Nyonya-Baba Natural Potpourri August 14, 2007

(lasts for about 2-3 days, prepare daily for fresh aroma)

Prep Time: about 15-30 minutes

Materials:
– Grater
– Mortar & pestle
– Mixing bowl

Ingredients:
Pandan leaves
Basil leaves
Kaffir lime leaves
Laksa leaves
Lemongrass (stalks with leaves preferred)
1 Mandarin orange
Star anise

Method:
– Tear the pandan, basil, laksa and kaffir lime leaves by hand into small pieces and crush to release fragrance.
– Cut the lemongrass stalk into pieces. Pound to release the aroma.
– Grate the mandarin orange peel and add to the mix.
– Finally add the star anise and toss.

Pandan Leaf Coconut Hair Oil Lotion by Bebe Seet

Makes 1 application

Prep time: 2 hours

Materials:
– Strainer bag
– Cooking pot
– Strainer

Ingredients:
1 kg grated coconut
½ glass of water
2 stalks of pandan leaves

Method:
– Add ½ glass of water to the grated coconut and strain out the coconut milk with the strainer bag.
– Add two stalks of pandan leaves into the coconut milk.
– Cook the coconut milk over slow fire for 1.5 hours till it turns transparent.
– Strain out the residue from the oil.
– Use immediately.

Winter-Melon Eye-cooler

Makes 1 application

Prep time: 20 minutes

Materials:
– Mixing bowl
– Tablespoon
– Teaspoon
– Mortar & pestle

Ingredients:
2 tbsp winter-melon
A handful of mint leaves

Method:
– Remove the seeds from the winter-melon and scoop the winter melon flesh into a bowl and mash it up nicely.
– Crush the mint leaves in a bowl to release the fresh juice.
– Take half a tea spoon of juice add it to the melon mash.
– Mix well.

Peranakan Skin Tonic

Makes 1 serving

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Materials:
Tall Glass
Teaspoon
Tablespoon
Knife
Chopping board

Ingredients:
1 whole bitter gourd
½ cup water
1 tbsp green lime juice
1 tsp honey
1 glass coconut water
2-3 slices torch ginger

Method:
– Juice 1 bitter gourd, take the juice and add water to get about one cup.
– Mix in the limejuice.
– Add 1 teaspoon of honey and stir well.
– Top up with coconut water or plain water.
– Add slices of the torch ginger.
– Let the tonic stand for 5-10 mins. before consuming.