Common and everyday spices are well known to have healing effects and have been used in this way by virtually all of mankind at one time or another, from ancient times to present day. (see the spice history chart in betweenclosefriends.com for more information)
As we come full circle and begin turning away from the fast-food [...]
Molded tomato ice cream—This is an unique flavoured ice cream, and will be the talk of the party! It is best presented molded into the approximate shape of a tomato, garnished with large mint leaves at the base, a sprig on top to resemble tomato leaves and the stem, then served accompanied with other fruits. [...]
Home made lemon curd is infinitely tastier than the commercial variety. The addition of mint gives this version of Lemon and Mint Curd an interesting extra tang. You may wish to experiment by trying different flavours of mints in this lemon curd to find the flavour combination most appealing to your taste buds.
All Lemon curds [...]
Savory cheeses: are generally used as condiments to red meats, as a cheese sauce served over cooked meats, or as a spread in place of mayonnaise and mustards. You can also serve a savory cheese on crackers, a bagette, or on open faced sandwiches by themselves or with an assortment of cold cuts. This is [...]
These homemade bulk blends make lovely holiday gifts. And they are also appropriate for garden or herb club refreshments, for they are so easy to prepare for a large crowd. For gift giving, package instant beverage mixes in holiday tins or plastic-lined decorative cloth sacks tied closed with a cinnamon stick-adorned ribbon. Include instructions for [...]
Iced Lavender-Mint Tea Punch
If fresh herbs are available, use twice as many as you would of the dried. In the summer, you may prefer to make a Sun Tea instead of boiling the water. You may add the lavender to the jar when you bring it in from the sun to cool.
6 tsp dried [...]
Mint to repel mice Herbal and country lore abound with ways of ridding your house and home of unwelcome pests. Lavender clippings have long been burned on open fires to deter insects and to pleasantly scent rooms. In the Middle Ages sprays of mint were strewn on the household floor to keep both the rooms [...]
A strong-scented Moth Bag During the last several centuries, dried herbs were commonly hung in closets or laid in presses between sheets, clothes or furs to act as perfumes and moth repellents. Lavender is still popular today, especially in England. In France, Southernwood, which has an almost sickly sweet scent is the most popular and [...]
Herbal oils and vinegars can usefully travel between your kitchen and your bathroom. In fact, you may even wish to keep a few of your favourite herbal vinegars in a ’spa basket’ in your bathroom especially for this purpose!
For a very easy and simple ‘in-a-hurry’ herbal bath, add about one tablespoonful of your favorite [...]
Mint Footbath and Massage Oil–After a long day on your feet, try soaking them in this soothing footbath. Then rub the mint oil into your feet to smooth and soften before you go to bed. The mint essential oil has a refreshing scent that will also help to relax you while refreshing your feet. (For [...]
