Everything's Coming Up Roses
by Colleen Moulding
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Scentsational ideas for getting even more pleasure from Summer's
most glorious blooms.
Crystallized Rose Petals
These look so beautiful on a special occasion cake or even a
cheesecake and are bound to be a conversation starter.
First you will need to gather rose petals from a source, preferably
your own garden, where you are confident that they have not been
sprayed with pesticides. Unfortunately, roses from the florist or the
supermarket are not suitable for eating.
Wash the petals carefully and pat dry with a towel, trimming off the
lighter part where the petal joins the rest of the flower as this can taste
bitter.
Prepare a mixture of whisked egg white and fine granulated
sugar and using a small paint brush coat each petal with the mixture,
or if you prefer paint the petals with the egg white and sprinkle with the
sugar afterwards. Carefully shake off the excess and place on a sheet
of waxed or greaseproof paper to dry.
Use to decorate cakes, pastries, ice cream and desserts.
Most little girls have made "perfume" from roses steeped in water.
Here is a recipe for a super rose water that you can use chilled from
the refrigerator to cool your face and neck on long, hot summer days.
Rose Water
Again you will need rose petals from flowers that you are sure have
not been treated with pesticides.
Firstly, gather the petals from three or four roses and place them in a
saucepan with a pint of water. Heat gently until the roses become
transparent, but do not allow them to boil.
Let the mixture cool, then strain through a sieve into a jug, pushing
the petals with your fingers to extract all of the liquid.
If you have a spray bottle pour your rose water into this and refrigerate.
Use as a cooling spray on face or neck.
Will keep for a week or more in the refrigerator.
Dried Rose Petals
Select full blown roses early in the morning but after the dew has dried.
Pick apart the petals and spread them out on a paper towel. Leave in a dry airy
but not sunny spot turning them until they are dry.
Once dried you can add a little essential rose oil and place in a small room
to enjoy the fragrance or use to decorate craft projects.
You can also mix the dried petals with dried lavender flowers and place in
a little cotton or muslin bag before letting the hot water run over the bag
and scent your bath.
N.B.
Do not use essential oils if you are pregnant or have allergies.
Old Fashioned Rose Pot-Pourri Recipe
To a basin of dried scented roses add a handful of dried
knotted marjoram, lemon thyme, rosemary, lavender
flowers all well-dried, the rind of one lemon and one orange
dried to powder, six dried bay leaves, half an ounce of
bruised cloves, a teaspoon of allspice. Mix well together and
stir occasionally.
Quotations About Roses
I don't know whether nice
people tend to grow roses, or
growing roses makes people
nice.
(Roland A. Browne)
And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies.
The Passionate Shepherd to his Love.
Christopher Marlowe
It is the month of June,
The month of leaves and roses,
When pleasant sights salute the eyes,
And pleasant scents the noses.
Nathaniel Parker Willis
I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.
William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night's Dream. Act ii. Sc. 1.
Copyright 2001
Colleen Moulding
About the author: Colleen Moulding is a freelance writer from England
where she has had many features on parenting, childcare, play, travel,
entertaining and the Internet published in national newspapers and
magazines. She has also published a variety of women's and children's
fiction.
Her work frequently appears at many sites on the Internet and at her own
site for women All That Women Want.com a magazine, web guide and
resource for women everywhere. Why not drop by?
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