Vanilla
Making your own vanilla extract
It can be super hard to find an allergy friendly vanilla that isn't full of vegetable gylcerine (not so good for your teeth). Yeah, i know i'm using the vanilla to bake sweets anyway, but is the glycerine really necessary. And many vanillas out there are either in an alcohol of unknown origin- meaning it is likely to either contain glutens or corn or have a little corn syrup added to them. I find it easier (and more affordable in the long run) to just make my own.
Basic Vanilla extractChop up 2-3 vanilla beans and add to 1 liter of Brandy. Let sit for 6 weeks. Vanilla!
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Damiana rose VanillaI like to add two handfuls of dried organic Damiana leaves and a handful of organic rose petals along with my vanilla beans. The herbs will tincture into the vanilla. Without heating (ie. adding to something like a smoothie) the blend will retain its aphrodisiac properties. Baking into a cookie, cake, etc. I feel like it just adds a calming and mood uplifting energy to the baked goods.
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Love potion Vanillato the damiana rose vanilla (which is already a bit of a love potion) add about a silver dollar size handscoop each of calamus root and cloves, 3 cinnamon stick, and a tablespoon of nutmeg. You can also drop in a rose quartz stone. Just make sure it is polished and not tumbled!
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Herbal Coconut Oils
Similar to the vanilla, I like to add a little extra to my oils for baking.
When coconut oil is in liquid form, add your herbs. You can mix it in when it's in solid form, but that is harder to get the herbs mixed in. Let them sit in the oil for at least 4 weeks and then either scoop out the oil (if the herbs have settled towards the bottom) or put it somewhere warm enough to turn to its liquid form so you can strain out the herbs.
Damiana Rose Coconut Oil
(This one is my favorite)
Add a cup of dried organic damiana leaves and half a cup of dried organic rose petals
Lavender Coconut oil
Add a cup of lavender or a half cup of lavender and a half cup of rose petals to the coconut oil
Mugwort Coconut oil
Add a cup of dried mugwort or a quarter of the jar size of fresh mugwort to the coconut oil
Vinegars
Infuse your vinegars with some extra minerals by adding herbs to bring a nutritional boost to your salads and other entrees!
Nettle Vinegar
Fill a jar of Apple Cider Vinegar (unrefined) such as Spectrum or Braggs either 3/4 full of dried nettles or to the top with fresh nettles. Let this sit for 6 weeks and then strain it out and use the vinegar to dress your foods.
Burdock Vinegar
Fill a jar of Apple Cider Vinegar (unrefined) such as Spectrum or Braggs with chopped fresh burdock root. Let this sit for 6 weeks and then strain it out and use the vinegar to dress your foods.
If you vinegar fresh burdock leaves than when you strain them out, the leaves can be pressed on a sore back to help with pain.
Dandelion Vinegar
Fill a jar of Apple Cider Vinegar (unrefined) such as Spectrum or Braggs full of fresh Dandelion leaf. Let this sit for 6 weeks and then strain it out and use the vinegar to dress your foods. (You can tear up the leaves and add them to your food as well)
Mugwort Vinegar
Fill a jar of Apple Cider Vinegar (unrefined) such as Spectrum or Braggs either 3/4 full of dried Mugwort or to the top with fresh Mugwort. Let this sit for 6 weeks and then strain it out and use the vinegar to dress your foods.