Holiday Herbal Gift Series #15 & #16

Gift Ideas #15 and #16 are all from early issues of The Essential Herbal Magazine

#15 SWEET TREATS

Winter Solstice Candy
This ganache is super easy to make, but it doesn't taste that way!
8 oz White Chocolate finely chopped or in chips
3/4 Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk or Creme De Coco (found in the drink mix aisle)
2 T Butter
1 T Vanilla or Coconut Extract
Put the chocolate into a large bowl and set aside. Heat the milk in the mocrowave till it boils and then poor over chocolate. Stir it till smooth. Put in the fridge and stir occasionaly until cooled. Then beat it till firm and lightened in color. This can be used to ice a cake or rolled into balls. After I made balls I rolled into coconut so I now have Winter Solstice candy! It can also be used to celebrate Full Moons.
recipe from Holly O'Brien

Holiday Nuts and Berries
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup shelled green pistachios
1 cup dried cranberries
Blend together for a colorful, delicious and almost healthy snack to serve over the holidays.
from Christie at RadicalWeeds.com

#16 SOME SWEET FACIAL GIFTS

Cleansing Mask:
4 tablespoons rolled oats
2 teaspoons dried chamomile
2 teaspoons dried parsley
Blend the dried ingredients to a fine powder using a blender or coffee grinder. Package these in a pretty glass or plastic container and add the following directions*.
*Measure 1 tablespoon of the dried ingredients into a small glass bowl. Add 1 tablespoon honey and 1-2 tablespoons very hot water and mix well. Let stand 5 minutes. If mixture seems to thick add a small amount of hot water. Apply to face using gently circular motions and leave on for 2-5 minutes. Rinse face with warm water. Store unused cleanser in refrigerator and use within 5 days .(Chamomile and parsley are antibacterial and honey & oatmeal are softening.)
An extra touch would be adding a nice jar of honey to the basket.

Follow the cleansing mask with a nice steam facial:
Herbal Steam Facial:
2 tablespoons dried chamomile
2 tablespoons dried comfrey
2 tablespoons rose petals
2 tablespoons dried peppermint
2 tablespoons dried rose geranium
Mix above ingredients all together and package into a nice plastic bag or pretty container and add the following directions*.
*Measure 2 tablespoons of the herbs into a small saucepan and simmer in 2 cups of water for 5 minutes. Pour into a heatproof bowl. Bend over the bowl with a towel draped over your head and allow steam to touch your face and neck for up to 10 minutes. Pat dry.

Follow the steam facial with this toner:
Lavender Toner:
4 ounces of witch hazel
15 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops chamomile essential oil
Mix all together and pour into a nice container with a flip top spout and attach the following*.
*Apply to clean face with a cotton ball. This helps your skin to return to its normal pH level.

Finally end your facial with moisturizer:
Lavender Geranium moisturizer:
4 ounces of unscented lotion base
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops geranium essential oil
Mix all together and pour into a plastic container with a flip top spout or wide mouth small jar. Add a nice label and of course you can use other essential oils. Please make sure you are familiar with the special qualities of the EO before deciding to use them. Using purchased unscented lotion base just gives the lotion a longer shelf life.
*Apply to cleansed and toned face nightly.

Here are two recipes for bath items to add to your basket. If you want to make your gift a little more special add a votive candle and perhaps a soothing CD or cassette tape.
The above ideas were contributed by Theresa Nolt