On the Market.

Have dry, thirsty hands from working in the dirt this summer? Maybe a little sunburn where you forgot to wear you hat while gardening? Well here’s a little recipe I created to counter the effects of both. This rich cream is perfect for replenishing those stubborn spots of dry skin or for soothing and healing a sunburn.

Sun & Skin Soother

©2005 Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen

Ingredients:
1 Cup Shea Butter
1/2 teaspoon Lavender 40-42 Essential Oil
1/4 teaspoon Tea Tree Oil
2 teaspoons Raw Organic Aloe Vera Gel
1 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
2 teaspoons of Mountain Rose Herbs Secret Skin Oil

Instructions:
Melt shea butter in a pot on the stove over low, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into containers. Makes 2 4oz. jars.

You may also interested in trying these recipes:

Gardener’s Hand Cream Recipe
Natural Herbal Sunburn Relief Recipes

Blueberries, raspberries, and lavender are all in season.  And if you’re lucky you have a few of these planted in your own yard so you can use the freshest ingredients. If not, then pick them up at the Roanoke City Market. Then enjoy a nice evening in the hot tub with this creative margarita!

Recipe courtesy of Purple Haze Lavender.

Ingredients:
3/4 - 1 cup tequila
1/3 - 1/2 cup blue curacao or other orange flavor liqueur
3/4 - 1 cup canned coconut milk
1/4 - 1/3 cup lime juice
1 1/2 - 2 cuts frozen unsweetened raspberries
1 1/2 - 2 cuts frozen unsweetened blueberries
3-4 ice cubes
1 t. lavender

Instructions:
In a blender, combine the tequila, curacao, coconut milk and lime juice. Cover and turn to high speed, then gradually add berries and ice. Whirl until smooth and slushy. Pour into glasses. You can rub glass rims with lime and dip the rim in lavender sugar or salt. Add a lavender sprig for garnish!

If your garden looks like mine, then you have lavender in full bloom right now. Here’s a great recipe for cheesecake that utilizes fresh lavender.

Recipe courtesy of Blossom Farm.

Ingredients:
2/3 cup pastry flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, separated
4 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling:
2/3 cup white wine
3 Tablespoons fresh lavender, chopped
2+1/2 teaspoons gelatin powder
6 egg yolks
2/3 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups mascarpone cheese

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.

Line a jellyroll pan with parchment paper.

Sift together flour and cornstarch and set aside.

Whip the 2 separated egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff peaks and reserve. Warm 4 eggs in their shells in hot water for 2 minutes. Whip the 4 eggs with the 2 separated yolks plus additional yolk on high speed with sugar and vanilla until think and pale. Fold in flour, and then fold in whites in 2 additions.

Spread batter evenly onto baking pan and bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Allow to cool.

Line sides of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment and cut a disc of sponge cake to line the bottom.

Filling: Heat white wine with lavender to infuse the flavour.

Strain out lavender (or leave in for colour).

Soften gelatin in 2 Tablespoons cold water and set aside.

Over a pot of simmering water, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice and wine until doubled in volume and whisk leaves a ribbon when you lift it.

Remove from heat and stir in gelatin.

Whisk in mascarpone cheese and pour into springform pan. Chill for 4 hours before unmolding.

To Assemble: Remove springform pan and parchment. Sides can be coated with graham crumbs or left plain and tied with a ribbon for a special occasion. Garnish top with fresh lavender flowers or berries. Serve.

This is a no-bake cheesecake - the light scent of lavender is matched in texture by an almost mousse-like cheesecake filling.

Make spring cleaning healthier by cleaning with natural products rather than those comprised of harsh chemicals that are neither good for you or the environment. Visit Mountain Rose Herbs for Natural Spring Cleaning Recipes that include a Herb Soap Concentrate, Citrus Scrubber, Fragrant Wood Polish, Disinfectant Air Freshener and more. Read all recipes.

Fragrant Wood Polish

Makes about 1 cup

This formula forms a soft paste that can be applied with a wool or cotton rag or lamb’s-wool pad. I use it on fine furniture about once a year.

1 ounce beeswax
8 ounces mineral oil
1/2 teaspoon essential oil of Peru balsam
1/4 teaspoon each essential oils of lavender,
orange, tangerine, and lemon
1/8 teaspoon each essential oils of bergamot, rosemary, and spruce

Visit Mountain Rose Herbs for full directions.

Other Recipes You Can Try:

5-Alive Air Freshner Recipe
Gel Air Fresheners
Crystal Gel Air Fresheners

Try this easy hand milled soap recipe and wash your way to superhero bug repelling power!

Citronella Soap

Ingredients:
1 cup grated Castile soap
1/2 cup water
10 drops citronella essential oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
1 T. dried, crushed penny royal leaves

Instructions:
Mix the ingredients into the melted soap/water mixture. With an electric mixer, whip the soap until it has doubled in volume. Spoon the soap into the prepared molds, pushing it into the molds as best you can (the beating action cools the mix, so work quickly). If the mixture has cooled off and thickened so much you can’t put it into the molds, hand mold the soap into large balls.

You can purchase organic essential oils and herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.

No time to make your own? Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen sells a Lemon & Poppyseed Soap made with lemongrass essential oil - another natural alternative for keeping biting insects away.

There’s nothing like the inviting and uplifting aroma of Lemon & Poppyseed Muffins baking in the oven! These deliciously scented soaps are sure to give you your fill! The poppyseeds exfoliate your skin, while the lemongrass helps to keep biting insects at bay. You can’t go wrong with this one. Bar weighs at least 4 oz. 100% natural with no color added. Naturally scented only with pure essential oils. Vegan. $5

You can purchase this soap online or on the Roanoke City Market.

A few things that may prove helpful in your garden. All items are handmade and support artisans worldwide.

Herb Garden Plant Markers by Nina Gibson Designs, $28
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
She once was a true love of mine

Perfect little markers for your window herb garden. They are made from nickel metal, or German silver. I’ve cut strips of metal and fashioned a stake point on one end and filed the edges so they are smooth. Then I stamped each little stake with an herb name. You can purchase the parsley, sage, rosemary, & thyme pictured, or specify the plant names you like in your buyer’s notes. They can also be customized with a name or any other word (Numbers are also available). Markers are made to order.

These little stakes are approximately 2 1/8 inch (around 55 mm) long and 1/4 inch (6mm) wide. They are small, so they are great for potted plants. This sale is for one set of four stakes at $7 each.

Wire Nest with Seed Cake Egg by Oopsie Daisy Design, $8
This is a must have! Every bird lover will enjoy watching the birds perch on the edge of the wire nest to enjoy a snack. Each nest is made of tightly wrapped wire and is decorated with rusty tin die cuts in the shape of dragon flies, bees, lady bugs, bird houses, birds, stars, or hearts. One solid seed egg is included. The nests are refillable with our seed eggs which come in bags of 3 or cartons of 6. A perfect gift or treat for yourself.

Self-Watering African Violet Pot by One Wintry Night, $28
These are my take on traditional African Violet pots. The outer pot is wheel-thrown stoneware. The inner pot is wheel-thrown eartherware, which is porous enough for water to wick through. The outer pot is about 7 1/2 inches in diameter, the inner pot about 4 inches.

The pots are designed to keep violets constantly watered, but not overwatered. There is no need to water the violets directly - just keep water in the outside bowl.

These pots also work well for any plant that likes to be uniformly watered, and to be on the dry side.

Farmer’s Hand Salve by Sugarwood Naturals, $6.50
- Softens and heals dry, cracked skin.
- Super thick formula, melts quickly leaving a wonderful protective barrier.
- Contains sunflower oil infused with calendula, nettle, chamomile and plantain - all known for their healing properties.
- Orange, eucalyptus and lavender essential oils have been added for their antiseptic and healing properties. They also give the salve a clean, fresh scent.
- Packaged in a rugged metal 2 oz. tin.
- All natural.

Our Farmers Hand Salve can be used throughout the day, but works best when applied just before bedtime or after scrubbing your hands with our Farmers Scrub Soap. You will be amazed at the results the next morning. Works great on cracked heels too!

Ugly Plant Pot Stones by Spiderling Art, $10.50
Set of three little stones to liven up your plant pots (or anywhere else you fancy!). They’re hand sculpted from stone effect polymer clay and have black glass bead eyes.

The smallest measures 2.5cm/1″ across, the middle one is 3cm across (just under 1 and 1/4 inches) and the biggest is 3.5cm (just under 1 and 1/2 inches).

Mystery Fern Bottle by Leaves of Clay, $23
This is a little bottle made of stoneware clay fired to cone 6. The glaze on the rim and on the inside is a mottled blue and tan color. The outside is imprinted with leaves that grow in the Appalachian Mountains. The veins of the leaves were intensified by painting and rubbing an oxide on the surface. This oxide is permanent. The bottle is 2 and 3/4 inches tall and 3 and 1/2 inches wide. The leaves are a mystery fern (yet to be identified), nettle, white oak, skunk meadow rue, oregano, tulip poplar, wild grape vine, violet, and sage.

Frida Garden Apron by Hot Dish, $50
I love Frida Kahlo, who she was, what she did, everything! This fabric depicts Frida in the garden.
This Hot Dish signature apron is backed with an extra layer of canvas for sturdiness. It has many pockets for all your garden items that we are always misplacing in the dirt such as shovels, seeds, ties, ipod, and sunglasses. It has a loop on each side for hanging tools too. The waist and neck ties are made with sturdy nylon.

Prewashed and dried in biodegradable laundy detergent this apron is 24.5″ long and 25.5″ wide across the waist/hips with 21″ neck ties on each side and 32″ waist ties on each side.

Previous Garden Finds.

By Cyndi Roberts

If you love herbal teas, as I do, you know they are just a little bit pricey. However, growing your own herbs is easy and so much fun!

Here are just a few of the herbs you might want to consider for a tea garden:

Chamomile: Remember the favorite tea of Peter Rabbit? Only the flowers of this fragrant herb are used when making tea. Chamomile tea can be enjoyed by itself or you might enjoy adding mint or lemon verbena.

Lemon Balm: This herb is lemony with a touch of mint and makes a soothing cup of tea. It’s easy to grow (almost too easy) so remember to keep it clipped back.

Lemon Verbena: An excellent herb to grow in a sunny spot, it makes a delicious tea. You might try combining it with orange mint or spearmint.

Mints: There are many mints available. Generally, they are aromatic plants and they are aggressive. It may be a good idea to plant mint in a pot and then put the pot in the ground so it doesn’t take over your herb garden. Spearmint, peppermint, orange mint all make wonderful teas, alone or along with chamomile or any of the lemon herbs.

Herb teas can be made with fresh or dried herbs and can be enjoyed either hot or cold.

For one cup of hot tea, use one teaspoon of dry herbs or up to 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs. Bruising the leaves of fresh herbs will help release the flavor. Pour boiling water over the herbs in a glass or china pot. Metal pots can sometimes leave a metallic taste. Let steep for 5 or so minutes. Strain and enjoy with a little honey to sweeten.

Sun tea can be made simply by filling a jar with water, throw in a handful of crushed fresh herbs, and set in the sun for 3 or 4 hours. Stir in a little honey to sweeten, pour over ice and enjoy.

Trying different combinations of herbs is fun. Remember you can also add spices you have on hand, such as cinnamon, cloves, etc.

There are many benefits to growing and making your own herbal teas. Gardening itself is very relaxing and rewarding. With herbs from your garden you can soothe away your troubles with a cup of chamomile tea or make yourself a refreshing cup of peppermint tea after a hard day at work.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Look in the perfumes of flowers and nature for peace of
mind and joy of life.
–Wang Wei

About the author:
Cyndi Roberts is the editor of “1 Frugal Friend 2 Another” bi-weekly newsletter, bringing you creative, practical tips to help you with budgeting, cooking, shopping, parenting and much more as you strive to “live the Good Life…on a budget”. To subscribe visit the “1 Frugal Friend 2 Another” website at http://www.cynroberts.com.

You can also purchase organic, dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.