Celebrate National Popcorn Day...with a lavender twist!

Today is National Popcorn Day. We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than with some Lavender Chocolate Covered Popcorn. Lavender is an earthly elixir that enhances the flavor of chocolate. (And who can resisit chocolate??) Here's a recipe from The Lavender Gourmet, by Jennifer Vasich, that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Enjoy!

Lavender Chocolate Covered Popcorn

10 cups air-popped popcorn (without salt or butter) ¼ cup honey
2 Tbsp butter
¾ cup milk chocolate chips
¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tsp coarse ground kosher salt (or sea salt)
1 tsp organic culinary lavender buds
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Pop the popcorn according to the package directions. Place the popped corn on a large cookie sheet lined with parchment (or waxed) paper.

In a small saucepan, heat together the honey, butter and milk chocolate chips over a low heat, stirring until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from the heat and allow the honey and chocolate mixture to cool slightly. Pour the mixture over the popcorn, stirring to coat evenly. Chill until the chocolate sets.

Once the chocolate has hardened on the popcorn, melt the semisweet chocolate chips over a low heat, stirring constantly. Drizzle the semisweet chocolate over the popcorn. Sprinkle with the kosher salt and lavender buds and chopped nuts (optional). Chill until the chocolate hardens and then break into pieces. Enjoy!

Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Makes 10 cups.

The Lavender Gourmet, by Jennifer Vasich, is available on amazon.com! GET THIS BOOK

"The Lavender Home Spa" F*REE Ebook offer!

Alright lavender enthusiasts, here is your chance to get a complimentary copy of our new ebook, The Lavender Home Spa! Now you can create your own handmade lavender bath products using pure lavender essential oil, organic oils and butters, lavender buds grown from your garden and other natural ingredients.

The best part is that the book really is free... When you subscribe to our Lavender Newsletter, you'll receive a copy of the book! CLICK HERE to get a copy of The Lavender Home Spa... You're going to love it!

{Recipe} Cocoa Lavender-Mint Foot Scrub

Soothe your soles to this invigorating treat!  This scrub will smooth and cleanse, while the cocoa butter makes your feet ultra soft and supple. Natural peppermint oil deodorizes, energizes and soothes tired soles, while relaxing muscles. Lavender essential oil adds an extra soothing touch, while also relaxing achy muscles and joints. This foot treatment is super easy to make, and is the perfect way to end a hectic day!

• 1/3 cup Epsom Salts
• 4 tablespoons Cocoa Butter, grated
• 4 tablespoons Jojoba Oil
• 8 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
• 8 drops Lavender Essential Oil 


DIRECTIONS:
1. In a microwave safe glass container, gently heat Cocoa Butter and Jojoba Oil until cocoa butter melts; stir well.
2. Add Epsom Salts, peppermint and lavender essential oil, and mix well.
3. Massage into clean feet and rinse with warm water, paying special attention to heels and dry patches.

Lavender Oil helps fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as "SAD", or "The Winter Blues")

When the first snowflakes start to fall and most people are making their holiday plans, we are thinking about lavender & sunshine! Every year, we welcome thousands of visitors to our Annual Lavender Festival, (in July) and begin preparing for that event as early as November. We strongly believe that surrounding ourselves with lavender all the time has truly helped us to combat the syndrome known as “The Winter Blues”.

We would like to share an article written by a fellow aromatherapist talking specifically about how to overcome the stagnant days of winter with…you guessed it... Lavender! If you or anyone you know happens to suffer from this bit of winder doldrum, we hope that you will benefit from this article.  Lavender Dreams!

It's that time of year, again. People start to feel bad, lethargic, irritable, and depressed. Many gain weight. For some people the winter months are merely an annoyance. For others, it can be a major problem. Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects twice as many females as males. 

Scented Sentiments

I recently came across an article I wrote a few years back while organizing some files on my computer. It was published in the Summer, 2008 issue of Gabriel's Garden Magazine. (A short-lived publication that we once produced with a great zeal and ambition...before the quick realization of how daunting, tiresome and tedious producing a magazine truly was.) We loved the magazine, but between running two businesses and raising a family, there simply wasn't any more we could give...and so, the magazine had three issues.

In any event, we thought that it would be a great thing to share with all of you. With December being the most hectic month of the year for so many people, this idea is sure to offer your friends and loved ones a nice break from their day! Enjoy! -Jennifer

“A handwritten note is like dining by candlelight instead of flicking on the lights, like making a gift instead of ordering one, like taking a walk instead of driving. Handwritten notes will add a lot to your life. You can still use the telephone or the Web for the daily chores of staying in touch, but for the words that matter, it’s courteous, classy, caring and civilized to pick up a pen.”  ~Margaret Shepherd, author of The Art of The Handwritten Note

When the daily mail arrives, do you find yourself sifting through all the mess, and feeling your stress levels rise when it seems there's nothing but bills? When a pretty handwritten envelope arrives, do you immediately set that one aside to open first? In this high-tech world, a handwritten letter is a limited commodity that few people take the time to create yet everyone treasures. Give yourself a break from the fast pace of life to tell a friend or loved one how much they are cared for using the sentiment of a handwritten note. The letter doesn’t have to be elaborate, in fact, we suggest keeping it simple. Using your favorite pen is a must. It helps to unlock the creative side of your brain and gives you the satisfaction of liking your own handwriting. Start first with a rough draft and then make necessary edits. Copy your letter onto your favorite stationery, in your best handwriting. The most common mistake that people make is being too critical of their own handwriting. If it doesn’t look like John Hancock penned it, don’t worry! The recipient will love it. For an even more personalized appeal, try your hand at creating Lavender Scented Stationery to send your correspondence. The recipient will treasure the essence of your fragrant letter from beginning to end, and you may even find that writing gives you a restful, and much needed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day living.

Lavender Scented Stationery

It’s like tucking a fresh little bouquet of Lavender into every envelope!

Directions: 

Squeeze a lavender sachet (or two) and place in a box with your favorite stationery. Allow the lavender oil from the buds to infuse your papers for 2-3 weeks before using. Your writing papers and envelopes will be filled with the essence of the French Countryside!

“To love a person is to learn the song that is in their Heart, and to sing it to them When they have Forgotten." — Author Unknown

Fill your home with the Scent of Lavender

Here are just a few ways you can fill your home with the unforgettable fragrance of Lavender to create a warm, restful ambiance...

Sprinkle Lavender Buds directly on your carpet before vacuuming. The oils in the Lavender will release a pleasant fragrance in your entire room when you vacuum them up!  (lavender is regarded as being safe for pets) 

• Arrange a dried Lavender bouquet in a decorative vase or place on a table for a beautiful (and fragrant) home accent.
• Diffuse Lavender Essential Oil in any room to remove household odors.
• Put a drop of lavender essential oil to the bottom of your feet before bedtime, or spritz your pillow with Lavender Pillow Spray to help promote a restful nights sleep. May also be sprayed in any room for a wonderful air refresher.
• Place Lavender Sachets in your drawers to leave your linens and fineries fresh with the essence of the French Countryside, while keeping moths at bay.

 

Fill your home with Lavender & enjoy the soothing, calming & healing benefits of this remarkable herb.

The Secret to Radiant Skin

Have you ever wondered if there was a secret to healthy, younger looking skin? What if that secret was virtually free and easy to achieve? Well, the good news is that there is a secret, and that it is easier to achieve than you might think…it is called “Dry Skin Brushing”. The benefits of this simple “Home Spa Treatment” may pleasantly surprise you.

The Facts:
Or skin is the largest organ in our body, and after the liver, it is the second largest organ of detoxification that our body uses. In fact, the skin is responsible for eliminating one quarter of the body’s toxins every day. If our elimination is poor, these toxins become trapped in our system resulting in dull or tired skin, acne and clogged pores. Clogged pores are not just a cosmetic concern. Failing to rid the body of toxins can result in poor health. Dry skin brushing actually helps to eliminate these toxins by assisting your body to shed wastes, which in turn, helps promote overall health and vitality.

There are many benefits to skin brushing, a few of which include:

Wild Orange & Lavender Lip Balm

Dry, cracked lips? If you’re looking for a more natural solution to the chemically laden, petroleum based lip products on the market, look no further! Not only is making your own lip balm simple to do, it will save you a lot of money. Once you try this recipe for natural lip balm made with lavender essential oil, chances are you’ll never go back to the manufactured ones. 

Lavender oil soothes and relieves chapped lips while calming your senses, and the Wild Orange essential oil is like sunshine in a bottle. Get ready to spoil yourself! 

Ingredients 

·        1 Tbsp Organic Olive Oil

·        1 Tsp Grated Beeswax or Beeswax Pellets

·        1 Tsp Shea Butter

·        1 Vitamin E Capsule (as a preservative - optional)

·        4 drops Lavender Essential Oil

·        4 drops Wild Orange Essential Oil

Lavender oil is a powerful antifungal that fights skin conditions, Candida

(NaturalNews) New research out of Portugal has found that lavender oil is a powerful antifungal agent that fights and prevents skin and nail infections, including Candida albicans. Published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, the study found that lavender essential oil exhibits amazing protection against a wide range of pathogenic fungi -- and it works better than all known antifungal drugs at doing so.

"In the last few years there has been an increase in the incidence of fungal diseases, particularly amongimmunocompromised patients," said professors Ligia Salgueiro and Eugenia Pinto from the University of Coimbra , authors of the study.

"Unfortunately there is also increasing resistance to antifungal drugs. Research by our group and others has

Honey Lavender Caramel Apples

As the cool, crisp Autumn season rolls in, our taste buds begin to crave the fruits of the season. We will be sharing a few of our favorite fall recipes in the days to come, all with a lavender flair, of course! This recipe happens to be one of our favorites. After one bite of these buttery, sweet and salty caramel covered apples, you may never want to eat a "Plain Jane" caramel apple again. Bon Apetit!

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
1 ½ cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons dried lavender buds
¾ cup unsalted butter
¾ cup honey
1 ¾ cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
4-6 apples, cored and sliced (we prefer Granny Smith)
toasted hazelnuts or cashews, chopped (optional)

{Gifts From The Garden} AROMATIC BATH SALTS

Bath salts are quick and easy to make at home, and are a treasured gift for anyone who loves to soak in the tub. Remember, it's all in the presentation! The secret to turning simple bath salts into a fabulous gift has everything to do with the packaging. The right package can transform even the most basic of bath salts into a much appreciated gift that look stunning in the bathroom.

This recipe for Aromatic Bath Salts will make the water feel silky soft, and the added benefits of pure essential oils will make them therapeutic.

  

Aromatic Bath Salts

1/2 cup Dead Sea Mineral Salts -OR- Epsom Salts

1 Tbs. baking soda

15 drops Lavender Essential Oil, OR your favorite essential oil blend, such as Balance or Serenity (Available through www.purelydoterra.com)

4 Tbsp Dried Botanicals such as lavender buds or rose petals  (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together, then add essential oils. You can mix in a bowl or put salt in a plastic, self-sealing bag, add essential oils, then tightly seal the bag. Toss bag around to

Sleeping never smelled so good!

Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you feel sluggish and lethargic during the day? I recently read an interesting article on Dr. Joseph Mercola's website which I found quite alarming. In this report, Dr. Mercola states that, "Americans get about 25 percent less sleep than they did a century ago -- and this isn’t just a matter of having less energy. Too little sleep impacts your levels of thyroid and stress hormones, which in turn can affect your memory and immune system, your heart and metabolism, and much more. Over time, lack of sleep can lead to: weight gain, depression, High blood sugar levels and an increased risk of diabetes."

YIKES! That was certainly enough to grab my attention, and I quickly thought of all the reasons why I love

Lavender Citrus Shortbread

Per request of our customers, we are sharing the recipe for this "new & improved" shortbread, which was adapted from a recipe originally published in The Lavender Gourmet by Jennifer Vasich. 

So then, how do you improve something that is already superb? This new version uses CPTG Essential Oils (Wild Orange & Lemon), which perfectly compliment the lavender. If you've never used Essential Oils in baking, you're in for a real treat. Remember that all Essential Oils are NOT created equal. When using them for consumption, you must use Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG). Our all-time favorite essential oils are from doTERRA, since their level of quality and purity is unsurpassed. Lovely Lavender: She's no shrinking violet! This recipe for shortbread will fill your home with a heavenly aroma when baking... Enjoy!

Lavender Citrus Shortbread

1 ½  Cups unsalted butter, softened

1 Cup Sugar

3 Cups flour

¼ tsp salt

1 ½ tsp Pure Vanilla extract

10 drops doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil

10 drops doTERRA Wild Orange Essential Oil

1 ½ Tbsp Organic Culinary Lavender Buds

Coarse Ground Sugar, for garnish (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, lemon essential oil, wild orange essential oil, and lavender buds with an electric mixer for about 4-5 minutes, until it is light and fluffy. Slowly add the flour (one cup at a time) until well incorporated. If dough is still sticky, add a touch more flour.

Form dough into logs and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm. Slice dough into 1/2 thick slices. Lay cookie slices on parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the top of each cookie with coarse ground sugar (optional). Bake for 10-15 minutes or until edges are slightly golden. Cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Allow to cool completely on wire racks before serving. Makes approx. 3 dozen. Adapted from a recipe for Lavender Lemon Shortbread originally published in The Lavender Gourmet by Jennifer Vasich.

Autumn Bliss

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.  ~Stanley Horowitz
 
I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of this beautiful Autumn weather we've been having! It has been a gorgeous week, and the change of colors has been simply breathtaking out here in the country where we live.

While working in the garden and pruning some perennials this week, I thought I had better remind everyone that it is best to not prune your lavender in the fall here in Michigan. Pruning should be done in the spring before new growth starts. (Take 1/3 of the entire plant off, and reshape it into a nice mound.---We willre-post this again in the spring.)

As for this weekend, I am definitely enjoying these last few days of warm sunshine and looking forward to attending the family reunion tomorrow at my sister's house. We are going on a hay ride, and I'm

Zucchini & Carrot Trail Mix Muffins

As some of you already know, we've been making some positive changes in our home regarding health &  wellness. This includes the way we eat.

I recently fell in love with a new book, The Eat Clean Diet Recharged, by Tosca Reno. It has inspired me to take a step in the right direction and I hope to inspire others to do the same. After just a few weeks of cutting out the sugar, white flour and dairy, and adding lots of lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber and plenty of water...I feel amazing! I have slipped up a bit now and again, but I just keep getting back up and moving forward. I'm hopeful that my family will follow my quest for health and enjoy re-training their taste buds as much as I am!

The Many Health Benefits of Lavender

Lavender is a remarkable plant that has been cherished for its unmistakable aroma and its treasured medicinal properties for thousands of years. The essential oil of lavender is a universal oil that has been known to balance the body, reduce stress and treat a myriad of health and emotional issues. It's the Swiss army knife of essential oils. I always say, "When in doubt, use Lavender."

Recently, I received a call from a customer suffering with Restless Leg Syndrome. He heard that Lavender was known to help with this condition. I sent him a sample of CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) Lavender essential oil in the mail, and after using it for just two nights, he called and asked us to "RUSH him a bottle." He was amazed at how the lavender oil reduced his symptoms by 95%! He told us that he had "not slept the whole night through in years". Since then, he has referred two more people affected by the same condition, and of course, they also experienced positive results. This made us very happy....after all, we are the "lavender people".

Our favorite recipe for summer!

French Lavender 4-Berry Pie

Nothing beats this summertime pie filled with locally grown, orchard fresh fruits. Using my mother’s best recipe for flaky crust, this decadent dessert oozes with flavor. Absolutely marvelous served piping hot with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!


Crust:
2 Sticks Unsalted Butter, very cold
1 t. salt
2 Tbsp Sugar
2 1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 - 1 Cup Ice Water

Lavender Lemonade

Our all-time favorite! This delightfully refreshing drink turns a pretty pink color after you add the lavender, and it has continued to be something that festival goers look forward to every year. Our favorite culinary lavender variety to use is Hidtcote, although any culinary variety may be used.

Serve over ice in your favorite glasses, and garnish with fresh lime slices and lavender sprigs for extra pizzazz!!
 

• 6 lemons
• 1 cup organic cane sugar
• 6 cups cold water
• 1/4 cup fresh or 1 TBSP dried lavender buds
• Ice Cubes
• Lavender Springs and Lime Slices for garnish (optional)

Mother's Day Tea Events!

Friday, May 7, 2010 @ 6:00 pm

& Saturday, May 8, 2010 @ 2:00 pm

Are you looking for ways to make your Mom feel extra special? Shower her with love and blessings this year, and celebrate how much she means to you while relaxing at Gabriel's Garden during one of our Mother's Day Tea Events! 

A refreshing Grilled Chicken & Cranberry Salad with fresh Raspberry Vinaigrette will start your luncheon, followed by a delightful selection of Savory Tea Sandwiches. A lovely, three-tier presentation of Sweets, Pastries and Chocolate Desserts will complete the tea, and of course, we will be offering one of our famous selections of Fresh Brewed Tea during the luncheon. A chilled Sparkling Raspberry Spumante (non-alcoholic) will also be served.

Growing Lavender 101: Spring Pruning!

By popular demand, we are posting some useful information regarding care for your lavender. Properly pruning your lavender plants is crucial to maintain the health, vitality and beauty of this remarkable little herb. Lavender doesn’t require a great deal of maintenance, but some attention is needed in the pruning department. The most important thing to remember is to begin pruning lavender while the plant is still young. This way new growth will be encouraged right from the start. It also prevents the stalks from becoming woody in the center, which is a common problem amongst lavender plants that have not been pruned regularly.

Pruning Young Lavender Plants

When the lavender plants are young, and preferably still in pots, simply pinch out any new growth, and

Common Herbs can be used as Natural Pesticides

(NaturalNews) Essential oils extracted from common kitchen herbs and spices can be used as safer, less destructive pesticides, according to research led by Murray Isman of the University of British Columbia and presented at the Fall Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C.

"We are exploring the potential use of natural pesticides based on plant essential oils -- commonly used in foods and beverages as flavorings," Isman said.

Isman's team has been researching the pest control properties of clove, mint, rosemary and thyme for 10 years, and has found that diluted mixtures of the essential oils from two to four of the plants can be used to both repel and kill agricultural pests. These natural pesticides have been effectively used to fight aphids and mites that would otherwise prey on spinach, strawberry and tomato crops.

Join us for an Essential Oil Class This Spring!

Gabriel's Garden is delighted to now be offering Free Essential Oil Classes! Over the years, we have felt very fortunate to be able to share our love for lavender with everyone, and hope that you will be our guest for our upcoming aromatherapy event.

Our Lavender pillow Spray was featured on the GLAMOUR magazine blog!

We are thrilled to announce that one of our products has been featured on the blog for Glamour Magazine! Here's what Cindi Leive, editor-in-chief of Glamour Magazine, had to say about our Lavender Pillow Spray,"My favorite things so far: Lavender pillow spray. The one I tried, by Gabriel's Garden, made my pillow smell like a spa. And there’s science here: One study found that the smell of lavender oil at night increases the amount of time you spend in the most restorative phase of sleep."

To read the complete article, follow the link at the bottom of the page...

http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2010/02/sleep-challenge-2010-man-they.html

One of our favorite recipes for Brunch....

Banana Nut French Toast with Lavender Honey Butter

Several years ago, my sister Sharon treated me to a “girls weekend away” in Manistee, Michigan at a quaint little Bed & Breakfast near Lake Michigan. We thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing weekend, and while there, the innkeepers made an incredible breakfast that included French toast with a sumptuous banana-nut filling. The recipe here is my own version of that decadent breakfast, which tastes absolutely amazing when served with homemade lavender honey butter.
This recipe is from  The Lavender Gourmet by Jennifer Vasich, published by Moose Run Productions (November, 2009)

Banana Nut French Toast:
3 Ripe Bananas, mashed
3 Eggs, slightly beaten
¾ cup Milk
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
10-12 slices French Bread, sliced ½ inch thick, preferably a day old
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
butter, for frying