We have received some fabulous feedback over the summer here on Bowen Island at our farmers and tailgate markets, and one of the things that a lot of people have commented on is how beautiful the rose petals look in our Original and Mediterranean herb salt blends. I love the fact that rose petals are edible and add some beautiful colour to a salad or desert. Even Shakespeare and his contemporaries consumed rose petals in everything from teas to jellies! There are some interesting ways to include petals in your cooking, and one of my favorites is making rose petal butter. Simply cream together 1/4 cup of unsalted butter, 1/4 tablespoon of icing sugar, and 1/4 tablespoon of blackberry sugar (see Blackberry Sugar) along with 1 tablespoon of finely chopped rose petals. Spread this on a croissant or homemade scone for a yummy treat. Or better yet, spread it on your pancakes or waffles for breakfast. If you don't have any of our blackberry sugar on hand, you could replace it with vanilla extract or rosewater (but we highly recommend the blackberry sugar!).
As you eat your rose petal butter, imagine the Romans lavishly using their cultivated R. gallica in ceremonies and celebration, making it a symbol of both love and secrecy. As early as 477B.C., the Romans practiced the custom of suspending a red rose above a council table to indicate a meeting was confidential and that all topics discussed sub rosa -"under the rose"- were to be kept secret and confidential. The Romans introduced roses to England, and till this day, the rose remains its emblem. It was custom in England to plant a rose bush on the grave of a lover who died before marriage, symbolizing sweetness in both life and death.
So, enjoy that rose petal butter for it's sweetness, love and secrecy!
Subscribe to this blog's RSS feed using http://bowenislandherbsalts.myshopify.com/blogs/RosePetals&BlackberrySugarCreamedButter