Essential oils are distilled in a variety of manners. I learned all this when I became an aromatherapist. Some are cold pressed, some are even solvent distracted. The most preferred method is steam distillation. If a plant will give up their essential oil in this method it is used. Steam distillation does not over heat the plant matter. Boiling water and steam only reach a temperature of 212′ Fahrenheit. Essential oils are very volatile and should not be exposed to high temperatures if it can be avoided.

The one thing that she said at the beginning of the class was, “you will never be so excited to see water drip.” That is the processes of steam distillation. As the steam rises through the plant matter it keeps rising and takes the essential oil with it. It then goes through a length of extraction chambers. This is where the steam is cooled. At the end of the pipe you can watch the essential oil and the hydrosol drip out. Hydrosol is the water left from the processes. The essential oil will remain on the top and can be separated out.

Watching the demonstration almost made me want a still of my own, until she told a story. She said that once she had put in 55 gallons of plant matter and only gotten 5 oz of essential oil. She also stated that was good for that type of lavender. Many plants have very little essential oil. The thing is, what they have is worth it. Rose and Jasmine absolute can be the same way. That is why the real stuff is so very expensive.

I was always told that patience is a virtue. I guess that applies to watching water and essential oil drip and growing lavender.

Chocolate and Orange Biscotti
Pre-Heat Oven to 300’.  Line a baking sheet with parchment.
1 ¾ cup flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
¾ cup of sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon orange extract
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 cup mini chocolate chips
STEP 1 – Sift flour and baking soda. Set aside
STEP 2 – Beat eggs, sugar, orange extract and orange zest until pale yellow.
STEP 3 – Stir in flour and mix well. Add chocolate chips.
Step 4 – Form into 2 loaves on baking sheet.  Flatten the loaves with floured fingers until they are an even thickness, about ¾ inch.
Step 5 – Bake for 35 minutes until loaves spring back on touch.
Step 6 – Slice loaves on the diagonal with a serrated knife. Place back on cookie sheet with a cut side up.
Step 7 – Bake on each side for 5 minutes.  Let cool.
NOTES –
The original recipe called for more chocolate chips at regular size. I have decreased the amount and the size. I usually only use ½ cup myself. Adjust it to what you like.
Be sure to use organic oranges for zesting. Many commercially grown oranges will have pesticides, especially in their peels. I have also swapped out the oranges for the lemons. While it’s a different taste it is still really good.
The original recipe also called for dipping the cooled cookies in chocolate.  Try that for all the chocolate addicts in your life.
Biscotti makes a wonderful gift too. The cookies travel well and make a nice presentation.

Well to tell the truth, it can be used in more than just the kitchen. It is a great cleaner.

Let’s start in the kitchen though.

My favorite appliance the coffee maker. Often they get grimy and deposits build up inside. Run a mixture of vinegar and water through a cycle. Use about a cup of white vinegar. You’ll be amazed at how well your coffee maker runs after that. Your coffee pot will be nice and clean as well. Run a few cycles of water through it afterwords to get rid of any vinegar taste.

The microwave likes it as well. Put a microwave safe container full of water and a cup of vinegar and let it come to a boil for at least a minute in the microwave. You can then just wipe the inside clean. All the hardened on food grime will come up with very little effort.

Let’s move to another room – one with carpet.

Vinegar can remove pet stains from carpets. Use a quarter cup of vinegar to at least a quart of water. Use a wash cloth soaked in the mixture to blot the stain in the carpet. It may take several times, but it will come out. You may want to test this in a spot of your carpet first.

The Bathroom -

Keep a 5% solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Its a natural disinfectant. Use it to clean the toilet seat daily. You can spray the shower and tub with it on a daily basis as well. Studies have shown that it kills a variety of molds, bacterias and viruses.

And as long as we are in the bathroom, you can use it as a rinse for your hair. It gets rid of all the build up left behind by shampoos, conditioners and other beauty products.

Laundry Room -

Adding vinegar to the final rinse of the laundry helps colors get brighter, whites get whiter, and also gets odors out of clothes.

These are just a few uses for White Distilled Vinegar. Remember this is the cheap stuff. It is 100% natural and inexpensive. But it cleans and shines like a dream. It can replace the chemical laden cleaners that you may use now, and do a much better job. It also has the benefit of being a multi-tasker. It’s not just meant for one job and one room. You can use it all over the house!