Showing posts with label Lavender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lavender. Show all posts

21 September 2008

Yes, I Like Lavender. A Lot!!


How to Dry Your Home Grown Lavender


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

You can easily dry lavender flowers for use inside the home and enjoy the fragrance all year round!

Steps


  1. Get a pair of sharp garden shears and a ball of string.
  2. Cut matured lavender flowers just above the leaves, getting the longest stem possible on the flower.
  3. Without crushing the stems, tie each flower separately, close to the cut end with a long piece of string. Leave about 3/4" between each stem. This will ensure that when you hang them to dry, air will be able to circulate and that the lavender will not rot or go moldy while drying.
  4. Tie the ends of your string together to form a loop.
  5. Hang the chain of lavender, ensuring the flowers point toward the floor, in a dark dry place for about a month.
  6. Untie the lavender from your piece of string when it's dry, and use in dried flower arrangements, or chop up for potpourri.


Tips


  • Lavender can discourage moths, so hanging the lavender in your clothes cupboards will not only smell nice to you, but could also save your clothes from insect attack.
  • If you use half-hitch knots, you can re-use your piece of string numerous times.
  • Drying time is weather-dependent. If you live in a humid area, they may take longer to dry out.


Related wikiHows





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Dry Your Home Grown Lavender. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by mobang at 11:20 PM 0 comments
Labels: ,

From the Plant to the Kitchen


How to Prune and Harvest Lavender


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Pruning and harvesting lavender is easy. You don't have to be scared of killing it. It is helpful, however, to understand that pruning and harvesting aren't the same thing. Here are some handy tips for pruning and harvesting lavender with some success.

Steps



Pruning
  1. Learn to prune lavender the correct way. Cut back the green growth to within a few inches of the woody growth. Remove all the dead leaf matter, along with any stringy twigs and any other plant clutter.
  2. Wait for the new growth to appear. Do not overwater or place in direct sunlight. However, do ensure that there is adequate access to light to stimulate growth.


Harvesting
  1. Cut the lavender stems that have flowers. Do this early in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the heat of the sun draws out too much of the essential oils (you will want those intact to evoke the scent in your home).
  2. Dry the lavender in bunches or on screens.
  3. Dry and store in a cool, dark place. Some varieties are best for stems and others for flower buds.


Tips


  • The bits you have cut off can make cuttings. Put them in a tray of soil, water them occasionally, and they should grow.


Warnings


  • Watch your fingers. The sharper the secateurs, the better.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Prune and Harvest Lavender. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by mobang at 11:18 PM 0 comments
Labels: ,

These Cookies Sound Really Good!


How to Bake Lavender and Lemon Cookies


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Lavender and lemon make a delightful combination for homemade cookies. Guests will not be able to resist taking at least two.

Ingredients


  • 1 tablespoon (about 1 gram) dried lavender flowers; must be culinary suitable and chemical-free
  • 1 cup (227 grams) butter (ensure it is at room temperature)
  • 2/3 cup (67 grams) sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (4 grams) vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) lemon extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon (.5 grams) grated, fresh lemon rind (ensure lemon has been well washed)
  • 2 cups (250 grams) flour (all purpose/plain)
  • 1/8 teaspoon (.75 gram) salt
  • Frosting of choice (optional)


Steps


  1. Grind the lavender flowers. A mortar and pestle is easiest but you can also use a coffee grinder reserved only for food grinding use.
  2. Cream together ground lavender, butter, sugar, both extracts and the freshly grated lemon rind.
  3. Add flour and salt.
  4. Mix the ingredients together. Combine until dough is soft. Add a little extra flour if the dough remains sticky.
  5. Refrigerate the dough until firm. This may take 1 - 2 hours.
  6. Preheat the oven to 325ºF (165ºC) before removing dough from the fridge.
  7. Flour a clean surface, lightly, in preparation for rolling the dough.
  8. Roll dough out. A quarter of an inch (.635 cm) is an ideal thickness.
  9. Cut cookies.. You can use a cookie cutter or just make balls.
  10. Arrange on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.
  11. Bake 12 - 15 minutes. Cookies should only be lightly browned at the edges to retain delicate flavors.
  12. Remove and cool on wire racks.
  13. Frost as desired.


Tips


  • If you have purple food coloring, this can make a delightful complementary frosting for the cookies.
  • If using fresh lavender, add about twice as much.
  • If using a mortar and pestle, adding some of the sugar to the lavender may help you grind it finer.


Things You'll Need


  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Mixing spoon
  • Cookie sheet
  • Parchment or baking paper


Related wikiHows





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Bake Lavender and Lemon Cookies. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by mobang at 11:11 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)