Aroma Kitchen

Book excerpt: The human tongue and palate know only five tastes; our nose complements this rather limited sense. Much of what we think we taste is actually derived from our sense of smell! Because the nose and mouth are connected, taste and smell work hand-in-hand to complete our eating experiences; incorporating scent, in the form of essential oils, is a logical way to optimize our meals without adding additional chemicals and fillers to our food. The recipes in this book focus on using fresh, local (if possible) ingredients and scented essential oils to nourish your loved ones in a healthy and varied way. Included are the basics of essential oils, including recipes for creating your own spiced oils, vinegars, butters, salts, syrups, honey, and sugars. Easy-to-follow recipes for warm and cold appetizers, soups, main and side dishes, desserts, and drinks and cocktails will have you cooking with essential oils in no time! A tips and tricks section helps to eliminate any guesswork on the part of the home cook, and the authors include menu examples by occasion. Eliane Zimmermann, leading lecturer for aromatherapy practice and graduate of the renowned Shirley Price International College of Aromatherapy, provides the introduction.