If you have made some rose honey, or are in the process of making it, I told you I'd give you a few suggestions for using those honey laden, still sweet smelling, rose petals that you might have strained from the infusing jar. These are two of my favorites.
Honey Candied Rose Petals
You can create these little treasures either in a dehydrator or in a low oven.
Oven method:
If you are using the oven, put a silicon mat or piece of parchment on a cookie sheet. Let the oven warm to no more than 200º, then turn it off. Put the cookie sheet in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and, if you'd like, sprinkle the roses with sugar (white or colored sugar work best). Return to the oven for about 20 minutes. Test them to see if they are drying. Take them out of the oven and let them cool completely. You can put them in the refrigerator to help speed the process.
The dehydrator method is done much the same way, and it's the method I prefer. Spread the petal out on one of the fruit leather sheets. If you don't have one, put some wax paper or parchment on the regular rack. Set the dehydrator for the lowest setting. Let dehydrate for about 1 hour, then test for dryness.
Store these rosy treats in an air tight container, with layers separated by wax paper, and refrigerate. They'll keep for up to 3 months. You can also freeze them. Use them as a snack, or as decorations for cakes and cupcakes, or to float in tea or punch.
Honey Rose Face Toner
Put all of the honey macerated rose petals into a medium pot. Cover with filtered or distilled water so that there is at least 3 inches of water above the petals. Cover and simmer on the lowest setting for about 20 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer for another 10 minutes, making sure that the water doesn't get so low the petals burn. It should be a very low simmer, just warming the liquid. Turn the heat off and let it sit until completely cooled. Strain the liquid into a bottle, making sure to squeeze out every bit of liquid from the petals that you can. (I use a potato ricer lined with cheese cloth to squish everything out). Store in the refrigerator. This will keep for 6 months or longer.
I use this as a delightfully refreshing toner and moisturizer. It's wonderful in the summer - cool, fragrant, softening and soothing. It feels particularly nice on sunburned skin.
Roses give us so much - beauty, fragrance, health and with that a little happiness. Stop by again soon and I'll tell you about some of the other wonders roses have to offer.
