Try something new from the garden.  Fresh herbal vinegar for the bath adds a new twist for soaking!  I have two favorites, one is chamomile and for a cooling bath during the intense heat, peppermint vinegar.  They're easy to make and really give great results.

Pick your chamomile blossoms when they're in bloom and at their peak, steep a handful in 2 cups of white wine vinegar.  Keep in a cool, dry, dark place for 2 weeks, strain and bottle.  Do the same for the peppermint vinegar, using a handful of the leaves.

Use the chamomile vinegar after a long, stressful day by putting 1/2-3/4 cups in a bath.  Soak and enjoy the soothing, calming properties.

If your day had been hot and sticky, you're tired and you still have to go out, use your uplifting  peppermint vinegar to cool and invigorate your hot tired body.

These vinegars make great gifts, remember to label and give explanations for using.  Happy Summer...enjoy!!

Fresh herbs are available everywhere you look. Supermarkets, farm stands & corner stores have all jumped on the fresh herb band wagon as part of the "eat healthy" movement. Many people I know are planting herbs in kitchen plots, vegetable gardens and window sill pots in an attempt to watch and enjoy these easy to grow "little beauties." While growing the plants may seem easy, everyone wants to know what to do with them!

My cookbooks, Seasonal Herbal Favorites Volume I and Volume II,  teach that there is more to seasoning than salt and pepper and that the flavor of herbs can be the centerpiece of a meal.

To Read More Click on the Cookbook