- Spa Gifts from the Kitchen

Dear Fans of Hounds Who Cook,

We dogs are nearly delirious with the scents that abound just now. Our girl Me is mixing up bath and spa concoctions that are so fragrant as to make a dog slip into near delirium. Here are some of the recipes for your own good pleasure. And if you get one of these in the mail, don't tell Me we had foretold the gift.

Love and Adoration,
The Hounds Who Cook

Cooling Foot Gel
(nice for hands too!)

2 tablespoons pure aloe vera gel (no additives)
1/2 tablespoon peppermint extract (or peppermint oil)

Mix well and place into a decorative jar for giving. Rub into feet before putting on socks. Ahh. Smooth the rest onto your hands. Mmm. Healing tingly goodness.

Luscious-for-Your-Skin Milkbath
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup powdered buttermilk
2 teaspoons dried egg white
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons lavender buds (or other fragrant herb)

Grind oatmeal and lavender buds in blender into fine flour. Mix together with remaining ingredients. Place in decorative jar for giving. Use 1/2 cup per bath.

Soothe-Your-Aching-Muscles Bath Salts
2 cups sea salt
2 cups baking soda
2 cups Epsom salt
1 tablespoon carrier oil (such as almond, sunflower, jojoba, or vitamin E)
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoons almond extract
10 drops bergamot essential oil
5 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Mix salts and soda in a large container. In a small container, such as an old yogurt cup, pour carrier oil and mix in extracts and essential oils. Drizzle mixture over salt mixture. Stir well. Scoop into decorative containers for giving. Add 1 cup salts to water as bath is running - use water as hot as is tolerable. Soak for 20 minutes. The salt and heat will help draw lactic acid from muscles, which causes aching. Drink a tall glass of water after the bath to help muscles continue to purge lactic acid.