Basil Water

While this did produce something, it felt a little bit like an epic fail. Found a way to distill herbs into essential oil that sounded easy and like it might just work and to a degree it did.

Started with a big old Dutch oven on the stove, a little bit of water in the bottom and lots and lots of basil as in the end of the season, grab it all picking laid and smashed into the pan. Next step, I put a ceramic bowl on top of the whole mess and put the lid on upside down. The upside down lid is important as the distilled liquid will collect on the lid and the concave shape of the lid will let the liquid drip into the bowl.

Here is a picture of what the whole setup looked like for me.

Once this is all setup, let the whole mess simmer down. The house smelled amazing while this process was going on and I did end up with about an ounce of liquid. The liquid can be stored in a small tight sealing jar and in a cool dark place.

This process can be used to distill most herbs. The key is that you need a lot of whatever you are distilling.

Have fun experimenting with this one!

Where did the Summer Go?!?!?

Not sure where the summer went and here it it is already canning season!

Not make excuses but I did have a small computer catastrophe which was fixed post haste with a new computer. It has been a long time since I have had a new computer and I am not sure I like this new beast. I suppose I will get used to it and if truth be known, I am already sort of getting used to "it" and kind of starting to like it some.

Otherwise, most of the summer was spent hanging out in parks and making music I guess. It was so much fun! Then to end the summer, a quick trip up the North Shore of Minnesota was just what the doctor ordered.

In July Dusty Rockers (see one of my other blogs) hosted the first Potluck Music Jam 7 Mile Creek County Park. It was a blast, new friends were made and the food was wonderful. Everyone enjoyed themselves so much that we hosted an impromptu hot dog roast in August. Good times were had by all.

In September, the North Shore beckoned and we answered the call. Spent time rock hunting on the shores of Lake Superior, checked out Gooseberry Falls...

and saw Split Rock Lighthouse up close and personal for the first time ever. It was wonderfully refreshing and we have both resolved not to wait so long before we go again.

With that all said... on to canning and preserving the summer and fall harvest for the frigid winter here in the frozen north.