How to Make a Rose and Oatmeal Bath Mix

Rose and oatmeal are the perfect bath combination. Oatmeal is soothing to the skin and rose is uplifting. Rose essential oil is used for its anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating qualities.

• 5 cups of oats
• Essential oil of rose
• Rose petals (fresh)(optional)

1. Place the oats in the blender. Blend until the oats become finely ground.
2. Put the oats into the item of choice for containing the oats. Tie together with a ribbon or string.
3. Attach the ribbon or string to the tap (faucet) as close under the spigot as possible. Allow warm water to run into the bath, moving through the oat bag.
4. Add 2 - 3 drops of the rose oil direct to the bathwater and swirl around.
5. Add the rose petals.
6. Enjoy a luxurious bath.

• Blender
• Cheesecloth, coffee paper filter, sachet bag etc. - any suitable item to hold the oats mixture
• Ribbon or string; needs to be long enough to hang from tap (faucet)

Photo courtesy of Athena's Pix Flickr Photostream.

Rose Petal Jam

Rose petal jam is synonymous with dainty afternoon tea parties and is a delightful for jam for breakfast too. If you are lucky enough to have access to rose petals from the garden, this jam is a very special way to make use of them. Make sure to use petals that haven't been sprayed with anything toxic before using them.


Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 250g rose petals, organic (unsprayed) and clean
  
• 2 lemons, juiced

1. Check that the petals are clean. Wash and dry any petals that are not.
2. Put the petals into a bowl. Add 1.5 cups of the sugar and stir. As you stir, crush the sugar into the rose petals.
3. Leave the crushed petal mixture to stand overnight. The rose essence will imbue the sugar, leaving a dainty rose flavour. Cover with a clean teatowel or similar cover to prevent dust etc. from settling on the petal mixture.
   
4. Combine the remaining sugar, water and lemon juice with the petal mixture the following day. Stir together until the new ingredients are dissolved.
5. In a heavy-based saucepan, bring the mixture to a boil gradually. This must be a very slow process, in order to release the aroma of the rose and soften the petals.
6. Simmer until setting point is reached.
7. Store in a clean, sterilised glass container and keep in the fridge. Use within one month of making.
   

Items Needed

• Bowl
• Mixing implement
• Teatowel, clean for cover
• Heavy-based saucepan