Rose Otto - 2005 - A Rare Opportunity

As I've mentioned before, I am parting with some of my inventory to prepare to move over the summer. One of my prized possessions is my Turkish Rose Otto stash! I am parting with 30 grams of it ::major sniffles::

Soaping

I made several batches of gourmet soap this week including such favorites as Pumpkin Chai Spice, Candied Citrus Peel and Mocha Java - yummy!

After all years of being a professional in the art of saponification I still find soap making so fascinating!

To put it in the terms of my inner child wonder - "its like special cooking" lol. I mix all these oils and fruits, botanicals and spices, then add a bit of basic chemistry and I end up with soap bubbles that wash me clean!

Incidentally chemistry was one of my favorite school subjects .. FINALLY, one of those mandatory high school courses has come into practical use! {grinz}

Sweet Orsa Pink Salt - On Special

As afore mentioned, I am putting the homestead up for sale and need to clear some things out, so I'm offering DEEP DISCOUNTS ON SELECT ITEMS.

We began with Virgin Coconut Oil and Alba Rose Hydrosol. Now we present to you - "Sweet" Orsa Pink Salts

Sweet Orsa "Real" Pink Salt is food grade mineral rock salt from Redmond, Utah; free from additives, preservatives, chemicals, heating, refining, and extensive processing. I love to use this beautiful salt for cooking and in baths.

Available in your choice of:
Ultra Fine Grind or Coarse Grind

Below is a summary of analysis of the mineral content taken over the past several years:
Sodium Avg.
Chloride 98.32%
Calcium .40%
Potassium .12%
Sulfur .11%
Magnesium .10%
Iron .06%
Phosphorus .05%
Iodine .002%
Manganese .0015%
Copper .001%
Zinc .0006%

I have recruited 2 willing helpers to assist me with processing orders, thus ensuring expedited shipping!

Click here to order!

Scented Pinecones

With most of the United States experiencing a cold snap (even southern Florida!), and the holidays coming fast, I figured I'd pull out my easy old scented pine cones recipe. This is a simple and fun way to scent the air and the hearth! Great to do with kids too.

Ingredients:
Pine cones
Essential oil blend of choice;
I like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, black pepper & ginger ..
Optional: basic white glue, cinnamon powder, fine glitter

Have fun gathering pine cones of all shapes and sizes. Rinse pine cones under warm water. Then lay the pine cones on a lined cookie sheet and bake on the warm setting (or 200F) until the pine cones open up.

Into a small sprayer bottle place some water and several drops of your chosen essential oil scent blend. Spray the pine cones until they are damp. Then place the scented pine cones into a paper bag and seal for 24 hours. This will let the scent seep into the cones while letting the water evaporate.

Optional: In a small bowl mix a ratio of about 3 parts glue to 1 part water. Use a brush to apply some thinned glue to the pine cones. Mix cinnamon powder and glitter in a baggie. Add pine cones to the shimmery mix. Shake. Allow to dry overnight in a paper baggie.

These make wonderful holiday decorations in baskets, as part of wreaths, etc. They can also be tossed into the fireplace to add a scented highlight to your fire!

INVENTORY BLOWOUT - ROSE & COCONUT

I am selling the TX homestead and moving over a thousand miles away towards the Rocky Mountains!

Quite honestly the less I have to lug that far the better - which means that I need to begin clearing out some inventory NOW!! Starting today I am offering a series of DEEP DISCOUNTS ON SELECT ITEMS. Serious quality at serious savings! I figure that by taking this inventory off my hands you are helping me big time, so I'm going to make it well worth it to you! :)

We will begin with OUR LOWEST PRICES on 2 especially lovely and heavy items:

_________

Certified Organic Bulgarian Alba Rose Hydrosol

Truly, when it comes to a scent of the heart and drops of pure romance it doesn't get more precious and few that two can share than this. I LOVE genuine, pure rose hydrosol, and this one just takes the cake (BTW it makes a great cake too!). If I could hoard every drop I would, but I must share - love is in the water! {grinz}

_________

Tahitian Fair Trade Virgin Coconut Oil

Whomever put the lime in the coconut must have had a nice bit of virgin coconut oil for the infusion! This traditionally pressed Fair Trade oil is delightfully healthy for the whole body, inside and out.

The scent and flavor are outstanding for use in gourmet cooking and crafting. It is also a fabulous ingredient used in artisan luxury soaps.
_________


I have recruited 2 willing helpers to assist me with processing orders, thus ensuring expedited shipping!

Click here to order!

Modern Day Silk Road

As I pack an order that is shipping out to Switzerland I am thankful for the global opportunities the internet has provided small businesses like mine!

Thanks to that technological advance which brought mail order to a whole new level we have customers in over 65 countries; able to visit our shop on the world wide web any time of day or night from any place they have access to the internet.

And to think, this modern day Silk Road, providing access to endless bazaars of goods and services, can be explored and perused without even having to leave one's caravan serai! Truly amazing how over the millennium trading technologies have turned a big planet into a small world.

Grandma's Pumpkin Pie Secret!

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect upon the things we are grateful for. When fortunate (or sometimes unfortunate ;) enough it is also a time to gather with family and friends.

I have many fond memories of childhood Thanksgivings in NYC, spent with my Italian Polish family. We would be cooking up a storm for days. My olfactory senses stir with fondness as I recall these things. I remember watching (and some years even going to) The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and then Mighty Joe Young on channel 9 on a 21" tv, singing along with the Playworld commercials every sponsored break (Playworld, where prices goooo. .. so low low low low looooowwwwww).

Always one of my favorite foods was pumpkin pie. That classic squash custard in a flaky crust; so good for dessert, breakfast, lunch, a snack, so versatile! And my grandma's pumpkin pie was the best for a reason (aside from it being baked with love)! This was her secret to a pumpkin pie that stood out from the rest - separate your eggs, whip the whites and then fold them into the pumpkin mixture. Little did she know she was so adept at mastering the art of food chemistry! To her it was just good cooking.

Thank you Grandma! Your love, inspiration and spirit are always with me :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yay for chiropractors and rubefacients!

I recently experienced some pretty substantial lower back pain after a lot of driving. Thankfully my chiropractor is helping me immensely with this issue

Rosy Holidays Savings to Share

Dreaming of a White Rose Christmas? Want your Hanukkah to have Hydrosol? Craving confections for Kwanzaa with a kazanlik kick? ...

Well you are in luck because our HOLIDAY SPECIAL BEGINS TODAY! This is your last chance until the Summer 2011 distillation to obtain the precious aromatic jewel that is Certified Organic Bulgarian Rose Hydrosol in price saving sizes. Teamed up with FREE SHIPPING you can save a bundle and afford to share!

4 - 16 FL OZ Bottles (1/2 Gallon)
& FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING*
ONLY: $129.95

8 - 16 FL OZ Bottles (1 Gallon)
& FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING*
ONLY: $239.95

Please note that to expedite shipping all packages for this special have been prepacked. Any items ordered additionally will be shipped separately for a minor additional shipping charge.

*Free Domestic Shipping is available only for each single special offer hydrosol package purchased and shipped to a single address throughout all 50 US States, APO/FPO Boxes, Puerto Rico, Guam & the US Virgin Islands.

Mass Market Here We Come

Coming soon to a store near you - ALOF and CZ Luxe are approved vendors at several shops. Wanna see our products in you local stores? JUST ASK!

In the spirit of giving back to the communities which helps us thrive, especially during the holidays, we have several upcoming events where a healthy % of sales proceeds will be donated to local charitable causes!

Art for Animals

S.A.V.E. animal rescue is holding its first ever art auction to raise much-needed funds for their non-profit, grassroots mission to save animals from harm and suffering.

ALOF and its CEO/Founder Christine Ziegler is proud to be one of more than a dozen fabulous artists who have donated their work!

If you are an artist who would like to donate a piece of work please contact them: Savepetny@aol.com or by phone 212-989-3456

This event will take place on December 3, 2010
7:00pm - 9:00pm at:
The Lerner Auditorium @ The LGBT Center
208 West 13th Street (Between 7th and 8th Ave)
New York, NY

Other contributing artists include: Kelly Haigh, Nina Friday, Ric Frane, Joanna Ebenstein, Lou (Art & Ghosts), Scott Cohn, Joel Peter Witkin, Mary Governalli-Garcia and many more!

So many animals need our help -- Please help us help them!

------------
ABOUT S.A.V.E.
------------
S.A.V.E Animal Rescue, is a non- profit, all volunteer run animal rescue. Our mission is to rescue homeless and abandoned animals.

We do not have a shelter facility. Rescued animals reside in veterinary offices, boarding facilities or foster homes until we are able to adopt them into the loving homes they need and deserve.

S.A.V.E additionally helps various communities by educating and advising people on proper animal care, assisting with spaying and neutering, and providing TNR services for feral cats.

We rely on the kindness and generosity of our supporters & animal lovers alike who open their hearts & homes through donation, fostering, sponsoring & adopting.

www.saveanimalrescue.org

Missing Web Site - We're Back! :)

ALOF experienced some world wide web related technical difficulties between 11/5 and 11/10. Due to that our site was unexpectedly down for the past several days.

All is well now in the shire and the elves are back at work making aromatic delights, enchanting the land and posting their wares for sale at:

www.alittleolfactory.com and www.czluxe.com

They also take pictures but the photography site is still a work in progress.

The Aromatic Brined Turkey

Thanksgiving is one of our most cherished holidays. It’s a time to gather with family and friends, and celebrate the gracious bounty and blessings that have been bestowed upon us over the past year. It is also the time of year when many folks struggle to prepare a juicy turkey ;)

Brining a turkey is one of the best ways to give you a moist, tasty, tender, satisfying holiday bird. The turkey absorbs moisture and flavor in this overnight preparation process. It also cuts down on the amount of work while cooking as it does not require basting and the constant attention that an un-brined bird does.

It is important to pick a turkey that has not been injected with a “solution” or a Kosher Turkey (which already has been soaked and salted). A fresh turkey over a frozen turkey is generally preferred for flavor and is less likely to be “adulterated” in any way.

NOTE: You may also use this brining method for a goose

Ingredients

1 14 to 16 pound whole Turkey

Brine Mixture
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 drop orange essential oil
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 drop lemon essential oil
2 cups chopped yellow onions
1 &1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups Kosher salt or coarse Celtic Sea salt
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
8 chopped garlic cloves
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
½ tablespoon allspice berries
1 drop cumin essential oil
1 drop oregano essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Aromatics Mixture
1 apple, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
6 fresh sage leaves
1 bay leaf

Yield:10 to 12 servings

Directions for Turkey
1. Rinse the turkey under cold running water.
Pat dry with paper towels and set aside.

2. To make the brining liquid, combine the brine mixture ingredients above
with 2 gallons of cold water in a large glass or stainless steel pot. Stir to dissolve the sugar and salt.

3. Place the turkey in the pot with the brining liquid. Refrigerate at least 12 hours, and up to 24 hours. Turn the turkey periodically to ensure that the turkey is evenly marinated.

4. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the turkey from the brine and put it in a large, heavy roasting pan, on a rack, breast side up. Lightly rinse the turkey (to prevent it from being too salty). Pat dry with paper towels. Discard brine.

5. Rub the turkey with vegetable oil (preferably a good quality olive oil).

6. Gently tuck the wings in under themselves to prevent burning
(this is preferable to trussing the bird, which will only prolong cooking time).

7. Microwave the apples, onion, cinnamon, bay leaf and water from the aromatic stuffing mixture on high for 4-5 minutes, or simmer on stove for 5 minutes. Lightly stuff bird with steeped aromatics mixture along with the rosemary and sage.* Add aromatic water to bottom of the roasting pan.

*This is not a traditional edible stuffing, it will be discarded after cooking (see stuffing note below).

8. Roast the turkey uncovered at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Then reduce heat to 350 degrees F, cover the breast area with foil and roast until meat reaches an internal temperature of 165-170 degrees F. on an instant-read meat thermometer (about 2-2&1/2 hours).

9. Remove from the oven and let stand in the roasting pan or on a serving platter for 20 minutes before carving.

*Stuffing Note:
If you are going to make a traditional accompaniment stuffing side dish, it is strongly recommended you cook it separately from the bird and not stuff it in the bird itself, especially if the bird is over 15 lbs. This is because a large bird like a turkey requires several hours to heat through to the center. A bread (or rice) stuffing provides an ideal environment for bacterial growth.

One way to solve this problem in birds under 15 lbs is by preheating the stuffing (a microwave is the easiest, quickest method) to 120 to 130 degrees. This gives the stuffing a head start on the cooking process so that the turkey does not overcook as it waits for the stuffing to reach the proper internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Happy, safe, holiday blessings to all!

Alep Soap

In the ancient artisan soap making center of Aleppo the sabuncu's special is traditionally prepared from a combination of olive and bay oils; lovely gifts from trees which have graced Mediterranean region with their bounty for thousands of years.

Our Liquid Alep Soap is an homage to this art; containing only pure oils of Organic Extra Virgin Olive & Wildgrown Bay Leaf, Distilled Water & Laurel Seed Hydrosol.

Enjoy a true natural wonder this holiday season - ALOF's Liquid Alep Soap.

Fair Trade and Fabulous: The Pottery of Mata Ortiz

We all love acquiring beautiful things, especially when they do wonderful things!

CZ Luxe, sister company of A Little Ol’Factory, is very happy to announce one of the newest items in our Artisan Line of ecologically & socially friendly products and packaging: Fair Trade Pottery from Mata Ortiz, Mexico.

Through the sale of their pottery, the inhabitants of Mata Ortiz are slowly transforming their community from one of impoverishment to one of economic stability.

Every stage of production of this pottery is done completely by hand, and each one-of-a-kind piece is purchased directly from the potter. Raw clay and pigment for the pots and paints are collected from the rich deposits found in surrounding hills and valleys. The potter's hand's form the pots, the hair of the children is used to make the paint brushes, the firing is done in the back yard with wood and cow dung is used as the fuel.

We are working with a member of the Fair Trade Federation who meets directly with the individual artists, discussing custom orders, buying each one of a kind piece from the artisan, keeping the cost to the consumer reasonable, paying the producer fairly and developing relationships based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect.

Your purchase supports these efforts and furthers the worldwide Fair Trade movement.

This holiday season we will feature these delicate detailed, small, black on black seed pots filled with CZ Luxe Room Perfume . Made with only the finest floral waxes, resins, herbs, barks, essential oils, absolutes & extracts. We NEVER use synthetic fragrances or cheap sawdust bases.

We believe that by crafting with only quality, natural ingredients, we are offering you some of the finest aromatics you'll ever experience. The same depth, intensity & character is something that we feel cannot truly be obtained with synthetic ingredients and cheap fillers.

Kids' Blog: About Rosemary - By Bria

Hi I`m Chris`s friend`s daughter, Bria. I am 12 yrs old and i love to txt. thts y most of my stuff below will b in txt. It is 2010 and i am writing about Rosemary. we grow Rosemary in the front yard. Its easy to grow, u don't need to do much. water it, and give it sunlight, see not much. Basically its a small-ish plant that smells like lemony vick`s rub, like if u bustd open a freshly peeled lemon with vicks. smell it but b sure not to get it too close to yr eyes bc it hurts rlly bad. Rosemary rlly smells tht fresh, may b even a lil fresher. its small and green, and if u cook chances r u have cooked something with Rosemary. well tht concludes our blog for today. have a great friday.

<3 Bria :)

Days of Barbecued Peach Pie & Cobbler

Here is an old blog post I found that was never published! And yes, once again, tis the season to have pumpkin chai spice soap curing! :)

~~~~~~~~~~

Summer is officially unofficially over. Labor day weekend, that age old line of demarcation signifying that yet another summer has come to an end and wearing of white has passed with it (which doesn't really affect me since I personally rarely wear white any time of the year).

This holiday weekend I was blessed with a wonderful deal on organic peaches that needed to be used immediately (there was a reason they were such a great deal). One could not ask for more juicy sweet peaches to make pie and cobbler with - but my oven died upon arriving home from my holiday away with family (the new oven arrives Saturday - Yay!).

Well I really wanted that pie and cobbler, but the oven broke, so I decided to make them on the barbecue (I'll have to find the photo). They came out so well that I've gained 6 lbs (add that to the weight I gained on holiday with mom feeding me - Oi!). They were the best barbecued pastries I've ever had.

With that note marking the end of my summer, I say its time to get ready for the holidays, darlings! Today I'm making my annual batch of our most popular seasonal favorite - Organic Pumpkin Chai Spice Soap which should be ready to go for the true arrival of Autumn! :)

Asure (Turkish Wheat Pudding)

Asure (Turkish Wheat Pudding)

This is one of the oldest and most traditional deserts in Turkish cuisine. Legend says "When the Flood finally subsided and Noah's Arc settled on Mount Ararat in Agri, those on the vessel wanted to hold a celebration as an expression of the gratitude they felt towards God, but alas, the food storages of the ship were practically empty. So they made a soup with all the remaining ingredients they could find and thus ended up with 'Asure'.

Following that legend, today Asure is prepared by cooking together at least fifteen ingredients which vary slightly by region. For example, in the Çorum region, known as "Pekmezli Hedik" molasses is used and replaces sugar. In Gaziantep anise is added to that version.

Servings: 10

Ingredients:
Dövme (dehusked wheat for Asure) 1 cup
Chickpeas 1/3 cup
Dry white beans 1/3 cup
Rice 2 tablespoons
Water 12 ½ cups
Dried apricots 10
Dried figs 5
Raisins (seedless) ½ cup
Orange 1 small size
Sugar 1 2/3 cups
Rose water 2-4 Tbsp
Walnuts (not crushed) 2/3 cup
Pomegranate ½ small size

Preparation :
Rinse the wheat, chickpeas and dried beans. Soak beans and chickpeas, separately, each in 1 cup of water, overnight. Soak the Dövme and rice together in 2 cups of water, overnight.

Add 3 cups of water to the Dövme and 2 cups of water each to chick peas and beans and place them individually on the burner. Cook the Dövme until the grains are dissolved and the starch comes out. If necessary boil the chickpeas in a pressure cooker.

Rinse dried fruit and soak them for 2 hours in 1 ½ cups of water.

Mix the cooked ingredients and the dry fruit in a pan and cook for 15 minutes.

Peel the orange and cut the rind, including the white inner part into 3-4 cm long and 1 cm wide strips. Divide the orange slices into 4-5 pieces. Add them to the mixture altogether and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the sugar and cook for 1-2 minutes and turn off the heat. Add the rosewater and stir.

Pour into dessert cups. Garnish with walnuts and pomegranate seeds.

Blossoming Pineapple & Olive Clay Mask

Pineapple & Olive Clay Mask

Pineapple contains protein digestive enzymes and fruit acids that help
remove dead skin cells and dirt, as well as leaving skin smooth and
soft. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is mildly astringent.

Olive oil has vitamin E which is very nourishing to the skin, and it has other wonderful healing properties.

The occasional use of clays such as kaolin, green clay
or betonite can be very good for drawing dirt and toxins
out of the skin.

Combined they make a wonderful mask for the face and the rest of the
body - it is a super treat if you can get someone to give you a body
wrap with it.

This mask is simple to make and deliciously effective -and it smells
yummy too! ... I hope you enjoy my little "spa recipe" as much as I do.

Recipe:

In a food processor puree about 1/2 cup of pineapple, 2 Tbsp of neroli hydrosol (use rose hydrosol if your skin is dry or sensitive) add 2-3 Tbsp olive oil, add a few Tbsp of clay - starting with 2 Tbsp and adding more as you blend to get it to the paste consistency you'd like. Spread over skin, massaging gently and leave on for about 15-20 minutes (it will not fully dry - it'll be kinda sticky). Rinse with warm water. Pat dry. Tone skin with a spritz of rose or neroli hydrosol. Enjoy having baby soft skin :)

This recipe will make enough to do a face and some body parts - or a
couple of facials. You can freeze the leftovers to use later that week.
It might change color slightly, but the enzyme activity will still be
effective, as freezing slows enzyme activity but does not stop it, and
once warm again the enzymes will return to being fully active.Do not
re-freeze after thawing.

The Present - Happy New Year!

Rosh Hashanah blessings to all my friends acknowledging the Wheel of Time turning to year 5771!

Each little milestone marker of instance and existence reminds me that yesterday can never come again and tomorrow will happen in some way or another; so don't bother to fret over yesterday or tomorrow and just be all you can in the moment and enjoy it. The present is just that, a gift.

Happy New Year!
שנה טובה
L'Shanah Tova!!

Hold The Triclosan, Please

A little over 2 years ago I blogged about the potential dangers of Triclosan's use in liquid soaps and other household products. Today I've once again stumbled across an article that brought it to the forefront of my mind. There are many findings which show it has an overall negative effect when it comes out of the hospital and is used wide scale by the general public. These not so good effects include but are not limited to aiding the development of drug resistant "super bugs" and causing environmental and wildlife damage.

Despite these facts, the usage of Triclosan in products on the mass market level has actually increased by 40% over the past 2 years! Items such as "Anti-bacterial" toiletries, cutting boards with "Microban", and clothes with "Biofresh" all contain Triclosan; another toxic chemical now ending up in water systems in larger quantities than ever before. Going down the drain does not render it inert or safe.

We at ALOF believe it is unnecessary to add to this issue by using any soaps and other toiletries containing Triclosan. The 100% Olive Oil Liquid Castile Soap that we make is the same soap that we use to wash our bodies, our children and our homes every day. Varieties of the soap which contain essential oils such as Tea Tree and Lavender not only smell pleasant but the aromatics are proven to have antiseptic benefits. Cleaning confidently, efficiently and effectively can add a gentle pleasure to life, without creating "superbugs" and poisoning our waters!

Art for Animals

S.A.V.E. animal rescue is holding its first ever art auction to raise much-needed funds for their non-profit, grassroots mission to save animals from harm and suffering.

ALOF and its CEO/Founder Christine Ziegler is proud to be one of more than a dozen fabulous artists who have donated their work!

If you are an artist who would like to donate a piece of work please contact them: Savepetny@aol.com or by phone 212-989-3456

This event will take place on December 3, 2010
7:00pm - 9:00pm at:
The Lerner Auditorium @ The LGBT Center
208 West 13th Street (Between 7th and 8th Ave)
New York, NY

Other contributing artists include: Kelly Haigh, Nina Friday, Ric Frane, Joanna Ebenstein, Lou (Art & Ghosts), Scott Cohn, Joel Peter Witkin and many more!

So many animals need our help -- Please help us help them!

------------
ABOUT S.A.V.E.
------------
S.A.V.E Animal Rescue, is a non- profit, all volunteer run animal rescue. Our mission is to rescue homeless and abandoned animals.

We do not have a shelter facility. Rescued animals reside in veterinary offices, boarding facilities or foster homes until we are able to adopt them into the loving homes they need and deserve.

S.A.V.E additionally helps various communities by educating and advising people on proper animal care, assisting with spaying and neutering, and providing TNR services for feral cats.

We rely on the kindness and generosity of our supporters & animal lovers alike who open their hearts & homes through donation, fostering, sponsoring & adopting.

www.saveanimalrescue.org

Rose Hydrosol - TCM and more

I was recently enjoying time with a colleague of mine who is a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner as well as dabbler in general herbs, aromatherapy, and cooking. Eventually the topic of rose and rose hydrosol came up between us and it became a fabulous exchange of ideas, recipes and experiences.

* Add about 1-2 tablespoons (or to taste) of rose hydrosol to a half quart of water (or sparkling water). This makes for a hydrating calorie free spritzer with a twist that also is a gentle liver/spleen/stomach tonic!

* Put that same twisted rose hydrosol in a fine mist spray bottle and have a refreshing moisturizer that combats summer heat, winter cold and generally drying climate control systems.

* Add a tablespoon (or to taste) of rose hydrosol to a batch of sugar cookie dough or vanilla cupcake frosting for an international style gourmet treat the kids will love!

* As a feminine rinse for arousal add 1 -2 tablespoons of rose hydrosol to a cup of lukewarm water and cleanse.

Well ladies and gentlemen, that concludes today's aromatically arousing discussion. Hopefully you will join the ALOF Blog again! :)

CLICK HERE to buy rare and precious Certified Organic White Rose Hydrosol today!

Out of the Olive Branch

Esoterically the olive branch, with its oil rich fruit, has for eons been a symbol of peace, unification and harmony. In that vein, whether it is an outward display of truce towards others, or something more inner to nurture our personal calm, the promise and beauty of the olive has an ability to bring peace to our lives and daily routine.

For myself, the ability to work as an artist in a medium of olive oil is beautiful, peaceful and harmonizing for my spirit. I also find joy in touching lives with these olive based creations and hope to bring at least a few moments of peace and pampering into everyone's world with that touch.

ALOF is happy to announce that once again we are in production, in stock and offering fresh batches of our Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Soap!

LIMITED OFFER - Order NOW and receive our Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Liquid Castile Soap at the same price as the "non organic regular stuff" on the page! :-D

** CLICK HERE TO ORDER **

Stinking Roses for The New Year

Drop by drop to taste add any of the following genuine eo's - from a trusted source, to some garlic crushed with salt, lemon juice (or vinegar) and olive oil for some amazing vegetable and meat marinades!

Cinnamon, fresh ginger root, oregano, rosemary, thyme ..

I feel it is safe to say that we all have heard and know of garlic (allium sativum), but not enough folks are familiar with its far more idiosyncratic and descriptive character - the stinking rose. This gift from the flora fellowship is one of the most widespread, well known and valuable members of the lily (Liliaceae) family. It has played an important role in the lives of human beings for well over 5000 years, and counting.

The stinking rose is incredibly diverse. Traditional uses are wide, encompassing much, from food preservation and flavoring, to internal and topical medicinal applications, to being an important ingredient in spiritual preparations - including being revered as one of the most powerful portions in ritual protection preparations - from the power to repel mythical vampires, to the legend being true (and finding its roots) on a more practical level as it repels the all too real bloodsuckers, mosquitoes! It even is said to be an aphrodisiac (probably due to its properties in helping circulation).

Garlic generally and efficiently stimulates the immune system. It is a helpful adjunct in all cancer treatments as well as any elimination and detoxification diets being that it stimulates the purging of toxins, combats carcinogens and also assists the liver in metabolizing fat substances in the blood.

An amino acid called Allacin is created by crushing garlic, and it functions to kill salmonella, staphylococcus, and about 20 other nasty bacteria and various disease spreading micro-organisms.

Heating garlic produces different compounds which are helpful in reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. Garlic is also a light blood thinner, which means it can easily be added to the diet to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

For more info see: Steven Foster's Garlic Monograph

I've planted garlic in my garden for the new year. Now you know why (and it makes pretty edible flowers too!).