December 2008 - Herbal Holiday Recipes

Based on favorable comments received for last month's herbal recipes, as promised, here are a few more. Dress up your holiday feast with tasty and easy-to-make herbal accompaniments, grace special friends with sweet smelling bath salts to celebrate the holidays, or be kind to yourself and enhance or relax your mood with aromatherapeutic fragrances around the house.

Organic, homemade spelt dinner rolls with herb butter are a staple take-along to potluck dinners for me, since both can be made ahead of time.

Blend 1/4 pound butter (one stick) softened to room temperature with one-two teaspoons dried herb (or two-three tablespoons fresh minced herb). Mix well, press into butter mold (or single serving size Jello mold). Wrap and freeze for two hours or until needed. Run bottom of mold under hot tap water until form slides free. Dill weed, tarragon, basil, Italian blend, chives and sage are some of our favorites. Sage or chive butter blended with sour cream is fantastic on baked potatoes. Cheat a little and next time you make air-popped popcorn, add onion and garlic powder to melted butter and drizzle over popcorn. Your imagination and taste buds are your only limitations!

Here are some simple and inexpensive herbal bath and body recipes for enjoying after a stressful shopping and gift wrapping season. Note: Always pre-test for allergic reactions to essential oils by mixing one drop of herbal oil into 1/2 teaspoon carrier oil (olive, sesame, jojoba, almond, etc.) and massaging into skin a day or two before taking a tub bath. One of my children loves chamomile tea and enjoys the tea with no problem but is extremely sensitive to chamomile essential oil. Be smart and stay healthy: always test first!

Herbal Hair Rinses: The basic recipe calls for two tablespoons dried herbs or six tablespoons fresh herbs steeped in two cups just boiled water for five-ten minutes. Cover container while steeping. Strain and allow to cool completely. Store excess in covered glass container in refrigerator ‘til needed. Chamomile lightens fair hair, sage darkens hair and hibiscus adds red highlights to brunette hair. Slowly pour one cup liquid through hair as a final rinse. Herbal rinses work gradually - the more often used, the greater the results.

Bath Salts: Mix equal amounts of baking soda, Epsom Salts and sea salt together (for example, two cups soda, two cups Epsom Salts, two cups sea salt). To use as is, pour one-half to one cup of blend to running tub water. A few drops of essential oil can be added while water is running, if desired. Soak for at least 20-30 minutes for tremendous muscle relaxation. For scented gift-giving, mix a few drops of desired essential oils to the baking soda and blend well, then add soda to the salts. Blend thoroughly, then pour into pretty glass containers with tight lids, or dress up small canning jars with fabric edged by pinking shears, raffia or ribbons. Be certain that the oils you use are herbal essential oils, NOT fragrance oils. Many fragrance oils are synthetically manufactured and should never be used in the bath, on the skin or ingested. Keep ALL oils out of reach of children.

Herbal Body Soak (from Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty At Home): Crush 1/4 cup each of dry bay leaves and dry marjoram leaves in blender or food processor until very fine. In a large bowl, blend herbs with one cup baking soda and two cups of fine (not coarse) sea salt. Store in an airtight glass container. Pour 1/2 cup of the blend into the bath and enjoy. Janice says, "Bay leaves and marjoram are known for stimulating circulation while easing achy muscles and stiff joints. Marjoram, which is related to oregano, has a very relaxing scent." After thorough rinsing, be sure to moisturize your skin with a rich, natural oil such as almond, jojoba, or light sesame.

Expecting company for the Yuletide? Forget store-bought, synthetic air fresheners that can cause allergic reactions.

Air Freshener: Put 4-6 drops essential oil on clean cotton balls and tuck around the house (oil can stain wood and finishes, so protect the surface and set cotton ball on waxed paper, tin foil, small bottle cap, etc.) for a gentle, fragrant "whiff" that will have guests asking, "What smells so good?" Around greenery, try Balsam Fir Needle Oil or Pine Needle Oil. Lemongrass and/or orange oil in the bathroom lends an uplifting freshness that's welcome during the winter months. Or enjoy an herbal and spicy potpourri by adding a couple of cinnamon sticks or pinches of ground cinnamon, ground ginger, whole or powdered cloves, and a couple of pieces of orange rind to gently simmering water on the wood stove.

Here's to your best smelling holiday ever, and I offer my personal wishes to all for health and happiness in the New Year.