Category: News

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Make your own – Bath Bombs (again!)

We know you’ve probably seen this before, but in honour of Christmas we thought we’d share our most popular gift making idea ever. These bath bombs are so easy to make, and are a fantastic, home made gift. They’re also great for relaxing after a hard day’s Christmas shopping!

Ingredients:

Witch Hazel Water

Bicarbonate of Soda

Citric Acid

Essential Oil (we like lavender for an extra soothing bath, but anything you like will work!)

Dried herbs, petals, flowers or food colouring  (again, lavender flowers are it for us)

 

Moulds:

We’ve got the kind of house that always has kids running around, and of course that means kids toys everywhere – so we used a plastic ball pit ball, cut in half (ingenious, we know) as our mould. But you can use anything that has the shape you like – ice cube trays, cupcake tins, whatever you’ve got lying around.

Bath.Bomb.how.to.image

Directions:

  1. Combine equal amounts of citric acid and bicarbonate of soda.
  2. Add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice, plus any flowers or colouring you’re using & mix thoroughly.
  3. Sparingly add Witch Hazel Water (a few drops at a time) until the mixture is just damp enough to hold its shape when compressed. Go easy on adding the liquid- if you add too much the mixture will do all its fizzing in your bowl instead of your bath!
  4. Pack the mixture firmly into both halves of your mould, then push together to join. (If using an ice cube tray or similar, just make sure to compress the mixture into the mould so it doesn’t all fall apart when you take it out).
  5. Allow to set for at least 2 hours before removing from the mould.
  6. If your bomb falls apart when you remove it from your mould, it’s probably too dry- put the mixture back in a bowl and add a few more drops of Witch Hazel water.
  7. Package in some cellophane with ribbon as a gorgeous home made gift – or spoil yourself and get that bath running!
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Irish Cobble and Soda Bread Recipe

First things first, thank you to everyone who came to our Irish night – it was a fantastic evening! As always, Susan cooked a delicious meal, and we had quite a few requests for the recipe. So here it is – Susan’s Irish Cobble and Soda Bread…

 Irish Cobble

Ingredients:

250g sausages (we used vegetarian but meat eaters don’t need to be left out!)

700g white potatoes

1 carrot

1 onion

500ml stock (again, we used vegetable but meat would work too)

Mature cheddar cheese to taste

 

Method:

– Preheat the oven to 200C

– Using the ‘slicer’ attachment in your food processor (or just a knife if you prefer!), thinly slice the sausages and put to one side. Peel the potatoes, then thinly slice, and repeat with the carrot. Peel the onion and roughly chop.

– In a large baking dish, or small ramekins for individual portions, place a layer of potatoes. On top of this, layer the onion, then the sausages, then the carrot, repeating until all of the ingredients have been used and making sure to top with a layer of potato.

– Pour over your ready-made stock, making sure to coat as much of the dish as possible. The stock should come to half way up the dish.

– Cover with foil and place in the oven for roughly 1 – 2hrs, until the potato is completely soft.

– Remove the foil and cover the top of the potatoes with grated cheese. Return to the oven for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and browning.

 

For the soda bread, we used this recipe from the BBC – it’s just the right amount of sour and went deliciously with the Cobble (or just a heap of butter…)

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Exciting Times…

We can only apologise (once again) for the lack of blog posts recently – the days just don’t seem to be long enough! We did think you’d like to be kept updated though, so here’s a look at all the exciting events that we’ve got planned for the next few months…

stitchandbitch

lunchisserved

book.talk

italian.night

 

Dates for your diary:

Thursday 6th October – Stitch and Bitch

Wednesday 19th October – Irish Night

Friday 28th October – Halloween Trick or Treat

Thursday 3rd November – Toiletry Gift Making Workshop

Wednesday 23rd November – British Winter Staples Night

Details to follow…

If you see an event that takes your fancy, give us a call on 01840213442 to book. If you’ve got an event, group or meeting and are in need of a venue, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help. We’d love to see you all, so don’t be shy and come along!

 

 

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PROHIBITION NIGHT

Sunday 28th August

7 ’til late

It’s always sad when the summer holidays come to an end, but there’s still the Bank Holiday to go! Come and celebrate this Bank Holiday with cocktails, American jazz and 1920s dress. There’ll be a free cocktail for the best outfit so get your glad rags on!

We wouldn’t want the drivers to be left out so there will also be virgin cocktails available, along with fabulous home made bar snacks and, of course, our lovely company…

Book a table in advance to get a platter of bar snacks for only £2.50 per person
Call 01840213442 to book

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Exciting News!

So it seems like I say this a lot but sorry for the lack of blog posts lately! We’ve been having a very busy (and exciting) time recently and we are now very proud to announce that our coffee shop has reopened! It’s looking cuter than ever – with cosy booths, books, cushions; the whole shebang… Susan has been busy in the kitchen so we have a fab selection of homemade, exceedingly delicious cakes to go along with our selection of Lavazza Gold coffees and our very own teas and tisanes. For those of you who haven’t popped in yet, here’s a sneak peak of our brand new look…

booth1 picturewall teaandcoffeeboards booth2

 

 

We’re still in the early stages, but watch this space for a delectable range of wines and local ales, savoury meals and evening meet ups!

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Make your own – Bath Bombs

A great gift idea for all occasions (and our most popular blog post ever!), our bath bombs dissolve in a hot bath for silky smooth, fragrant bath water. Bonus – they’re exceedingly easy to make!

Ingredients:

Witch Hazel Water

Bicarbonate of Soda

Citric Acid

Essential Oil (we like lavender for an extra soothing bath, but anything you like will work!)

Dried herbs, petals, flowers or food colouring  (again, lavender flowers are it for us)

 

Moulds:

We’ve got the kind of house that always has kids running around, and of course that means kids toys everywhere – so we used a plastic ball pit ball, cut in half (ingenious, we know) as our mould. But you can use anything that has the shape you like – ice cube trays, cupcake tins, whatever you’ve got lying around.

Bath.Bomb.how.to.image

Directions:

  1. Combine equal amounts of citric acid and bicarbonate of soda.
  2. Add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice, plus any flowers or colouring you’re using & mix thoroughly.
  3. Sparingly add Witch Hazel Water (a few drops at a time) until the mixture is just damp enough to hold its shape when compressed. Go easy on adding the liquid- if you add too much the mixture will do all its fizzing in your bowl instead of your bath!
  4. Pack the mixture firmly into both halves of your mould, then push together to join. (If using an ice cube tray or similar, just make sure to compress the mixture into the mould so it doesn’t all fall apart when you take it out).
  5. Allow to set for at least 2 hours before removing from the mould.
  6. If your bomb falls apart when you remove it from your mould, it’s probably too dry- put the mixture back in a bowl and add a few more drops of Witch Hazel water.
  7. Package in some cellophane with ribbon as a gorgeous home made gift – or spoil yourself and get that bath running!
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Herb of the month – Iris germanica

Iris germanica, better known as orris, is a species in the Iris genus. A perennial that blooms from April to June, orris can grow up to an impressive 1.2m high and 30 cm wide. It is an easy plant to grow from cuttings; the rhizome should be cut into sections, each with a growing bud, and planted in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. The roots should be planted no less than 45cm apart to allow room for growing and should be well watered throughout the summer months. They will be ready to be divided every 4 to 5 years. It’s beautiful flowers come in a variety of colours, but it is best known for the uses of its rhizome.

Orris root was historically prized as a component of perfumes, though its beautiful violet scent does not appear until between 3 and 5 years of drying the root. Though it was at one point a staple in face powders and other cosmetics, it has been found to cause reactions in sensitive skin and is now more likely to be found in potpourri as a scent fixer. It is also makes a fantastic dry shampoo and when mixed with honey can be used as a moisturiser for dry skin.

Medicinally, orris root has been used to stimulate appetite, soothe headaches, toothache, muscle and joint pain, diabetes and some skin diseases. It can also be used to treat bronchitis and colds and to cause vomiting and empty the bowels (though I don’t know why you would want to do this!).

Culinary uses include as a tincture to flavour syrups and as one of the ingredients of Ras el hanout, a blend of spices associated with Moroccan cuisine. Most commonly, orris root is used as a tea preparation.

The Iris genus takes its name from the Greek goddess Iris, who was the personification of the rainbow. This is most likely due to the wide variety of beautiful colours to be found in the flowers of the Iris family of plants.

 

 

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Become a Taste Tester

Do you love chocolate? Are you adventurous, discerning, have a critical eye (constructively of course!) and can write interesting and readable reviews? If you’d like to be the first to sample our latest chocolate concoctions over the coming months, become a part of our new taste testing team! We’ll send you samples out for free, fresh from our kitchen, in exchange for an honest review before they hit the shelves. This is a great opportunity for any chocolate lovers out there to be involved in the whole process (and get tasty samples too!). To apply, just email us a review you’ve written for any kind of chocolate bar and we’ll let you know if you make the team!*

*This is not a paid or unpaid post and there is no contract of employment implied or intended.

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Herbs for Health – Tea Tree

This week’s herb for health is inspired by our dreary winter weather. After turning up to work with my boots soaked through every day this week, my feet were in sore need of some tlc – so of course I turned to tea tree.

Tea tree oil, also called melaleuca oil, is distilled from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) tree. It is well known both for its strong, camphor-like scent and its antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Previously used in dentistry and surgery to clean wounds, tea tree oil is still recommended as an antiseptic for use on fresh piercings as well as a treatment for fungal infections such as athletes foot. A study published in Tropical Medicine & International Health found that 80% of patients suffering from toenail onychomycosis (a fungal nail infection) were cured through the use of tea tree cream. The antibacterial properties of tea tree also make it suitable for use as an adjunctive treatment for wounds. One of the most common modern uses for tea tree oil is as a cure for acne. It is also suggested that tea tree oil has potential for treating dandruff, lice and gingivitis. In aromatherapy,

In aromatherapy, tea tree oil is used to alleviate symptoms of cold and flu, such as congestion and blocked nose. This is most likely due to the camphor-like smell and is used in steam inhalation to clear the nasal passages. Tea tree oil is also fantastic for reducing the itching of insect bites, sores and spots, as well as a natural treatment for warts.

Tea tree is also a natural insect repellent, can be used as a mould treatment when combined with baking soda and as a laundry freshener, amongst other surprising uses.

*This article is intended for interest only – use of herbs given are traditional and do not reflect the herbs efficacy. It is not intended, nor should be taken as medical advice. If you have a medical condition please consult a qualified health professional prior to using any herbal preparation. Although the facts have been checked carefully, we cannot guarantee the reliability of information provided. Essential oils should not be used on children or vulnerable adults (elderly, breast feeding or ill) or during pregnancy. Some essential oils and herbs can be toxic, whether taken internally or used on the skin – your health care professional will advise.

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Christmas Cocktails Rose Delight

It’s our final Christmas cocktail before the day itself and this is one of our favourites! This Rose Delight is a wonderfully fruity drink with an unusual floral twist – and so easy to make! Inspired by our Summer Rose fragrance range, this cocktail is fast becoming a signature drink in our household. For a sophisticated yet playful theme, why not give this a go?

rose-cocktail-glass

Ingredients:

2 measures Rose Syrup

2 measures White wine

Sparkling water to taste

It’s best to use a large measure and make this in a jug, just mix together the wine and rose syrup then add sparkling water to taste.  Alternatively – for a stronger flavour – use sparkling wine and leave out the water.  Decorate with a sprinkle of petals and a straw.

Seasons greetings everyone  from the St Kitts Herbery team.