LAVENDER, tea, jelly, syrup and ice cream

Part 2 Update:
My Seattle girls and I made a batch of lavender jelly from their garden lavender.  The color was so beautiful.  The tea was a dark purple but then when the pectin was added the color changed to this rich red.  We used raw sugar instead of white.  But I honestly don't know why the color was so different:

lavender jelly

Gabriela adding the sugar

Seattle lavender 

Let's make some jelly!

Lavender jelly is absolutely fabulous over smoked cheese or any cheese that is strong.  It's mild flavor balances out the intense flavor of the cheese.  Try this combination next time instead of figs and goat cheese:

lavender jelly and syrup

Pick the absolute best lavender buds you can find.  Fresh is best but dried will do too

Steep in water for tea

For lavender tea:

Bring to a boil 6 cups of water.  Turn off the heat and add 2 cups of fresh lavender flowers (buds) and let steep for 15 minutes or longer.  

Strain.  Now you've got lavender tea.

Lavender Jelly

Ingredients:

3 1/4 cups lavender tea

4 cups white sugar- must have white sugar for a clear jelly

1 box of powdered fruit pectin

2 Tbs white wine vinegar or lemon juice

Method:

Measure the lavender tea into a sauce pan.  

Bring to a boil and mix in pectin and vinegar (lemon juice)

Cook 1 minute at a rolling boil.

Add in the sugar, whisking to melt.

Bring to a boil again, whisking and continue for 2 minutes.

Let settle 5 minutes and skim off any foam on top.

Ready to jar for refrigerator or can.

If canning, process for 15 minutes ( plus 10 for Denver)

Lavender syrup

measure the remaining lavender tea

Add an equal measurement of sugar and bring to a boil in a saucepan. 

Your syrup is ready

ideas for syrup:

add to lemonade instead of sugar

use to sweeten tea

make ice cubes to use later

Kate and Ella

See if you can find some really sweet girls to help you make and enjoy a lavender day!

Lavender ice cream

follow this post http://messyroomstudio.blogspot.com/2011/07/garden-harvest-red-white-and-lavender.html
 from 6 years ago.  It's one of my favorites.

this week's harvest