The Gift Exchange

Here is a great way to use your rose petals. Make your own rose water or oil at home with this method. You can make other herb extracts as well. You will need a lot of ice for this project, so plan ahead. Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours,
Ingredients:
Clean rose petals or herbs (grown without pesticides)
Water
Ice
Preparation:
You can make rose water and extracts at home with a bit of time and patience.

Place a heavy glass ramekin into a deep stockpot. Fill the ramekin 3/4 full with water to weigh it down. Place rose petals or herbs around the exterior of the ramekin in the bottom of the pot and cover with water halfway up the side of the ramekin. Place a shallow soup bowl on top of the ramekin. Bring the water and rose petals to a boil. Lower heat to simmer. Place a stainless steel bowl on top of the stockpot. It should be large enough to seal the pot, but shallow enough so that its bottom is above the top level of the soup bowl. Fill the top bowl with ice.

Simmer the mixture 3 to 4 hours, depending on the amount. As the mixture boils, the heat rises and hits the cold bowl, causing it to condense and drip down into the inner bowl. Replace ice as needed as it melts.

When done, the small bowl will contain the rose water (or herb water). It will have a layer of rose oil (or herb oil) that is the essential oil or extract. The oil may be separated from the water. Rose water has a very distinctive flavor and is used heavily in South Asian, West Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine—especially in sweets. In Iran it is also added to tea, ice cream and cookies. In the Arab world and India it is used to flavor milk and rice pudding. Have fun with your rose water by adding it to many different recipes. The oil can be used to make rose soap. But that’s another recipe…

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