Guest Writer – Alexis Bonari

We are extremely happy to be able to have Alexis guest writing for us. She blogs for onlinedegrees.org and as you will be able to see through her writing she is rather passionate about food. Well ! This is what it is all about ! Food lovers coming together from all around ! Hope you enjoy Alexis post !And please do take the time to visit her writings (link below).

HAPPY FOODING !!!

Culinary Lavender: Ease, Versatility, and Phenomenal Flavor

It might seem like a gastronomic faux pas to serve up flowers, but chefs across America are discovering the benefits of cooking with lavender. As chefs incorporate herb gardens into their restaurants, lavender’s popularity is increasing. Lavender is easy to grow and care for, can act as both a flavorful ingredient and an aesthetic garnish, and has a wide range of flavors that emerge with different preparations and pairings.

Taking It Easy

Lavender is an easily acquired ingredient, but comes with a caveat: it must have a culinary label for use in the kitchen. In A Taste of Lavender: Delectable Treats with an Exotic Floral Flavor, author Gloria Hander Lyons recommends the fresh and easy solution of growing it in an herb garden or even in a pot on the back porch to avoid pesticides and label-checking. Seeds or plants can be purchased at most garden supply stores. Lyons advocates English lavender as the sweetest variety most common in cooking, but experimenting with different types can be rewarding for the adventurous chef. It’s also important to keep in mind that, should a recipe call for dried lavender, chefs multiply the measurement by three to arrive at the amount of fresh lavender required.

How to Prepare Lavender for Cooking

If lavender is being harvested from a garden, it’s best to wait until just before a meal is being served to harvest the flowers. They should be thoroughly rinsed and gently dried just prior to incorporation. To create lavender infusions, chefs steep flower buds in milk, water, cream, or sugar syrups, then use a strainer to remove the buds once their flavor has soaked in. Another lavender preparation method is grinding, using a coffee grinder or fine food processor to create flavor that can be mixed into dry ingredients like sugar.

The Many Flavors of Lavender

The floral flavor of lavender blends especially well with citrus, while the herbal taste blends with basil, sage, oregano, and rosemary to create a fresh and delicious mixture that makes for an effective meat rub. Seasonal flavors tend to blend well with one another, so spring and summer fruits are complementary lavender pairings. Even beverages, such as tea and lemonade, can benefit from a boost of lavender flavor.

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at onlinedegrees.org, researching areas of online degree programs.

http://www.onlinedegrees.org

In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

(post and photo were all contributed by Alexis Bonari) and we thank her for it