Herb Jelly

Here's a recipe I heard about from the African basket lady (Regina) at the Citrus Heights Farmer's Market today. It's made with Pomona's Pectin and apple cider or juice. The original recipe calls for dried Rosemary, but Regina says she made a great batch of jelly using dried Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) instead. She cautions not to use French lavender (Lavandin) because (as we know) it's too high in camphor.

Lavender or Rosemary Apple Jelly

4 cups apple cider or apple juice
4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
4 teaspoons dried lavender or rosemary
4 teaspoons Pomona's pectin
2 teaspoons calcium water (from the Pomona's pectin box)
1/2 cup honey

Heat apple cider or juice in a medium size pot with apple cider vinegar and calcium water. Bring to a boil, add herbs, turn off and let steep for 30 minutes. Mix the pectin thoroughly with the honey. Strain out the herbs, add pectin/honey mixture and bring just to a boil. Take off burner, spoon into sterilized jars and process via the hot water bath method for about 5 minutes.

If you'd like to make the above recipe using essential oil (s) instead of the dried herb, modify the recipe as follows:

Same ingredients, but substitute one or two drops of therapeutic quality Lavandula angustifolia or Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil. Be sure to choose an essential oil that you KNOW has not been adulterated or extended with chemicals of any kind (check out Young Living Essential Oils).

Heat the cider or juice in a medium size pot with vinegar and calcium water. Bring to a boil. Thoroughly mix the pectin in with the honey and add to the hot juice. Bring just to a boil again and then take pot off the burner. Add one to two drops essential oil and mix thoroughly. Spoon into sterilized jars and process as above.

Let me know how you like it! Enjoy!

The Art and Science of Blending

For tonight's aromatherapy certification class, we will be studying the Art and Science of Blending Essential Oils. Blends may be used for therapeutic purposes, as natural fragrances, or for household uses. Medically, the anti-microbial benefits of blends are reported to be more pronounced than with single oils.

Here is some information on using essential oils for your pleasure, rather than for their therapeutic properties, though happily, one can hardly escape their beneficial effects on one's health.

Perfume Recipes

Firstly we start with the base. You can use alcohol or a carrier oil but a mixture of both is ideal. An odorless spirit such as Vodka is the best choice along with Jojoba. Jojoba has a long shelf life and once it's on the skin it tends to dry out leaving your wonderful scent behind.

As Jojoba is the most expensive carrier oil I recommend that while you are experimenting you use one of the cheaper, odorless carrier oils such as almond oil or apricot kernel oil. Once you are happy with your experimenting, you can then blend using jojoba oil.

Equipment you will need:
Measuring spoons
Small funnel
Small colored bottle

Instructions:

Measure 1 teaspoon of your carrier oil (jojoba, almond or apricot kernel) and 1 teaspoon of alcohol (Vodka), using the small funnel, into your bottle.

Add the essential oils from your chosen recipe one drop at a time. You may need to use a dropper if your essential oil jars do not already have dropper measures built in.

Shake the mixture well after adding each drop.

Put the lid on tightly and store in a cool, dark place for a minimum of 12 days shaking at least 3 times each day.

Enjoy!

Recipes:

Bliss
2 drops Bergamot
1 drops Jasmine
1 drops Rose
2 drops Sandalwood

Joyfulness
2 drops Basil
1 drops Geranium
3 drops Melissa
2 drops Sandalwood

Warmth
2 drops Black Pepper
3 drops Patchouli
4 drops Rosewood
3 drops Ylang Ylang

Poise
2 drops Basil
3 drops Bergamot
1 drop Coriander
4 drops Petitgrain

Decisiveness
2 drops Benzoin
3 drops Frankincense
1 drop Geranium
3 drops Orange

Self belief
2 drops Ginger
3 drops Myrtle
4 drops Rosemary
3 drops Verbena

Wedding nerves
4 drops Jasmine
2 drops Lemon
1 drops Patchouli

Arabian nights
3 drops Coriander
1 drop Frankincense
3 drops Juniper
4 drops Orange

Egyptian empress
2 drops Cinnamon
3 drops Lime
4 drops Rose
5 drops Ylang Ylang

Morocco mystique
3 drops Bergamot
2 drops Palmarosa
3 drops Rose
4 drops Sandalwood

Perfumes will smell different on different people and on different skin types; don't be disappointed if you don't like them all. Experimenting with these recipes is all part of the fun. You can always give them away to a friend as a gift!

All recipes from www.essential-oil-recipes.com.