Culinary Medicine for the Body, Mind, & Soul
LAVENDER EXTRACT
Makes: 1 --12 ounce bottle
Time to Make: 2 minutes + 6 months
Good for the Body, Mind, & Soul
Wholesome
Contains: Alcohol
LAVENDER EXTRACT
During the heat of the PNW summers (yes it does get hot here and it’s the PNW little secret), lavender grows amazingly well and there is a short window of opportunity to grab their blooms and create a magical concoction to last all year long! This past year, the girls and I went to a local farm in Gig Harbor (which is a short drive from Seattle) and it felt like we were walking into a Monet painting. The fields had SIX varieties of lavender, bees buzzing, the sun highlighting the intense range of purple colors, and the smell was exquisite. I actually went back twice!
A bundle here will set you back around $6, it’s organic, fresh as can be and all you need to do is cut it yourself and wrap a rubber band around the bundle or buy them from the farmer (who also has a variety of lavender products). Then, use at your heart’s desire…I have some bundles just for decoration, some for my drawer sachets, and some for my cooking. There are certain varieties for each, just be mindful of what they are for the best use possible!
PREPARATION
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Use a glass bottle with a lid, preferably a wire bail swing top or a mason jar.
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Add the fully dried lavender into the bottle
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Fill the bottle with vodka to fully cover the lavender (it will float to the top, but try to have the alcohol to the top if able).
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Cover the bottle with the lid.
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Set bottle in a dark pantry or cupboard.
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Shake every day or a few times a week to help infuse the vodka with the lavender.
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After about 6 months, your lavender extract will be ready to use.
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I like to remove the lavender as I rarely use the flowers in cooking (I have a stash of dried lavender buds I cook with)
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You can add this to sweet breads, drinks, desserts, etc. Let your imagination go wild!
*You can choose any type of alcohol be it vodka to rum, I find vodka or Everclear makes the best lemon extract. You can also use any % proof Alcohol that fits your budget. I usually use an 80% proof vodka for this is you can’t find Everclear
**You’ll want to make sure you use organic if you are consuming this, if it is just for a fragrance or mist, you can opt for conventionally grown knowing there are risks of contaminates such as pesticides to the lavender
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
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Welcome to Health-Crush Nutritional Label for this meal. See how it fits into your daily nutritional needs. This meal includes all the ingredients above, so any deviation can alter the nutrition. As always, should you have any questions, please consult with me and/or your medical professional.
