Infused Cooking Oils

Hello all you amazing crafters out there in the blogosphere! Chances are you're stopping by from Domestic Witch's fantastic craftoganza, so Greetings and Salutations!

My lovely project that I am posting for your crafting pleasure is, as the title suggests, a way to make Herb-Infused Cooking Oils. If you're a gardener this is a great new way to enjoy your wares, and this will make a wonderful gift for anyone you know who likes to cook.

Cooking oils can be made in any combination of oil and herbs that you desire. Some oils, like Olive Oil, with have their own disctinct flavor that will not dissapear with the infusion. Others, like Grapeseed or Sunflower seed Oil, have no flavor and will taste like whatever you choose to infuse it with. It is a good idea to use herbs that will compliment each other; for example Fennel and Dill work great together and make a very tasty salad dressing base.

The particular Recipe I am sharing works wonderfully as a base for a meat sauce, or even for sprinkling it over some steaks on the grill! Alternatively, it could be used in a sort of Marinade.

What you will need:
A transparent (preferably glass) bottle big enough for 500ml
500ml (18 fl oz) of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped in half
1 tsp. black peppercorns, slightly crushed
4 sprigs fresh marjoram, about 6" long, washed with damaged leaves removed

Note: If you don't have a bottle of the appropriate size you can still infuse your oil in it, simply use your best estimate as to proportions. It might be better to make a 'trial run' version before you use the recipe for your gift.

Fill your bottle with your herbs and pour the oil over, making sure to leave enough space for a cork (or whatever you're using). Place the bottle on a sunny windowsill for two weeks...no seriously, that's just about it. Make sure you give it a shake every few days, but other than that there's not much to do. After two weeks strain and re-bottle your oil, and you're set! If you would like to make the mixture more potent you can repeat this process, or if you like you can rebottle with more herbs for decorative purposes. Painting the bottle is an option as well.

The effects of the infusion will last for 3-4 months, and can be re-infused easily.

A great way to give this a kitchen witch quirk are to use herbs that have similar magickal qualities as well and energizing the herbs towards their purpose.
Magickal Correspondences of
Marjoram- Protection, love, Happiness, Health, Money
Pepper- Protection, Exorcism
Garlic- Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Lust, Anti-Theft
So, looking at our correspondences this particular oil makes a hefty protection potion, but it could also be used to spice up a relationship. Remember, do not give anything that has been spiked magickally to someone completely unaware of it. It could affect them adversely, and nobody needs that karma coming back to them!