Lavender Mimosa Jam

Here's a recipe to make this great brunch cocktail syrup!

1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup chopped fresh peaches
1 cup champagne
1-3 Tbsp honey (depending on your sweet tooth)
1 Tbsp fresh lavender, chopped
1/2 vanilla bean, split

Place raspberries, peaches, champagne, and honey in the blender, mix. Place this into a sauce pan, adding the lavender and vanilla. Bring everything to a boil, lower the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to cool, then strain.

Mix 1 ounce of this yummy, brunch-y jam to every 3 ounces of champagne, and you'll have yourself a cocktail that will make you forget it's Sunday morning.

xo,
Brit

Lavender 101

All types of lavender grow well here in the Texas hill country. I actually have thirty (that's three-zero) in my xeriscaped front yard - and I must say, they are absolutely thriving. But lavender will fit in with any outdoor gardening, no matter what the style.

Not only is lavender beautiful, it's also delicious. Provence lavender in particular is great for culinary purposes. To give you some ideas on what direction to go with that little fact, here are some foods that lavender pairs well with:

Almonds
Apples
Baked goods
Berries
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cheese, ricotta
Cherries
Chicken
Cream and ice cream
Crème fraîche
Currants, black
Custards
Duck
Figs
Fruit and fruit preserves
Ginger
Honey
Lamb
Lemon
Lemonade
Marjoram
Mascarpone
Mint
Orange
Oregano
Parsley
Peaches
Pistachios
Plums
Pork
Potatoes
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Rice
Rosemary
Spearment
Strawberries
Sugar
Tea, especially black
Thyme
Vanilla
Walnuts

Do you happen to have any of these laying around? Let me know what you have and I will be happy to customize a recipe, just for you!

Long live lavender!

xo,
Brit