There is a difference between Chestnuts (which are edible) and Horse Chestnuts which are NOT edible. They have a nasty taste and leave a bitter taste in the back of your throat. I tried them before I looked them up: bad idea. I think the lesson here is that you should research your nuts before you eat them.
There appear to be uses for Horse Chestnuts which I plan on looking into. Eating them, however, is not recommended.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus_hippocastanum
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Rose, Rose, Rose 2
So, I am not sure about what size my wet rose petal mash should be made into. I am trying quarter sized as I heard something about marble sized ones shrinking quite a bit. We will see how it goes.
I formed some of the beads last night, but left the rest of the pulp in the rose water on the stove over night. It's hard to see the difference in color in the photo above on the left. Also, the link I used suggested putting them in the oven on really low but I thought I would try putting them in front of the fan in my dining room. I put the wire through them this morning after the ones I formed sat out over night. I am hanging some and laying others to see how it works and if lines form in the ones laying on the rack. I will let you know.
So, when I pulled the pulp out last night, the beads I formed were a brownish color. The rose water is quite dusty rose colored (go figure). I was bummed that the color wasn't red/pinker. This morning, the ones I formed last night were pinker. I think that the water remaining in the pulp must bring the color with it as it raises to the surface of the beads. I could be wrong. I will also let you know how the color changes as they dry.
I wanted to try drinking the rose water or baking with it but my husband has too many concerns about it. The roses that I used are along a sidewalk at a friends house and so my hubby fears that something might have been sprayed on them as some duffus walked by. I think he worries about weird things, but, since we are trying to get pregnant, I decided not to chance it. I want to research taking a bath with the rose water...I wonder if it will tint me pink! My hands smell fabulous! I had my hands in the water and squishing the beads. I keep looking around for something that I could soak in the water to "scent" it.
We will see it it all goes! I will keep you updated.
I formed some of the beads last night, but left the rest of the pulp in the rose water on the stove over night. It's hard to see the difference in color in the photo above on the left. Also, the link I used suggested putting them in the oven on really low but I thought I would try putting them in front of the fan in my dining room. I put the wire through them this morning after the ones I formed sat out over night. I am hanging some and laying others to see how it works and if lines form in the ones laying on the rack. I will let you know.
So, when I pulled the pulp out last night, the beads I formed were a brownish color. The rose water is quite dusty rose colored (go figure). I was bummed that the color wasn't red/pinker. This morning, the ones I formed last night were pinker. I think that the water remaining in the pulp must bring the color with it as it raises to the surface of the beads. I could be wrong. I will also let you know how the color changes as they dry.
I wanted to try drinking the rose water or baking with it but my husband has too many concerns about it. The roses that I used are along a sidewalk at a friends house and so my hubby fears that something might have been sprayed on them as some duffus walked by. I think he worries about weird things, but, since we are trying to get pregnant, I decided not to chance it. I want to research taking a bath with the rose water...I wonder if it will tint me pink! My hands smell fabulous! I had my hands in the water and squishing the beads. I keep looking around for something that I could soak in the water to "scent" it.
We will see it it all goes! I will keep you updated.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Rose, Rose, Rose
Long ago, my great Grandmother promised to teach me the art of Rose Petal Bead making. With the constrictions of time and distance, this has never happened, and, as she is now 102, I don't for see it ever occurring. Enter the internet! I Googled "making rose petal beads" and found this most helpful link. Currently, my house smells splendidly like roses. I am dreaming of my next project. I am thinking that dried rose hips and rose petal jam are in my near future!
I wish that I could post the smell, but I will have to settle for a picture of the cooking petals.
It doesn't look fabulous, but it sure smells fabulous!
This is the wonderful link to the rose petal bead recipe.
http://www.thebeadsite.com/bmm-rose.htm
This is the link I will use to make rose petal jam.
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Rose-Petal-Jam
I wish that I could post the smell, but I will have to settle for a picture of the cooking petals.
It doesn't look fabulous, but it sure smells fabulous!
This is the wonderful link to the rose petal bead recipe.
http://www.thebeadsite.com/bmm-rose.htm
This is the link I will use to make rose petal jam.
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Rose-Petal-Jam
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