A Kitchen Update

Well the kitchen isn't totally finished yet, but it is coming along nicely. Bear in mind, I am under construction still, this is not the final finished look but, I am so excited at getting my kitchen counters installed today, that I couldn't wait to show you. Having the counters suddenly made the room come together. I still don't have my propane hot water on demand system hooked up yet( hopefully by the end of June if all goes well), so I bought a portable propane hot water system to use in the interim. I figured I could always use it for camping trips in the future. I still need to build some custom cabinets in the right corner and a pantry just outside the kitchen to store small appliances and food. Once I have those, I can put away a lot of the clutter that I have been tripping over. I also plan to put another coat of paint on all the trim. Right now i just  have the primer coat on. I will do the next coat once I am done mucking about with the kitchen as I seem to keep dinging the paint on the door frames right now.

So here are some before shots to refresh your memory. This was the kitchen space after I had cleaned out the huge mess the previous tenants had left behind. Since these pictures were taken, I have removed the wallpaper and painted the whole room, painted and installed kitchen cabinets, the antique metal sink unit and replaced the two wood doors with beautiful leaded glass doors.

This was during the design stage. I had hauled out my stove and cupboards that were salvaged from a demolition and rearranged them until I was happy with the layout.

And here is where I am at now. I seriously love this counter top. It is the only new thing in the kitchen and the most expensive at $300. I was hoping to stumble across one on Craigslist but after waiting a year , I broke down and bought one. It was the look I wanted (butcher block) and I am so happy I got it, it looks perfect in here.

Here it is already loaded up with implements of  food construction. Note the hotplate on the stove. I still don't have propane hooked up to it yet either, that will get done when the hot water is sorted out.

A side view. The bag of water on the sink and the box on the floor are my hot water system at the moment.

I love that sign. As I live on the water, I have been keeping my eye out for nautical themed decor. I couldn't resist this sign. I laughed so hard when I showed it to Dave and he said" oh it will look nice when you paint it and redo the lettering". He just doesn't get the shabby chic concept. I had to explain, that I paid extra for the wear and tear look. This is a good shot of my refurbished glass door.

I replaced the table with this wonderful kitchen island I found. I like this so much better than the table. It has tons of storage on the other side for all my pots and pans, a nice view out the windows when you sit there to eat, and a nice big surface to work on if I want to bake etc.

The view from the stove looking back to the front door.

 A view down the other end of the counter

I love the chandelier, but have decided it would look better in the bathroom, so just waiting for the day when I can afford an electrician again , so I can replace it with this stain glass fixture.

So this is where I am at so far. I feel I am in the home stretch now. I have already prepared a few simple meals here and can't wait until everything is finished and all my appliances are hooked up and working. I still don't have a real fridge. I put my small fridge in the room next door and most of my fruits and veggies live on my counter. I need an electrician to sort out my power issues. Half the plugs in the kitchen still aren't working, neither is the baseboard heater, but once that is taken care of and the propane hooked up, I will be open for business. 

The next big project is the bathroom.So far I just have a toilet hooked up. I have flooring that needs to be installed, then I can plumb in my tub, shower and sink. I am just waiting on the propane guy to get my hot water on demand system hooked up and the roofer to cut me some holes in the roof to vent the propane unit and my wood stove. I am hoping to have this all done well before the end of summer. Its a matter of finances, timing and energy. Some of these renos, I really have to psyche myself up for. Laying down the flooring is one of them. My old arthritic knees are not going to like that chore one little bit, so I keep avoiding it. One of these days, I will get a burst of energy and tackle it. Come back and check it out.


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Thoughts on Simplicity

Simplicity

I was reading the "We Live on a Boat" blog the other day.
They had a post about living simply with a link to another blog about a young woman who had given up her job and home to buy a sailboat and practice simple living.

She in turn had a link to another girl who is living in her van in a effort to opt for a simpler life.

All these people and their ideas of what was and wasn't simple living got me thinking about my own experience. Now first off, I have to admit that I am thrift store addict and a serial pack-rat. Neither of these two attributes bodes well for me. My biggest claim to fame so far, is that I have not paid more than $350 a month for rent the last 10 years in six different locations in the most expensive city in Canada.

I guess first of all you have to define your idea of living simply. Is it living with very little possessions? Is it using very little energy resources? Is it having no technology, very few responsibilities, or is it making everything from scratch?

I have had a number of occasions to simplify my life in the last 10 years. Basically my philosophy has been "if there is room, fill it full of stuff". I am a master of tucking things away and like a seasoned magician, can vanish many truckloads of stuff into a stunningly small space.

My first downsize from was from a huge house where I had a basement studio for a clinic as well as two stories upstairs filled to the rafters. It wasn't too painful. I moved into an apartment and just deleted all the multiples of things that I had, kept the best stuff,and donated things I rarely used. I had moved a block away from two malls with all the shopping I needed and three blocks from my clinic. I was able to walk everywhere, recycle in the garbage room and work part time from the apartment. That was a sweet deal. The place was small but very well laid out with everything you could want, in-suite laundry, dishwasher, balcony, small storage room and enough space in the living room for me to set up my massage table when needed.

Life shifted for me when the medical plan stopped covering massage therapy and I was forced into bankcrupcy. I closed my clinic and went to work for a summer at a fishing resort in the wilderness. My thought was I would bring what I needed to entertain myself indefinitely, leave it there over the winters and go travelling. With that in mind I packed wayyyyy too much stuff to take with me. All my massage gear, craft supplies, a couple of hundred of my favorite books, a bookcase to store them, a desktop computer, a huge teachers desk, my favorite mattress and bedding, on and on. I showed up with a good size truckload of stuff. I was so embarrassed when I saw everyone else with just a duffel bag of stuff. I got it all in my room anyway and enjoyed playing with it. The job unfortunately didn't work out and I had to take it all out again at the end of the summer. If I had known that, I would have brought less, but enjoyed having it all regardless.

The resort produced its own power from a turbine in the nearby waterfall. They had a state-of-the-art system that purified the black and grey waste water back into pure drinking water. All the buildings were built on floats or stilts so there was no damage done to the surrounding land. All garbage/recycling was taken back to civilization for disposal on a regular basis during the weekly shopping expedition. TV, Internet and communication in general was accessed through a satellite dish and radio phones. All our food was cooked from scratch. Homemade bread, desserts, gravies, sauces, ice cream, you name it, nothing pre-packaged at all. Activities included non-polluting things such as:kayaking, hiking, rafting, catch and release fishing, rock climbing, spelunking(exploring caves)and swimming.

It was awesome to live like that. Such a healthy place and lifestyle. It still had all the comforts of home but I have to say, they didn't come cheap. That being said , if your going buy a house and install furnaces etc, you might as well make it off the grid as much as possible and save on the hydro bills and the hassles when the power fails. Producing and cooking your own food is a nice choice too if you have the time and space.

I've had the power go out for four days straight in the dead of winter at a time when I wasn't prepared in the least. Not even a candle. That freaked me out to realize I could die in the middle of civilization just because I couldn't use a light switch. I resolved then and there to never be in that position again. I took many courses in primitive living skills. I learned how I could be naked in the woods and still find ways to keep warm, feed, clothed, medicated and entertained. It was liberating to know that I could take care of my basic needs without snivilization's help if need be. Its as simple as a life as you could think of but not necessarily easy. It takes a lot of time and energy to get enough food and nourishment in the wild. Still once you get your basic needs met, somewhere dry to sleep, something warm to wear, a supply of fresh water, the rest of your day is yours to explore and work on things.

Once I was done at the resort, I went travelling to Asia and New Zealand. I ended up travelling around New Zealand for three months in a van with three other people. We towed a medium size trailer filled with gear to set up stalls selling crafts and services at crafts shows. It's funny, when I got to NZ, I arrived with one suitcase, by the time I left I had enough stuff to fill a good size trailer. Most of it was a fairly complete market setup that I had added to as I was working around the country. I left most of it behind thinking I would go back the following summer and do it again, but never did make it back there.

I found it quite liberating to live in the van. I had one suitcase of clothes, some toiletries, a few books and a drum. I stopped at Internet cafes when I wanted to check in with the world. I spent an hour a week in the Laundromat. We had a two burner stove, one large pot, one large frying pan, a kettle and a set of dishes each. We ate twice a day. Dinner was a whole chicken cut up in the pot with chopped potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, some rice and lots of Tabasco sauce. The whole thing was boiled into a chicken stew. Left-overs were added to whisked eggs to make a large omelet for breakfast. Simple but tasty with fresh and dried fruit for snacks. Showers were obtained at local gyms, hotels, campsites, homes of friends or even in rivers. We didn't necessarily stay in all the above places but could often for a small fee or even free be allowed to shower.

New Zealand is quite open to this kind of lifestyle. There are tons of spots in nature that you can use for free with toilets, sometimes showers and no one hassling you for being there. In towns you can park overnight in parking lots, just have to be out by the time the stores open. They usually have washrooms in the parking lots as well. Canada is not so open. Especially in a city, you would have to be quite covert, no hanging around outside in your lawn chair with the doors open and the pop top up. We always sat and cooked outside, putting up a tarp over things if it was raining. You wouldn't get away with that here. Of course all this was possible because it was summertime. Didn't need to stay warm. Could work and eat outdoors, didn't need to pack a lot of winter clothes and blankets,etc. That was about as simple of a lifestyle as Ive ever had. My vehicle was my bedroom, kitchen, transportation, work site, and storage locker. Costs included gas, insurance, repairs, groceries, showers, Laundromat, Internet and restocking of material for the craft markets. My work week was two days long, the rest of the time was mine to explore, travel and study. To bad summer doesn't last year round :(

My next stop was Bali where at one point I stayed with a very poor Balinese family for a week. These people really had next to nothing. A concrete shed with no doors or windows, just gaping holes was their home. No furniture except a cupboard that held the dishes, a few rough beds and a donated TV. The only appliance was a rice cooker. No running water in the house, just one cold water hose going into a rough bath house shared by four other households. No vehicle of any kind, not even a bike. A couple of changes of clothes each, consisting of sarongs. They ate mostly rice with some flavorings and sometimes added homegrown fruit, chickens and pork that were only eaten on special occasions. Now that was a simple lifestyle. Dad worked in the rice fields long enough to earn a bag of rice and a few dollars. Mom kept the area tidy and cooked the rice. They mostly sat around after that. Kind of boring for me, if I couldn't afford decorations, I would have used that time to make something at least.I can't bear an empty space lol.

I came back from Bali feeling very overwhelmed by all my possessions. It felt like I had enough crap to feed three villages for a year. ( I had stored all my belongings in a friends basement while I was off gallivanting for the year) I had huge urges to pack it all up save a mattress and a pot to cook with and donate the lot of it. Then I would waver and figure as I had this huge space to live in, might as well have stuff I already owned, decorating it. My clutter bunny took over and the stuff stayed and got added to over the years.

Then came the boat. Again a major downsizing was in order. I have to admit, a part of me wasn't ready to let go of all the wonderful things that had been a part of my life. I stored all my things I might need someday to work and my favorite ornaments and three thousand books in the basement of my old house. I gave a lot of large furniture items to David to furnish his float home with the understanding that "some day" if and when I ever got a bigger space I would take them back. I did manage to let go of four or five van loads of stuff that got donated or recycled. The rest found its way onto the boat.

For a year I lived with sketchy utilities, a teeny tiny fridge, microscopic storage space and the equivalent of an outhouse. I hauled water and chopped wood. I stumbled over my dishes trying to find room to cook. I made various trips to my storage to pull out seasonal things as they applied. Trying to have exactly what I needed without having too much. My three main complaints were, no room for all the tools needed to live on a boat, no room to cook, no room in the fridge for food once all the condiments were accounted for. I don't know how to make those needs much smaller without compromising too much. Also the fact that my job here is massage and winter living requires alot more clothing, I spend a lot more time and money at the Laundromat than I did in NZ.

So I have tried the simple life in many forms; downsizing belongings, working very little, living in tiny places, living off the grid. They all have their charms and disadvantages. I'm still trying to decide what is the minimum amount of stuff I need to live a semi-comfortable life. It seems enough to say , well really all I need is a bed and a pot, but then the rest of your life insidiously tries to sneak in. "Well of course I should have the laptop, and then might as well have the camera and cell phone. And what about those cute dressy shoes in case I ever get a real date? Might as well bring my drum in case I get invited to a jam and better have something to read in case I get bored and".............well you get the idea. I still have a mountain of stuff and an addiction to fossil fuels. Some days my life is simpler than others.

PS. here is my "simple life packing list for travel" ( this is for hot climates only)

I took only this with me for a 6 month trip

1 pair of long pants that convert into shorts
2 pairs of shorts
4 cotton long sleeve blouses
4 undershirts/tank tops (I don't like to wear bras)
4 underwear
2 pairs of socks
1 pair of light weight hiking boots
1 pair sandals (something like Tevas, waterproof, strap on, some arch support)
- good for walking in dodgy water or wearing in public bathing areas)
1 sarong ( has a multitude of uses- skirt, dress, blanket,sheet, beach blanket, privacy curtain, quick drying towel,or turned into a carry-all)
1 bathing suit
1 fleece Hoodie
1 lightweight rain poncho with a hood
1 Australian Style, lightweight foldable ,waterproof hat
1 pair of sunglasses


I wear the pants,an undershirt,blouse,hoodie and boots on the plane,everything else goes in a carry-on small backpack

A small flat camera, ipod and headphones, a journal, my bankcard, credit card, some US dollars, photocopies of all my documents/tickets, a doorstop( use this to jam your door from the inside to prevent break-ins while sleeping), a flat plastic sink plug, a small travel clothesline, my makeup bag, first aid kit,face cloth and small sample size toiletries take up the rest of the space.

*Note on the first aid kit contents( This is what I took for an extended trip to Asia. I could buy bandages etc as needed, but brought medications I wasn't sure I would find there, and things I could self- medicate with to avoid costly trips to the Dr in a foreign country)

-A couple of sterile packaged syringes ( if you need to get a shot, a lot of 3rd world countries reuse their needles, best to bring your own)

-Tube of aloe vera gel for burns

-Advil ( anti-inflammatory)

-Arnica gel for bruises and sprains

-Tube of polysporain (cuts and scrapes)

-Moleskin for blisters ( I love this stuff)

-Gravol(nausea)

-Tums with Calcium ( I'm prone to heartburn/ulcer attack occasionally, calcium calms it as quick as prescription meds)

-Anti-diarrhea aid

- A small container of activated charcoal ( this is awesome for any kind of poisoning, venomous bite etc)

-Deet bug spray ( I didn't want to take meds for Malaria as Dengue Fever was also prevalent and there is no prevention or cure for that. Best to avoid the mosquito's in the first place, so long sleeves and bug spray for me)

-A prescription for antibiotics for a bladder infection and some acifidofolous(this is hard as they should be kept refrigerated. Hopefully you can find some where you are, as needed, or have access to live cultured yogurt) to counter the yeast infection you might get from the antibiotics.

- Condoms ( a lot of Asian countries sell cheap, poor quality condoms, if there is any chance at all you might be needed condoms, I highly recommend you bring your own)


I carry a large canvas tote on board with me that has a book to read, a water bottle,a small pillow, a light weight blanket,1 pair of lightweight cotton pajamas, earplugs and an eye mask.

When I get on the plane, I change into the pajamas in the bathroom, get out my pillow and blanket, put on my eye shade and earplugs and try and sleep my way through the flight. Just before landing, I change back into my boarding gear which is still nice and fresh and not slept in.

I did one small load of laundry every 4th or 5th day often by hand in the sink. When I finished reading a book, I would trade it in a local used book store for another. I could carry on board all my stuff so could always keep an eye on it and carry it easily through town. It made for easy, carefree travel. If I couldn't control myself and did too much shopping, I would mail the stuff home to myself on the slow boat. It was cheaper and I had time to travel and get home before it showed up.

I went on a trip to England for a month another time. It was in the spring when the weather could and would be anything from blazing hot to quite cold to pissing rain. I tried to pack light but with having to pack for three different climates I didn't fair so well. It was a serious pain dragging two suitcases through the London Underground for miles. Never Again! Tahiti here I come!
Bon Voyage!!

How would you define simplicity? How have you tried  to simplify your life?

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Inspiration Monday - Doorknobs

 I wrote this post to go along with last weeks post about inspiring doors . 

Ok , your probably thinking, doorknobs, really? How much variety can there be in  doorknobs. Well you would be surprised, I know I was. Check these out:

Hmm, the universe in your hands!

I like this handle style, this is the kind of knobs they use in Germany. I find these easier for arthritic  hands to use, also good for hands covered in massage oil!

 How about a strange face

 I love the simplicity and clean lines of this one

 I love the crystal doorknobs, I am collecting them as I find them for my interior doors.

 Ornate lions head knob

I have several like this that I will find a use for in my upstairs bathroom, love the blue colour

Purdy and yet gaudy at the same time, love them!

I seriously love the blue one, I would have these all over my house.

A wicker doorknob, who knew?

When you run out of room to display your native art collection, incorporate it into the doorknob.

 Another representation from the animal kingdom

 This is a cool looking doorknob, but I would always be scared of shattering it if I squeezed too hard.

I like this, looks like it would be at home in a castle.

This one looks like it belonged to Merlin the wizard!

This one belongs on the door to a romantic bedroom.

For those germaphobes that don't like to shake hands...let your door do it for you!

Knobs for your seaside cottage

I guess these are more handles then knobs, either way , they sure make a statement.

For the wine lover of the house.

For your dungeon

Not sure why the bird is pecking the guys brains out, but it's definitely a conversation starter

Elegant hand, probably more of a knocker than a doorknob, but I thought it was cute, so it stays

So which ones did you like? Do you have any unusual doorknobs in your home?

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How to Make a Friendship Bag

These make a wonderful, whimsical gift,  appropriate for all ages

          Instructions

-All the items on the list below should be available at your local dollar store or from your home.

-The bags I found in the wedding decoration section.

-If you are a handy sewer, you can make your own bags with a drawstring closure.

- Fill the bag with one of each item on the list below

- Copy and paste the list of things below and what they mean into a program like Microsoft Publisher so you can choose a nice font and  an appropriate size to fit it all on a business card in portrait mode.(Go here for a detailed tutorial on making the card in Microsoft Publisher) Leave a space at the top of the card for a hole

-Print out the business card., Punch a small hole in the top of it

-Thread the drawstring ribbon through the hole in the card to attach it to the bag

- Give one to all your  friends :)


(print the following onto the business card)


Your Friendship Bag Contains:

Umbrella to shelter you from life’s storms

Rubber Band to remind you to be flexible when dealing with others

Candle to light your way when the day seems the darkest

Life Saver to remind us that sometimes our friends need our help

Cotton Ball to cushion the bumpy road ahead

Happy Face to remind you that smiling is contagious

Eraser to remind you to start each day with a clean slate

Piece of string to tie things together when everything seems to be falling apart

Penny for your thoughts

A marble in case you start to lose yours

Quarter in case you need to call on a friend

Stars to remind you to reach for the stars

Balloon because the sky is the limit

Heart so you know you are loved
Chocolate kiss from me to you

To_____________________

From___________________


Cheers,
 
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Edible Flowers

Flowers aren't just for looking at and smelling. Quite a few of them are edible as well. Our massage class held a fundraiser by gathering recipes from the students and making a cookbook with them. Of course we had to have  a party to taste all the dishes. The one that stood out in my mind the most, was a gorgeous, delicate salad that was predominately flower petals. The light perfumed flavours danced across the tongue like a scented breeze. 

Now that I live in a house with a large flower garden, I thought I would do some research and see which ones were edible and what I could do with them.

 Before we go any further though, please read this list of Dos and Don'ts

IMPORTANT

Following are some simple guidelines to keep in mind before you eat any type of flower:

DO'S:

Eat flowers only when you are positive they are edible. If uncertain, consult a good reference book on edible flowers prior to consumption.

If pesticides are necessary, use only those products labeled for use on edible crops. No flowers is safe to eat unless it was grown organically

Wash all flowers thoroughly before you eat them.

Introduce flowers into your diet in small quantities one species at a time. Too much of a good thing may cause problems for your digestive system.

Remove pistils and stamens from flowers before eating. Separate the flower petals from the rest of the flower just prior to use to keep wilting to a minimum. Eat only the flower petals for most flowers except pansies violas, and Johnny-jump-ups (in which they add flavor).

If you have allergies, introduce edible flowers gradually, as they may aggravate some allergies.

DON'TS:

Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers. In many cases these flowers have been treated with pesticides not labeled for food crops.

Do not eat flowers picked from the side of the road. Once again, possible herbicide use eliminates these flowers as a possibility for use.

Just because flowers are served with food served at a restaurant does not mean they are edible. Know your edible flowers - as some chefs do not.

It's easy and very attractive to use flowers for garnish on plates or for decoration, but avoid using non-edible flowers this way. Many people believe that anything on the plate can be eaten. They may not know if the flower is edible or not and may be afraid to ask.

Picking Edible Flowers:
Pick your flowers in the morning when their water content is at its highest.


What Part of the Flower To Eat:

The Following information is from the book, Edible Flowers - From Garden To Palate, by Cathy Wilkinson Barash:

Remove the stamens and styles from the flowers before eating. The pollen can detract from the flavor of the flower. In addition, the pollen may cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Remove the sepals of all flowers except violas, Johnny-jump-ups, and pansies.

Only the petals of some flowers such as rose, calendula, tulip, chrysanthemum, yucca, and lavender are edible. When using just the petals, separate them from the rest of the flower just prior to use to keep wilting to a minimum. Others, including Johnny-jump-up, violet, runner bean, honeysuckle, and clover can be eaten in their entirety.

Roses, dianthus, English daisies, marigolds and chrysanthemums have a bitter white portion at the base of the petal where it was attached to the flower. Break or cut off the bitter part off the petal before using.

Cleaning Edible Flowers:

Shake each flower to dislodge insects hidden in the petal folds.

After having removed the stamen, wash the flowers under a fine jet of water or in a strainer placed in a large bowl of water.

Drain and allow to dry on absorbent paper. The flowers will retain their odor and color providing they dry quickly and that they are not exposed to direct sunlight.

Preserving Edible Flowers:

To preserve flowers, put them on moist paper and place together in a hermetically-sealed container or in plastic wrapping. This way, certain species can be preserved in the refrigerator for some 10 days.

If the flowers are limp, they can be revitalized by floating them on icy water for a few moments; don't leave too long or else they will lose some of their flavor.

You can also store the whole flower in a glass of water in the refrigerator overnight.


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Some Flower Recipes

Crystallized/Candy Edible Flowers:

Candied flowers and petals can be used in a variety of imaginative ways - to decorate cakes large and small - all kinds of sweet things, such as ice cream, sherbet, crèmes and fruit salads, cocktails.

Ingredients:

1 egg white or powdered egg whites

Superfine granulated sugar (either purchased or made in a blender or food processor - just blend regular sugar until extra-fine)

Thin paintbrush

Violets, pansies, Johnny-jump-ups, rose petals, lilac, borage, pea, pinks, scented geraniums, etc.

Wire rack covered with wax paper

Directions:

Carefully clean and completely dry the flowers or petals.

Beat the egg white in the small bowl until slightly foamy, if necessary add a few drops of water to make the white easy to spread.

Paint each flower individually with beaten egg white using the small paintbrush. When thoroughly coated with egg white, sprinkle with superfine sugar.

Place the coated flowers or petals on wax paper on a wire rack. Let dry at room temperature (this could take 12 to 36 hours). To test for dryness, check the base of the bloom and the heart of the flower to make sure they have no moisture. Flowers are completely dry when stiff and brittle to the touch. NOTE: To hasten drying, you may place the candied flowers in an oven with a pilot light overnight, or in an oven set at 150 degrees to 200 degrees F with the door ajar for a few hours.

Store the flowers in layers, separated by tissue paper, in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to use.



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Garnishing Cheeses with Edible Flowers

The cheese can be prepared 24 hours in advance of serving. Use flat chunks of cheese, with edible rinds, in a variety of shapes. (Cheddar, Jack, Brie, or Camembert, in round, wedge, or square shapes)

Edible flowers or herbs
Cheese
2 cups dry white wine
1 envelope unflavored gelatin

Lay the flowers and herbs flat on top of the cheese in the presentation that you want to display.

Then remove the flowers and herbs, lay them aside in the pattern you want to display them.

In the medium size saucepan over medium heat, combine the white wine and gelatin. Stir until gelatin is completely dissolved and the mixture is clear. Remove from heat and put the saucepan in a larger container filled with ice. Keep stirring as it thickens, NOTE: Stir slowly so you don't create bubbles. (If it gets too thick, you can reheat and repeat.)

Place the cheese in a dish to catch the drippings from your glaze.

Spoon the glaze over the cheese and spread evenly. After a few minutes it will become tacky to the touch, then you can "paste" on your flowers in the design pattern you planned.

Refrigerate about 15 minutes; then remove from refrigerator and spoon more glaze over the flowers.

NOTE: Make as many layers of glaze as necessary to cover your decorations - can be three layers for a thick design. If the glaze thickens up too much, just reheat and replace in ice.

Serve with crackers.



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Making Flower Petal Tea:
2 cups fresh fragrant rose petals (about 15 large roses)*
3 cups distilled water
Honey or granulated sugar to taste

*All roses that you intend to consume must be free of pesticides. Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries, or garden centers. In many cases these flowers have been treated with pesticides not labeled for food crops. The tastiest roses are usually the most fragrant.

Clip and discard bitter white bases from the rose petals; rinse petals thoroughly and Pat dry

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, place the prepared rose petals. Cover with water and bring just to a simmer; let simmer for approximately 5 minutes, or until the petals become discolored (darkened).

Remove from heat and strain the hot rose petal liquid into teacups. Add honey or sugar to taste.

Makes 4 servings.


Making Blossom Ice Cubes:

Gently rinse your pesticide-free flower blossoms.

Boil water for 2 minutes for all the air trapped in the water to escape. Remove from heat and let the water cool until room temperature. NOTE: This will ensure that the ice cubes are crystal clear.

Place each blossom at the base of each individual compartment within an ice tray. Fill each compartment half full with the cooled boiled water and freeze.

After the water is frozen solid, fill each ice cube compartment the rest of the way to the top with the remaining boiled water. Freeze until ready to use.



Making Flower-Infused Syrup:
1 cup water (or rosewater)
3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 to 1 cup edible flower petals (whole or crushed)

In a saucepan over medium heat, add the water or rosewater, sugar, and edible flower petals; bring to a boil and let boil for approximately 10 minutes or until thickened into syrup. Remove from heat.

Strain through cheesecloth into a clean glass jar.

Keeps up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Can be added to sparkling water or champagne for a delicious beverage. Or, it may be poured over fruit, pound cake or pancakes.

Makes about 2 to 3 cups syrup.


How To Make Flower Butter:

1/2 to 1 cup chopped fresh or dried petals
1 pound sweet unsalted butter, room temperature

Finely chop flower petals and mix into softened butter. Allow the mixture to stand at room temperature overnight to allow the flavors to fuse.

Chill for a couple of weeks or freeze for several months.
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Disclaimer:
The author, Linda Stradley, and What's Cooking America have researched all the mentioned edible flowers. However, individuals consuming the flowers, plants, or derivatives listed on this web page, do so entirely at their own risk. Neither the authors or What's Cooking America can be held responsible for any adverse reaction to the flowers.

 This site has a list of edible flowers for you to experiment with.

Edible Flowers

They also have a yummy looking recipe for Lavender Jelly, that I can't wait to try someday. Saltspring Island has a wonderful organic lavender farm. I think I will make a trip there this summer to get some good quality lavender so I can try this recipe.

Lavender Jelly Recipe

 Lavender Tea cookies

                                         

These are making my mouth water.

If you have never eaten a flower, do so if you have the chance,it's a delight for the senses( just be sure to follow the guidelines above please)

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