Lavender-Infused Lemonade
This cool beverage is fragrant with summer lavender.
Ingredients:
Small handful lavender flowers, rinsed and cut from stem
1 cup sugar
2 cups boiling water
2-3 cups ice water
1½ cups freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Method:
1. Place lavender flowers in a medium bowl. Pour the sugar over the flowers and use your fingers to gently rub the flowers into the sugar. Pour the boiling water over the lavender sugar and stir with a spoon until the sugar has melted. Cover and let infuse for 30 minutes (or up to several hours).
2. Strain the lavender-infused simple syrup and pour into a serving carafe or pitcher. Stir in the lemon juice. Add another two cups of water. Taste and adjust for tartness. Add more lemon juice if too sweet, or add more sugar if too tart. Add ice and more water to desired level of concentration.
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Anise Hyssop Lemonade
Sweetened with an anise hyssop simple syrup, this lemonade is incredibly fragrant.
Ingredients:
1 cup anise hyssop simple syrup (recipe follows)
1 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
2-3 cups water
Anise Hyssop Simple Syrup
1 handful (about 20 leaves) anise hyssop
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Method:
1. To make simple syrup, combine ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Once boiling, remove from heat and allow to steep for 30 minutes. Strain anise hyssop solids, and chill syrup until ready to mix lemonade.
2. In a pitcher, pour lemon juice and anise hyssop syrup, adding in 2-3 cups water to taste. Refrigerate and serve over ice with additional sliced lemons.
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Sparkling Spearmint Lemonade
This fizzy concoction is pure bliss when enjoyed on a warm afternoon.
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup packed spearmint leaves, stems removed
1 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Ice
Club soda or sparkling water
Method:
1. To make mint simple syrup, combine sugar, water, and mint leaves in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Immediately reduce heat and allow to simmer for 2 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Strain the leaves.
3. To assemble the lemonade, add 1 ounce each of simple syrup and lemon juice to a tall glass filled with ice. Top with about 6 ounces of club soda or sparkling water. Stir. Garnish with fresh mint.
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Calendula-Infused Herbal Oil
You can use this oil in salad dressings, or even as an ingredient in salves, massage oils, lip balms, creams, and lotions.
Ingredients:
Calendula flowers
Olive oil
Method:
1. Fill a glass canning jar â…” of the way full with dried calendula flowers. If using fresh calendula, wilt for 12 hours to remove most of the moisture (too much moisture will cause the oil to go rancid) before adding to the jar.
2. Pour olive oil into the jar, making sure to cover the flowers by at least one inch with oil so they will have space to expand. Stir well and cap the jar tightly.
3. Place the jar in a warm, sunny windowsill and shake once or more daily. After about a week, strain the herbs out using cheesecloth. Pour the infused oil into glass bottles and store in a cool, dark place.
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Meyer Lemon & Thyme-Infused Olive Oil
A wonderful gift for family, friends and neighbors!
Ingredients:
1-2 cups high-quality olive oil
Small bundle of fresh thyme stems (leaves still attached), thoroughly washed and dried
Rind of 1 Meyer lemon
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan.
2. Add the thyme stems and lemon rind and allow to steep several minutes in the oil (oil temperature should be 180°).
3. Cool, strain the oil of thyme and lemon and then pour into a resealable container until ready to use.
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Roasted Garlic, Three Ways
The Hungry Mouse blog shares favorite ways to enjoy this essential aromatic ingredient: roasted, in compound butter and as an infused oil.
Ingredients:
Whole heads of garlic
8 tablespoons butter
Olive oil
Method:Â
1. Roasted: Preheat oven to 350°. Cut head(s) off of garlic about half-inch from the top, set trimmed head(s) in baking dish. (You may discard tips, or toss them into the baking dish—just keep an eye on them during roasting as these small pieces burn more easily.) Drizzle garlic with a generous swig of olive oil, seeping oil down into the head(s). Cover dish with aluminum foil, roast for 30-45 minutes until garlic is a deep caramel color and soft. Remove cloves from skin with sharp paring knife.
2. Compound Butter: Cut a stick of butter into small pieces and set in a bowl to soften. Once soft, add in mashed roasted garlic and mix together with a fork. (For 1 stick of butter, add the equivalent of half head of roasted garlic. Feel free to play with this ratio for stronger—or more subtle—versions!) Refrigerate until ready for use. Use to make garlic bread, stir it into mashed potatoes or to garnish a grilled steak.
3. Infused Oil: Set strainer over a small bowl. Take baking pan with extra olive oil and garlic skins and strain into bowl, pressing garlic skins with a spoon to squeeze out any and all extra oil. Keep garlic-infused oil in the fridge, use within one week.
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Sage-Infused Butter
The perfect finishing touch for al dente pasta!
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons fresh sage leaves, coarsely torn
¼ cup butter
Method:
1. In a small skillet, melt butter with sage leaves, swirling to coat. Bring to light simmer, turn off heat and allow to cool slightly. Remove leaves and toss infused butter with pasta.
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Scrambled Eggs with Pepperoncini Asiago
Infuse your morning eggs with a spicy kick courtesy of pepperoncini-kissed cheese.
Ingredients:
6 eggs
¼ cup cream or milk
½ cup grated pepperoncini Asiago cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
1 cup loosely-packed chopped spinach leaves (optional)
Diced scallions for garnish
Method:
1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and cream. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, adding a touch of butter or oil. Pour in eggs and cook until just set, stirring occasionally.
3. Add chopped spinach (if using), then cheese; stir to combine, allowing spinach to wilt slightly. Season with more salt and pepper as needed and top with diced scallion.
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How-To: Brine Your Thanksgiving Turkey
Soaking a turkey overnight in a solution of salt and water ensures a moist, juicy interior; beautiful aromatics infuse it with flavor.
(Makes enough for one 17-20 pound turkey)
Ingredients:
7 quarts water
Farm & Larder brine mix
1 bottle dry white wine
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves
1 bouquet garni (a bundle of dried herbs, such as this week’s thyme and rosemary, plus sage)
Tools:
5-gallon brining container (tub, stockpot, or bucket)
Large brining bag (included in your brining kit)
Method:
1. One day before roasting the turkey, bring 1 quart water and the brine mixture to a simmer, stirring until salt has dissolved. Let cool for 5 minutes.
2. To minimize cleanup, line a 5-gallon container with the brining bag. Place turkey in the bag and add salt mixture, remaining 6 quarts (24 cups) water, and the other ingredients. Tie bag tightly; if turkey is not fully submerged, weight it down with a plate. Refrigerate for 24 hours, flipping turkey once. (If there isn’t room in your refrigerator, place the turkey inside a cooler, and surround it with ice, replenishing as necessary to keep it at 40 degrees).
3. Remove turkey from brine one hour before roasting, and pat it dry inside and out. Let stand for up to an hour before roasting it to your preferred recipe’s specifications.
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Grilled Carrots
Brushed with our signature grill rub, these carrots are infused with smoky-sweet flavor.
Ingredients:
1 bunch carrots, trimmed of greens, then peeled and cut in half lengthwise
2-3 tablespoons F&L house-blend dry rub
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt
Freshly-chopped herbs of your choice, such as parsley, oregano and tarragon
Method:
1. Place carrots on a sheet pan and brush them lightly with olive oil on both sides. Season liberally with the dry rub.
2. Preheat the grill to medium-high and then place the carrots directly on grill or in a grill basket. Grill until crisp-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally during cooking.
3. Remove the carrots to a plate, sprinkle with salt and fresh herbs. Serve immediately.
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