The Lavender Apple

Rustic Elegance, A Farm Wedding

5:20 AM

Best Uses for Lavender Water

5:17 AM

When I managed a sales team for over a decade in my past life, it was always helpful that we were selling a product that I truly believed in. When I knew what we were selling was something that would help people and make their lives better, I really didn't have to work very hard to sell it, the product would sell itself. That's how I feel about our Lavender Water. Pure and simple, this product is amazing. We get such great feedback regarding how it benefits our customers lives and we are just tickled pink about it (or I guess tickled purple..).

If you've been reading our blog for awhile now, you probably already know that one of the most popular uses for our lavender water is as a natural bug spray. This is the perfect all natural, safe, and deet free bug sprays you can use. Its perfect for moms of little ones. I have tested this product myself in a field full of flowers, out on a bug infested lake, and at a picnic swarming with critters. I have never gotten a bug bite while sporting this stuff. It's magic.

A few less conventional ways to use our lavender water is adding a bit of it to your washing machine during the rinse cycle. Your linens and towels will have that lovely hint of lavender afterwards. Another neat trick is using this when you wash your kiddos pajamas. I find the subtle lavender smell very relaxing to them and it aids in their sleep. Our scent of smell is our strongest tie to memory, so I love having this smell associated with bed time. You could even spray it onto your pillows for sweet lavender dreams.

You can also add some of our lavender water to the reservoir in your iron. Whenever you spray and press your garments, your clothes will get a wonderful hint of goodness.

You can also spray this water into your trash baskets and even your outdoor garabage can to help remove stale or lingering smells. As a mother who's trash bins are often full of dirty diapers, this use is one of my favorites!

We are at the Farmers Market in Downtown Salt Lake every week in the summer. You can also find us at the Logan Farmers Market as well. In the wintertime we also frequent the farmers market at the Rio Grande. Come find us and we'd be happy to let you sample a spray at our booth. If you can't wait, you can order your lavender water online HERE. While we are at the farmers market we love getting feedback from our customers about all of the unique uses they have found for this lovely little product of ours.

What are some of your favorite uses?

instafriday

Insta Friday April 1

6:26 AM

brown butter

Pumpkin Pasta with Brown Butter and Sage

7:57 AM

berries

Easter Desert Idea - Heavenly Berries

6:25 AM

If you have been a long term reader of our blog, you may remember an easter recipe I shared years ago called Heavenly Berries. We have so many new readers here that I thought I would share it again because it is one of my favorites!

Heavenly Berries is a scrumptious combination of meringue, creams and berries. It taste HEAVENLY. If you want to try this for easter, you'll want to make the meringue soon, so that the meringue and the cream mixture can marry and create some heavenly flavors. I love recipes that can be made in advance, especially on holidays when there is so much to do! Just pull them out of the fridge and say "TA-DAH!"

Don't let the lengthy instructions discourage you, It's simple,really.

Day 1
Make your meringue base. Put it in the oven before you go to bed; cook for 1 hour at 275. Turn off oven and leave meringue in oven with door closed over night for 12 hours.

Recipe
6 egg whites. warmed to room temp
1/2 tsp. cream of tarter
1/4 tsp. salt
1 3/4 sugar

Method
Heat oven to 275. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. If you don't have parchment paper, spray with Pam. In a large bowl (Stand mixers work best), beat your warmed egg whites, cream of tarter and salt until almost stiff. Beat in the sugar 1 Tbs. at a time, until they are very thick and glossy. Remember, don't under beat. Now you can choose if you want to make one big cloud of heaven or individual ones. I used a pastry bag, but if you don't have one no worries. Whatever method you use, you need to create a "swimming Pool" effect in the middle so the cream can set inside. Since a good meringue is the key to this recipe, here are some hints for a good meringue. 1. separate your eggs when they are cold. 2. don't allow any yolks to get into the meringue 3. make sure your egg whites are at room temp 4. oil or anything greasy is an enemy to meringue, so make sure all your utensils are free of any thing greasy.

Day 2 (filling)
The next morning make you filling, fill your meringue base or bases then Refrigerate for 12-24 hours.

Recipe
2 cups whipped cream (no cool whip allowed)
1 8oz cream cheese, softened to room temp (leave out overnight)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar (use 2 Tbs. of this sugar to sweeten the cream)
2 cups mini marshmallows

Method
In a chilled bowl (stand mixer works best) whip your cream, add vanilla and 2 Tbs, sugar. In a separate bowl mix the rest of the sugar with the cream cheese at room temperature until smooth. Fold the cream cheese mixture and marshmallows into the whipped cream. Fill, cover and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.

YOUR DONE!!
Almost. just before serving pile on your berries. My berry favorite berry sweetener is "the Lavender Apple's" Lavender Simple syrup. It adds such a unique and wonderful flavor.

Along with the simple syrup I sweeten my berries with brown sugar. Let them sit awhile on the counter so the sugar can dissolve. This is a fun and unique treat, perfect for the Easter holiday.