Culinary Lavender

Cooking with flower buds is not something I normally do but I wanted to explore culinary lavender for sweet and savory uses.

I started by making infused sugar.  This couldn't be easier.  A cup of granulated sugar and a tablespoon of culinary lavender buds whirled in a food processor will yield an extremely fragrant, superfine sugar.  This sugar can be used in baking or in place of normal granulated sugar when you want a boost of floral flavor.

SWEET RECIPE

Scones dough ready for the oven.

I found an awesome scone recipe that called for lavender buds.  In addition I used my lavender infused sugar in place of regular granulated sugar. 

I couldn't wait to bite into my fresh from the oven scone.  Not only did it smell fantastic, it was flaky, buttery, tender and oh so flavorful. 

Hubby was amazed at the fragrance when he walked in the door several hours later.  The house smelled fantastic from the baked lavender.

This recipe is one you really should try.  The scones would be awesome for for Easter or any other spring celebration.  Click here for the recipe.  My suggestions would be to use the lavender infused sugar for the regular granulated sugar.  Cut in the butter with knives or a pastry blender rather than rubbing with your finger.  The dough will be less tough.  The recipe suggests serving with lemon curd which I agree would be delicious.  I ate mine warm with a bit of butter.  You can't miss serving this with Earl Grey tea.

SAVORY RECIPE

Lavender-thyme braised chicken 

I decided to try two chicken recipes using culinary lavender.  This recipe for boneless chicken breasts is by Mark Bittman.  It is lightning fast, cooking in about 12 minutes on top of the stove.  Besides chicken, the ingredients are olive oil, garlic, thyme, lavender buds and riesling wine.  I would caution you to adhere to the stated  cooking time.  I would also suggest using thin rather than thick boneless breasts.  Over cooking will yield tough chicken.  

The chicken is subtly flavorful and aromatic.  I served it with mashed red skin potatoes and green beans topped with pistachio oil and chopped pistachios.  This is a lovely, quick dinner with lavender being a surprise flavor.  

ready for the oven Honey, lemon and lavender-marinated roasted chicken

Recipe two roasts in the oven after a marinade in honey, lemon juice and zest, garlic,crushed lavender buds and olive oil.

Not real pretty in the roasting pan but WOW, the aroma and the flavor of this chicken was outstanding. I used boneless chicken thighs.  They were tender and succulent and so ambrosial.  The flavors are in perfect harmony: just the right combination of sweet honey, tangy lemon and floral lavender.  Click here for the recipe.

* This recipe would be perfect for feeding a crowd.  Make a big roasting pan of these boneless chicken thighs and you will be a "rock star".  How perfect would this chicken be for Easter?  

So where else does dried lavender show up in cooking?  

It is one of the many herbs in Herbes de Provence, used to flavor meat, fish, poultry and vegetables.  Also great in a omelet with gruyere cheese! 

Herbes de Provence includes:

 dried thyme

 dried marjoram

 dried summer savory

 dried rosemary

 dried tarragon

 dried basil

 dried fennel seeds

 dried chervil

 dried mint

 dried lavender flowers

 How can you use lavender infused sugar?  

Lavender meringue cookies

Lavender shortbread

Sweeten oatmeal

Lavender, white chocolate pots de creme

Lavender ice cream

Use to sweeten iced tea and lemonade

Boil equal parts water and lavender sugar to make simple syrup for cocktails

Roasted pears with blackberries and ricotta

Toss with pears before roasting

Spring Cleaning with Magic Erasers

If you've got to clean, why not use a product that really does the job?  

I've used Magic Erasers with great success to clean the marks off walls and baseboards and to clean the bathtub.  The erasers will remove crayon, Sharpie, grease and nail polish.

                                    Source: household-tips.thefuntimesguide.com via Karen on Pinterest

 I was checking out Pinterest and noticed one of my sister's pins for Magic Erasers.  This tip is to put a "slice" of Magic Eraser in the toilet overnight and when you wake up, no more toilet ring!

Outdoors:

Clean the cruddy inside of coolers, 

and get the nasty stains off outdoor furniture, boats, aluminum and plastic siding as well as window sills.

In the kitchen:

Clean your oven and shelves.  Clean the greasy hood over your stove.

Remove tarnish from silver.

Use the eraser to remove coffee and tea stains from cups and mugs. 

For a longer list of what Magic Erasers can do, click here.   What are your success stories with these cleaning gems?

POPSUGAR Must Have Box

 Yesterday I received my March "Must Have Box".  My blogging friend, Elle, blogged about her subscription to POPSUGAR Must Have Boxes and I was intrigued and subscribed.

March Must Have Box

Each box is $35 and has a value of at least $100.  This is similar to the Bespoke Post Box of Awesome that my husband subscribes to and I posted about here.

I was excited to receive a 16oz bottle of concentrated Delicate Wash from The Laundress.  This retails for $19.  I've heard a lot about The Laundress and I look forward to trying this product.

I've read about Buxom products and a new beauty product is always welcome. ($19)

To prevent wardrobe malfunctions, some Fashion Tape and a Sweater Saver to remove pills from sweaters, tights, etc. ($11 total)

Heather Belle tassel necklace is supposedly the cornerstone of the box but I can't find it on line.  Peeps!  Love them (about $1) The New Black nail polish twin pack ($10) not my colors but I'll find someone who likes them.

Cockatoo corkscrew ($16.)  Love this!  Cute and sturdy.  

How do I feel about my box?  For my $35, I got products that are valued at more than that. The only thing I won't use is the nail polish.  I've been introduced to new products that I look forward to trying.  AND I had a pleasant surprise on a rainy Monday.  Click here to visit the POPSUGAR website and sign up for a box for yourself.

Styling a Fireplace Mantle

I've been searching Pinterest and blogs for ideas to style our fireplace mantle.

Source: designsponge.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I am totally enamored by fireplaces in French apartments.  The high ceilings, parquet floors and beautiful trim add to the allure.

Source: elledecor.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I seem to be drawn to mantles that feature a mirror.  

January / February 2013 - Lonny Magazine - Lonny

And then the decor is layered in front of the mirror, lavishly, 

Source: habituallychic.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

or as in this case, dramatically austere.

I was inspired by this mantle in the Parisan apartment we rented over the Christmas holidays.

I've never been quite satisfied with the look of our fireplace mantle.  The condo builder just built a box around the gas insert.  We added a granite top but I never really knew how to style the mantle.  The French poster was something I owned and it fit so it rested on the mantle for several years.  I would change the other decor seasonally.

What I really wanted was a mirror...just like the French mantles I admired.  I finally found the right size mirror, with a style that made me happy.  I added an antique urn with a plant, a tall, brushed metal vase for flowering branches and several pieces of raku pottery that I collected.

I love the way the mirror makes the space feel brighter and bigger and reflects the loft.  It certainly is a work in progress but I think I'm on the right path.  

I'd love your input.

Spring Ahead

Loosing an hour of sleep this weekend is a small price to pay for an extra hour of daylight.

Daylights saving time means the first day of spring is coming soon.

Pick up some pretty spring flowers this weekend for a mood boost.  

Here are a few other items to bring thoughts of spring into your home.

Think spring by spiralstyle 

Happy Weekend  

Speculoos/Speculaas

Are you familiar with the spicy, crispy, sugar cookie know as speculaas, or maybe you know them as speculoos?

Speculaas, as they are known in the Netherlands, are traditionally served on the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas, December 5.  Speculaas is from the Latin, speculum which means mirror.  Traditionally the cookies are made with an image in a mold, such as the windmill shape design. 

You may know them as the  flavor of those wildly popular cookies they offer on Delta flights.

Or perhaps you are familiar with the Dutch windmill cookies.

Trader Joe sells a product known as Speculoos Cookie Butter.  The last time I was in the store I asked for a taste.  OMG!!!  This stuff is to die for.  I didn't by it because it would be like having "crack" in the house.  The sweet cookie butter would be amazing as the filling in sandwich cookies, on ice cream, as a dip for pretzels or by the spoonful straight from the jar.

Cinnamon, cloves and ginger are classic flavorings in these spicy cookies but some recipes also include mace, nutmeg, white pepper, or cardamom.  Recipes may or may not include almonds.  

Not having molds, I rolled my cookie dough and used a small, scallop shaped cookie cutter to form my cookies. 

Baked on parchment paper, these cookie dough rounds do not spread.

The cookies are baked at 350 degrees F for about 11 minutes and are crispy when cooled.  I used the Dorie Greenspan recipe which you can view here.  This recipe includes more spices.  Here is a Martha Stewart recipe.

There is no need to wait for the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas to enjoy these cookies.  

Book Suggestion: Me Before You

I just finished reading Me Before You, by JoJo Moyes.  Once again my friend, Suzanne,  gave me a book recommendation and I highly endorse her suggestion.  This book has been high on the best seller charts in the UK and MGM has secured the film rights.  

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes at Amazon

"Me Before You" tells the story of two very different characters: Lou, a small town girl caught between dead-end jobs and Will, a high-profile, successful man who becomes wheelchair bound following an accident. Will has decided his life is not worth living until Lou is hired for six months to be his new caretaker. Worlds apart and trapped together by circumstance, the two get off to a rocky start. But, Lou becomes determined to prove to Will that life is worth living and as they embark on a series of adventures together, each finds their world changing in ways neither of them could begin to imagine. (synopsis)

This is a story of hopelessness, desperation, bravery and love.  You may chuckle, you may have a good cry.  You will not want to put the book down.  I loved the book and highly recommend that you read this book SOON.  Thanks again, Suzanne, for a wonderful suggestion.