Posts filed under 'Floral Tips & Trends'
I know you are reading this thinking, “I thought flowers were only to be looked at and enjoyed visually!” Not true. In fact, you can eat them too. And for the most part edible flowers are low in (or free of) calories, cholesterol and fat. Edible flowers have been used as food for thousands of years. And although I have been unable to find much documentation about the nutritional benefits of flowers as food, it seems to me if the animal planet has eaten flowers since the dawn of time, then they must be healthy. And I imagine being on an Edible Flower Diet you could loose weight fast. Not to mention that edible flower diet is exotic eating at it’s finest.
Of course there are some precautions you should take when considering the edible flower diet. First and foremost, not every flower is edible. About.com has a great chart of poisonous and non-edible flowers you should stay away from.
You can also check out this List of Edible Flowers at Eden Florist. Many Edible flowers can be found at gourmet grocery stores and local farmer’s markets.
In addition to those on the chart, the greens of dandelions are edible but they don’t taste good. Many edible flowers add little or no flavor to recipes, they just look pretty.
You can use edible flowers in infused vinegars, candies, sorbets, syrups, jellies and jams, as marinades, drinks, wines, meats, flower butter, dips and spreads, soups and as garnish to add color to the presentation. They can be added to water and frozen to create pretty ice cubes and add a dash of flavor to drinks. Place a colorful gladiolus floret (after removing the stamen and pistil) in a clear glass bowl and fill with your favorite jam, spread or dip.
Here are two low-fat recipes to add to your edible flower diet recipe box (also great for entertaining):
Hollyhock or Nasturtium Hors d’oevres
3 dozen hollyhock, daylily or nasturtium blossoms – washed and drained
1 jar (5 ounces) low fat cream cheese and pineapple spread
¼ cup low fat whipped cream cheese with chives
¼ cup turkey, chicken or tuna salad
With a small spoon carefully stuff each blossom with a small amount of one of the three fillings.
Line platter with nasturtium leaves and arrange filled blossoms. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Serve chilled
Turkey Calendula Wraps
8 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons low fat or fat free mayonnaise
1-tablespoon horseradish
2-3 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons diced sweet pickle relish
1 tart apple, peeled cored and finely diced
1-cup calendula or marigold petals
4 twelve-inch low-fat tortillas
8 ounces turkey thinly sliced
Garnish with Lettuce and marigold petals
In a bowl blend the cream cheese with mayonnaise, horseradish, lemon juice and pickle relish. Gently stir in apple and flower petals. With a spatula spread the mixture evenly over each tortilla. Cover spread with a single layer of turkey or ham. Roll filled tortilla, jellyroll style. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap- chill for 20 minutes or more. To serve, cut to desired thickness and arrange on a serving platter over a bed of lettuce. Sprinkle with additional flower petal garnish.
Be sure to use flowers sparingly in your recipes. Some people experience digestion problems when consuming flowers for the first time. The best thing to do is start small and see if you have a reaction before plunging into the edible flower diet.
Happy Dieting!
December 13th, 2008
If you’ve ever been to a wedding and seen a Bride catch her heel in the aisle runner or even worse fall when walking down the aisle, then you know how scarry it can be for her and everyone watching.l
In fact, you may have even seen one or more of those “trips” on the popular video show, America’s Funniest Videos. If you have, then you know what I mean.
Well now there is an exciting new product called The Non-slip Aisle Runner which is made of a nice cotton/polyester blend. Florists can purchase these in 20 colors and they are completely washable to be reused again and again. What a great new trend in the Bridal Industry.
These runners are from The Original Runner Company and you can check them out at www.originalrunners.com.
If you are planning a Wedding in South Florida, give Eden Florist a Call. We have been doing weddings for more than 28 years and would be delighted to create the floral decor for yours. Our number is 954-981-5515. You can visit our website at www.EdenFlorist.com.
December 1st, 2008
QUICK AND EASY WAY TO SPEED DRY FLOWERS~ Put a small bowl of water in microwave
~ Put sand or borax in a microwave container
~ Cover the flowers face up in the drying agent
~ Sprinkle more of the drying agent over the flowers
~ Then nuke flowers for about three minutes~ Leave the flower in the container outside the microwave over night
~ To further preserve the flowers spray them with hair spray or a light clear coat of aerosol varnish
October 25th, 2008
Camelia ~ Adoration, longing, flame in my heart
Camellia is a flower of the Theaceae family. Camellias have been known for centuries in the Orient. Camellia sinensis, the “common tea plant”, was used as a beverage (tea) by the Chinese as early as 500 B.C. Tea was a rare commodity in Japan during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 905 A.D.) and as such the elaborate tea ceremony developed for the royalty and elite. Tea is thought to have come to England in the late 16th or early 17th century brought by traders who traveled to the Orient in search of silks and spices and was considered so valuable that it was kept locked in silver tea caddies or boxes in the homes of the wealthy only.
It is thought that the camellia first came to Portugal in the first half of the 16th century. The first species of camellia to enter the United States was the tea plant in the form of seed. Camellia japonica plants were imported from England in 1797 or 1798 by John Stevens of Hoboken, New Jersey and became popular in the Northeast as greenhouse plants. Camellias gained in popularity and by 1920 Sacramento was named “Camellia City”. Camellias were named in posthumous honor of George Joseph Kamel by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who developed the binomial system of naming plants that is still in use today. Kamel, whose name in Latin was Camellus, was a Jesuit priest who served as a missionary to the Philippines.
In 1945 the American Camellia Society was formed. It has now grown to 4000 members in 44 states and 22 foreign countries with a permanent Headquarters in Fort Valley, Georgia.
LA TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi is based on a play by Alexandre Dumas called LA DAME AUX CAMELIAS It served as a source of inspiration to the composer Verdi; which resulted in the opera ‘La Triviata’.
October 14th, 2008
Calendula ~ Admiration, Good Luck
(wor calendae, pot marigold) ~ Means “Winning Grace” and “throughout the months.”
The name Calendula stems from the Latin kalendae, meaning first day of the month, presumably because pot marigolds are in bloom at the start of most months of the year.” ( wikipedia.com ) Historically Known for its medicinal and culinary value, the calendula was called “Mary’s Gold” by Early Christians. The would place calendula by the statues of the Virgin Mary to honor her. The most sacred of flowers of ancient India, calendula were strung into garlands to adorn holy statues.
A member of the marigold family, calendula is traditionally known as an herb as well as valued for its medicinal and culinary uses. In ancient times, calendula blossoms were mixed in wine to relieve indigestion. Calendula petals were used in ointments to heal skin irritations, jaundice, sore eyes, and toothaches. It is used to stimulate blood circulation and lower fevers (by causing sweating). It can also be used to treat diaper rash, as it promotes rapid healing. Calendula oil can be used to treat earaches, is a natural antiseptic and even helps heal hemmoroids.
The Romans used calendula mixed with vinegar to season their meat and salad dishes.
A Mediterranean annual plant (Calendula officinalis) in the composite family, widely cultivated for its showy, yellow or orange, rayed flower heads that were formerly used in medicine, coloring, and flavoring of food.
Calendula is also October’s Birth flower and the International Herb Association declared calendula flower of the year for 2008. Calendula has great anti-inflammatory properties and vulnerary properties. Its uses are varied — from soothing minor skin disorders like pimples and dry chapped lips to curing chicken pox etc.
Check out Aromatherapy at Home ezine for a recipe to make Calendula Oil
October 6th, 2008
When cutting flowers, cut at a sharp angle. This increases the “opening” of the stem allowing water to be better absorbed. The flowers will not rest flush on the bottom of the container, which allows water to penetrate the stem. Once cut, place directly in water.
Be sure to stop by Eden Florist and pick up a bunch of cut flowers today!
October 4th, 2008
Want to add some life to your home or office? And clean the air at the same time?
The following plants help clean the air indoors and are great for homes or offices especially those with poor ventilation:
Chinese Evergreen or aglaonema, is a versatile low light, low growing, durable plant
Dieffenbachia are also called “dumb canes” because eating them irritates the throat and vocal cords. They are poisonous and especially harmful to small children and animals if eaten in quantity.
Dracaenas are strong tropical looking houseplants.
One of the more popular dracaena plants is the Lucky Bamboo which grows in water like cut flowers, but will last for years.
Surrounding yourself with easy care indoor houseplants is like a breath of fresh air – literally!
You can order these and other indoor houseplants at Eden Florist.
September 3rd, 2008
Everyday tips:
To liven up your silk flowers and get them looking new again put them in a bag with some salt or rice and shake or use a hair dryer.
Use rubbing alcohol on paper towel to remove Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE). Rubbing alcohol also works to remove ink on polished nails (and it shines them at the same time.
Are you tired of throwing away rusted and unused SOS pads? Cut them in half, this will save money AND the pads will go further. It also helps sharpen your scissors!
Here’s a cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
To liven up your silk flowers and get them looking new again put them in a bag with some salt or rice and shake or use a hair dryer.
The next time you buy cut flowers follow these tips to make them last longer ~ cut the ends every day and change the water. Bacteria grows in the water causing a stench and killing the flowers. Us a mist sprayer to mist the flowers with water every day. If you put your flowers in a narrow deep vase a turkey baster is a great way to add water when levels get low.
And be sure to buy your cut flowers from Eden Florist if you live in South Florida! You can stop by or we can deliver!
August 31st, 2008
Here’s a 7 household tips that can make life just a little easier:
1. Sealed envelope – Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. 2. Use empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
3. For icy doorsteps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won’t refreeze.
4. Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is)!
5. Lavender oil is one of the most useful oils in therapeutic terms, being sedative, antiseptic, painkilling and calming.
6. The California Poppy treats insomnia, nervous tension and anxiety. It also relieves menstrual cramps and pain.
7. Next time you get fresh flowers instead of throwing them out, make compost. Using plant material in your compost pile produces rich fertilizer for garden plants and doesn’t attract scavengers the way food scraps can.
Order your flowers at Eden Florist in South Florida, serving Broward and North Dade Counties.
August 7th, 2008
Next Posts
Previous Posts
