If you’re on the lookout for a vegan hair care product that garners the same results as high quality salon products, you’re in luck. Emmett Cooper Haircare is just that.

Emmett Cooper and Naieem Abdool, the founders of Emmett Cooper Haircare, say they teamed up to create products that would make them better at their craft: styling and coloring hair. Their products are vegan, made with certified organic ingredients and bottled in recyclable packaging. Best of all? They are infused with herbs! From their line of hair care products, I got to try their Clarify Wash and Hydration Rinse.

Photo courtesy  Emmett Cooper Haircare . 

The Clarify Wash, which is designed for all hair types, is formulated with peppermint, aloe, sage and tea tree extracts. Aloe and tea tree are widely known for their skin healing properties. Sage has strong cleansing properties and is also a popular ingredient in many hair rinses. However, it’s the addition of peppermint in the wash that makes it an instant energizer. The scent is both powerful and intriguing.

Still, the standout product for me was the company’s Hydration Rinse. I felt like I was having my hair done by a professional hair stylist each time I used it. Leave it in your hair for about three to five minutes while you lather up with your favorite body wash, then rinse for super soft locks.

This rinse is made with marigold, sage and yarrow vitamins as well as burdock and fenugreek extracts. Burdock is a lesser known herb that is used to treat a variety of skin problems including acne, eczema, psoriasis or skin infections. Fenugreek, another lesser known herb, is also used treat eczema.

Unfortunately, at $20 a bottle, both these products err on the side of pricey. But you definitely get what you pay for.

Emmett Cooper Haircare also offers a Moisture Wash, which is made with aloe, evening primrose and jasmine, a Stabilize Wash, a Volume Wash, which is made with calendula and chamomile, and a Repair Masque. Products are sold exclusively at fine salons and specialty boutiques around the world.

NOTE: We never trade products for mentions in our blogs or our published magazine. We do receive free samples and will mention them only if we like the product or find it especially effective. 

A few weeks ago the employees in our office were saddened to hear that the little granddaughter of one of our co-workers had been badly burned in an accidental encounter with a teapot. The toddler had pulled on a tea towel hanging down from the kitchen cabinet and part of the tea pot, which had just been filled with boiling water, was resting on the towel. The hot water went down the little girl’s back, giving her second degree burns on most of her scalp, back and shoulders.

After spending time in the burn unit, she came home and underwent a couple more weeks of unpleasant recuperation. By this time, the open wounds had healed over and I knew it was time for our herbal secret arsenal. I contacted one of my friends, Gayle Bousman, who is an herbalist in the Ozarks and sells an amazing salve she creates on her farm in Missouri, Evening Shade Farms. Though it’s sold as a facial cream, thanks to FDA regulations that prevent it from being sold with any medical claims, Gayle’s Elder Cream is an amazing salve for healing skin that’s been burned or damaged. I used some when I had surgery on my hand and my doctor was simply amazed at the near-disappearance of the scar by my second follow-up visit. Gayle has given the cream to friends who’ve been treated for breast cancer and it helps heal up any skin damage due to radiation burns.

The bark of the elder tree, known for its skin healing properties,
is the main ingredient in Gayle’s Elder Cream.
Photo by Kpjas/Courtesy Flickr

I also called our friend Virginia DeSimone at derma e and asked what she could suggest. She overnighted a jar of derma e’s Cracked Skin Relief Crème and Scar Gel. Derma e is one of the companies whose products I use regularly and in whom I’ve never been disappointed. The quality of ingredients is superb and their formulations are thoughtfully done and actually accomplish what the company claims (not all that common in today’s market, sadly).

I knew that I could recommend any of these products for use on the baby’s scars because I trust the companies and products themselves. And I am so thrilled to report that Kelly, our co-worker, reported enthusiastically on Monday that she thinks the way her granddaughter’s scars are healing is just about miraculous.

I love hearing stories like this. Once again, we find in the plant world the stuff of miracles—or at least of dramatic healing with no side effects or additional pain.

Many, many thanks to Gayle and to Virginia for their kind contributions to the healing of a part of our office family.

What have you used for healing of scars and burns? And why aren’t these salves and creams used in every burn unit in the country?

I don’t know about you, but during the summer my feet don’t stand a chance. The hotter it gets, the more often I wear sandals and flip flops. And though I'll never understand why, my feet attract dirt like a magnet. It's absolutely impossible to keep them clean all day long without some kind of help. So when I stumbled upon Wipe Your Feet by Jamar Labs, I was intrigued.

Wipe Your Feet hydrates, moisturizes and deodorizes feet with  eucalyptus oil, a common ingredient found in cold remedies, and menthol, an organic compound obtained from mint oils. Both of these herbal extracts are known for their healing powers. Eucalyptus is well known for its antiseptic properties; menthol has proven antimicrobial activity and is often used to ease stress and tension.

Photo Courtesy Jamar Labs

I have enjoyed toting these wipes around in my purse for the past month. If that storage-method doesn't appeal to you, pack them in your gym bag or car to keep your feet free from dirt all day long. Even though they are intended as feet wipes, they are really just fancy wet wipes that will also moisturize yours hands and face. And don't worry about feeling slimy afterward. The wetness will dry after one minute of use, leaving your skin feeling fresh, smelling clean and slime-free. The only thing that bothered me was the flimsiness of the clasp. During its one-month stay in my purse I discovered that it had come undone several times. I was very worried about the wipes drying out. Thinking back, a tight rubber band would have easily solved that problem.

Jamar Labs also offers Wipe Your Hands, made with the essential oils of lavender and chamomile, and Wipe Your Face, made with the essential oils of aloe and chamomile. All three of these products are paraben-free and made with 100 percent natural cotton. Each pack of 30 costs $7.95; the travel-size pack of 5 costs $1.95.

Have you used these products before? What did you think? Leave me a comment and let me know!

I love discovering beauty products that use essential oils in lieu of artificial fragrances. For the past few months I’ve been enjoying four beauty products from a new company called Pattern. Pattern makes one essential beauty product—body wash—and they make it very well.

Each body wash blend includes herbal extracts and essential oils. The washes are thick enough that they don’t require an excessive amount to lather up with and the fragrances are very subtle, which is perfect for those who don’t like overwhelming beauty products. Here is a roundup of my experiences with each of the four fragrances.

Photo courtesy  Pattern  

Citrus:  Although I really liked this product, of the four this may have been my least favorite. However, I think that has more to do with my apathy toward citrus smells than it does with the actual product. If you consider yourself a citrus-fiend, I believe you’ll love this fragrance. The essential oils, which include grapefruit, neroli, lemon and peppermint, make it a more unique citrus blend.

Eucalyptus:  This is a very fresh and clean smell that would be perfect to use during a bath for a spa-like experience. The essential oils include a spring-inspired combination of eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender and spearmint.

Cucumber:  In the past, cucumber has always been my standard, go-to scent. However, this particular cucumber-scented body wash didn’t smell like any I’ve used before. That didn’t mean I liked it any less. In fact, I think I liked it even more. Its unique combination of essential oils, which includes cucumber, basil, white rose and geranium, made it stand out from the rest.

Black Pepper:  I was very surprised when this turned out to be my favorite of the four fragrances. Initially, I was nervous to smell like pepper and possibly sneeze in the shower. However, I was thoroughly intrigued. It doesn’t smell like the pepper you find in your kitchen. Its scent is heavily diluted by the product’s other complimentary essential oils—ylang-ylang and vetivert. My husband also enjoyed using this guy-friendly fragrance.

Each body wash, which costs $20 each, is made without parabens, phthalates, sodium laurel sulfates, sodium laureth sulfates, synthetic fragrances, colors, dyes or petrochemicals.

Have you tried either of Pattern’s body wash? Leave me a comment. I’d love to know about your own experiences with this herbal product.

Last Thursday, Rachel Maddow celebrated the return of Angostura bitters with a segment on her show about this in-demand elixir.

"The word cocktail at its core means booze, sugar, water and bitters," Maddow says. "That's what a cocktail was. And this cocktail could become a million other things, but really, bitters is core."

Watch the video segment below.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

As you may recall, there has been a shortage of Angostura bitters since September. This shortage wasn't casued by a shortage of the liquid but by a bottle shortage. According to the New York Post, the trouble stemmed from a dispute with the company that supplies the Angostura bitters bottles. Read more here.

The recipe for Angostura bitters is very secret, says Genevieve Jodhan and Giselle Laronde-West, Executive Manager of Export Sales and Business Development, and Communications Manager from Angostura. Only five people know this secret, which has been around for more than 200 years. All Jodhan and Laronde-West could say on Maddow's show was that Angostura bitters is made of herbs and spices.

Courtesy  Urban Moonshine  

Although many discerning drinkers believe that nothing can ever replace Angostura bitters, remember that it isn't the only game in town. Urban Moonshine offers a variety of Herb Companion approved bitters, which include their classic mix, a citrus blend and a maple blend. They also have great bottles.

In addition to Maddow's Champagne cocktail (an Angostura bitters soaked sugar cube topped with champagne and served in a flute) and old school Manhattan (a stirred combination of three shots rye whiskey, one shot sweet vermouth and five dashes Angostura bitters), you can try any of the Herb Companion recipes found in our 2004 article Bitters: Beverages with Moxie.

Next time you could use a little aromatherapy pick-me-up, try some alternative aromatherapy products. Aromatherapy is mostly practiced at home, but with these products you can maintain your aromatherapy-induced bliss all day long. Inhale relaxing, healing scents for up to 24 hours with Naturopatch of Vermont's line of essential oil body patches. The adhesive on these essential oil patches is made from a biocompatible gel matrix which acts as a carrier oil and is absorbed more quickly through direct contact with your skin. Their special blends include formulas for soothing aches and pains, calming stress and enhanced energy. I first saw them for sale at a yoga center and felt like I could use one of each.

Courtesy Naturopatch of Vermont 

If you’re not keen on wearing a patch all day, try some jewelry. The sterling silver aromatherapy pendants from Earth Solution’s line of jewelry open up for you to place a few drops of essential oil on a small fiber pad. They have seven Aromatherapy Chakra Pendant gift sets to choose from and each set includes a gift box, an information card, a sterling silver pendant and a 10 ml glass of an aromatherapy blend.

Courtesy Organic Bug

Have you tried any of these products before? How do you use aromatherapy? Leave me a comment and let me know.

If you'd like to know more about aromatherapy, check out some of our past articles:

• Restorative Perfumes: Aromatherapy & Essential Oils by Edwin T. Morris
• Aromatherapy Garden by Holly Shimizu
• Aromatherapy: Skin Care by Brenda Stansfield
• The Fragrant Art of Aromatherapy by Laurel Vukovic
• Aromatherapy 101 by Kathi Keville

My face often varies between too dry and too oily, depending on the weather. Today it is teetering on the verge of too dry. (Curse you, Kansas weather!) I really just need a gentle face wash to keep me clean. Luckily, that’s just what HollyBeth offers. HollyBeth’s Natural Luxury recently introduced a facial cleanser for dry skin that doesn’t strip skin of moisture or dehydrate. This blend is packed with botanicals that left my skin feeling refreshed. These organic botanicals include:

• Chamomile. This essential oil is an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent. It soothes irritated skin and helps calm redness. It is an ideal ingredient in general skin care, especially where inflammation may be present. It is also well known for its relaxing abilities.

• Rosemary. Known for its many uses in the kitchen, rosemary essential oil is also an ideal ingredient for general skin care. It has antifungal and antiviral properties and helps decongest and improve blood circulation, which stimulates cell renewal.

• Evening Primrose. This essential oil is used to add extra moisture and hydration to the facial cleanser. It is also used as an anti-aging ingredient.

Photo courtesy HollyBeth’s Natural Luxury.

To use, pump a couple of times for a serving of the cleansing foam and gently massage it onto your skin. Rinse after the refreshingly scented foam has dissolved.

I wouldn’t recommend this product to someone battling troublesome skin. The cleanser, which is made with castile soap, is intended for everyday use. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a great gentle face cleanser that they can use daily.

This hypoallergenic cleanser is free of artificial colors, dyes, GMOs, parabens, sulfates, fragrances and preservatives. The plastic bottle is also easy to recycle once empty. This organic cleanser for dry skin is available for $15. The company also offers an organic cleanser for oily skin that is made with marigold, sandalwood and grapefruit (also $15).

Have you used a product from HollyBeth’s Natural Luxury before? What did you think? If not, what’s your favorite daily cleanser?

The Herb Companion has an impressive 20-year history, and a celebrated staple in our magazine is the department "Garden Spaces, which features beautiful illustrations and detailed maps to get your gardening started with inspired and efficient designs.

When I pieced together the book Creating Custom Garden Spaces last year from our dozens of magazines, it was packed with 20 intricate designs, charts, gardening tips and tricks and some conventional wisdom passed down through the years on the myriad uses of herbs. 

I was so animated by this process, that I was able to easily reproduce one of the larger designs, the Mexican herb garden, in my backyard. I have reaped both reward and regard from it.

This four-square garden contains all the bold flavors that have made Mexican food wildly popular.
Illustration by Gayle Ford

The designs are fully customizable and can be adapted for any space large or small. You’ll read about companion planning, building raised beds, and the library of medicinal uses your new plants will provide for you; it is really an excellent resource, and while I may be biased, I think it will make an important and unique addition to your herbal library.

Here’s a peek at just some of the designs in Creating Custom Garden Spaces:

• Mexican herb and green salad food gardens
• Medicinal herb gardens
• Gardens for pots and tight spaces
• Fragrant and flowering herb gardens
• Gardens for children
• Gardens that prevent deer
• Fence line and mailbox gardens
• Hammock and walkway gardens
• Gardens designed for use with a rain barrel
• Gardens that attract birds and butterflies

Creating Custom Garden Spaces is available for digital download or on CD-Rom. Order now. It’s only $10 for a digital download and $20 for your very own CD. 

If you've got a gardening question, I've got your answer! Shoot an email over to tmiller@ogdenpubs.com.

I’m facing some serious temptation today. I wanted to stay home all day, not because I feel ill, but because I got my hands on another great cookbook. I didn’t want to call in sick, I wanted to call in cooking.

The Culinary Institute of America: The New Book of Soups (Lebhar-Friedman Books, 2009) is a real page-turner, at least for those of us who read cookbooks like some people read the latest fiction. Gorgeous photography, illustrated step-by-step techniques and simply scrumptious-sounding recipes from one of the world’s premiere culinary colleges—who wouldn’t want to immerse oneself in this?

If I were actually as enterprising as my busy brain tells me I am, I would take on a kind of Julie & Julia challenge and make one of these recipes every day for however long it took me to get through it. The book overflows with variety, and literally every recipe sounds do-able and delicious. How about the velvety Cream of Broccoli soup and the Fennel and Potato Chowder that look like health in a bowl? Or maybe the Tortellini in Brodo, with those sexy little pastas floating in that flavorful pool of broth? Don’t know how to make your own tortellini? The recipe includes directions and a helpful photo that will have you chanting like the Little Engine that Could, I think I can, I think I can … 

Some of the soups get more exotic, but I don’t know that they’re much more difficult. Minguichi, a cheese and chile soup, sounds like heaven to me after many years’ residence in New Mexico. And while it does involve peeling a couple of roasted poblano chiles, it doesn’t require many more steps than a basic cream of mushroom soup.

In the front of the book is a chapter on basics, detailing how to create a stock, what thickeners are and how to use them, how to “finish” a soup (other than licking the bowl, which one mustn’t do when anyone is watching, despite the temptation) and also a good little section on the importance of the right pots and tools. In the back are recipes for tasty accompaniments like Cheddar Rusks (rusks are pieces of bread toasted crisp and brown), homemade croutons and bread sticks, buttermilk biscuits and some deliciously unusual crackers (e.g. Cheddar Cheese and Walnut Icebox Crackers).

I know I have work to do today, but it won’t be easy. I have deadlines to meet, articles to edit and all the while I’m thinking, “Crab and Crimini Mushroom Chowder  … Cold Cantaloupe Cream Soup … Palmiers with Prosciutto …  Hmm … palmiers. I wonder what that is…

Recently, I discovered Thymes, a very girly company that sells paraben-free body care and home fragrance products. It was love at first sight.

What I love most about this company is how they package their products. Inspired by nature, Thymes uses bright colors and emits a sophisticated charm. I don’t plan to keep these products in my cupboard—I plan to set them out in the open as decoration. 

For those of you who love roses and everything to do with roses, try the Kimono Rose collection. It’s a mixture of sweet clementine, cassis, rose, peony, jasmine and vanilla fragrances. I was able to try this collection’s body crème and aromatic candle. I also tried a few products from the Naia collection: the Naia hand lotion, the Naia aromatic candle and the Naia home fragrance mist. This collection, which has a very clean smell, uses a mixture of water lily, citrus and lychee fragrances.

Both candles look and smell high-end and the lotions absorb into your skin well, leaving fingers soft to the touch. The company uses essential oils instead of synthetic fragrances, which is a big bonus. Also, they develop all of the fragrances in their own lab by chemists who are exclusively woman, which Thymes says gives "them invaluable insight into what other women look for in skin, body and home care." I’m eager to try Eucalyptus, Wild Ginger, and their newest fragrance, Moonflower.

These products would make an excellent gift, or, if you’re feeling a little selfish, indulge in some yourself. I highly recommend it.

Economic and financial issues plaguing the globe have spawned a new wave of interest in sustainability, fostering the need for more urban gardeners. For those living in such a densely populated area, growing space is often limited, and you need to think creatively and maybe even squint your eyes a little to make it work.

Such space concerns are why vertical planters are becoming increasingly popular. A year ago, I picked the top Top 8 Gardening Products for Fall 2008, and among them listed the Living Wall by ELT.

This year, another company sent me a different kind of wall-hanging potter called the Woolly Pocket, which prides itself in adding a touch of class to any home (and it does). The long, almost windowsill-type potters are made out of a dense fabric that feels like a wool peacoat, and they come in coated and uncoated varieties, depending on if you’re planning on using it indoors or out.

I requested the coated version so it would not leak, but opted to set it up outside for the summer – and maybe clean it for reuse indoors for the winter. The Pocket was easy to install and within a few months tomatoes were producing and producing well in the Pocket compared with those on the ground. This is a major advantage if you’re wanting to keep animals away from your plants, especially indoors where most common houseplants are toxic to your pets.

The Woolly Pocket website gives detailed information on all of their planters with colorful photos like this one that make you see both the company and the product as unique. While the imagery with the naked people doesn’t really bother me, nearly every plant shown in this photo is toxic to animals (we’ll hope the dog wasn’t hungry), so I wouldn’t recommend using a sitting planter if you have an indoor pet.

The fabric of the Pocket, unlike with the Living Wall, prevents scratching on your walls and is a better safeguard to leaking because of the inner-coating. The coating covers the inside of the planter, protecting your walls and floor from leaks that may come from overwatering. However, this is a particular concern, because those of us that tend to give our plants more water, will be more likely to kill a plant or create an environment susceptible to root rot.

So, if you were planning on using the Pocket indoors, I might suggest lining the bottom with 2 or 3 inches of Perlite for the best possible drainage.

Other than that, the Woolly Pocket, which comes in many shapes and sizes, would make a great gift for anyone and everyone with a bright, empty wall considering starting a new garden or consolidating some of their favorite houseplants.

People who suffer from insomnia usually have a difficult time falling asleep or wake up after only a few hours of sleep. Stress, anxiety, depression and grief are a few of the factors that contribute to insomnia. After experiencing a few sleepless nights I read up on insomnia. Through my research I discovered a few herbal remedies to ease the symptoms of insomnia.

Chamomile promotes natural sleep.

These herbs are an insomniac’s best friend!

• Chamomile: This herb relaxes the body and eases tension. Chamomile also helps other parts of the body by relieving indigestion and headaches.

• Lemon balm: Combined with chamomile, lemon balm relaxes the body and helps people fall asleep. By itself the herb has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Other herbs that induce natural sleep are valerian, lavender, kava, St. John’s wort, passionflower and skullcap.

One product I've found that works great is Sound Sleep by Bath & Body Works ($10). This product, which is made with lavender and chamomile essential oils, is wonderful to use—especially after enjoying a cup of tea.

Have you experienced insomnia and used herbs to fall asleep? Let’s chat about it! Your comments could help other sleepless readers.

The perfect mix of seasonings can make all the difference when flavoring any dish. Last night, I made Spicy Sizzling Prawns with Mountain Rose Herbs' new line of Epicurean Organic seasoning blends. I used the Herbs De Provence, a refreshing blend of basil, tarragon, organic marjoram, thyme, lavender and fennel. The distinct aroma of this blend lends a clean flavor to this prawn dish. I also used the West Indies Rub, an exotic blend of ginger, fenugreek, coriander, mustard seed, black pepper, garlic, sea salt and other spices. This blend added a Caribbean spice. Together, the seasonings were a perfect mix for my prawns.

Photo courtesty of C Results Communications

Mountain Rose Herbs also offers a Macadamia Nut Oil, which has a nutty aroma and flavor but it does not overpower your food. I used 3 tablespoons of this oil to cover the bottom of my cooking pan. This oil also tastes great with sundried tomato rolls.

The Epicurean Organics line is Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth and Kosher Certified by Earth Kosher. They are non-GMO, irradiation-free, fairly traded and chemical free. Try these products together to flavor seafood. (I recommend prawns.)

Since my internship with The Herb Companion began, I’ve sought out new ways to incorporate herbs into my daily routine. Learning new recipes and adding herbs to my favorite recipes was a great first step and easy to do.

A week ago I came across Organic and Chic (HarperCollins Publishers, 2009) by Sarah Magid at my local bookstore—a bake book filled with 60 yummy, organic recipes. Although I’m still in the "undercooked or burnt phase" of baking Magid’s recipes, I am enjoying the process of making organic treats with the herbs from my backyard. My favorite recipe is Minty Strawberry Shortcakes (see below). The recipe is an easy summer treat and most of the ingredients can be found at your local farmer’s market. 
 
Magid and her husband are teaching and raising their two young children to love cooking and baking. One of my favorite sections is the children’s goodies section because the recipes are easy to make and they introduce children to the baking process. 

Check out my chat with Sarah Magid!
 
Q: What's your favorite recipe in the book?
A: It’s a tie between the Goldies and Crisp, Crumbly Shortbread. I make the Goldies so much—they are so easy. The shortbread is a great excuse to create new flavors with herbs that are in season.

Q: Why do you choose to use organic ingredients in your cooking?
A: Organic is important to me because of the quality and purity that is inherent—no hormones, no GMOs, no pesticides, etc. I am a mom of two, so besides worrying about what I eat I think about my kid's growing bodies and I want to make sure they have what is best for them.

Q: What herbs and/or vegetables do you grow in your yard?
A: Right now (in my NYC apartment window!)  I have lots of herbs—such as rosemary, oregano, thyme and basil—and some that my son picked out to make summer drinks with—lemon verbena, pineapple sage and rose geranium.

Q: What's your favorite herb to cook with or incorporate into your baking?
A: I love lavender, it is perfumed and tastes amazing in cookies. I also love rosemary because it can be added to my lemon cake and it gives the dish a new flavor.

Q: When it comes to cooking, what's your motto?
A: Fresh, farmers market, simple.

Q: What advice would you give people who are just starting to cook or bake?
A: Keep it simple and try to have fun!

Minty Strawberry Shortcakes

Makes 12 shortcakes

Shortcakes
• 2 cups organic whole wheat pastry flour
• ¼ cup organic cane sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ sticks (3/4 cup) organic unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes
• ½ cup organic buttermilk
• ½ cup organic heavy cream, plus more for brushing
• 2 teaspoons grated organic lemon zest
• Organic raw sugar, for sprinkling

Strawberries
• 3 pints farm-fresh organic strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh organic mint
• ¼ cup organic cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon fresh organic lemon juice (use the lemon you zested for the shortcakes)

Vanilla Whipped Cream
• 1 pint organic heavy cream
• 1/3 cup organic powdered sugar, sifted
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon organic vanilla extract

1. In a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt to combine.

2. Add the butter, a few cubes at a time, pulsing on and off until the mixture looks like a coarse meal. This should take 20 to 40 seconds. Dump this mixture into a large bowl and set it aside.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, cream, and lemon zest. Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture, stirring with a fork just until a dough forms.

4. Lightly flour a work surface. Gently knead the dough on the floured surface a few times, until all the ingredients are combined. Form it into a disk. Place the disk on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly sprinkle the disk with flour, and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to 3⁄4- inch thickness. Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

6. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Using 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutters, cut out the shortcakes as close together as possible, so that you’re using almost all the dough. Place the heart shapes at least 1½ inches apart on a baking sheet. Brush with cream and sprinkle with raw sugar for sparkle. Reroll the scraps, following the directions until all the dough is used up.

7. Bake the shortcakes until they are pale brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and use a spatula to place them on a wire cooling rack.

8. While the shortcakes are cooling, combine all the strawberry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Let stand for about 30 minutes, until the strawberry juices come out. (You may need to drain the mixture before placing it on the shortcakes.)

9. When you are ready to assemble the shortcakes, chill the metal bowl for a standing mixer (or if you’re using a hand mixer, a stainless-steel bowl) for about 10 minutes in the freezer. Pour the cream into the chilled bowl and beat with the whisk attachment on low speed, gradually increasing to high speed as the cream thickens. Slowly pour in the powdered sugar, and when the cream has thickened, add the pinch of salt and the vanilla. Continue beating until fully whipped.

10. To assemble, slice the cooled shortcakes in half and arrange them on individual plates. Spoon ¼ cup or more of the strawberry-mint mixture onto the shortcake bottoms, and finish with a dollop of Vanilla Whipped Cream. Place the other halves of the shortcakes on top and devour!

It’s time to stop going out for lunch and start brown-baggin’ it. Lara Starr and Lynette Shirk offer this advice in their new book, The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook (Viva Editions, 2009). Flipping through pages and pages of money-saving recipes, I realized this is just the book for me. I’m young, lazy and I continually forget to pack a lunch for work. Now, more than ever, is the time to really start saving money. I just graduated college and I need those extra dollars to get by. The problem is that I’m so sick of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but that’s all I have time to make in morning (my lunch is prepared five minutes before I rush out the door).

Photo courtesy of Viva Editions

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook is a great source for delicious, herb-infused recipes. Try this recipe for Roasted Garlic, Spinach, and Feta Pizza.

• 1 whole head of garlic, unpeeled
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ¼ large red onion, very finely minced
• 1 pound fresh spinach, washed, stemmed, and chopped
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ pound feta cheese, crumbled

* Roast the garlic before baking the pizza dough 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cut off the top of the head of garlic about ¼ inch from the top, exposing most of the cloves. Place garlic on a square of aluminum foil and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Wrap the foil around the garlic, covering completely. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until soft to the touch. Let the bulb cool, then squeeze the soft garlic into a small bowl.

Make the Sauce

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, lidded skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the spinach, cover the pan, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until wilted. Stir in the vinegar and salt. Cook uncovered, stirring, for about 2 minutes more. If the spinach is very wet, transfer to a mesh strainer and press with a wooden spoon to remove excess liquid.

2. Brush the prebaked pizza crust with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Spread the roasted garlic over the olive oil. Add the spinach in an even layer and top with the crumbled cheese. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes.

Even though I’m buried with work today, I have now circled over to the Marketing Department three times, ostensibly to visit my friend Taylor. My meandering is really a visitation to see and smell Taylor’s hand balm. I drift over and cadge a little, rub it on my hands, come back to my office and just sit and smell them while I’m doing my other work. I can’t get enough of it!

The source of this fabulousness is Gardener’s All Natural Hand Balm with Shea Butter by SunFeather Natural Soap Company ($9), a delectable combination of olive oil and shea butter scented with lavender, lemon and ginger essential oils. It feels great on my sunburned hands (another story, precisely how my hands got sunburned), but most of all it smells like the essence of clean. The company says say it is made with lavender, lemon and ginger, but I know there has to be a secret ingredient in there somewhere. It smells like it is infused with pure summer in it!

www.sunfeather.com 

It isn’t a particularly girly scent; in fact, the aroma resembles that of some soap from Herban Cowboy that I discovered a few years back. But with the wonderful olive oil/shea butter combination, it makes for a product I know I will use again and again (as soon as I get my own. Relax, Taylor, your balm is safe from me). I will have the softest hands in the building.

If it were cologne, I’d wear it everywhere.

You don’t have to abandon your love for herbs to stay up-to-date with the latest technology. Keep herbal knowledge at your fingertips with the new iPhone and iPod Touch application “Natural Cures.”

Created by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, the author of Pain Free 1, 2, 3—A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now (McGraw-Hill), “Natural Cures” is a free application that combines natural and prescription schools of thought. Alphabetically presenting more than 100 health conditions, this application is more or less a travel-friendly guide to treating every-day ailments with natural remedies. It has been placed in the top ten “Top Free Apps” list for the Healthcare & Fitness iPhone category.

The Herb Companion has not been lucky enough to test this application, so we really would like to hear your thoughts! Have you used this application? Was it helpful? Did it offer a comprehensive list of herbal treatments for common health conditions? Go try it out—it’s free!

Click here to purchase the application for your iPhone or iPod Touch.

I finally have taken the plunge: I bought a new bike and have signed up for a 40-mile charity ride in June. I don’t actually think I can do it, given the flaccid state of my muscles right now–it's just six weeks away. But I’m going to give it the Compton try. Since diabetes is rampant on my family tree, the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure is a cause I can embrace enthusiastically.

When I lived in Santa Fe several years ago I rode my bike regularly (100+ miles a week) and was in the best shape of my life. But that was then, this is now. Now, my body is quick to tell me how much things have changed, especially in my right thumb and knee, which would just as soon I found a nice recliner and confined my movement to the occasional shamble to the fridge for a beer.

However, I am made of stronger stuff than that, so I refuse to give in. And besides, I have some important assistance to make those complaining muscles and joints quiet down and line up with my agenda.

My latest favorite assistance is Little Moon Essentials’ “Asana Kisser,” which is a salve that smells like health to me. It's composed of organic ginger and cayenne, wintergreen, camphor, lavender and menthol in a nice sesame-oil and beeswax base, which makes it go on easy and disappear quickly without feeling greasy. It isn’t magic, but it definitely has extraordinary healing power. It makes a huge difference in my ability to lean on handlebars for mile after mile and then to work those nifty little shifters strategically placed for thumb-and-finger operation.

I’m not kidding about this, and it isn’t a paid announcement. If you have joint or muscle pain, as in hands that hurt or joints that are stiff, GIVE IT A SHOT. I don’t know if it would be effective for seriously bad arthritis, but I can tell you that my thumb has given me so much trouble from time to time that I’ve worried I won’t be able to type (and then I immediately fall into doomsday fantasies about what I’d do for a living if I weren’t able to work a keyboard, so actually, it’s been good for my mental health as well, since I no longer have those worries.)

I’m also greatly assisted by regular visits to my friendly neighborhood practitioner of Zen Bodytherapy, which isn’t massage, but is a “structural realignment,” and sometimes feels like it sounds. But it works to loosen up the connective tissue that literally has my body in a bind.

With the combo of body therapy and Asana Kissers, I’m good to go.

Some of my other favorites for dealing with aches and pains are not necessarily new to me, but they are dependable and effective stalwarts: Boiron’s arnica gel, available at natural health stores, Nature’s Inventory Back Soothe and Neck & Shoulder Rub and HealthSonix’s ZingiberRx Joint and Muscle Cream. Again, they might not be magic, but as far as I’m concerned, they might as well be.

And let me repeat my mantra, just in case Constant Reader has forgotten: You don’t have to be stuck with stuff. Just because you have some body aches and pains or other medical problems, you don’t have to get stuck with them. For most of our common maladies, there are ways out, and often they involve a combination of body work, massage, diet, supplements and some of the absolutely great herbal products that are available now.

I could just go on and on …

Way back in September, I requested some exotic bulb samples from Dutch Gardens. This spring, I have been impressed by the results the freshman tulips and hyacinth have produced. They are both way more vibrant and fragrant than any pre-grown perennial I've bought at local nurseries.

But, don't take my word for it, have a look for yourself! Here are some photographs I shot in my backyard garden.

Early in the fall, I planted the bulbs in the new garden I built based on an Herb Companion garden space design, Mexican Herb Garden. The design uses a four quadrant grid with a tree in the center. I built mine around a honey locust and built a circular garden in the middle that I covered with these tulip bulbs. Find more intricate garden space designs in our new book, Creating Custom Garden Spaces, available in e-book format or on CD-ROM. 

This is one of the hyacinth flowers that came up this spring, I should have taken the photos a little earlier in their bloom, because here, they have become a bit spent. However, even with our strong Kansas winds and some invading rabbits, these compact flowers have weathered well and still smell more fragrant than any I could find for sale early this spring.

Several of the tulips are multi-colored, are striped or have differently colored petal tips. I had several people ask me where I found such unusual varieties, different from the solid yellows and reds they had in their own gardens.

I would suggest these bulbs to anyone who asked - the service was prompt, the flowers bloomed immediately and they weathered the freezing temperatures, the rain, the wind and ... the rabbits with class. Visit DutchGardens.com for more details and ordering information, just in time to collect some flowers to plant this spring! 

If you've got a question, I've got your answer! Shoot an email over to tmiller@ogdenpubs.com

(Photos used with my permission for this blog post only. Please do not use without consent.)

With my wedding coming up in less than three months, I’ve got to keep my skin moisturized, healthy and glowing. For that, I need to find the right herbs for the job.

Aloe seems to be the go-to medicinal herb for most skincare solutions. But there are many other herbs that heal skin, such as:

• Chamomile: This is used in most facial-care products and is useful in calming an irritated complexion and treating acne.
• Comfrey: This healing herb contains allantoin, a protein that speeds up cell renewal.
• Rose: This works as a gentle cleanser that has refining and softening powers.
• Witch hazel: This skin astringent contains alcohol but heals and soothes skin.

John Masters Organics has recently re-launched its line of organic skincare products. Their beauty line offers natural healing products such as the Green Tea & Rose Hydrating Face Serum, the Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask and the Rose Foaming Face Wash. But their skincare collection also offers something I have personally been on the lookout for awhile: a toning mist.

The Rose & Aloe Hydrating Toning Mist ($20) is a beauty product certified by the National Organic Program. I’ve kept this product on a shelf near my keys so that as I leave for work, I quickly mist my face with one to two sprays. I instantly feel awake, toned and ready to start the day.

The ingredients work together to create a natural toning mist combination: the essential oil of rose soothes skin by increasing blood circulation; oat kernel improves defense against pollution; white tea protects against oil-causing bacteria; aloe vera promotes healing; and aspen bark protects against harmful bacteria. 

The glass bottle is a little too heavy to tote around in my purse for a daily refresher, but so far my “front-door-solution” has worked out great.

I’ll be on the lookout for more herbal skincare treatments to keep skin fresh and healthy. But what about you? Have you ever used this beauty product? If not, what have you used and why do you or don’t you like it? And what are your favorite herbs for skincare? Drop me a comment!

www.organixhair.com

I was intrigued with Organix’s Revitalizing Pomegranate Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner from the moment I opened the shampoo bottle to catch a whiff – these products smell amazing. They emit a very powerful, fruity and delicious fragrance and, at the super reasonable price of only $6.99 for each 13-ounce bottle, I found myself wanting to know more about Organix.

Despite its four beauty awards from WWD Beauty Biz, Self Magazine, All You Magazine and Lifetime, I haven’t noticed any phenomenal change in my hair after testing it for over a month. I have, however, enjoyed its enticing smell. The formula is a blend of antioxidant-rich pomegranate and green tea extracts and is targeted towards dry and brittle hair. The use of tea in a hair care treatment is something I’ve read before (Body & Soul: Wake Up Skin and Hair with Refreshing Tea), so I was excited to see this herbal option on the market.

What’s green about this product? Aside from its name, Organix products contain organic active ingredients; sulfate-free formulas; its bottles are manufactured from recycled post-consumer resin; and its compostable labels are printed with eco-friendly inks. However, its use of methylochloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone concerned me. According to the Environmental Working Group, methylochloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone are preservatives that pose as moderate hazards and are linked as immune skin toxicants.

For its reasonable price, however, I would like to look into their other tantalizing scents: Coconut Milk, Mandarin Olive Oil, Tea Tree Mint, Shea Butter, Vanilla Silk, White Tea Grapeseed, Mocha Espresso, Cucumber Yogurt, Lavender Soymilk, Grapefruit Mango Butter and Passionfruit Guava. 

What about you, fellow herbies? What do you think about Organix products? Green enough? Herbal enough? How do you like these hair care reviews? I have one more left and then I’m moving on to bigger and better things.

www.jurlique.com

When I stepped out of the shower after using Jurlique’s hair care products I felt like I had stepped out of a high-end hair salon. My hair felt light, oil-free and amazing. After every use I couldn’t stop reaching for the ends of my hair and pulling it across my cheek for one more sniff.

The scent I love most of all is the peppermint and tea tree aroma from Jurlique’s Arnica Mint Shampoo ($22). Jurlique’s Lavender Conditioner ($22), which is designed to relax your mind and soothe your hair and scalp, paled in comparison to the company’s Arnica Mint Shampoo. Jurlique also offers Chamomile and Sandalwood shampoo and conditioner products. After using a quarter-size dollop of the shampoo to lather my hair I was in fragrance heaven. Also, the bottles are decorated with chic illustrations of the herb ingredients added to each product, which make them cute products to keep on display in your bathroom for guests to see and grow envious of.

The company uses sustainable ingredients and holds itself in high standards when growing, developing and sourcing Jurlique ingredients in its own farms and, when impossible, carefully sourcing from biodynamic or organic farms.

Its one downfall is that Jurlique’s Arnica Mint Shampoo is produced with sodium lauroyl sarcosinate—a cleanser that removes surface oil, dirt and bacteria without stripping or drying sensitive skin, but still may not be the safest ingredient choice, according to the Environmental Working Group. This cleanser enhances the penetration of irritation to the skin but is safer when used in rinse-off products, according to CosmeticsInfo.org.

So what do you think? Have you fallen in love with Jurlique’s body care products as much as me? If not, what hair fragrance is your favorite?

www.verikira.com

Verikira Naturals is a Vegan Cosmetics Organization certified-company that pledges never to use synthetic fragrances, animal byproducts and unnecessary chemicals. What more could you ask for in a beauty brand? Oh yea – it donates 10 percent of its Pink Grapefruit Collection proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation all year long.

Pink grapefruit is a scent that you either love or hate. If you’re a fan, then you will love the faint citrus scent from this collection.

The pink grapefruit shampoo is sulfate and paraben free and is also made with pro-vitamin B5, which improves the moisture-retention capacity and stimulates skin regeneration. It took over a quarter-size dollop of shampoo to get my hair to feel lathered enough, but it was well worth it.

The pink grapefruit conditioner is 88 percent organic and made with these ingredients: Brassica Campestris, Aleurites Fordi Oil, Green Tea, Roobios, MSM, Vitamin B and Activated Charcoal. This conditioner lowers the pH balance of hair, increasing the elasticity of the hair.

This collection is available in two sizes—11.16 fluid ounces and 2-ounce travel size. The larger shampoo is $28 and the larger conditioner is $32. The travel sizes are $10 each. The travel pack trio, which includes the travel-sized shampoo, conditioner and lotion, is $32.

These products are a little pricey and I’m still not sure whether I would spring the green for these eco-friendly products. What about you? Have you tried Verikira Naturals? What did you love about their products? What hair care product out there are you willing to spend the big bucks on?

You may remember from my blog “The Best Gardening Products of This Fall” that I touted The Aerogarden as the favorite of my Herb Companion samples.  But, I don’t think you appreciate just how much I love it!

They sent me the Aerogarden Classic, which has room for 7 different plants, each in “pods” or pieces of foam you plug into holes on top of the Aerogarden bowl.  The light is adjustable with your plants and goes to a ridiculous height of something like 37”, which was much too high to put under my kitchen cabinets.

So “The Mexican Herb Garden” (with epazote, curled parsley, oregano, basil and thyme) was moved to a shelf in my bedroom.  The kit was supposed to come with two pods of cilantro, which did not grow, so I planted chives (my favorite) and tomatoes, and they’re both growing at an amazing rate.

Let me just say that all hydroponic potters are not created equally.  Sitting right next to my Aerogarden is Prepara’s Power Plant, which hasn’t grown a plant or flower to maturity yet.

So, I bought myself another Aerogarden, this time a much smaller 3 podder that can fit under my kitchen cabinets.  I planted strawberries (!) mini chili peppers (!) and Chinese lantern flowers.

Go buy one!  Seriously, they’re awesome and SO easy to take care of!

Tangently, while brainstorming a title for this blog, I thought of the nursery rhyme:

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

I had no idea that this poem is based on the Tudor Queen known as Bloody Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, who executed those who dared continue Protestantism. Silver bells and cockle shells being her common forms of torture.  Silver bells refer to screws that were used to crush the thumb between two hard surfaces, and apparently cockle shells were affixed to the genitals and no further explanation is necessary.

The guillotine, known as the Maiden, refers to the "pretty" (read: easy) form of execution to replace manual beheading, which was, as I read, rarely successful ... within the first 10 blows.

I don't know about you guys, but this time of year can be rough. As in your skin. It's cold outside, you are busy getting everything ready for the upcoming holidays, and maybe you haven't gotten in the habit of applying your favorite moisturizer post-shower. Before I know it, I'm snagging elbows and hangnails as I yank on my sweater in the morning.

Aquavena Citrus Blossom soap can snap you right out of that rut. For a morning shower, citrus soap is a true luxury (Aquavena's version has essential oils of blood orange and Italian bergamot). The scent snaps my eyes right open, and the luxurious feel of this moisturizing soap (it is made of palm kernal oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, coca butter, shea butter and flax seed oil) reminds me to pay extra attention to my skin. For my dry skin that means applying unscented moisturizer before I've toweled off, toner for my face and cuticle oil for my ever-thirsty fingers.

This Monday at Herb Companion HQ, we all showed up with sniffles. I can feel it coming on ... my nose is twitchy, my shoulders are achy, and my throat is scratchy. But right now it's still a baby cold. Here's hoping echinacea can come to my rescue! I'm hitting the Ulitmate Strength Echinacea from Jash Botanicals our Editor in Chief left on my desk a few months ago when I was wheezing --- I'm using it early and often this time around. This particular mixture is Echinacea angustifolia root in grain alcohol. I just put a couple of dropper-fulls in my water and try to drink a glass of water every hour or two. I'm almost out of this stuff. I think next time I'll try their Ultra Immune, which has both Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia.

It might just be that my hair was recently cut, but my hair feels a lot healthier than it did a month ago. When I curl my hair the ends curl completely under. It’s great to not have split ends!

Most of all I’ve been enjoying the different scents during my hair care excursions. This week my hair smells like a mixture of rosemary, lavender and peppermint.

John Masters Organics creates aromatherapy beauty treatments that use certified organic essential oils whenever possible and avoid artificial colors, fragrances and fillers.

I used John Masters Organics’ lavender rosemary shampoo for normal hair. Because my hair is so thick I had to use a little more than a nickel size of the shampoo in order to get my hair nice and lathered, but I didn’t mind—this shampoo is so fragrant! Lavender normalizes scalp conditions and slows hair loss while rosemary stimulates hair growth and adds volume and shine. Next, I used the same amount ofJohn Masters Organics' rosemary & peppermint detangler. The added peppermint reduces scalp irritation and treats oily scalps.

For $16 each, I say these products are worth the extra buck. Other herbal products are available: evening primrose for dry hair, zinc & sage shampoo and conditioner, honey and hibiscus hair reconstructing shampoo, and an herbal cider hair rinse. Let me know which of these products you’ve tried or would like to try. What’s your favorite herb to use on your hair and why? What is it about a warm shower during the winter that makes you feel at ease?

You've waited and here they are! My picks for the best autumn gardening products*.

4.  The Wearable Garden Stool – An eccentric addition to your gardening arsenal, the Wearable Garden Stool is a fun, efficient and useful way to garden without backache, and just in time for bulb-ing! Read more in my blog: But It's The Pelvic Stool Thrust.  From: CleanAirGardening.com -- For: $54.99** 

3.  The Living Wall – Although this vertical potter can be somewhat difficult to manage, the unique Living Wall is sure to be the talk of the town – or at least of your home. From: Gardeners.com -- For: $169 

2.  The Worm Factory Composter – Providing you with year-round compost and compost tea, The Worm Factory is a fun, environmentally friendly alternative to fertilizer, and a great place to dump your vacuum dust! For detailed info, read my blog: Open a Can of Worms. From: Uncle Jim's Worm Farm -- For: $69.95 

1.  Aerogarden – Topping our charts as the best Autumn Gardening Tool, the hydroponic Aerogarden is the most effective and easy way to create a bountiful garden indoors – without the mess of soil or even watering! And with the array of seed kits offered, the Aerogarden appeals to all chefs and herb aficionados. What could be better than that? From: Aerogarden -- For: $149.95

Have a product you want sampled for possible appearance here? Or, questions? tmiller@ogdenpubs.com
*All products personally sampled by Taylor Miller.
** All prices as of 10.22.08

In the first of my two part series, here are my picks for this year's best autumn gardening products*!

8.  Meyer Lemon Tree – Kicking off the charts at number eight, this dwarf lemon tree can be grown indoors year-round, and its benefits are fruitful.  From: MeyerLemonTree.com -- For: $49.95** 

7.  Culinary Herb Garden – A garden terrarium makes a great gift for friends, kids or even as projects for students. Easy to grow herbs spring up quickly and can be used in no time For more info, read my blog: Biodome! (sans Pauly Shore).  From: DiscoverThis.com -- For: $23.95 

6.  The Garden Ladder – Increasing your surface area for indoor potted plants, the wooden Garden Ladder is easy to install and makes for a beautiful addition to any home.  From: Gardeners.com -- For: $119.88

5. The Herb Savor – At number five, Prepara’s Herb Savor organizes your cuttings into a clean, space-saving container that keeps herbs fresh for weeks. From: Prepara.com -- For: $29.95

For the top four products ...  Click here. 

Questions/Suggestions/Comments? tmiller@ogdenpubs.com
*All products personally sampled by Taylor Miller
**All prices as of 10.22.08