RECIPES
Anise Springerle Cookies for the Holidays:
"This is a 100 year old recipe from Germany. I use it
every Christmas. Its traditionally served with black coffee to dunk the
cookie in. I prefer to eat them when they are still warm as the lemon
flavor and the anise is a wonderful combination and the lemon is
stronger at that time."
INGREDIENTS:
4 eggs
4 cups confectioners' sugar
4 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 drops anise oil
1 drop lemon oil (or two teaspoons grated lemon zest.)
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until very light and fluffy.
Stir in the anise oil and lemon oil. Add the flour and baking powder;
mix until well blended. Cover and chill dough for 3 to 4 hours.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 to 1/8 inch
thickness. Use a springerle rolling pin or board to make the designs.
Cut into 1 1/2 inch rectangles, place onto a cookie sheet, and let them
sit out overnight, uncovered, in a cool dry place.
3. The next morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake the cookies for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not let the cookies brown.
Allow cookies to cool, and store in an airtight tin for at least 1 week
to blend the flavors.
Raspberry Rose Water Risotto:
A friend sent this recipe and variations from a list she participates
in. I can't wait to get more fresh raspberries so we can try it!
1oz unsalted butter
14 oz risotto (aroborio) rice
6oz granulated sugar
1/2pt champagne or could replace with an elderflower cordial or
something similar. One could also use fruit juice I think.
5 fl oz rose-water
1lb fresh rasberries
1. Heat butter in a large saucepan, add rice and cook for 4-5
minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat sugar and water together until sugar has
dissolved. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and allow to simmer
gently
3. Add the champagne/cordial to the rice and boil until the liquid has
absorbed.
4. Start adding the hot syrup to the rice a little at a time, stirring
gently. Allow the syrup to become absorbed after each addition. Keep
stirring constantly. Continue to add the syrup until the rice is cooked
but still 'al dente' (about 30 - 40 minutes).
5. Add the rose-water and cook for a further 5 minutes until it has been
absorbed. Stir in the raspberries and stir together for 2-3 minutes, or
until the fruit is beginning to break up.
6. Check for sweetness and add a little confectioners sugar if
necessary. Serve very hot...
Suggestions:
Serve in a parfait glass topped with a small scoop of
vanilla ice cream?
Garnish with fresh rose petals, or other edible flowers?
Substitute a sweet wine for the champagne?
Top the ice cream with a single drop of Raspberry vinegar, to contrast
tart and sweet?
I HAVE to try this!
BLENDS and IDEAS shared by our Clients:
Richelle Hutchinson shares this closet freshener blend:
"By the way, I keep ordering those clay hanging
diffusers using this recipe: 25 drop Cinnamon Bark, 15 drop
Clove, 10 drops of Peppermint, add it to the clay pot, hang it
in the closet, WONDERFUL!"
And Jean Flinchum shared her secret "Magic Elixir of Elegance" with
us...(Jean always makes me laugh, and I love her enthusiasm for our
products!)
Hello Marge: I have been experimenting with my
last order.....I have made a MARVELOUS little concoction: My 1 oz.
Apricot Kernel of course as my Base........added 2 drops each of:
Borage, CO2 Frankincense, Heli {copper free 10% dilution in
fractioned coconut oil} and 2 drops Rose Hip Seed Oil...... This
has been the most wonderful serum! "plumping"....smoothing/soothing
pizazz!
I'm new at mixing.....only thing I have done really is adding
recommended EO's to my Mature Skin Elixir and a few masks I've
experimented with. 2 drops each is probably not 'enough'....but I
figure that is 8 drops of diff. things and seems very workable to
me. You said 15 drops per fluid oz of carrier or 2 to 3 drops per
tsp of a carrier....so figure I am 'safe' with 8 drops in 1 oz
carrier.....When I am more 'confident' I will try more! For a
variation, I may put a drop of Hazelnut Oil in my palm or my fav.
Pomegranate....add a drop of my 'mixture' and apply. I've been
adding Cistus Hydro to my masks.......and getting 'firmer' skin.
Now I AM 64...SO NO BIG MAGIC FACE LIFTS OR ANYTHING HERE.....BUT a
marked, healthy-persona ageing with attitude look!...and that's just
super fine with me! My above 'mixture' has the most powerfully
softening effect on wrinkles, dryness or crepy skin! Then I
have been 'misting' with any one of my Hydros throughout the
day.....and combining my Rose Hydro with Cistus Hydro.......really a
combat against wrinkles!!!! HAVING SO MUCH FUN HERE with my
Mature Skin Sampler Kit! [and I have fallen in pure love with
Hazelnut Oil!].......I also very much enjoyed my Week of
BLISS!!!...and thank you once more for that! I think I will get an
unscented cream or cleanser and add some of my Neroli 10% in
Jojoba..... so this will be in my next order........JUST WANTED TO
SHARE MY HAPPINESS!............warmly, Jean
My note...the "mature skin sampler" that Jean refers to may be out of
stock by now...we are redesigning its contents, and waiting for our
precious shipment of Argan oil to arrive next month. It WILL contain our
new Pomegranate, and probably the Camellia. (Or should the Camellia go
into the Dry Skin Sampler...so many choices!)
Aromatherapy Research
Anti-nausea Research
Just came across an article in the IJA describing a research project
using aromatherapy to ease nausea in hospice and palliative care
patients. One of the remedies shown effective was a blend of
- Anise seed (Pimpinella anisum) 5 drops
- Sweet Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. Dolce) 15 drops
- Peppermint (Mentha x Piperita) 2 drops
- Roman Chamomile (anthemis nobilis) 3 drops
The blend was either blended into 8 ounces of distilled water (using
a solublizer like our Polysorbate first to dssolve the synergy), used in
a small bedside diffuser, or diluted in carrier oil (a 3%
dilution, 15 - 18 drops per fluid ounce of carrier) for abdominal
massage. Please note, both Aniseed and Sweet Fennel should be avoided by
those with estrogen dependent cancer.
For our third quarter charity this year we
have chosen The Joyful Heart Foundation.
The Joyful Heart Foundation, for victims of sexual assault and for
prevention was founded by Jayne Mansfield's daughter, Mariska Hargitay
of Law & Order SVU on NBC. 100% of funds donated go back to the program.
You may read about the Foundation at her website http://www.mariska.com/,
and the foundation's website. http://joyfulheartfoundation.org/. They do
wonderful things and here is their mission:
The Joyful Heart Foundation is dedicated to helping survivors of
sexual assault heal mind, body and spirit. Our programs are designed to
nurture and enable the creative healing process for survivors and their
communities. We support the larger anti-violence movement by raising
awareness and funding for programs with similar missions.
Since our products are designed to heal body, mind and spirit, we
felt this cause just "fit" who we are. We hope you'll join us in
supporting their important work.
Quotes of the Month:
No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face.
--John Donne
Youth is like spring, an over- praised season more remarkable for biting
winds than genial breezes.
Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than
gain in fruits.
--Samuel Butler
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