Wax and Bubbles

Mint’s botanical name, Mentha, is from an ancient Greek fable of love and romance. Along with that came jealousy and revenge. It seems that Pluto, the god of the underworld, fell in love for the nymph Minthe. But, when his wife, Persephone, caught them together, she murdered Minthe in a jealous rage, trampling her and in the process turned her into a low-ground growing plant, which we all know today as Mint.

Pluto, ultimately was horrified at the death of his lover, Minthe and, although her could not reverse Minthe’s fate, he gave her a very sweet smelling scent that would come be released into the air whenever she was stepped upon or smashed.

To grow mint inside, you will need o have a container filled with at least 6-inches of high-quality, light potting mix. Transplant the rooted parts of the mint plant from your garden into the container and place into a south-facing window inside your home or bathroom. And just water it weekly.

Fresh mint is a great addition to most any food. Add the leaves of mint to a fruit salad, or mince the mint leaves (about 1/2 cup) of fresh leaves and add them to your next batch of brownies or sugar cookies for an added kick. Mint can be added to breads, or even a mint sauce can be make and spread over the top of an angel food cake. You can even make hot beverages taste great with mint with fresh or even the dried leaves of the mint plant. Add about 1 tbs. fresh leaves or 1 tsp. dried leaves for every cup of liquid. Place the mint in a metal mesh ball or cheesecloth small bag. Use in your child’s next cup of late-night hot cocoa. Or even take a mint sprig and add it to a nice glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.

The best use for mint by far is in body soaps. Here is a soap recipe you must try today.

You will need:

• A Muffin Tin
• Mint Essential Oil of your choice
• Dried Mint Leaves (about 2-3 cups)
• Witch Hazel in a spray bottle
• A large glass bowl
• Wooden Spoon
• Knife
• Wax Paper
• Tape
• 1 pound of white or clear solid glycerin soap base

Cut the soap base into chunks about one-inch square and place these into the glass bowl. Microwave for one minute. Stop the oven and stir the soap with the wooden spoon. Repeat until the soap base is completely melted. Stir in about two tablespoons of the essential oil and the dried mint leaves. Add only 2 tbs. at a time till you get the amount you are seeking. You don’t want too much or the soap won’t bond together. Stir till combined and then pour into the molds. Spray immediately with the witch hazel. (This will eliminate the air bubbles that form in the base while heating and stirring.) Allow the bars to cool for about thirty minutes before dislodging them from the molds. Lay the bars of soap on waxed paper to dry overnight. Wrap them with small squares of the wax paper the following day and secure the paper with tape all the way around the bar.