I am very excited to introduce you guys to Aubrey of Homegrown & Healthy today. Her site is an amazing curated collection of all that is healthy, homemade and fresh. Aubrey scours the internet to bring you healthy recipes and ideas, including her own recipes and crafts into the mix as well. If you want live healthier and be healthier without having to sacrificing your favorite foods or your budget, you have to check out her site. Today she is sharing a wonderful and simple recipe for Rose Infused Honey which couldn’t fit in more perfectly around here, since I only recently just share a recipe for homemade honey-sweetened ginger syrup. I have roses growing like crazy so I will be making this very soon, I love rose flavored soda water.

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“I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” Emma Goldman

Roses: the iconic flower representing romance, love, beauty and appreciation. However, those beautiful, softly scented petals are for more than just show.

Did you know that roses are edible?

Not simply edible, but beneficial?

Roses having a soothing property and have long been regarded as a sedative, anti depressant, and all around stress reducer. From a nutritional standpoint it’s reassuring to know that roses are high in organic acids and nutrients, offering a ton of vitamin C.

(Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll want to eat every rose you come across. Especially avoid anything that comes from a florist–they cover those things in all kinds of chemicals–or eating flowers from a garden that utilizes pesticides or other chemicals. But you already know that, right?)

To best assimilate the nutrients and benefits of roses I’ve come up with this quick and method of preservation. Making your own Rose-infused Honey couldn’t be any simpler, and the end result is a delicious and healthy combination that you can add to tea, snacks and desserts. Or you can get extra creative and incorporate it into your natural skin care routine.

[print_this]Rose Infused Honey 

Ingredients:

• 1 pint fresh roses
• 1 pint good quality honey
• 1 sterilized pint sized canning jar with lid

First, prepare your honey. If you’re using raw, local honey (which I recommend) it will probably be a semi-solid state. If the weather allows by simply letting your jar of honey sit in a nice sunny spot until it turns to liquid. If that’s not an option then warm it by using a double boiler method.

While that’s heating you can get to work:

Pick a pint of roses. Wash and pat dry. Gently remove the petals from the flowers (you can discard the inner segment).

Pack your petals into a clean, sterilized jar.

Pour honey over your rose petals, making sure there’s enough liquid to completely cover them.

Cover the jar and allow your mixture to sit for one to two weeks. After it has had a chance to fully infuse, strain the petals out. Store in a dark, cool place until ready to use. Enjoy! [/print_this]

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Aubrey is the creator and editor of Homegrown & Healthy, an online community built to encourage simple, natural lifestyles.

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