3 herb-infused pampering ideas

Mother’s Day is on its way, and if you want to be more original than giving Mum choccies and smelly soap, it’s time to raid the herb garden! Home-grown herbs add a personal touch, whether it’s a herb-flavoured breakfast in bed, pampering with fragrant herbs or a herb pillow to sweeten her dreams.

Herbalicious breakfast idea: 

What better way to start a day of pampering Mum than with fresh and fruity sweet scones.
To make: Add in 2 teaspoons of finely chopped herbs, such as scented geranium, rosemary and/or lavender leaf, and 1 teaspoon of orange zest. Serve with thick cream and strawberry jam, of course!

Gifts that linger: 
This herb neck pillow is so easy to make because it doesn’t require sowing.

To make: Buy a pair of funky socks, and fill one (or both) of the socks about 2 /3 full of flax seed. Add about 1/ 3 cup of dried lavender flowers, rose petals, mint, or lemon verbena, and tie the end closed. The sock can be warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds, taken out, shaken and warmed for another 30 seconds if necessary. It can also be put in the freezer for a cooling effect.

Herb infused cooking: 

Herb-flavoured vinegars and oils are always welcome because they can be splashed on salads or used in cooking. The best herbs for oils and vinegars are basil, rosemary, tarragon and lemon thyme.
To make: Use fresh, dry leaves and lightly bruise. Put the leaves in a sterilised bottle. For an infused oil used avocado, sunflower or canola oil. For a vinegar use a wine vinegar. Cover the herbs completely, seal the bottle and put it on a windowsill (not too hot or the herbs get musty). Shake the jar every day and let the mix infuse for two weeks. Taste and if the flavour is weak, repeat with new herbs. If the flavour is right, strain out the herbs. Leave a sprig in the bottle for appearance.

---