I had used lavender to induce sleep, pain relief and for it’s anti~bacterial properties, but the first time I ate lavender was a lavender chocolate truffle at an Herb Society pot luck. When I asked about how it was made she referred to lavender flower, but English is tricky and I was born blonde so I heard lavender flour. When I asked where do you get lavender flour she looked at me like I had lost my mind, which I clearly had. The secret to cooking with lavender, I have since learned, is to put the dried lavender flower buds into a coffee grinder to make a fine powder so you aren’t chewing on bud chunks. Lavender can also be made into a simple syrup then added to your creations. Lavender is a lovely addition to brownies, scones, short bread, sugar cookies, pound cake, frosting or mixed into a combination of butter and honey. It is important to note that less is more when it comes to cooking with lavender, so add it sparingly. Lavender is a nice balance to the sweet heat in chutney, bruschetta, BBQ sauce or lavender ginger sauce. The best elderberry jelly I ever made was with lavender steeped in with the elderberries. Lavender goes really well with citrus especially lemon e.g. lavender lemon frosting, lavender lemon pound cake or the lavender lemon tart recipe my friend Muriel Mason sent to me. Lavender is especially lovely in drinks. Lavender lemonade is a popular drink, but I prefer lavender infused water. Just add a bundle of lavender flowers to a pitcher of water and let it sit in refrigerator for a day or two. You can also infuse vodka or gin by adding the lavender flowers to the alcohol of your choice, then letting it sit for 4-6 weeks. Iced lavender infused water or alcohol are perfect drinks for summer outdoor concerts. Moving into winter snuggle up with warm chamomile lavender tea or hot chocolate with a little lavender and chilli pepper. There are recipes that use lavender with eggs and meats~ perhaps they are fabulous, but they seem like just adding lavender to add lavender. There are plenty of other important uses for lavender in soaps, lotions, bug spray, and salves, so it is wise not to eat it all. How do you eat lavender?
P.S. Growing Tip~plant lavender high and dry. The ideal place is the south side of your house under the roof overhang. Many lavender growers have left the Great Plains because this is not a hospitable lavender growing environment. I’ve had the best luck with grosso lavender, but it is tricky to find. Harvest the lavender before the flower bud opens and hang them in small bundles to dry.
P.P.S. After you remove the dried lavender flowers buds from the stem, bundle the stems to make fire starter hostess gifts.
