Flower and herb uses?
Question:I'd like to know some 'recipes' using any kinds of herbs and flowers-- food recipes, potpourri recipes, facial/skin care recipes, ANY kind of home, food or body recipe. I work in a flower shop so I have access to all sorts of flowers, including dried lavender and stuff like that, and some herbs. Any ideas would be appreciated!
Answers:
Calendula is also called pot marigold (not the same plant grown in your annual bed. Pot marigolds are smaller and more delicate in appearance than the more familiar garden Marigold)
Calendula is said to encourage healing, aid digestion, fight fungal infections and cure diaper rash, but it is also has several cosmetic uses. Calendula petals can be used to make a nourishing skin cream or cleanser (see recipe below)
NOURSHING MARIGOLD CLEANSER
4 tablespoons olive or almond oil
2 tablespoons dried pot marigold flowers
few drops of violet, orange blossom or rose water
Warm the oil in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water. Stir in the dried flowers and continue to heat gently for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, allow to cool, and stir in the flower water.
Wikipedia is always my first go to source on all things related to anything. If you wikipedia specific flowers or herbs it will generally give you their properties.
Potpourri for one is very easy to make, all you need to do is dry out the flowers and mix their petals together.
More specifically, you should consult these links, they could be helpful to you:
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site...
http://www.epicurious.com/
If you have dried lavendar, make sachets - just wrap a tablespoon or so into a square of fabric and tie it up. They keep your clothes fresh in drawers and closets, and they make great gifts.
As for recipes, I love to use rosemary. Drop a long sprig in a pot of potato soup, on low for 20 minutes. Also, try making aluminum foil packets of any white fish filet, a little olive oil, pepper and a sprig of rosemary. How long to bake it depends on the type of fish and size of the filet.
And then, there's always stuffing a chicken with whatever herbs you can get your hands on - thyme, sage, rosemary, lemon balm. Just fill the cavity with fresh herbs and roast it.
The trick is to use very fresh herbs, so they don't fall apart when they get cooked. Good luck!
Lavender is fabulous! It has many uses. I make potpourri from it, by putting it in little glass jars. In my bathroom, I have a small shelf with three baby food jars (with no lids), with ribbons tied around the part where the lid would screw on. It has a pleasant scent. Another thing I do with Lavender is making drawer and closet fresheners. If you're like me, you always end up with odd socks from the wash. I take the socks with no mates and fill them with spices and herbs and flowers (cloves, lavender, and rose petals are my favorites). Then, I tie up the socks and toss them in drawers, closets and hampers to keep linens, clothes and towels smelling clean and fresh. Lavender is also delicious when added to simple white vanilla cake mix. It makes it pretty, and adds a savory taste to complement the sweet of the cake. Another flower use is to put nasturtiums in salads. They have a nutty taste.
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