Lavender Recipes-Herbs de Provence

Lavender Recipes to Sooth Your Nerves

Lavender is a terrific herb to relax and sooth your nerves in a stressful life. These recipes for lavender aired on Now We’re Cooking TV show. Lavender is an easy herb to grow and incorperate into your families diet with easy recipes. Use these lavender recipes to create refreshing beverages and meals with the nerve soothing properties derived from lavender.

Herbs de Provence

Herbs de Provence us a classic herb blend that is frequently used and called for in recipes yet rarely found in the grocery store herb and spice aisle. Herbs de Provence is an easy way to utilize the soothing properties of lavender in your daily cooking. Any recipe that calls for a Italian spice blend can also use Herbs de Provence. This is a good Herbs de Provence basic recipe to start with. Experiment with the proportions and find the flavor blend that suits your palate best. All herbs should be washed, dried and coarsely crumbled.

3 Tbs. Oregano leaves
3 Tbs. thyme leaves
1 tsp. basil leaves
1 Tbs. sage leaves
1 Tbs. savory leaves

(Savory leaves are sometimes hard to find. Do not use savory powder as it settles to the bottom. If unavailable add an extra Tbs. sage and eliminate the savory.)
2 Tbs. lavender flowers
1 tsp. rosemary leaves

Combine and mix well. Store the mixture in small airtight jars in a dark cool location. Makes about 3/4 cup.

Lavender Syrup Recipe

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2-4 TB. fresh or dried lavender flowers
Lemon zest

1. Combine water and sugar and boil until sugar is dissolved.
2. Remove from heat and add lavender flowers and lemon rind.
3. Steep for twenty minutes and strain. Refrigerate.

Uses for lavender syrup:

Lavender Lemonade: For each drink, squeeze 1/2 lemon into glass, dropping lemon into glass after squeezing. Add 2 tablespoons Lavender Syrup and 1/4 cup water. Fill glass with crushed ice.

Lavender Wine Cooler: Pour two tablespoons of Lavender Syrup into bottom of goblet.
Add a slice of fresh peach and top with Vidal Blanc.
Variation: In place of peach, add two or three white alpine strawberries.

Fresh Fruit & Lavender Cream:
Pour 1/2 cup Lavender Syrup over fresh cut summer fruit (peaches, nectarines, etc.) and allow to blend for ½ hour.
To make cream, add two tablespoons Lavender Syrup to 1 cup heavy cream.
Whip cream to soft peaks and serve over fruit. Garnish with fresh lavender flowers.

Lavender Scented Chicken

6 (4-5 oz.) boneless chicken breast-well trimmed
4 medium shallots-slivered
2 clove garlic
2 tsp. lavender
2 tsp. herb d’provence
8 oz. feta cheese
1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts packed in water

Juice of 1½ lemon
3 cup chicken stock
1 tsp. herb d’ provence
Wondra flour

Prepare chicken first:
1. Cut pocket in each chicken breast.
2. Heat 1 tsp. canola oil in non-stick pan. Add shallots and pressed garlic as well as herbs. Reduce heat, cover and sweat for about 3 minutes without browning. Cool.
3. Crumble feta, coarse chop artichokes. Combine with shallot mixture.
4. Stuff chicken with filling.
5. Spray non-stick pan with oil and sear chicken on both sides to a light brown. Arrange on stoneware sheet pan.
To make sauce:
6. Heat pan that you seared chicken in and deglaze with lemon juice, scraping any particles off bottom. Add stock and herb. Heat to a boil and thicken with Wondra until the thickness of a light syrup. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. At Service:
8. Bake chicken uncovered for 30 minutes at 350º. Cut chicken in half diagonally and serve with a napé of sauce.

Fresh herbs like lavender can be incorperated into your everyday life to improve your overall health and energy levels.  Healthy lifestyles and diets include a wide variety of herbs and natural foods.  The Wow Diet is designed to give you simple systems of eating that bring natural wholesome diets into your everyday life.