Aliʻi Kula Lavender
Culinary Lavender
Every other month or so, the airlines have been competing with $19 inter-island flights. There's little excuse to stay home at that price. On a recent trip to the Big Island, Junko brought me back a tin of culinary lavender from the Aliʻi Kula Lavender farm in the shadow of Haleakala.
The color is light green with tips the muted purple of old ladies. The aroma is surprisingly intense, like a field of lavender on my countertop. Now I just need to figure how to cook with it. Ideas?
Update: I've come up with a great lavender shortbread recipe. Thanks for the idea, Reid.
I have a can myself and use it to make scones, just a little goes a long way though, too much can make things taste bitter :)
I love the Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm and use many of their products. I use the lavender (just a small amount) in almost anything to make it interesting. You could even put some on a salad (again, just a small amount), on ice cream, in yogurt, in bread, on meat---you name it!
Kat, I don't suppose you have a recipe you can share? Sounds tasty, but I don't bake scones often enough to feel comfortable improvising.
Olivia, I'd have never thought of some of those combinations. Thanks for the ideas. You've started me thinking...
I've emailed you a couple that I've tried :) Enjoy!
Got it, thanks!
Alan,
I haven't used lavender in a while, but you can use it to make sorbet with either grapefruit or lemon. You can also use it to flavor salts and sugars and it can be quite interesting when used to season chicken (use in similar fashion to rosemary). My favorite lavender dessert is lavender shortbread. I haven't made it myself, but I can try to get the recipe from the girl at work who does.
How lucky of you to receive such a gift! I've used it in scones and shortbread before (a little goes a long way!), but the Honolulu Advertiser just ran an article today on using it in an herb butter.
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070404/LIFE02/704040348/1083/LIFE
Reid, I'm a big fan of sorbets, so I'll have to try that. I'm starting my lavender sugar right now. Thanks for the tip. If you do get that shortbread recipe, please share!
Embla, thanks for the pointer. What convenient timing.
make a batch of sugar cookies add some lavender to the recipe at the end ( dont over mix) and dont use to mush they are great . really good for stressful days
Sheila, thanks for the idea. It's a new idea to me to combine baking and aromatherapy.