Tuesday, May 3, 2011

May 3. 2011 - Remembering a Special Woman - Shop Of The Week

I would like to start my blog off today by mentioning that today would of been my grandmother`s 105th birthday. So I know you`re up there looking down over all of us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

You will always be missed dearly. When I am having a bad day, I always think of you and you give me the strength and motivation to turn my day around. You were always a positive influence in my life. You taught me right from wrong. You cared for us while my Mom worked all day when raising us alone. You were a wonderful cook, your meals filled the air right out your front door on a nice day. I`ll always miss your jelly cookies. And even though its been many years missing you always brings tears to my eyes.
Love, Me

Now moving on to my shop of the week pick!
I have chosen Frog Goes To Market.


This shop is very diversified and wonderfully done.
From handcrafted soaps, to ironstone and unique and excellent vintage finds. It is one of my favorite shops to window shop or make purchases.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/72254724/primitive-stoneware-bowl-with-blue?ref=v1_other_1

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65415281/6-bars-of-soap-mix-match-100-natural

Enjoy your shopping! Etsy is loaded with shops full of wonderful and talented artists in every field imaginable. Check Etsy out, we are all hard working and love what we do, 
"CREATE"

For todays herb of the day I have chosen
PEPPERMINT

There are more than 25 true species of mint naturalized throughout Europe and North America that were well known to ancient cooks and medics. But in terms of herbal history, peppermint (Mentha x. Piperita) is a fairly new addition to the league of botanical medicines. Peppermint, a natural hybrid cross between M. aquatica (water mint) and M. spicata (spearmint), was first described in 1696 by English botanist John Ray (1628-1705), who discovered the pepper-flavored mint growing in a field.





The best place to plant peppermint is in a container or a location where you wouldn`t mind it spreading. Because it will take over everywhere, if not controlled.

I found this great recipe for 
Mint Cookies
This does not contain any fresh mint, I just wanted a recipe for something different in a cookie.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 36 chocolate mint wafer candies

Directions

  1. In a large pan over low heat, cook butter, sugar and water until butter is melted. Add chocolate chips and stir until partially melted. Remove from heat and continue to stir until chocolate is completely melted. Pour into a large bowl and let stand 10 minutes to cool off slightly.
  2. At high speed, beat in eggs, one at a time into chocolate mixture. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients, beating until blended. Chill dough about 1 hour.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  4. Roll dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes. While cookies are baking unwrap mints and divide each in half. When cookies are brought out of the oven, put 1/2 mint on top of each cookie. Let the mint sit for up to 5 minutes until melted, then spread the mint on top of the cookie. Eat and enjoy!

I also have a recipe for a refreshing facial mist using peppermint essential oil.

Peppermint Facial Mist
It is a great aromatherapy home recipe with the mid-afternoon slump. Before your take coffee or perhaps a chocolate bar, take your spray bottle!
To create your facial mist, boil enough water to fill your bottle or use distilled water. Allow the water cool, then pour it in to the bottle. For each and every 8 ounces (250ml) water, add 15 drops peppermint and 5 drops lemon. Optional: Replace 3 drops with the peppermint with 3 drops of rosemary. Shake ahead of when each use.
Make sure the nozzle provides a very fine mist. Dark glass or PET plastic containers are ideal for essential oils recipes because the oils eat through other types of plastic.
Peppermint, lemon and rosemary boost energy, improve mental alertness and lift mood. In addition they relieve pain; use this spray to help relieve a headache.
You could also use this as a body mist or a room spray too.

Thats it for today!
As Always
Keep It Clean!
JoAnn


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