From The Gardens

Food

Herbs de Provence

Combine one part each lavender flowers, fennel seed, celery seed, and dried basil with six parts rosemary and oregano.  Wonderful on grilled meat or added to olive oil and used in a variety of ways.

Lavender Blueberry Vinegar

Place 1 Cup lavender flowers and 1 cup blue berries in a quart mason jar.  Fill with white wine or distilled vinegar.  Place in a cool dark place for 3 weeks, strain and bottle.   Use on fruit salads.

Lavender Cookies

Add 1 to 2 tabs. Lavender flowers to any plain sugar cookie dough and bake as usual.

Lavender Cordial

Place 2 cups lavender flowers and 1 cup of sugar in a quart jar.  Fill to the top with vodka.  Cover with cheese-cloth and store in a cool dark place for several weeks. Strain and bottle.  Improves with age.

Crystallized Lavender

Wash and pat dry fresh lavender stalks, dip in beaten egg white and roll in sugar.  Use as garnish on cakes, etc.

Lavender Almond Confection

One 7 oz. Package almond paste, ¼ C. lavender flowers, ¼ C. ground almonds ½ tsp. Minced zest of orange.  In a small bowl combine almond paste and flowers using your fingers.  Roll into ¾ inch balls.  In a flat dish combine ground almonds and zest.  Roll each ball in the almond mixture and place in small candy cups.  Makes 25

Cranberry Punch with Lavender and Rosemary

Combine ¼ C. fresh rosemary leaves, 1 Tbs. lavender flowers, 2 cinnamon sticks and 6 cloves with 2 ½ C. water in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat and let steep for 5 minutes.  Strain and combine with cranberry juice in a pitcher.  Refrigerate and serve cold.

Lavender Rosemary Tea

Combine 1 cup lavender flowers, 1 cup spearmint leaves, 1 cup rosemary leaves, ½ cup chamomile flowers and ¼ cup cloves. Steep 1 Tbs. per cup of hot water for 5 minutes.

Lavender Cake

Add 2 tabs. Lavender flowers to a standard white or yellow cake mix.

Lavender Jelly

Melt a jar of apple jelly is a saucepan on the stove, add 1 Tbs. Lavender flowers, pour into sterilized jelly glasses and seal.