The Kissable Kitchen

Cooking with Flowers - Hot and Cold Teas to Relax the Body and Mind

2012-01-10T00:11:00.000-08:00

You may know by now that cooking with edible flowers in the new rage in Haute Cuisine.
Savory dishes, baked goods, and teas are now turning up with a new twist - the sensuous taste, feel, and health aspect of edible flowers.

Today I am going to share some very simple to prepare hot and cold tea recipes that will have your senses, mind and body in a relaxed stress free mode, while at the same time supplying your body with a healthy touch from nature.

Mrs. Mango's Hibiscus Flower Tea
------Courtesy of Yummly.com

2 cups boiling water

3 hibiscus flowers (dried)

4 12 dried rose hips

1 tsp lemongrass (dried, balm leaves)

1 tsp orange peel

3 1/2 fresh mint (leaves)

honey

Place all ingredients (except honey) into water and steep 5-8 minutes then strain.

Serve hot or iced. Add honey for a natural fat free sweetener.

Jasmine Tea Sorbet ( My favorite)
------Courtesy of Yummly

3 cups water
2 tbls sugar
2 1/2 tbls Jasmine Tea Leaves (Organically grown of course)

Inn a small saucepan bring water to a boil.
Add tea leaves and remove pan from heat.
Cover pan and steep tea 5 minutes.
Add sugar, stirring until dissolved, and strain tea through a fine sieve into a bowl.
Chill tea, covered, until cold and freeze in an ice-cream maker.

Sorbet may be made 1 week ahead.

Fruit Blast Sage Ice Tea
-----Courtesy of Yummly

2 cups water
2 cups rhubarb - Chopped
1 cup tart cherries (pitted red tart cherries may use thawed frozen fresh or canned)

14 cup sage (packed fresh, leaf can use blossoms)

4 tea bags
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar12 cup honey (taste)
Slice of lemon (optional)

Place cherries, rhubarb and water in a pan - bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes
Strain and press fruit
Discard pressed fruit pulp
Return to pan and heat just until it starts to boil
Add tea bags, sage and balsamic vinegar
Remove from heat and steep covered for 6-8 minutes
Strain mixture - remove tea bags and sage
When cooled add 5 cups cold water to a pitcher and add the tea mixture
Stir in honey until dissolved
Serve on ice with lemon wedge

Rooibos (South African Red Bush) and Lavender Tea ----Courtesy Yummly

3 tbls tea leaves (loose red bush tea leaves rooibos) or rooibos tea bag
1 tbsp fresh lavender flowers / 1/2 tbls dry lavender flower (organic of course)
slice orange (lemon slice)
Honey (to taste)

Boil enough water to fill up your teapot.
Place the red bush tea and lavender blossoms in the tea infuser; set in teapot.
Pour the boiling water into the teapot, cover with a tea cozy and steep 5 minutes.
Serve with orange slices (or lemon slices) and sugar on the side.
Note that both the amount of tea used and amount of flowers used are estimated.
This tea is fabulous hot or on ice

Take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to relax with one of these hot or on ice teas. Let us know what you think, and how they make you feel.

If you are interested in the natural health benefits of some of the edible flowers listed in these recipes visit us here. Edible Flower Natural Medicine

The Kissable Kitchen

2011-07-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

Who, what, and why is The Kissable Kitchen? It's a kitchen where baked goods are made using culinary flowers, healthy ingredients, and two powerful health boosters in assorted baked goods.

The mission behind The Kissable Kitchen is to offer home baked treats of a normal size and quantity, as opposed to the oversize cakes and cupcakes we see today, taking the cupcake and muffin back to it's original size- a fun way to enjoy a small piece of cake. Along with this comes the idea that if one is going to eat a sweet or a treat it should at least have a healthy ingredient that can give the body something good along with the not so good. At the same time, The Kissable Kitchen uses as little sugar as possible, only top of the line ingredients, without any unnecessary additives or food colorings, and goes organic whenever possible. Each baked goodie is a personal recipe with a personal touch of goodness.

Six different culinary flower baked goods offer a unique way to enjoy baked treats. Imagine upon taking a bite, a powerful aromatherapy essence is enjoyed, followed by a delicious, sensuous, experience to your taste buds. Culinary flowers also offer health benefits, and some offer this benefit through aroma as well as consumption.

Aside from culinary flowers (especially grown for culinary use), The Kissable Kitchen offers two of the most powerful health boosters in society today and introduces them in baked goods. Acai Berry and Matcha (Green Tea) have been put into common popular breakfast items and even cupcakes. The Kissable Kitchen uses culinary flowers of Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Rose hips, Roses, Jasmine, and Marigold. All of these culinary flowers offer a health benefit as well and are commonly used as natural medicines.

To give you an example of some of the healthy ways The Kissable Kitchen bakes, here are some the things that take place in the baking method.

1. Baked goods that usually require milk are made with yogurt instead.
2. Goods that normally require oil are baked with organic coconut oil instead (and, no you do not taste coconut!).
3. Unbleached cooking aids are also used.
4. Only dark chocolate is used wherever necessary.

The Kissable Kitchen does not believe in the over sized sweet but rather a normal size. Helping us to keep within our fitness, health, and weight control regimes, and controlling our sugar and toxin intake. Thus, eliminating the obesity trend seen around the world today. Therefore, you will not find an oversize, muffin, nor will you find a mountain size cupcake, frosted to the hilt. However, you will find a delicious, normal size cupcake with a cupcake frosting just as lovely, just as tasty and just as beautiful as it sits on its throne of the cupcake.

All baked goods can be frozen for future use or stored in airtight containers for up to 3 days.

Health Benefits of Culinary Flowers, Acai Berry and Green Tea

2011-06-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

Certain Culinary Flowers have natural medicine properties and are commonly used as herbal medicines in today's world.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender has many medicinal uses, as well as a high aromatherapy value.

It is used internally for indigestion, irritability, anxiety, exhaustion, tension headaches, migraine and bronchial complaints.
Only the buds contain the essential oils of lavender, from which the scent and flavor of lavender are best derived.

At The Kissable Kitchen, only the lavender flower bud is used. A relaxing scent can be enjoyed with each bite of Swiss Roll, Cupcake, or tea cake. A fusion of lavender and dark chocolate can be enjoyed in a Swiss Roll.

Please note: Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid foods or drinks with Lavender in the event of a possible allergic reaction

Lemon Verbena (Aloysia Triphylla)

Lemon Verbena was brought to Europe by the Spanish in the 17th Century. It is a luscious smelling herb, and is mostly known of from the movie Gone With The Wind, in which it is Scarlett O'Hara's mothers favorite herb.

Lemon verbena infused oil makes a wonderful massage oil. It blends well with lavender and rosemary. Use it in creams and lotions. A lemon verbena compress reduces puffiness around the eyes. A floral vinegar softens and freshens the skin.

Lemon Verbena has certain therapeutic properties such as;

strengthening the nervous system
de-stressing
anti-spasmodic
expectorant
helps with digestion
easing colic
feverish cold
reducing fevers
relieving spasms of digestive track (colon)

The Kissable Kitchen offers Lemon Verbena is cupcakes, muffins, and tea cakes. Swiss roll and waffles upon request.

Rose hips (Rosa rubiginosa / R. canina / R. laevigata)

Health Benefits include

High in vitamin C to assist with

colds
influenza, scurvy
gastritis and to control diarrhea,

The fruits from Rosa laevigata are used to

treat urinary dysfunction
infertility
chronic diarrhea and to regulate kidney function.

Rose hips are also high in the vitamins A, B, E and K, and in the minerals
calcium, iron and phosphorus.

At The Kissable Kitchen we offer Rose hip nut bread and Rose Hip muffins.

Rose (Rosa gallica / R. Rugosa)

Health Benefits include

colds
bronchial infections
diarrhea, depression
lethargy and in
Ayurvedic medicine for circulatory congestion and menstrual complaints.

Rugosa is used for

stimulating the liver
menstrual complaints
poor appetite
improving circulation.

The Kissable uses R. Rugosa is tea cakes, waffles, cupcakes, and Swiss roll. A chocolate and rose combination is available in Swiss roll, and cupcakes.

Jasmine (Jati)

Jasmine is an astringent, anti bacterial, anti viral, cooling herb.

It stimulates the uterus
calms nerves
an aphrodisiac for women.

It is also used as an alternative for

cancers
as well as viral and bacterial infections.

It is used in Ayurvedic medicine for

infections with high fever
conjunctivitis
sunstroke
dermatitis
as well as cancer of the bones, lymphatic nodes and breast cancer.

Marigold (Calendula)

Health Benefits include

an antiseptic
antifungal medicine.
athlete’s foot
ringworm and other diseases due to fungi.
Believe it or not, it can also heal wounds and ulcers inside the body.

Along with these culinary flowers, The Kissable Kitchen offer baked goods with two of today's most powerful health boosters. Acai Berry and Match (Green Tea)

Acai Berry

Acai Berry a fruit that comes from the Amazon's Tree of Life. It offers unsurpassed antioxidant powers, which are known for killing toxins in the body. Acai has the highest nutritional composition of anything you can eat in the world and as a result it can give the body a large number of nutritional requirements that it is typically short on

Health Benefits include

Assists in lowering cholesterol
Helps in the weight loss and fat loss process
Prolongs Life
Increases Energy
Increases Overall Strength
Highly assistant in slowing down the ageing process
Helps Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure
Prevents Cancer
Promotes Normal Blood Sugar
Enhances Sexual Function
Relieves Headaches and Dizziness
Improves Vision
Strengthens Heart
Inhibits Lipid Peroxidation
Improves Disease Resistance
Strengthens the Immune System
Helps the Body Fight Cancer
Protects Precious DNA
Inhibits Tumor Growth
Reduces the Toxic Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation
Helps to Build Strong Blood
Helps with Chronic Dry Cough
Fights Inflammation and Arthritis
Improves Lymphocyte Count
Improves Menopausal Symptoms
Prevents Morning Sickness
Improves Fertility
Strengthens Muscles and Bones
Supports Normal Kidney Function
Improves Your Memory
Supports Healthy Liver Function
Alleviates Anxiety and Stress
Improves Mood
Improves Digestion
Helps You Maintain Healthy Gums
Fights Fibromyalgia
Prevents Allergies
Protects Children’s Health
Promotes Overall Wellness
Relieves Arthritis Pain
Helps to Clear Skin Warts
Reduces the Occurrence of Seizures
Fights Leukemia
Fights General Depression
Provides all Vital Vitamins
Contains Several Important Minerals
Helps to Prevent Heart Problems
Improves Mental Clarity/Focus
Improves Circulation
Cures Osteoporosis

The Kissable Kitchen used organic top of the line Acai Berry powder in baked goods such as; Muffins and waffles.

Green Tea (AKA Matcha)

Green tea's antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA. Green tea's unique catechins, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), are highly concentrated.

Health Benefits Include

Protection against cardiovascular disease
Protection against coronary artery disease
Thins the blood to prevent blood clots
Assist with High Triglycerides
Minimizes Damage and Speeds Recovery after a Heart Attack
Minimizes Damage to the Brain after a Stroke
Lowers Blood Pressure and Helps Prevent Hypertension
Helps Prevent the Development of Atherosclerosis and Cancer
Protects against Cancer
Protective against ovarian cancer
Brain Tumors in Children
Gallstones and Biliary Tract Cancers
Lung Cancer
Improves the Efficacy of Cancer Drugs While Lessening Their Negative Side-Effects
Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetes
Protects against Kidney Disease
Builds Bone
Prevents Osteoporosis and Periodontal diseases
Protects the Liver from Alcohol and Other Harmful Chemicals
Promotes Fat Loss
Increases Exercise Endurance
Protects against Cognitive Decline, Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease
Keeps Elders Mentally Sharp Green Tea Fights the Flu
Green tea polyphenols halt prostate cancer at multiple levels

Saffron Flower (Threads)

This exotic spice is widely known and used in many culinary dishes in India and the Middle East. What many people may not know is that saffron threads offer health benefits are also wonderful in baked goods and used in natural medicine.

Health Benefits Include

- Anti-oxidant, disease preventing and health promoting properties.

- Contains other carotenoids including zeaxanthin, lycopene, α- and β-carotenes. These are important antioxidants that helps protect body from oxidant induced stress, cancers, infections and acts as immune modulators.

- The active components are used in traditional medicines as antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-oxidant, digestive, anti-convulsant.

- Saffron is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc and magnesium.

- Rich in many vital vitamins including vitamin A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-C that are essential for optimum health.

At The Kissable Kitchen all of the above flowers are of Grade A culinary quality. Especially grown for culinary use.

Please note: As flowers come in many types, it is important to note that not all flowers are edible. Not all Jasmine is edible for example. Culinary flowers are also grown especially for culinary use - not the same as flowers that grow in a garden. Please do not go out to your garden pick some flowers and cook with them. Not all flowers are edible and if you find that you have some edible flowers in your garden it is imperative that you grow them in a culinary fashion before consuming them.

Culinary Flower and Health Booster Waffles: By The Kissable Kitchen

2011-06-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

Acai Berry Waffles

Waffles also available in

Matcha

Roses

With Chia Seeds upon request

Tea Cakes: By The Kissable Kitchen

2011-05-18T04:42:00.000-07:00

Tea Cake

Available in

Lavender Honey Lemon

Saffron
Lemon Verbena
Jasmine
Roses

Important: Avoid ingesting lavender during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Moufflets: By The Kissable Kitchen

2011-04-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

Marigold and Date Moufflets

(with powerful health ingredient - Chia Seeds)

Berry Moufflets

(with powerful health ingredient - Chia Seeds)

Lavender Moufflets

(with powerful health ingredient - Chia Seeds)

Important: Avoid ingesting lavender during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Rose hips Moufflet

(with powerful health ingredient - Chia Seeds)

Lemon Verbena Moufflet

(with powerful health ingredient - Chia Seeds)

Matcha and Dark Chocolate Moufflet

Moufflets also available in

Acai Berry

Culinary Flower Cupcakes: By The Kissable Kitchen

2011-04-24T23:29:00.000-07:00

Lavish Lavender Cupcakes

Made from real Lavender Flower

Important: Avoid ingesting lavender during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Romantic Rose Cupcakes

Made with real Red Roses

Roses and Chocolate

Match (Green Tea) Cupcakes

Made with Organic Finest Matcha Powder

Lemon Verbena Cupcakes

Made with Lemon Verbena Flower Petals

Jasmine Cupcakes

Made with Jasmine Flower Petals

Saffron Cupcakes

Also available in Saffron and Chocolate

Swiss Rolls: By The Kissable Kitchen

2011-04-24T22:39:00.000-07:00

Matcha (Green Tea) Swiss Roll
Made with Oganic Finest Grande A Matcha Powder

Lavender and Dark Chocolate Swiss Roll

Swiss Rolls

also available in

Saffron

Saffron and Dark Chocolate

Roses

Roses and Dark Chocolate

The Kissable Kitchen

Cooking with Flowers - Hot and Cold Teas to Relax the Body and Mind

Mrs. Mango's Hibiscus Flower Tea ------Courtesy of Yummly.com

The Kissable Kitchen

Health Benefits of Culinary Flowers, Acai Berry and Green Tea

Culinary Flower and Health Booster Waffles: By The Kissable Kitchen

Tea Cakes: By The Kissable Kitchen

Moufflets: By The Kissable Kitchen

Culinary Flower Cupcakes: By The Kissable Kitchen

Swiss Rolls: By The Kissable Kitchen

Mrs. Mango's Hibiscus Flower Tea
------Courtesy of Yummly.com