Friday, June 09, 2006

Lavender Syrup




When the Lavender is fresh I make syrup. It is so easy and fun to do. Any herb can be used.







Q's Basic Herb Syrup

2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup fresh herb leaves



Put sugar and herbs in water and stir.
Heat just to boil.
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Strain into sterile bottle.
Put a cork or top on bottle.
Refrigerate




I use a tea strainer and a small funnel to bottle up the syrup.




The syrup is nice to sweeten limeades, lemonades, iced teas and iced coffees.
Nice on ice cream too!



I am running an experiment with the lavender blossoms. Since they are full of sweet syrup after they are strained I am trying to dry them. I think they may be very delicious as a lavender candy. I placed them on parchment paper and than onto a platter and placed them out on the deck. I thought they would need air flow without too much heat. I left them over night. I tasted one this morning and it is yummy.











5 comments:

Saucy said...

I have never tasted lavender before, only used it in my laundry. Is it sweet or savory?

Q said...

Lavender is sweet! Nice as a tea too. I use lavender for so many things. As I make things this year I will post. It is lovely in the laundry! The ironing spray I make is so simple, just distilled water and lavender blossoms. I steep it, like tea, and strain into my spray bottle. Keeps nice too.

Q said...

Glad you are enjoying the lavender things. The syrup is really good using mint and rose too. If you use the rose petals make sure they are chemical free and take off the lowers part of the petals as they are bitter!

Q said...

I have never put up jams or jellies. It would be fun!
I would think frozen berries would work just fine.
As a child I used to enjoy cinnamon toast as a snack!
I am working on trying to find a way to grow more berries. The yard is 100x150 feet, has the house and the driveway and the walkways, that take up some growing space.
I do have a nice expanse across the front that is beckoning to be a low hedge.
I will grow more blueberries next year. The dwarf plants are easy to slip into a flower bed.
Maybe I can research berries and see if I can find another that would be hardy for that, across the front spot!
Oh, I just remembered. The syrups can be made with fruit juice too instead of water!

Q said...

Glad to know it can be made with dried herbs too. I have only done it with fresh. It is a basic recipe and knowing the variations is ever so nice. Thank you, Sprite.
Daughters are delighful. Yours sounds as if she is as charming as her mother!
Hope she feels better soon.