For the Love of Lavender

As I was researching Red Rock Lavender Farms, I was amazed by the history of lavender and it’s uses over the years. The origin of lavender is believed to be from the Mediterranean Middle East and India. It’s history goes back some 2500 years. Lavender is a flowering plant of the mint family known for its beauty, its sweet floral fragrance and its multiple uses, there are 47 known species of flowering plants. Lavender plants are small evergreen shrubs with gray-green linear leaves. The flowers may be blue, violet or lilac in the wild species, occasionally blackish purple or yellowish.

In 1910 Rene-Maurice Gattefosse’ discovered the virtues of the essential oil of lavender as a perfumery plant. His discovery started his fascination with essential oils and inspired him to experiment with them during the First World War.

Lavender oil or lavender flower oil is obtained by distillation of the flowers and is used chiefly in fine perfumes and cosmetics. Lavender water is a solution of the essential oil in alcohol with other added scents. Yes, while you are at Red Rock Lavender Farms check out their Lavender Wine and culinary uses of Lavender Lemonade, Chocolate Lavender Brownies, and their Lavender Herbes de Provence. Culinary Lavender is usually English lavender, the most commonly grown species in cooking. As an aromatic, it has a sweet fragrance with lemon or citrus notes. It is used as a spice or condiment in pastas, salads, dressings, and desserts. For most cooking applications the dried buds, which are also referred to as flowers, are used. Lavender buds can amplify both sweet and savory flavors in dishes, such as baked goods and desserts, pairing especially well with chocolate. Wherever lavender is used in food preparation it extends beyond its familiar fragrance to a rich yet delicate flavor in a host of recipes only limited by the imagination.

Cooking with Lavender (Culinary Lavender)

Lavender Lemonade - Measure 1 Tbsp. dried Culinary Lavender into ½ cup boiling water. Remove from heat and steep about 30 minutes, strain liquid, discard the buds. Cool Lavender infused water. Mix a large can of frozen pink lemonade according to package instructions less ½ cup of water and replace with up to ½ cup of lavender infused water. Mix well and serve chilled.

Chocolate Lavender Brownies - One package brownie mix 2 tsp dried Culinary Lavender. Place the lavender buds in a spice or coffee grinder with a tiny bit of brownie mix. Pulse until the lavender is finely ground. Add the dry brownie mix and blend well then follow the directions on the brownie mix package. There are also many uses for lavender stems and leaves. Do not waste any part of your precious lavender plants. The florets are where most of the perfume and flavor reside, but the spikes/stems and leaves are also edible and fragrant. Use your lavender stems as skewers. Thread cherry tomatoes, and easy to skewer ingredients: basil leaves, cheese, cold cuts, cooked shrimp, cooked meatballs to name a few, cover and let rest for 30 minutes or more to allow a fragrant lavender infusion to transfer from the spikes/stems into your savory ingredients. Sprinkle savory items with a blend of Lavender Herbs de Provence for another taste treat. You can also thread seasonal berries, melon balls, bananas, grapes and easy to skewer sweet ingredients: marshmallows, mini brownies, cookie dough balls to name a few. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes or more to allow a fragrant lavender infusion to transfer from the spikes/stems into your sweet ingredients. For a beautiful presentation, leave the lavender flowers attached to the stem before threading as skewers.

Other uses for lavender flower spikes are dried flower arrangements. The fragrant pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in potpourris. Lavender is also used as herbal filler inside sachets used to freshen linens. Dried and sealed in pouches, lavender flowers are placed among stored items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance and to deter moths. Dried lavender flowers may be used for wedding confetti. Lavender is also used in scented waters and sachets. Lavender was introduced into England in the 1600’s and it is said that Queen Elizabeth prized a lavender conserve (jam) at her table, so lavender was produced as a jam at that time, as well as used in teas for its taste. It has been said that lavender is known to restore balance and create a peaceful atmosphere of a calm and relaxing affect.

In closing, come out and visit us in Concho during our local Lavender Festival Thursday, June 17th through Sunday, June 20th and Thursday, June 24th through Sunday, June 27th. I will be out there checking out the culinary dishes and spices, and yes, I cannot wait to try lavender wine. See you there.

Pat Barry is a local insurance agent. You can send your questions and concerns about Medicare plans, products and regulations to pbarrymedicare@ gmail.com or call 520-404-4170 cell, 928-532-1797 Medicare Made Easy. https://www.facebook.com/ medicaremadeeasypatbarry