Straight Up: Lavender Linen Spray

This week I took my Herbs for the Holidays presentation to 2 local prestigious garden clubs. I shared several ways to incorporate home-grown herbs in thier holiday cooking, gift giving and decorating...

As I was about to describe how to make "Lavender Linen Spray", one young woman (also ML) exclaimed that she "loves to iron" and enjoys using linen sprays while ironing her sheets! Now that is some kind of woman --ironing her sheets...Do you? Not me. I've sent them to be pressed a couple of times!

A great "home made" Christmas gift is "Lavender Linen Spray" , particularly when given to those of us with a 4 legged sleeping companion! Lavender is an indulgence that helps some feel a bit tired, thus bringing on restful sleep!

Here is the recipe and some ideas for containers:

Lavender Linen Spray

• 
  
  1 tsp. lavender essential oil


• 
  
  1/4 cup unflavored vodka


• 
  
  3 1/2 cups filtered/distilled water

Pour the distilled water into a fine mist spray bottle. Add drops of essential oil, then vodka, shake well. You're probably wondering why the vodka? It helps to disperse the oil and water together & speeds up the drying process on your sheets so they aren't stained or sour!

The Container Store sells all sorts of BPA free plastic containers and fine mist sprayers. I would suggest going with a 8oz. or 16 oz. bottle.

I've ordered some containers, and will report...

Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Herbs for the Holidays

Herbs are a necessity for decorating, cooking and gift giving.

Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Gifts...

Create an Italian Herb Pot for that hard to buy for person on your list.

This heavy pot is filled with 3 large Swiss Chard plants,

thyme, and violas. You could add: parsley, rosemary, chives,

oregano, and nasturtiums...

Decorating...

Cut bunches of Rosemary, fill vases in your kitchen window,

it will root! Mix Rosemary with other herbs and add to your

floral designs for Thanksgiving/Christmas.

Herb Wreath

Incorporate herbs into a small kitchen wreath like this one.

Camellia, magnolia, holly berries, choke berries make the base

of this wreath. Rosemary and bay are the dominant herbs here, but

you could add Artemesia(wormwood), lavender, thyme, oregano,

just about any herb in your garden will do!

Cooking...

Take advantage of whatever you have growing.

Use rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme, parsley, and chives for stuffing

under the skin of your bird/chicken. The kitchen aroma is divine.

Herb Biscuits

Buy a frozen package of biscuit dough, let thaw(be careful, it grows!)

pull small pieces out to roll in olive oil, chopped herbs and parmesean

cheese. Bake at 400 for about 15 minutes...

Blessings from the Garden

ML