A Lavender Tea Party

Just when the forsythias started to bud, cold, damp weather returned. I hope it was prettier, and warmer, in your neck of the woods.

"It's the coldest winter on record," said Dr. Big, who keeps up with that sort of thing. While he went out hunting and gathering,

I stayed indoors and played with food.

I "made" a blackberry lavender cake.

"What do you think?" I asked Dr. Big.

"It's different," he said. When he saw my face fall, he quickly added, "I'm sure it's real stylish to have flowers growing out the top of a cake. Awww, it's pretty."

I asked if he wanted to be my FF tester. He thought a minute and said. "Well, what I really want is soup, babe. Then cake."

It's a deal, Big Guy.

While the Campbell's heated, I garnished deli muffins with culinary lavender and (prolly not edible) flowers from yesterday's tablescape. Martha Stewart, I ain't, but we do get fed.


A sunflower symbolizes that it will eventually be warm (maybe the Endless Summer is coming?).

Are these muffins or Easter bonnets?

Lemon poppy seed muffins or a meadow after a spring rain?

No doubt about this one--dried lavender sprinkled on praline-pecan muffins.


Lavender butter adds a subtle layer of flavor for tea breads, and it's simple to prepare.

A light touch is recommended with dried lavender, as it can be bitter. In fact, you might want to start with 1/2 teaspoon of lavender, work it into the butter, and see if you need more. 1 T is for a large tub of butter.

It goes without saying that if you are buying lavender make sure it has never been treated with pesticides and can be used for culinary purposes.

I have a small lavender garden in the backyard, and I'm looking forward to making shortbread and other goodies.
I'm joining Cindy at her beautiful blog, My Romantic Home for Show and Tell.

I'm linking to Jan's Second Tea Party at Bellacasa to celebreate all things tea related. I love her pot!


I am also joining Tootsie at Fertilizer Friday. If you want to learn about gardening, this is THE place to go. Without Tootsie's advice, all my knockout roses would be six feet under!

If you are participating in this week's Foodie Friday, Mr. Linky awaits your recipe. Be sure to check out the details for the Food Photography Contest, which ends April 2nd at midnight. I'd said in the instructions to enter one photo, but enter as many as you want. Sometimes it's too hard to decide on one, and all of us foodies will love more pictures. Just be sure to earmark the photos as submissions so I will know.

The prize is a Cuisinart Sorbet/Ice Cream machine. Finally, the Treble Clef give-away has been extended to Saturday. The winner will be announced Tuesday, March 30th.
Maybe by then, Spring will really be here!