Chocolate Mint Dessert Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

I tried to refrain from creating another Valentine Tea for February, but I realized I never made up one with mint and chocolate, so here you are a dessert-inspired tea perfect for February evenings. This tea uses Rooibus as the main flavor, this caffeine-free plant from Africa has a taste similar to green tea.

Chocolate Mint Dessert Tea

• 1 part rooibos
• ½ part chopped pieces of dark chocolate
• ½ part peppermint
• a sprinkle of vanilla seed or powdered vanilla

Blend ingredients together and store in tight sealing lidded jar.

TO USE: Add one tsp per cup of hot water to a mug or teapot and steep for 5 minutes

Finnish Pancakes - Pannu Kakku to start the Breakfast theme

This month the recipe theme is Breakfast dishes. I am going to start with my favorite a Finnish Pancake (Pannu Kakku.) Similar to a Dutch Baby, a Finnish pancake is like a soufflé that puffs up in the oven, then sinks and is very custardy tasting.  It is the perfect canvas for jelly, fruit preserves, syrups and fresh fruit.  We love to top ours with strawberries and whipped cream. The recipe serves 6 so you might want to have a group to eat it, as it does not keep well and should be eaten immediately

Finish Pancakes

• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter in oven in a 9x13 pan; should be sizzling when you take it out. Meanwhile, mix other ingredients like hell - till very frothy. Pour batter into pan with melted butter. Lower temp to 350 degrees and bake 40 minutes. Eat immediately. Awesome with various toppings.

 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

Vanilla Bath Blend - Bath Blend of the Month

Botanical bath and shower products inspired by the garden were not my first creations when I started the Backyard Patch.  In fact, I expected not to make many at all.  When I began I had Italian Dressing, Dill Dip, 6 herbal tea blends, and one bath salt recipe completed my entire catalog.  

Over time that has changed and I now make a large number of Bath Products.  They are fun and simple to create and as a result of many public demonstration programs,  I have formulated more recipes than I can ever put into my catalog of products so I have decided that I will share some of my favorite bath formulations each month.  Come back around the beginning of each month for another special body treatment. and if you look back through the blog you will see others around the beginning of each month too!

This bath recipe is best made and used immediately.  The vanilla will give you a seasonal scent while the honey soothes and rehydrates dry skin. And if you make your own vanilla extract this is even better.

Vanilla Bath Blend

1 cup sunflower oil
1/2 cup castile soap
1/4 cup honey
1 TBS vanilla

In a small saucepan, grate the castile and cover with a bit of water.  Heat to a simmer and stir until soap is melted.  Stir in the rest of the ingredients.

TO USE: Immediately take the warm and melted ingredients to the bathroom and pour it into a  running bath.

Honey Bubble Bath - Bath Blend of the Month

This is a great gift for Mom or that special person in your life that likes a warm sudsy bath.  Honey is a humectant which brings moisture to the skin so this coupled with the baby oil can work very well on dry skin making it smooth and silky.

Honey Bubble Bath
1 cup baby oil
1/2 cup honey (a lavender infused honey is perfect to use in this recipe)
1/2 cup castile hand soap or unscented shampoo
1 Tbls. vanilla extract

Combine all the items in a bowl and stir until well combined.  Do not whip of beat, just stir until things are combined.  Pour the resulting liquid into plastic squeeze bottles.  Makes 2 cups of bubble bath so you can fill 4 4-ounce bottles or 2 8-ounce bottles.

To Use: Add 1 to 2 Tablespoons to bath water as tub is filling.  Slip in and enjoy.

House Cleansing Simmer

To link with my scented herb bundles of a few days ago, here is a simmer you can do on the stove to cleans the air and freshens the house.


It is raining here again and just chilly enough we can't open the doors, so I pulled together this scented simmer to clean the air and brighten and freshen the house.

I am making dried lemon peel, a task I ususally have trouble finding time to accomplish, but not right now!  As a result I purchased a couple dozen organic lemons and am zesting them.  Then I took several lemons and made this simmer.

House Cleansing Simmer

2 lemons, sliced
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
2 sprigs Rosemary

Place all items in a pot with water and simmer together.  Remember to continue to add water as it boils away.

Use some simple ingredients to clean your air and continue to stay safe indoors!

Making a cocktail or root beer with Anise and Licorice December recipe theme

The theme for December is Celebration!

I want to celebrate making fun decorations, handmade gifts, and celebrating with friends.  The recipe theme this month is Mocktails, so I will share several fun drinks you can enjoy without worrying about driving.

I chose this as the first Mocktail, because the ingredients are so perfectly seasonal.  Star anise, licorice root and vanilla bean are combined to create the perfect root beer in this Anise Licorice Root Beer recipe. To make a root beer from this simple syrup recipe you need to carbonate the syrup.  You accomplish that one of three ways.  Add the syrup to seltzer water, use the syrup in your “soda stream” or allow it to naturally carbonate by adding yeast to the syrup.  Depending on your skill level, you can try one or all three of these methods.

But first you need to create the simple syrup. This recipe is excerpted from Homemade Soda (Storey Publishing, 2011) by Andrew Schloss.

Anise Licorice Root Beer 

Star anise, the dried star-shaped fruit of an Asian evergreen, is pungent with the aroma of licorice and hints of clove and cinnamon. Together, star anise and licorice root create a flavor so full-bodied and powerful that just a few ounces will flavor a whole barrel of root beer. According to Andrew Schloss “In this aromatic soda I have amended the licorice-anise partnership with vanilla bean for its floral top notes, clove for depth, and brown sugar for mellowness.”

Anise Licorice Syrup

Enough for 1 gallon brewed root beer 

4 1/2 cups water 
4 ounces dried licorice root, chopped
4 star anise
3 cloves
1 vanilla bean, cut into three pieces 

4 cups dark brown sugar 

Combine the water, licorice, star anise, cloves, and vanilla bean in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally; let simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Gradually add the brown sugar to the simmering syrup, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Let simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove from the heat, let cool, and strain.  This syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. 

TO MIX WITH SELTZER (1 serving) 

1/2 cup anise licorice syrup 
1 1/2 cups seltzer 

Pour the syrup into a tall glass. Add the seltzer and stir just until blended. Add ice and serve. 

TO CARBONATE WITH A SIPHON (Soda Stream) (3 servings) 

3 cups water 
1 cup anise licorice syrup 

Combine the water and syrup in a 1-quart soda siphon. Charge with CO₂ according to the manufacturer’s directions. Siphon-charged sodas can be stored in the siphon in a refrigerator for up to 5 days. Disperse as desired into tall glasses filled with ice and serve. 

TO BREW ROOTBEER (1 gallon) 

3 quarts lukewarm (80–90 degrees) water 
1 batch anise licorice syrup
1/8 teaspoon champagne yeast (Saccharomyces bayanus) 

Combine the water and syrup in a large container. Test the temperature; the mixture should be at a warm room temperature, from 75 to 80 degrees. (If it is too hot, let it sit until it cools a bit. If it is too cold, warm it over low heat.) Add the yeast and stir until it is completely dissolved. 

Pour the mixture into sanitized plastic bottles using a sanitized kitchen funnel, leaving 1 1/4 inches of air space at the top of each bottle. Seal the bottles. Store for 2 to 4 days at room temperature. When the bottles feel rock hard, the soda is fully carbonated. 

Refrigerate for at least 1 week before serving; drink within 3 weeks to avoid over carbonation. 

Anise Syrup Cocktail - Black Licorice  

Prepare the anise licorice syrup as described, then carbonate as desired. 

Add 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Pernod, Sambuca, or other anise-flavored liqueur to 8 ounces (1 cup) Anise Licorice Root Beer (Carbonated Anise Licorice Syrup) and serve over ice. 

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 (MockDec)

Winter Spice Bath or Massage Oil - Bath Blend of the Month

This amazing oil feels so good on the skin! It absorbs well without feeling greasy and the combination of scents is holiday festive and invigorating.

Winter Spice Bath or Massage Oil

8 fluid ounces Jojoba oil
1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
10 drops Peppermint essential oil

10 drops Douglas Fir essential oil
4 drops Vanilla Extract

Pour jojoba and vitamin E into a generous 8 ounce bottle. Add essential oils and carefully add 2 drops of Vanilla Extract. Shake well to combine. Keep tightly lidded when not using.

To Use: Drizzle a little of this oil in a warm bath or use as a massage oil.

Brown Sugar Body Scrub - Bath Blend of the Month

Body scrubs are a great way to protect your skin form moisture loss and give it a smooth and wonderful feel.  This sweet smelling body scrub will leave you with silky smooth skin!

Brown Sugar and Vanilla Body Scrub 

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

½ + 3 Tbls sunflower oil

¼ tsp vanilla extract

Blend sugars together in a bowl, add oil and vanilla.  Mix well.  Place in an old fashioned canning or jelly jar and wrap up as a gift!

To Use: scoop out two fingers worth and massage into skin.  Be careful as the oil can make the tub slippery.

Home Made Vanilla Extract - weekend recipe

My infusion program, which is gaining popularity, details how to infuse the flavor of herbs into different mediums (technically called a menstruum.) As part of the program I demonstrate how to make tisanes, simple syrup, flavored salt and sugar, and alcohol extracts.  One of the infused alcohol items I demonstrate is vanilla extract. 

Recently I have been making zucchini bread with the vanilla extract I created as part of these demonstrations.

This could be termed the easiest herb recipe you can make:

Hand-made Vanilla Extract

You need

8 ounces of plain vodka
2 to 4 vanilla pods (organic is best of course)

Put the pods in a glass jar, cover them with the vodka.  Cover and leave in a closed, labeled jar for six weeks.

After 6 weeks, you have the most wonderful vanilla infused vodka that you can use to make all your holiday baked goods.

And if  you want to start now it will make a great gift for the baker in your life.

**Important – this is not “Vanilla Vodka”. In other words – do not attempt to drink the vodka after the vanilla has been added! Consider the fact that only a few drops of vanilla extract are typically used for an entire recipe… yes, it will be like that.

If you want to try a couple other infusions using vanilla for your home or face, check out my Herb of the Week post on Vanilla.

Vanilla - Herb of the Week

Vanilla Beans are the fruit of an orchid.  I am not sure that counts as a true herb, but since it does fall into the edible and useful aspect of a plant I thought it was appropriate.

I first learned that vanilla was an orchid when I first attended the orchid show at the Chicago Botanic Garden a few years ago. The Orchid show is always in the winter and this year runs from Feb. 10 to March 26, 2017.

Vanilla orchid display at Chicago Botanic Garden

I recommend traveling to it if you are anywhere near the Chicagoland area while the show is open.  It is colorful, amazing and might just scratch that itching to garden issue one tends to have in the winter months.

The family of  orchid that makes vanilla is actually Vanilla.  The most common for industrial food production is Vanilla planifolia, or flat leaved Vanilla. The orchid flowers for 1 day, then creates a long narrow pod that takes 6 to 9 months to mature, and another 3 to 6 months to cure.  You can see why vanilla can be expensive.

Vanilla can only grow 10 to 20 degrees north and south of the equator, so while the major species of vanilla orchids are now grown around the world, they originally came from Mesoamerica, including parts of modern day Mexico and Guatemala. Like all orchids, vanilla is a vine.  It can grow up to 30 feet long. The Flat-Leaved Vanilla is the only orchid used for industrial food production. The vanilla pod is frequently referred to as the bean. The pods are picked when they are still not ripe, and then plunged into hot water and laid out to dry for anywhere from two to six months. While these pods can be very expensive, scraping them yields a potent vanilla flavor and the black specs that will color whatever you’re baking. They’re definitely worth the splurge. Like saffron, vanilla is very labor intensive to produce. In order for vanilla orchids to produce pods, the plant must be pollinated by hummingbirds or a specific species of bees native to Central America. Furthermore, the flowers are only open for a short period of time. In order to harvest vanilla commercially, therefore, the plants must be hand-pollinated.  Most vanilla today comes from Madagascar and the island of Réunion Seventy-five percent of vanilla on the market today is derived from vanilla plants in Madagascar and Réunion. It is commonly known as Bourbon vanilla, named for the island Réunion, which was formally named Île Bourbon.

Flat-leaf vanilla

Vanilla extract, the way most of us know vanilla, comes from macerating vanilla beans and mixing them with water and alcohol. 

Beyond the wonderful flavors that vanilla imparts to baking, you can also add it to beauty items with great benefit.

An infusion of vanilla and witch hazel can be used as a skin toner that will reduce pore size and decrease puffiness around the eyes.

Vanilla Toner
2 vanilla beans
8 ounces of witch hazel
   (an astringent available in a drug store or drug store section of a department store)

Slice the beans lengthwise and cut into small pieces.  Place in a glass jar and cover with witch hazel extract.  Shape well.  Store in a cool dark place for 2 weeks and shake daily.  Strain out the vanilla and place liquid in a glass bottle.  You can apply with cotton balls or with a mister.


If you do not have vanilla beans handy you can make an aromatherapy spray using vanilla extract

Vanilla Room Spray
 1 ounce witch hazel extract
 3 ounces water
 2 tsp vanilla extract

Pour all the ingredients into a 4 ounce glass bottle and shape well.  Using a mister, shake well and spray the air avoiding light color furniture and clothing.  The vanilla scent in the air can reduce anxiety and evoke pleasant memories.  It is was used with great success for those having MRI tests, reducing the anxiety of being in an enclosed space.

Monthly Bath Blend - Sugar Cookie Bath Salts

There are few things that rival a nice warm bubble bath to reduce stress and find comfort. I have always advocated a nice soak in the tub and recently have found with the stress of moving, relocating the business and trying to keep up with orders, lectures and shows that I am in need of the healing powers of the bath.

I have also found that you can easily turn your tub into a spa like experience easily and cheaply.  This recipe is not only sweet smelling and fun, it makes a great gift that although it smells like a cookie has absolutely no calories!

The added benefit of these salts is they are full of magnesium sulphate.  This mineral reduces stress and eases muscle tension and inflammation.
 

Sugar Cookie Bath Salts 

6 cups Epsom salts

1 Tbls. canola oil

4 drops vanilla extract

1/2 cup unscented liquid soap

1 tsp cinnamon

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper.  I have cookie sheets that are never used for baking and I used those, but I still lined them.  Spread the salt on the sheet.  Place oil, liquid soap and vanilla in a mixing bowl.  Use your hands to mix thoroughly.  Pour the wet mixture over the salts. Sprinkle the cinnamon lightly over all the entire mixture. Allow to air-dry until the moisture is completely gone. Store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  Keep in a cool and dry location.

To use: Add a scoop into a warm bath and breath deeply. (When gift giving be sure to include a scoop!)

Foaming Bath - Monthly Bath Blend

This blend is good in the bath or shower.  Make the recipe and place in a pump bottle in the shower or use in a filled tub.  You will need about ½ cup per bath, but a pump or two in a bath puff will give you a luxurious shower.

Foaming Vanilla Bath

1 cup sweet almond oil (light olive or sesame oil may be substituted)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup liquid soap
1 Tbls. vanilla extract

Measure the oil into a medium bowl, then carefully stir in remaining ingredients until fully blended. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Shake gently before using. Enough for four large luxurious baths.

To Use:

Swirl about ½ cup into the tub under running water – then step in and descend into a warm, silky escape.

In the shower - Place a squirt or two into a damp bath puff and rub it into a lather then use to scrub the body.