenting and selling my wares at the Oakbrook, IL chapter of the Salvation Army women's group.  I am looking forward to this group and its educational theme.  I will be doing my program "Beginning Herbs"  where I speak about how to grow and use herbs.

The Salvation Army is one of Chas and my favorite charities and this year I know donations were down, so I am virtually donating my program tomorrow so they don't have to dig into their coffers to pay my fee.  In exchange they are letting me set out a few things to sell which should cover my gas expenses, if the cost of gas does not go up again!!

If you have a local Illinois, southern Wisconsin or western Indiana organization and would like me to come share about herbs, you can see a list of all my available programs, by visiting www.backyardpatch.com

Have a great day!