It’s that time of year again: Lavender is budding and
blooming in the lower elevations, and preparing to burst forth in the
foothills. The bees are delirious with joy and drunk with pollen.
It’s time for the aromatherapy class I teach to take their
field trip to The Lavender Farm in Lincoln next month, or perhaps at the
beginning of July, depending upon when plants are in full bloom and
distillation of essential oils begins. I’d love for them to witness a lavender
distillation (especially Lavandula
angustifolia, also known as English lavender). Lesa Hertel, of The Lavender
Farm, will demonstrate distillation techniques, teach us how to make wreaths
and wands, and tell us the history of her farm.
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Shh! Here’s a secret recipe for Lavender Shortbread
Cookies. I am baking some today to take to this Wednesday’s Aromatherapy
certification class at Sutter Downtown Hospital in Sacramento, CA. (We are studying Essential Oil
Safety this month.) Unless they read this blog, or unless you spill the beans,
it should be a nice little surprise treat. Here’s the recipe for you to try:
Honey Lavender Shortbread
Makes 30 cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour (or unbleached white)
¾ tsp salt (sea salt)
½ tsp baking powder
1 TBsp dried or fresh lavender buds
6 oz unsalted butter (organic), softened
2 TBsp honey
½ cup confectioner’s sugar (organic)
Procedure:
1. Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and lavender in a
medium bowl.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, honey, and
sugar in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
3. Spoon dough out onto a large rectangle of parchment
paper to form a log. Transfer dough to refrigerator and chill until firm, about
1-2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with
parchment paper. Cut the log of dough into ½ inch slices. Place the slices on
sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart, and bake 8 minutes, or until light
golden brown.
The recipe is from
www.seriouseats.com/recipes . The author obtained it from chef Tina Casaceli at
Milk and Cookies Bakery in West Village, Manhattan. (Suggestions in parentheses
in the recipe are mine.)
Another way to enjoy lavender:
