Seven Herbal Gift Ideas for Mom - to make and buy

There are many gift ideas for Mom that incorporate herbs. Here are a few perfect examples, several of which you can make yourself:

1. Herbal Tea Set: Give your mom a collection of her favorite herbal teas, along with a beautiful teapot and a set of tea cups. This gift is perfect for mothers who love to relax with a cup of tea after a long day. Teapot Gifts and Tea Gifts.

2. Herbal Bath Salts: Herbal bath salts are a great way to provide relaxation and rejuvenation. You can make your own bath salts using dried herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile, or you can purchase pre-made herbal bath salts.

We shared this recipe on the blog back in May 2023, but here is a quick blend of salts to pamper skin.

Pampering Bath Salts

• 1 1/2 cups Epsom salts
•  3/4 cup baking soda
• 3/4 cup herbs (finely ground)

Combine everything in a jar and shake well.  Add 2 to 4 Tablespoons directly to the bath or place in a mesh or organza bag and swish to dissolve the salts.

3. Herbal Soaps: Another great gift for mom is herbal soaps. Especially soaps made from natural ingredients and infused with essential oils and dried herbs, providing a pleasant aroma and gentle cleansing.  I get my herbal soaps from Soapy Roads here in Lombard and you can order online too!

4. Herbal Body Oils: Herbal body oils are a great way to nourish the skin and provide a relaxing massage. You can make your own body oils by infusing carrier oils with dried herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile or you can just use essential oils in a carrier oil.

Essential oils like lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus come with benefits. But other oils—like black pepper, clove, and peppermint—can irritate the skin, so choose carefully. To make a safe, DIY bath oil blend five to 20 drops of an essential oil with one tablespoon of a carrier oil (like grapeseed, jojoba, almond, or argan oil). Add the oil right before you're about to get into the bath to keep it from evaporating.

5. Herbal Sachets: Herbal sachets are small bags filled with dried herbs, which can be placed in drawers or closets to provide a pleasant aroma and natural pest control. You can make your own sachets using herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile. RECipe

Romantic Evening Dreams

• 1/2 cup rose petals
• 1/2 cup rosemary
• 1/4 cup lavender flowers
• 2 lemon verbena leaves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon mint
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 small piece of cinnamon stick, 1 inch long, broken up

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.  Allow to meld for at least 2 days before placing in a sachet.

For a simple pillow, fill a 3- to 5-inch drawstring bag with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chosen herbs; draw strings and tie closed.

TO USE: place the sachet inside the pillowcase or under the pillow and inhale deeply as you fall asleep.  Enjoy the dreams!

6. Herb Garden: Giving an herb garden can be a great gift for a mom who likes gardening, cooking or both. You can give her a small indoor herb garden or a larger outdoor one.  Try these seed papers or these plant seedlings.

7. Herbal Candles : Herbal candles are a great way to provide a pleasant aroma and relaxation. You can make your own candles using beeswax and essential oils, or purchase pre-made herbal candles or those with pressed flowers.

All these gifts are thoughtful and can be personalized to your mom's preferences and interests, and can be a great way to show her how much you care.

Rose and Lemon Verbena Bathroom Potpourri - Bath Blend of the Month

As we get into the entertaining season we may want to bolster the scents in the bathroom with something refreshing and yet not cloying.  This blend of herbs and flowers with seasonal spices will give off a pleasant scent.  You can place it in a quart jar with a string of lights or just place in a lidded jar with openings to let the scent cloak the room in fresh herbal smells.

Rose and Lemon Verbena Jar Potpourri

3 broken cinnamon sticks

1/4 cup statice flowers

1/4 cup rose petals

1/4 cup lemon verbena leaves

1/4 cup whole cloves

1/4 cup orchid flowers (optional or substitute lavender buds)

5 to 10 drop rose geranium or rose absolute oil

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Pour into a quart canning jar allowing lots of air space.  If you want added fun place a string of white lights in the jar first and pour the potpourri around it.  Plug the lights in and this will accelerate the release of scent.  Or just place an open lid on the jar or a circle of fabric at the top and allow to infuse with the air naturally. Place on the back of the toilet or on a shelf in the bathroom for colorful scented decor.

Natural Control of Ants

We are still getting used to our new house.  My last house had a seasonal ant infestation that I took care of with natural means and was able with a few modifications to keep them out of the house for the most part.

Here I had to start over.  We had the usual spring infestation when the ground warmed and they came in looking for food.  With a bit of work. I was able to end that in quick order.

Generally, I sprayed a vinegar mix in the areas they entered and sprinkled baking soda in the pathways to keep them from coming back.

Recently I have a new one, in my office by the window.  This is weird because the window is in a bumpout that does not reach the ground on the exterior of the house, so I am trying to figure out where they are getting in, so I can stop the invasion, but until I do I am using a number of different applications to keep them under control.

Controlling Ants Naturally

1. Distilled White Vinegar

A white vinegar and water solution is a common method to wipe out ants for good. Ants don't like the smell of vinegar. It not only repels them; it can also kill them. Depending on how much you can bear the smell, mix at least one part vinegar and three parts water. Some people use 100% vinegar in a spray bottle or a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar. You can stop with just plain white distilled, but since it is my office I opted for a thyme and lemon scented vinegar.  I can kill germs and the scent is more nose friendly as it is my office.

Ants search for food using pheromones, leaving a trail for other ants to follow. To get rid of the trail, spray this mixture anywhere you spot ants. Don't forget any entry points, like window sills, backdoors, or baseboards. Use the solution to wipe down and sanitize surfaces. If used once a week or so, you should see a marked improvement.

2. Citrus Fruits

Ants hate the smell of citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, and oranges, so they're an excellent natural repellant. Save your lemon or grapefruit peels and scatter them around entryways. They act as natural deterrents without causing ants any harm.

3. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is one of the best household remedies for creeping critters in your home or garden. The odor of peppermint is strong enough to ward off insects—ants, flies, and mosquitoes—without being pungent enough to cause headaches or nausea.  I created a spray using peppermint essential oil using it to wipe down the windowsills, wall areas and baseboards.  The scent is very relaxing.

Another option is to use an oil incense burner near the ant infestation source to keep them from coming back. 

4. Cinnamon

Studies show that cinnamon has a compound known as trans-cinnamaldehyde that effectively repels and kills ants. Place ground cinnamon around common entryways and its strong smell will act as a natural repellent. You can also coat cotton balls with cinnamon powder or cinnamon oil and place them near ant-prone areas. I sprinkle cinnamon on ant hills that are too close to the house or along the foundation so they relocate away from the house.

5. Salt

Spread table salt near nooks and corners to keep ants away. A line of salt or baking soda creates a barrier that repels ants. A spray of salt water solution can also help kill ants by dehydrating them. I use this once I figure out where they are coming in then I spray them as they enter and leave and take care of them.

6. Cayenne or Black Pepper

Like many people, ants find the smell of raw pepper to be irritating. Sprinkle pepper around the areas where ants access the house. A Texas A&M study found that a water and pepper solution was effective at killing ants.

7. Borax (sodium tetraborate)

Borax and boric acid are not the same chemical compound despite their similar-sounding name. But both may be equally as effective at killing ants in the home.  However, it is imperative to keep borax away from pets and children as it may be harmful.

To use borax, follow these steps:

• Put on safety gloves.
• Make a solution of 1/2 teaspoon borax, 8 teaspoons sugar, and 1 cup warm water.
• Stir until the sugar and borax are dissolved.
• Saturate cotton balls and place them around your home in areas where you commonly see ants.
• After use, wash containers thoroughly or discard.

Find borax in the laundry section of Walmart or the grocery store or at your local hardware store.

So once I kill them at the entry point.  I will need to take care of the entry point.

How to Keep Ants Out of Your House

1. Seal all entry points. Caulk and seal any cracks or exposed crevices where ants can access the house.

2. Keep sweets in airtight containers, tightly wrapped with foil or plastic, or in the fridge. And stop throwing food items out in the office trash that may not be picked up as often as the kitchen trash.

3. Regularly clean countertops, floors, cabinets, and pantries. Also, keep pet food properly stored between meals and regularly clean pet bowls.

4. Take out the trash and make sure that the trash cans are covered. Inspect the cans for residue that might linger after taking the garbage out and clean them regularly.

We know they came into my office due to a tossed out frosty cup in my office trash.  The sweet was a magnet for the ants. I took out the trash, treated the wall so they lost the scent track to the trash can and then went looking for where they came in.  My office is nowhere near the kitchen or the pantry or anywhere else that food is kept so the fact I still have the ants after removing the Frosty cup means there is another source that requires investigation.

Pumpkin Spice Harvest Collection

We have been making a special spice blend for the fall and winter season since about 2001. It contains cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and my secret ingredient lemon peel -- which makes it perfect for pies, mixed drinks, and baking. I have called it many things in the past (Spicy Dessert Blend, Cinnful Dessert Blend, and Pumpkin Spice Blend.)  We are currently using Pumpkin Spice Blend because folks tend to know what that means when they see it. This is a great substitute for Apple Pie Spice or Pumpkin Pie Spice in your seasonal baking with much less bitterness.  

The exciting thing to me about this blend is its versatility.  You can use it to make cinnamon toast, sprinkle it in your latte for that seasonal spice flavor, or you can use it in baking recipes.

In fact, we created an entire selection of baking products using this blend as the main flavor.  We have scones, muffins, pancake mix, oatmeal cookies and even an instant latte.  To make them easier to shop we collected them all with our fall teas and cider seasonings into a collection- Pumpkin Spice Harvest Collection and you get all the details on our website: www.backyardpatch.com

In the mean time here are a few great recipes you can try with our Pumpkin Spice Blend.  Although the flavor won't be nearly as fun, you can substitute ground cinnamon until your Backyard Patch Pumpkin Spice Blend arrives.

Perfect Cinnamon Toast

• 1/8 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. BackyardPatch Pumpkin Spice Blend Herb Mix

Blend together, then use as a sprinkle on rice pudding, unbaked muffins, and especially on buttered toast.

Outdoor Party Punch

• ½ gallon apple cider
• ½ gallon cranberry juice
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbls. Backyard Patch Pumpkin Spice Blend Herb Mix
• 1 lemon, sliced    
• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 cup raisins (optional)

Add spice mixture and sugar to cider and juice.  Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add fruit slices and raisins (if used) and simmer slowly for 30 minutes.  Strain.  Serve in mugs steaming hot.  For added fun provide cinnamon stick stirs.

SOFT SPICE BARS

• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup plus 2 Tbls. sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. Backyard Patch Pumpkin Spice Blend Herb Mix
• 1/2 tsp. salt

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, 1 cup sugar and molasses.  Beat in egg until smooth.  Combine flour, baking soda, BYP Pumpkin Spice Blend and salt in another bowl.  Stir into molasses mixture  Spread into greased 15"x10"x1" baking pan.  Sprinkle with remaining sugar and bake at 375 degrees or until lightly browned.  Do not over bake. Cool on wire rack.  Yield 2 1/2 doz. bars. 

And if you still cannot get enough, check out our previous recipes shared on this blog using Pumpkin Spice Blend when it was called -- Cinnful Dessert Blend

Cinnamon Roasted Chicken - Theme Recipe

This is a great roasted chicken recipe with deep spicy flavors and a crunchy outer layer that makes it a great evening meal when served with hashbrowns and side of green beans.  If you are feeling adventuresome, serve with polenta and harissa sauce. You can substitute 1 ½ Tablespoons of Cinnful Dessert Blend for the cinnamon and ginger in this recipe if you have some on hand.

Cinnamon Roasted Chicken

• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 whole chicken legs with thighs attached (2 1/2 pounds)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the chicken and stir to make a paste.

Rub spice paste onto chicken legs and let stand on a parchment-lined baking sheet 15 minutes. Roast until skin crisps, 40 to 45 minutes; serve. 

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  

To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.

 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
June 2021 – Mediterranean Dishes
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

Breakfast Cookies - Weekend Recipe

Today I want to share a recipe you can make ahead and chill overnight and bake fresh in the morning or even freeze for future use.  These cookies are filled with nuts and fruits for anti oxidant power. And are very filling.  Each cookie is 324 calories with Vitamin D, iron, potassium and calcium.

Breakfast Cookies

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 1/2-1 Tbls BYP Cinnful dessert blend or ground cinnamon
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 c ground oat flour
• 2 c flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 1 cup walnuts
• 6 oz. chopped Belgian chocolate (milk or dark)

Directions:

1. If preparing within the hour, preheat oven to 375°. Begin by combining the sugars, butter, oil and spices in large bowl.  Whip together by hand or with a mixer. After whipping these ingredients together, add eggs & vanilla.
2. To prepare the oat flour, pulse old-fashioned oats in a food processor until the oats are ground into a fine powder.
3. Add oat flour, flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder to the creamed mixture. Mix to combine, stopping to scrape the sides and continuing to mix until evenly incorporated.
4. Then stir in the dried fruit, nuts & chopped chocolate.
5. Using a 2-ounce scoop, drop dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate 1 hour to overnight. At this point you can either store in freezer bags and freeze up to 3 months or bake.
6. To bake, place 5-7 cookie dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet 2″ apart.
7. Before baking in a preheated 375° oven, press the bottom of a drinking glass in granulated sugar and then press the glass onto the cookie, slightly flattening the cookie. Repeat until all cookies have been pressed. NOTE allow frozen balls to thaw before baking.
8. Bake cookies for 14 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges.
9. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
10. Makes 20 2-ounce cookies.

 

 RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  

To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.

 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
June 2021 – Mediterranean Dishes
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

Apple Bread - Weekend Recipe

I like this apple bread because it is perfect to make in the winter, with warming cinnamon and easy to get Gala or Braeburn apples you can make it easily even in midwinter. It is great to spread with honey or butter and have for a weekend breakfast.

Apple Bread

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or use BYP Cinnful Dessert Blend)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups Gala or Braeburn apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• Powdered sugar for dusting, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and line a standard-size loaf pan with parchment paper. In a bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together applesauce, eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, honey, and vegetable oil. Whisk vigorously until mixture is completely homogenous. Add dry ingredients and whisk gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Fold in apple pieces.

Transfer batter to the prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar, if desired.

 

RECIPE THEME
Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  
 
To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.
 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
June 2021 – Mediterranean Dishes
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

Spiced Pickled Beets - Monthly theme

 As promised earlier this month, here is the spiced pickled beets recipe.  The hardest thing about the recipe is cooking the beets and peeling them.  Beets will color your fingers, so grab a pair of gloves.  We have so many gloves around the house these days it was easier than usual this year to keep the purple at bay.

Spiced Pickled Beets (makes 4 pint jars)

3 pounds small fresh beets

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

2 cups cider vinegar

2 cinnamon sticks (3 inches)

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1 teaspoon whole allspice

Directions

Scrub beets and trim tops to 1 in. Place in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until tender, 25-35 minutes. Remove from water; cool. Peel beets and cut into fourths.

Place beets in a Dutch oven. Add sugar, water and vinegar. Place spices on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag. Add to beet mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Discard spice bag.

Carefully pack beets into 4 hot 1-pint jars to within 1/2 in. of the top. Carefully ladle hot liquid over beets, leaving 1/2-in. head space. Remove air bubbles and adjust head space, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.

Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 35 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

If you want to make your own pickles in the refrigerator, try our new DIY Refrigerator Pickle Kits

Romantic Dreams Sleep Sachet - Bath Blend of the Month

When the days are still too short and the nights too long and the weather still too cold or snowy, I start to lose sleep.  I just don’t stay asleep as well.  I try to increase my exercise in hopes of encouraging sleep and drink more tea with Holy Basil, like my Holy Basil Relaxing tea.  And I also add a scented sachet to my pillowcase.  Since it is February, I am sharing a recipe designed to increase your dreams of that special someone.  The evocative and spicy blend will increase thoughts of roses and warm nights.

Romantic Evening Dreams

1/2 cup rose petals
1/2 cup rosemary
1/4 cup lavender flowers
2 Tablespoons lemon verbena leaves, crushed or chopped
1 teaspoon mint
4 whole cloves
1 small piece of cinnamon stick, 1 inch long, broken up

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.  Allow to meld for at least 2 days before placing in a sachet.

For a simple pillow, fill a 3- to 5-inch drawstring bag with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chosen herbs; draw strings and tie closed.

For a more decorative bag, fold a 5-inch-by-12-inch cloth in half on the long side and stitch up one long and one short side (the folded side does not need to be stitched). Launder with no fragrance or fabric softener. Place a cotton ball-sized amount of cotton or fiberfill material in the bottom of the pocket. Add about 1/2 cup of herbs, fold over the remaining open side and stitch shut.

TO USE: place the sachet inside the pillowcase or under the pillow and inhale deeply as you fall asleep.  Enjoy the dreams!

Sugar-free Pecan Pie - Monthly recipe theme

The good news for me this month is that Pies are something I have posted previously and some of them are really good.

There was the awesome Pumpkin Pie Squares I posted in November 2018.

A Squash Gallette (which is a pie made with puff pastry or crepes) was posted on October 2018

I also posted a no meat Mincemeat in 2012.

So enjoy any of those Pies to make up for the ones I missed at the beginning of the month.  And for today, here is a sugar-free Pecan Pie.

Sugar Free Pecan Pie

1/3 cup of water

2/3 cup of granular fructose

2 packages of sugar free vanilla pudding - not instant

3/4 cup evaporated skim milk

2 large eggs

½ Tbls cinnamon (or BYP Cinnful Dessert Blend)

1 pie shell, 9-inch

1/4 cup of chopped pecans

1/2 cup of Grape Nuts cereal (Yes, they still make Grape Nuts, you can find it at Walmart!)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the water and fructose, and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool.

Mix the dry pudding into the fructose mixture. Then add skim milk and eggs, stir until well blended. Pour the mixture into the pie shell.  Sprinkle the top with the Grape Nuts and pecans. Bake for 30 minutes.

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018. 

You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD in the () to search for each  month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2019 so you can find them all.

The themes are:

Jan 2019 – Chicken and Dumplings (CDumpsJan)

Feb 2019 - Pasta Dishes (PastaFeb)

March 2019 - Edible Flowers (FlowerMar)

April 2019 - Seafood Recipes (SeafoodApr)

May 2019 - Cajun And Creole (C&CMay)

June 2019 - Vegetarian Dishes (VegJun)

July 2019 - Zucchini Recipes (ZucJul)

August 2019 - National Mustard Day – mustard recipes (MustardAug)

September 2019 - Quiche (QuicheSep)

October 2019 - Crock Pot meals (CrockOct)

November 2019 - Pies (PieNov)

December 2019 - Mocktails