Lavender Honey Popsicles + a (funny) 'lavender' story

From Rachel's Kitchen:

I had some cooking lavender left and felt inspired to do

a lavender rendition of popsicles in my Zoku pop maker

(this thing is the best!)

Quick funny side story and then on to the recipe...

I thought the pops turned out delicious 

and sent Mom what I deemed a lovely photo of one,

which you can see below.

She replied (via text)

"Eww, looks like bugs!"

When I responded "What?! That's not nice!!!"

She replied, "Nooo, remember what Dad said about your lavender soap?"

...and ofcourse I instantly started laughing

because it brought a really funny story flooding back!

(P.S She's got a good memory because I didn't know what she 

was talking about at first.)

The Cliff Notes version is my dad was staying over my apartment one summer. 

He wanted to wash up before dinner and took a shower while I 

finished preparing dinner.

He comes out in a towel and I asked "How was your shower?"

He goes "It was nice, but you had some bugs on your soap!"

I was preoccupied cooking so it took a second to sink in.

I finally process what he said and look at him with a puzzled face.

Me: Bugs?

Dad: Yeah, you had these little bugs on your soap.

Don't worry, I scraped them off for you!

Me (laughing): WHAT?! What bugs?!

Dad: Seriously. 

Me: Dad, what are you talking about?

Dad: C'mere, I'll show you!

[Proceeds to lead me into the bathroom and grabs my soap 

from the shower caddy.]

He proudly presents my soap like a trophy,

with these deep nail divots throughout

(where he "scraped the bugs off") --

like he saved me from some disgusting fate

during my next shower.

Me: [Looks of horror]

"Dad, what did you do to my soap?"

Dad: There were bugs stuck all over the top.

I got them off for you!

Me: Dad! Those weren't bugs, they were lavender petals.

I just bought that French lavender soap at a fancy shop 

in the Hamptons! You ruined it!

Dad: Oops. Sorry they looked like bugs!

...I guess I owe you a new one?

[End Scene]

Can't believe my Mom remembered that...

but that story will definitely go down as a classic.

The time my Dad destroyed my lavender soap

because it had 'bugs all over it'.

MEN: Stick to what you know

(and a lavender soap might be saved!)

Well, as you can imagine - I won't be offering him

any of my lavender popsicles!

Here's the recipe: Yields 4 Pops

• 1 TBSP cooking lavender (purchase at health food store)
• 1 Cup Milk (2% - but whole or half/half is better)
• 2 TSP fresh honey (wildflower is best, but clover will do)
• 1 Cup (Honey or Plain Flavored Greek Yogurt)
• Lavender Petals (for garnish only)
• Red + Blue Food Dye (to make purple - just 1 drop of each should do!)
• Strainer

1. Heat one cup of milk with the cooking lavender. You can use a tea diffuser or just leave the lavender floating in the milk and then strain it out. Do not let boil, just continue stirring until heated through. Take off burner and let lavender steep for 5 minutes to create a "lavender milk".
2. Strain lavender out and whisk in honey until liquified. Add food coloring (I didn't have blue so I used more red and less green dye and it didn't turn out half bad! Improvise people!) Let cool in either a refrigerator for 20 min or a freezer for 10 min. 
3. Once cool, stir in Greek yogurt to give a thicker consistency. I suggest stirring in yogurt a little at a time to make sure it doesn't become too thick that its not pourable into the mold.
4. Pour into Zoku maker and freeze for 15 minutes - remove using pop remover tool and store in Zoku pop case. Add remaining mixture to one additional mold and freeze another 15 minutes.

You can obviously use other popsicle molds, I just know they take way longer to freeze.

You may also be wondering why if I have a 3 pop maker, 

why I don't fill the additional 2 molds on the second round to make 6!

 The reason is its just my roommate and I and we like to have 1 or 2 each,

and then move on to a new flavor...

however if you have friends over or kids, make as many as you like!

xo

Summer of Lemonade

Welcome back to my blog and apologies for my absence.

I am going to get back to posting more regularly 

and to kick summer off right -

I am going to be posting a weekly lemonade recipe

for the entirety of the summer. 

Each will start with this basic lemonade base

and build from there.

Most recipes will make 10-12 cups,

but vary by type.

Classic Lemonade:

* 1 1/2 cups lemon juice

* 1/4 cup sugar

* 5 cups water

Then add....

Watermelon Lemonade: Week #1

*Classic Lemonade

* 5 cups fresh watermelon juice

Raspberry Peach Lemonade: Week #2

*Classic Lemonade

* 3 Peaches (juiced)
* 1 Container of Fresh Raspberries (muddled)

Pineapple Lemonade: Week #3

*Classic Lemonade

* 1 Cup Pineapple Juice
* Squeeze of Lime

Mint Lime-Ade: Week #4

*Classic Lemonade

* 1 1/2 Cups Fresh Lime Juice
(Sub for Lemon in Classic Recipe)
* Few Sprigs of Garden Mint

Honey Lavender: Week #5

*Classic Lemonade (make this batch with no sugar)

* 2 Teaspoons honey
* Lavender Simple Syrup

Lavender Simple Syrup:
Combine 1/4 cup sugar with 1/4 cup water.
 Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
 Steep 2 tablespoons fresh lavender
 (use loose tea diffuser if you have,
if not, you can strain when finished)
 in hot simple syrup for 15 minutes.

        Enjoy,

From Rachel's Kitchen: Lemon Garlic Spaghetti

This recipe is delicious and easy to make,

so I'm passing it along [!] 

You're welcome.

Lemon Garlic Spaghetti:

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1. 4 oz. whole wheat spaghetti
2. 1/4 cup grated parmesan
3. 2 tsp olive oil
4. 3 cloves garlic
5. 1/2 lemon
6. 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts
7. 5-6 basil leaves, chiffonaded

Directions:

1. Salt some water and bring it to a boil. I always break my spaghetti in half, its easier to cook, plate, and eat. When it comes to a boil, add you spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes (8 min for more al dente). 
2. While that is cooking, add your olive oil and finely chopped garlic (I used a food processor for less work) to a pan, lightly browning. As soon as the garlic begins to brown, turn off the heat and put the pan aside.

Saute garlic and olive oil.

3. Grate your parmesan, toast your pine nuts lightly (babysit them, they burn fast!), and chiffonade your basil leaves. Put aside.

Toast your pine nuts.

Grated parmesan, toasted pine nuts, and basil.

4. Once your pasta is ready, drain and add to a big mixing bowl. Add your parmesan, pine nuts, basil, and garlic/olive oil mix and toss. Squeeze a half lemon over the top, mixing well.

5. Plate and serve, while warm. :)

Pine nuts, basil, parmesan, lemon, garlic, olive oil- in one heavenly mix.

Dinner is served.

Yup, you caught me having another blueberry mojito with dinner. :)

I can't help it, they are so delicious.

xo,

Rach